Author J.R.R. Tolkien invented the entire Elvish language for "The Lord of the Rings," demonstrating his incredible linguistic talent.

July 24, 2024

• Digital Afterlife: The Ethical Dilemma of AI Clones

• From Hoops to Art: Leveraging AI Like Olympic Athletes

• Creative Insights with Mauricio Tonon, Creative Technologist at Invisible Universe

• The AI Wire

• Creativity in Words: Sylvia Plath

• Tools to Explore

Digital Afterlife: The Ethical Dilemma of AI Clones

Silicon Intelligence, a Chinese company, has created AI chatbots that allow people to communicate with digital versions of deceased loved ones, using their voice and likeness. This technology, powered by advancements in AI and computing, makes it possible to create affordable digital "clones." Sun Kai, an executive with Silicon Intelligence, frequently converses with a digital likeness of his late mother, finding solace in the interaction.

The idea of confusing real memories with artificial ones created by a bot is unsettling. While this innovation showcases AI's potential to tap into deep human emotions, it also raises significant ethical and psychological concerns. This application, although currently macabre and unsettling, opens a dialogue about the future role of AI in our personal lives, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of its impact on our mental and emotional well-being.

For creatives, this news highlights the profound emotional capabilities of AI and its potential to influence human experiences. It serves as a reminder to carefully consider the ethical implications of integrating AI into their work and to strive for a balance that amplifies human creativity without overshadowing genuine human connections.

Perspectives:

Sun Kai, executive with Silicon Intelligence:
“I do not treat [the avatar] as a kind of digital person. I truly regard it as a mother. I feel that this might be the most perfect person to confide in, without exception.”

Michel Puech, philosophy professor at Sorbonne Université:
“There is the danger of addiction, and [of] replacing real life. So if it works too well, that’s the danger. Having too much consoling, too much satisfying experience of a dead person will apparently annihilate the experience, and the grief, of death.”

From Hoops to Art: Leveraging AI Like Olympic Athletes

Samsung has launched "ShotControl," an AI tool designed to assist the Dutch 3x3 basketball team at the Olympics. Created by Cheil Benelux, this tool uses AI to analyze player performance, ensuring they maintain shooting accuracy even as they get tired. It transforms shot data into dynamic heat maps, offering real-time feedback to refine game strategies.

Great. But, how does this example from sports help creatives?

For creatives, this underscores how AI can be a game-changer by providing detailed insights to enhance your work. Just as AI helps basketball players improve without replacing them, AI, used thoughtfully, can amplify your creative efforts without taking over. The key remains to find ways to integrate AI into your workflow to Thrive (see below), using it to enhance your unique talents rather than replace them.

Perspectives:

Tim van der Sijde, managing director of Cheil Benelux:
“The innovation had to be developed in such a way that it didn’t hinder the players and was intuitive enough for them to use themselves.”

Malcolm Poynton, global chief creative officer at Cheil Worldwide:
“Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, the intelligence of Samsung ‘ShotControl’ creates an entirely new kind of digital training partner that’s already changing the game.”

See “ShotControl” in action below:

Creative Insights

Mauricio Tonon
Creative Technologist at Invisible Universe
Instagram

Q: Your work spans various design disciplines and incorporates AI. How does your design philosophy influence the way you integrate AI into your projects?

A: In the same way that influences non-AI aspects. My moral and ethical values will always apply, independent of the tools or technology in use, so what I would not do with other media like 3d, painting, illustration, or photography, I won't do with AI either.

Q: As a multidisciplinary designer, what unique advantages do you find AI brings to your creative process, and can you share an example of a project where AI played a crucial role?

A: Speed, efficiency, creativity. It can be used to quickly show different visual solutions for the client or explore design aspects in different scenarios. A project example was an NFT development in which AI helped me showcase to the client possible visual solutions directly at the Briefing meeting, We skipped from the Briefing meeting to production, which saved a lot of time, money, and energy on all sides.

Q: Looking to the future, how do you foresee AI shaping the landscape of design, and what trends or developments are you most excited about?

A: If we are lucky, design as we know it will cease to exist, and natural forms of interaction will be created. AI will add personalization, facilitating how we interact with the interface.

The AI Wire

Organizations Must Plan for AI's Evolving Role: Despite extensive planning horizons, few organizations account for the rapid advancement of AI in their strategies. The debate between the potential for exponential AI growth and the current limits of Large Language Models (LLMs) remains unresolved. Companies need to plan for multiple futures, including the possibility of achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), to stay ahead in the evolving tech landscape.
For more information read: One Useful Thing

Figma's 'Make Designs' Retrospective: Figma has published a retrospective on its 'Make Designs' initiative, highlighting the successes and learnings from the project. 'Make Designs' aimed to democratize design by providing tools and resources for both seasoned designers and beginners. The initiative emphasized collaboration, innovation, and accessibility, resulting in a more inclusive design community. Figma's reflection underscores the importance of continuous improvement and user feedback in driving impactful design solutions.
For more details, read the full article on Figma's blog: Figma Blog.

AI's Impact on Kenyan Creatives: AI technology presents both opportunities and challenges for Kenyan creatives. While AI can enhance creativity, streamline processes, and open new avenues for artistic expression, it also poses risks such as job displacement and ethical concerns regarding originality and ownership. This duality highlights the need for a balanced approach to integrating AI into the creative industries, ensuring that the benefits are maximized while mitigating potential downsides.
For more details, read the full article on Business Daily Africa: Business Daily Africa.

Creativity in Words

“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked."​

Sylvia Plath
Poet and Novelist

Tools to Try

• Vozo - Rewrite, redub, and lip-sync your viral videos into new stories with prompts.

• UltraPixel - Ultra high-resolution images, reaching up to 4096x4096 pixels, powered by Stable Cascade technology.