The AI agent coin sector has experienced rapid growth, with a market cap of $16 billion and a 20.5% increase in value over the past 24 hours. Notable projects such as Virtuals Protocol, Artificial Superintelligence Alliance, and ai16z are driving this expansion. One project, VIRTUALS, saw significant activity after its launch in early 2023, surging by over 9,190% in November.
https://bitcoinist.com/ai-agent-tokens-surge-could-outperform-meme-coins/The AI sector is expected to continue its growth momentum, driven by technological advancements and strategic investments. This transformation is anticipated to reshape various industries globally, with no specific mention of a particular company or location being impacted.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/01/02/tmt-newswire/media-outreach-newswire/vt-markets-finds-ai-poised-for-a-second-wave-of-growth-in-latest-2025-q1-economic-outlook/2029211Baidu's founder Robin Li predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) applications will experience an "exponential" growth in 2025. According to Li, Baidu's investments in AI are expected to generate returns this year, as the technology is being rapidly deployed across various industries and scenarios. This prediction comes after Baidu unveiled its own large language model (LLM), following OpenAI's release of ChatGPT.
https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3293178/baidu-founder-robin-li-predicts-exponential-boom-ai-apps-2025?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionThe media industry is on the cusp of a significant shift with the increasing adoption of AI technology, which has the potential to both disrupt and enhance business models. According to Trusted Media Brands CEO Bonnie Kintzer, AI workflows will become more central to processes and operations in the media business, enabling organizations to operate at a larger scale without sacrificing depth and thoughtfulness. For example, Outside CEO Robin Thurston notes that AI-driven tools are unlocking efficiencies in TV, film, and gaming, enhancing creative processes and enabling hyper-personalized user experiences. Despite concerns about the future of the industry, successful examples of publishers sustaining their audiences exist, such as Politico, which has been profitable for years under the leadership of CEO Goli Sheikholeslami.
https://www.adweek.com/media/5-reasons-optimistic-media-industry/The artificial intelligence industry has seen significant growth since the emergence of ChatGPT in December 2022, drawing increased investment interest over the past two years, particularly in Hong Kong SAR.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/mediaoutreach/2025/01/02/vt-markets-finds-ai-poised-for-a-second-wave-of-growth-in-latest-2025-q1-economic-outlook/353279Companies such as eBay and British insurer Beazley have warned about an uptick in fraudulent emails containing personal details obtained via artificial intelligence (AI) analysis of online profiles, according to the Financial Times. Cybersecurity experts say these attacks are increasing as AI grows in sophistication, allowing hackers to create targeted phishing scams by scraping victims' online presence and recreating their style and tone. The use of generative AI tools has lowered the entry threshold for advanced cybercrime, with eBay's Nadezda Demidova stating that there has been a growth in polished and closely targeted phishing scams. To combat this, companies are employing AI-powered cybersecurity measures, with 55% of companies using such measures according to a PYMNTS Intelligence report.
https://www.pymnts.com/fraud-attack/2025/ai-fuels-reported-rise-in-polished-phishing-scams/Marketers who used generative AI to create ads, such as Toys R Us, Under Armour, and Coca-Cola, faced backlash from the public and creative community in 2024. Despite this, there is an expectation that marketers will continue to use generative AI in 2025, with many asking how it can be integrated into the creative process. Creative agency executives, including John Cornette of EP+Co., view generative AI as a tool to enhance their work, not replace humans. However, early iterations of ads created with generative AI were criticized for lacking authenticity and emotional connection, according to eight creatives and agency executives, including Eva Neveau of Omnicom Production.
https://digiday.com/marketing/why-early-gen-ai-ads-arent-working-and-how-creatives-are-thinking-about-integrating-the-tech-into-their-work/Lotte Corporation has outlined plans to expand its business portfolio beyond its core sectors of retail, food, chemical and construction by entering four new areas: contract development and manufacturing organization services through Lotte Biologics, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, battery materials, and the metaverse. The company's chairman, Shin, emphasized the importance of implementing artificial intelligence (AI) to create new business models and reduce costs in its global market strategy for the new year.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-01-02/business/industry/Shinsegae-Lotte-call-for-continuous-innovation-in-hard-year-for-retail/2213900Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, plans to deploy millions of artificial intelligence (AI) bots on its platforms in an effort to boost engagement as its user base declines. The move is part of Meta's strategy to maintain user interaction despite a shrinking audience, with the number of daily active users on Facebook decreasing by 2% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2023.
https://www.firstpost.com/tech/meta-is-planning-to-deploy-millions-of-ai-bots-on-facebook-and-instagram-as-user-base-shrinks-13849279.html