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Cars.com Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

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Exceeded Fourth Quarter Guidance, Delivered 7% Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth

Achieved 7% Year-Over-Year ARPD Growth coupled with Strong Fourth Quarter OEM Performance

Generated $137MM of Annual Cash Flows From Operating Activities

CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) (d/b/a “Cars Commerce Inc.” or the “Company”), an audience-driven technology company empowering the automotive industry, today released its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

Q4 2023 Financial and Key Metric Highlights

Revenue of $179.6 million, up $11.4 million, or 7% year-over-yearNet income of $8.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to Net Income of $10.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the prior yearAdjusted EBITDA of $55.4 million, or 31% of revenue, up $5.9 million year-over-yearAverage Monthly Unique Visitors (“UVs”) of 24.3 million, compared to 24.6 million a year agoTraffic (“Visits”) of 142.7 million, up 2% year-over-yearMonthly Average Revenue Per Dealer (“ARPD”) of $2,523, up 7% year-over-yearDealer Customers totaled 19,504[1] as of December 31, 2023, up 789 compared to 18,715 as of September 30, 2023

2023 Full-Year Financial and Key Metric Highlights

Revenue of $689.2 million, up $35.3 million, or 5% year-over-yearNet income of $118.4 million, or $1.74 per diluted share, compared to Net income of $17.2 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, in the prior year. Current year Net income was primarily related to the release of a significant portion of the Company’s valuation allowanceAdjusted EBITDA of $194.9 million, or 28.3% of revenue, compared to $186.7 million, or 28.6% of revenue in the prior yearCash flows from operating activities of $136.7 million, compared to $128.5 million in the prior year, with Free cash flow of $115.8 million, compared to $108.8 million in the prior yearUVs of 26.4 million, even compared to the prior yearTraffic of 614.8 million, up 5% year-over-year, setting an all-time Company record for traffic

Operational Highlights

AccuTrade was selected by FordDirect as its preferred Vehicle Acquisition and Trade & Appraisal solution for The Shop, a newly launched preferred vendor selection program for its more than 3,000 U.S. Ford and Lincoln retailersClosed on the acquisition of D2C Media, a leading provider of website and digital advertising solutions; integration of teams and technology underway supporting the Company’s expanding presence in CanadaDebuted VIN Performance Media, a new advertising solution that combines three of the Company’s existing media products into a single solution that saves dealers time and money, while maximizing ad performance and operational efficiency

“2023 marked a year of significant progress. We advanced our platform strategy through the introduction of Cars Commerce, the rollout of our Marketplace Repackaging initiative and our expansion into Canada with the acquisition of D2C Media. Our focus on simplifying everything about buying and selling cars enabled us to continue to deliver value for consumers, dealers, and OEMs, supporting our twelve consecutive quarters of year-over-year profitable revenue growth,” said Alex Vetter, Chief Executive Officer of Cars Commerce. “We begin 2024 well-positioned to continue building on this momentum, unlocking new growth opportunities and driving commerce for the auto industry.”

Q4 2023 Results

Revenue for the fourth quarter, which includes two months of activity related to D2C Media, totaled $179.6 million, an increase of $11.4 million, or up 7%, compared to the prior year period. Excluding D2C Media, the Company’s  revenue would have increased 5%, year-over-year.

Dealer revenue grew 8% year-over-year, driven by continued growth in solutions and media products and the 2023 Marketplace Repackaging initiative. OEM and National revenue also grew 8%, year-over-year driven by a 24% increase in OEM customer revenue. Sequentially, OEM and National revenue increased 6%, driven by 11% growth in OEM customer revenue.

Fourth quarter ARPD grew 7%, or $162, year-over-year to $2,523, primarily driven by the 2023 Marketplace Repackaging initiative. As of December 31, 2023, Dealer Customers totaled 19,504, including 950 dealers associated with the Company’s D2C Media acquisition, an increase of 789 compared to 18,715 at the end of the third quarter of 2023.

Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter were $164.7 million, compared to $148.4 million for the prior year period. Adjusted Operating Expenses for the quarter were $150.8 million, a $10.1 million increase compared to the prior year period. The change in Adjusted operating expenses is primarily due to continued investments in people, an increase in depreciation and amortization, and investments in marketing to support the launch of the Company’s Cars Commerce brand.

Net income for the quarter was $8.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to Net income of $10.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2022. The change in Net income is primarily attributable to the changes in the fair value contingent consideration associated with the Company’s prior acquisitions.

Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded sequentially throughout the year, reaching 31% of revenue for the quarter, or $55.4 million, compared to 29% of revenue, or $49.5 million, for the prior year period.

2023 Full-Year Results

Revenue for the year totaled $689.2 million, an increase of $35.3 million, or up 5%, compared to the prior year period. Dealer revenue grew 7% year-over-year, driven by the continued growth in solutions and media and the 2023 Marketplace Repackaging initiative. OEM and National revenue was down 5%, year-over-year; while OEM revenue increased 8% relative to the prior year, revenue from insurance customers was down compared to a year ago. Other Revenue was $4.5 million lower compared to the prior year primarily due to the planned expiration of a non-cash transition services agreement related to AccuTrade in the first quarter of 2023.

For the year, total operating expenses were $635.1 million, compared to $587.8 million in 2022. Adjusted Operating Expenses for the year were $594.1 million, a $38.2 million increase compared to the prior year that was largely driven by increased compensation and employee related expenses, particularly in Marketing and sales and Product and technology. Additionally, as the Company has accelerated product development and technology investments, Depreciation and amortization expense was also up, year-over-year.

Marketing and sales costs increased primarily due to higher compensation and higher investments in Brand Media to support both the Company’s Possibilities advertising campaign and launch of its enterprise brand, Cars Commerce.

2023 Net income totaled $118.4 million, or $1.74 per diluted share, compared to Net income of $17.2 million, or $0.25 per diluted share in the prior year. The increase in Net income is primarily related to the release of a significant portion of the Company’s valuation allowance, given the expectation of projected future income and utilization of the Company’s tax assets.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year totaled $194.9 million, or 28.3% of revenue, compared to $186.7 million, or 28.6% of revenue, in the prior year period.

The Company remained focused on driving high-quality traffic at scale. Organic traffic remained strong at 61% for the year and Average Monthly Unique Visitors for the year were in line with the prior year. In 2023, total Traffic increased 5%, reaching 614.8 million, a new all-time Company record.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

Net cash provided by operating activities in 2023 was $136.7 million, compared to $128.5 million in the prior year. Free cash flow in 2023 totaled $115.8 million compared to $108.8 million in 2022. The increase is primarily due to  an $8.2 million year-over-year increase in Adjusted EBITDA and favorable working capital, partially offset by a year-over-year increase in cash taxes of $17.1 million.

In 2023, the Company made $36.3 million in debt payments. Total debt outstanding was $490.0 million as of December 31, 2023 and the Company’s net leverage (as defined in the Company’s credit facility) remained within its target net leverage range of 2.0x to 2.5x, improving to 2.3x, compared to 2.4x as of December 31, 2022. Total liquidity as of December 31, 2023 was $234.2 million, which is defined as Cash and cash equivalents of $39.2 million and revolver capacity of $195.0 million.

For the year, the Company repurchased 1.7 million of its common shares, or 2.6% of the 66.3 million shares outstanding at December 31, 2022, for $31.3 million

“2023 was a year with robust revenue growth and strong Adjusted EBITDA margins, driven by our focus on execution. Our asset light business model consistently generates strong free cash flow conversion that enables us to invest in growth areas that continue to deliver sustained value for consumers, customers, and shareholders,” said Sonia Jain, Chief Financial Officer of Cars Commerce.

2024 Outlook 

The Company expects to deliver another year of strong growth. The Company believes market conditions are improving, with increased OEM production, new model launches, and rising dealer inventory, which coupled with a still cautious consumer makes the Company’s in-market solutions more valuable.

First quarter revenue is expected to be between $179 million and $181 million, representing year-over-year growth of 7% to 8%. First quarter revenue outlook reflects continued strong growth in Dealer revenue driven by continued adoption of the Cars Commerce suite of products, the D2C acquisition, and the full period impact of the 2023 Marketplace Repackaging Initiative. OEM and National Advertising spend is also expected to be up year-over-year, but historically has experienced some seasonality from the fourth quarter to the first quarter. For the year, the Company anticipates continued growth across its platform with both dealer and OEM customers which is reflected in its revenue growth guidance of 6% to 8%.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the first quarter of 2024 is expected to be between 27% and 29%. It’s important to note, the Company has seasonally higher investments in Marketing and sales in the first quarter, due to the timing of in-person industry events. The Company expects margins to improve over the course of the year and deliver a full year Adjusted EBITDA margin between 28% to 30%.

