Drake Says This is the Final Straw

Should creatives ultimately be afraid of A.I.?

Record labels step in amidst viral AI-generated song

Drake and The Weeknd make headlines over AI-generated music, but this time it's a little different. Although there have been tons of songs released using artificial intelligence, but after hearing "Heart On My Sleeve," a song featuring the simulated voices of Drake and The Weeknd, went viral on TikTok and Spotify, questions about the future of A.I. in music have been made a priority. The song, generated by an artist called Ghostwriter using AI technology, has garnered over 250,000 Spotify streams and 10 million views on TikTok. The song has since been taken down from Spotify.

Drake, who expressed displeasure with AI-generated music on Instagram, has teamed up with a broad coalition of musicians and artists in the "Human Artistry Campaign" to ensure A.I. doesn't "erode" human creativity in the music industry. Meanwhile, President Biden's administration is seeking help from any and everybody. Comments on potential AI regulations have risen due to the pace of innovation.

As AI-generated music gains popularity, it poses a challenge to copyright laws that are not technologically advanced enough to regulate it. Major record label Universal Music Group (UMG) has recently taken steps to prevent the unauthorized use of its music by AI companies, calling on streaming services like Spotify to prevent such companies from using its music to train their models. The battle to contain or monetize AI-generated music is just beginning, and it remains to be seen how the entertainment industry will deal with this growing phenomenon.

It is our pleasure to announce this week’s Digital Hustlers of the Week: Keon Davis (left) and Justin Robinson (right). These two men with Auburn University ties are providing an impact on the food industry like no other!

Keon Davis is the owner and operator of Smooth N Groove, a fresh smoothie business on wheels that can be found at select locations. Getting his start on the campus of Auburn University, his catchy smoothie names, charismatic personality and freshly blended smoothies, have made his brand recognized nationwide, with tons of celebrity endorsements! Smooth N Groove recently took to Instagram to announce they have recently partnered with Nestle and US Bank with more details to come! Despite going through tough times with the pandemic, Keon has continuously found a way to keep hustling and outworking the competition. Congratulations again Keon, we look forward to franchises all across the nation here soon!

On the other hand we have Justin Robinson, a rising star in the culinary world. He too, getting his humble beginnings started on the campus of Auburn University, he has recently appeared on the Food Network's new series, Ciao House, where he takes on nine other talented chefs to prepare the best Italian dishes possible. Justin's cooking skills are unmatched and he has received praise from his customers and clients alike. Justin has released a premium set of knives as well as a cookbook so that we can join alongside in crafting some of his delicious meals! He is also an expecting father, so be sure to send a huge congratulations to him and his wife Bianca!

Keon and Justin are both shining examples of what it means to be a true Digital Hustler. They have shown that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Congratulations, Keon and Justin, for being this week's Digital Hustlers of the Week!

Snap announces a barrage of new tools & features

Today, Snap Inc. hosted an exciting event unveiling a variety of innovative features and services that are set to revolutionize the shopping, entertainment, and user experience.

Here's a quick rundown of what Snap announced!

  • Shopping Suite: Combining AR technology for immersive and personalized shopping experiences.

  • Live garment transfer: Enhancing virtual try-on experiences with real-time clothing previews.

  • Snap AR Mirrors: Allowing in-store virtual try-ons using physical screens.

  • Strategic partnerships: Collaborating with the NFL, Nickelodeon, Live Nation, and others to create immersive AR experiences at concerts and events.

  • My AI: Conversational AI that will respond to your pictures or text!

One key aspect of today's presentation was definately the Shopping Suite, which provides businesses with tools like AR Try-On and Fit Finder to improve brand loyalty, decrease product return rates and differentiate themselves in a competitive environment. Snap's live garment transfer further amplifies the virtual try-on experience, enabling users to see how clothes would look on them in real-time, making online shopping even more engaging and personalized.

Snap also discussed its strategic partnerships with major brands like the NFL, Nickelodeon and Live Nation. In particular, the partnership with Live Nation plans to use AR maps to help concertgoers navigate their shows more easily. These partnerships underscore the growing impact of Augmented Reality across various industries, including entertainment.

In summary, today's event showcased Snap's dedication to transforming user experiences through cutting-edge AR technologies. By offering tools like Shopping Suite, live garment transfer, and Snap Air Mirrors, as well as forging strategic partnerships, Snap is set to make a significant impact on retail, entertainment, and everyday experiences for consumers. It's clear that Snap is continuing to push the boundaries of AR technology and find new ways to engage users in exciting and innovative ways.

Top venture capital firm a16z provide annual report

In lieu of the world news surrounding the US Dollar, one of the world's most prominent venture capital firms, released it's annual 'State of Crypto' report. This year is unique, as they included an interactive tool to track the health of the crypto industry from a technological perspective, rather than simply a financial one. To offer a more accurate and nuanced measure of the state of crypto, the index represents the weighted average monthly growth of 14 industry metrics – from the number of verified smart contracts to the number of transacting wallets and more. It's good news that Bitcoin surpassed $30,000 and Ethereum broke the $2,000 mark, landmarks these coins hadn't sen in months. Let's dive into some of the key highlights from the report.

5 Takeaways provided by a16z Crypto

  1. There are move active unique blockchain addresses than ever before

  2. Organic uses of NFTs are on the rise after 2021 frenzy

  3. There are roughly 30,000 individuals developing some part of the crypto ecosystem month to month

  4. The Merge of September 2022 massively reduced Ethereum's energy footprint

  5. The U.S. is losing the lead in Web 3 growth, dropping 26% in recent time

Although these are bird-eye level points, we encourage you to dive into the full in-depth report, as it delves into crypto trends and innovations that could steer the future of our society. Conversations about the future of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, expanding beyond finance and deeper into exciting industries like gaming and content creation.

As the crypto industry grapples with challenges like scaling, energy consumption, and regulatory uncertainty, the a16z report emphasizes the importance of innovation and collaboration in overcoming these obstacles. By working together, the crypto community can unlock the full potential of digital assets and ensure their sustained growth.

The a16z State of Crypto Report 2023 is a must-read for all our digital hustlers interested in the fast-paced world of digital currencies. With the crypto landscape continuously evolving, this comprehensive report offers invaluable insights and analysis to help us keep up with the fascinating developments shaping the world of digital assets!

Digital Dimes

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