AI, caramba!

Jan 31, 2023

Image credit: Made with Midjourney, prompted by me

The internet has completely blown up with AI art and writing and [insert million other uses here] in recent months. Sure, it’s always been present—or at the very least looming—but it really feels like it has entered the zeitgeist and is here to stay. I saw someone with the title AI Director and my soul shrunk a little.

I love discovering new tech and software and am always exploring new products but something about this feels different. It’s exciting and scary for a few reasons: what is all this about? Will this help or hurt my livelihood as a creative person? How do I navigate the ethical gray areas that already feel too far gone?

I really try to view things through a lens of abundance, but I also can’t help feeling the wrong people will benefit from these leaps in technology—as incredible as they may be. And believe me, they are incredible. I’ve been experimenting with Midjourney and it’s a procrasti-worker’s dream. It’s not easy per se, but it’s pretty wild what people can create using the right prompts.

I’m going to link a couple of articles I’ve enjoyed because they’ll do a much better job of explaining the dilemma around copyright and accountability than I can. I’m still learning and imagine this is just the beginning of AI.

The Power and Ethical Dilemma of AI Image Generation Models
Will AI-based generative models provide an academic-to-commercial pipeline for big tech companies to get around copyrights and accountability?

Creating a children’s book in 72 hours
Ammaar Reshi wrote and illustrated a children’s book using ChatGPT and Midjourney. He wasn't prepared for the backlash.

Ethical AI
Found this glossary section by C3.ai helpful in learning just how important ethical AI is. Disinformation, deception, racism… the list goes on.

Finally, giving this new poll feature a crack. What are your thoughts? I realize this is an extremely broad question that considers no nuance.

Thank you as always for reading and clicking.

Have a great week,
Gabby

Resource of the Week

Found this tutorial really helpful when trying to understand how to use Midjourney and take advantage of additional code options.

Tips and tricks

Lucky Dip Links

On the theme of AI:

Design Midjourney
An IG sharing images in architecture and design AI Worlds.

Mirai Network
Another account I was truly blown away by. Just don’t look too closely at fingers lol.

Image credit: Mirai Network

Tome
Generative storytelling in slides format.

ChatGPT
This is another big player in the AI world that I am yet to explore.

Cory Etzkorn @coryetzkorn

Just learned SQL in one weekend thanks to ChatGPT

On the theme of other things:

MSCHF
New site, new mischief. These folks do great work and have an appropriate company name.

Image credit: MSCHF

Spam Brand x Nom Life Collection
I have absolutely no interest in ever eating Spam but I could get amongst this swag. Speaking of, we’ve got some fun things à la Super Keen coming soon.

Pop Up Grocer
Just a fun site. Don’t overthink it.

Relatable:

Tad Carpenter @TadCarpenter

Design is easy. You just write 100 emails a day, attend 6 or 7 meetings and then start designing at 4:45pm.

R/GA @RGA

Tuesday: Why are we looking at creative? This is premature, we need to align on strategy. Wednesday: Where's all my stuff?

All resources and links are shared purely because I think they are cool, interesting, or helpful. No content is sponsored unless explicitly stated. I am open to submissions but cannot promise they will be featured.

You can reach me directly by replying to this email.

OMGLORD
Things that make G–Lord say OMG

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