Entertainment

Illustration of Text-to-3D avatar conversion using AI technology

Alibaba’s AI: From Text to 3D Avatars with Mach

Alibaba’s been up to some cool AI stuff, and it’s time to dive into their latest creation: Make-A-Character (Mach). This nifty tool is all about turning simple text into awesome 3D avatars. Let’s check out what’s cooking in Alibaba’s AI kitchen.

Bringing Words to Life

  • Mach Magic: Imagine typing a description and getting a 3D avatar. That’s Mach for you! It uses AI to create lifelike avatars from just words.
  • Focus on Diversity: Right now, Mach’s got a knack for Asian-look avatars. But hold tight, they’re planning to add more styles and ethnicities soon.

How Does It Work?

Mach’s process is pretty slick. You start with text, and it gives you a 3D face with matching features and accessories. It’s like having a digital artist at your fingertips. And the best part? You can even animate these avatars!

Alibaba’s AI Suite

  • Richdreamer: It’s another cool AI model, blending normal and depth data to create detailed visuals.
  • ‘Animate Anyone’ Tech: This is where static images come to life, turning photos into moving characters.
  • Qwen-72B Language Model: Alibaba’s not stopping at avatars. They’ve pumped up their language model, making it bigger and better.
  • A Gift to Researchers: Meet Qwen-1.8B, a smaller model for the AI research community. It’s easy on GPU memory but still packs a punch.

Wrapping It Up

So, there you have it. Alibaba’s taking AI to new heights with Mach and its other models. These tools are not just about cool visuals; they’re about bringing imagination to life. And with their ongoing development, who knows what’s next?

Curious to see how these avatars turn out? Keep an eye on Alibaba’s AI journey. It’s an exciting time in the world of artificial intelligence, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next! 🌐🤖👥

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Google DeepMind's Lyria: Music Creation with AI

Google DeepMind’s Lyria: Music Creation with AI

Lyria: DeepMind’s Music Generation Marvel

Google DeepMind is turning up the volume in the AI music world with its latest creation, Lyria. This advanced model is a game-changer, capable of producing high-quality music complete with instrumentals and vocals. Lyria’s prowess in transformation and continuation tasks, coupled with its ability to give users nuanced control over style and performance, marks a significant leap in music generation technology.

Dream Track: Blurring the Lines Between AI and Artistry

In a move blending technology with artistry, DeepMind’s Dream Track experiment invites a select group of creators to collaborate with Lyria. The twist? They’ll be producing unique soundtracks featuring AI-generated voices and styles of popular artists like Alec Benjamin and Charli XCX. This experiment is not just about creating music; it’s about reshaping the boundaries of creativity.

Expanding the Horizons of Music Creation

DeepMind isn’t stopping at Lyria. The company is developing tools that will enable users to create new music or instrumental sections from scratch, transform audio across styles or instruments, and even generate instrumental and vocal accompaniments. This suite of tools aims to democratize music creation, making sophisticated production accessible to more people.

SynthID: Safeguarding Authenticity in AI Music

Amidst these innovations, DeepMind is conscious of the ethical implications. Enter SynthID, a watermarking technology designed to identify synthetically generated content. This technology aims to balance the benefits of generative music with the need for transparency and authenticity, ensuring that the origins of music are always clear.

A Responsible Approach to Music AI

Google DeepMind’s commitment extends beyond technology development. The company is actively engaging with artists and the music industry to ensure these tools are developed responsibly and beneficially. This collaborative approach seeks to maximize the positive impact of AI in music while addressing potential risks.

The Future of Music in the AI Era

The implications of tools like Lyria are profound. They promise to transform music creation and consumption, inspiring artists, songwriters, producers, and fans alike. As AI continues to evolve, it’s set to redefine the music landscape, opening up new realms of creativity and expression.

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Girl on her computer.

Last Week in AI

It’s been a busy week in AI so let’s jump right in.

Midjourney: Style Tuner

Exciting news coming from Midjourney with the introduction of the Style Tuner, a cool tool that lets you jazz up your images in your own unique way! It lets people change how their pictures look. You tell it what kind of look you want, and it shows you some examples. You pick the ones you like, and it gives you a special code. Later, you can use this code to tell the tool how to color your new pictures. This tool is exclusive to Midjourney Model Version 5.2 and works only in Fast Mode. Here’s a step-by-step on how to use the Style Tuner.


