Franchise Services, Inc. (FSI), the parent company of Sir Speedy, PIP, and Signal Graphics, has appointed Steve Metcalf as its new Virtual Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (vCAIO). This strategic move underscores FSI’s commitment to AI-driven innovation and elevates its mission to deliver smarter, faster, and more personalized print, signage, and marketing services.

As the print and marketing services industry undergoes rapid technological transformation, FSI is proactively positioning its franchise network at the forefront by embracing artificial intelligence to optimize workflows, improve customer experiences, and uncover new business opportunities.

An AI Visionary at the Helm

Steve Metcalf is a well-recognized AI strategist and technology entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder and CEO of IMAGINE AI LIVE, a summit dedicated to advancing AI's role in business transformation. With decades of experience across startups and enterprise digital strategy, Metcalf brings deep insight into how organizations can harness AI as a competitive advantage.

"We are excited to welcome Steve to our team," said Richard Lowe, President and CEO of Franchise Services, Inc.

"His expertise will be instrumental in guiding our AI strategy across FSI and our franchise brands. Our goal is to embed AI into key operational areas to elevate efficiency, create smarter sales tools, and deliver exceptional customer experiences."

Strategic Priorities: AI at the Core of Print Innovation

In his consulting role as vCAIO, Metcalf will work closely with FSI's executive leadership to integrate intelligent systems and automation into business operations. Key focus areas include:

• Workflow Optimization – Leveraging AI to automate and streamline order processing, job tracking, and production timelines.

• Sales Enablement – Enhancing lead qualification, predictive analytics, and personalization through AI-driven tools.

• Customer Experience – Creating responsive, insight-driven customer journeys and service models through generative AI applications.

• Franchise Empowerment – Delivering scalable AI strategies that provide measurable value at the franchise location level.

"The printing industry is on the verge of rapid transformation," said Lowe.

"With AI, our Sir Speedy, PIP, and Signal Graphics franchises can unlock new value for clients through smarter workflows and more impactful marketing solutions."

Looking Ahead: A Preview at the 2025 Franchise Convention

Metcalf will deliver a keynote presentation at the upcoming Sir Speedy, PIP and Signal Graphics Convention and Vendor Show, taking place May 6–9 in New Orleans. His address will spotlight how AI can transform traditional business models and outline the roadmap for FSI’s AI-powered future.

Franchise Services, Inc.’s decision to appoint a virtual Chief AI Officer signals a decisive move toward embracing AI as a foundational pillar for growth. Under Metcalf’s leadership, FSI’s network of franchisees will gain access to innovative tools and insights that can elevate performance, unlock new service capabilities, and future-proof their operations in an evolving marketplace.

StreamShark, a leading provider of enterprise-grade video streaming solutions, has announced the launch of its Intelligent Workflow for VR & Immersive Video at NAB Show 2025. This breakthrough end-to-end platform enables seamless encoding, processing, scheduling, and delivery of 6K/8K, VR, and AR content, setting a new standard for immersive media distribution at scale.

As demand for interactive and high-fidelity content surges across industries, StreamShark’s intelligent workflow is poised to empower content creators and enterprises with a robust, flexible, and scalable solution to reach global audiences across VR/MR headsets, mobile devices, the immersive web, and metaverse platforms.

A VR-Native Streaming Solution Built for Scale

"As demand for immersive content continues to rise, content and platform owners need a VR-native streaming solution," said James Broberg, Founder and CEO of StreamShark.

"Unveiling our Intelligent Workflow at NAB Show 2025 highlights our commitment to innovation and to helping enterprises deliver cutting-edge immersive video experiences."

StreamShark’s Intelligent Workflow was built to support both live and on-demand immersive experiences with features that ensure quality, reliability, and reach:

• Advanced Encoding: High-fidelity processing of 6K/8K video optimized for spatial experiences.

• Global Distribution: Seamless, scalable delivery across multiple geographies and platforms.

• Cross-Platform Playback: Compatible with mobile, desktop, and VR/MR devices.

• Flexible Scheduling: VOD2Live support and scheduled pre-recorded streams for timezone-optimized delivery.

