News/Creator Economy
AI in Music: Balancing Innovation and Human Creativity
The rapid advancements in generative AI are sparking both excitement and concern in the music industry, as AI-powered tools promise to democratize music creation while potentially displacing human musicians and creators. AI's limitations in creating truly meaningful music: While AI can replicate musical patterns and generate convincing clips, it lacks the human elements that make music resonate with listeners on a deep level: Successful music depends on an artist's unique voice, life experiences, and the ability to break rules and subvert expectations, qualities that algorithms struggle to replicate. The shared cultural experience of people connecting with the same songs is...
read Jul 19, 2024Generative AI and The Future of Intellectual Property
The rapid advancement of generative AI is raising complex questions about the future of intellectual property rights in an AI-driven world. As AI systems become more adept at generating creative outputs that blur the lines between original works and reproductions, traditional concepts of copyright, trademark, and patent protection are being challenged: IP concerns with generative AI training data: Many of the datasets used to train generative AI systems contain copyrighted, trademarked, or otherwise protected materials, often used without explicit consent from IP owners: The process of indiscriminately scraping the web for training data frequently incorporates copyrighted works, leading to potential...
read Jul 18, 2024A New AI System Called Live2Diff Enables Real-Time Stylization of Live Video Streams
A groundbreaking AI system, Live2Diff, developed by an international team of researchers, enables real-time stylization of live video streams, opening up new possibilities in entertainment, social media, and beyond. Real-time video transformation: Live2Diff overcomes the limitations of current video AI models by employing uni-directional temporal attention, allowing it to process live video streams at 16 frames per second on high-end consumer hardware: The system maintains temporal consistency by correlating each frame with its predecessors and a few initial warmup frames, eliminating the need for future frame data. Live2Diff outperformed existing methods in temporal smoothness and efficiency, as demonstrated by transforming...
read Jul 18, 2024Figma Disables AI Design Tool After Generating Copies of Existing Apps
Shortly after launching Make Designs in limited beta, Figma learned that an issue with the feature's underlying design system resulted in mocks that resembled existing apps: New components and example screens added to the design system prior to the launch were not vetted carefully enough, with some assets being similar to aspects of real-world applications. When prompted for certain apps, such as a weather app, Make Designs generated designs that felt very similar to existing first-party apps due to these problematic assets. Figma's response: Upon identifying the problem was with the underlying design systems, Figma took swift action: The assets...
read Jul 17, 2024CCC Introduces AI Licensing Solution to Foster Innovation While Compensating Creators
CCC launches collective licensing for AI: Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) has introduced a new collective licensing service that allows companies to access and use copyrighted materials in their internal AI systems while ensuring compensation for content creators. The new service, available as of July 1, is an addition to CCC's existing Annual Copyright Licenses (ACL) and aims to streamline the licensing process across multiple rightsholders. The license covers internal use cases such as article summarization, literature review, and market surveillance, but does not extend to public use of the copyrighted materials. CCC has worked collaboratively for over a year to...
read Jul 16, 2024Hacker Group Leaks Disney Data, Igniting More AI Debate in Hollywood
Hacker group NullBulge claims responsibility for Disney data leak: NullBulge, a self-proclaimed hacktivist group, says it breached thousands of Disney's internal messaging channels and leaked approximately 1.2 terabytes of data, including computer code, information about unreleased projects, and conversations about marketing, studio technology, and job applicants. Leak motivated by concerns over Disney's AI practices and treatment of artists: According to NullBulge, the leak was prompted by Disney's handling of "artist contracts, its approach to AI, and its pretty blatant disregard for the consumer": The group, which claims to be based out of Russia, says it gained access to Disney's system...
read Jul 16, 2024YouTube Creators Outraged To Find Major AI Companies Used Subtitles to Train Models
Apple, Nvidia, and Anthropic have used subtitles from over 170,000 YouTube videos to train their AI models without the creators' knowledge or consent, raising concerns about the ethics and legality of such practices in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence. Key takeaways: An investigation by Proof News found that subtitles from 173,536 YouTube videos, siphoned from more than 48,000 channels, were used by major tech companies to train AI models: The dataset, called YouTube Subtitles, was part of a larger compilation called the Pile, released by the nonprofit EleutherAI with the stated goal of lowering barriers to AI development....
read Jul 16, 2024Hackers Leak Disney’s Slack Data Over AI Concerns, Exposing Upcoming Projects
A hacker group claims responsibility for leaking Disney's internal Slack data, citing concerns over the company's handling of artist contracts and use of AI. The leak, which Disney is investigating, includes login credentials, code, images, and information about unreleased projects. Extent of the leak: The anonymous "Nullbulge" group says it obtained 1.1 terabytes of files and chat messages from nearly 10,000 Disney Slack channels: The leaked data, dating back to at least 2019, contains internal conversations about software development, recruitment, website maintenance, and employee programs. Details about upcoming gaming collaborations and unannounced video game sequels have started emerging online from...
