#65 - The New Social Contract

It's always a challenge to pinpoint the exact moment one era gives way to another, yet the signs are becoming unmistakably clear: social media is evolving.

• First, traffic from social media to news websites is plummeting due to changes aimed at keeping users on the platforms.
• Second, a shift towards a broadcast model is apparent as platforms favor Tik-Tok style discovery feeds or one-to-many broadcasting channels over moderation-heavy social feeds.
• Lastly, the rise of ad-free premium subscriptions on platforms like X , Meta , and TikTok highlights a move towards monetization amidst tougher economic and regulatory conditions.

This triad signifies a transition from free, social-graph oriented, and externally linking platforms to premium, broadcast-centric, and inward-focused networks, each impacting the media landscape differently.

For publishers & media companies, this crossroad calls for rethinking how to adapt as social takes a different path.

IN FOCUS

Campbell Brown, the seasoned TV anchor leading Meta's news efforts, left this week , symbolizing the new direction social media is heading. It's part of a bigger shift in Meta, and the wider tech sector, moving from news to more of entertainment and viral trends.

As Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, mentioned, the goal now is to create fun and help people connect in new ways , rather than just answering questions. And with a wave of celebrity bots and virtual users coming in , we might see social media interactions change from person-to-person to possibly person-to-AI.

AI/NEWS

Blending AI with physical devices is heating up the tech scene.

• Meta launched an AI-augmented Rayban that can see and understand the world around you.
• Humane showcased a fasionable AI Pin , a wearable device with a huge range of sensors that promises screenless & smart interactions.
• Rewind Pendant is a wearable that captures what you say and hear in the real world.
• Tab is a necklace that acts as your go-to creative assistant .

Short:

• OpenAI’s image generator, is rolling out in Bing and Image Creator. Read more.
• Google Assistant is getting AI capabilities with Bard. Read more.

AI/RESOURCES

Several publishers, including Bloomberg and The New York Times, quickly blocked OpenAI's web crawler to keep their content from feeding the company's large language models. Yet, according to conversations with five publishers , it's up in the air how effective this move really is.

Meanwhile ChatGPT’s latest update fuels publishers’ concerns even more about AI chatbots siphoning traffic.

Short:

• A new paper shows what ChatGPT with “vision” can do. Read more.
• Internet researcher Henk Van Ess is working on a Researcher's Guide to Practical AI, 2024. Read more.
• BBC outlined three principles that will shape their approach to working with Gen AI. Read more.
• The AI Now Institute has released a significant report examining the monopoly within the AI supply chain. Read more.
• And Ethan Mollick considers what is next for AI. Read more.

VIDEO

New YouTube research shows users are reconsidering discovery as curation. Searching for good video can be a pleasure rather than a chore it seems.

Teens barely spend any time on Snapchat anymore. According to a new study , teenagers’ phones are blowing up with hundreds of notifications per day—but they’re only spending 3% of their screen time on what was once a Gen Z go-to app.

Short:

• Startup Likewise is launching an entertainment recommendation chatbot called “Pix.”. Read more.
• And AI start-up Largo.ai is trying to accelerate filmmaking with AI-powered insights, specialising in content analysis and smartifying traditional content creation workflows. Read more.

AUDIO

Apple Podcasts has rolled out dozens of new shows and now enables listeners to link subscriptions via third-party apps. This means subscribers of apps, potentially like The Economist or The New York Times, can effortlessly access and listen to paywalled content on Apple Podcasts.

Spotify is ramping up its emerging audiobooks venture by offering a a free set amount of listening time to existing premium subscribers.

Spotify is also expanding its AI offerings — on the heels of its AI-based DJ — to include a feature that will generate playlists based on user prompts.

NEWS

Fact-checking is losing momentum as fact-checkers are confronted with an ever-increasing tide of misinformation online, according to a recent New York Times article , spotlighting their uphill battle in navigating the digital truth terrain.

The UK’s Independent Publishers Alliance is urging its members to block crawling access for OpenAI and Google as soon as possible.

Short:

• Three reporters share tips for succeeding with journalism on TikTok. Read more.
• WhatsApp's new 'Channels' for publishers is helping Reach drive millions of page views through the app. Read more.

SHORT

• Apple considers huge bid for global Formula 1 streaming rights.
• Luma now offers AI-generated embeddable, and universally shareable 3D images.
• Canva launched new AI tools to automate design tasks.
• Adobe gave a sneak-peak of a new AI photo-editing tool called 'project stardust'.
• Linkedin’s editor-in-chief Daniel Roth explains how the platform is prioritising and promoting news.
• Meta plans to charge $14 a month for ad-free Instagram or Facebook.
• TikTok is testing an ad-free monthly subscription plan.

READ

This week’s reading material shines on the darker implications of AI advancements. From flawed tech deployment, improving deepfake capabilities, to the role of generative AI in fueling disinformation.

• Security risks in AI deployment: MIT Technology Review reports on tech firms deploying flawed technology to millions, potentially opening floodgates to scams, phishing, and large-scale hacks due to AI's access to sensitive data. Read more.
• AI deepfakes are getting better & more problematic: A stark example surfaces this week in an AI-generated TikTok ad featuring Mr. Beast, underlining how deepfake technology is becoming both better and problematic. Explore the story.
• Generative AI’s role in disinformation: A report from Freedom House delves into how generative AI is aiding the spread of disinformation and propaganda, offering a glimpse into how governments might leverage this tech to amplify censorship. Discover more.

That's all for this week! Feel free to share with friends and colleagues.

Ezra