Immersive Experiences Across Entertainment, Sports, and the Metaverse

StreamShark’s immersive streaming capabilities have already been leveraged by leading content owners to deliver:

• Immersive concerts featuring Top 10 Billboard artists.

• Courtside live sports experiences for Tier 1 national leagues.

• Shared social/metaverse viewing via dedicated VR and MR applications.

The Intelligent Workflow also acts as a turnkey backend for VR-native apps, enabling creators and enterprises to build interactive, high-impact experiences within the metaverse or immersive web without reinventing the infrastructure.

Live Simulation Across Virtual Venues

One of the standout features of StreamShark’s solution is simulated live streaming—allowing pre-recorded content to be broadcast across multiple channels and virtual venues at specified times. This functionality gives creators complete control over stream timing, localization, and audience targeting, without the complexity of managing real-time production.

With the launch of its Intelligent Workflow for VR & Immersive Video, StreamShark is redefining how immersive content is delivered, making it more accessible, scalable, and professional than ever before. Enterprises, broadcasters, and content platforms now have the tools to create, schedule, and stream immersive video at global scale, ushering in a new era of interactive storytelling and digital engagement.

The new workflow is now available to enterprises and content owners, offering a streamlined path to elevate their immersive video experiences and connect with the audiences of tomorrow.

NielsenIQ (NIQ), a global leader in consumer intelligence, has announced its acquisition of Gastrograph AI, a cutting-edge discovery and inquiry platform specializing in sensory insights. This strategic move is designed to enhance NIQ’s Full View™ offering for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies by integrating predictive AI modeling of human sensory perception into its robust product development ecosystem.

The acquisition deepens NIQ’s commitment to AI-driven innovation, enabling clients to formulate and launch products faster, more efficiently, and with greater consumer appeal.

AI-Driven Sensory Insights at Scale

Gastrograph AI is renowned for using predictive algorithms to model how humans perceive flavor, aroma, and texture, helping brands develop, test, and reformulate products in ways that maximize consumer satisfaction. Its sensory database, one of the most comprehensive in the industry, complements NIQ’s data-rich ecosystem, giving brands a deeper understanding of why consumers prefer certain products—and how to act on that insight.

“Combining Gastrograph AI with NIQ’s AI platform will empower the world’s most influential consumer packaged goods brands in getting to market faster, with better products, and win share more quickly,”

- Ramon Melgarejo, President of Strategic Analytics & Insights at NIQ

Strengthening BASES Creative Product AI

The acquisition builds on a successful collaboration between NIQ and Gastrograph AI as part of BASES Creative Product AI, a solution launched in 2022 that leverages AI to improve product formulation research. This partnership has already proven effective for many global CPG brands, validating the role of AI in improving speed-to-market, lowering costs, and enhancing consumer targeting.

With the addition of Gastrograph AI’s sensory insights, NIQ expands its capabilities to support:

• AI-driven product ideation and formulation

• Faster consumer preference modeling

• Data-backed R&D decision-making

• Deeper predictive understanding of sensory trends

A Competitive Edge for CPG Innovation

As consumer expectations evolve, so does the need for brands to understand not just what consumers will buy—but why. NIQ’s enhanced AI suite, powered by Gastrograph’s sensory models, provides brands with:

• End-to-end product development insights

• Faster testing and optimization cycles

• Greater confidence in launching products that resonate

• Holistic integration of consumer behavior and sensory feedback

By offering a holistic Full View™ of consumer decision-making, NIQ is positioning itself at the forefront of next-generation CPG innovation.

NIQ’s acquisition of Gastrograph AI marks a significant step forward in the evolution of AI-enabled consumer insights, blending behavioral analytics with predictive sensory modeling to create faster, smarter, and more successful product innovations. As part of its continued investment in strategic analytics and innovation, NIQ is ensuring its clients stay competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace.

With this integration, product development is no longer a guessing game—it's a science powered by data, speed, and consumer understanding.

As AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity become integral to how users search, discover, and engage with content, traditional web analytics tools are facing a critical blind spot. Recognizing this shift, Similarweb, a global leader in digital intelligence, has announced a major innovation: AI Chatbot Traffic is now tracked as a distinct referral source, offering digital professionals a vital new lens on content performance.

