Tag: AI Technology

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Insurance and takaful solutions provider Zurich Malaysia has joined forces with Malaysia-based pet insurance platform Oyen to introduce ‘Oyen Takaful Kucing’, the first-ever cat takaful product in Asia.

Oyen and Zurich’s innovative collaboration aims to address the growing demand for takaful pet coverage that can provide comprehensive protection for cats and their owners in Malaysia.

The ‘Oyen Takaful Kucing’ coverage can cover up to RM8,000 of unexpected vet bills when a customer’s pet cat falls ill or is injured. With this, owners can seek quality veterinary care for their feline companions during emergency situations.

Additionally, the Shariah-compliant product will provide pet owners with coverage plans that are aligned with the Islamic principles and values of mutual protection and shared responsibility.

Leveraging Oyen’s AI-enhanced application, the cat takaful insurance ensures seamless submission, processing, and tracking of claims, which offers a swift assessment and greatly simplifies the experience for pet owners.

Shamsul Azman, chief executive officer of Zurich General Takaful Malaysia Berhad, said, “We are excited to collaborate with Oyen in introducing Asia’s first cat takaful product. We believe that this product aligns with the evolving needs of pet owners and supports our commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions. Zurich is proud to be part of this venture, and we look forward to making a meaningful impact on the pet insurance and takaful industries in Malaysia. This ties back to our brand campaign “Care For What Matters,” reinforcing our dedication to protecting what our customers value most.”

Kevin Hoong, co-founder and CEO of Oyen, also shared, “As the pioneer of pet insurance in Malaysia, we are encouraged to see the exponential growth in the segment since our launch in 2021. We have seen growing interest from pet owners who prefer takaful as a protection option for themselves and their family (including their pets). With our new takaful offering with Zurich, a leading global brand, we look forward to helping more Malaysian pet owners afford high quality veterinarian care that is comparable to that of developed nations like UK, Japan, and Sweden. This partnership marks a significant step in providing peace of mind and security to pet owners while respecting their faith-based principles.”

Singapore – Global marketing and communications network Publicis Groupe, Singapore Management University (SMU), and communications technology group Singtel have joined forces to organise an AI-driven storytelling workshop for students.

Using as many as five AI tools, 37 undergraduate students from SMU created engaging video stories on Singtel’s impact on digital inclusion.

The student participants were given the project brief to utilise the latest AI storytelling tools such as Runway Gen2, Meta AudioCraft, ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, Lexica, DreamStudio, and Clipdrop to come up with a compelling story focused on digital inclusion.

Given this challenge, students were exposed to the latest artificial intelligence tools and technology readily available for their use. However, it also challenged them to conceptualise and create engaging, impactful, and memorable stories and characters for various audiences and media. Furthermore, the workshop aims to provide students with the skills they’ll be able to apply to real-world client projects.

As part of the workshop, five undergraduates with the best short films were also awarded with full-time, 12-week summer internship opportunities at Singtel and Publicis Groupe, where they can put their newly acquired skills to use. Meanwhile, the top 10 selected films were showcased in a mini-festival at SMU. 

The project brief for this AI storytelling workshop was created by Leo Burnett Singapore, a part of the Publicis Groupe. This is also the second time Publicis Groupe Singapore has worked with SMU to provide students with hands-on experience with AI tools. 

Something new in this project, however, is the involvement of a real brand, which is Singtel. The jury panel for the storytelling project included Bill Ang of Singtel; Jean-François Thery, head of growth at Publicis Communications, Singapore; and Tommy Tan, head of strategy at Publicis Media, Singapore.

The workshop was part of a 13-week SMU-X course titled ‘Storytelling for Organisations and Brands’ offered at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB). It was led by LKCSB Professor of Communication Management Mark Chong and Laurent Thevenet, head of creative technology for APAC at Publicis Groupe.

Bill Ang, director of brand marketing at Singtel Singapore, said, “A.I. is already transforming many facets of life. At Singtel, we are leveraging this technology to ideate and co-create in ways that will enhance customer experiences and drive learning. It’s great to see the energy and creativity in the work from the SMU students. Their submissions have been incredibly inspiring and have given us much food for thought.”

Speaking about the workshop, Professor Chong also explained, “As a telecommunications leader, Singtel knows how important it is for students to take new risks and try new processes using the latest technologies. It has been an honour partnering with the largest mobile network operator in Singapore to encourage a new generation to embrace AI. and push the edge of new possibilities.”

Thevenet also added, “This collaboration with Singtel has given a new cohort of 37 SMU students an advantage in the future workplace. AI is fundamentally changing the creative process, and although human creativity is more important than ever, learning how to partner with machines to create something out of the ordinary will become an essential skill for graduates.”

