Tag Archives: AI Tools

Google Just Created An AI That Makes Videos And The World Will Never Be The Same

In recent years, it has become routine for tech companies to overhype up their latest artificial intelligence technology. Ever since the rise of ChatGPT, the market for this technology has expanded faster than anything I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. It’s not unreasonable to surmise that AI will be a multi-trillion-dollar industry in the coming decades.

But I’m also old enough to remember the dot-com bubble. I haven’t forgotten what happens when hype exceeds capabilities. And, as remarkable as these emerging AI systems are, their capabilities are still limited. Whether it’s large language models or image generators, these AI systems are a long way from becoming Skynet. They’re certainly part of the ongoing development to create Artificial General Intelligence, but that leap is not imminent. That would be like jumping from rotary phones to iPhones.

However, AI is different from the dot-com bubble or any other overhyped product for that matter. I’ve said before that AI has the potential to change the world in ways we literally cannot imagine. That potential is far from being realized, but there’s a good chance people my age will live long enough to see it play out.

Well, recently a bit more of that potential was realized. Google, a company that is very active in the development of AI, released a new generative AI tool called Veo3. Like other generative AI tools, this particular tool specializes in creating full videos from text prompts. It’s not the first tool of its kind. However, based on some of the videos that have come out from Veo3, it’s definitely a step forward in terms of quality. If you need proof, check these videos out.

Remember, the content in this video is entirely AI. It never happened.

I’m not gonna lie. I did not expect these videos to look this realistic. With other AI video generators, you can usually tell it’s not real. Between the glitchy movements and the uncanny valley effect, not many people would mistake those videos as real.

But Veo3 has taken it to another level. If I didn’t know ahead of time that this content was fake, I might have just shrugged and accepted it. And that’s a major threshold that we cannot uncross with this technology. Because when it suddenly becomes possible to create videos that look as real as anything taken in real life, how can we trust any video?

Make no mistake. This won’t just be used to flood the internet with advertisements and mindless entertainment. Someone is going to use this technology maliciously. There’s a good chance someone is already doing so as we speak.

At this very moment, you can use Veo3. It is expensive, as many advanced AI tools tend to be. But if you’re determined to make a certain video for a certain purpose, be it malicious or altruistic, is $250 really that high a price? I know people who have spent more on skins in Fortnite.

And Veo3 is not the apex of generative AI. It’s going to keep improving. The incentives are too strong. Google might have the best video generator now, but other multi-billion-dollar companies who want a piece of that AI market will fight to take that title.

Maybe OpenAI will upgrade Sora.

Maybe Microsoft will upgrade its Copilot AI.

Maybe a company like Apple will make a big leap, just like they did with smartphones years ago.

But no matter which company makes the next best AI video generator, the technology will improve. It’s going to become increasingly difficult to tell when something is real or fake. There are likely going to be laws and policies that attempt to regulate this kind of AI. But governments have been historically slow at keeping up with technology. And the advancement of AI is likely to accelerate.

I certainly don’t claim to know what kind of impact Veo3 will have in the short-term. I already make YouTube videos on my own. Will my kind of content become obsolete or unable to compete? Will video sites everywhere become overwhelmed or bloated because of content generated by Veo3?

Then, there’s the long-term impact. What happens to major studios once this technology allows them to make movies and shows faster, cheaper, and without paying actual people? That’s an issue I once thought was decades away. Now, it might be relevant within a few years.

Only time will tell what sort of changes this technology will incur. But if what Veo3 has demonstrated is any indication, these changes are coming a lot sooner than expected.

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My Experience (And Plans) Using AI Writing Tools

Since I started this website, I wanted it to act as a hub for my writing, particularly my novels and my sexy short stories. I still want this site to serve that purpose. I see from the regular traffic this site gets that my sexy short stories do have an audience. And I’d like to continue providing that audience with new content, even if my efforts to write larger novels have stalled.

Now, if you’ve been following me over the years, you might have realized I haven’t been putting out as much writing as I used to. For that, I apologize. I promise, there are reasons for that, some of which are personal and prefer not to share. Others simply amount to lacking time and energy.

And once I started my YouTube channel, Jack’s World, my time and energy became even more divided. My channel has actually grown faster than expected, having eclipsed 1,000 subscribers in late 2023. And the videos I make for my YouTube channel generate considerably greater traffic than most of the content I put on this website. As such, expect me to continue giving my YouTube channel priority.

