Pixi Launches iOS App That Turns Texts Into Interactive AR Experiences (June 18)
On June 18 Pixi released an iPhone app that converts a simple SMS into a 3‑D augmented reality scene. Users tap a link, point their phone, and watch a product or logo pop up in their living room. The move aims to replace emojis and GIFs with brand‑driven AR moments that feel personal and shareable. For a small‑business owner, the tech offers a new channel to showcase a new paint color, a kitchen remodel, or a limited‑time discount without paying for expensive video production. The app tracks engagement, so you can see who opened the AR view and for how long, giving you data to follow up with a call or email. Start experimenting now – the barrier is just an iPhone and a Pixi link.
AR texts let you turn a cheap SMS into a visual showcase that drives foot traffic and appointment bookings.
Source: TechCrunch AI
Quick Hits
UK Pushes Flawed Face‑Age Tech for Asylum Checks (June 18)
The Home Office plans to scan asylum‑seekers’ faces for age verification despite known error rates. Small clinics that serve newcomers should audit any age‑check software for bias now, or risk costly legal challenges. Use free bias‑testing tools like AI Fairness 360 to validate any vendor before rollout.
Wired AITesla‑Level AI Budget Blowout Forces Companies to Trim Licenses (June 17)
Uber burned through its entire AI spend in weeks, prompting firms to cut Claude licenses. If you’re paying per‑seat for an LLM, switch to a usage‑based plan or an open‑source model like NousCoder to keep costs under control while keeping performance.
TechCrunch AIGoogle Redesigns Search Box After 25 Years (May 19)
Google’s new search UI emphasizes AI‑generated answers over list links. Local businesses should optimize for featured snippets by answering common questions in concise bullet points on their site. A quick FAQ update can capture the new top‑spot traffic.
VentureBeat AITool of the Day
Jasper Chat
AI chat that drafts marketing copy in seconds
Jasper Chat lets you type a short brief and instantly receives a polished email, ad headline or social post. It learns your brand tone as you use it, so each output feels personal. The free tier offers 25 messages per month, enough for quick tests.
Open Jasper Chat, paste your last customer review, and ask it to rewrite the text into a 30‑second video script. Copy the script into your phone and record a quick promo today.
writing
Check it out →The Number
73%
73% of small businesses say a single AI tool that saves 10 minutes a day would pay for itself within a month. That’s the breakeven point for most local service owners.
Source: TechCrunch AI
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