I Am Grok

Elon Musk’s xAI has launched Grōk, an AI chatbot with a flair for wit and boldness. Still in its beta phase, Grok is undergoing testing by a limited number of users, showing promising results, especially in logical and programming tasks. With a personality that stands out and exclusive data advantages, Grok is getting ready to change the way we think about AI chatbots.

Key Points about Grok:

  • Developed by xAI: Elon Musk’s latest AI endeavor.
  • Beta Testing: A select group is currently assessing Grok’s skills.
  • Performance: Excelling in math and coding challenges.
  • X Premium+ Service: Grok will be a feature of this upcoming premium service.
  • Early Access: Available for sign-up in the U.S.

For more on Grok, visit our blog: Elon Musk’s xAI Launches Grok.


Judge Partially Dismisses AI Art Copyright Case

A recent lawsuit accusing Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt of copyright infringement was largely dismissed by U.S. Judge William H. Orrick, due to issues including unfiled copyrights by two artists. Orrick invited the artists to amend and refile their claims with specified infringed images, but only allowed one count of direct infringement against Stability AI to proceed.


Google: Product Studio

Google has come up with a neat tool called Product Studio for folks in the US who want to advertise stuff. This tool lets them type what they want a picture to look like, and like magic, the tool creates it using Generative AI. Here’s a bit more about what it can do:

  • Creating New Images:
    • Advertisers just type in what they want, and the tool creates a picture for them.
  • Types of Changes:
    1. Simple Stuff:
      • Change the background color.
    2. Cool Stuff:
      • Show the product in a cool scene like at a beach or in a room.
  • Fixing Images:
    • Make blurry pictures clear.
    • Get rid of things in the background that shouldn’t be there.
  • Who Can Use It:
    • People using certain Google services in the US, like Merchant Center Next and a special app on Shopify.
  • Availability:
    • The tool is rolling out, which means it’s starting to be available for people to use now!

New ChatGPT Upgrades

OpenAI has come up with some cool new features for ChatGPT Plus members, making it even handier. Now, members can upload files and the chatbot can help in various ways, like summarizing data or answering questions. It even gets smarter in understanding what users want just from the chat. Here’s a breakdown of these new features:

  • Uploading Files:
    • Members can now upload files in different formats, including pictures.
  • Working with Files:
    1. Summarizing Data:
      • The chatbot can give a summary of the data in the files.
    2. Answering Questions:
      • If members have questions about the info in the files, the chatbot can answer them.
    3. Creating Visuals:
      • It can also create visuals like charts from the data.
  • New Office Features:
    • Some features from the fancier ChatGPT Enterprise are now available in ChatGPT Plus, making it more useful for individual members.
  • Smarter Interactions:
    • The chatbot can now guess what members want based on the chat, so they don’t have to pick certain options like they did before.
  • Availability:
    • These cool features are in beta, which means they are being tested and are available for ChatGPT Plus members to try out!

Brave Browser Introducing Leo

Brave, a browser that cares a lot about keeping users’ information private, has introduced a new helper named Leo. Leo is like a smart buddy within the Brave browser that can help answer questions, translate languages, and even summarize long web pages among other things. The cool part is that Leo is designed to respect user privacy more than other similar helpers. Below are some more details about Leo and what it offers:

  • Availability:
    • Leo is free for anyone using a certain version (1.60) of the Brave browser on their computers.
  • Core Features:
    1. Answering Questions:
      • Got a question? Leo can help answer it.
    2. Translation:
      • Leo can help translate text from one language to another.
    3. Summarizing Web Pages:
      • If a webpage is too long, Leo can provide a summary.
    4. Generating New Content:
      • Leo can help create new text based on what you ask.
  • Privacy Focus:
    • Unlike some other smart helpers, Leo is built to provide “unparalleled privacy” which means it tries to keep your information really safe.
  • Standard Version:
    • The usual version of Leo is free and uses a smart brain called Meta’s Llama 2.
  • Premium Version:
    • For $15 a month, folks can get Leo Premium which uses a different smart brain called Claude Instant from Anthropic and offers even better conversations, quicker responses during busy times, and a sneak peek at new features before others get them.
  • Expandability:
    • One of the co-founders of Brave mentioned that Leo is made in a way that they can add more smart brains to it over time, giving people more options to choose from.
  • Caution:
    • Brave mentions that while Leo is smart, the answers it gives should be checked for any mistakes or wrong info, just to be safe.

Instagram

Instagram is working on a new feature called “AI friend” where users can create a chatbot buddy to talk to. They can choose how the chatbot looks and acts, like its age or hobbies. Some people are worried because this fake friend might trick users into thinking they are talking to a real person, which can be risky. This new idea is still being worked on, and it raises the question, should Meta be building something like this?