However, I still want to make time for writing sexy short stories. I don’t want to completely abandon that audience. It has just been incredibly difficult to make time to write those stories. And making that time has become even more difficult with each passing month, it seems.

Then, I discovered some new AI tools that could possibly help with that. And after spending the past month experimenting with them, I’d like to share my experience. I’d also like to present a disclaimer of sorts so that those who look forward to my sexy short stories aren’t caught completely off-guard.

Now, if you’ve been following me for any length of time, you probably know I have a keen interest in artificial intelligence and its many implications. Recently, that interest became a lot more real with the mainstreaming of major AI tools like ChatGPT. Like many others, I’ve experimented with ChatGPT and many other tools. It’s been quite an experience. But for the most part, I haven’t really found a use for them beyond simple novelty.

That changed when I discovered some AI tools that specialize in helping people write. These tools aren’t just spelling and grammar checkers like Grammarly. They actually “read” what you wrote and attempt to complete the next few sentences using a model similar to those like ChatGPT. The main difference is that this AI is calibrated to help with writing.

It may sound like a fancier version of autocorrect. I promise you it’s much more than that. I know because in using it, I found it to be surprisingly helpful. It didn’t just supplement my usual writing. It felt like having a personal assistant who understood what I was trying to do and offering unlimited suggestions or ideas whenever I asked.

The AI tool I used in this case was called NovelAI. It’s actually not the best or most well-known AI of its kind. I picked it largely because it was one of the first tools I discovered and it was relatively cheap to experiment with. I only paid for one month of premium use.

But within that month, I actually managed to write more short stories than I had in the previous 10 months. On top of that, I did those over the course of the holidays, a good chunk of which I was both busy and very sick. So, I probably could’ve written a lot more. But overall, I was impressed by what NovelAI allowed me to do.

In terms of actually using it, this actually took some adjusting. This AI program, and others like it, aren’t some magical computer programs in which you could just write a few sentences and have it write 5,000 words with ease to complete it. That’s not how they work. You, the writer, still have to get things going. You still have to establish the characters, setting, and tone.

For me, that usually meant writing three to six paragraphs to get the story started. That part rarely took more than a half-hour. But once I got that setup in place, the AI really helped accelerate the rest. From there, just pushing a button got the AI to spit out several sentences. Sometimes, they were good. Sometimes, they were not. Sometimes, it was complete gibberish.

But that’s actually not a bad thing. Because, like most programs, the more you use it, the better you get at maximizing its strengths. On top of that, the AI gets better at recognizing and adapting to your style. NovelAI even has various settings you can adjust to get different kinds of output. It took a few days of experimenting to get a feel for it. But once I did, I got into a great rhythm.

I managed to churn out multiple short stories in a fraction of the time it usually took me. Even with the complications of the holidays and being sick, I managed to craft over two dozen short stories. I’ll be sharing some of them in the coming weeks and months. I’ll be sure to disclose in the beginning that an AI helped me write them. But I’ll be very interested in seeing the response I get.

If the response is negative, then I’ll certainly take that into consideration with how I plan future short stories. But if it’s positive, then I’ll continue experimenting with other writing AI programs. As good as NovelAI was, it’s not the most well-known or well-regarded writing AI. Later this year, once I assess the impact of the stories I’ve written, I’ll try using another and see if that works better.

I’m also aware that there are those out there who don’t like anything made by AI on principle. Some of my friends and relatives have those views. To them, as well as anyone else who shares that sentiment, I only ask that you keep an open mind. The AI I used did not write these stories for me. I wrote large chunks of it. It just helped me fill in the details in way that saved me time and energy. It supplemented my creative efforts. It did not usurp them.

And if, in the end, the result is still a good, enjoyable story, then I think that made this experience worthwhile. It’s an experience I think many others will explore as AI becomes more advanced and more mainstream. In time, maybe I’ll use it to help me write another novel. Whether or not it ends up being good remains to be seen.

For now, only time will tell. I have plenty of more stories I’d like to tell and if AI helps me get them out there, then I genuinely think that’s a good thing.

