Five Top Tech Takeaways: AI Rapping Mona Lisa, Calls for AI Oversight, AI in the Banks, AI Art Receives Limited Copyright and Meta Competes with ChatGPT

Lights, Camera, Robots!

Movie Maker's Dream or Deep Fake Nightmare? Microsoft's AI Animates Art with Caution

Microsoft's latest AI innovation, detailed by their researchers last week, introduces an AI model capable of animating still images into realistic videos synchronized with audio. The VASA-1 technology can produce lifelike animations from photos, artwork, or cartoons, featuring accurate lip-syncing and naturalistic movements of the face and head. Demonstrated with a video of the Mona Lisa rapping a comedy piece by Anne Hathaway, the technology aims to enhance educational tools, assist individuals with communication challenges, and possibly create virtual companions. 

However, concerns about potential misuse for impersonation and misinformation persist. Microsoft has decided to withhold the public release of VASA-1 to ensure responsible use, aligning with practices of cautious distribution similar to their partner OpenAI's approach with the AI video tool, Sora.

Author's note: As discussed in these two posts (here and here), the possibility of creating a Hollywood studio in one's garage is becoming more realistic. Many will highlight the challenges posed by deepfakes, which are undoubtedly significant. However, there is also a positive aspect to consider. These tools could potentially enable artists to tell their stories through a cost-effective model. In fact, Tyler Perry halted his $800 million studio construction plan, influenced by the advanced visual effects achievable through OpenAI's Sora, demonstrating the shifting economic landscape of Hollywood production.

Key Takeaways:

• Microsoft's new AI, VASA-1, animates still images into realistic videos with natural movements and synchronized audio.
• The technology showcases potential uses in education and accessibility, yet also raises significant concerns about misuse for creating false representations.
• Microsoft is withholding VASA-1's public release, focusing on responsible and regulated technology deployment.

(Source: CTV News)

For the original Microsoft post and more videos, see here. 

Former OpenAI Board Member Calls for Regulatory Oversight in AI

Former OpenAI board member Helen Toner advocated for increased transparency and regulation in the AI industry during a TED talk in Vancouver. Toner emphasized the necessity for AI companies to publicly disclose details about their technologies' capabilities and risks, and to implement robust data collection systems to address incidents. She proposed the establishment of "AI auditors" to ensure that companies are held accountable, rather than self-regulating, reflecting on her experiences and challenges, including her controversial tenure on OpenAI's board.

Key Takeaways:

• Helen Toner, ex-OpenAI board member, stressed the importance of AI companies being transparent about their technologies and the associated risks.
• Toner proposed the creation of independent "AI auditors" to oversee company practices and enhance accountability in the industry.
• Reflecting on her own experiences, Toner highlighted the need for effective incident reporting mechanisms within AI companies, akin to those in aviation.

(Source: Bloomberg)

Jamie Dimon Outlines AI’s Role in JPMorgan’s Future in Shareholder Letter

In JPMorgan Chase's latest shareholder letter, the critical role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the firm's growth and operations was highlighted. Over the past decade, the firm has significantly expanded its AI capabilities, now boasting over 2,000 AI and machine learning (ML) specialists and a robust portfolio of over 400 AI-driven use cases across various business sectors like marketing, fraud, and risk management. The firm is also exploring generative AI's potential to enhance software engineering, customer service, and general productivity. Recognizing AI's importance, a new executive role—Chief Data & Analytics Officer—has been established to ensure AI and data are integral to decision-making processes company-wide.

Key Takeaways:

• JPMorgan Chase has developed extensive AI and ML capabilities, with over 2,000 experts and 400 active AI use cases driving business improvements.
• The firm is actively exploring generative AI applications to reimagine business workflows and enhance overall productivity.
• A new executive role, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, has been created to integrate AI deeply into the company’s strategic and operational decisions.

