The use of hype as a marketing strategy has become the norm. There was a time when excitement was purposefully employed, but everything now appears to be dependent on hype, regardless of the company or product. Walmart, for instance, releases limited-edition toothpaste. It is believed that the hype business exploits our fundamental human nature; “exclusive” deals trigger our so-called reptile brain. “At what point will the hype eat itself when we’re so used to being battered with drops and collabs and special editions that nothing feels so special anymore?” Read full article here
Research
Researcher uses AI to make texts that are thousands of years old readable
The Gilgamesh Epic, the oldest work of world literature, has been brought back to life by LMU researchers in the Electronic Babylonian Literature project. Using their new Fragmentarium tool, they have discovered hundreds of manuscripts, including the most recent tablet of the Gilgamesh Epic which dates from 130 BC – thousands of years after the earliest known version. This shows how highly valued the Epic was, even at a late period. With the public release of the Fragmentarium, anyone can now explore the thousands of cuneiform fragments and explore the ancient Babylonian literature. Read full article here
Merv
March 12, 2023
