Need to Know News - September 5th, 2025
In this week's Need to Know News edition:
🤖 How to make hundreds of ads feel personal... a new AI campaign just did it for local restaurants... at scale.
🤖 Disney thinks it knows why AI projects really fail... and it has nothing to do with the tech...
🤖 What happens when a brand like Lululemon admits it got lazy...they're betting the farm on AI to save their biz.
And a whole lot more!
Menulog Made Hundreds of Local Ads Feel "Handcrafted" Using AI
How do you shout out hundreds of local restaurants at once? Menulog just did it with a groundbreaking AI campaign. They partnered with hip hop legends Bliss 'n' Eso to create ads that feel personal to each neighborhood. Their custom AI system transformed simple restaurant photos into cinematic video. Then, using a voice model they personally trained, Bliss 'n' Eso gave unique audio shout-outs to local spots.
The AI even restyled food photos for billboards, giving small businesses free professional assets. It's being called the world's first campaign to feel handcrafted, at scale.
Lululemon's Fix for "Predictable" Clothes? A New AI Boss
Lululemon admits its US business is in trouble, with sales dropping 4%. CEO Calvin McDonald says the brand became too predictable and failed to create new trends for shoppers who now demand fresh styles. Their solution? They're turning to AI to get their edge back.
The company just hired its first-ever Chief AI and Technology Officer to speed up everything from design to delivery. The goal is to dramatically increase new styles from 23% to 35% of its products by next spring, hoping AI can help them innovate faster.
🚀 Missing One of These 5 Essential 'Copy Blocks' Could Cost You A Fortune!
Two $100+ million copywriters discovered what REALLY drives conversions—5 simple building blocks arranged in a specific order. This framework is so powerful that beginners are generating 5-figure profits with it. And you can learn the full system in just 33 minutes.
Discover All 5 'Copy Blocks' Now
OpenAI Is Building a LinkedIn Killer
OpenAI is making a bold move beyond ChatGPT. The company is building an AI-powered hiring platform designed to take on LinkedIn. Set to launch by mid-2026, the platform will use AI to perfectly match companies with talent.
This puts OpenAI in direct competition with LinkedIn, which is owned by its biggest backer, Microsoft. To help workers adapt, OpenAI is also launching an "AI fluency" certification program with its partner, Walmart, aiming to certify 10 million Americans by 2030.
Amazon's New AI Tool Turns Your Camera Into a Live Shopping Assistant
Ever see something you love and wish you could buy it instantly? Amazon's new Lens Live feature does just that. You just point your phone's camera at an item, and a swipeable carousel of matching products instantly appears. But the real magic is its new AI shopping assistant, Rufus, which is built right in.
Rufus pops up with quick summaries and answers your questions about products without you ever leaving the camera view. You can compare items, get key insights, and add them to your cart on the spot.
Majority of Businesses Have No AI Policy in Place
Your employees are likely already using AI, but your company probably has no rules for it. A new survey of over 500 employers found that a shocking 54% have no formal AI policy. This leaves them wide open to major risks. Their biggest fears? Data privacy breaches (41%) and inaccurate AI outputs (30%). What's worse, in nearly a quarter of businesses, no one is even in charge of setting AI rules.
Apple Is Building an "Answer Engine" to Take On Google and ChatGPT
Apple is finally jumping into the AI search race. The company is developing its own AI-powered tool, internally called "World Knowledge Answers," set to launch next year. Some executives are calling it an "answer engine," and it's designed to supercharge Siri with the ability to search the web like ChatGPT.
Apple plans to eventually bring this power to Safari and Spotlight search on iPhones. Interestingly, they might be getting a little help from their old partner, Google, to power the new technology.
Disney's New AI Secret: It's a People Problem, Not a Tech Problem
Disney thinks it knows the real reason AI projects fail within companies. It’s not about the technology, it’s about the people. That’s why the company just created a new role: VP of Collaboration and AI. The move is a direct response to what experts call an "organizational design problem."
Disney is trying to avoid Meta’s costly mistake of spending nearly $14 billion on siloed AI teams. Instead, this new leader will focus on getting everyone from the theme parks to Marvel Studios to actually work together on AI.
You Don't Need Talent to Get a Record Deal Anymore. You Just Need AI
You no longer need musical talent to land a record deal. Just ask Oliver McCann, a visual designer who admits he "can't sing" and "can't play instruments." He just signed with a record label after his AI-generated song racked up 3 million streams.
He is part of a new wave of creators using tools like Suno and Udio to make music, sparking a massive industry debate. While major labels are suing these AI companies, creators say it's hard work. McCann often generates 100 different versions before he's satisfied.
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The AI Marketers
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