Those following the AIvolution will know that things got real this weekend, when the Pope showed up wearing a coat fresher than wet paint. There are also big scenes and key themes emanating from Africa this week, and with the walls closing in on Meta, Google, and Twitter… thank GOD the new season of the Kardashians is here to ensure that hope stays on the box!
‘I thought I was immune to being fooled online. Then I saw the Pope in a coat.’ Guardian Writer, Joel Golby, captured the mood of the intersphere eloquently yesterday when it transpired that an image of the Pope wearing an Eminem style puffer jacket was actually an AI generated incarnation. The image was reportedly generated using Midjourney, and originally posted on Reddit, before making its way onto Twitter and going global.
It’s a banging image no doubt, and likely captivated so much of the collective imagination because we all so wanted it to be true! Why shouldn’t the Pope look immaculate in his religious attire? He’s clearly a strong role model for da yoof, great content, structured moral code, etc.
But alas, it was not to be… and what the episode has highlighted for many is that AI is no longer simply a conjurer of cheap homework tricks, or a way to bypass mundane research tasks easily online, but a serious and potentially devilish force that already walks among us. Regulation is clearly needed at this point… but how? And just how quickly can the legislationmobile get here?
Meta… Forget where you’ve come here from!
And speaking of legislation… our old friends Meta and Facebook find themselves down the regulatory rabbithole once again. Press Gazette Associate Editor, William Turnville, says there is a big tech storm approaching in the UK, as the Government looks to introduce legislation that would force Google and Facebook to pay for news from next month.
Similar approaches have already been taken in Australia and Canada, where they have not been met without a fight. But if successful, Press Gazette estimates (conservatively) that Fleet Street could bag £170m a year in the shakeup.
Twitter Watch 🐤
And if BIG Web 2.0 tech is your thing, then spare a thought for Twitter, which appears to be doing a good job of reining itself in right now, independently of public sector intervention. The headlines of course are endless, but in one of the more prominent Twitter saga stories of the week, Elon Musk has announced a Twitter Blue shakeup that means only verified subscribers will have posts recommended to other users and be allowed to vote in polls.
It’s a move that has not gone down well, and adding to its woes, Twitter also says that parts of its source code have been leaked online this week, while the company is now worth less than half what Mr Musk paid for it last year. It never rains, but it pours!
African upturn
As the media tech staples of the past two decades begin to stutter under the inevitable pressure of market shelf-life, one region where emerging platforms are clearly gaining momentum is Africa.
US Vice President, Kamala Harris, this weekend began a 9-day trip across the continent, beginning in Ghana before moving onto Tanzania and Zambia. The visit comes as the US looks to build upon last year’s US-Africa Leaders Summit and strengthen ties further with Africa, amid growing competition for the continent’s affections from Russia and China.
Just two weeks ago, The African Development Bank (AfDB) and partners launched a $618m fund aimed at Nigeria’s digital and creative industries. The country, which represents Africa’s largest economy, will see the Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme introduced. It’s estimated to create around 6 million jobs, funding more than 200 technology and creative start-ups and providing non-financial services to about 450 digital technology, small and medium enterprises.
And finally…
We keep a close eye on the latest Disney+ updates here on the inPress, from both a consumer and B2B pov… Yesterday, the platforms made another show announcement, releasing the teaser trailer for the third season of The Kardashians, which will premiere on May 25th, with new episodes every Thursday. So every macro level industry cloud has a micro silver content lining!