This new feature marks a significant leap in web analytics, allowing marketers and SEO teams to understand and capitalize on the growing influence of AI chatbot referrals in shaping online traffic patterns.

A Game-Changing Feature for Modern Analytics

With the rollout of the AI Chatbot Traffic screen, users can now:

• Identify traffic volumes specifically coming from AI chatbots

• See which platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity) link most frequently to their content

• Pinpoint the exact pages receiving the most AI-generated traffic

• Discover the top prompts used in AI tools that lead users to their site

"The digital landscape is undergoing a profound transformation with the rise of AI-driven search," said Or Offer, CEO of Similarweb. "Our AI Chatbot Referral Traffic monitoring empowers businesses to navigate this new terrain by providing unparalleled insights into how AI interactions drive web traffic."

AI as a New Channel in the Digital Marketing Mix

Much like knowing which keywords power traditional SEO, understanding which AI prompts lead to traffic allows marketers to fine-tune content strategy for an evolving search paradigm. AI chatbots are no longer just tools for interaction—they're becoming search engines in their own right, influencing how users discover and evaluate information online.

By integrating AI chatbot data into its platform, Similarweb enhances visibility across:

• 200+ million websites

• 4 million mobile apps

• 7 billion search keywords

• And now, traffic patterns from AI chat interfaces

This empowers users to future-proof their strategies, especially as Generative AI redefines the rules of digital visibility.

Competitive Edge Through AI Visibility

With AI chatbot referrals poised to become one of the most influential channels in digital marketing, the new feature offers actionable insights that help businesses:

• Optimize content for AI discoverability

• Track prompt-level attribution for deeper audience understanding

• Benchmark performance against competitors also receiving AI-driven traffic

• Adapt strategies in real time to capture a greater share of AI-referred users

Similarweb’s launch of AI Chatbot Traffic analysis solidifies its position at the forefront of digital intelligence innovation. As generative AI shifts consumer behavior, this new capability ensures marketers and businesses aren’t left behind—they're empowered to lead in a world where AI is becoming the new front door to the internet.

In the race to stay digitally relevant, seeing where your traffic comes from is only the beginning—knowing why and how AI drives it is the new frontier.

MCM, a recognized leader in digital media and expert-led content innovation, has announced the launch of its Video On Demand (VOD) Network and Podcast Network in 2025. These new platforms mark a significant expansion of MCM’s media ecosystem, delivering engaging, high-value content focused on Business Coaching, Personal Development, Health, Parenting, and other growth-centric categories.

This initiative builds on MCM’s established reputation for expert-driven storytelling and strategic content distribution, reinforcing its position as a pioneer in the digital content space.

Expanding Access Across Digital and Traditional Channels

The VOD Network will be available across major digital platforms and traditional TV, leveraging a multi-channel distribution model designed to reach audiences wherever they consume content. In parallel, the Podcast Network will deliver the same level of quality and insight in an accessible audio format—perfect for on-the-go learning and engagement.

“The launch of our Video On Demand and Podcast Networks is an exciting step forward for MCM, ” said Elliott Pittman, CEO and Founder of MCM. “We are committed to expanding our reach and providing even greater opportunities for our partners. By combining high-quality content with broad distribution, we’re creating a platform that allows thought leaders, experts, and brands to connect with audiences on a whole new level.”

Content Focus: Expert-Led, Audience-Driven

MCM’s upcoming platforms will feature programming across a range of personal and professional development themes, including:

• Business Coaching – leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategy

• Health & Wellness – mental health, fitness, and holistic care

• Parenting & Family – child development, education, and parenting guidance

• Personal Growth – mindset, motivation, and productivity

This content will be a blend of original in-house productions and partnerships with external creators, ensuring a diverse, engaging lineup that caters to evolving audience interests.

Strategic Partnerships and Scalable Growth

MCM is actively collaborating with strategic partners to support the rollout and long-term growth of these platforms. These partnerships will be instrumental in bringing fresh content, new distribution opportunities, and promotional capabilities to the forefront.

