KANYE AND AXL ROSE SUMMON AI FOR MUSIC VIDEOS
In this weekâs Whatâs Appening, we get in the ring with Guns Nâ Roses. The rockers have used AI in a new music video release for âThe Generalâ, and the results are somewhat spectacular. GNR isnât alone in using AI to create visuals, as controversial rapper Kanye West has also dabbled in the technology for his song âVulturesâ. The videos have caused debate in AIâs role in art, and we report on how some artists are fighting back. In other news, big things are expected from iOS 18, and we report on how OpenAI is a step closer to a universal assistant. Our Stat of the Week looks at BeReal DAUs. And Whatâs dAppening reports from Mexico, where crypto is revolutionizing 5G internet access.
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đľđ˝ď¸ AI â Music Videos Draw Praise & Criticism for Role in Art
Both Guns Nâ Roses and Kanye West have released new music videos that are, at least in part, created by AI. GNRâs video for âThe Generalâ, in particular, is drawing a lot of praise, showcasing what AI can do to create stunning visuals and blend real concert footage with comic book stylings. Yeâs video for Vultures is somewhat more controversial; no surprises there. Nonetheless, the videos act as a reminder of the growing debate over AIâs role in the arts. Itâs a bit too simplistic to say that AI is anti-art. Indeed, you should check out this TIME magazine piece on how artists have been using AI to make âimpossibleâ music, even using the tech to foster access and inclusivity. That said, not everyone is happy with the âprocessâ â the training of AI on artistic data â rather than the final outcome. Is there a fightback on the cards? Enter Nightshade, which has seen over 250K downloads since its release six days ago. Nightshade âpoisonsâ data so AI canât learn from it, at least without consent. Another called Glaze had over 2.3 million downloads last year. The creators of the âpoisonsâ say they arenât trying to bring down AI but rather a means of getting artists paid for their work. This idea of artistsâ consent and remuneration is going to be a hot-button topic in the coming years. #AIArt Read more here.
đđ˛Â Apple â Report Claims that iOS 18 Update Will Be âBiggest Everâ
âIâm told that the new operating system is seen within the company as one of the biggest iOS updates â if not the biggest â in the companyâs history.â. So says Mark Gurman, noted Apple reporter. There are no guesses for why Gurman is making such a claim, as Apple is expected to (finally) get serious about adding AI capability to its devices. Gurman believes generative AI will come to Siri and Messages, as well as other Apple applications like Xcode and Apple Music. However, while Gurman is a good source for Apple leaks, we wonât know for sure until the update is unveiled. The details of iOS 18 will be announced at WWDC 24 in June. Weâll keep you posted, of course. #BiggestEverIOS Read more here.
đ¤đŁď¸ GPTs â OpenAI Moves a Step Closer to a Universal Assistant
OpenAI is currently testing a new feature in beta. @GPT is essentially a tool for multi-GPT conversations. Why is this important? Well, if we consider the premise of GPTs being specialized microservices, @GPT will allow you to combine them for a conversation. Imagine being a stock trader and conversing with a bunch of GPTs â one an expert in macroeconomics, another in technical analysis of stocks, and another global supply chains. The GPTs can converse with you and each other, even debate among themselves to come up with a final decision on your stock trade. It is being framed as a step closer to OpenAIâs vision of a Universal Assistant. #@GPT Read more here.
đď¸ The Best of the Rest: Other News in Brief
đ Arc Redefines Search with âBrowse for Meâ. Arc Search, a new iOS app, wants to redefine how we use search engines.  Effectively, instead of throwing up a bunch of links, it creates a webpage based on your query. See the story in The Verge here.
đ§ŞÂ Someone let Elon Musk Put a Microchip in their Brain. The first human trials for Neuralink have taken place, with the patient recovering from the procedure. We donât know whether to be scared or impressed. The full story is here.
đ¤źââď¸ Netflix Signs $5 Billion Deal with WWE. Netflix is pushing ahead with plans to get into live events with a massive deal to show WWE wrestling programming. Unfortunately, it looks like it is also taking away its cheapest ad-free plan. Stories are here and here.
đ Appleâs Self-Driving Cars Are Delayed Again. Apple has been teasing the idea of self-driving cars for years, but it has pushed back the release to 2028 at the earliest. Whatâs more, a lot of the autonomous features are also being dialed back. The story is here.
đđ¸Â BeReal â Authentic Social Media App Pushes Into Brands and Celebs
We have to admit we were quite surprised to learn that BeReal â the social media app that urges you to, well, be real â is still growing at a steady clip, with a reported 23 million daily active users. Moreover, the platform is now engaged in a big push to bring celebrities, brands, and influencers onto the app. Itâs an important step, as BeReal now has to prove itâs more than a one-trick pony by keeping those users engaged. #RealGoodNumbers Read more here.
đđŞÂ TelefĂłnica â Telecoms Giant Launches Crypto-Backed Mobile Hotspots in Mexico
TelefĂłnica, one of the world's leading internet providers, has teamed up with Helium Mobile to offer 5G hotspots across Mexico. Helium Mobile is a Solana-powered project that creates a decentralized wireless internet network. In essence, users run the hotspots from their homes or businesses, and they earn crypto tokens as an incentive for sharing their internet connection with strangers. Weâve been tracking Helium Mobile for a while (it went live in the US in 2023), as it is the perfect example of the web3 decentralized ethos, lowering costs for providers and incentivizing users to expand access. Keep an eye on this one. #DecentralizedHotSpots Read more here.
What if we told you 2024 was the year voice really took over? For years weâve been wishing for Alexa and Siri to get better, and finally, we think they will. Just check out our take on Appleâs iOS 18 rumors above. At 3Advance, weâre getting serious too. This month we kicked off our first AI voice app project, using text-to-speech offerings from WellSaid Labs, who we covered last week in Whatâs Appening. Not only can we choose between some real life voices to read scripts back to users, but we are now developing apps that allow your own voice to speak back to you! This might seem weird to some, but there is huge potential here, specifically when it comes to wellness and mindfulness. This has only just become possible with advances in Generative AI, but the results are fascinating. If you want to talk about how you can use speech and voice in your apps, just ask. And of course, look out for the release of Self Speak in the Spring! đ For now though, check out our blog on how conversational apps will revolutionize mobile user experience.
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