Microsoft design exec uses AI to illustrate son’s new book

Father, son, AI, and the “Purple Anxiety Monster”: Microsoft Corporate VP Jon Friedman leads design and research efforts across the company, including on its artificial intelligence products. But he didn’t think he could personally pull off illustrating an entire book by hand. So he turned to OpenAI’s DALL-E to craft the watercolor-style artwork for his son Judah’s new children’s book about coping with anxiety. Read more.

The debate over using AI to produce art for comics was the focus of a panel discussion?in Seattle that included publishers, illustrators, and writers. “AI is not going to go away,” said Fabrice Sapolsky , CEO of indie publisher Fair Square Comics. “We have to get used to it. Now, how do we tame it?” Read more.?

Startup raises $2.4 million for data-processing satellites: Bellevue, Wash.-based Lumen Orbit (YC S24) plans a constellation of orbital data centers for processing information in space before it’s downlinked to customers on Earth. Read more.

Hot Links:

• Amazon has a new deal with the National Women’s Soccer League that makes the company an “exclusive retail partner” where fans can buy licensed merchandise, some made by Amazon’s print-on-demand service. (Sportico)
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• A new report co-written by UW professor Benjamin Hallen examines the essential ingredients of a successful startup accelerator. (Harvard Business Review)
• Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez rubbed shoulders with the Kardashians and other celebs at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. (People)

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