#101- Imagined for you

I don't often think about dystopian futures. But Meta's recent Connect 2024 event sparked that feeling somehow in me. Of all the Meta AI updates announced that day, "Imagined for You" stood out. It's not a big new product but a rather experimental feature on Facebook.

"Imagined for You" is exactly what it sounds like. It's a new feed filled with AI-generated images based on your interests and current trends . You can tap or swipe to guide the AI. It creates more content in real-time.

It reminded me of "The Matrix." In that movie, humans were plugged into a fake reality without knowing it. Today our "plugs" are our phones, smart glasses , and other devices, and "the simulation" is increasingly our feed.

It feels like platforms are changing. They're no longer just connecting creators and audiences. They are becoming "plugs" between us and AI engines. Always analyzing what we do. Trying to predict and create what we might want to see or do next.

World Labs , a new AI start-up with rich investors, has even bigger dreams. They want to make Large World Models (LWMs) and give AI spatial intelligence , enabling the creation of adaptive, interactive, and fully immersive generated worlds – a personalized, AI-crafted reality for each user.

I don’t want to be all doom and gloom—there are creative opportunities in self-generating media, like the recent ENO documentary about musician Brian Eno. Each screening is unique, with different scenes, order, and music, meant to be experienced live. Here generative AI mirrors Eno's creative practice and his use of technology to explore the essence of creativity.

AI

Meta had its big Connect 2024 meeting this week. The company introduced the ability to talk to and share photos with Meta AI , along with a new AI translation tool for Reels. Meta also unveiled Orion, new AI-powered AR glasses featuring voice AI and an innovative neural wrist interface.

OpenAI as we knew it is dead. It’s now a for profit . With Sam Altman getting 7% equity. To top it off CTO Mira Murati and two other top execs are leaving the company.

Altman, undeterred by the restructuring, continues to share his vision of the future. In a recent blog post, he introduced the concept of "The Intelligence Age," boldly suggesting that superintelligence could be achieved in just a few thousand days.

Other AI updates:

• ChatGPT's most advanced talking version is getting a wide release (excluding the EU). Link
• Meta led an open letter to the EU, backed by over 50 companies, calling for regulatory certainty on AI. Link
• The Wall Street Journal gathered expert predictions on AI in 2030. Link
• Google collected 185 real-world gen AI use cases from leading organizations. Link
• A study of AI-generated images reveals generational stereotypes. Link
• Edelman released a report on generative AI tools from a PR perspective. Link

NEWS

A recent study by Adobe on misinformation and AI-generated content reveals some concerning trends. A staggering 94% of respondents worry about misinformation impacting the 2024 presidential election, while 74% doubt photo and video authenticity, even from reputable sources.

And if you wonder what an Agentic AI workflow for data journalism could look like you should check this excellent research by Joris Veerbeek and Nicholas Diakopoulos

Other news highlights:

• Omni journalists are developing their own AI tools. Link
• Radio-Canada's is a good case study on building AI literacy. Link
• Bellingcat launched a new Online Investigations Toolkit. An amazing resource!
• Digital publishers are turning to WhatsApp’s Channels. Link
• Schibsted's personalization efforts increased subscriber CTRs by 25%. Link
• An new ambitious international fund aims to raise $150 million for independent media. Link
• The INMA Innovation Week in Helsinki presented seven AI case studies. Link

VIDEO

Sony Pictures is expanding on YouTube with a new channel "Kidzuko." The channel will feature popular properties like Octonauts and Peter Rabbit, expanding Sony's digital footprint in children's entertainment.

Meanwhile YouTube is introducing a new feature called "Hype" to boost smaller channels. This promotional system includes a dedicated button for hyping videos and a platform-wide leaderboard, aiming to help users discover and share new creators.

TikTok's search functionality is gaining traction, with 57% of users utilizing it and 23% searching within 30 seconds of opening the app.

The recent Runway-Lionsgate AI partnership has sparked debate in Hollywood , raising questions about the role of AI in film production and its impact on the industry's future.

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AUDIO

The New York Times is expanding its audio subscription availability, making it purchasable through Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The aim is to reach a wider audience and simplify the subscription process for listeners.

Google's NotebookLM, an AI note-taking and research assistant, now offers summaries of YouTube videos and audio files .

SHORT

• TikTok launches expanded subscriptions feature for creators.
• Telegram will start to provide user data in response to legal requests
• Hubspot is launching a professional network for AI agents
• Mark Zuckerberg: creators and publishers ‘overestimate the value’ of their work for training AI.
• A recent study on creator burnout and AI adoption revealed that 88% of Instagram influencers report some level of burnout.
• 1X has developed a "world model," a video generator that imagines how the world changes in response to a robot's actions.

READ

The ethics of AI hype are under scrutiny as the technology continues to evolve. A thought-provoking collection explores the line between marketing and misrepresentation in AI communications.

Meta's Oversight Board has released a whitepaper on "Content Moderation in the AI Era," addressing the balance between AI automation and human rights principles in content moderation.

More to read:

• "Drowning in Slop," discusses the growing underground economy of AI-generated internet content. Link
• Rasmus Kleis Nielsen offers insights on the changing landscape of news consumption in "What's happening to our news?" emphasizing that the public is moving beyond conventional forms of journalism. Link
• For those interested in strategic thinking and innovation, "Disrupt with Impact" is a recommended read. The book explores disruption and innovation in our increasingly complex world. Link
• Lastly, "Charting Your AI-Native Journey" provides a framework for understanding AI offerings across dimensions of change and trust, offering valuable insights for those navigating the AI landscape. Link

?That's it for this week! Wayfinder is made to travel so feel free to share with friends and colleagues!

Ezra

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