Meanwhile, Thery said, “Singtel has always been at the forefront of pushing the best in technology for Singapore, so it’s been an incredible experience working with SMU students to help prepare them for the future workplace—we’re thrilled with their creations.”

Singapore – Cloud-based omnichannel platform Teads revealed the results of its global collaborative research with market research firm Ipsos on key creative elements that drive success in the omnichannel automotive campaign landscape. 

The collaborative research findings showed that streamlined messaging, brand clarity, wide shots, and human connection are among the key creative elements that can convey successful storytelling in an automotive campaign.

Based on the data, videos that focus less on the vehicle and instead integrate the object into a larger storyline tend to gain higher in-view times. Revealing the interior features of the vehicle is also found to be engaging, particularly in consideration-focused ads.

Additionally, campaigns that prominently feature the brand logo and name capture audience attention and provide a strong hook. Wide and simple shots are also effective as they convey a sense of freedom and movement, which tend to engage viewers.

Part of the data also revealed that videos with fewer scenes gain higher in-view times as they require less cognitive effort to comprehend.

In addition, colour contrasts also play an important role in a campaign’s effectiveness, with lighter elements having a significant impact on in-view time. The research showed that chromatic contrasts like blue and orange make the videos more appealing, increasing in-view time. Meanwhile, dark-coloured videos have a shorter viewing time due to a lack of contrast.

Teads leverages Ipsos cutting-edge AI capabilities and advanced statistical modelling techniques to gain a comprehensive understanding of effective automotive advertisement elements.

Henner Blömer, VP of global client partnerships at Teads, said, “Creativity is the crucial component of successful digital car campaigns. In previous Teads research, we found significantly higher levels of attention (+49%) and brand lift (+31%) with creatively optimised campaigns. In order to provide clients and agencies with further insights into the optimal design of advertising media, we have collaborated with IPSOS to develop best practices to significantly increase the view time of campaigns.“

Also commenting on the research, Jessica Sleep, brand communications and social media manager at MINI, said, “There have been some great insights presented as a result of this study, particularly around the use of people, colour contrasts, and text. We’ve implemented Teads’ recommendations in our upcoming campaigns, and I look forward to seeing the results!”

Singapore – Almost 60% of consumers in the Asia-Pacific have expressed interest in AI-driven decision-making facilitation for their investments amid economic uncertainty and perceived financial crises, a report from dentsu revealed. 

The report by dentsu explored the evolving consumer financial behaviour across APAC markets against the backdrop of an economic crisis.

The key findings of dentsu’s report showed that 55% of APAC consumers now sense a looming risk of financial hardship over the next five years due to economic uncertainty and rising costs of living. The perceived financial crisis is also driving consumers to actively seek financial service providers that are capable of delivering swift, personalised, and empathetic solutions to address their financial needs.

The report highlighted that almost 45% of millennials are now looking to save up as concerns over government debt and pension support are escalating, a significant shift in numbers as compared to the 31% results from 2020.

And with consumers looking to prepare for challenging economic times, many are still leaning towards human-led financial services despite the growth of digital banking.

The report revealed that 77% of people ages 25–34 currently use the internet for banking purposes on a weekly basis, and most are open to purchasing more banking services through digital channels.

However, 6 out of 10 APAC consumers still prefer human interaction when making complaints about a product or service. This shows that there is an enduring value to human-led financial services despite the rise of digital banking, as empathetic support remains important in ensuring customers receive assistance during financial difficulties.

It is worth noting, however, that dentsu’s report also revealed a growing interest in AI-powered financial services. Almost 60% of APAC consumers have expressed interest in AI-driven decision-making facilitation for their investments.

This part of the results shows that balancing technological advancement with human empathy can be the key to a business’ success. By harnessing the evolving capabilities of AI, it can improve the capabilities of insurance and finance brands to provide automated, personalised, and speedy services that can help consumers be more resilient to financial and climate-related risks.

Prerna Mehrotra, chief client officer and CEO of media at dentsu APAC, said, “Across the APAC region, consumers are focused on securing their financial futures, and they’re turning to brands that not only provide convenience through cutting-edge technology but also prioritise emotional responsiveness and empathy. In this era of uncertainty, financial wellness is seen as part and parcel of overall wellness. People are in search of providers that go beyond merely offering financial solutions; banks, insurers, and fintech are responding by building guidance on investments and good financial habits into their offerings.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Life insurance provider Allianz Malaysia has partnered with FCB Shout, a part of the global FCB advertising network, to release its newest “Be A-Z Ready For Tomorrow” campaign that centers on how total retirement is more than just saving money. 

The quirky campaign dove head-on into the issue of retirement schemes and the harsh future that awaits people should they continue to plan their retirement the traditional way of solely bolstering their finances. 