The 2025 rollout will serve as the launchpad for a larger 2026 expansion, which will include:

• New distribution channels (including OTT and mobile apps)

• More diverse content verticals and global contributors

• Enhanced monetization and promotional tools for creators and partners

MCM’s VOD and Podcast Networks are designed to empower creators and thought leaders while offering audiences meaningful, on-demand content across multiple formats and platforms. As the digital media landscape evolves, MCM is stepping confidently into the future—bringing its community of experts, audiences, and strategic partners along for the ride.

With this move, MCM is not just launching platforms—it’s building ecosystems for knowledge, growth, and impact.

Calsoft, a leading digital engineering services provider, has partnered with StreamNative, a key player in real-time messaging and streaming, to help enterprises overcome operational and performance challenges associated with Apache Kafka and Pulsar workloads. This collaboration brings a new level of scalability and cost-efficiency to large-scale data streaming deployments—paving the way for Gen AI, IoT, and real-time analytics initiatives.

With the exponential growth of data and the increasing demands of AI-driven applications, businesses are seeking smarter ways to integrate streaming and lakehouse infrastructures. Calsoft and StreamNative are answering that call.

Live Webinar: Industry Challenges and Real Solutions

To explore the benefits of this partnership and gain data-backed insights into cloud-native streaming strategies, Calsoft and StreamNative experts will co-host a live webinar on April 9. The session will uncover:

• Key industry pain points in scaling Kafka and Pulsar workloads

• Comparative benchmarking of StreamNative Cloud vs AWS MSK

• Practical ways to reduce inter-zone network costs and storage overhead

• Strategies to ensure real-time Gen AI applications access clean, high-quality data

• Best practices for building cloud-native streaming pipelines with leaderless architecture

Benchmarking Insights: StreamNative Cloud vs AWS MSK

To validate the performance and cost implications, Calsoft’s engineering team conducted a comprehensive benchmarking study across:

• Maximum throughput

• Latency under peak loads

• Fault tolerance and recovery times

These results empower enterprises to make data-informed decisions when choosing a real-time streaming platform—especially for mission-critical applications where performance and reliability are non-negotiable.

Enabling the Gen AI Era: Real-Time Data Meets Lakehouse

In today’s AI-driven landscape, Gen AI models demand timely, trusted data inputs. A modern data infrastructure that tightly integrates streaming with lakehouse storage allows enterprises to:

• Eliminate complex ETL pipelines

• Run both real-time and batch analytics effortlessly

• Optimize infrastructure spend

• Feed Gen AI engines with fresh, high-quality data

This partnership supports cloud-native modernization, helping businesses transition from monolithic streaming systems to scalable, cost-effective solutions without compromising data integrity or latency.

Voices from the Leadership

“At Calsoft, we have seen real-time data streaming deliver real business value—when backed by the right infrastructure. Our partnership with StreamNative has reinforced this, allowing us to deliver robust Kafka-compatible solutions that genuinely scale, streamline costs, and support our customers’ cloud-native visions.”

— Vipin Shankar, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Calsoft Inc.

“We are excited to partner with Calsoft to deliver an end-to-end Kafka-compatible solution that simplifies real-time data streaming and drives significant cost savings for customers operating at scale.”

— Sijie Guo, Co-Founder & CEO, StreamNative

As enterprises ramp up investments in Gen AI, IoT, and real-time decision-making, robust streaming infrastructures will play a pivotal role. The Calsoft–StreamNative collaboration offers a clear path toward optimized performance, cost savings, and accelerated innovation.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from the experts—join the webinar on April 9 to explore how your organization can unlock the full potential of real-time data streaming.

Contxtful Technologies, Inc., a pioneer in attention-based advertising technology, has announced the close of a $1.9 million funding round led by NJP Ventures. This latest investment is poised to accelerate the company’s mission of transforming digital advertising by putting consumer attention at the center of ad performance and inventory valuation.

The funds will be used to further enhance Contxtful’s proprietary Receptivity platform, grow its operations, and expand its presence across global digital markets.

