Everyone describes their initial look at blockchain and web3 as “going down the rabbit hole”. It starts simply with Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Then they go to Ethereum. But then it quickly becomes a sea of confusing, contradictory, and usually half-baked topics. Such as: Decentralized vs. centralized platforms and systems. DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations) and other […]
In this week’s episode, Jeff Towson dives deep into the concept of the rate of learning as a competitive advantage, a significant shift from its origins in production-intensive products to a digital necessity. He explores how Amazon and Tencent have harnessed this capacity, transforming it into a formidable competitive tool. The episode offers insightful perspectives on the ‘smile marathon’, the experience effect, and the emergence of the rate of learning as a key competitive advantage.
In this insightful piece, Jeff Towson explores what Xiaomi, despite its strong management team and innovative approach, can learn from the strategies employed by Apple and Amazon. He underscores the importance of a clear, effective strategy, something he believes these two tech giants excel at. Furthermore, he brings attention to the vital role that artificial intelligence (AI) plays as a strategic tool in today’s digital business landscape.
I had a good interview with Arthur du Passage and Edouard de Mezerac of Artefact, a data consulting and digital marketing company. And I thought they had a really good vantage point for how AI / ML is being used on the ground in China. I’ve summarized my 3 take-aways from our discussion. An Introduction […]
We are a couple of years into the epic (pun intended) fight between Apple and Epic Games over the App Store. This is really the biggest tech fight we have seen in tech in a decade. For example: Apple doubles down in fight with Fortnite creator Epic Games, seeks damages for breach of contract (CNBC) […]
Use cases are a good way to approach the subject of AI. Just hunt industry by industry and see what companies are using AI for and not. It’s the best way to separate out the hype. And make sure you look at industries other than your own. I find scanning use cases across industries is […]
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses how Nike has successfully built a competitive advantage in China by participating in the large platform businesses of Alibaba and WeChat. He shares insights on how other businesses can do the same. Towson argues that businesses need to focus on providing a great customer experience and building strong relationships with platform partners. He also emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making.
“New retail”, coined by Alibaba, was probably the least creative business term ever. But it was a big idea. You combine online and physical retail into a seamless, data-driven consumer experience. It is giving rise to new business models, from transformed supermarkets and cashier-less convenience stores to automated package pickup centers and re-imaged department stores. […]
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson interviews Abel Deng, CEO of Huawei Thailand, about Huawei’s four big projects in Thailand. Deng discusses the importance of digital infrastructure in Thailand’s economic development and how Huawei is helping to build the country’s digital future. The four projects are:
Building a 5G network in Thailand
Developing a smart city in Bangkok
Investing in education and training
Supporting the development of startups
I recently wrote about Shein and how they are increasing on rate of learning (plus low prices). That article is here. And I characterized their rapid updating of their site (adding +1,000 new products per day) as “retail at the speed of algorithms”. However, there are other types of rate of learning. One is when […]