Monthly Archives: January 2020

Key takeaways:

Entrepreneur and investor Peter Diamandis predicts that the future of shopping will be always on, thanks to ubiquitous augmented reality.

Artificial intelligence is in position to streamline and personalise the process, while virtual reality shopping can be successful if it creates a more social experience.

Brands should prepare for far more data collection by asking the right questions and using AI to correlate more details.

SAN FRANCISCO Heres the future of shopping, as Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor Peter Diamandis sees it: augmented reality glasses will present an always-on shopping mode, artificially intelligent digital assistants will know your taste better than you and clothing will be made exactly to your measurements.

And it could happen faster than one might think, he says. Diamandiss book, The Future is Faster Than You Think, out today and co-written with Steven Kotler, outlines his vision for how a number of converging innovations will drastically and imminently change industries like retail and advertising.

Diamandis is in the business of looking toward the future. In 1994, he founded the X Prize Foundation, which rewards technological development and whose board of trustees include filmmaker James Cameron, media mogul Arianna Huffington and Google co-founder Larry Page. In 2008, he co-founded Singularity University, the Silicon Valley innovation school that counts Moncler among its pupils.

On the fashion front, Diamandis outlines three key developments on his radar: shopping through virtual reality, in which an AI fashion advisor is there to guide you; AR shopping that is supercharged by AI and 5G; and 3D printing and just-in-time manufacturing.

The proliferation of AI and AI assistants, he says, will play a significant role in intuiting what people want and influencing purchasing decisions.

The question is, can AI ultimately become a better fashion adviser to me than any human can?I believe the answer is going to be yes because AI will know me even better than myself, he says. But this decade is less about AI displacing humans [and] more about AI-human collaboration.

Here is what Diamandis thinks fashion should be thinking about in the 2020s. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

AR and VR are two of your core pillars influencing fashion, but it seems that AR has so far been leading the charge.

If you look at comments by [Apple CEO] Tim Cook and others, they expect that augmented reality will be 10x the opportunity of VR. That's true.

We talk in the book about turning on shopping mode, so as you're walking down the street [wearing AR glasses], rather than seeing what the shop owner puts in the window, your AI knows what you're shopping for, your size and your favourite colours. Imagine looking into a window and seeing what's in the store that you might actually like. Even more interesting is if youre looking at a friends dress or jacket, and if you've got shopping mode on, the price and the designer pops up, and you can buy it right then.

What I find fascinating is being able to determine how the world sees you. Like [having] different ringtones depending on who is calling, imagine having a digital wardrobe so that when this group of friends sees you, you're wearing [one outfit], when strangers see you, youre wearing [something different].

Diamandis's new book, co-written with Steven Kotler, discusses how technological convergence could increase the pace of change in transportation, retail, advertising, education, health, entertainment, food and finance.

So why hasnt fashion been successful with VR? Three years ago, everyone in fashion was really excited about it.

VR has failed from the lack of being a social experience. But that's going to get solved. When you walk into a VR store, an AI fashion attendant will say, What are you looking for? And you can see in front of yourself a fashion show where everyone on the runway is you.

And there's also a digital twin of everything you own, which is fascinating. You can say, What is that going to look like with my shoes, my handbag, my tie? or whatever it might be.

A lot of these technologies are years away from becoming mainstream. Are there any specific technologies that a fashion brand should invest in now?

It's all about data and asking great questions, and I can start to ask AI to analyse it.

There is already a combination of sensors and networks, and we're heading toward a world where it's going to be possible for you to know anything you want, anytime, anywhere. Now, you can look up the GDP of Ghana in about 30 seconds, but if I asked you how many red sports cars have driven down the street in the last half hour? That's unlikely but the information is there.

Were heading toward what I call a trillion sensor economy which means that there will be cameras everywhere. So if I'm a fashion designer, I can ask, What colours are most popular today walking down Madison Avenue? Does it correlate with the temperature or the weather? Does it correlate with any fashion campaigns or Vogue covers?

While some of this technology might already exist, customers might not be ready to adopt it. How can brands navigate that without moving too fast?

The reality is for consumers to adopt; there really needs to be a 10x better price-performance improvement. It can't be a little bit better. It has to be a lot better. Sometimes you have to do that at your own cost to get people to shift over.

Amazon prioritised speed, cost and variety over profitability, but they won the world.But, its important to note, the adoption rate for technologies is accelerating.

Your book references the success of Amazon, but it hasnt yet mastered luxury fashion. Is Amazon well-positioned to offer luxury concessions?