(Source: JPMorgan Chase)

GenAI, Art, & Copyrights: USCO Grants Limited Copyright for AI-Assisted Work

Elisa Shupe successfully obtained copyright registration for her AI-assisted novel, "AI Machinations: Tangled Webs and Typed Words," from the US Copyright Office (USCO). Shupe extensively used OpenAI's ChatGPT while writing the book and initially faced rejection from the USCO. However, with the help of the Brooklyn Law Incubator and Policy Clinic, Shupe appealed the decision, arguing that she used ChatGPT as an assistive technology due to her disabilities. The USCO granted Shupe copyright for the selection, coordination, and arrangement of the AI-generated text, but not for the actual sentences and paragraphs. This decision is seen as a significant marker in how the USCO is grappling with the concept of authorship in the age of AI.

Key Takeaways:

• The US Copyright Office granted Elisa Shupe copyright registration for her AI-assisted novel, recognizing her as the author of the selection, coordination, and arrangement of the AI-generated text.
• Shupe's case highlights the nuances and challenges the USCO faces in determining the scope of protection for works produced using AI.
• The decision to grant Shupe a limited copyright registration is seen as a compromise, as she believes she should be able to copyright the actual text of the book due to her extensive involvement in the creative process.

(Source: Wired)

Explore Meta's Latest AI Innovation: Llama 3

Meta has introduced Meta Llama 3, their newest large language model (LLM), marking a significant advancement in AI capabilities. Llama 3, which includes models with 8B and 70B parameters, boasts state-of-the-art performance in various AI benchmarks and supports a wide range of applications with improved reasoning and coding abilities. These models will soon be available across major cloud platforms and feature enhancements in trust and safety with tools like Llama Guard 2 and CyberSec Eval 2. Meta's commitment to open-source development continues with the release of Llama 3, aimed at fostering innovation and responsible use in the AI community. 

Note: Meta.ai is available in Canada and you can try it out, here: https://www.meta.ai/

Key Takeaways:

• Meta Llama 3 introduces enhanced large language models with 8B and 70B parameters, setting new standards for AI performance and capabilities.
• The models are part of Meta's open-source initiative, ensuring broad accessibility and encouraging community-based innovation and development.
• Meta emphasizes responsible AI development, incorporating advanced safety features and guidelines to support secure and ethical usage.

(Source: Meta)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: OpenAI's Text to Video Breakthrough, Nvidia faces competition, Apple Trashes its Car, Google inks a deal with Reddit and unveils Gemini 1.5

Apple Car Scrapped

OpenAI's Sora: The Breakthrough Turning Text into Cinematic Reality

OpenAI's unveiling of its innovative text-to-video model, Sora, marks a significant leap in content creation technology, stirring both excitement and apprehension among its audience. Unlike its predecessors, Sora transcends previous limitations by generating high-definition videos of varying lengths from textual prompts, blending deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. Its introduction heralds a new era for creative domains, offering enhanced flexibility for professional video production across marketing, education, and e-commerce. However, its potential for widespread application comes with challenges, including copyright concerns, ethical dilemmas, and the risk of increased digital clutter. As OpenAI prepares for Sora's public release, the industry awaits its impact on digital content creation, ethical standards, and the future role of human creativity in the AI-augmented landscape. 

Key Takeaways:

• Sora represents a breakthrough in AI, capable of producing life-like, high-resolution videos from text inputs, enhancing creative possibilities.
• It promises significant applications in marketing, education, and e-commerce by enabling personalized and engaging video content.
• Despite its advantages, Sora raises important concerns about copyright infringement, ethical use, and the potential for digital overload.

