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The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has triggered a veritable boom in recent years and created a multitude of opportunities for investors. From self-driving cars to personalized medicine, AI is permeating nearly every sector and promises profound changes in the way we live, work and invest. In this article, we'll explore how investors can profit from the AI boom and what strategies can help make the most of the opportunities in this emerging market.
1. Understanding the AI Market
Before investors dive into the AI market, it is critical to develop a basic understanding of artificial intelligence and its various applications. AI encompasses technologies such as machine learning, neural networks and deep learning, which are used to identify patterns in large amounts of data and make predictions. Investors should familiarize themselves with the various AI subfields to identify which companies and technologies have the greatest potential.
2. Diversify investments
The AI market is diverse and spans a wide range of industries - from healthcare and finance to entertainment and agriculture. Investors should diversify their portfolios to take advantage of opportunities in different sectors while spreading risk. A mix of established AI companies and emerging startups can help maximize the potential for growth and innovation.
3. Identifying promising companies
Identifying promising companies in the AI space requires thorough research. Investors should evaluate a company's financial stability, management team, technological expertise, and past successes. Startups with innovative approaches could be the next big thing, while established tech giants are already integrating advanced AI solutions into their offerings.
4. Long-term perspective
The AI boom is not a short-term phenomenon, but a long-term trend that will last for many years. Investors should therefore take a long-term perspective and be patient. AI technologies often take time to reach full maturity and find market acceptance. Long-term investments can allow one to benefit from the gradual adoption and growth of AI.
5. Opportunities in data collection and processing
KI is heavily dependent on high-quality data. Investors could invest in companies that specialize in data collection, data processing and data analytics. These companies play an essential role in providing clean and relevant data, which is the foundation for successful AI applications.
6. Education and Networking
The AI market is constantly evolving, and investors should continually stay informed about the latest developments and trends. Educational events, conferences, and online resources can help keep knowledge of the AI sector up to date. Additionally, connecting with experts and industry insiders can provide valuable insights and potential investment opportunities.
Conclusion
The AI boom offers investors a wealth of opportunities to profit from the profound changes this transformative technology is bringing to various industries. A sound understanding of the AI market, smart diversification, thorough company selection, a long-term perspective, and exposure to data-related issues are key factors to best benefit from the AI boom. With careful research, patience, and a willingness to learn approach, investors can successfully capitalize on the emerging opportunities in the AI market.
YouTube, the world's leading video streaming platform, has introduced a drastic new method to combat ad blockers. The move is aimed at protecting ad revenue, which makes up a significant portion of the company's income. Users who block ads on YouTube will now see a countdown in the upper right corner of the screen, covering a period of 30 to 60 seconds. Within that window, users have a choice: they can either deactivate their ad blocker or subscribe to YouTube Premium to continue accessing all videos and content.
The new measure follows a previous warning introduced about a month and a half ago. That warning told users with ad blockers that the video player would be disabled after watching three videos. At the time, there was an option to whitelist YouTube from the ad blocker, turn off the extension, or subscribe to YouTube Premium. The current strategy represents a tightening of those policies and illustrates YouTube's determination to crack down on ad blockers.
This new measure has been well received by some users, who argue that revenue from advertising is essential to maintaining platform operations and supporting content producers. Still, there are also concerns about usability and potentially raising barriers to accessing content.
Google, YouTube's parent company, stresses the need for advertising revenue to run the platform and compensate content creators. Since its launch more than five years ago, the monthly fee for YouTube Premium has been 11.99 euros. However, there is speculation that an upcoming price increase to 13.99 euros is being considered to reflect rising operating costs.
The response from users will be crucial in determining how successful this new strategy from YouTube will be. The debate between those who see ad funding as essential and those who see the increasing complexity and restrictions as problematic will show how well YouTube will fare against ad blockers.
The digital display advertising market in Germany recorded impressive growth of 24.7 percent in 2021 and an increase of more than one billion euros compared to the previous year. This is according to data from the Online-Vermarkterkreis (OVK) in the Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW). The Corona pandemic acted as a catalyst for this development, driving digitization and increasing demand for digital advertising. In total, digital display advertising revenues amounted to EUR 5.12 billion in 2021.
The OVK's "Paid Content" trend study sheds light on users' willingness to pay for editorial content on the Internet. Only 21 percent of users resort to paid online content. Men (63 percent) and young users between 16 and 29 (27 percent) in particular show an above-average willingness to pay for such content.
The study also shows that paid subscriptions to e-papers and e-magazines are used most frequently, followed by paid access to news portals or online services and paid podcasts. The age structure influences these preferences: Older people aged 50 and over are more interested in e-papers or e-magazines, while younger users prefer podcasts.
Nevertheless, about 37 percent of non-payers believe news content should always be free. Those who would pay for editorial content are open to different access models. For example, about 66 percent could come to terms with agreeing to website cookies as an alternative to pay models, while about 54 percent would accept mandatory registration, provided they could continue to access content for free.
