đ€ Wiser! 113: Deepfake Propaganda | Fake AI Images | NFT Museum | AI Rejuvenation | Starbucks Odyssey
w/Wiser! #113 â Friday 17th February 2023
Preamble
Another week and another set of âTwitter is brokeâ storiesâŠbut the headlines are still dominated by ChatGPT and the generative AI revolution. In the west, itâs becoming a Google v Microsoft story. In the East, Chinaâs tech companies are entering the fray, although somewhat differently.
Other stories include Alphabetâs costly AI error; movie tech that knocks years off the octogenarian Harrison Ford; the tractor maker that wants to be a tech company; the Paris museum thatâs got a permanent NFT exhibition; Redditâs exemplar web3 use case and the latest on Starbuckâs efforts to introduce NFTs to its Rewards loyalty program.
ATB, Rick
P.s. Remember: Insight and Information Gives You Leverage!
đ âCongrats and thanks a lot for always sharing your tips and tricks Rick!â â Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld, TOP 100 Women Of The Future | Strategic Metaverse & Web3 Advisor
đ„ This weekâs Wiser! is supporting Chartr
Take your office small talk to the next level with Chartr
Behind every big headline or emerging theme, thereâs the data that underpins the story. When I want to understand the numbers behind a topic â the deeper context that I canât get just from reading news â I turn to my friends at Chartr.
Their free visual newsletter is packed with snackable charts and easy-to-remember insights on business, tech, entertainment, and society â in less than a 5 minute read.
Join 300,000+ professionals FOR FREE and get the data, anecdotes, and visuals you need to understand todayâs world and take your office small talk to the next level. Sign up today
w/Premium Content
đș Are Deepfakes being used for state-aligned propaganda?
The use of deepfakes for the purpose of spreading state-aligned propaganda has recently been discovered. For the first time.
Graphika, a research organisation that studies disinformation, discovered two deepfake videos that seem to show anchors of an American news channel promoting the interests of the CCP and undercutting the United States. One video featured a reporter criticising mass shootings in America, and another showed an anchor praising the CCPâs foreign policy.
While the videos themselves didnât garner many views before they were removed, Graphika says that the videos themselves are a bigger concern as they are indicative of how the use of politically motivated deepfakes could spread rampant misinformation in the future. Continue readingâŠ($)
w/BigTech
1. Alphabet experiences second largest daily market cap loss ever after AI own goal
Shares of Alphabet came under massive selling pressure as the company failed to impress investors with Bard, its AI answer to ChatGPT and Microsoft. The market valuation of Alphabet fell by nearly $110 billion after Google launched an online commercial to promote the new AI chatbot, Bard that gave the wrong answer! đ€Šââïž In the ad, Bard is asked, âWhat new findings from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) can I discuss with my nine-year-old?â The answer Bard gave was factually incorrect, as any nine-year-old would tell you! For moreâŠ
w/ArtificialIntelligence
2. An AI-generated image on a magazine cover has raised questions of authenticity
RĂ©ponses Photo is a popular French photography magazine youâre unlikely to have heard ofâŠuntil now. Thatâs because theyâve put an AI-generated image on the cover of its latest edition and itâs caused a bit of a stir. For moreâŠ
đ€ Can you tell which photo is real and which is fake?
Answer at the bottom of this emailâŠđ
w/ArtificialIntelligence
3. AI is making stars like Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford look younger in movies
In the trailer for his upcoming film, âIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyâ, Harrison Ford looks remarkably young for an 80-year old.
âThat is my actual face at that age,â the actor explained on CBSâs The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
w/Web3
4. Shopify introduces blockchain tools & NFTs to 450 million buyers
Shopify, the multi-billion dollar e-commerce giant popular with small to medium sized businesses, has launched a series of new blockchain tools. The reason is to give merchants a host of web3 tools, functions and features to easily build token gated apps using NFTs.
Hereâs The Thing: Shopify are giving merchants digital technology in the form of a non-fungible token to manage access to their websites. For example, if they provide subscription content thatâs behind a paywall. The features allow merchants to do more than just access, because the smart contract functionality of a NFT lends itself to holding exclusive discounts & benefits for customers. To find out more (with use-cases)âŠ
w/Web3
5. PayPal pauses work on its own Stablecoin
Payments giant PayPal is pausing work on launching its own stablecoin amid a regulatory crackdown on crypto in the USA. The company, which lets customers buy, sell and hold tokens like bitcoin and ether, had been aiming to launch the stablecoin in the coming weeks but is putting the project on hold to better understand how digital assets will be regulated going forward.
