AI Goes Retro
October 9, 2023
Good morning. While Will Ferrell may be the unexpected DJ at a frat party, today we're spinning the decks with the latest in AI and tech news. Forget "Boats 'n Hoes," our playlist includes disruptive trends that could make even Spotify's new Superpremium service take note. This newsletter is the main event you won't want to miss.
In today’s newsletter:
📸 EPIK's Retro Revolution: A Look at the AI App Dominating the U.S. Charts
🎧 Spotify's Superpremium Saga: A Glimpse into the Future of Personalized Audio
🎨 AI and Art: The Battle to Keep Creativity Human-Centric
🔌 OpenAI's Hardware Hustle: Aiming for AI Chip Independence
🔒 UK Watchdog's Eye on Snap: Preliminary Enforcement Over Youth Privacy
🛡️ BBC's AI Guidelines: Navigating Ethics and Transparency in Journalism
ANNOUNCEMENT
We Need Your Insights!
Midjourney
We're gearing up to offer something special – a course focused on leveraging AI in the business world. Think saving time, cutting costs, and unlocking new revenue streams. But, before we dive deep, we need your wisdom. So if you’d be so kind, please take 2 minutes and fill out this form
Why participate?
🌟 Shape Our Content: Help us design a course that truly caters to your needs.
📅 Exclusive Invite: Upon completing the survey, you stand a chance to join an insightful session with our team, diving even deeper into the world of AI.
🏆 Make an Impact: By sharing your perspective, you directly influence the direction of our educational resources.
If you believe AI has the potential to revolutionize how we do business, we want to hear from you (especially if you would be interested in learning more about a course about AI in Business)!
NEWS
EPIK: A Nostalgic Journey Back to the '90s, Powered by AI
Midjourney
In a landscape where AI apps rise and fall in popularity almost as quickly as they appear, EPIK has managed to stand out. Developed by South Korea-based Snow Corporation, a Naver subsidiary, this AI photo-editing app lets users turn a series of selfies into nostalgic, '90s-inspired "yearbook" photos. The app has soared to the No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store, buoyed by influencers from around the globe sharing their own retro-style photos. Apptopia reports a jaw-dropping 92.3 million lifetime installs since its August 2021 debut, 4.7 million of which are from the U.S. alone. Another data firm, data.ai, estimates that the app has generated close to $7 million in consumer spending on iOS.
Although the app has enticed millions with its innovative features, it's not without its speed bumps. Users have to upload between eight to twelve selfies for the Yearbook feature to generate their photos, which are often subject to delays due to high demand. In fact, EPIK has become a victim of its own popularity. Users now face waiting times and even sold-out notices when trying to access its paid features, which include faster processing times at different price points—$3.99 for standard 24-hour delivery and $5.99 for express delivery in under two hours.
However, as with many viral apps, the big question is whether EPIK can sustain its initial burst of popularity. Many AI photo apps have seen their 15 minutes of fame evaporate almost as quickly as they arrived, and EPIK may be no exception. A report from Apptopia suggests that interest in AI photo apps often dwindles shortly after their explosive debut. This raises an important question: Is EPIK's current high status just a flash in the pan, or can it adapt and evolve to keep users engaged for the long haul? As the AI photo app landscape continues to be both crowded and volatile, EPIK's trajectory will be one to watch closely in the coming months.
NEWS
Spotify's Superpremium: The Future of Customized Audio Experience
Midjourney
Spotify is reportedly gearing up to launch a new Superpremium service, and it promises to be more than just an enhanced audio experience. According to code discovered by Chris Messina, the Superpremium tier will offer a 24-bit lossless audio feature, AI-powered playlist generation tools, advanced mixing tools, and extended audiobook listening hours. This ambitious offering is also expected to include a personalized feature called "Your Sound Capsule." A Reddit user, Hypixely, who previously leaked information, suggested that the service would be priced at $19.99 per month and would extend filtering options, allowing users to sort their library by mood, activity, or genre.
In addition to these features, the Superpremium service seems to have other tricks up its sleeve. According to Messina, it will offer 20-30 hours of audiobook listening, exceeding the 15 free hours that come with the existing Premium subscription. The service will also include a feature previously rumored as "Soundcheck," now named "Your Sound Capsule," designed to offer insights into your listening habits and recommend a mix of sounds that are uniquely yours. Another find in the code indicates a feature called "Highlights," which may provide Last. fm-like listening stats.
Despite all the buzz, Spotify has been tight-lipped, refusing to confirm the development of the Superpremium service. However, the company did hint at a broader market reach when questioned about their Q2 earnings and the delay of the HiFi feature, a predecessor to the Superpremium service. As Spotify continually aims to innovate and provide value, this new tier—should it come to fruition—could potentially revolutionize the way we consume audio content, offering a personalized, high-quality listening experience that goes well beyond the current offerings in the audio streaming market.
