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Brewing brand love: how AI startups are reaching subscribers through coffee — the cappuccinos are camouflage.

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[-] Max_P@lemmy.max-p.me 114 points 1 week ago

I bet they'll eventually get caught using coffee shop cameras and conversations for AI training, say it's for training a security product or something.

[-] Tamo240@programming.dev 51 points 1 week ago

This is 100% the answer, the only solution to the model decay from LLM outputs overwhelming the web is to start collecting data IRL.

This is also why companies like OpenAI are desperately investing in 'AI wearables' that no-one wants. They have to get the unpolluted data from somewhere, and recording real conversations will at least mostly have come from actual humans instead of AI.

[-] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 3 points 1 week ago

since coffe shops also free wifi, they would want access to the data of laptops, and phones as well.

[-] stringere@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago
[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

It seems like there are probably ways they could do that without calling so much attention to themselves.

[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 73 points 1 week ago

asked via touchscreen if they’re Perplexity Pro subscribers. A “yes” earns them 50% off drinks; a “no” triggers a QR code for a one-month free trial of the $20 service.

Look at how desperate they are to get a return before the bubble bursts. It's hilarious.

[-] alecbowles@feddit.uk 63 points 1 week ago

They need to start making money somehow. Overpriced coffee sounds like a good start

[-] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 24 points 1 week ago

The first hint that this place is run by an AI company comes at checkout, when guests are asked via touchscreen if they’re Perplexity Pro subscribers. A “yes” earns them 50% off drinks; a “no” triggers a QR code for a one-month free trial of the $20 service.

I’d have said “fuck off” and left without my coffee.

[-] goatinspace@feddit.org 28 points 1 week ago
[-] DFX4509B_2@lemmy.org 25 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Really? AI companies going Herbalife now? Because this reminds me of how Herbalife fronts would typically pop up.

I mean, this is straight out of Herbalife's playbook for luring new marks fresh off the street into their pyramid scheme, c'mon now....

[-] myfunnyaccountname@lemmy.zip 24 points 1 week ago

Capturing all network traffic for training.

[-] eskimofry@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago

I know i sound like a doomer but..

maybe the bubble is about to burst and this is just panic diversification of assets? it sure is funny to attribute it to that.

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

I mean LOL maybe???

[-] arran4@aussie.zone 16 points 1 week ago

The article makes it sound like it's marketing, I'm going to guess it's because internet advertising doesn't work with the audience they want or they got some diminishing returns. Sounds expensive though.

[-] darkmogool@feddit.org 15 points 1 week ago

There surely will be microphones to train the AI.

[-] jpv2390@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 1 week ago

They must be competing for markethare - they need more users. If those AI companies really are getting by with VC and other crap debt only this MO can only be propped up by increasing user numbers.

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

A billboard costs money. A cafe also has your brand name on it but can be operated at a profit.

I don’t know what this is really all about but I’m just thinking through possibilities. It could definitely just be a stupid marketing fad. The number of eyeballs a cafe will get in a metropolis like Seoul is tremendous. If they had a cafe in every town across bumfuk suburbia that would be another story.

[-] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 7 points 1 week ago

Never thought that my dislike for the taste and smell of coffee would become something that actively makes me glad.

[-] SaraTonin@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

I love how the photo of the inside of the place looks like it’s ai generated

[-] DamienGramatacus@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Coffee slops?

[-] Bebopalouie@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

Heehee, well they have to make a profit somehow.

[-] Zen_Shinobi@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Great. Now "AI" will burn my coffee because it "thinks" I would rather have a hotter temp than I pick.

Good thing I like tea instead lol

[-] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

i wouldnt be surprised if it gets confused between, 150F and 150celcius.

[-] Zen_Shinobi@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Or you know, 150K

[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Reminds me of that uWink restaurant lol

[-] Kissaki@feddit.org 1 points 1 week ago

We get so many free digital services from mega corps. If it weren't for the physical costs involved, we'd already be getting physical goods like that.

Imagine a possible future of Meta, Google, and Microsoft shops. Selling under cost to bind customers.

this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2025
172 points (100.0% liked)

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