Google Invests $2 Billion in Anthropic

If you’ve been following the blog, you already know that AI is a big deal these days. Now, Google is giving up to $2 billion to a new company called Anthropic to help them make even smarter AI. Anthropic has big plans for the future like creating virtual helpers and smarter search engines. Big companies like Google are teaming up with new companies to see who can make the coolest AI first. Anthropic even has a chat buddy named Claude, and they think the race to lead in AI could be decided as soon as next year!


Apple Health: An Apple a Day…

Apple is diving into the world of healthcare with some new tech ideas, one of which is a special blood sugar monitor for people with diabetes that doesn’t need to poke the skin. This idea started back in 2011, called Avolonte Health, and was something Steve Jobs really wanted to do. While Apple is cooking up other healthcare projects too, there’s a bit of a debate among the people working there about whether they should create stuff for healthy people or for those who are sick. Here’s a bit more detailed breakdown:

  • Main Project:
    • A noninvasive blood sugar monitor for diabetics, which means it can check blood sugar levels without having to poke the skin.
  • Project Origins:
    • Started in 2011 with a fancy name, Avolonte Health, and was a special mission from Steve Jobs.
  • Other Healthcare Initiatives:
    • Apple is also working on more healthcare projects besides the blood sugar monitor.
  • Internal Debate:
    • There’s a discussion among Apple employees about whether they should focus on making things for healthy people or for sick people.
  • Goal:
    • Ultimately, Apple is stepping into the healthcare world to possibly make it better with their technology.

AI Safety Summit

The UK hosted the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. This meeting gathered people from governments, universities, and companies who are creating super smart computer programs known as “frontier AI” to talk about keeping the technology safe. Some really important people from around the world attended this meeting. The UK wants to help bring together big regions like the US, China, and Europe to talk about AI safety.

During this event, a US official also shared the news about a new place focused on AI safety. This new place will work with others around the world to make sure AI is handled correctly. Below is a more detailed explanation:

  • New Policy Paper:
    • Introduction of the Bletchley Declaration, which is a big plan on dealing with AI’s challenges safely.
  • Core Principles:
    • AI should be:
      • Safe
      • Focused on humans
      • Trustworthy
      • Used responsibly
  • Future Meetings:
    • More gatherings like this are planned:
      • One in Korea in six months
      • Another in France six months after that
  • New AI Safety Institute:
    • U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, announced a new place for AI safety within the Department of Commerce.
  • International Cooperation:
    • This new institute aims to work with other AI safety groups from different countries, including a new one planned in the U.K.
  • Political Leaders’ Thoughts:
    • They talked about being inclusive and responsible with AI, but there are still many questions on how to make these ideas real.

This event and the announcements made there are big steps towards making sure AI is developed and used in a safe and responsible way globally!


The Beatles Final Song

The Beatles have released a new song “Now and Then,” marking their first since 1995, crafted using machine learning to refine an old John Lennon demo. Initially attempted in the ’90s, the project faced technical hurdles until recently when technology developed during Peter Jackson’s Get Back documentary enabled the separation of music components into distinct tracks. McCartney and Starr revisited “Now and Then,” and despite mixed fan reactions, all parties involved are satisfied with the outcome. Check out the short film below.


That’s all folks. If you missed last week’s ‘Last Week in AI,’ check it out here. Until next week, stay engaged, stay curious, and continue exploring the digital frontier that AI unfolds.

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AI Content Development in Entertainment

AI Content Development in Entertainment

Despite the strike, the modern-day entertainment sector is buzzing with endless opportunities, thanks to AI content development. The focus here is on how Artificial Intelligence propels the iterative cycle in content, especially within the entertainment industry.

Here’s a brief sketch of what’s to come – the essence of simulation in tackling slow iteration hurdles, and the synergy between predictive and generative AI in fast-tracking this process. This not only identifies lucrative pathways early on but sidesteps costly missteps. 🚀

In other words, AI content development is the catalyst for quicker, more efficient content creation and marketing, minimizing risks and paving the way for innovative explorations in the entertainment business.

