Today, we'll be diving into YouTube's probe into OpenAI's use of creators' content and their confidence in their in-house AI. We'll discuss TikTok's move to amplify music promotions with Fan Spotlight and explore X's new initiative to implement a Grok Analysis button for AI-generated content fact-checking. Plus, we'll look at TikTok's recent program aimed at spotlighting creators who are driving positive impact. Finally, we'll delve into X's decision to make post likes invisible across the platform. Stay tuned for all of that and more on Creator Daily.
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YouTube is taking a close look at claims that OpenAI may have scraped content from its platform without permission to train its text-to-video generator, Sora. Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, confirmed the investigation on The Verge's podcast 'The Decoder', following recent reports about OpenAI's alleged use of YouTube videos. The company's CEO, Neal Mohan, previously stated that any such use of creator content by OpenAI would directly violate YouTube's terms of service.
The situation is heating up as OpenAI also faces controversy over allegedly using actress Scarlett Johansson's voice for ChatGPT, against her wishes. Meanwhile, Pichai addressed concerns about the role of AI in content creation and how Google and YouTube's approach differs from that of OpenAI's products. They are focusing on creating tools for artists rather than releasing general-purpose tools to the public, aiming to keep the creator community at the core.
As the AI field evolves, Pichai suggested that platforms which better support content creators will ultimately prevail. The full interview with Sundar Pichai on The Decoder discusses these issues in greater depth, exploring how Google and YouTube plan to add value back to creators in the age of AI.
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TikTok just rolled out a new feature called Fan Spotlight to supercharge music promotions on the platform. Riding the wave of the recent licensing deal with Universal Music Group, TikTok is going all in on leveraging popular artists like Billie Eilish to drum up more user engagement. With Fan Spotlight, musicians can now pin up to five fan videos they love to the top of their music tab. This not only gives fans the thrill of being recognized by their favorite artists but also serves as a clever promotional tool. As fans create and post tribute videos, the artists amplify these by showcasing them, stirring up more content and excitement on the app. It's an ingenious cycle of promotion and engagement that's likely to appeal to even more musicians, especially since TikTok has become essential in music discovery.
This feature also marks a harmonious culmination to the challenging times when licensing issues between TikTok and UMG made it tough for users to include many artists' music in their videos. Thankfully, with those disputes in the rearview mirror, artists like Eilish and Taylor Swift, also under UMG, can fully harness TikTok's promotional power. So long as TikTok stays clear of any potential bans in markets like the U.S., this could mean big things for music promotion on the app.
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Elon Musk is steering his attention towards AI and robotics, and in line with this, X is enhancing its Grok chatbot with a new "Grok Analysis" button. Positioned within the app's bottom function bar, this feature aims to provide AI-driven fact checks for any post on the platform. However, the technology isn't quite ready for prime time just yet.
The button will take center stage in a new user interface layout, but there have been some hiccups. The Grok system has previously been tripped up by sarcasm and non-literal language on the platform, leading to incorrect trend highlights. For instance, Grok inaccurately reported an NBA player going on a vandalism spree and other false events like an unusual sun behavior and a missile attack on Tel Aviv, all due to misread X posts.
To complicate the matter, Musk is planning to introduce a "fun mode" for Grok which aims to give humorous takes—this can further blur the lines between truth and sarcasm. It’s clear that Grok’s approach to AI fact checking has its challenges. Musk’s goals seem to include reflecting his own views, which often encompass random conspiracies and nerdy humor, so Grok’s outputs might sometimes lean more towards entertainment rather than reliability.
In essence, for those looking for a combination of humor and intel, the Grok Analysis button might just hit the spot. But for users keen on accuracy, it's hoped X can finetune Grok's system for more reliable fact checking. If so, it could be a useful tool for discerning the truth amongst an ever-growing sea of information.
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TikTok is stepping up its support for creators who are driving societal change with its latest initiative, the TikTok Change Makers Program. This new effort is aimed at recognizing and promoting creators and non-profits that are using TikTok to make a positive impact in their communities. To kick things off, fifty participants have been chosen for the first round, where they'll partake in an education and support program lasting six months. During this time, they'll be given tools, resources, and even donations to non-profit organizations, to help them grow their communities, reach new audiences, and enhance their impact.
Additionally, TikTok has unveiled the Change Makers Grant which pledges over $1 million to support more than 30 global and local non-profit organizations working on various causes. This move is part of TikTok's effort to support a wide range of creators, such as those from Black, Latin American, and ANHPI communities, educators, and environmental activists, among others.
This latest program could have significant benefits for TikTok's image, particularly in the US, where the company is facing the prospect of being forced to sell to American owners. By showcasing the positive change generated through its platform, TikTok aims to strengthen its position in the ongoing legal disputes surrounding its operation in the US. Even though amplifying positive, educational content is something that's also emphasized on TikTok's Chinese counterpart, Douyin, the global impacts and initiatives like Change Makers underscore the platform's broader commitments to social good.
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In a move that's stirring up some controversy, X is rolling out a new feature where your likes on posts will become private. This change, initially spotted by X News Daily, is meant to give users the freedom to like content without worrying who might see or judge their interests. X engineer Haofei Wang mentioned that hiding likes could prevent users from feeling discouraged when interacting with content they find interesting but may be considered "edgy" or controversial.
This update isn't just about privacy; there's also an algorithmic angle. X hopes that by privately liking more posts, users will feed the platform's "For you" algorithm better signals, which could lead to more personalized and engaging content. However, this raises concerns. Critics argue that it might serve as a blanket of invisibility, encouraging users to engage more with controversial or harmful content. There’s also a worry that it might amplify such content more broadly on the platform due to algorithmic reach.
Previously, X made the hiding of likes an exclusive feature for paying users, and with Elon Musk at the helm, who himself has faced criticism for liking contentious content, this broader roll-out doesn't come as a complete surprise.
For further clarity on the update, here are a few points regarding the changes to the like feature on X:
- Users can still see who liked their own posts.
- The total number of likes is visible on all posts and replies.
- However, you can't see who liked someone else's post.
- The 'Liked' tab on user profiles will not be visible to others.
The conversation surrounding these changes is complex, focusing on user privacy versus the potential for algorithmically amplifying controversial content. It also touches on the broader implications for the kind of content that becomes more prevalent on the platform due to these behind-the-scenes like patterns.
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That's a wrap on today's episode of Creator Daily. I'm your host, Michael, and I want to thank you all for tuning in and joining the conversation on the latest in the creator universe.