IHC vs Reply

IHC to Acquire Majority Stake in Marlan Space, Advancing UAE Space Technology and Infrastructure Capabilities

IHC announced its intention to acquire a majority stake in Marlan Space, a move that advances UAE space technology and infrastructure capabilities. This follows a related announcement of a $1 billion AI infrastructure project in space involving Marlan Space and Loft Orbital.

Automotive marketing's connection problem hurts growth

Hannah Smith of Threepipe Reply argues that automotive brands are losing growth because marketing functions operate in isolation across fragmented customer journeys. Buyers move between OEM sites, marketplaces, social platforms and dealer networks, and channels often hit individual KPIs without accountability for system-wide performance. Leading brands are shifting from channel-centric planning to connected journeys: defining channel roles, using modular creative, linking CRM to media decision-making, and moving from fixed plans to continuous optimization. The article cites a client example where integrating CRM into media reduced cost per lead by more than 75% and increased test drive volumes by over 450%. The piece calls for outcome-led models that combine strategy, creative, media, data and CRM to improve lead quality and commercial outcomes.

• Author Hannah Smith is affiliated with Threepipe Reply.
• Automotive customer journeys are fragmented across OEM sites, marketplaces, social platforms and dealer networks.
• Leading brands are moving from managing channels in isolation to designing connected customer journeys.

Reply AI Filmfest Announces Ten AI Film Finalists

Reply, together with sponsor Mastercard, named ten finalists for the third Reply AI Film Festival in Venice, selecting works from more than 3,000 submissions across 76 countries. The festival highlights how generative AI is being used across concept, image generation and postproduction to overcome production barriers and expand creative possibilities. Winners will be announced on 6 September in Venice; the jury is chaired by Oscar-winning director and screenwriter Gabriele Salvatores and includes international filmmakers, producers, VFX specialists and technology leaders. The festival also awards two special prizes including an AI for Good Award in cooperation with the ITU, and public voting runs through 1 September on the festival platform.

• Reply and sponsor Mastercard are organizing the Reply AI Filmfestival in Venice and will announce winners on 6 September.
• Ten finalists were selected from over 3,000 submitted short films from 76 countries for the festival's third edition.
• Finalist films include 'Centenarian Kindergarten' (2xLabs), 'A Face Only A Mother Could Love' (Robert Gaudette), 'Kev' (Mike Bennion), 'Le Drip' (Alex Naghavi and Ezra Li) and 'Website' (Jiaze Li).