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VISUAL CREATORS
For your artistic side.

📺 Runway's AI: Scraping YouTube to Create Videos

The Story: Runway, an AI startup known for its text-to-video generator, has reportedly trained its Gen-3 Alpha model on a vast array of videos from YouTube and even pirated films. A leaked spreadsheet reveals a wide selection of video sources, raising questions about copyright violations and the ethics of using proprietary content in AI training.

The Details:

• The spreadsheet obtained by 404 Media lists numerous YouTube channels owned by major firms like Netflix, Disney, and creators such as MKBHD and Linus Tech Tips, suggesting extensive data scraping.

• Former employees indicated that a company-wide effort was made to collect high-quality videos, using a web crawler to download content while avoiding Google's blocking mechanisms.

• Besides mainstream content, the dataset also reportedly includes links to piracy sites like KissCartoon, indicating potential legal complications.

• Runway's Gen-3 Alpha tool, which launched in June, allows creators to generate videos in any style, relying heavily on the breadth of its training data.

• This incident raises significant questions about the legality and ethics of using content from platforms like YouTube for training AI models, with implications for other AI firms as well.

Why It Matters: As the creative community increasingly relies on AI, the integrity of the training data becomes paramount. This controversy shines a spotlight on the need for clear guidelines around content usage and copyright. For professionals in the creative industry, understanding these legal nuances is essential, as they could affect everything from tool choices to how original content is protected. Crafting the future of AI responsibly will determine the industry's sustainability and its relationship with the content creators it seeks to emulate.

PRODUCTION MASTERY
The commercial aspects of creativity.

🚀 Publicis Seals $500M Deal for Influential!

The Story: Publicis has initiated an ambitious acquisition of Influential, the leading influencer marketing company globally, for a reported $500 million. This strategic move aims to enhance Publicis' influencer marketing capabilities and leverage Influential's extensive AI-driven platform and creator network to meet the burgeoning demands of the creator economy.

The Details:

• Influential boasts a powerful AI platform with over 100 billion data points, facilitating effective creator-brand matchmaking.

• Its network includes more than 3.5 million creators, with 90% having over one million followers, making it a robust player in influencer marketing.

• Influential will operate independently within Publicis, while also integrating seamlessly with Epsilon's marketing data resources to optimize campaigns.

• The acquisition reflects the increasing shift towards influencer marketing as a growth driver, predicted to surpass linear TV ad spend by next year.

• Publicis aims to improve clients' access to creator-led marketing, combining strengths to amplify engagement and brand reach across social platforms.

Why It Matters: This acquisition is a pivotal development in the fast-growing influencer marketing landscape. As brands increasingly embrace creators for authentic consumer engagement, Publicis's robust investment signals a future where influencer marketing will play a central role in advertising strategies. By harnessing Influential’s advanced AI capabilities and creator insights, Publicis can refine its offerings, create more effective campaigns, and ultimately drive better business results for its clients. Given the rapid evolution of the creator economy, this move positions Publicis to adapt at an unprecedented pace, ensuring they remain competitive in a landscape where influencer engagement is already becoming essential.

CREATOR ECONOMY
Navigating the digital creative world.

🎨 TikTok Adds Custom Thumbnails!

The Story: TikTok is making waves in the creator community by allowing users to upload custom thumbnails for their videos. This change opens up a new avenue for creators to enhance their visual branding and attract viewers, resembling a feature long enjoyed by YouTube creators. As this capability is now retroactive, it might just breathe new life into TikTok's existing video library.

The Details:

• TikTok introduces the long-awaited feature of custom thumbnails, empowering creators to select unique images to represent their videos.

• Previously, TikTokers could only use a screenshot from their videos, limiting creative control over how their content was presented.

• This update allows creators to apply custom thumbnails retroactively, giving them a chance to revamp their old content and monetize their expertise.

• The change comes as the platform encourages longer videos, suggesting TikTok's intent to enhance content discoverability and viewer retention.

• The addition of custom thumbnails aligns TikTok closer to competitors like Instagram, which already offers similar functionality for Reels.

Why It Matters: This new feature signifies a pivotal shift in TikTok's approach toward nurturing its creative community. By enabling custom thumbnails, TikTok not only allows for better content storytelling but also gives rise to a whole new market for thumbnail creators. As viewers increasingly browse creators’ channels, engaging visuals will play a critical role in attracting audiences to longer videos. This also reflects broader trends in the creator economy, where nuanced presentation strategies can set content apart—more opportunities mean more ways for creatives to monetize their skills.

🔥 Press Worthy

📽️ VISUAL CREATORS

Maddie Meyer, a Getty Images sports photographer, shares insights on capturing iconic moments at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Focusing on emotion and action, she emphasizes the significance of backgrounds and lighting in creating compelling sports photos amidst fierce competition and evolving technology.

Mark Zuckerberg envisions a future where content creators can offload audience engagement to AI clones, saving time for content creation. While many see this as a productivity hack, questions loom about authenticity as Meta's AI struggles with consistency and accuracy, proving a mixed bag for creators.

📈 PRODUCTION MASTERY

SAG-AFTRA has officially launched a strike against major video game companies after protracted negotiations stalled over AI concerns and wage issues. Nearly 35,000 union members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the strike, demanding better contracts and protections as tension simmers between unions and corporations.

Rupert Murdoch, 93, faces off against three of his children in a covert legal war over the future of their media empire. He seeks to amend the family trust to ensure son Lachlan retains control, claiming it's vital for preserving the company's conservative direction. The trial is set for September, revealing the conflicts within a towering legacy.

🎭 CREATOR ECONOMY

Researchers warn that AI systems are at risk of collapsing into nonsense due to a feedback loop where AI-generated content is used for training. As a result, diversity in data diminishes, leading to more gibberish. Without intervention, this "model collapse" could threaten AI's reliability and richness.

Google's Pixel 9 introduces the innovative "Add Me" feature, allowing you to insert yourself into group photos even if you weren't there! The tech blends images, creating seamless memories that defy reality, making every moment with friends picture-perfect.

📚 Learn & Grow

📽️ VISUAL CREATORS

• Aerial cinematography is getting real popular

• How To Take Your Film Business To The Next Level Of Success

📈 PRODUCTION MASTERY

• What Are 10 Ways to Start Your Screenplay?

• How to Make Money as a Freelance Videographer in 2024

🎭 CREATOR ECONOMY

• Social Media Automation Strategy: 10 Tasks You Can Automate

• How to Make Money on YouTube: Monetizing Your YouTube Channel