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VISUAL CREATORS
For your artistic side.

🤖 Microsoft Released AI-Generated Ads And Nobody Noticed!

The Story: Microsoft recently revealed that a minute-long ad for their Surface Pro and Surface Laptop was created with generative AI, going unnoticed by viewers for almost three months. The team utilized AI tools to produce script, storyboards, and video output, resulting in impressive savings of time and resources.

The Details:

• The ad featured a mix of AI-generated and live footage, with quick cuts masking AI artifacts that might have been evident in slower scenes.

• The design team employed generative AI tools like Hailuo and Kling, allowing them to produce the ad in just one month, a project that would typically take significantly longer.

• Creative director Cisco McCarthy noted that thousands of prompts were used to refine the AI outputs, demonstrating the iterative nature of AI-generated creativity.

• Human involvement remained crucial; intricate movements, like hands typing, were shot live to address AI limitations in generating realistic motion.

• Microsoft’s blog post emphasizes that AI democratizes content creation, making it accessible to those with imagination and curiosity, without needing extensive budgets.

Why It Matters: This breakthrough in AI-generated advertising underscores a pivotal shift in the creative industry, challenging traditional methods. With the ability to cut costs and time radically, brands can rethink their strategies, leveraging AI for routine tasks while reserving human creativity for inspired storytelling. This heralds the need for creative professionals to adapt, as AI becomes an integral collaborator rather than a competitor, enabling deeper emotional connections with audiences. The ad serves as evidence that AI’s role in content creation is here to stay, potentially transforming how brands and agencies operate moving forward.

PRODUCTION MASTERY
The commercial aspects of creativity.

🔒 Unlocking Authenticity: Adobe's New App!

The Story: Adobe has launched the public beta of its free Content Authenticity app, designed to help photographers and creators secure attribution for their work amidst the rise of AI-generated content. This innovative tool provides a way to embed secure metadata into digital files, ensuring creators can establish ownership and control over their work online.

The Details:

• The Content Authenticity app allows users to attach Content Credentials to digital assets, functioning like digital signatures that confirm their authorship and the validity of the content.

• It integrates with LinkedIn's Verified feature, enabling creators to link their verified identities to their work to enhance credibility and diminish misattribution.

• Creators can apply credentials to multiple images at once, with features supporting up to 50 JPG and PNG files, making it efficient for artists with large portfolios.

• The app also includes an opt-out feature for creators to signal that their work should not be used for AI training, addressing growing concerns about content exploitation.

• This initiative is backed by over 4,500 organizations committed to transparent content attribution standards, aiming to combat rampant image theft and identify AI-generated materials.

Why It Matters: As the digital landscape gets overwhelming with AI-generated content and rampant image misuse, Adobe's Content Authenticity app offers essential protections for photographers. This tool not only asserts creators' rights but also sets a standard for content attribution that could transform how we establish ownership and authenticity in an era dominated by digital manipulation. With features designed to resist tampering and facilitate transparency, the app empowers creators to reclaim control over their artistic integrity and establish trust in a confusing media ecosystem.

CREATOR ECONOMY
Navigating the digital creative world.

🔗 LinkedIn's Bold Bid for Creators!

The Story: LinkedIn is taking a bold leap into the creator economy by launching a series of original video shows featuring business influencers like Steven Bartlett and Rebecca Minkoff. This initiative aims to turn LinkedIn into a video hub while positioning itself against competitors like YouTube and TikTok, reflecting a growing focus on professional video content.

The Details:

• The new shows will include creators like Steven Bartlett, who hosts "The Diary of a CEO," and Rebecca Minkoff from "Real Housewives of New York," showcasing diverse business insights.

• LinkedIn reports a staggering 36% increase in video viewership this year, propelling the platform's strategic push for more professionally produced video content in user feeds.

• The shows will cover trending topics such as female entrepreneurship and AI, targeting professionals seeking cutting-edge insights and collaborative opportunities.

• Creators participating in the program will monetize their content through pre-roll ads, ensuring that LinkedIn remains attractive to advertisers seeking a credible environment.

• The revamped BrandLink initiative sees LinkedIn collaborating closely with influencers to enhance overall content quality and depth, moving away from traditional self-promotional posts.

Why It Matters: With this approach, LinkedIn isn't just catching up; it’s carving out a niche in the creator economy. For creatives and business professionals, this shift presents a golden opportunity to engage with a highly targeted audience seeking authentic insights. As video content surges in popularity on LinkedIn, recognizing and adapting to these changes could be the key to harnessing new business connections and expanding professional networks, making the platform a vital tool for creators aiming to monetize their expertise.

🔥 Press Worthy

📽️ VISUAL CREATORS

AI is stepping into the art world, completing famous works left unfinished by legends like Beethoven and Keith Haring. While it filled in Beethoven’s 10th symphony, critics were outraged when it finished Haring's intentionally incomplete pieces. Is AI overstepping?

Martin Scorsese is set to release a documentary featuring conversations with the late Pope Francis, capturing what’s touted as his final interview. Titled "Aldeas – A New Story", the film emphasizes creativity as a path to hope and transformation for youth in Indonesia, Gambia, and Italy. Scorsese reflects on Francis's wisdom and commitment to dialogue, urging respect amid cultural exchanges. No release date is announced yet, but the film promises to showcase the pope’s lasting impact on humanity.

📈 PRODUCTION MASTERY

The viewership of Netflix's "The Two Popes" skyrocketed over 30-fold after Pope Francis passed away, with 3.2 million global views in just a week. Garnering three Oscar nominations, the film highlights the intense relationship between Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI, making it a poignant tribute.

Coverfly is shutting down on August 1st, 2025, leaving screenwriters in a lurch. This adds another hurdle for those outside Hollywood wanting to break in. Its peer-to-peer reading model and achievements will vanish, highlighting the ongoing challenge of navigating the industry.

🎭 CREATOR ECONOMY

Apple's grip on the App Store has loosened as Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rules that Apple can’t charge fees on external purchases. This landmark decision allows developers to link payment options outside the app, turning the tide for Epic Games in their ongoing battle with Apple, prompting an appeal from the tech giant.

Threads is gaining traction, boasting 350 million active users and a 35% boost in user engagement thanks to ongoing improvements. While it trails behind X, Meta aims to establish Threads as the top alternative, focusing on sports content and real-time news to attract users.

📚 Learn & Grow

📽️ VISUAL CREATORS

• A New Color No One Has Ever Seen Before

• Jordan Peele and Ryan Coogler on Using Fear As Fuel

📈 PRODUCTION MASTERY

• The golden rule for ADHD creative freelancers (Neurotypicals, it works for you too!)

• 6 Money Tips Every Gig Worker & Freelancer Needs to Know

🎭 CREATOR ECONOMY

• LinkedIn Reports ‘Record Engagement’ Once Again in Latest Performance Update

• Snapchat reaches 460 million daily active users