AI in Marketing

A fellow podcaster emailed me today asking to rate his show. The link pointed to a clean app that made leaving reviews easy. I signed up for a free trial — nine dollars a month. A quick search confirmed most podcast rating platforms charge $8 to $30 monthly for what is essentially a landing page with platform links.

I asked Claude Code if I could build this myself for Back in America. In under thirty minutes, I had a working site on Render's free tier — live Apple Podcasts ratings, step-by-step review guides for four platforms, links to eleven podcast apps. No frameworks, no API keys, no cost.

Then I thought: why keep this to myself?

Now it's a built-in VoiceStream feature. Any user can create a branded review page in under two minutes — live ratings, review carousel, step-by-step guides with deep-link buttons for each platform.

Here's what puts this in perspective. For the same $9.99/month that buys you just a review landing page elsewhere, VoiceStream gives you text-to-voice, voice-to-voice, newsletter management, article research, full customization with human oversight at every step, fully automated podcast publishing, podcast hosting, and now a free review page on top of it.

Nine dollars 99. Not for one feature. For the whole platform. So please use the link below and leave me five stars.

Next.

Stryker, a medical technology company, is working to restore its systems after a cyberattack by pro-Iranian hackers, identified as the Handala group, wiped data from thousands of employee devices. The attack, reportedly a response to a U.S. airstrike in Iran, targeted Stryker's internal Microsoft environment, affecting operations but not compromising internet-connected medical products. The breach, which disrupted order processing and manufacturing, did not involve ransomware or malware. Hackers allegedly accessed Stryker's network through an internal administrator account, gaining control over Microsoft Intune dashboards used for managing employee devices. This allowed them to remotely erase data from phones and laptops. Security experts suggest phishing tactics may have been used to infiltrate the network. Stryker, with 56,000 employees worldwide, has not commented on whether multi-factor authentication was in place for the compromised account. The incident marks a significant cyberattack linked to geopolitical tensions.

Meanwhile.

AI software embedded in smart glasses, known as CrossSense, has won a £1m prize for aiding people with dementia. The technology, integrated into black-rimmed frames equipped with a camera, microphone, and speakers, features a chatty assistant named Wispy. Wispy provides verbal cues and floating text to guide users through daily tasks, engage in light conversation, and assist with reminiscences. The Longitude prize on dementia, supported by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK, aims to foster technology that helps dementia patients maintain independence. With an estimated 150 million people expected to live with dementia by 2050, CrossSense Ltd plans to use the prize money to bring their product to market, with a smartphone version available by the end of the year and smart glasses expected in early 2027. The glasses, compatible with prescription lenses and hearing aids, will undergo a pilot test in late 2026. Priced at £50 per month with glasses costing up to £1,000, they will initially target consumers and potentially become available through the NHS. A study showed that the glasses significantly improved the ability of dementia patients to identify household items, with benefits persisting even after removal.

On a different note.

The Justice Department has defended its decision to label Anthropic, an AI developer, as a supply-chain risk, arguing that the designation does not violate the company's First Amendment rights. This move stems from concerns over Anthropic's attempts to limit military use of its Claude AI models, which the government claims could pose security vulnerabilities. The Trump administration's filing in a San Francisco federal court contends that Anthropic's lawsuit against the government is unlikely to succeed, as the First Amendment does not permit companies to impose contract terms on the government. Anthropic argues that the administration overstepped its authority, potentially costing the company billions in revenue. A hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday to address Anthropic's request to continue business operations during the litigation. The government maintains that Anthropic's restrictions on AI use could lead to sabotage or subversion of national security systems. The Pentagon is seeking to replace Anthropic's AI tools with alternatives from Google, OpenAI, and xAI. Several organizations, including AI researchers and Microsoft, have filed briefs supporting Anthropic, while none have supported the government. Anthropic has until Friday to respond to the government's arguments.

In other news.

The BBC reports that AI-driven recruitment processes are increasingly impacting job seekers, with many candidates like Bhuvana Chilukuri experiencing rapid rejections. AI systems often screen applications and conduct initial video interviews, leading to concerns about the lack of human interaction and the potential for bias. Despite having work experience, Chilukuri struggles to secure employment, reflecting a broader trend where job vacancies have decreased, and companies face an overwhelming number of applications. Firms like Mishcon de Reya are using AI to manage this influx, with tools that can identify AI-generated content in applications. While AI aims to enhance fairness and efficiency, skepticism remains about its ability to replace human judgment in hiring decisions, highlighting the need for a balanced approach.

Shifting gears.

A San Francisco startup, Multiply, has emerged from stealth with $9.5 million in funding led by Mayfield to address the issue of "decaying ads" in digital advertising. The company aims to transform B2B marketing by treating ad creative as a continuous learning loop rather than a periodic task. Multiply's system integrates AI agents with existing data sources like sales call recordings and CRM pipelines to enhance ad campaigns on platforms like Google Search and LinkedIn. The AI agents perform tasks such as personalizing ad copy, refining audience targeting, and refreshing imagery. Multiply's approach is positioned for future AI-driven ad formats, including potential ChatGPT advertising, as it seeks to improve the speed of feedback loops in the $50 billion B2B advertising market.

After that.

The FBI has resumed purchasing location data of U.S. citizens from data brokers, as confirmed by Director Kash Patel during a congressional testimony. This marks the first acknowledgment since 2023 that the agency is buying access to data collected from consumer apps. Previously, former FBI Director Christopher Wray stated the agency had stopped such purchases. When questioned by Senator Ron Wyden, Patel defended the practice, asserting it aligns with constitutional and legal standards, specifically the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Wyden criticized the practice, arguing it bypasses the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unwarranted searches and seizures. The FBI declined further comment on the frequency and sources of data purchases. Typically, government agencies require a judge's authorization to access private data, but some have circumvented this by buying data from companies that collect it through commercial tracking technologies. This practice has not been legally challenged in court. In response, Wyden and other lawmakers have introduced the Government Surveillance Reform Act, which would mandate court-approved warrants for federal agencies to purchase Americans' data from brokers.

Finally.

Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, envisions a future where AI agents replace smartphone apps, marking a shift from traditional app-based devices. Speaking at the SXSW conference, Pei suggested that apps will become obsolete as AI technology advances. He highlighted that current smartphones, despite technological progress, still rely on outdated user interfaces reminiscent of early devices like Palm Pilots. Pei's vision includes AI-first smartphones capable of understanding and executing user intentions without manual input. He criticized the current multi-step process required for simple tasks, such as arranging a coffee meeting, which involves navigating through multiple apps. Instead, Pei proposes a system where the AI understands user intentions and acts autonomously. Although apps won't disappear immediately, Pei emphasized the need for interfaces designed for AI agents rather than human navigation. Nothing's operating system already supports user-created mini apps, but Pei believes the future lies in AI seamlessly interacting with these tools, bypassing traditional app interfaces.