Sam Blumenthal

Studies show that friends and family are still the most trusted sources when it comes to making purchasing decisions, with consumers more likely to buy a product they have experienced. Up against this kind of scrutiny, it is important for brands to select a host with a proven following and high engagement rates, and up to the influencer to promote... See more

Native vs. Skeuomorphic innovation, lessons from Gaming, and the future of online commerce

Solving the Personalization & Scale Paradox

When you think about it that way — that Netflix isn’t so much a network as they are a type of marketplace in which consumers can give their attention to creators — it becomes apparent that Netflix isn’t that far off from Uber or Airbnb or any of the other market-makers that are transforming industry-after-industry. Netflix: 1.  Is an infinitely... See more

On the flip side with regard to Miquela, some may argue, is that she’s more real than many ’real’ influencers. For starters, she acknowledges that she is a robot. And she speaks the truth. She was brought to life around the same time the world realized how detrimental social media could be. She makes us question what is real and our parameters of... See more