read Jul 15, 2024AI Advances Fuel Growing Calls for Universal Basic Income as Jobs Threat Looms
The concept of universal basic income is gaining traction as a potential solution to the impact of AI on jobs and a way to encourage more rewarding and socially valuable work. Key takeaways: The idea of a guaranteed income for all citizens has a long history, but is becoming more relevant as AI advances and threatens to displace many workers: A recent study predicts that 59% of tasks currently done by humans in the UK could be affected by AI in the next 3-5 years, potentially triggering a "jobs apocalypse." UBI could provide a vital safety net and enable people...
read Jul 14, 2024Senators Introduce COPIED Act to Protect Content Creators from AI Exploitation
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced the COPIED Act, which aims to protect content creators against unauthorized use of their work to train AI models or generate AI content: Key provisions of the COPIED Act: The bill would require standards for watermarking AI-generated content with provenance information, make it illegal to tamper with this information, and allow individuals and authorities to sue for violations: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) would be tasked with creating guidelines and standards for adding watermark-like details about the origin of AI content. Removing, disabling, or tampering with this "content provenance" information...
read Jul 13, 2024Pinterest Launches Canvas AI: Transforms Images, Enhancing Visual Discovery and UX
Pinterest unveils Canvas AI, a powerful new foundation model that enhances visual discovery by transforming existing images based on user preferences and textual descriptions. Key Takeaways: Canvas represents a significant advancement in Pinterest's AI strategy, focusing on enhancing existing images rather than generating new ones from scratch: The model aligns with Pinterest's mission of inspiring users through visual discovery, allowing for personalized image manipulation and enhancement. Canvas opens up new possibilities for users and brands, such as showing products in various settings or exploring different styling options. Pinterest emphasizes responsible AI development, prioritizing safety and trust through their STEAM framework....
read Jul 12, 2024Muck Rack Tackles Fake AI Journalist Profiles, Reflecting Wider Challenges Across Media
The journalist database Muck Rack is taking steps to address the issue of fake AI-generated writer profiles and content on its platform, reflecting a wider challenge across the media industry. Muck Rack unverifies fake iLounge writer profiles: After being contacted by The Verge for comment, Muck Rack removed verification from two profiles of seemingly fake writers for iLounge who appeared to be publishing AI-written content. Developing AI detection capabilities: Muck Rack spokesperson Linda Zebian said the platform is working on a model to identify signs commonly associated with fake authorship, allowing them to flag potential AI-generated writers to users. Broader...
read Jul 12, 2024Bipartisan Bill Aims to Protect Creators’ Rights in the Age of Generative AI
The bipartisan COPIED Act aims to protect journalists and artists from having their work used by AI models without consent. Introducing standards for authenticating AI-generated content: The COPIED Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish guidelines for proving the origin of content and detecting synthetic content: This includes methods like watermarking to authenticate the source of creative works. NIST will also develop security measures to prevent tampering with these authentication markers. Requiring transparency and consent for AI use of creative content: Under the bill, AI tools used for generating journalistic or creative content must allow...
read Jul 12, 2024AI Beauty Pageant Sparks Outrage Over Unrealistic Standards and Objectification of Women
The first "Miss AI" contest, held by influencer platform Fanvue, has sparked controversy for promoting unrealistic beauty standards through AI-generated social media influencers. Key details of the contest: Fanvue's "Miss AI" pageant, part of the "World AI Creator Awards," judged AI-generated social media influencers: The winner, Kenza Layli, is a fictional Instagram influencer from Morocco with over 200,000 followers, created by Myriam Bessa of the Phoenix AI agency. The contest awarded cash prizes to the creators of the top three AI-generated influencers, with Bessa receiving $5,000 for Layli's first-place win. CNN covered the event, seemingly referring to the AI-generated images...
read Jul 12, 2024Metafilter Turns 25: Pioneering Online Community Weathers Challenges, Looks to Future
Metafilter, a pioneering online community, turns 25 this month, remaining a beacon of early internet culture and civility in an era of rapid change and consolidation. A tight-knit community frozen in time: Metafilter has maintained its core identity and functionality over a quarter-century, preserving the spirit of the early web: The site's feed remains strictly chronological and text-only, eschewing modern social media features and resisting the urge to scale up or monetize aggressively. Its small, dedicated user base of around 10,000 active members fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared history, with the $5 membership fee and active moderation keeping...
read Jul 11, 2024Etsy Balances AI and Authenticity with New “Creativity Standards” for Sellers
Etsy introduces new "Creativity Standards" to address the rise of AI-generated products on its platform, aiming to maintain transparency and authenticity for buyers. Key changes in Etsy's seller policies: Etsy has revised its seller guidelines to require clear labeling of products based on the level of human involvement in their creation: The "Handmade" label applies to items physically made by the seller or with the help of tools like 3D printers. The new "Designed" label is for products created using AI or other digital tools, ensuring buyers know they may not be entirely handmade. Balancing AI and handmade products: While...
