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Visa has launched Visa Intelligent Commerce, opening its payment network to AI developers building the next generation of shopping experiences. The program allows AI agents to securely find and buy products on behalf of consumers, transforming how people shop online. Working with tech giants like Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI and Samsung, Visa aims to create a trusted foundation for AI-powered commerce.At the heart of this innovation are 'AI-Ready Cards' that replace standard card details with tokenized credentials, enhancing security while confirming an agent's permission to act on a consumer's behalf. The system puts users firmly in control, allowing them to set spending limits and conditions. Visa's experience with fraud management and data security underpins the technology, positioning the company as a trusted intermediary in the emerging AI shopping landscape.TREND BITEVisa isn't just enabling transactions; it's offering a trust infrastructure. As AI agents gain autonomy, consumers require transparent guardrails: spend controls, real-time oversight and dispute mechanisms. Services that provide confidence and clarity in automated decisions will set the stage for delegated convenience, where consumers define preferences once and trust agents to act on their behalf.
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Marketing and Advertising
A barebones EV that will cost just USD 20K after a federal tax credit, the newly announced Slate truck backed by Jeff Bezos is creating a lot of buzz. Not just for its low price but also for how it challenges automotive norms. Here's how the vehicle aligns with four consumer trends:SAVINGS BY DESIGNIn a market where economic uncertainty has consumers scrutinizing every purchase, Slate's no-frills approach to affordability is baked in:Molded plastic bodies instead of costly paint jobs Manual windows and other simplified controls Bring-your-own-tech philosophy leverages devices people already ownUPGRADIAThe truck's modular design makes for unusual levels of ongoing customization. Drivers can adapt the vehicle to their personal style and changing needs or add more luxury when they've saved up for it: Transformation from two-seat pickup to five-seat SUV without specialized tools 100+ 'Slate Attach Points' accommodate a wide range of accessories Wrap kits starting around USD 500 enable affordable color changesSECOND LOVESlate extends the concept of vehicle longevity by empowering owners to maintain and repair their own trucks: A dedicated learning platform called Slate U provides step-by-step videos and tutorials DIY-friendly design makes repairs accessible to non-mechanics "You'll go from Slate novice to DIY master in no time"MANUAL MODEWhile most auto manufacturers have gone all in on touchscreens and automatic everything, Slate recognizes people are willing to sacrifice a bit of convenience for a lower price and mechanical simplicity: Manual windows have an analog charm Simplified systems reduce electronic failure points Basic design elements favor function over (excessive techWhat if the future of driving isn't smarter tech, but smarter trade-offs? Slate is betting drivers are ready to swap excess for agency. By stripping away legacy expectations and letting owners build up from zero, Slate speaks to consumers raised on IKEA, Roblox and iPhones with cracked screens practical, hands-on and unafraid of a little hacking.
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Marketing and Advertising
Fusing healthcare and residential architecture, traditional herbal medicine brand Saishunkan Pharmaceutical has unveiled Positive Age House, a home designed to enhance the body's self-healing capabilities. Developed in collaboration with building company Lib Work, the concept stems from Saishunkan's observation that Japanese people spend approximately two-thirds of their lives at home, making living environments crucial determinants of health outcomes.Rather than relying on technology, Saishunkan has applied its expertise in traditional medicine to create living spaces that stimulate the body's innate recovery mechanisms. Key features include a circadian lighting system that adjusts color temperature throughout the day to maintain biological rhythms, textured 'ripple flooring' that stimulates foot pressure points, and deliberate floor height differences that compel residents to exercise their joints as they move from one space to the next.WHY A HEALING HOME?Healthspan over lifespanPeople increasingly care less about just living longer and more about living well for longer physically, mentally and emotionally.Post-pandemic revaluation of the homeAfter forced time indoors, people realize their immediate surroundings deeply impact their mental and physical well-being.Shift from passive to proactive healthHealth isn't just about medicine or hospitals; it's about everyday lifestyle choices, like movement, light exposure, diet, and now, one's home.More nature, less techWhile technology brands push smart homes, the Positive Age House represents a counter trend of returning to nature, focusing on sunlight, airflow, wooden floors, circadian lighting and natural materials. (Related: the ultrarich are unplugging from smart homes.)
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Marketing and Advertising
A Los Angeles-based startup is bringing an unexpected twist to the fertility industry with a social impact model typically seen in consumer goods. Cofertility's Split program allows women to freeze their eggs for free when they donate half of the retrieved eggs to families who cannot otherwise conceive. This innovative approach transforms the traditional egg donation process, which has historically been criticized for commodifying women's bodies and reproductive capabilities.For people who want to preserve all of their eggs for their own use, the company also offers a 'Keep' program at a cost, while still providing community access and preferential storage rates. Cofertility recently secured Series A funding of USD 7.25 million. The capital will fuel expansion of Cofertility's proprietary platform, which handles everything from matching donors with recipients to managing the complex fertility journeys of its members.TREND BITEWith the average age of first-time mothers continuing to climb in developed countries, demand is growing for life-stage flexibility and reproductive agency. Meanwhile, healthcare is evolving from transactional to relational. Today's consumers especially Millennials and Gen Z increasingly expect healthcare solutions to reflect their values.Cofertility is tapping into those broader cultural shifts by moving fertility from a medicalized, often opaque and costly journey, to something more values-driven, community-oriented and transparent. Through no-cost options via the Split model, it democratizes access to egg freezing historically an expensive and exclusive option while building an emotionally powerful value exchange around helping others. The platform isn't just about eggs it's about empowerment, equity and agency.
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Marketing and Advertising
In larger than life projections on Shanghai's SuHe Haus building, Night Bloom reimagines climate narratives through Chinese Sign Language and Visual Vernacular (the latter is a sign-based storytelling method using expressive movement). The one-off performance, which took place on 29 March 2025, featured three deaf dancers portraying a blend of climate themes and deaf expression. Sudden storms and wilting plants represented exclusion, for example, while flourishing gardens symbolized hope and renewal. The art piece was co-created by British artist Cathy Mager and Shanghai deaf performer Hu Xiaoshu, and developed through a yearlong collaboration between deaf communities in China and the UK.Reaching beyond artistic expression, Night Bloom highlights how deaf communities are navigating both the climate crisis and communication barriers. During extreme weather events, for example, deaf individuals often receive warnings too late due to the absence of sign language alerts. The project also questions whose voices are heard in climate discourse research shows that marginalized communities, including people with disabilities, are disproportionately impacted by climate change, yet are often not afforded a say in the decision-making that directly affects them. Night Bloom aims to highlight these challenges while raising awareness of sign language as a critical tool in climate communication.Bringing art into public spaces isnt new. But Night Bloom leverages eye-catching aesthetics to surface a powerful message and spark conversations. What urgent message does your brand need to communicate? And could a familiar format deliver it in an unexpected, impactful way?
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Marketing and Advertising