Q4 2023 Earnings Call

As previously announced, management will hold a conference call and webcast today at 8:00 a.m. CT. This webcast may be accessed at the Cars Commerce Investor relations website,  investor.cars.com. An archive of the webcast will be available at investor.cars.com following the conclusion of the call.

About Cars Commerce

Cars Commerce is an audience-driven technology company empowering the automotive industry. The Company simplifies everything about car buying and selling with powerful products, solutions and AI-driven technologies that span pretail, retail and post-sale activities – enabling more efficient and profitable retail operations. The Cars Commerce platform is organized around four industry-leading brands: the flagship automotive marketplace and dealer reputation site Cars.com, award-winning technology and digital retail technology and marketing services from Dealer Inspire, essential trade-in and appraisal technology from AccuTrade, and exclusive in-market media solutions from the Cars Commerce Media Network. Learn more at www.carscommerce.inc.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release discusses Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Operating Expenses. These financial measures are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). These financial measures are presented as supplemental measures of operating performance because the Company believes they provide meaningful information regarding the Company’s performance and provide a basis to compare operating results between periods. In addition, the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure for determining incentive compensation targets. Adjusted EBITDA also is used as a performance measure under the Company’s credit agreement and includes adjustments such as the items defined below and other further adjustments, which are defined in the credit agreement. These non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by the Company’s lenders, securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in the Company’s industry. For a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures presented in this earnings release to their most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP, see “Non-GAAP Reconciliations” below.

Other companies may define or calculate these measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. Because of these limitations, non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are presented in the tables below.

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before (1) interest expense, net, (2) income tax (benefit) expense, (3) depreciation, (4) amortization of intangible assets, (5) stock-based compensation expense, (6) unrealized mark-to-market adjustments and cash transactions related to derivative instruments, and (7) unrealized foreign currency exchange gains and losses, and (8) certain other items, such as transaction-related items, severance, transformation and other exit costs and write-off and impairments of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets.

Transaction-related items result from actual or potential transactions such as business combinations, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, spin-offs, financing transactions, and other strategic transactions, including, without limitation, (1) transaction-related bonuses and (2) expenses for advisors and representatives such as investment bankers, consultants, attorneys and accounting firms. Transaction-related items may also include, without limitation, transition and integration costs such as retention bonuses and acquisition-related milestone payments to acquired employees, consulting, compensation and other incremental costs associated with integration projects, fair value changes to contingent considerations and amortization of deferred revenue related to the Accu-Trade acquisition.

The Company defines Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, including purchases of property and equipment and capitalization of internally developed technology.

The Company defines Adjusted Operating Expenses as total operating expenses adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation, write-off and impairments of goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets, severance, transformation and other exit costs and transaction-related items.

Key Metric Definitions

Average Monthly Unique Visitors (“UVs”) and Traffic (“Visits”). The Company defines UVs in a given month as the number of distinct visitors that engage with its platform during that month. Visitors are identified when a user first visits an individual Cars.com property on an individual device/browser combination or installs one of its mobile apps on an individual device. If a visitor accesses more than one of its web properties or apps or uses more than one device or browser, each of those unique property/browser/app/device combinations counts toward the number of UVs. Traffic is defined as the number of visits to Cars.com desktop and mobile properties (responsive sites and mobile apps). The Company measures UVs and Traffic via Adobe Analytics. These metrics do not include traffic to Dealer Inspire or D2C Media websites.

Monthly Average Revenue Per Dealer (“ARPD”). The Company believes that its ability to grow ARPD is an indicator of the value proposition of its platform. The Company defines ARPD as Dealer revenue, excluding digital advertising services, during the period divided by the monthly average number of Dealer Customers during the same period. Beginning with the three months ended June 30, 2022, AccuTrade is included in our ARPD metric. No prior period has been recast as it would be impracticable to do so and the inclusion of AccuTrade would have had an immaterial impact on ARPD for prior periods. Additionally, beginning December 31, 2023, this key operating metric includes D2C Media.

