AI News Tab #12: AI’s Power Grab: Creatives Push Back While OpenAI Charges Forward
Deepfakes, AI Voices, and a Bot-Run Internet—The Future is Now
AI News that caught my eye, plus a roundup of what was published in the Newsletters this week.
AI News
Apex Legends Voice Actors Refuse to Train Their Replacements
More than 30 voice actors from Apex Legends have reportedly rejected a contract requiring them to help train AI models that could eventually replace them. According to PC Gamer, the actors refused to sign agreements granting game developers the right to use their performances to build generative AI tools. Given the gaming industry’s growing appetite for AI-powered voice synthesis, the move signals a significant pushback against automation encroaching on creative professions. It seems some people still prefer their dialogue delivered by humans instead of algorithms.
Meanwhile, OpenAI’s Sora Lands in the UK, and Creatives Are Sweating
Sora, OpenAI’s video generator, has officially arrived in the UK, and the creative industry is reportedly not thrilled. The Guardian highlights concerns that the tool’s ability to generate realistic video content could disrupt filmmaking, animation, and advertising. While AI evangelists celebrate Sora’s potential, many in the industry see it as a precursor to job losses and a fundamental shift in content creation. OpenAI, of course, insists this is all about ‘empowering’ creatives—just without the pesky burden of paying them.
And Now, OpenAI Wants ChatGPT to Make Movies Too
Not content with just shaking up video production, OpenAI has announced plans to integrate Sora’s video-generation capabilities into ChatGPT. TechCrunch reports that the move could significantly expand ChatGPT’s capabilities, allowing users to generate video clips alongside text-based responses. While this might revolutionize how we interact with AI, it also raises fresh concerns about misinformation, deepfakes, and the gradual replacement of human creatives. If you thought AI-generated clickbait was bad now, wait until chatbots start making full-blown propaganda films on demand.
But Did OpenAI Just Fumble GPT-4.5?
While OpenAI charges ahead with its video ambitions, the excitement surrounding GPT-4.5 is already fizzling. Futurism reports that early adopters are unimpressed, calling the upgrade underwhelming compared to its predecessors. While OpenAI claims 4.5 brings improvements, critics argue that the differences are negligible, making the update feel more like a marketing ploy than a genuine breakthrough. If this trend continues, OpenAI might need to start rolling out updates with actual innovations rather than just bigger version numbers.
And Speaking of AI Overload, the Web Is About to Become One Big Algorithmic Soup
The internet as we know it is on the verge of becoming one giant AI-generated content machine. A recent Nature article explores the increasing influence of generative AI on the World Wide Web, with everything from news articles to social media posts being shaped by algorithms rather than human hands. While this shift could lead to efficiency and innovation, it also raises concerns about authenticity, misinformation, and the loss of human creativity. If the future web is just AI talking to itself, let’s hope the machines at least have good taste.
The Week in the Newsletters
Master Writing With AI
5 AI Prompts to Transform Your Substack Voice
5 AI Prompts to Convert Your Content Into a Revenue-Generating E-Book
AI Art Daily
#689 Master AI Abstract Portraits with Color and Texture
#690 High-Contrast Cartoon Realism with Glowing Details
#691 Hyper-Realistic Surreal Cyberpunk Robots
#692 Unearthing History: AI Archaeological Scene Creation
#693 Beyond the Veil: Psychedelic AI Pen Art Prompts
Evil Marketers Club
How brands use psychology to influence your decisions—and what you can learn from it. Not all marketers are evil—but it pays to learn from those who are!
LinkedIn And The Dark Patterns of Privacy Zuckering and Friend Spam
The Hidden Psychology Behind Apple’s ‘Get a Mac’ Campaign: It Wasn’t Just About Computers
That’s all for this week! If you feel you get some value from my newsletters, please consider subscribing and sharing.