Hereâs The Thing: this isnât a matter of whether but when. Stablecoins give financial organisations the ability to move money without the cost and friction in todayâs system. The issue is that the nascent technology is still unregulated, which is why PayPal are taking a pause. Continue readingâŠ
w/ArtificialIntelligence
6. Language app Duolingo uses AI to personalise the learning experience
Duolingo is a language learning platform that uses an AI system called âBirdbrainâ to personalise lessons for its 50 million active learners. Birdbrain allows Duolingo to provide a gamified approach to language learning with a simple user interface and bright cartoon characters. This helps the platform achieve its mission of making the best education in the world universally available. With Birdbrain, Duolingo is able to scale the learning experience and provide 1 billion exercises per day. For moreâŠ
w/NFTs
7. Redditâs NFT collectible avatars is a perfect web3 use-case
Redditâs NFT âCollectible Avatarsâ project is a prime example of an effective Web3 âon-rampâ (which is jargon to âgetting more customers). Thanks to the Super Bowl this week, about 1.3 million of the official Super Bowl LVII NFT avatars have been minted since Monday, including more than half a million on Tuesday.
Hereâs The Thing: Because theyâre free, these avatars are not generating huge trading volumes. đ°But itâs not about the money. The bigger draw of Redditâs NFT program is that itâs bringing people into the space in an accessible manner. In total, users have now minted nearly 10 million of Redditâs Collectible Avatar NFTs to date, according to public blockchain data available on Dune. Delve deeperâŠ
w/Web3
8. Are British police vulnerable to spying from China?
Apparently, British police are leaving themselves open to spying by Beijing because of their reliance on Chinese-made cameras. This is the conclusion of a report from the UK governmentâs independent watchdog on surveillance. It seems that most police forces across England and Wales use camera equipment that is either made in China or contains important Chinese components. Fraser Sampson, the publicly appointed surveillance commissioner, warned that such equipment poses both security and ethical concerns.
- Security: because the China-made components could be used for spying
- Ethical: because the cameras have been implicated in helping the Chinese government monitor detainment camps for Uyghurs in Xinjiang province.
Last week, the former head of MI6 said the West needed to âwake upâ to China surveillance in the wake of the US shooting down the âspy balloonsâ Read moreâŠ
w/Technology
9. Tractor maker John Deereâs strategy is to generate at least 10% of its revenues from digital sources
Is John Deere a tractor manufacturer or a technology company? The firm, which has built self-driving tractors, crop-spraying drones, and weed-identifying sprayers, has announced theyâre âfinalising a satellite partner.â Farm equipment is becoming smarter. Nowadays, the latest agricultural machines are loaded with sensors and powered by artificial intelligence. This makes internet connectivity important to farmers, especially in remote and rural areas with no mobile connectivity.
Hereâs The Thing: John Deere wants to connect farmers as part of its strategy to digitise its revenue sources. Last year, Deere set a strategic goal to drive 10% of its revenue from software subscription fees by 2030. Providing Internet connectivity in farmers in remote fields is key to delivering this strategy. For moreâŠ
w/ArtificialIntelligence
10. Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com to launch ChatGPT-style product
JD.com is one of Chinaâs largest e-commerce playersâŠand it plans to launch a ChatGPT-style product, joining a flurry of Chinese giants to announce plans for rival technology to OpenAI and Googleâs Bard. Other China tech giants, such as Baidu, Alibaba, and NetEase have all announced plans for ChatGPT rivals in the last couple of weeks.
Hereâs The Thing: all of the announcements have fallen short of saying the generative AI product will be all-encompassing like ChatGPT. Instead, the Chinese alternatives to ChatGPT are all framed as application specific. The speculation is that this is because the CCP will be concerned about AI tools that can answer difficult questions about Chinaâs authoritarian approach to government (which may be well-founded but is also worthy of the âconspiracy theoryâ label.) Delve deeperâŠ
âïž Starbucks Use Case: Building customer loyalty with NFTs
Starbucks, as one of the first big brands to make a decisive move toward leveraging blockchain for loyalty, faces the problem of winning over both Web3 experts and a public whose interest in NFTs is still quite low. And the Odyssey beta, which is serving as a testing ground for the brand, highlights both the challenges and opportunities of being a first mover. Learn all about it in the latest Use Case for the Brand Strategy CollectionâŠđ
w/Technology
đŁ In Other News
- Apple Watches are apparently making unnecessary emergency calls. According to the New York Times, dispatchers for 911 are being inundated with false, automated distress calls from Apple devices owned by skiers who are very much alive.
- In the current round of quarterly earnings calls, BigTech has reported $10 billion in charges from job culls and cost cutting.
- If you remember Y2K, then get ready for Y2K38. Because thereâs a problem brewing for all computer systems that measure in Unix time. And itâs happening at 03:14:07 on the 19th January 2038 (just under 15 years from now!)
- A school in New York is now longer banning ChatGPT. Instead theyâve introduced a class to teach how to critique the AI chatbots.
- Apple Services now generate more revenue than Nike and McDonaldâs combined, according Finbold. Apple Services recorded a revenue of $79.4 billion in 2022.