Dealer Customers. Dealer Customers represent dealerships using our products as of the end of each reporting period. Each physical or virtual dealership location is counted separately, whether it is a single-location proprietorship or part of a large, consolidated dealer group. Multi-franchise dealerships at a single location are counted as one dealer. Beginning June 30, 2022, this key operating metric includes AccuTrade; however, no prior period has been recast as it would be impracticable to do so. Additionally, beginning December 31, 2023, this key operating metric includes D2C Media.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements often use words such as “believe,” “expect,” “project,” “anticipate,” “outlook,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “forecasts,” “mission,” “strive,” “more,” “goal” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs, strategies, estimates, projections and assumptions, experience in the industry as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors we think are appropriate. Such forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Cars Commerce and its management based on their knowledge and understanding of the business and industry, are inherently uncertain. While Cars Commerce and its management make such statements in good faith and believe such judgments are reasonable, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of future strategic action, performance or results. Our actual results, performance, achievements, strategic actions or prospects could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, you should not rely on forward-looking statements in making investment decisions. When we make comparisons of results between current and prior periods, we do not intend to express any future trends, or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and you should view such comparisons as historical data. Whether or not any such forward-looking statement is in fact achieved will depend on future events, some of which are beyond our control.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results and strategic actions to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For a detailed discussion of many of these and other risks and uncertainties, see “Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors” and “Part II, Item 7., Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 22, 2024 and our other filings filed with the SEC and available on our website at investor.cars.com or via EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this press release in the context of these risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based only on information currently available to us and speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking or cautionary statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of events, unanticipated or otherwise, or changes in future operating results over time or otherwise. The forward-looking statements in this report are intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by the federal securities laws.

Cars Commerce Investor Relations Contact:
Robbin Moore-Randolph
rmr@carscommerce.com
312.601.5929

Cars Commerce Media Contact:
Marita Thomas
mthomas@carscommerce.com
312.601.5692

[1]As of December 31, 2023, this key metric includes the addition of 950 D2C Media only customers.

Cars.com Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Revenue:

  Dealer

$               161,393

$               149,424

$               621,661

$               579,222

  OEM and National

15,410

14,330

55,904

58,557

  Other 

2,803

4,447

11,618

16,097

       Total revenue

179,606

168,201

689,183

653,876

Operating expenses:

  Cost of revenue and operations

30,918

28,875

122,205

114,959

  Product and technology

25,230

23,166

99,584

89,015

  Marketing and sales

58,835

56,515

235,471

221,879

  General and administrative

23,069

16,128

76,807

67,593

  Depreciation and amortization

26,619

23,706

101,000

94,394

       Total operating expenses

164,671

148,390

635,067

587,840

         Operating income

14,935

19,811

54,116

66,036

Nonoperating expense:

  Interest expense, net

(8,254)

(8,442)

(32,425)

(35,320)

  Other (expense) income, net

(4,790)

5,093

(3,586)

(8,140)

       Total nonoperating expense, net

(13,044)

(3,349)

(36,011)

(43,460)

       Income before income taxes

1,891

16,462

18,105

22,576

       Income tax (benefit) expense

(6,455)

6,200

(100,337)

5,370

          Net income

$                   8,346

$                 10,262

$               118,442

$                 17,206

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

Basic

66,510

66,546

66,742

68,215

Diluted

68,326

68,513

68,227

69,649

Earnings per share:

Basic

$                     0.13

$                     0.15

$                     1.77

$                     0.25

Diluted

0.12

0.15

1.74

0.25

 

Cars.com Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share data)

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2022

Assets:

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$                       39,198

$                       31,715

Accounts receivable, net

125,373

107,930

Prepaid expenses

12,553

8,377

Other current assets

1,314

605

Total current assets

178,438

148,627

Property and equipment, net

43,853

45,218

Goodwill

147,058

102,856

Intangible assets, net 

669,167

707,088

Deferred tax assets, net

112,953

48

Investments and other assets, net

20,980

21,033

Total assets

$                  1,172,449

$                  1,024,870

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$                       22,259

$                       18,230

Accrued compensation

31,669

19,316

Current portion of long-term debt, net

23,129

14,134

Other accrued liabilities

68,691

54,332

Total current liabilities

145,748

106,012

Noncurrent liabilities:

Long-term debt, net

460,119

458,249

Deferred tax liabilities, net

8,757

1,401

Other noncurrent liabilities

65,717

74,778

Total noncurrent liabilities

534,593

534,428

Total liabilities

680,341

640,440

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred Stock at par, $0.01 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; no
   shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022,
   respectively

Common Stock at par, $0.01 par value; 300,000 shares authorized;
   65,929 and 66,287 shares issued and outstanding as of
   December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively

659

662

Additional paid-in capital

1,500,232

1,511,944

Accumulated deficit

(1,009,734)

(1,128,176)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

951

Total stockholders’ equity

492,108

384,430

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$                  1,172,449

$                  1,024,870

 

Cars.com Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$               118,442

$                 17,206

Adjustments to reconcile Net income to Net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation

22,331

16,380

Amortization of intangible assets

78,669

78,014

Amortization of Accumulated other comprehensive loss on interest rate swap

2,362

Changes in fair value of contingent consideration

5,537

8,130

Stock-based compensation

28,491

22,342

Deferred income taxes

(114,498)

1,283

Provision for doubtful accounts

2,986

1,888

Amortization of debt issuance costs

3,042

3,235

Unrealized gain on foreign currency denominated transactions

(2,072)

Amortization of deferred revenue related to AccuTrade Acquisition

(883)

(4,417)

Other, net

1,026

1,202

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

Accounts receivable

(15,567)

(9,337)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

(5,101)

(423)

Accounts payable

3,722

2,611

Accrued compensation

11,638

(4,296)

Other liabilities

(1,043)

(7,669)

Net cash provided by operating activities

136,720

128,511

Cash flows from investing activities:

     Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(76,168)

(64,663)

     Capitalization of internally developed technology

(19,602)

(17,886)

     Purchase of property and equipment

(1,280)

(1,828)

Net cash used in investing activities

(97,050)

(84,377)

Cash flows from financing activities:

     Proceeds from Revolving Loan borrowings

45,000

45,000

     Payments of Revolving Loan borrowings and long-term debt

(36,250)

(41,250)

     Payments for stock-based compensation plans, net

(9,205)

(6,256)

     Repurchases of common stock

(31,293)

(48,982)

     Payments of debt issuance costs and other fees

Net cash used in financing activities

(31,748)

(51,488)

Impact of foreign currency on Cash and cash equivalents

(439)

Net increase (decrease) in Cash and cash equivalents

7,483

(7,354)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

31,715

39,069

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$                 39,198

$                 31,715

Supplemental cash flow information:

Cash paid for income taxes

$                 17,636

$                      545

Cash paid for interest and swap

30,416

33,370

 

Cars.com Inc.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended December 31,

Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA

Net income

$                   8,346

$                 10,262

$               118,442

$                 17,206

Interest expense, net

8,254

8,442

32,425

35,320

Income tax (benefit) expense

(6,455)

6,200

(100,337)

5,370

Depreciation and amortization

26,619

23,706

101,000

94,394

Stock-based compensation, including related payroll tax expense

7,844

5,390

30,127

22,966

Non-operating foreign exchange income

(2,072)

(2,072)

Write-off of long-lived assets and other

389

929

1,027

999

Severance, transformation and other exit costs

1,226

960

3,574

4,329

Transaction-related items

11,253

(6,370)

10,698

6,144

Adjusted EBITDA

$                 55,404

$                 49,519

$               194,884

$               186,728

Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Free cash flow

Net cash provided by operating activities

$                 45,140

$                 37,220

$               136,720

$               128,511

Capitalization of internally developed technology

(4,764)

(4,739)

(19,602)

(17,886)

Purchase of property and equipment

(543)

(576)

(1,280)

(1,828)

Free cash flow

$                 39,833

$                 31,905

$               115,838

$               108,797

Reconciliation of Operating expenses to Adjusted operating expenses for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2023:

As Reported

Adjustments (1)

Stock-Based Compensation

As Adjusted

Cost of revenue and operations

$                 30,918

$                        —

$                    (396)

$                 30,522

Product and technology

25,230

(2,518)

22,712

Marketing and sales

58,835

(48)

(1,566)

57,221

General and administrative

23,069

(6,003)

(3,364)

13,702

Depreciation and amortization

26,619

26,619

Total operating expenses

$               164,671

$                 (6,051)

$                 (7,844)

$               150,776

Total nonoperating expense, net

$               (13,044)

$                   4,745

$                        —

$                 (8,299)

(1) Includes transaction related items, unrealized gain on foreign currency denominated transactions, severance, transformation and other exit costs, and write-off of long-lived assets and other.