Receptivity: Measuring the True Currency of Attention

Contxtful’s Receptivity platform uses advanced AI and machine learning to identify and curate the most valuable digital ad inventory by analyzing micro-patterns of user interaction. Rather than focusing solely on impressions or clicks, the platform zeroes in on receptive user behavior—a key signal of attention.

By doing so, Contxtful helps advertisers and publishers:

• Deliver ads to more attentive and engaged audiences

• Increase campaign performance and ROI

• Maintain user privacy without relying on invasive tracking technologies

As the industry moves beyond outdated targeting models and third-party cookies, Contxtful is positioning attention as the next-generation metric that will drive the future of digital media buying.

Receptivity Exchange: A New Marketplace for Attention

With this funding, Contxtful is accelerating the development of the Receptivity Exchange—a real-time marketplace that allows advertisers and publishers to transact on the currency of attention rather than outdated metrics.

"Our privacy-safe technology leverages machine learning to build attention segments that maximize results for our partners,” said David Jacobs, CEO of Contxtful. “This latest funding round will accelerate our growth and the buildout of the Receptivity Exchange.”

By enabling real-time bidding based on attentiveness rather than generic impressions, the Receptivity Exchange aims to redefine value in programmatic advertising.

Investor Confidence in a Changing Digital Ad Ecosystem

NJP Ventures, a long-time supporter of disruptive tech startups, led the round and expressed strong conviction in Contxtful’s vision.

"We're thrilled to continue our journey with Contxtful,” said Peter Lukens, Partner at NJP Ventures. “Their innovative approach to measuring and optimizing attention is a game-changer that can redefine how media is bought and sold.”

With growing concerns over ad fatigue, privacy regulations, and declining effectiveness of traditional targeting, investors are increasingly looking to attention-tech as the future of advertising measurement.

Contxtful’s latest funding round marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth and in the evolution of the digital advertising ecosystem. By focusing on AI-driven attention metrics and launching the Receptivity Exchange, Contxtful is creating new possibilities for performance-driven, privacy-first media strategies.

With the continued support of NJP Ventures and a rapidly expanding technology stack, Contxtful is poised to become a key player in the next generation of programmatic advertising.

Direct Digital Holdings, Inc., a leading adtech and martech platform, has launched The Generative AI Roadmap—the third eBook in its AI education series. Created by the DDH AI Council, the guide serves as a strategic tool to help businesses evolve from isolated AI experiments to enterprise-wide AI integration.

With tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot already woven into daily tasks, organizations often adopt AI without a structured plan. This roadmap provides clarity, strategy, and actionable steps for businesses at every stage of AI maturity.

Highlights from the Generative AI Roadmap

Why This Roadmap Matters

• Helps organizations transition from ad hoc AI usage to structured, strategic integration.

• Encourages responsible and high-impact adoption of generative AI technologies.

• Aims to reduce the gap between early adopters and hesitant organizations.

Framework for Enterprise AI Adoption

1. Crawl Stage

• Encourage grassroots experimentation.

• Set initial guidelines for data security and output accuracy.

• Begin risk mitigation efforts early.

2. Walk Stage

• Identify and implement high-impact AI use cases.

• Choose tools through formalized selection processes.

• Standardize implementation across teams.

3. Run Stage

• Scale AI use across departments.

• Establish ROI-focused goals and cross-functional collaboration.

• Begin implementing robust governance practices.

4. Fly Stage

• Fully embed AI into core operations.

• Build a scalable ecosystem with global capabilities.

• Encourage ongoing innovation and AI-driven transformation.

Leadership Insights

Anu Pillai, CTO at DDH:

“The roadmap helps leaders move from isolated AI trials to enterprise-wide AI that’s governed, measured, and scalable.”

Christy Nolan, VP of Delivery Solutions:

“It’s about bringing AI out of the shadows and giving leadership the confidence to innovate responsibly.”

With this third installment in its AI education series, Direct Digital Holdings moves beyond agency-specific insights to empower all types of organizations. Whether you’re just beginning to explore generative AI or scaling its use enterprise-wide, The Generative AI Roadmap offers the clarity and strategic direction needed to evolve confidently in the AI era.