Amazon's brand stands for cheaper, faster, more variety which is the opposite [of luxury]. Amazon is a global fulfilment house and a front-end for search. They'll have to do luxury goods through someone else's brand.

I mentor CEOs about software as a service and AI as a service. Every company today needs to rethink how they're building their organisation. You're not hiring the same old groups of people and building a giant org chart stuffed with people. You're now building an organisation where you have layers of software. Your fulfilment layer may be delivered by Amazon; your customer service layer may be provided by Amazon; your marketing may be provided by Amazon. And you're really at the top of the stack deciding what products you want to provide, shaping your brand.

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A top Silicon Valley futurist on how AI, AR and VR will shape fashion's future - Vogue Business

With the conclusion of the Infinity Saga and the exits of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has more question marks than its had in years. And with a dearth of real information, rumors are flying about whats in store for the future of the franchise.

The latest tantalizing piece of potential information concerns Captain Marvel. Showbiz CheatSheet, citing current narrative projections in the MCU and leaks from Marvel insiders, reports that in addition to the long-rumored A-Force, Captain Marvel is the natural choice to lead another rumored superhero team: The Ultimates.

Marvel head Kevin Feige has said that Captain Marvel will be a core piece of the puzzle moving forward, and leading both the all-female A-Force and the mixed-gender Ultimates would certainly make that a promise kept.

The A-Force came to be in a short-lived comic series published in 2015 and 2016. It includes Captain Marvel, Medusa, She-Hulk, Singularity, Nico Minoru, and Dazzler Thor.

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She-Hulk is coming to her own Disney+ series. Jane Foster is taking on the mantle of Mighty Thor inThor: Love and Thunder. It would make sense to put Captain Marvel, a character played by an Oscar winner who already has a solo Marvel film under her belt, at the head of the team of characters whove already debuted in the MCU.

Like the A-Force, The Ultimates was also a limited comic book series published in the early aughts. It currently counts Black Panther, Ms. America (who will reportedly appear in a Disney+ show), Spectrum (who appeared inCaptain Marvel), and Blue Marvel as members. With the exception of the latter, an Ultimates movie would have the same advantage of featuring characters who already exist in the MCU.

It also seems likely that Marvel wants to get Captain Marvel and Black Panther on screen together, and an Ultimates movie would be a relatively easy way to do so.

Alas, however, these are just rumors, and whats at least as likely as an elaborate secret plan already being hatched is that Feige and company are still making decisions about the future.

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Captain Marvel Might Be Leading Two Superhero Teams in Future MCU Films - Fatherly

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Captain Marvel #14, by Kelly Thompson, Lee Garbett, Tamra Bonvillain and VC's Clayton Cowles, on sale now.

Vox Supreme, the powerful mutated Kree who nearly destroyed the Inhumans, is using Captain Marvel to kill her fellow Avengers in a bid to get their genetic material. Threatening the lives of innocents all around the world with a series of hidden bombs, the villain has forced Carol intoa new costume through which he can monitor her actions to ensure her compliance. However, Captain Marvel hasproven tricky so far, hiding Thor and Tony Stark/Iron Man inside Singularity's pocket dimension and substituting clones for her comrades to buy time as she figures out how to diffuse Vox Supreme's bombs.

As she continues her quest in Captain Marvel#14,Carol comes face to face with an Avenger she might not be able to match: Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk.

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After explaining the situation to Thor and Tony in Singularity, Carol reports back to Vox Supreme, who threatens to kill more innocents if she doesn't work faster. The villain suspects Captain Marvel is attempting to undermine his operation due to the time she's spent in Singularity, where he's unable to monitor her. Ultimately, though, he decides he's still getting what he wants. His plans for the clones isn't entirely clear, but their genetic material is indeed furthering some nefarious goal.

Captain Marvel proceeds to pursue her next target: Avengers chairman T'Challa/Black Panther. Heading to find Black Panther just outside of Palo Alto,the Wakandan hero gets the jump on Carol, blasting her out of the sky. However, since he doesn't know his attacker is Captain Marvel due to her new suit, he's caught off guard by her immense powers and is knocked out.

That's when She-Hulk arrives.

RELATED: Marvel's She-Hulk Show Reportedly Starts Filming This Summer

Created by Stan Lee and John Buscema, Walters first appeared in 1980's Savage She-Hulk #1. She got her powers after receiving a blood transfusion from Bruce Banner/Hulk, her cousin. Although she's not as powerful as her unstoppable cousin in most conditions, She-Hulk is still incredibly formidable and retains more of her personality and sense. Currently, she's a member of the main Avengers team and has proven herself an absolute powerhouse in their battles.

