Long time no see!

I have moved countries and it was more to handle than I imagined, so please, forgive me my lack of posting!

I’ll explain more in future post so make sure to subscribe if you haven’t!

Today we are talking about:

• Instagram introducing Music on Profile.

• Grok AI being an absolute menace with real-people deepfakes that are better and better, which Brazil rewarded with FULL BAN on X (formerly Twitter)

• AI bubble possibly bursting with consumers and investors taking a break from AI

• and 1 big company openly fighting Generative AI

Scroll down to read it through or watch it here in a video format:

https://youtu.be/UGmmBrpebW4

And here are interesting news from the past week or so:

• SE Ranking reports on differences between SearchGPT vs Google search

• Snapchat gets big redesign and new feature updates 

• Youtube introduced new package of AI creator tools

• Linkedin trains AI on user data without consent

• Meta banned Russia media and Instagram launched Teen accounts globally

• Tiktok sibling app Lemon8 surges in AppStore downloads amid Tiktok Ban

And now for the good stuff:

Instagram's Myspace Throwback, Grok AI’s Rampage, and Changing AI Sentiment

Instagram Brings Back a Classic Myspace Feature

Almost a year ago, I talked on the main stage of Belgium’s biggest Social Media conference (Digital First) about how you could add music to your profile on Myspace, how it was a killer feature and how Meta surprisingly never copied it for Facebook. 

Well, fast forward 11 months, and Instagram is finally bringing this to life. Now, you can add your favorite track to your profile, setting the mood or maybe sending a subtle message to your crush…or spouse, if you’re old enough to remember Myspace...

As cool as this is, it does raise questions about potential copyright issues, especially for professional accounts that have been restricted from using trending music on Reels. We’ll have to see how this plays out in practice.

Grok AI: Freedom of Speech or Freedom to Go Too Far?

Let’s talk about Grok AI, the generative AI from X (formerly Twitter). This tool is making waves for its ability to create images and videos featuring real people’s faces, leading to some bizarre and, frankly, inappropriate content. While there’s some funny stuff like Taylor Swift endorsing Trump, Trump and Harris having a romantic fling with an offspring twist, and borderline criminal shots of world leaders holding people at gunpoint, there’s also content that crosses a line into criminal territory completely; ranging from murderous to sexual assault content, that I won’t, for obvious reasons, link here.

Grok AI’s lack of restrictions seems to align with Elon Musk’s staunch defense of free speech, but it’s worrying. While the European Union and Brazil have taken action to curb generative AI that mistreats user data (first EU and Brazil stops Meta AI, then Brazil has even banned X entirely), the U.S. hasn’t made any moves yet. Will this trend of Governments limiting AI’s reach spread further? We’ll have to wait and see.

The AI Bubble: Are We Reaching a Tipping Point?

The AI hype train seems to be hitting some bumps. Countries like the European Union and Brazil are pushing back against generative AI, particularly when it comes to the misuse of user data without consent. But it’s not just governments; the general public and even investors are becoming more skeptical.

A recent study showed that people are less inclined to buy products marketed as “AI-powered,” and investors aren’t seeing the economic benefits they were hoping for. While AI consumes massive resources, the returns haven’t been as impressive…or any. This growing skepticism could slow down the race towards more advanced AI or even halt the development of current-gen tools.

The fact that Sam Altman stepped down from the Safety committee is not helping this cause either.

Procreate Takes a Stand Against AI

One company, Procreate, has made it clear that it’s not jumping on the AI bandwagon. Their CEO recently posted a video explaining that their products will remain focused on human creativity, without the aid of generative AI. This is great news for artists worried about AI taking over, but will Procreate fall behind competitors like Illustrator and Photoshop, which are incorporating AI tools like generative fill? I’d not stick my hand to the flame for this.

As always, extremes in any direction can be problematic. While I understand and support the desire to protect artists, some AI features could actually enhance their work. It’s all about finding the right balance. Which this stand seems to ignore.

What’s Your Take?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these topics. Do you think Instagram’s music feature is a win? Is Grok AI going too far? And what are your thoughts on the current sentiment towards AI in general? Drop a comment below!

If you’re interested in more Instagram updates, check out my latest post where I break down the recent changes to views and impressions on Instagram. 

And if not, see you in a week when I hint more at my move away…

See you then and there!

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My name's Mark Valasik 

and I help B2B companies to flip their Marketing Right Side Up 📈 ⬆ 

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