Embracing AI Content Development to Counter Slow Iteration

The Spectrum of Simulation in AI Content Development

Simulation, the art of imitating real-world processes, is the linchpin in accelerating the iterative cycle. Here’s why:

  • Real-time Feedback: Simulation provides immediate insights, aiding in rapid decision-making. 🔄
  • Cost-efficiency: Avoiding real-world trials saves substantial resources. 💰
  • Risk Mitigation: Identifying red flags early on curtails potential losses. 🚫

Though beneficial, some critics argue simulation might not always mirror complex real-world scenarios accurately. However, the confluence of AI and simulation is changing this narrative, creating a bridge to faster iterations with high precision.

Predictive and Generative AI

Harnessing Future Insights and Content Creation

Predictive AI and generative AI are the two sides of the simulation coin in AI content development. Their blend facilitates a smooth iterative cycle:

  • Predictive Analysis: Foreseeing trends helps in tailoring content and marketing strategies ahead of time. 🔮
  • Content Generation: Generative AI crafts diverse content forms, enriching the creative pipeline. 🎨
  • Synchronized Action: Working in tandem, these AI types optimize both the creation and promotion phases. 🤝

Experts believe this symbiotic relationship significantly reduces the time from concept to market, a boon for the entertainment industry.

Foresighting The Entertainment Landscape

Predictive and Generative AI: The New Norm

The integration of predictive and generative AI is reshaping AI content development in the entertainment industry:

  • Concept Identification: Spotting winning ideas early on. 💡
  • Previz Enhancements: Transforming concepts into visual previews swiftly. 🎬
  • Marketing Marvel: Creating compelling trailers, ads, and promos in a jiffy. 📈

This evolution addresses common misconceptions regarding the lengthy iterative cycles traditionally seen in content creation and marketing realms.

FAQs

How do predictive and generative AI differ in AI content development?

Predictive AI forecasts future events, while generative AI creates new content. 🌐

How does AI-driven simulation benefit the marketing teams?

It accelerates decision-making, saves costs, and reduces risks. 💼

What are some practical examples of AI content development in entertainment?

From script generation to marketing campaign analysis, AI finds multifaceted applications. 🎥

In Conclusion

The fusion of predictive and generative AI, guided by simulation, is a game-changer in the entertainment industry’s content and marketing domains. This synergy expedites the iterative cycle, ensuring creativity meets the market swiftly and effectively. Explore our blog for more AI-driven insights.

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Last Week in AI

Last week in AI

Last week in AI brought us cool new things. Firstly, making videos with Pika Labs AI, secondly, creating 3D models with Masterpiece X, it was an exciting week. We also saw how Midjourney helps make bigger pictures. Additionally, we saw BMW’s fun campaign with a virtual friend. Furthermore, Google’s new tools to check pictures, artists protecting their work with Nightshade, and Forbes’ new way to search news with Adelaide. Each story shows us how AI is making things better and different.


🚀 Video Innovation with Pika Labs AI

The future of content creation with Pika Labs AI, a stellar platform transforming your textual or visual ideas into cinematic videos effortlessly.

  • Visual Creation Haven: Craft videos effortlessly with text or image prompts.
  • AI-Powered Cinematics: Free, AI-driven video generator creating four-second, 24 FPS videos.
  • Tailor-Made Experiences: Customize parameters for unique video outputs.
  • Cinematic Mastery: Pursue perfection in cinematic video crafting.
  • Discord-Based Operations: Dive into creation in diverse generation rooms.
  • Strengths & Growth Avenues: Excel in environmental effects, with room to enhance human portraits portrayal.

Discover the finesse of AI in video creation, explore customization, and the pursuit of cinematic excellence. Engage with Pika Labs’ community on Discord to unleash your creativity.


🌐 3D Creation Frontier: Masterpiece X

3D modeling with Masterpiece X, an avant-garde venture between Nvidia and Masterpiece Studio. Here’s a brief summary:

  • 3D Genesis with AI: Revolutionizes 3D creation, turning text into animated 3D models seamlessly.
  • User-Friendly Interface: No installations, just a browser, keyboard, and a dash of creativity required.
  • Text-to-3D Magic: A simple text input unfolds into detailed 3D models, bridging imagination with reality.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Assets blend effortlessly with popular game engines and applications.
  • Nvidia Synergy: A cornerstone collaboration boosting AI inferencing, paving the way for 3D software evolution.
  • VR Embellishments: Tailor your models in VR on Meta Quest headsets, adding a layer of immersion.

Masterpiece X marks a pivotal moment in 3D modeling, lowering barriers for both budding and seasoned creators. This blend of intuitive AI with robust GPU infrastructure by Nvidia heralds a new dawn in 3D modeling and generative design.


