In an announcement on September 27, Meta shared they would be bringing new AI editing tools and stickers to their apps and devices in an effort to keep up with the Joneses.
Case in point, YouTube kicked off more AI creator tools only a few days previous to Meta at their Made On YouTube event and TikTok the week before. It’s a technology “frenzy” as reported on by The Verge with platforms competing against one another in hopes to snag the most users and creators.
Who will win the race?
Who knows, but one thing is for sure: they all have to play the game as it’s becoming crystal clear that AI is here to stay – worship the machine or be left in the dust.
To me, the whole thing is kind of scary… we’re dancing with the devil when we allow computers to take over the world – remember Hal in Kubrick’s Space Odyssey 2001?
I suppose this fear is pointless. It’s how people felt when horses, trains, and then automobiles came down the pike. Same with the evolution from writing on stone, to paper, to the printing press, to computers and iPads. Might as well embrace it, can’t stop progress.
On that note, Meta’s “progress” toward this new world order will be coming to Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook as well as their Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses (which I’ll talk about next week) and virtual headset Quest 3.
New editing tools include a feature which gives you the power to tell AI what you want via text (Restyle), and/or voice (Backdrop).
For “Restyle” you simply come up with an idea and type it in. Try “watercolor” and the machine will Frankenstein your images to look like you could hang them in the Louvre. For “Backdrop” you’ll voice your command and that’ll change your background. As an example, The Verge suggests telling AI the sickeningly sweet “surround me with puppies.”
Voilà!
You’ll be framed by a bunch of golden retriever babies that’ll have people retching at how obnoxiously cute your pic is.
If this new concept doesn’t have you thinking about all you can do for your content, it should, as it can really spark creativity.
Wearing a futuristic cosplay outfit?
How about telling AI to surround you with light sabers?
Vampire fangs with your patent leather outfit?
Why not place yourself at Dracula’s castle?
Classy Christian Dior dress?
Stick yourself in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Meta is also being an oh so responsible adult and have assured creators they’ll tell users when images are synthetic vs. real in case it isn’t obvious that all those UFOs you stuck in your pic aren’t real. In addition, Meta’s also “experimenting with visible and invisible markers” to help the cause.
The other tech update Meta is bringing to their apps are AI-generated stickers.
You’ll be able to customize and make your own to add to all your images and stories if so inclined. Meta says the new sticker feature is going to be available to select English-language users over the next month so get ready. That’s not all, they’ll also be launching 28 AI characters and a new AI assistant which they say you can “interact with like a person.” Eek! Will it have feelings?
Looks like AI really is taking over the world and it’s coming on fast… so go ahead and jump on board now or get left behind. I suppose that includes me. Sigh.
Photo credit: iStock.com/hapabapa
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Alyssa Collins hails from Minnesota, where snowy days were the perfect excuse to stay warm inside and write. Over the years, she turned that joy into a career and has authored numerous articles for various publications (under pen names). Email Alyssa via alyssa@ynot.com.
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