- Serve Robotics and Nuro have partnered with retailers like Kroger and 7-Eleven. These companies say theyâre using robots to offer retailers cheaper and more sustainable delivery.
- US Copyright Office tells judge that AI artwork isnât protectable. The Copyright Office is attempting to get a lawsuit brought against them by Stephen Thaler dismissed.
- Paris Hilton and blockchain gaming platform, The Sandbox, have created Parisland, a romantic adventure game set on a tropical paradise island.
- President Zelenskyy has called out the CEO of SpaceX after they said that the country has âweaponisedâ the Starlink satellite internet.
- Uber reported a yearly revenue increase of 83% compared with 2021, to $31.8 billion. Meanwhile, rival Lyft had a week to forget as the companyâs shares have fallen ~40% since their earnings last week.
- A bunch of tech lawyers have filed a lawsuit challenging Stable Diffusion, the 21st-century generative AI âcollage tool.â The lawyers, led by Matthew Butterick, claim that Stable Diffusion âviolates the rights of artists⊠because AI needs to be fair & ethical for everyone.â Read all about it in this fantastically detailed blog called Stable Diffusion Frivolous.
- In a further signal of the growing acceptance of NFTs and blockchain technology, Parisâs leading contemporary art museum, the Centre Pompidou, will display 18 NFT artworks by French and international artists. Learn moreâŠ
đ€ What are Bitcoin Ordinals?
One of the biggest trends in the current crypto climate are Bitcoin Ordinals. The so-called Bitcoin NFTs are now the most discussed topic as their appearance brought a wave of positive as well as negative reactions. What are they, how did they appear and what purpose do they serve?
Whatâs going on in Elonâs world?
- Neuralink is being probed for allegedly transporting contaminated devices removed from monkey brains. Elon Muskâs brain implant company faces new allegations that it failed to handle its devices safely after removing them from monkeys.
- Elon Musk created a special system for showing you all his tweets first. After his Super Bowl tweet did worse numbers than President Bidenâs, Twitterâs CEO ordered major changes to the algorithm.
- Twitter went down because an employee accidentally deleted data, and there was nobody left on the team responsible due to Elon Muskâs cuts.
- Twitter is relaxing its policies to allow cannabis ads. The companyâs new policy allows significantly more than other major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
- Twitterâs new API is still on its way. Last week Twitter announced that it wouldnât shut down its free API until today, and that itâd be replaced by a new system with a limited free option and a $100 a month plan. Now, the company says that update wonât be coming until⊠sometime, and that eventually there will be more details. If youâre thinking that Musk is literally making this up as he goes along, youâre almost certainly on the money!
đDid You Know? 30% of the 6 billion pairs of jeans made each year are never worn. To solve this first world problem, fashion manufacturer unspun has developed a pair of sustainable made-to-order jeans that are created with AI. Watch the promo for unspun jeans on YouTube.
đ„ Support Wiser! and help keep the newsletter free by signing up for these great sources of insight and information.
đ° Newsletters to make you Wiser!
- The Sample â AI to find the newsletters youâre going to love to read.
- Web3 Daily â get Web3 and crypto news, translated into plain English.
- Android Intelligence â practical tips for people passionate about productivity, Android and other Google apps and services.
- Alts â unique investment ideas worth exploring.
- Invest like a Billionare â dive into the world of alternative investments, uncover strategies of the ultra-wealthy, discuss macroeconomics, and interview successful investors.
- Creator Wizard â join 13k+ creators getting paid sponsorship opportunities every week.
w/Podcast
đ Big Tech Little Tech #18: Google antitrust, ChatGPT, Avatar, and a new dodo
In the latest episode of the podcast that takes a not so serious look at the seriousness of tech, Shaun and I discuss âWhy US Gov is suing Googleâ. Plus: How ChatGPTâs success was a surprise, un-extincting the Dodo, some movies, what about World Stats and some tech news.
Find Big Tech Little Tech on all major Podcast platforms:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Anchor | Pandora | Google Podcasts | Castbox | Deezer | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Subscribe to Newsletter
đ For all show notes, background links and everything to do with the show, go to the Big Tech Little Tech website.
w/AboutWiser!
Wiser! Newsletter
Wiser! is a series of weekly newsletters that makes sense of whatâs happening and whatâs coming next in the tech economy. From disruptive technologies, like blockchain, crypto and artificial intelligence, to emerging trends, like Web3 and the Metaverse. Plus thereâs a big focus on BigTech and the impact of social media.
âïž If youâd like to acknowledge my work and buy me a coffee, click the image above or below and itâll take you to the Wiser! BuyMeACoffee page.
Each virtual coffee costs âŹ2 and it all goes towards the running costs of Wiser! đ
đ€ ANSWER: The photo on the right is the AI generated photo.
đŁ Come and join the Wiser! Community on Slack.
đ Give me your Feedback and answer this simple yes/no question. It takes less than 30 seconds to do and means the world to me. đ
