🔥 Post-mortem deepfakes and "brain rot"
AI's rapid progress is creating new ethical and creative dilemmas
🐾 IN TODAY'S WILD
The debate over deepfakes of the deceased has intensified, with some people adding clauses to their wills to prevent their digital likeness from being used after death. This comes as an AI startup creates "brain rot" videos in a single click, and Elon Musk's AI is accused of generating explicit videos of Taylor Swift.
Amid these controversies, tech is advancing. DeepMind's Genie 3 can create 3D interactive environments, and Anthropic's Claude Opus 4 shows improved coding performance.
The battle for content integrity is also growing, with volunteers fighting to keep "AI slop" off Wikipedia. On the business front, a study shows AI voiceovers boost ad engagement, while McKinsey faces an "existential" shift as AI challenges traditional consulting models.
🦾 AI daily pulse
Deepfaked after death: Some don't want it
Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta's interview with an AI-generated avatar of a Parkland shooting victim has reignited debate on the ethics of creating deepfakes of the dead. Why it matters: As cheap and free generative AI tools become capable of replicating voices, faces and personalities, some people are adding clauses to their wills to prevent the creation of their digital likeness after they die. [LINK]
Former Googlers’ AI startup OpenArt now creates ‘brain rot’ videos in just one click
AI-generated “brain rot” videos are popping up all over the internet and getting a lot of attention. Currently gaining traction among younger users, these clips feature wild characters, like a shark wearing sneakers and a ballerina with a cappuccino for a head. [LINK]Elon Musk's AI accused of making explicit AI Taylor Swift videos [LINK]
⚡️ Top trends
[Research] Voices that captivate: The impact of AI-generated voiceover on video Ad engagement [LINK]
Volunteers fight to keep ‘AI slop’ off Wikipedia [LINK]
💻 Top techies
DeepMind’s new Genie 3 can create 3D environments with real-time interactivity [LINK]
Anthropic ships Claude Opus 4, beats o3 with improved coding performance [LINK]
🔮 What else
As AI Comes for Consulting, McKinsey Faces an “Existential” Shift [LINK]
Marc & Ben on the Collapse of Traditional Media - Podcasts, Politics & the New Media Playbook
