Mary Cassatt, renowned for her paintings of mothers and children, once had a pet monkey named Coco. She even included the mischievous little monkey in some of her artworks, showcasing her playful and unconventional spirit!

July 12, 2024

• Tech vs. Talent: The Struggle for Creative Revenue

• Battle of the Uploads: YouTube vs. TikTok vs. Meta!

• 3 Questions with Digital Curator, Maren Burghard

• The AI Wire

• Creativity in Words: Isaac Asimov

• Tools to Explore

Tech vs. Talent: The Struggle for Creative Revenue

AI companies are shaking up the creative world and they're “not hiding their disdain” for the artists they might replace. Olivier Toubia from Columbia University calls it a "zero-sum game" where AI firms and artists compete for the same audience and revenue. OpenAI’s Mira Murati stirred controversy with remarks about some creative jobs being unnecessary, reflecting a dismissive attitude toward traditional creatives. This highlights the ongoing tension and competition between tech companies and human artists as they vie for market dominance and financial gains.

If it is indeed true that companies and creatives are fighting over a pie that is not getting any larger, some of these AI developments feel a bit more sinister. The struggle for dominance in a fixed market raises ethical questions about the future of creative work and the value we place on human ingenuity.

Perspectives

• Mira Murati, CTO of OpenAI: "Some creative jobs maybe will go away, but maybe they shouldn't have been there in the first place."

• Olivier Toubia, Columbia University: "AI companies and creatives are competing for the same pot of revenue."

• Mira Murati: "With AI tools taking on more repetitive or mechanistic aspects of the creative process, like generating SEO metadata, we can free up human creators to focus on higher-level creative thinking and choices."

For more details, read the full article on Business Insider.

Battle of the Uploads: YouTube vs. TikTok vs. Meta!

As the creator economy continues to surge, video content remains king across social media platforms. In 2024, Meta (Facebook/Instagram) leads with over 4 million videos uploaded daily, followed by TikTok with 3.2 million uploads, and YouTube with 3.7 million videos uploaded each day.

Short-form video content, such as TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, drives the most engagement across these platforms, highlighting the importance of quick, captivating content in the digital age.

3 Questions with Maren Burghard

Digital Curator
New Realities

In this edition of "3 Questions," we interview Maren Burghard, a digital curator at New Realities. Maren recently organized an AI exhibition that challenges our understanding of authenticity in art. She shares visitor reactions, insights on AI-generated imagery, and thoughts on the future of AI in art curation. Her reflections provide a glimpse into the evolving landscape of digital art and its impact on public engagement with visual media.

1. What were some of the most surprising or thought-provoking reactions from visitors at your AI exhibition, and how did they influence your perspective on AI-generated art?

Of all the discussions, the one with cultural studies students surprised me the most. They disagreed with our curatorial decision not to display all images from 'the artwork „The Annotators,' where the AI created everything independently. We saw it as an ethical choice; they saw it as concealing the negative aspects of AI.

2. How do you address the challenge of helping people understand the nuances and complexities of AI-generated images, especially in terms of their authenticity and impact on our perception of reality?

To address the challenge of understanding AI-generated images' nuances, we emphasize to visitors that these images are "representations of representations." This approach highlights their role in extending traditional media practices, such as photography, which also constructs reality through mediated processes.

3. In what ways do you think the evolving capabilities of generative AI will shape the future of art curation and the public's relationship with visual media?

Currently, the public's fascination with AI-generated art remains high. However, we are already beginning to enter an era of normalization and fatigue. I think the focus will shift to the content and message of AI art, emphasizing meaningful, substantive themes over mere technical novelty.

The AI Wire

Captions Secures $100M for AI Video Research: Captions, a leading AI-driven video technology company, has raised $100 million in Series C funding to pioneer advanced AI video research in New York City. This significant investment, backed by prominent venture capital firms, aims to accelerate the development of cutting-edge AI technologies that enhance video content creation, editing, and accessibility. The funding will be used to expand Captions' research and development capabilities, hire top talent, and foster collaborations with academic institutions and industry partners. This initiative is set to position New York City as a hub for AI innovation in video technology.
For more details, read the full article on Business Wire: Business Wire

Volley Becomes Highest-Grossing AI-Powered Games Company: Volley, the innovative AI-powered gaming company, has emerged as the highest-grossing firm in its sector. Known for its unique approach to integrating AI into gaming, Volley leverages advanced machine learning to create dynamic and engaging gaming experiences. This success is attributed to their groundbreaking AI technologies that adapt to player behavior, offering personalized and ever-evolving gameplay. Volley's impressive revenue growth is a testament to the potential of AI in transforming the gaming industry, making it a leader in the field of AI-driven entertainment.
For more details, read the full article on Lightspeed Venture Partners: Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Creativity in Words

"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'"

Isaac Asimov
Author and Biochemist

Tools to Explore

• Preview from Poe - a new feature that lets you see and interact with web applications generated directly in chats on Poe

• Krut AI - An AI Platform that integrates products to generate high-quality custom brand images without being an expert prompter.