See renowned tech reviewer Marques Brownlee's take on Sora: 

(Source: The Conversation)

Groq vs. Nvidia: A New Challenger Emerges in the AI Chip Arena

In the rapidly evolving AI chip industry, Groq CEO Jonathan Ross boldly positions his company as a formidable competitor to Nvidia, especially in the realm of large language model (LLM) inference. Despite Nvidia's overwhelming market dominance and record-breaking earnings, Groq's innovative Language Processing Units (LPUs) are gaining attention for their superior speed and efficiency in LLM tasks. Ross's viral exposure, highlighted by a tech demo and endorsements from figures like HyperWrite's CEO, underscores Groq's potential to disrupt the AI chip market. Ross claims Groq's LPUs offer a cost-effective and privacy-conscious alternative for startups, forecasting widespread adoption by the end of 2024. This strategic move not only challenges Nvidia's GPU-centric approach but also aligns with the increasing demand for efficient AI inference solutions 

Key Takeaways:

• Groq's LPUs are specifically designed for LLM inference, offering faster and more efficient processing compared to Nvidia's GPUs.
• CEO Jonathan Ross predicts most startups will adopt Groq's technology by the end of 2024, citing cost-effectiveness and superior performance.
• Groq's technology, including a privacy-conscious chat interface, has already created significant buzz, indicating a potential shift in the AI chip market dynamics.

(Source: VentureBeat).

End of the Road: Apple Halts Electric Car Project in Strategy Shift

Apple has officially shelved its ambitious electric car project, marking a significant pivot from its decade-long exploration into automotive innovation. The initiative, known colloquially as Project Titan, has seen the tech giant sink billions into the venture without ever formally committing to a product launch. The surprise announcement, which foretells layoffs and a strategic shift towards generative artificial intelligence, has left many employees uncertain about their future within the company. Despite recruiting top talent from renowned automotive firms and making notable acquisitions like Drive.ai, Apple faced continuous hurdles, including leadership changes and technological setbacks, leading to this unexpected withdrawal. Now, Apple aims to refocus its considerable resources on developing generative AI technologies, signaling a new direction for its research and development efforts 

Key Takeaways:

• Apple has canceled its long-speculated electric car project, resulting in potential layoffs and a major strategic shift.
• Despite significant investment and talent acquisition, the project faced numerous challenges and changes in direction over the years.
• Apple is reallocating resources to generative artificial intelligence, moving employees from the car project to its special projects group.

(Source: The Guardian).

Google Unveils Gemini 1.5: Pioneering Long-Context AI Processing

Google's CEO Sundar Pichai has unveiled the company's latest innovation in AI technology: the Gemini 1.5 model, a substantial upgrade over the previously released Gemini 1.0 Ultra. The new model showcases dramatic improvements in processing capabilities, including a groundbreaking increase in the context window capacity to up to 1 million tokens, setting a new standard for large-scale foundation models. This enhancement in long-context understanding opens new doors for developers and enterprises, allowing for the processing of vast amounts of information across various modalities, including text, video, and audio. Gemini 1.5, developed with a focus on safety and efficiency, employs a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture to enhance its training and serving processes. This model is poised to revolutionize how we build and interact with AI by providing more relevant and comprehensive analyses of large datasets, thereby enabling more complex reasoning and problem-solving capabilities. Google is now offering a limited preview of Gemini 1.5 Pro to developers and enterprise customers, signaling a significant leap forward in the practical application of AI technology.

Key Takeaways:

• Google's Gemini 1.5 represents a significant advancement in AI with a context window capable of processing up to 1 million tokens.
• The model introduces a Mixture-of-Experts architecture for enhanced efficiency in training and serving.
• Google offers a limited preview of Gemini 1.5 Pro to developers and enterprise customers, highlighting its commitment to pioneering AI research and application.

(Source: Google)

Reddit and Google Ink $60 Million Deal for AI Content Training

Reddit has entered into a $60 million annual deal with Google, aiming to utilize its vast content repository for training Google's artificial intelligence models. This strategic partnership marks Reddit's first major venture into monetizing its content for AI development, coinciding with its preparations for a highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO). The collaboration not only highlights Reddit's efforts to explore new revenue streams beyond advertising but also reflects the broader trend among AI developers seeking legitimate sources for training data amidst growing copyright concerns. As Reddit gears up for its IPO, revealing its financials for the first time, this deal with Google underscores the social media platform's ambition to leverage its unique and diverse content ecosystem for cutting-edge AI advancements.