FCB Shout’s campaign idea peeled off the layers of outdated cliches about retirement plans and instead focused on the issue at the center of the retirement reality: preparing for retirement requires more than just saving money.

The ‘Be A-Z Ready For Tomorrow’ campaign was composed of two parts: a film and a social experiment video that featured the power of AI technology.  

The lighthearted film featured the protagonist’s older future self travelling back in time to warn his younger self about the perils that plagued their retirement as a result of the retirement savings scheme he had just contentedly signed up for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjkhU2kD6ZM

Together with the film, the campaign included a social experiment video that used AI and face mapping technology to execute the time travelling concept. Through AI, Malaysians who participated in the social experiment received messages from their future selves about the ineffectiveness of their retirement plans. 

The social experiment video was designed as a more realistic companion piece to the main film, showing viewers the reality of their retirement plans and helping them understand the real danger that awaits them in the future if they do not shift their current mindset regarding retirement. 

Amy Loke, chief market management officer at Allianz Malaysia, explained, “While it’s undeniable that savings is a critical component of retirement preparation, most Malaysians are under the impression that saving is the only thing that they need to do.The reality is, to plan for a total retirement, it is also essential to put other factors like healthcare cost and life’s unpredictability into consideration. 

She continued, “It’s a challenging conversation because of how deeply ingrained the old method is in the minds of Malaysians. But FCB SHOUT’s creative concept truly hit the nail on the head; not only raising the awareness on the importance of the oft-neglected healthcare and life aspects of retirement and showcasing how our Total Retirement Solutions are designed to get Malaysians A-Z ready for tomorrow, but also successfully doing so in a refreshingly light manner that made this difficult conversation easy to digest for our audience.”

Speaking on the campaign, Suah Boon Chuan, creative director at FCB SHOUT, said, “Challenging the traditional view will always come with resistance and skepticism, so we chose to bring the issue and Allianz Malaysia’s total retirement solutions to the audience’s attention using humour and entertainment to make our message more palatable.” 

“More essentially, we needed to show a true understanding of our audience’s desired future lifestyle, hence even our portrayal of retirement was reimagined based on the natural progression of their current way of life. There might be sci-fi elements in our spot, but we wanted it to be clear that the issue was anything but fictional,” he added. 

Mumbai, India – Insurance provider Ageas Federal Life Insurance (AFLI) in India has launched a one-of-a-kind integrated campaign featuring a youthful legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Developed with VMLY&R, the campaign was created using bespoke DeepFake AI video regeneration technology to transform the cricket legend into an 11-year-old version of himself.

The campaign wants to inspire parents to invest in their children’s future by allowing them to follow their greatest aspirations. Tendulkar overcame numerous obstacles as a child, yet he trusted his instincts and went on to become one of the best batsmen in cricket history.

DeepFake recently arose in buzz on the internet to the delight of the general public and professional creators, and customer experience agency VMLY&R revealed that they designed a new approach that combined AI, CG, and live shoot to obtain the desired result in the campaign. There were also no existing videos of the young Sachin which pushed the team to utilise a few existing pictures. 

Mukund Olety, chief creative officer, VMLY&R India, said that it’s amazing what they can do with technology, that they can tell stories that could have never been told before. 

“We wanted an inspiring figure to convince parents to overcome their fears with better financial planning from Ageas Federal Life Insurance, and who better than our protagonist – the 11-year-old Sachin. While we knew this was something we could achieve using technologies such as DeepFake AI, unfortunately for us, we didn’t have any pre-existing videos of Sachin as a child. Instead of letting that stop us, we found our way through custom tech innovations,” Olety said.

“This is perhaps the first time a person or celebrity is being de-aged by so many years. Not just that, even the voice is de-aged. We recorded the adult Sachin and de-aged his voice to make sure it had realistic notes and nuances, things people recognize about him today,” Olety adds.

Karthik Raman, chief marketing officer, Ageas Federal Life Insurance, said that their brand ambassador, Sachin Tendulkar is the perfect embodiment of being #FutureFearless. Un-deterred by any hurdles that life threw at him, he persevered with determination to achieve his dreams and build his future. 

“Our aim through this campaign is to use Sachin’s example to encourage parents to wisely plan for their children’s future. We are going through uncertain times but with financial discipline and timely investment in life insurance, parents can help fulfil the fearless dreams of their children,” Raman said.

Raman underscored, “We were excited to work with VMLY&R on our brand film which uses DeepFake AI video regeneration technology to portray a young Sachin at the age of 11 years. While we have watched the Master Blaster innumerable times as an adult, we did not have any pre-existing footage of him as a child. Hence, we completely relied on this technology to de-age him and create the video.”