OpenAI's first acquisition: a design studio

10 March 2024 | Issue #38

In this issue:

OpenAI's first acquisition: a design studio
New Microsoft default typeface
Generative AI design patterns
How AI could disrupt creators
Using genAI for diversity images will backfire
A juvenile joke goes viral

The original prompt of "Robot making it rain" didn't work well.

OpenAI has made its first acquisition, and it's a design studio!

Global Illumination, a New York-based AI design studio known for its innovative use of AI in creating creative tools and digital experiences, has been acquired by OpenAI.

This move signals a deeper dive into the integration of AI with creative processes. Global Illumination, with a team that has roots in Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Google, Pixar, and Riot Games, brings a wealth of experience in designing products that resonate with users on a massive scale. Their recent work, including the development of Biomes, a Minecraft-like MMORPG, showcases their ability to blend creativity with technology.

For designers and marketers, this acquisition is a big deal. It underscores the growing importance of AI in creative fields, suggesting that the future of design and marketing will increasingly rely on AI-driven tools and platforms.

OpenAI's decision to bring the Global Illumination team on board to work on core products like ChatGPT hints at an exciting future where AI could offer even more sophisticated tools for creative professionals. This collaboration could lead to new ways of generating ideas, designing products, and engaging with audiences, making the creative process more dynamic and innovative.

As we navigate this evolving landscape, it's clear that AI isn't just a tool for automating tasks but a partner in the creative process. This partnership between OpenAI and Global Illumination could pave the way for groundbreaking developments in how we approach design and marketing, offering new opportunities for creativity that were previously unimaginable.

For those of us in the design and marketing world, staying abreast of these changes and learning how to leverage AI in our work will be key to unlocking new levels of creativity and innovation.

NEWS AT THE INTERSECTION OF AI AND DESIGN

🗎 Microsoft Word’s Subtle Typeface Change Affected Millions. Did You Notice?

Microsoft's update from Calibri to Aptos as Word's default typeface is a nod to the importance of type in our digital world, especially for designers keen on the nuances of digital presentation.

Modern Era Design: Aptos represents a fresh, modern era of computing
Human Touch: Adds whimsy and imperfections for relatability

Keep reading (free gift link)

🧬 Generative AI Design Patterns: A Comprehensive Guide

For designers, understanding generative AI design patterns is crucial as these frameworks shape how AI can be creatively applied to projects, enhancing both efficiency and innovation.

Layered Caching: Improves response times and refines AI models.
Multiplexing Agents: Offers diverse, expert-level solutions.

This article goes deep, so grab a beverage and spend a few minutes gaining a better understanding of how these systems work. It will help you in the long run.

Keep reading

🕱 How AI Could Disrupt Creators

For designers, the rise of AI in creative fields is a pivotal moment, offering both challenges and opportunities to redefine creativity and production processes.

AI's Double-Edged Sword: Enhances efficiency but raises fears of overshadowing human creativity.
Embrace or Replace: The necessity to adapt to AI integration in creative work.

Keep reading

NEW RESOURCES FOR YOU

Inauthentic inclusion: Exploring how intention to use AI-generated diverse models can backfire

New research shows that using AI-generated models can lead to negative brand perception.

"We show the effect to be serially mediated by consumers' perception of greater threat to their self-identity and a lower sense of belonging, subsequently having a negative effect on brand attitude."

This is fascinating to have actual data to back up the beliefs that many designers already had.

Over the past few years, companies have been pushing for much more representation in their photos. I worked at one place that refused to use white guys in photos (thus ending my modeling career). This study points out that using AI to artificially create diverse imagery has the opposite effect of what the marketers are trying to achieve.

Representing diversity is critically important in marketing messages. But using AI to create those images is leading to people feeling more disconnected.

Read the full report

H/T Shubhangi Mittal

Affiliate of the week

Each week, I read many articles from many sources. Any time I come across an article that may be interesting to you, I add it to my AD Newsletter note in Notion. Also within this note is where I keep my UTM codes so they're easy to copy/paste into here.

I was a paid subscriber to Evernote for more than ten years. But a few months ago I made the switch to Notion and I kick myself for not doing it sooner. Now I have my notes and lists, but also project management.

Learn more about Notion

Logo joke of the week

I had my first Thread go viral last week. Tracy Marshall posted about what to look for when designing a logo. I replied with an old joke about the Slack logo looking inappropriate and many designers agreed. What do you think?