Key Takeaways:

• Reddit has secured a $60 million deal with Google to supply content for AI model training.
• This agreement comes as Reddit prepares for its IPO, seeking new revenue avenues in a competitive digital ad market.
• The move reflects a growing trend of AI developers forming partnerships with content creators to ethically source training data

(Source: Reuters)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

Five Top Tech Takeaways: Writer's Get Concessions on AI, FTX's Auditor Sued by the SEC, Windows 11 goes AI, and Dalhousie's Battery Discovery

The Pen Is Mightier than the Robot

The Pen is Mightier Than the Robot? Writers Draw the Line with AI

Hollywood writers, after one of the longest labor strikes in history, have secured a significant victory over the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the film and television industry. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) managed to strike a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, establishing strict guidelines on how AI can be used in the industry. The contract doesn't ban AI but imposes limitations to ensure that the technology remains under the control of the workers and doesn’t replace them.

The deal prohibits studios from using AI to write or edit scripts and from treating AI-generated content as "source material" that could be assigned to screenwriters for adaptation at lower fees and lesser credit. The contract allows AI to be used as a tool but ensures it doesn’t undermine writers' roles or reduce their wages. It maintains that AI is complementary to humans and should be under the control of the writers, not the studios. If writers adapt output from AI models, it will still be considered an original screenplay. Studios are also required to disclose any use of AI in providing material to the writers. While writers can choose to use AI as a research tool, they cannot be forced to use it. (Source: Guardian)

FTX Auditor Under Fire: SEC Sues Prager Metis for Independence Violations

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated a lawsuit against accounting firm Prager Metis for purported violations pertaining to auditor independence, citing the incorporation of indemnification provisions in engagement letters during December 2017 to October 2020. Prager Metis is contending the allegations, asserting that the contested provisions never influenced the quality of their audits nor were enforced. The firm was associated as an auditor for the FTX Group; however, the SEC clarifies that the accusations are not related to any FTX matters. The SEC aims to secure an injunction and penalties against Prager Metis, with the investigation currently in progress. (Source: Reuters)

Blockchain Meets AI-enabled Entertainment: A New Era of Content Creation with Story Protocol

Story Protocol, developed by entrepreneur Seung Yoon Lee, is a groundbreaking blockchain-based platform aspiring to reconfigure the $2.3 trillion entertainment and media industry. The integration of artificial intelligence in content creation acts as a catalyst for this initiative, allowing exponential growth in fan-generated content and posing challenges to traditional copyright frameworks, thereby making a system like Story Protocol essential. The platform allows creators to manage, collaborate, and set terms of licensing and remuneration through Ethereum-based smart contracts, optimizing interactions and transactions between creators and fans, and enabling fans to influence and monetize their contributions. With substantial backing, including a $54 million investment led by Andreessen Horowitz, Story Protocol heralds a shift in intellectual property management and content production in an era dominated by AI innovations and fan-driven content. (Source: Forbes)

A Leap in Battery Efficiency: Dalhousie University's Tape Discovery.

Researchers at Dalhousie University have discovered a new way to extend the battery life of most laptops and cellphones by identifying a power-drainage flaw. The standard lithium-ion batteries use polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tape to hold its components together, which can dissolve due to a chemical reaction in the battery, causing charge depletion without sending out an electrical current—a phenomenon called self-discharge. The researchers have found that replacing PET tape with chemically stable polypropylene (PP) tape can decrease self-discharge by up to 70% and increase battery life by up to 10%. Polypropylene tape, having stronger chemical bonds, is more stable and costs about the same as PET tape, offering a simple and cost-effective solution for manufacturers. (Source: CBC)

Windows 11 Update: Microsoft Goes Big on AI
Microsoft’s latest update to Windows 11 brings a suite of AI-powered enhancements and features aimed at creating a more intuitive and versatile user experience. Here's a condensed overview:

• Windows Copilot: Acts as an AI-powered digital assistant, integrating many parts of Windows, controlling settings, launching apps, and answering queries.
• AI-Enhanced Paint: Equipped with Photoshop-like features, it supports transparency, layers, and an AI image generator called “Paint Cocreator,” which creates images based on text prompts and selected styles.
• Upgraded Snipping Tool: AI allows for text extraction and redaction from images and sharing in other apps, with automatic redaction for sensitive information.
• AI-Powered Photos App: Offers a background blur option that auto-identifies the background, enabling customization of blur intensity and areas to be blurred.
• Improved Windows Backup App: Facilitates seamless migration to new devices by backing up existing settings to the cloud
• Windows 365 Integration: Incorporates Windows 365 Cloud PCs, enabling direct boot and switch between local desktop and Cloud PC within Windows 11.
• Dev Home for Developers: Offers an efficient setup for Windows dev machines, utilizing Windows Package Manager to install necessary tools and apps and configuring coding environments in the cloud.

These features are rolling out progressively, with availability to all users anticipated in the coming months, and further advancements are expected in the Windows 11 2023 update. (Source: TheVerge)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own

Beyond the Writer's Strike: Will AI Lead to a Renaissance of Artist Driven Content?

In our previous post, we looked at how AI has the potential to upend the way Hollywood works. With generative AI, the writers are rightfully scared about how the technology can potentially curtail their value in film production. With generative AI, I could generate a story in 35 minutes. It needed much work. However, the AI that I used was not trained on scripts. Neither was I. Imagine we both were. What stories could we generate then? 

Though AI is taking center stage in the kerfuffle, the friction has also exposed a hidden tension underlying the mass movie industry. It is the tenuous relationship between artistic expression and the commercial nature of the television and film industry. The studios that drive Hollywood only cares about recurring profits. They could not care less about art. They’ve always wanted a formula. Prompt script here. Press play on the production process. Put money in the bank and watch stock prices go to the moon. Everything else is irrelevant. Generative AI will give the studios what they want. But it will be a hollow victory. Why? Generative AI will eventually upend the Hollywood Hit Machine  as well. But before we get there, we need to discuss how Optimus Prime got into our heads.

Tapping into Pester Power: Transformers and the Deregulatory Reagan Era
Working on some side projects, I had the fortune of coming across Drawn to Television: American animated sf series of the 1980s by Lincoln Geraghty. The article explores the cartoon era of the 1980s, dominated by cartoons like Transformers, GI Joe, My Little Pony, Thundercats, and more. Geraghty ties the genesis of this genre to Star Wars. Toy companies aimed to replicate the triumph of Kenner's Star Wars action figures by creating a market through TV shows. These shows served as prolonged advertisements for an assortment of toys.

But why did this development wait until the 1980s? The Reagan Administration deregulated television and allowed toy companies to sell directly to kids of all ages and sizes. Before that, the FCC prevented such commercial interests from tapping into children's pester power.

What does this have to do with art and Hollywood?

Film critics did not think much of Transformers and the like. They saw it as “…little more than poorly drawn, glorified half-hour commercials for action figures and video games.” David Wise, a critical writer in the original Transformer series, gives us a better idea of how commercial it was. He explains that the "Rebirth" episodes were initially slated as a five-part mini-series. They were designed to introduce 92 new characters to sell as toys. He was then asked to condense the five-part story into just three episodes. Wise calculated that a new character must be introduced every 12.5 seconds. To make the storyline workable, Wise introduced groups of characters simultaneously, revealing their names and moving on – illustrating that Wise had to sacrifice the story for sales.

The Death of Optimus Prime: Killing off the Old Product Line for the New
Perhaps, the fundamental contradiction between art and commerce can be seen in the toy company’s decision to kill off Optimus Prime in the full-length movie, Transformers: The Movie, released in theatres in 1986. Wise revealed that Hasbro was disappointed with the sales of the toy-truck-robot figurine. The decision was summarized as follows:

“It was a toy show. We just thought we were killing off the old product line to replace it with new products.”