Reconciliation of Operating expenses to Adjusted operating expenses for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2022:

As Reported

Adjustments (1)

Stock-Based Compensation

As Adjusted

Cost of revenue and operations

$                 28,875

$                        —

$                    (224)

$                 28,651

Product and technology

23,166

(1,765)

21,401

Marketing and sales

56,515

(1,164)

55,351

General and administrative

16,128

(2,373)

(2,237)

11,518

Depreciation and amortization

23,706

23,706

Total operating expenses

$               148,390

$                 (2,373)

$                 (5,390)

$               140,627

Total nonoperating expense, net

$                 (3,349)

$                 (5,229)

$                        —

$                 (8,578)

(1) Includes transaction related items, severance, transformation and other exit costs, and write-off of long-lived assets and other.

Reconciliation of Operating expenses to Adjusted operating expenses for the Year Ended December 31, 2023:

As Reported

Adjustments (1)

Stock-Based Compensation

As Adjusted

Cost of revenue and operations

$               122,205

$                        —

$                 (1,571)

$               120,634

Product and technology

99,584

(9,360)

90,224

Marketing and sales

235,471

(48)

(6,078)

229,345

General and administrative

76,807

(10,797)

(13,118)

52,892

Depreciation and amortization

101,000

101,000

Total operating expenses

$               635,067

$               (10,845)

$               (30,127)

$               594,095

Total nonoperating expense, net

$               (36,011)

$                   3,465

$                        —

$               (32,546)

(1) Includes transaction related items, severance, transformation and other exit costs, unrealized gain on foreign currency denominated transactions, and write-off of long-lived assets and other.

Reconciliation of Operating expenses to Adjusted operating expenses for the Year Ended December 31, 2022:

As Reported

Adjustments (1)

Stock-Based Compensation

As Adjusted

Cost of revenue and operations

$               114,959

$                        —

$                    (983)

$               113,976

Product and technology

89,015

(6,851)

82,164

Marketing and sales

221,879

(5,068)

216,811

General and administrative

67,593

(8,943)

(10,064)

48,586

Depreciation and amortization

94,394

94,394

Total operating expenses

$               587,840

$                 (8,943)

$               (22,966)

$               555,931

Total nonoperating expense, net

$               (43,460)

$                   7,946

$                        —

$               (35,514)

(1) Includes transaction related items, severance, transformation and other exit costs, and write-off of long-lived assets and other.

 

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SOURCE Cars Commerce

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Most Users Are NOT Using AI Companion as Their AI Girlfriend – Insights from Muah AI User Survey

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Muah AI/

In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly intertwined with daily life, the idea of having an AI companion or even an AI “girlfriend” has gained significant attention. While this concept has sparked curiosity, excitement, and even controversy, a recent survey by Muah AI has shed light on the reality of how users are actually engaging with these AI companions. According to the survey results, fewer than 2% of users consider themselves to be in a serious romantic relationship with their AI companion, with the overwhelming majority regarding it as a source of entertainment and roleplaying.

This revelation presents an interesting twist to the popular narrative surrounding AI and human relationships. Many assumed that, with the rise of sophisticated AI that can mimic human emotions and responses, people would begin forming deep emotional bonds with these digital entities. However, the survey data from Muah AI shows that, at least for now, the vast majority of users are not taking these AI relationships as seriously as some might have thought.

The Emergence of AI Companions

AI companions, or “AI girlfriends” as some platforms market them, have become a hot topic over the past few years. Platforms like Replika, Anima, and Muah AI offer users the chance to interact with a personalized AI, which can carry on conversations, offer emotional support, and even engage in roleplaying scenarios that resemble a relationship. The premise is simple: using advanced machine learning algorithms and natural language processing, these AI companions can learn from their users, creating the illusion of intimacy and personalization.

The potential appeal is obvious. For those who are lonely, socially anxious, or seeking comfort, the idea of having an AI that is always available, non-judgmental, and designed to cater to their emotional needs can be incredibly attractive. In fact, there are numerous reports and anecdotes from individuals who claim to have developed genuine emotional connections with their AI companions. But as the Muah AI survey shows, these instances may be far rarer than media headlines suggest.

Survey Results: Entertainment Over Emotional Investment

Muah AI‘s survey provides a comprehensive look at how its users interact with their AI companions, and the results challenge the notion that most users are looking for a serious relationship with AI. According to the data:

Less than 2% of users consider themselves to be “seriously dating” their AI companion.A significant majority view their interactions with the AI as a form of entertainment or roleplaying rather than a meaningful romantic or emotional connection.Many users engage with AI companions out of curiosity or as a way to pass the time, often treating the interactions as light-hearted and fun rather than a substitute for a real-life relationship.A notable portion of users also expressed that they enjoy using AI companions for creative roleplaying scenarios, where they can explore fictional or fantasy-based interactions without any real-world implications.