When She-Hulk comes on the scene inCaptain Marvel#14, she hits Carol with a massive punch that sends her flying. Captain Marvel immediately admits that she wasn't expecting to take on She-Hulk.

With the clock ticking before Vox Supreme kills more innocents, Captain Marvel will now have to fight She-Hulk and subdue her long enough to get both her and Black Panther into Singularity. Jennifer Walters is definitely someone you don't want to fight without a plan, but Captain Marvel's anonymity may give her a major advantage. However, even if she does succeed, Carol is only making Vox Supreme stronger and furthering his malicious plans by bringing him Avengers clones. So unless she can figure out a solution soon, she'll have even bigger problems than a Hulk.

Captain Marvel #15 releases Feb. 19 from Marvel Comics.

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Did the DC Universe Just Get Rebooted... Again?

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Captain Marvel Faces the ONE Avenger Who Can Stop Her Rampage - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Bells ring out to mark a new day dawning on Arcadia, the quiet island of Battleworld where Marvel's mightiest women reside. As She-Hulk takes over command from the night shift, a team led by Captain Marvel patrols to ensure the island's safety. Carefree, the fliers, including Dazzler, Nico Minoru, and America Chavez, soar out over the ocean.

From the depths a megalodon appears, snapping its gnarly teeth at our fearless heroes and snagging America's hoodie. As she is dragged deep underwater, the team fights the giant shark, defending the people of Arcadia and trying to limit damage to their community. America wrestles free, Dazzler wounds the beast, and a very miffed America decides she doesn't need some megalodon stinking up the place, lifting it over her head and chucking it as far as she can.

America has saved everyone, but that doesn't matter in Battleworld, a land ruled and held together by the will of God Emperor Doom. Doom's laws are immutable and the consequences for breaking them weighty. The Thors who are essentially Doom's cops on Battleworld arrive and arrest America, taking her from her home, her people, and the family she has with Loki (in a female form) and Nico.

She-Hulk tries to fight for America to be allowed to stay but is met with draconian claims about law and order and the command that she do her job as Baroness of Arcadia. But it seems like Doom and his lackeys don't remember which giant green badass they're messing with.

Written by G. Willow Wilson and Marguerite Bennett, with pencils by Jorge Molina, inks by Jorge Molina and Craig Yeung, colors by Laura Martin and Matt Milla, and letters by Cory Petit, 2015's A-Force boasts the first all-female Avengers team. The events of the five-issue series take place as a part of Marvel's "Secret Wars" crossover event during which all the various universes that exist within the Marvel comics are destroyed and the surviving pieces of reality are cobbled together to form Battleworld.

Each domain of Battleworld looks completely different, and there are multiple versions of your favorite heroes living in different domains. In Arcadia, the all-female Avengers, who call themselves A-Force, live peacefully in their little feminist utopia. That is until the fateful day America is arrested and imprisoned.

This beloved series made FANGRRLS favorite comics of the decade list, and after "Secret Wars" ended the series lived on as A-Force (2016), continuing the story back in the non-Battleworld Marvel universe.

When the aforementioned giant shark is followed in quick succession by the arrival of a universe incarnated as a girl and a Sentinel (of X-Men fame), it becomes apparent that someone is trying to destabilize Arcadia. If She-Hulk wasn't already pissed, these additional anomalies make her angry enough to risk incurring Doom's wrath exploring one of the portals that open up over Arcadia. Her exploration leads her to discover the traitor in A-Force's midst: Loki.

With the Thors descending on Arcadia and Loki wresting control from She-Hulk, our heroes flee. In the process, Medusa is killed by the Thors and Singularity hides A-Force inside her she is a pocket universe after all. They eventually return and expose Loki for the power-hungry jerk she is, but not before Loki tears down the wall keeping the undead separate from the living. The forces of Arcadia fight back the surging hordes of death incarnate with Singularity's help, seemingly killing her in the process.

Arcadia is never the same after the events of A-Force. Where She-Hulk believed she was building a garden, a paradise away from the terrors of Battleworld, she finds that just under the surface is rot the rot of corruption, the rot of authoritarianism, the rot of a utopia based in lies. And once that rot is revealed, it's impossible to pretend it's not there. From complacency to feminist revolution and back again, A-Force is a story about how we delude ourselves into thinking everything is fine, but when we pay attention, we find ourselves in a complicated web of power, deceit, and cruelty, whether in a fictional story or IRL today.

Utopias aren't real in part because they are so hard to maintain. What makes for a perfect life? The answer depends on who you are, both in terms of your power and privilege and in terms of your personality. And how do you maintain that perfect life when some people aren't pleased with their station within it? Doom's solution an exacting and unquestionable system that metes out punishment without regard for context or cause works, but it only works for some, as becomes apparent in other "Secret Wars" stories.