According to this cold hard logic, Optimus Prime seems to be the ultimate unscrupulous used car salesman. However, instead of peddling to adults, he sells to kids. Through his on-screen sacrifice, they could sell Rodimus Prime in his stead.

What is the reaction from young fans? According to the same consultant, Flint Dillie, who came clean about why Prime was killed off, explains how traumatic this was for children who loved the series. Kids were crying in the theatres. Families were so upset that they left during the movie. They even took to their pens, pencils, and typewriters to register their protest with the company. Hasbro gladly gave in. They had us exactly where they wanted us. This turn of events would give sagging Optimus Prime sales the needed boost.

There can't be the best way to entertain children. Specifically, it’s hard to convince a child, parent, or anyone that such an extractive relationship is healthy. How does a parent calm down a despondent child who just saw their hero killed off? It’s probably not to offer them the latest “Prime” that Hasbro has to offer. The larger point, however, is that commercially-driven content clashes not just with artistic expression but how a transaction approach to content is non-optimal for us as a whole.  

The Hollywood Hit Machine: Losing its Luster in the Age of Authenticity
The writer's strike has a limited impact on the content I usually consume, published by YouTubers, podcasts, and other enthusiasts. This shift in popular preference speaks for itself. People prefer to hear stories from real, relatable people instead of the formulaic commercial narratives churned out by the Hollywood Hit Machine.

A good proxy of the shift is the decline in cable television.

As reported by Adweek for June 2023, during prime time, FOX garners the largest average viewership with 1.49 million viewers, followed by MSNBC with 1.32 million, and CNN with 635,000 viewers. These networks collectively attract approximately 3.46 million viewers, representing about 1% of the United States estimated population of 330 million.

Another piece of evidence is the sudden and swift demise of Quibi.

Despite the company raising $2 billion, retaining the A-list of Hollywood talent, and being led by the former Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, the company had shut its doors after six months. The business model was to offer short-form content in the 10 to 15-minute range – short enough to be consumed on a train ride to work. Was the pandemic, as the company claimed, the reason for its demise?

The pandemic proved to be a boom to Netflix and other streaming companies, so that's not the likely cause. Instead, what likely caused the company to crash and burn was that user-generated content was a much better source for short-form content.

Generative AI: The Great User Generative Content Amplifier?
Now we finally get to AI!

As I argue in this Medium post, generative AI is about amplification, not abdication. The post speaks to the issue of abdication from a professional perspective. A lawyer, consultant or CPA can't rely on public-facing generative AI models to do their work. Instead, it can amplify their effort by putting polish on the rough notes they have gathered.

Similarly, it’s abdication to get generative AI to produce a fictional novel in 35 minutes, hoping it will receive rave reviews. According to the Wall Street Journal, a surge in AI-generated story submissions, influenced by online videos promoting ChatGPT, led to the temporary closure of online submissions at Clarkesworld, a science-fiction magazine. Publishers, including Clarkesworld's Neil Clarke, expressed their tendency to reject these AI-written submissions, characterized by grammatically perfect but incoherent and formulaic narratives.

Using generative AI to create these types of submissions signifies an instance of “author abdication." It's the generative AI version of spam. And like we have spam filters and other "internal controls" (like the infamous proof of work concept invented to fight spam), Clarkesworld and others will need to develop similar controls to separate the good from the bad.

Instead, budding authors must work hard to conceive storylines that resonate. It could take weeks and months to sort out plot lines and characters. And you will still need to know Da Vinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, or another video editing tool.

In terms of the maturity of the tools, they have yet to arrive. However, we can see that day is quickly coming. Consider the following that is already out there.

AI Image Generation is Amazing: The current ability to generate images from a few sentences is simply the stuff of science fiction. Using stability.ai, I used this prompt “Snowy winter wonderland with a lone cabin in the distance, surrounded by frosty trees and fresh snowfall, peaceful, serene, detailed, winter landscape” to generate the following image:

AI Image Generators Enable Panning and Zoom: As explained in this video, Midjourney can generate AI images and now can allow the panning of an image. It also allows a zoom-out feature.

