As predicted, AI is used in some very questionable ways.

Here we go again, AI enthusiasts! 😉

Not a week without me, Max, and this amazing, fantastic, entertaining, curious and exciting newsletter (Not to blow one’s own trumpet, you know 🙈:)  Hope all of you have had enough time to play with explore the new ChatGPT version and are ready to catch up with new updates from this mad AI world 🤪

We are starting in a second. Just a quick reminder: enjoy, reader and recommend to a friend if you do ⭐️

1. Not Made for Kids 👧🏽 

If you remember, we were previously discussing some too-hot images depicting Taylor Swift 🎤 in various positions that were generated using AI. However, those pictures were immediately banned ⛔️ as the singer has many people behind her, like fans and lawyers, so the case was resolved pretty quickly.

But who can protect a no-name with no albums and community behind them? Especially if this person is just a kid? 👦🏼 Steven Anderegg from Holmen, Wisconsin, was charged with creating over 13,000 AI-generated child pornography images. This is a horrific milestone case, potentially marking the first instance of such charges in the US 🇺🇸 

I have to mention that the images, produced using the AI tool Stable Diffusion, did not involve real children but depicted minors in sexual acts with grown-up men. For doing such, he even downloaded specialised add-ons, which could create genitalia 🤬, investigators said.

Anderegg faces four counts of creating, distributing, and possessing child sexual abuse material, alongside charges of sending explicit content to a minor. He could face up to 70 years in prison if convicted.

Although I am convinced this is not solely about this particular trial, the case highlights the increasing misuse 🚨 of AI technology to generate harmful content. Consequently, we must ensure that the rise of AI is accompanied by the development of regulations governing its use. Otherwise, the web will become too unsafe, not just for us but also for those who cannot protect themselves yet 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

2. Darling, I’m Home 🏎️

Imagine having a family member in a coma. You pray 🙏🏻 to every deity for them to come back to life and speak to you again. Then, miraculously, they do—but not to you, to a magazine 📰 How bizarre is that?

This scenario became a reality for the family of Michael Schumacher. In April 2023, the German 🇩🇪 magazine Die Aktuelle published Schumacher’s picture on its cover, announcing "the first interview" ‼️ with the star who shares a record of seven F1 titles with Lewis Hamilton and has remained out of the public eye since his skiing accident. A miracle? 🤞 Not quite. It was actually a fake AI-generated 'interview' with the retired Formula 1 champion 🏆

Understandably, the family was far from pleased. Following the controversy, the magazine's editor was dismissed, and the publisher, Funke Media Group, issued an apology to Schumacher's family. Ultimately, the case was finally resolved last week, and the family received €200,000 (£170,212) 💰 in compensation.

Is this enough to cover the family's grief? That's a question too rhetorical for me to answer ❔

3. Less is More 📉

You spend days and nights trying to create the best, most engaging and creative marketing campaign for your brand. Try to pause and take a break 🧘‍♀️ A survey by Optimove Insights highlights a rising trend of fashion consumer marketing fatigue, with 81% of respondents willing to unsubscribe from brands that bombard them with excessive marketing messages.

Conducted in the US 🇺🇸 with 305 citizens in January, the survey emphasises the need for brands to balance staying visible with respecting consumer boundaries. Key findings suggest that relevance and personalisation 👩🏻🧓🏼 are crucial, with over half of the participants stressing the importance of tailored marketing.

You’d like to consider these findings: Optimove advises brands to adopt data-driven marketing, implement real-time personalisation, and use omnichannel strategies for a cohesive customer experience. By focusing on value and relevance, brands can mitigate marketing fatigue, enhance engagement and build lasting loyalty 🤝

Maybe less is sometimes more. After all, you don't want to be the brand people love to mute, do you? 🫶

AI continues to raise increasingly complex moral questions, becoming an integral part of our emotional landscape ❤️‍🩹 Let's stay connected and meet again in this recovery hub next week. Bring some tissues and be prepared; I'll have more updates for you.

Until then - stay curious! 👀 

Max

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