If A-Force represents feminism within an imperfect world created by Doom (aka the patriarchy), then by extension, there is also a traitor in our midst. Until we are all committed to making our feminism anti-racist, queer-inclusive, trans-celebratory, fat-loving, anti-ableist, and so much more, we are the traitors we worry about. We are as power-hungry as Loki if we are unwilling to use our privilege to change the world.

After all, a feminist utopia that relies on extreme punishment, incarceration, and bowing to a patriarch is no utopia at all.

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A-Force brought a feminist utopia to life only to reveal its flaws - SYFY WIRE

Flying to the shelves this week from Marvel Comics,Captain Marvel #14 delves deeper into Kelly Thompsons The Last Avenger story arc with our favorite half-Kree hero.

Captain Marvel #14is a lot lighter in tone than the last two issues. This is mostly due to how much weve figured out at this point. With new light shed on Carols plan, fans can smile again knowing the good Captain has not actually gone rogue.

While Carols methods have been ruthless and unforgiving, her reasons have finally become clear. With this new villain mashup Vox Supreme puppeteering her every move, Carol has to be careful and quick thinking. Especially with the lives of countless Kree refugees at stake.

From the start, this issue follows a different pace from the previous two. We dont jump into Carol pounding on her next Avenger target hard and fast like before. In fact, we actually start with a little humor instead.

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Thompson seems to be slowly adjusting her readers (and potentially herself) back to a comfort zone after shocking them in issue #12 with what seemed to be Carol killing Thor. Its an interesting way to present this to us. First, shock the fans and grab the attention of the public in general. Then slowly bring us back to her usual style and so the old fans are comfortable and the newcomers see what shes all about.

After establishing what Carols working with as her plan right now, we do get back to her taking on her next target. Since we now know its all a ruse, it loses that dark tone, but Vox Supreme makes up for it in a few ways.

For starters, Voxs design is just eerie overall. His method of forcing Carol into doing this is somewhat cookie-cutter for villains, but it is still effective. Especially since hes detonated one his bombs from the start.

Theres just something about sickly neon green accenting black that just yells EVIL

What we now have is a story that is still very different from Thompsons usual works but is still familiar enough to not feel completely foreign. But most importantly, is the story still interesting now that the question is Captain Marvel going to kill all of the Avengers? has been answered?

The honest answer is yes. While the hook was Evil Carol what we have now is the mystery of this new villains full plan. What is Vox Supremes goal? Why did he appear now? And why is he using Carol specifically?

Captain Marvel #14even makes these questions more apparent. Tony and Carol are both unsure what to make of it. Carol even attempts to dig at Voxs plans before he shuts her out completely. We havent been given much to work with ourselves in figuring it out, and even though shes clearly not evil, Carol is still fighting the Avengers. This is still an active hook for the series.

Visually this comic is no slouch either. Each character shown has very defining features that stand out in their design. Thors monstrous upper body contrasts with Tonys smaller physique but Tonys overall more put together compared to Thor looking so rough. Carol, on the other hand, looks tired. Yes, the large shadows around her eyes really bring that home but more than that her expressions have this distaste to them.

This image kind of sums up the above paragraph.

The colors for this issue by Tamra Bonvillain are well decided on. Voxs pallet reminds me of a can of Monster Energy Drink, which is both weird and cool given his overall design. The backgrounds are very immersive from the space theme inside Singularity, to the vast dry area of Northern California.

Captain Marvel #14is lettered by VCs Clayton Cowles who also adds to the contrast between Tony and Thor. Thor is expressed very loud and bombastic while Tony, entirely because Carol damaged his windpipe, is struggling to speak at all.

This was a necessary issue to take a break from most of the nonstop action the previous two had. It explains the situation Carol is in more while also leaving us with many more questions on where we go from here.

This story arc has been fairly welcoming to anyone who may not have kept up withCaptain Marvelin recent times. Id still recommend checking out Thompsons entire run with the character, as well as her other works. But anyone with an interest in the story arc alone can jump right intoCaptain Marvel #12 with average knowledge of the Marvel Universe and go from there.

I hope to see Carol continue to take on the remaining Avengers almost as a test to see if she could. But I am more interested in knowing where the grand scheme of this tale is leading. As such I will continue to look forward to each issue and I still recommend checking this story out for anyone who hasnt.

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CAPTAIN MARVEL #14 Gives Us Answers But Then More Questions. - Monkeys Fighting Robots