- Markets - Around The World
- Posts
- 3D-Printed 'Starbucks Store'
3D-Printed 'Starbucks Store'
& ChatBot Ads
Starbucks Opens First 3D-Printed Store in Texas
Starbucks is opening its first 3D-printed store in the United States, with the launch set for Friday, May 2 in Brownsville, Texas. This location, near the US-Mexico border, was constructed using large-scale 3D printing technology, specifically a COBOD model operated by Germany's PERI 3D Construction, involving a computerized robotic arm layering concrete.
The 1,400-square-foot building will function solely as a drive-thru and mobile order pickup location, lacking indoor seating. While resembling a typical Starbucks from afar, its textured, layered concrete walls reveal the 3D printing construction method upon closer inspection.
Starbucks has not stated why Brownsville was chosen or if more such stores are planned, but the project is viewed as part of the construction industry's broader exploration of 3D printing's potential applications. Although currently considered more expensive than conventional methods, the technology offers potential benefits like faster construction and addressing labor shortages.
AI Giants Explore New Revenue Streams Amidst Strategic Shifts
As generative AI evolves, major tech players are adapting their business models, with Google notably integrating ads into AI chatbot conversations via its AdSense network to protect its advertising dominance. Simultaneously, OpenAI projects massive revenue growth, targeting $125 billion by 2029 and $174 billion by 2030, driven by a strategic pivot beyond its current offerings.
OpenAI's ambitious forecast hinges on shifting from conversational tools like ChatGPT to autonomous "agentic AI" systems designed for real-world task execution, positioning itself as fundamental AI infrastructure. This transformation involves exploring diverse monetization beyond subscriptions, potentially including advertising and affiliate fees, and necessitates a planned $46 billion investment in infrastructure like custom chips and data centers over the next four years.
Google's tactic of embedding ads within AI chats, tested with startups like iAsk and Liner, aims to safeguard its core search advertising revenue (over $198 billion in 2024) as AI competitors emerge. This mirrors efforts by other AI startups exploring advertising to cover high operational costs, navigating challenges like potentially lower click rates in AI interaction flows
World Unveils Orb Mini for Human Verification, Expands to US
Tools for Humanity, the startup behind Sam Altman's World human verification project, has unveiled the Orb Mini, a portable device designed to help distinguish between humans and AI agents online. This launch coincides with the expansion of the World Network into the United States, including opening physical storefronts in cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco for iris scanning.
Resembling a smartphone and reportedly influenced by a former Apple designer, the Orb Mini scans a user's iris to generate a unique blockchain identifier, establishing "proof of personhood" Its primary function is to authenticate more users easily and affordably, rather than serving typical smartphone purposes like calls or apps.
The World project, formerly Worldcoin, aims to address the growing difficulty of differentiating humans from AI online and has already verified 12 million people globally out of 26 million sign-ups. Alongside the US rollout, World announced partnerships, including a planned World Visa card and a pilot program with Match Group to integrate its identity verification technology