This data suggests that while the idea of an “AI girlfriend” may be intriguing, most users are not approaching it with the intention of forming a serious romantic bond. Instead, they are treating it more like a game or simulation, where they can experiment with different types of interactions and relationships in a low-stakes environment.

Why Are Users Hesitant to Commit to AI Companions?

There are several reasons why users may be hesitant to view their AI companion as a genuine romantic partner. First and foremost is the awareness of the artificial nature of the interaction. While AI can simulate human conversation and emotions, most users are well aware that these responses are pre-programmed and algorithmically generated. The knowledge that their “partner” is ultimately a machine can create a barrier to forming a deep emotional connection.

Moreover, many users view AI companions as a tool for escapism or fantasy rather than a replacement for real-life relationships. In the same way that people may enjoy playing video games or engaging in fictional roleplaying, interacting with an AI companion can offer a similar outlet for creativity and entertainment. These users are not seeking emotional fulfillment from the AI but rather a way to explore different scenarios and personalities without the complexities of real-world dynamics.

Additionally, there are ethical and philosophical concerns that may prevent users from seriously considering a relationship with AI. The idea of forming a romantic connection with a machine raises questions about authenticity, consent, and the nature of love. Many users may feel uncomfortable with the idea of developing feelings for an entity that lacks true emotions or consciousness, no matter how convincing the simulation may be.

The Future of AI Companions: Entertainment or Emotional Support?

While the Muah AI survey indicates that most users are not taking their AI companions seriously as romantic partners, that does not mean that AI companions are without value. For many, these AI entities serve as a valuable source of emotional support and companionship. Users who are isolated, dealing with mental health challenges, or simply looking for someone to talk to may find comfort in the consistent and non-judgmental nature of an AI companion.

Furthermore, the role of AI in human relationships may evolve as the technology continues to improve. As AI becomes more advanced, it is possible that future iterations of AI companions could offer even more realistic and emotionally engaging interactions. This could blur the line between entertainment and emotional connection even further, leading to more users considering AI as a legitimate relationship option.

However, the survey data suggests that for now, AI companions are primarily being used for fun and fantasy rather than serious emotional investment. Whether this changes in the future will depend not only on advancements in AI technology but also on shifting societal attitudes towards AI-human relationships.

Conclusion

The concept of an “AI girlfriend” may have captured the imagination of many, but Muah AI‘s survey reveals that most users are not taking their AI companions seriously as romantic partners. With fewer than 2% of users considering themselves to be in a serious relationship with their AI, it’s clear that the majority view these interactions as a form of entertainment or roleplaying rather than a meaningful emotional connection.

As AI technology continues to develop, it will be fascinating to see how users’ relationships with AI companions evolve. For now, however, it seems that the allure of AI companionship lies more in its ability to entertain and provide creative outlets than in offering a substitute for real-life romantic relationships.

Ultimately, the future of AI-human relationships is still in its early stages, and as AI becomes more capable, the way people engage with these digital companions may change. But as of now, it’s clear that most users are enjoying the novelty of AI companionship without taking it too seriously—at least not yet.

Media/Business Contact Information:
Muah AI 

PR Director:
Ashley

Contact Number:
+1 626-677-6013

Company Website:
https://muah.ai 

Company email:
love@muah.ai

Feel free to reach out if you are interested in writing a dedicated piece about Muah AI!

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SOURCE Muah AI

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Internet Society Report Highlights Challenges and Recommendations for Internet Connectivity in the Middle East

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Internet Society (ISOC), a global charitable organization advocating for an open, globally connected, and secure Internet, released a comprehensive report on the state of Internet connectivity across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The report underscores Internet connectivity as a catalyst for economic growth and social development and how an increase in fixed broadband access has a direct impact on growing gross domestic product (GDP).

Key Findings:

Growth in Mobile and Fixed Broadband: Both mobile and fixed broadband connections have grown substantially from 2015 to 2021, particularly in Gulf States with advanced fiber-optic and 5G networks. However, deployment has been slower in other parts of the region, primarily due to infrastructure challenges and affordability issues.