That looks better…
Another 50/50 split. That one was tricky.
Image 1
Which Lion is Real?Please select from the two options below |
Image 2
🎨 AIdayofaction: The Fight to Keep AI from Owning Creativity
As AI rapidly infiltrates creative industries, artists are uniting to protect their work. Digital rights group Fight for the Future and music labor organization United Musicians and Allied Workers have launched #AIdayofaction. The campaign calls for preventing corporations from copyrighting AI-generated art, aiming to keep humans in the creative loop. The initiative addresses concerns across various artistic fields, advocating for technology to benefit individual creatives rather than exploit them. At a recent FTC roundtable, artists from diverse sectors discussed AI’s implications, emphasizing that although technology can aid artistic creation, it should not replace human creativity.
⚙️ OpenAI's New Ambition: AI Chips for a Self-Sufficient Future
OpenAI is reportedly considering developing its own AI chips as the shortage in chips for training AI models intensifies. CEO Sam Altman has identified acquiring more AI chips as a top priority for the company. Currently reliant on GPU-based hardware, OpenAI faces constraints like high costs and strained supply chains, especially from GPU manufacturers like Nvidia. The firm is mulling various strategies, including buying an AI chip manufacturer or designing chips internally. This move could be a massive investment, potentially costing hundreds of millions of dollars annually, but OpenAI is well-positioned financially to venture into hardware development.
🇬🇧 UK Data Watchdog: Snap’s AI Chatbot Under Preliminary Enforcement for Privacy Risks
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a preliminary enforcement notice against Snap Inc., raising concerns that its AI chatbot My AI might pose a risk to children's privacy. The notice suggests that Snap may have failed to adequately assess data protection risks before launching the bot, especially for users aged 13 to 17. While Snap claims to have implemented moderation and safeguarding features, the ICO found the risk assessment insufficient. Snap now has an opportunity to respond to these concerns before the ICO's final decision. This scrutiny comes amidst growing regulatory attention toward generative AI technologies and their compliance with data protection laws.
🛡️ Trust and Transparency: BBC Lays Down Rules for AI in Journalism
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), the largest news organization in the UK, has published its principles for using generative AI in various applications like journalism, content archiving, and personalization. Rhodri Talfan Davies, BBC's director of nations, revealed that the broadcaster will focus on three core principles: acting in the public interest, respecting artists' rights, and being transparent about AI-generated content. The BBC aims to collaborate with tech companies and regulators to maintain public trust in news. However, in a move to protect copyrighted material and license fee payer interests, it has blocked OpenAI's web crawlers from accessing its sites, following similar actions by other major news outlets.
SPONSOR THE DEEP VIEW
📈 Get in front of 120,000+ AI Enthusiasts!
The Deep View is currently one of the world’s fastest-growing newsletters, adding thousands of AI enthusiasts a week to our incredible family of over 120,000! Our readers work at top companies like Apple, Meta, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and many more.
If you want to share your company or product with fellow AI enthusiasts before we’re fully booked, reserve an ad slot here.
* This is sponsored content
AI Lawyer: AI-Lawyer is an innovative AI-driven platform that aims to provide quick legal advice and document creation solutions. (link)
Consensus: A new search engine that uses AI to find answers in scientific research. (link)
Move AI: using patented artificial intelligence software to extract high-fidelity motion from any video, HD camera, or mobile device. (link)
Photo AI: Take stunning photos with the first AI photographer. (link)
Inworld: Inworld AI is a platform that facilitates the creation of lifelike and convincing characters. (link)
Remini: Upscale and enhance your old, blurry, and low-quality photos and videos. (link)
Drippi: Drippi automates highly personalized Twitter outreach messages & tames your inbox with filters, auto-replies, and more. (link)
FormX: Automate Data Extraction and Capture with AI (link)
Our database of all the best AI tools mentioned in our newsletter is coming soon!
Have cool resources or tools to share? Submit a tool or reach us by replying to this email (or DM us on Twitter).
Prompt: a polaroid of Sam Altman, --ar 16-9
Prompt: a realistic photo of a beautiful big wave in the middle of the sea, --ar 16-9
What'd you think of today's email?Your feedback helps us create better emails for you! |
That's a wrap for now, we hope you enjoyed today’s newsletter!
Should you have any captivating projects or concepts, don't hesitate to connect with us by replying to this email or dropping us a direct message on Twitter: @thedeepview
We appreciate your continued support, and we'll catch you in the next edition.
-Bot Buddy and The Deep View Team