🚀 Midjourney’s Upscaling Revolution

Stepping into the high-resolution domain, Midjourney has unfolded a feature to upscale AI art, transcending the prior 1,024 x 1,024-pixel boundary.

  • Resolution Renaissance: Boost images 2x or 4x, hitting a peak of 4,096 x 4,096 pixels.
  • Print-Ready Art: Achieve crisp A3 prints, outshining previous postcard-size limitations.
  • Time-Cost Trade-off: Upscaling consumes more time, impacting monthly image quotas.

Dive deeper to understand the implications of upscaling on generative art’s commercial viability and how Midjourney is gearing up to stay competitive in the generative art landscape.


BMW’s AI Generated Influencer

BMW has launched a new campaign for its iX2 model with a virtual character named Lil Miquela. The campaign is called ‘Make it Real‘. It’s available in many places including Europe, Asia, and the United States, showing BMW’s idea of “Freude Forever.”

  • Virtual Meets Reality: The campaign, concocted in collaboration with creative agency Media.Monks and director Stefanie Soho from BWGTBLD, showcases a short film where Lil Miquela ventures from the virtual domain into the real world with the new BMW iX2, a journey depicting her growing fondness for human existence.
  • Narrative Resonance: Stefan Ponikva, VP of Brand Communication and Experience at BMW, emphasizes the century-long legacy of crafting emotions and memories with BMW, acknowledging the digital wave sweeping across the industry.
  • Metaverse Echoes: Patrick Klebba, Executive Creative Director at Media.Monks, reflects on the profound storytelling amidst the booming Web3, Metaverse, and AI tide, underscoring the essence of real-life experiences​.

A closer look at this campaign reveals not just a marketing stride but a narrative that resonates with the digital era, portraying a seamless blend of virtual and real realms.


Image Fact-Checking Made Easy by Google

Google has unrolled tools designed to help users fact-check images. This suite of tools, now accessible globally to all English speakers, shows the image’s history, metadata, and the context in which it was used across various sites.

A notable feature allows users to discern when an image was first “seen” by Google Search, aiding in understanding its contextual recency. The tools also offer insights into how others have described the image on different platforms, which can be instrumental in debunking false claims.

  • AI-Generated Image Identification: Users can now see metadata indicating if an image is AI-generated, a step toward transparency amidst the rising tide of AI in image creation.
  • Facilitating Fact-Checkers: Approved journalists and fact-checkers have the capability to upload or copy image URLs to delve deeper into them using Google’s FactCheck Claim Search API.
  • Generative AI Experimentation: Google is piloting generative AI to assist in describing sources like unfamiliar pages or blogs, with an opt-in feature for users to view AI-generated information about sites.
  • Industry Movement: In parallel, Adobe released a toolkit to verify image credentials, and a new initiative called Community Notes has been launched for crowdsourced fact-checking on images and videos​.

This step by Google reflects a broader industry push towards ensuring authenticity in the digital realm.


MIT Technology Review: Nightshade

The article from MIT Technology Review sheds light on a new tool dubbed Nightshade, engineered to empower artists in the face of generative AI technologies that might utilize their artworks without consent. Here’s a concise summary of the key takeaways:

Nightshade’s Mechanism:

  • The tool facilitates artists in altering the pixels of their artworks subtly before uploading them online.
  • When these modified images are scraped and used in training AI models, they can cause the models to malfunction, producing chaotic and incorrect outputs like mistaking dogs for cats.
  • Nightshade can be integrated with another tool, Glaze, which also aims to protect artists’ rights by masking their unique style to prevent scraping by AI companies.

This initiative is a reflective measure against the ongoing concerns in the AI realm regarding data privacy and intellectual property rights. With tools like Nightshade, artists can have a fighting chance to protect their creations in the digital age where data scraping is prevalent.


Forbes’ AI Search Tool: Adelaide

Forbes has launched a new AI search tool named Adelaide, powered by Google Cloud, to offer personalized news recommendations. This tool, accessible on Forbes.com, provides personalized responses to user queries based on Forbes articles. It’s an extension of Forbes’ efforts to enhance user engagement and content discovery through AI​​.

For more information, you can click here.


Conclusion

Last week in AI shows us how every week comes with new ideas and tools. Consequently, AI is changing how we do things, from making art to checking if a picture is real. As we learn from last week in AI, we wait to see what new stories next week will bring.

Curious about leveraging these AI advancements for your enterprise? Discover what Vease can do for your business by chatting with our bot. For more AI insights, visit our blog. Missed last week’s updates? Catch up here.

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