Tech

The big questions about Facebook’s new VR ads

Published

3 years ago

June 21, 2021

Advertising is meeting a whole new dimension.

Facebook is trialling ads in its Oculus virtual reality headsets, after years of speculation it would do so.

The tech giant will now start appearing ads inside the Resolution Games title Blaston as well as two other unnamed apps.

This is despite the founder of the platform saying it would never do so.

Facebook will later expand the system based on user feedback, saying it aims to create a “self-sustaining platform” for VR development.

It said it would listen to feedback before launching virtual reality ads more widely and will continue testing new ad formats “that are unique to VR”.

Oculus says “We’re exploring new ways for developers to generate revenue – this is a key part of ensuring we’re creating a self-sustaining platform”

Currently, Facebook’s collected data either never leave your headset or is completely segmented from its advertising system, and it says it has “no plans” to do things like target ads based on movement data.

But as Facebook moves deeper into virtual and augmented reality, using its hardware’s special features for advertising will become an increasingly attractive prospect.

Shows

Is GenerativeAI transforming education?

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

ticker NEWS

Educators today are facing an uphill battle, so what’s the solution?

Today’s educators are passionate, but they’re up against diverse classrooms and outdated teaching methods.

In this episode, Trevor Furness, Chief Revenue Officer of Octopus B-I discuss their efforts to transform education. #funding futures

News

How AI is leveraging Amazon’s fast production

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2024

Nathan Langridge

Amazon reported better-than-expected results for the last quarter, surpassing analysts’ estimates.

Amazon reported better-than-expected results for the last quarter, surpassing analysts’ estimates, driven by strong performance in its cloud computing and AI.

Ticker’s Ahron Young & Veronica Dudo discuss.

Tech

Tesla is slashing prices to stay competitive

Published

2 weeks ago

April 21, 2024

Reuters

Tesla cut the U.S. prices of its Model Y, Model X and Model S vehicles by $2,000 each, days after the first-quarter deliveries of the world’s most valuable automaker missed market expectations.

Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle (EV) maker lowered the prices for its Model Y base variant to $42,990, while the long-range and performance variants are now priced at $47,990 and $51,490, respectively, according to its website.

The basic version of the Model S now costs $72,990 and its plaid variant $87,990. The Model X base variant now costs $77,990 and its plaid variant is priced at $92,900.

Tesla North America also said in a post on X said it would end its referral program benefits in all markets after April 30.

Referral program allows buyers to get extra incentives through referrals from existing customers, a strategy long used by traditional automakers to boost sales.

Musk has postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce plans to enter the South Asian market, Reuters reported on Saturday.

On Monday Reuters reported, citing an internal memo, that the EV maker was laying off more than 10% of its global workforce.

Earlier this month Reuters reported the EV maker had canceled a long-promised inexpensive car, expected to cost $25,000, that investors had been counting on to drive mass-market growth.

The EV maker reported this month that its global vehicle deliveries in the first quarter fell for the first time in nearly four years, as price cuts failed to stir demand.

Tesla is to report first-quarter earnings on Tuesday.