Mobile Internet users increased from 130M to over 180M between 2016 and 2021, with Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco showing the highest growth rates. Fixed broadband users rose from 17M to 29M in the same period, with Egypt leading the way. The Arab region lags behind other regions in fiber optic deployment, with stagnation in investment since 2018.

High-Income Countries: Significant progress in broadband infrastructure, especially in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries due to 5G rollout. High-income countries improved their Internet availability from 77.34 to 79.37, surpassing global averages.Low-Middle-Income Countries: Broadband has improved modestly, but challenges persist. Despite overall progress, a significant digital divide remains between high-income and low-middle-income countries, partly due to political and economic instability in some regions, such as Tunisia and Syria.

Infrastructure Challenges: There is a heavy reliance on European Internet Exchange Points for international Internet traffic, which results in slower speeds due to additional data hops.

Emerging Technologies: The report emphasizes the role of emerging technologies such as High-Throughput Satellites (HTS) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in bridging the connectivity gap. These technologies are crucial for expanding access to underserved rural areas.

Impact of COVID-19: The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected network performance and digital transformation plans, causing delays and disruptions in connectivity improvements.

Recommendations:

Policy and Regulation: The Internet Society advocates revising regulatory frameworks to accelerate infrastructure deployment. Key recommendations include enhancing spectrum policies, removing regulatory barriers, and fostering public-private partnerships to drive investment, competition, and support for small and medium enterprises.

Spectrum Availability: North African countries have limited spectrum compared to global averages, impacting network capacity and costs.Regulatory Frameworks: Enhance regulatory frameworks to foster investment, encourage spectrum and infrastructure sharing, and support new technologies like HTS and LEO satellites.

Collaboration and Investment: Promote public-private partnerships and update national broadband plans to improve infrastructure and connectivity.

Digital Skills and Literacy: Addressing digital skills and literacy is crucial for maximizing the benefits of Internet connectivity. The report calls for more affordable, relevant, and inclusive education and training programs to build a digital workforce.

Local Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The report stresses the importance of establishing and upgrading IXPs to enhance local Internet traffic, reduce costs, and improve service quality. Governments are encouraged to support IXPs by providing resources and facilitating network interconnections.

“The Internet has become indispensable for many people, and its role in connecting people, fostering economic opportunities, and driving innovation is undeniable. The Arab region has made big leaps in the availability and adoption of the Internet in recent years; however, adoption rates are still low. We hope that governments will use our report to learn about the improvements that can be made in infrastructure deployment, affordability of service, market structure, and regulatory frameworks,” explains Nermine El Saadany, Regional Vice President for the Middle East for the Internet Society.

About the Internet Society
Founded by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society (ISOC) is a global charitable organization dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet. Through a global community of chapters and members, the Internet Society collaborates with a wide range of groups to promote the technologies that keep the Internet safe and secure and advocates for policies that enable universal access. The Internet Society is also the organizational home of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

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Representatives from 57 countries, regions and 6 international organizations, are gathering in Suzhou.

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What important topics are they discussing about? Let’s find out!

BEIJING, Sept. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — I’m Xiao Lin from National Immigration Administration. On September 9th, the first Sub-Forum on Migration Management Cooperation was successfully held. Representatives from all parties expressed their insights and appeals around the development and innovation of migration governance.

It was truly a content-rich event!

Why does the international community focus on the topic of “Migration Governance” so much?

At present, changes unseen in a century is unfolding at a faster pace. The situation in the wider world remains complex and fluid. However, peace, development, cooperation and win-win results are still an unstoppable historical trend. Migration governance is critical to economic development of individual countries, global security governance and international cultural and people-to-people exchanges. It has increasingly become a key issue in global governance.

Here are the key points:
At the forum, NIA made three commitments: implementing more open policies for the cross-border flow of people, more effective actions in the governance of transnational crimes and more extensive global cooperation in migration governance, injecting new impetus to opening up and development; At the same time, three initiatives have been put forward, [Original scene of the initiative] contributing China’s wisdom and solutions to global migration governance and further showcasing its image as an open, confident, secure, and thriving major power.

Representatives also made keynote speeches, sharing their migration governance policies, measures and experience, and providing their perspectives on regional and international migration governance.

Pooling wisdom for win-win results.

In a changing era, National Immigration Administration of China stands ready to work with all parties to promote global migration governance to a higher level and contribute more wisdom to world peace, development, prosperity and stability!

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SOURCE National Immigration Administration

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