Steffen Bax, deputy chairman of the OVK, emphasizes that advertising revenues are still indispensable for financing journalistic content on the Internet. Both paying users and users of free content see advertising as an accepted method of supporting journalistic content online.
The OVK is committed to the development of a new online media platform.
The OVK continues to expect double-digit growth in the digital display advertising market despite the pandemic effects fading. For 2022, they forecast growth of 11.8 percent to more than EUR 5.7 billion. Programmatic advertising is expected to exceed the 4 billion mark and stabilize at a level of 71 percent. Moving image advertising will also generate revenues of EUR 2.1 billion in 2022. In-page advertising will remain dominant, accounting for 63 percent of revenues.
The global pandemic not only brought health effects, but also triggered far-reaching changes in the economy and consumer behavior. Online retail in particular experienced an unprecedented boom during the COVID-19 pandemic, as consumers increasingly used digital shopping options. In Germany, however, the economic situation has changed, and the country is now facing a recession that poses new challenges for the e-commerce sector. In addition, inflation of up to 10% is adding additional burdens.
From boom to bust: e-commerce in recession
During the pandemic, the trend toward online shopping continued at an accelerated pace. Many consumers increasingly used online platforms for safety and convenience, which led to a surge in e-commerce sales. Companies that already had established online presences benefited from this shift and saw significant sales growth.
However, the tide has turned as Germany is now going through a recession. With economic uncertainty, online retail demand is down. Consumers have become more cautious in the face of financial worries and uncertainty, especially when it comes to non-essential spending. This change in attitude has led to a noticeable decline in e-commerce sales.
Challenges in times of inflation
The economic situation is further complicated by inflation of up to 10%. These price increases affect the purchasing power of consumers and could lead them to be even more cautious with their spending. For online retailers, this creates several difficulties:
Price pressure: Inflation may increase the cost of goods and services, putting pressure on online retailers' margins. They may be forced to avoid price increases in order to remain competitive.
Customer behavior: In times of inflation, consumers may pay more attention to deals and discounts in search of bargains. This can lead to increased competition and a challenge for customer loyalty.
Logistics issues: price increases may also affect logistics and shipping costs, which could impact online retailers' profitability.
Opportunities and adjustments in the e-commerce sector
Despite the challenges, recession and inflation also present opportunities for online retailers:
Creativity in product design: companies could offer products that are in high demand during times of crisis and inflation, such as affordable alternatives or durable goods.
Efficient supply chains: Optimized logistics and efficient supply chains can help reduce costs and alleviate pressure from rising prices.
Customer intimacy: An increased focus on customer communication, customer-focused solutions and personalized offerings can strengthen customer loyalty.
Conclusion
The e-commerce sector has moved from a boom to a period of challenges as Germany faces recession and noticeable inflation. The adaptability of online retailers will be critical in coping with the new economic realities. Companies that act flexibly, develop innovative strategies and focus on consumer needs in these uncertain times could emerge stronger from the crisis and consolidate their position in the long term.
The rosy times for German startups appear to be passé as they struggle with a weak economy and tougher financing conditions. According to a Startup Association survey conducted by Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the business climate in the industry is at one of the lowest levels since the low point during the Corona pandemic in 2020, with the current score of 38.1 points only slightly higher than in 2020 (31.8 points). This continues a trend that has been seen since the record-breaking 2021.
The survey, which is based on a similar calculation method as the Ifo Institute, reflects a high level of uncertainty among founders. About 65 percent of the startups surveyed have difficulty assessing the future situation. Nevertheless, a slight increase in business expectations is evident, while the current business situation remains at the lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic.
The association stresses that after a wave of innovations that followed the shock of the pandemic in 2020, the current situation has become more difficult. Rising inflation and higher interest rates have led startups to act more cautiously. One-third of companies have reduced hiring and adjusted funding plans.
Since 2022, German startups have faced major challenges. While they were able to raise record amounts from investors in 2021, geopolitical tensions, rising interest rates and economic uncertainty have dampened the market. Investors are more cautious, resulting in many startups having to cut jobs and funding dropping dramatically in 2022. The situation remained tight in the first half of 2023, as startups raised about half the funding they did last year.
In particular, the ability to secure large funding rounds has declined sharply. There has not been a round over 250 million euros this year, compared to four such rounds in 2022 and eight in 2021, and the majority of founders rate the willingness of funders, particularly venture capital funds, as poor.
In view of these challenges, the startup association is calling for increased support from the German government. In particular, the expected "Future Financing Act" should be passed promptly to strengthen the location for founders. Among other things, this law should offer more favorable regulations for employee shareholdings and easier access to the capital market for growth-oriented companies. However, the implementation of this project has been delayed so far.
On Tuesday, the federal ministries of economics and finance announced that a new financing instrument called "RegioInnoGrowth" will support startups and small innovative SMEs. For this purpose, the federal government plans to provide up to 450 million euros from the Future Fund and the ERP Special Fund. Companies can each receive up to five million euros in funding.