Tech Report: Amazon expands Prime video ad load, Meta faces pressure over scam ads
Viewers on Amazon Prime Video can expect to see more ads — and longer ones — as the streaming giant increases its commercial load.
(LILAMAX)- Viewers on Amazon Prime Video can expect to see more ads — and longer ones — as the streaming giant increases its commercial load. According to six ad buyers and internal documents reviewed by Adweek, the current ad time on Prime Video has climbed to between four and six minutes per hour. That’s up from just two to three and a half minutes per hour in January 2024.
In addition to longer ad breaks, Amazon is also leaning into artificial intelligence. The company has introduced a new AI-powered video generator that can create advertisements featuring humans, pets, and music — signaling a move to make ad creation faster and potentially more cost-effective.
While Amazon reshapes the ad experience, AI is also making strides in another sector — banking. Five Star Bank reports that businesses are increasingly seeking more personalized relationships with their financial institutions. The top factor in choosing a bank? A “variety of services and products,” which 545 percent of businesses cited as most important.
Meanwhile, Meta is under growing scrutiny from a coalition of 42 state attorneys general, who are urging the company to crack down on investment scams spreading across Facebook. Fraudsters have been using the likenesses of prominent figures like Warren Buffett to lure victims into fake investment schemes. The AGs say these scams continue to evade Meta’s automated and human moderation systems — costing retail investors millions.
In the tech sector, Voyager Technologies Inc. made a splash on its market debut. The Denver-based firm saw its shares soar 82% on its first day of trading. Voyager serves both government and commercial clients in national security, advanced tech, and space infrastructure.
The company is partnering with major players including Airbus, Mitsubishi Corp., MDA Space, and Palantir on the Starlab space station, planned for low-Earth orbit.