Professional Narrators for the Price of a Latte: In Kevin's heroic struggle, I got a professional-sounding voice to narrate the story. The cost? Eleven Labs sells this for the bargain price of $5 a month. The next tier is only $20/month.

Text to Video is Already Here: Matt Wolfe, who follows the generative AI space, compiled this video that looks at the current state of what’s out there with text to video. Lot’s to be desired. However, we’re only nine months into the Generative AI boom. The footage includes Runway ML, featured on Vox’s Recode podcast. The interview discusses how AI eliminates the need for manual labour for rotoscoping. The technique was used in the movie Everywhere All at Once, saving the production team "several hours."

The first nonsuccessful film not produced by Hollywood is still years away. However, with the rapid pace at which these tools will improve, it takes little imagination to see that the cheque is in the mail.

Reel to Real: Is There Life Beyond Hollywood?
We do not have to go far to see the types of stories that people will produce that are not driven entirely by commercial interests. Consider the historical drama Diriliş: Ertuğrul. The series chronicles the rise of Ertuğrul, whose son, Osman I, would establish the Ottoman State in present-day Turkey. And there are documentaries like Ava DuVernay's The 13th. The Netflix documentary explores the mass incarceration of African Americans in the US. The popularity of the Ertuğrul illustrates that there is no need to make up heroes when they already exist. At the same time, the success of the 13th proves that people are interested in reality – not just fiction.

To be sure, we can expect Hollywood to continue for the foreseeable future. Cable television still attracts millions, albeit with a much-reduced viewership from its glory days. However, the shift in audience preference towards content from relatable individuals, coupled with the rise of sophisticated AI tools, indicates that the dawn of a new era in filmmaking is at hand. It's potentially a future where anyone can tell a story, where unique voices are heard, and commercial interests don't kill off characters that kids love. This technological revolution might enable a broadening of storytelling, creating space for a multiplicity of voices and narratives beyond the confines of Hollywood.

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist that is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own.

The Dilemma of Zlibrary: Empowering Students or Enabling Piracy?

As the year 2022 came to a close, a significant event occurred that may have gone unnoticed by many. The famous online repository of ebooks and articles, Z-library, was shut down. This event serves as a reminder of how too much attention can have negative consequences. In this blog post, we will delve deeper into the story of Zlibrary and the issues surrounding shadow libraries, intellectual property rights, and access to knowledge.

 

The Impact of Digitized Info: The Rise of Z-library

Z-library is an online repository of ebooks and articles that provides free access to information and knowledge. The site started in 2009 and has since grown to be one of the largest shadow libraries on the internet. According to Fast Company:

"Z-Library offered more than 10 million ebooks and 86 million articles at its peak, with a limited number of monthly downloads accessible to millions of users free of charge, and more available for a small fee."

Many people around the world rely on such resources as they may need access to the expensive subscription-based services that are often required to access academic articles and books. Proponents of websites like Zlibrary, Sci-Hub, and Libgen argue that they strive to break down barriers to knowledge and education, enabling users to access the information they need to learn and grow.

The TikTok Effect on Zlibrary: More Popularity, More Problems

The rising popularity of Z-library, however, attracted the scrutiny of copyright holders and legal authorities, putting both the site and its users in a vulnerable position. The increased attention also raised legal questions about using such a resource.

 According to TorrentFreak, Z-library has emerged as a vastly popular, high-volume source of illegal ebook downloads in recent years. The site's growth can be attributed to users who openly advertise the site on social media, with TikTok playing a significant role in its popularity. The hashtag #zlibrary on the popular social media platform has 4 million views, with countless videos posted by college and high school students and others across the world promoting it as the go-to place for free ebooks.

