eko's New Media Asset Creation Platform and Google's Product Studio

Israeli startup eko (formerly Interlude), announced the launch of its newest offering this week, the Media Asset Creation Platform, which leverages AI for Ecommerce product imagery. The new platform (based on an in-house studio) is expected to boost Ecommerce product engagement and conversions.

The process begins with shipping the products to the production studio, where they are scanned using automated robotics and AI technology to create a high-definition digital representation. Once approved, new visuals are continuously created and sent to meet business needs. And consumer interactions with these products are analyzed to optimize business strategies.

In the same vein, and using Generative AI for Ecommerce, Google announced their latest upgrade to Merchant Center at Google Marketing Live this week; Product Studio, a new tool that helps merchants create better product imagery. The tool allows sellers to create any setting they want for their product images, eliminating the need for elaborate photoshoots and expensive gear. It allows users to change the setting of their shot, create the backgrounds or props they want in their images, or remove distracting backgrounds from images. It also enhances image quality and upscales small or low-resolution images. It's expected to become accessible to merchants in the United States in the upcoming months and will extend its availability to those utilizing Google and YouTube apps on Shopify.

Eko's 14-year journey has been marked by high-profile partnerships and investments. In 2018, Walmart announced a strategic entertainment joint venture with Eko, investing $250 million in the joint venture, W*E Interactive Ventures, a platform that develops interactive content ranging from toy catalogs to cooking shows. Eko also attracted investment from Sony to develop its interactive storytelling platform, enabling creators to script and craft stories that can be shaped by the viewer based on their preferences.

Founded in 2009 by CEO Yoni Bloch, Tal Zubalsky, and Barak Feldman, eko, has been a pioneer of interactive entertainment. The startup has raised nearly $80 million in funding and has a current headcount of about 65.