read Jul 10, 2024AI-Powered Video Platform Captions Secures $60M, Fueling Generative AI Revolution
Captions, a startup founded by ex-Microsoft engineer Gaurav Misra, has secured $60 million in Series C funding to advance its AI-powered video creation platform, signaling the growing demand and investment in generative AI for video. Captions' evolution into an AI-driven video suite: Founded in 2021, Captions has transformed from a manual video recording app to a comprehensive AI-powered platform that enables users to create high-quality videos with ease: The company initially expanded its offerings with AI-assisted editing tools for correcting eye contact, dubbing, voiceovers, and producing short clips from longer videos. In early 2024, Captions introduced AI Creator and AI...
read Jul 9, 2024DreamFlare Launches Interactive AI-Generated Streaming Platform To Empower Emerging Creators
DreamFlare AI launches AI-generated interactive streaming platform, merging technology and creativity to deliver unique storytelling experiences that would not be possible with traditional mediums. Key Details of DreamFlare AI's Launch: The platform, led by former Google executive Josh Liss and filmmaker Rob Bralver, has raised $1.65 million in a pre-seed round and aims to provide premium AI-generated entertainment: DreamFlare AI offers two main types of experiences: "Flips" (immersive AI-generated stories with movement and audio) and "Spins" (interactive short films where viewer choices affect the storyline). The platform operates on a freemium model, with a selection of free content each week...
read Jul 8, 2024WhatsApp Introduces AI-Powered Image Analysis and Editing
The AI-powered messaging app WhatsApp is introducing new features that allow users to interact more collaboratively with AI, enabling them to send photos to Meta AI for analysis and editing. Key Takeaways: The latest WhatsApp beta version for Android includes a feature that allows users to send photos to Meta AI, ask questions about the images, and request edits using prompts. This development follows Meta's recent efforts to integrate more image-generation features into WhatsApp, such as a beta feature that uses Meta AI to create user avatars based on their photos. Enhancing User Experience through AI Integration: By incorporating AI-powered...
read Jul 5, 2024YouTube’s AI Erase Song Tool Simplifies Copyrighted Music Removal for Creators
YouTube enhances 'Erase Song' tool for more efficient removal of copyrighted music: YouTube is updating its Erase Song feature with a new AI-powered algorithm that can more accurately identify and remove copyrighted songs from videos while leaving the rest of the audio intact. Key improvements and options: The updated tool offers creators two choices when removing copyrighted music: Erase Song: This option will only remove the copyrighted song, allowing voiceovers and other audio elements to remain. Mute All Sound: This will mute all audio in the sections containing the copyrighted song. Simplified process for creators: When a creator receives a...
read Jul 5, 2024WhatsApp’s New AI Avatars Will Set it Apart from OpenAI and Google
WhatsApp's anticipated AI avatar feature would allow users to create virtual representations of themselves to place in AI-generated images, potentially setting it apart from competitors like Google and OpenAI that have been reluctant to offer such capabilities. Key details of WhatsApp's AI avatar feature: The messaging service is developing a feature that would let users upload photos of themselves to generate an AI avatar that can be inserted into various virtual settings based on text prompts: Users would provide some reference photos and Meta's Llama AI model would create the avatars The feature is currently in beta testing for a...
read Jul 5, 2024YouTube Cracks Down on Deepfakes, Allows Takedowns of Unauthorized AI-Generated Content
YouTube steps up efforts to combat AI deepfakes with new removal policy, allowing individuals to request takedowns of unauthorized AI-generated content depicting them. Key details of the updated policy: YouTube has implemented a new policy to address the rise of AI-generated content that mimics individuals without their consent: Affected individuals can now request the removal of AI-generated content that realistically depicts them through YouTube's privacy request process. To qualify for removal, the content must depict a realistic altered or synthetic version of the individual's likeness. Content creators have two days to remove the likeness or the entire video after a...
read Jul 4, 2024WhatsApp Developing AI Avatar Generator for Personalized User Images in Various Settings
WhatsApp is developing a personalized AI avatar generator that will allow users to imagine themselves in various settings, from forests to outer space, using a combination of user photos, text prompts, and Meta's AI Llama model. Key details of the upcoming feature: The in-development "Imagine" AI feature was spotted in the latest WhatsApp Beta for Android and is expected to generate personalized avatars for users: Users will need to take photos of themselves once to train the Meta AI to produce images in their likeness. Avatars can be generated by typing "Imagine me" with a description of the setting in...
read Jul 3, 2024AI Memes: Time-Traveling Trend Reshapes Internet History, Sparks Reactions
Meme culture meets AI-generated videos in a trend that's reshaping internet history. Time-traveler videos alter iconic memes: A new trend on social media platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) involves using AI to generate videos that add new context to well-known memes: These "time traveler" videos often depict figures interrupting the original meme or adding haunting specters to the scene. One popular example alters the "distracted boyfriend" meme, showing the boyfriend turning to follow the other woman while his girlfriend stands nearby. Luma Dream Machine enables realistic AI meme edits: The videos are made using Luma Dream Machine, an...
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