Chaos & Amazement #2332 Runway Gen-2, Internet Shutdowns, and an AI Boyfriend

Aug 12, 2023

New data reveals YouTube as the leading platform for young readers (14-25) to find books, with 34% using it, followed by TikTok (32%) and Instagram (27%). BookTube also remains active in book discussions. Report finds YouTube more popular than TikTok for young book buyers
Farewell to the WFH era! The remote work wave appears to be receding, with even Zoom ushering its employees back to the office. Digital interactions embrace physical spaces once again. End of an era: Zoom tells employees to return to office for work
Author @janefriedman discovers "garbage books" with her name on Amazon & Goodreads, possibly AI-generated. Both platforms acted swiftly to remove them. In related news, Prosecraft closes amid concerns over AI language generation.
Amazon and Goodreads must take steps to combat the flood of AI-generated content that will mislead readers and damage author reputations.

Generative AI continues to redefine artistic possibilities. Extra Terra & Rogue VHS's recent music video, created using #RunwayML, showcases the intriguing blend of technology and creativity. A glimpse into the future of visual storytelling.
- Is AI video finally breaking free from the uncanny valley? Runway Gen-2's Image to Video feature seems to be making strides! AI video leader Runway has added Image to Video as the latest feature in its Gen-2 suite of tools. This feature directly creates moving image

Google's TextFX: A new experiment with rapper Lupe Fiasco, offering 10 AI tools for artists and writers to explore creativity. Enhance your creative process now! How it’s Made: TextFX is a suite of AI tools inspired by Lupe Fiasco’s lyrical and linguistic...
Play with it: https://textfx.withgoogle.com

Sam Altman's Vision on the Evolution of Finance and Identity https://www.bnox.be/2023/08/sam-altmans-vision-on-evolution-of.html
- Tech experts skeptical about the future of ChatGPT and A.I. 'hallucinations'. Can generative AI ever overcome its tendency to spout falsehoods? Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was skeptical a few weeks ago: "I probably trust the answers that come out of ChatGPT the least of
Decoding Yukio Mishima’s Philosophy of Sun and Steel with Dr Justin Sledge https://bnox.be/2023/08/decoding-yukio-mishimas-philosophy-of.html
Internet Shutdowns: A Repressive Weapon in the Hands of Governments https://bnox.be/2023/08/internet-shutdowns-repressive-weapon-in.html
- Senegal's ban on TikTok and mobile internet access after opposition party dissolution raises alarm bells. With tense elections ahead, suppressing voices and spreading misinformation won't lead to stability. Senegal is banning TikTok.

blackout.tilde.town is "a tool for making blackout poetry using nine million chunks of text extracted from Project Gutenberg."
Can't teach an old dev to love computer? Check out this hilarious AI Boyfriend video by KRAZAM!
“The Shining” re-imagined as a comedy might be the greatest video edit ever.

Chaos & Amazement