Blog: Research at the Intersection of Social Media and AI
Explore all the ways social media and AI are coming together in this blog by Debra Aho Williamson. Get smart about the consumer usage patterns and social media trends that matter to your business. Then, head to Sonata Insights to learn more about Debra’s research and advisory services.
Same great content, new channel!
Same blog, new channel! Effective July 15, 2024, please head to Sonata Insights for news and notes about social media and AI from Debra Aho Williamson.
How ChatGPT Helped Me Find Cocktail Bars, Chinese Takeout and a Potato Salad Recipe
If you're like me, you're one of the 25% of US internet users who are using AI to plan a trip, or who expect to in the future, according to a recent study.
Instagram Co-Founder Mike Krieger Joined Anthropic. Here’s Why That’s a Big Deal.
Mike Krieger brings much more than his deep technical chops. He helped develop features that made Instagram one of the most used social media apps in the world.
How My Music Background Helped Me Name My New Business
Naming a business is hard! Here's the story of Sonata Insights.
Reddit Spies Future Revenue from Search, Data, Shopping
Reddit stuck the landing in its first quarter as a public company. Here's what the company said about current and future revenue sources in its very first earnings call.
Here’s How Meta Plans to Make Money from Gen AI
Meta's Q1 earnings report is the clearest sign yet that social media and AI are not only intersecting, but creating new revenue opportunities for the social platforms and new ad opportunities for marketers. Here are my key takeaways from the call.
It’s a Big Week for Meta and TikTok
In the same week META will report quarterly earnings, one of its biggest competitors—TikTok—is facing an existential crisis. Here's what I'm expecting will happen.
6 New Developments in Consumer-Facing Social AI
Social media and AI are intersecting in a lot of new ways, and not just on the adtech side. Here are six developments to pay attention to right now:
Three Things Higgsfield AI Tells Us About the Future of Social Video
My first take on Higgsfield, an AI video generator aimed at social media marketers.
Marketers, Are Chatbots on Your Social Media Radar?
Almost as many marketers plan to use chatbots and AI customer support as use social media in the coming years.
Don’t Panic About TikTok’s Uncertain Future. Do: Be Prepared
Here are 4 things marketers should do now.
Meet Simply News. It Uses AI to Automate News. And It’s Terrifying.
The implications of Simply News for podcasters and news media are substantial. When AI agents can do all the work of finding, pitching, approving, writing and delivering the news, the impact on workforces is devastating to contemplate.
Recipes Are Gen Z’s Third Biggest Use Case for Social Search (DATA!)
Almost half of Gen Z social users reported searching for recipe content on social media in the past month.
What Happens to Our Human Values When AI Intersects With Social Media?
I spend a lot of time thinking about how generative AI will impact social media in the future. Here are a few things I think marketers, agencies and social platforms absolutely need to keep in mind.
Reesa Teesa’s 52-Part Video Series Broke TikTok. Could An AI Do The Same Thing?
Could an AI-generated video ever exhibit this much power and emotion and create this much buzz and discussion? And will Reesa Teesa’s success spawn a thousand AI-generated copycats?
Direct Response Is a Growing Battlefield for Meta, Snap and Pinterest
It's clear that Snap and Pinterest are making moves to stay relevant and competitive. But the question remains: will either one be able to challenge Meta when it comes to direct response advertising?
This Week in Social AI (Feb 16, 2024 edition)
Sora, AI spies, TikTok gen AI and more: Here's what you need to know about social media+AI
Time Spent on TikTok Continues to Soar Above Its Rivals
Worldwide TikTok users are spending more time on the app each month than users of 6 other social apps spend on those apps COMBINED.
This Week in Social AI (Feb 9 edition)
Meta trains its AI on your posts, and 5 other news developments you need to know.
The Most Popular Social Platforms in the US Are …
When it comes to the platforms people prefer, the big are staying strong and everyone else is battling for smaller scraps.