Connect with us

Technology

Costa Rica: First country in the world to use artificial intelligence to create its Nation Brand strategy

Published

on

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, Oct. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ten years after the launch of essential COSTA RICA, this Nation Brand took the initiative to define its strategy for the next decade, by applying one of its values, innovation, becoming the first nation brand in the world to use artificial intelligence to define its 2035 vision.

Together with Bloom Consulting, an international firm specializing in Nation Branding, essential COSTA RICA used four blocks of information to develop the 2035 Strategy: a) previous studies on the perception of Nation Brand as a digital identity and rankings; b) strategic documents about Costa Rica, such as decarbonization plans; c) global reports on future trends, e.g. Sitra Megatrends 2023, OECD Economic Outlook, Global Trends 2030 and more than 10 additional reports; d) as well as interviews with national  stakeholders from various public and private sectors to get to know their perception of the country today and how they perceive Costa Rica in 10 years.

In order to become the first country globally to use AI in the development of a strategy, essential COSTA RICA and Bloom Consulting entered the three first blocks of information into an artificial intelligence platform to be processed and analyzed in depth. This technology not only made it possible to identify and evaluate the current perceptions about Costa Rica, but it also provided key insights about emerging trends and the general sentiment associated with the country in international media.

The system also generated projections about possible future media coverage, helping to anticipate areas of opportunity to enhance the image and presence of Costa Rica in strategic global markets, as well as to make more informed decisions, enabling communication strategies to be adjusted to maximize the positive impact on the international audience.

This was followed by a working session with stakeholders and the institutions that make up the governance of the Nation Brand, which defined the priority projects that would receive the most media coverage according to the elements of the Taxonomy Model of perceptions of the Nation Brand and the AI analysis, and which resulted in this theme as the focus of Costa Rica’s strategy: climate change and environmental preservation.

“One of the five values of essential COSTA RICA is innovation; we are therefore looking to use it for creating the 2035 Strategy by applying AI and we are very satisfied with the results. This roadmap will lead us to establish the positioning of Costa Rica as the world leader in sustainability and the fight against climate change,” affirmed Adriana Acosta, Director of essential COSTA RICA.

The application of AI represented advantages in the development of this Strategy, some of which were:

Efficiency: by allowing large amounts of data to be processed from various sources, which ensured a complete analysis.Depth of perspective: AI enabled the detection of subtle patterns and correlations within the data, providing deeper insights into the dynamics of perceptions.Forward-looking analysis: through AI, future trends were analyzed, making it possible to model scenarios based on multiple variables, with an informed and complete vision.Predictive models: which made it possible to model future behavior based on global trends, obtaining more accurate predictions about future media trends.

“The fact that Costa Rica is the first country to develop the Nation Brand Strategy using artificial intelligence demonstrates how advanced it is and how it is leading the way in nation branding,” added José Felipe Torres, Nation and Place Branding Global Director at Bloom Consulting.

The 2035 Strategy of essential COSTA RICA was launched at the end of 2023 with the objective of creating powerful messages focused on climate change and sustainability through the Natural Intelligence concept. To date, the Costa Rican Nation Brand has been implementing actions to strengthen Costa Rica’s image as an articulator of innovation and knowledge on climate change and environmental preservation in various national and international forums.

It also works together with the Costa Rican private sector in a series of workshops to introduce sustainability and the fight against climate change in companies, while aligning the Nation Brand licensing program to this new narrative. In addition, digital campaigns and various training sessions are being carried out for local talent, especially young people, on the topics of the Strategy.

“Costa Rica is already well positioned in climate change and environmental preservation, which is why with Strategy 2035 – and thanks to the future scenarios analyzed with the help of AI – we are working to capitalize on what the country has built over decades with specific actions that help enhance its international image and promote the implementation of tactics that reinforce Costa Rica’s leadership in these topics,” ended Adriana Acosta.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2542261/Essential_COSTA_RICA.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/costa-rica-first-country-in-the-world-to-use-artificial-intelligence-to-create-its-nation-brand-strategy-302290648.html

Continue Reading

Technology

LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

Published

on

By

Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leap-group-relaunches-humanview-a-growth-intelligence-system-built-to-explain-why-customers-behave-the-way-they-do-302918557.html

SOURCE LEAP Group

Continue Reading

Technology

STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

Published

on

By

NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

Continue Reading

Technology

Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

Published

on

By

TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending