Technology

Crowd Media makes international expansion with EU, MENA licences for AI chatbot products

Thu 21 Jul 22, 1:30pm (AEDT)
Generic image of UAE skyline
Source: Unsplash

Key Points

  • Crowd Media has been given mobile network approvals to distribute its next-gen AI chatbot products in Europe and Middle East
  • Three licences awarded cover the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Arab Emirates
  • AI-powered ‘chatbot’ avatar products include Astrology VIP and childrens’ product Bedtime Stories

Conversational AI disruptor Crowd Media Holdings (ASX:CM8) has won three key international licences to mass distribute its next gen AI chatbot products. 

Coming to consumers in the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Arab Emirates; two entertainment apps will be available in corresponding e-markets — a children's bedtime story app, and one for astrological horoscopes.

Crowd Media specialise in hyperrealistic ‘deepfake’ avatar creation, creating lifelike human beings who do not actually exist. 

Crowd provides a wide range of services using this capability, packaged as its Talking Heads platform.

These AI-powered avatars are like chatbots of the 2010s, taken to their extreme. 

Also worth noting is the multilingual coverage of the three networks provided, underscoring Crowd’s ability to see its conversational AI tech enter international markets. 

Both products are fairly interesting and deserve a closer look. 

A look at the menu navigation functionality of Bedtime Stories
A look at the menu navigation functionality of Bedtime Stories

Educational product Bedtime Stories

The first, Bedtime Stories, is a children’s bedtime storybook app that features a range of Crowd’s next-generation AI avatars. 

Children will be able to select which avatar (read: character) reads them the story. 

The ‘character’ on screen will be able to respond to childrens’ requests and conversational input after selecting a story to read. 

Cornering the spirituality sector 

The second application, Astrology VIP, is more of a niche offering. 

One dedicated in-app character, ‘Astra,’ will read daily horoscopes for users, with conversational functionality in-built. 

Users will be able to choose between typical Astrological horoscopes, Chinese star signs, tarot cards, numerology, and dream interpretations. 

Astrology VIP will also provide information on planetary movements. 

Subscription revenue under 80/20 agreement

The licences awarded today will generate revenue for Crowd through weekly subscriptions of EUR4.00 (A$5.90) per week for Bedtime Stories and EUR2.50/w ($3.70) for Astrology VIP. 

Crowd has executed agreements with each of the three mobile networks in the three jurisdictions to retain up to 80% of revenue generated from subs. 

“Reaching this milestone by integrating [our] technology into subscription-based applications has opened new revenue channels that leverage our conversational AI,” Crowd Media CEO Idan Schmorak said. 

“Both entertainment products showcase the capabilities of our platform’s ability to convert text to audio-visual, while interacting with users in multiple languages…providing opportunities to upscale into new markets.”

After a run of bad weather, CM8's share price is up 14% at lunchtime trade, as investors absorb the company's new international expansion
After a run of bad weather, CM8's share price is up 14% at lunchtime trade, as investors absorb the company's new international expansion

 

Written By

Jonathon Davidson

Finance Writer

Jonathon is a journalism graduate and avid market watcher with exposure to governance, NGO and mining environments. He was most recently hired as an oil and gas specialist for a trade publication.

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