Prompt: a woman is sitting at her computer. Behind her is a robot looking at her screen. She is worried --ar 16:9
The conversation around AI is shifting. Gone are the days of sugarcoating its impact. Leaders like Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of World Wide Technology, believe employees are “too smart” to be misled. AI is here to stay, and it’s transforming jobs in ways we can’t ignore.
Instead of downplaying the disruptions, tech leaders are now calling for transparency. Kavanaugh stresses that companies must prepare employees for a future where some jobs will disappear. At the same time, new roles will emerge, ones we might not even be able to imagine today.
A prime example is Swedish fintech Klarna, which is planning to cut its workforce by nearly 50%, thanks to AI automating key functions. But here’s the twist: the remaining workers saw their pay increase. It’s a stark reminder that AI doesn’t just eliminate—it shifts the dynamics, creating opportunities for those who can adapt.
This isn’t just about losing jobs. It’s about rethinking what work looks like in an AI-driven world. Whether it’s customer service, marketing, or operations, AI will touch every corner of the workforce.
What are you doing to stay ahead?
NEWS AT THE INTERSECTION OF AI AND DESIGN
💥 Amazon Releases AI Video Generator, Exclusively for Ads
TechCrunch reports that Amazon has launched an AI-powered video generator designed specifically for creating advertisements, offering businesses a streamlined way to produce high-quality video content.
• Ad-Focused Video Creation: Amazon’s AI video generator is tailored for advertisers. It allows users to create engaging video ads with minimal effort by simply inputting text prompts.
• Efficient Ad Production: The tool is aimed at simplifying video ad production, reducing the time and cost typically involved in creating video content, making it more accessible for businesses of all sizes.
• My Take: This looks to be a powerful tool. It's unfortunate that this is only available to those who will spend money on Amazon's advertising.
Axios reports that Adobe has introduced a preview of its Firefly generative AI tools for video, bringing cutting-edge features to the world of video editing, aimed at enhancing creativity and streamlining workflows for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
• Generative AI for Videos: Firefly allows users to generate effects, colors, and animations with simple text prompts, revolutionizing how video creators can add visual elements without manual editing.
• Time-Saving Features: The new tools aim to reduce the time spent on complex video tasks, allowing editors to focus more on creativity by automating repetitive tasks like background removal and color grading.
• My Take: This stuff is getting better and better. If you have tried any of these genAI tools in the past and weren't impressed, now is the time to start learning how to use them.
📰 In Venezuela, AI news anchors aren’t replacing journalists. They’re protecting them
CNN reports on the launch of “Venezuela Retweets,” an AI-anchored news show designed to shield journalists from persecution by Nicolás Maduro’s government. The virtual presenters, “The Girl” and “The Dude,” deliver news without fear of government retaliation, offering a lifeline to journalists in a country where press freedom is severely restricted.
• AI for Protection: The AI avatars help news organizations avoid putting real journalists at risk of imprisonment, providing an innovative solution in a dangerous media landscape.
• Security and Skepticism: While the initiative is gaining traction, experts caution that relying on AI avatars doesn’t fully protect journalists from government surveillance and digital tracking.
• My Take: It's sad that these reporters must hide their identity to be safe from the government. But this is a great example of how technology helps people's lives.
☁️ Salesforce AI for Generating Promotional Content
Salesforce showcases how its AI tools can be used to automatically generate promotional content, helping businesses streamline marketing efforts and personalize campaigns.
• Automated Content Creation: Salesforce’s AI allows businesses to generate promotional materials such as emails, social posts, and product descriptions with minimal manual input, ensuring faster and more efficient campaign rollouts.
• Personalization at Scale: The AI tool enables the customization of content based on customer data, making it easier to tailor promotions to individual preferences and behaviors, enhancing engagement.
• My Take: Salesforce is rolling out a plethora of AI use cases. When trying something new, it's better to have a reason for using AI than just "playing around." Salesforce can now generate your emails, social posts, and more.
A LinkedIn post explores how outsourcing graphic design is transforming the creative process, allowing companies to balance quality and efficiency by tapping into external expertise.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Outsourcing enables companies to meet design needs quickly and affordably, especially during high-demand periods.
• Access to Specialized Talent: Businesses can benefit from a wider pool of creative talent, accessing designers with unique skills that might not be available in-house.
• My Take: This is written by a company that offers outsourced design services. I'm not suggesting teams should do this, but designers should be aware of some of the stats that are floating around.
Prompt: two robots are talking at a table. They each have headphones on. There is a big microphone between them --ar 16:9
AI Talking About AI
Something intriguing from this past week is A. Lee Judge's new podcast: The Marketing Update. It's a quick 8-minute podcast where the two hosts run through the latest marketing news of the week.
The difference is that it's all generated by AI. Lee has created this using ShowPod.ai. He fed three articles in, and the output was this podcast.
There is a good back-and-forth between the hosts. You can even hear the hosts inhale before talking. Some of the dialog is a little stilted, but as a first example, it's really impressive.
Design Quote of the Week
"Designers are meant to be loved, not to be understood."
– Fabian Barral
(I don't like this quote at all. Our entire job is about communicating so people can easily understand concepts)
My AI disclaimer: I write the main stories by hand (with occasional assistance from Grammarly). The quick news hits are articles I've found, which I run through a ChatGPT prompt to generate the synopsis and bullet points. However, I write the My Thoughts bullet. If AI generates the images, I include the prompt so you can see how I got to that image. Nothing in this newsletter, or anything I publish anywhere, reflects the views of my employer.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
If you want to learn more about what's available, here are some links:
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