From Fake Populations to Fan Power—Marketing’s Getting Weirder

Edition 70

Author

Luru Labs
May 26, 2025

Hello there,

This week’s roundup is a fun one—equal parts futuristic and fan-powered. From AI-generated ads shaking up outdoor billboards to the surprising power of stars (yes, the emoji kind) over numbers, we’ve gathered some of the most interesting reads that show where marketing is headed. Whether you’re curious about synthetic populations or how brands are tapping into superfans, there’s something here to spark your next campaign idea.Let’s jump in👇

AI on the Streets

Imagine walking past a billboard that’s not only AI-generated but also personalized in real-time. This piece explores how generative AI is transforming the OOH advertising space—making creative more dynamic, localized, and dare we say, eerily relevant.

GenAI creative is just about to change the face of out-of-home advertising

Imagine if brands could use genAI to create out-of-home ads in almost real time. Andrew Newman, CEO at DOOH.com, believes we are on the cusp of big change in the sector.

www.thedrum.com/opinion/2025/05/19/genai-creative-just-about-change-the-face-out-home-advertising

Marketing to Made-Up People

What if you could test your messaging on a realistic virtual population before ever launching a campaign? That’s the promise of synthetic populations—AI-generated people modeled on real-world behavior. It’s weird, fascinating, and might just be the future of audience research.

Synthetic Populations

How AI Simulates Populations and Predicts Behavior

www.digitalnative.tech/p/synthetic-populations

When Stars Outshine Numbers

Turns out, a 4.6 out of 5 might not be as convincing as four little gold stars. This science-backed insight reveals how visual symbols like stars create a stronger emotional response and boost product appeal more than plain ol’ numbers ever could.

Stars vs Numbers: Boost Product Ratings by 64%

Boost product appeal with star ratings ★★★★☆: Scientific study reveals people are 64% more likely to choose products when ratings use stars instead of numbers.

app.sciencesays.com/p/use-stars-not-numbers-for-ratings

All Eyes on the Fans

Fans aren’t just followers—they’re marketing gold. This piece breaks down how brands that genuinely invest in their communities are seeing better engagement, stronger loyalty, and even co-created content that drives the brand forward.

How fan-first strategies can enable brands to harness the power of fandom - Marketing Beat

Fandom is all about building connections, putting the brand first and the product second. Enabling brands to engage with a multitude of audiences and

www.marketing-beat.co.uk/2025/05/13/how-fan-first-strategies-can-enable-brands-to-harness-the-power-of-fandom

That’s a wrap! Whether you’re brainstorming your next creative execution or rethinking your audience strategy, we hope these ideas help keep things fresh. Got a favorite link or insight from this week’s newsletter? Hit reply—we love hearing what’s resonating.

Catch you next time ✌️

Signing off,

Team ‘Luru