📣 In this issue:
OpenAI safety, AI on the Lot, Marvel Zombies , Eclipse Authority, studios are using AI to undermine artists, and empty spaces.
Ai Filmcraft
Before we get started, check out my showcase of Ai generated and assisted film shorts over at AiFilmcraft.com
📰 News-To-Know
1
OpenAI Prioritizing Product Over Safety?
Jan Leike, a prominent safety researcher at OpenAI, resigned from the company following disagreements over its priorities. Leike accused OpenAI of prioritizing the development of "shiny products" over critical safety concerns, raising alarms just before a global AI summit in Seoul.
The Details
Resignation Details:
Jan Leike's Role: Co-head of superalignment at OpenAI, focused on ensuring AI systems align with human values.
Departure Reasons: Leike cited a diminishing focus on safety and increasing emphasis on product development. He expressed concerns that safety, social impact, confidentiality, and security issues were not receiving adequate attention.
Public Statements: Leike shared his concerns on X (formerly Twitter), explaining that his disagreements with OpenAI's leadership had reached a breaking point.
Other Departures: His resignation followed that of Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s co-founder and fellow co-head of superalignment, who also expressed confidence in the company's future direction under current leadership.
Company Response:
Sam Altman's Reaction: OpenAI's CEO thanked Leike for his contributions and acknowledged the need for continued efforts in improving safety practices.
Company's Commitment: Despite internal turmoil, OpenAI's leadership expressed a commitment to balancing product development with safety.
Industry Context:
AI Safety Concerns: The departures and public warnings come ahead of a significant AI summit in Seoul, where global leaders will discuss AI oversight.
Regulatory Challenges: An international panel of AI experts released a report highlighting the rapid pace of AI advancements and the potential lag in regulatory responses, emphasizing the urgency of addressing safety concerns.
Why It Matters
Leike's resignation and his warnings about OpenAI’s priorities highlight critical issues in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. As companies push forward with advanced AI models, ensuring these technologies are developed responsibly and safely is paramount.
2
Actors File Action Against LOVO
Actors have filed a class action lawsuit against the Berkeley-based AI startup LOVO, accusing it of misappropriating their voices to create AI-generated voice tools without their consent.
The Details
Defendant: LOVO, an AI startup based in Berkeley.
Plaintiffs: A group of actors who allege their voices were used without permission.
Claims:
Voice Theft: Unauthorized use of actors' voices to create AI voice tools.
Right of Publicity Violation: Using voices without consent for commercial purposes.
Copyright Infringement: Utilizing original voice recordings without proper licensing.
False Designation of Origin: Misleading use of voices that could confuse consumers about the source of the voice recordings.
Legal Basis: The lawsuit involves claims under the right of publicity, copyright laws, and the Lanham Act.
Why It Matters
This lawsuit underscores the growing tension between technological advancements in AI and the protection of individual rights in the entertainment industry. The case's outcome could significantly influence legal standards and protections for artists, ensuring their voices and likenesses are not exploited without proper authorization and compensation. This is crucial as AI continues to play an expanding role in media and entertainment.
3
AI on the Lot
On May 16, over 850 filmmakers, AI startups, technologists, and media executives convened at the Los Angeles Center Studios for "AI on the Lot," a one-day conference exploring the applications of generative AI in filmmaking. Organized by the non-profit Artificial Intelligence Los Angeles (AI LA), the event featured a keynote from former Warner Bros executive Renard Jenkins, various panels, hands-on demos, and a screening of AI-created films.
The Details
Event Highlights:
Keynote Address: Renard Jenkins, now President and CEO of I2A2 Technologies, discussed AI's role in enhancing, not replacing, human creativity in filmmaking. He emphasized AI's potential to save time, rather than reduce costs.
Panels and Speakers: The conference included panels with leaders from AI companies like NVIDIA and Dell, and pioneering figures like Edward Saatchi from Simulation AI. Filmmakers such as David Slade, Matt Nix, and Mark Goffman also shared their insights on AI's impact on creative workflows.
Hands-On Demos: Attendees experienced hands-on demonstrations of the latest AI tools and technologies used in film production.
Film Screening: The day concluded with the "Cinema Synthetica" competition, showcasing AI-created short films. The winner, "Love at First Bite," a zombie romantic comedy, was produced using a variety of AI tools and featured real actors alongside AI-generated elements.
Why It Matters
The "AI on the Lot" conference highlighted the rapidly growing influence of generative AI in the entertainment industry. By showcasing practical applications and fostering discussions among industry leaders, the event emphasized AI's potential to revolutionize filmmaking. This includes streamlining production processes, enabling smaller teams to achieve more with fewer resources, and opening new avenues for creative expression.
👀 Watch List
Deadlore
I recently shared an ai-generated spoof trailer of mine called ‘Deadlore.’
Marvel Zombies - Teaser Trailer (2025)
MARVEL ZOMBIES - Teaser Trailer (2025) Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans | AI Concept where AI is used to portray what it could look like if the cast was totally different from the X-MEN films starting in 2000-2010. From stryderHD
Eclipse Authority
Dystopian AI short film produced for Solofilm's 'Dystopia' series.
⏳ ICYMI
How Studios Are Using AI to Undermine Artists
🎨 Inspiration
Empty Spaces
Empty spaces in photographic art, often referred to as "negative space," play a crucial role in the composition and emotional impact of an image. Negative space is the area that surrounds the main subject of a photo, providing a visual pause and a way to balance the composition. It can be just as important as the subject itself because it defines and enhances the subject's presence.
Photographers use empty spaces to create a sense of simplicity and minimalism, allowing viewers to focus on the main subject without distractions. This technique can evoke feelings of calm, isolation, or introspection, depending on the context and the elements included in the image. By giving the subject room to breathe, the photographer can direct the viewer's attention more effectively, emphasizing the subject's importance or mood.
Negative space can also contribute to the storytelling aspect of a photograph. It can suggest a narrative or evoke emotions that the subject alone might not convey. For instance, an image of a solitary tree in a vast empty field can evoke a sense of loneliness or solitude. The use of space around the subject can suggest expansiveness, freedom, or emptiness, depending on the photographer's intent.
The placement of negative space is essential in achieving a balanced composition. It can guide the viewer's eye through the photograph, create a sense of scale, and add depth. When used skillfully, empty spaces can lead to a more dynamic and engaging image, even though the scene might appear simple at first glance.
In some genres, like portrait photography, negative space can be used to highlight the subject's emotions or expressions. By isolating the subject against a plain background, the photographer can draw more attention to subtle details and nuances in the subject's face or posture. In landscape photography, negative space can emphasize the vastness of a scene, creating a sense of awe and wonder.
Empty spaces also provide a form of visual contrast, helping to define the edges of the subject and making it stand out more clearly. This contrast can be literal, with a light subject against a dark background, or more conceptual, with an intricate subject against a simple, uncluttered space.
The use of empty spaces in photographic art is a powerful tool that can enhance the aesthetic quality of an image, create mood and emotion, and convey a story or message more effectively. It allows for a creative interplay between the subject and its surroundings, leading to more compelling and visually striking photographs.
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Midjourney Prompt
The left side of the image is empty, simple background, bright colors, high saturation, no text. No objects in the left side of the picture, all objects on right side of the picture. [Graceful ballet dancer] , gradient color background, photography --ar 16:9
/settings: Version 6 and Stylize Med
What Next?
As always, consider this prompt as your starting point. Make it your own!
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