Here’s a weird one, Micrososoft have just patented Advertars, AI controlled Avatars that will come up to you and ask if you would like to learn about a product/film/download/whats in their pocket. In exchange for which you could get MS points or in game items.

At first it sounds like telemarketing for your dashboard which admittedly sounds absolutely awful. Then after a moment it doesn’t sound like that bad an idea, think about it, you say yes, tell me about the latest movie based on an 80’s cartoon based on a Hasbro product, then go for a whiz, get a drink, flip to another channel, then flick back and profit. It’s like experiencing grinding using advertising!

Of course this also indicates that MS has some kind of Home like social space for Avatars to make use of planned for the future which might be cool. Microsoft just need to look at Home and then do the exact opposite of that.