However, the attention that Zlibrary received on TikTok was a double-edged sword. While it certainly helped spread the word about the site, it also brought more attention to its illegal activities. This attracted the attention of copyright holders and legal authorities, namely the FBI.

Starving Students vs Starving Artists: Who really benefits from the closure of Z-library?

According to the Washington Post, the FBI has charged two Russian nationals, Anton Napolsky and Valeriia Ermakova, with criminal copyright infringement, wire fraud and money laundering for operating Z-Library. The authorities took down the website on November 4th and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, stated that the defendants profited illegally by uploading works within hours of publication and victimized authors, publishers, and booksellers in the process.

The Washington Post also noted how authors and users had a clash of opinions. Users were mourning the loss of their ability to download free textbooks, novels, and academic papers. However, authors were relieved by the shutdown as they argued that piracy harms their sales and the publishing industry and that mourning Z-library is mourning the end of theft.

But is this really a debate between starving students and starving artists? Not really.

According to a report by Citigroup obtained by Rolling Stone, in the music industry's digital streaming era, the people who make the most money from copyrighted content like books or music are not the artist/author, but the holder of the copyright. They take nearly 90% of the money.

The story of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the authors of the original Superman comic book, highlights the unfortunate reality that creators of copyrighted content may not always receive fair compensation for their work. Despite the immense success and wealth generated by Superman and the concept of superheroes, the inventors only received a small sum of $130 for signing over the rights to their creation to D.C. Comics. This has led to ongoing legal battles, with the families of the inventors seeking their fair share of the fortune generated by the invention. Of course, the copyright holders won.

The Z-library Takedown: Can we just dismiss the concern of students?  

One tweet succinctly summed up the students' feelings, stating "The closure of Zlibrary is like the burning of the Library of Alexandria in our time." This tweet draws parallels between the loss of this online library and the historical burning of the Library of Alexandria during the reign of Julius Caesar.

Burning Z-Library: Rendered by Stable Diffusion 2.1

Can we just dismiss this as students being overly emotional? Well, it's more complicated than that.

As noted in the Huntington News, a 2014 study found that the average cost of a college textbook is about $105, which is difficult to justify for most college students. In the same study, 65% of college students said they didn't purchase their required textbooks even though they knew it could hurt their grade.

The burden of student debt is heavy for many young people in Canada and the U.S. In Canada, the total amount of student loans owed to the federal government reached a staggering $22.3 billion in 2020. And this figure doesn't even consider provincial and personal loans, lines of credit and education-related credit-card debt. On average, a Canadian student graduating with a bachelor's degree holds $28,000 in student loan debt, while college grads hold $15,300 in debt. In the U.S., the situation is similarly dire. For 2023, the total amount of student loan debt (including federal and private loans) has reached $1.75 trillion. The average student borrower holds $28,950 in debt.

The situation in Canada and the U.S. has a wide-reaching social impact, as this debt load can make it difficult for young people to start their careers, buy homes, or even save for retirement. It is clear that the cost of education is a growing concern not just for students but for society as a whole.

Consequently, the Z-library debate must be connected to the economic reality that students face, such as the rising costs of education, high levels of student debt, and a lack of affordable access to educational resources. It highlights how the students' anger at the site's shutdown is a part of a broader crisis they face. It is essential to understand this context when discussing the issues surrounding shadow libraries and intellectual property rights.

Digital Tech: Innovation and the Struggle for a Knowledge Society

The Z-library debate highlights how intellectual property can be an obstacle to creating a knowledge society. From a technological standpoint, the ability to digitize text, information, and knowledge can revolutionize access to information and education. However, as demonstrated by Zlibrary, the economic realities of the publishing industry and the protection of intellectual property rights often stand in the way of this potential. Technology has advanced, but the economics have not evolved to keep pace, resulting in the same exploitative dynamics seen in other industries such as music and comics. To truly create a knowledge society, we must re-examine how intellectual property laws and systems can be adapted to enable access to information and knowledge for all rather than just protecting the profits of a select few.

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist that is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else.