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My Thoughts, Opinions, And (Mixed) Feelings About AI Art

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video explores my thoughts, feelings, and overall sentiments surrounding AI art. You might have noticed that some of my more recent videos have been incorporating more AI art lately. I do so with the understanding there is a fair amount of controversy and concern surrounding this technology. I do my best to address that while offering what I hope is a balanced perspective on AI art and the use of generative AI. Enjoy!

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Napster, Generative AI, And How The Internet’s Past May Define Its Future

This is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.

This video explores a major chapter in the history of the internet to help inform what may lay ahead for the future. And for those of a certain demographic, one of the most disruptive programs during the early days of the internet was Napster.

This famous/infamous program completely upended the music industry. It also triggered lawsuits and upheavals from which the industry has never recovered. How it all played out was complicated, but the end result set a precedent that has helped shape the course of the internet.

Now, with the rise of generative AI, a similar predicament is playing out. And we would all be wise to heed the lessons learned from Napster.

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An AI-Generated Comic Was Denied Copyright Protection (And Why That’s A Big Deal)

Every now and then, a story slips under the radar of a much larger, but closely related story. The larger story makes more headlines and attracts more attention, but the smaller story might end up having a far more lasting impact.

That seems to be happening a lot with news involving artificial intelligence and the various AI tools that have emerged in recent years. I’ve already talked about plenty, giving my opinion on the rise of ChatGPT and showing off some AI-Generated artwork I made. There’s so much going on in this field that it’s hard to keep up with, let alone discuss.

But recently, one of those little stories caught my attention. It involves the same AI-Generated art I mentioned earlier and comic books, something for which I’ve shared my passion for in many forms. And it’s a story that I don’t think is getting enough attention.

It has to do with a comic called Zarya of the Dawn, a comic created by Kris Kashtanova. It’s not published by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, or any other mainstream comic publisher. You can actually download it right now for free. But what makes this comic different isn’t the story, writing, or style. It’s how it was made.

This comic was written by a person.

However, all the artwork inside was created with AI-generating art tools, most notably MidJourney.

That, in and of itself, is quite remarkable. The visuals within this book are certainly eye-catching. They might not rank on the same level as a Jim Lee or a Jack Kirby, but it’s a solid visual spectacle that brings to life a story.

For people like me, who cannot draw and don’t have the money to pay artists to depict the stories we want to tell, this is truly remarkable. I would go so far as to say it’s genuinely exciting. It shows just what’s possible with these tools. A writer with no drawing skills was able to produce this comic using only an AI art generating tool with text prompts. And the end result is stunning.

But this is where the story takes a turn. When Kashtanova attempted to copyright this comic, the US Copyright Office issued a surprising decision that might very well set a major precedent moving forward. Because the comic used AI to create the artwork, it could not be granted copyright protection. This was the exact statement, according to Ars Technica:

“We conclude that Ms. Kashtanova is the author of the Work’s text as well as the selection, coordination, and arrangement of the Work’s written and visual elements. That authorship is protected by copyright. However, as discussed below, the images in the Work that were generated by the Midjourney technology are not the product of human authorship.”

That bolded part is my doing because that’s the section with the biggest implication. This is the US Copyright Office stating outright that images and artwork created by AI can’t get copyright protection. That means that every piece of AI art you create for whatever reason can’t be owned by you in any legal sense. Because technically, you didn’t make it. The program made it for you.

Without getting too deep into the legal issues, I don’t think enough people realize the ramifications this might have for the future of the comics industry and for the art industry as a whole. On the comics side, there are actually two sides to consider.

On one, this technology will allow ordinary people with little to no art skills to produce comics with quality artwork. People who never once had the skills or means to make comics could suddenly start producing them on their own without a publisher or a skilled artist.

That means many great comics that wouldn’t have otherwise been made can be made. Great stories that once only existed with words could be brought to life through beautiful renderings.

But on the other side, the absence of copyright protection is an issue. Yes, these comics could bring to life amazing stories. However, the creators won’t be able to monetize their work, nor would they be able to stop others from using it for their own ends.

That means that, in theory, you or I could create a beautiful comic with this technology. It could find a massive audience and become a beloved story with countless fans. Then, a big company like Disney or Warner Brothers could come in, take the story and the depictions, and basically turn it into their own entertainment product. And since they have more resources and better lawyers, the creators likely wouldn’t get a penny of the profits.

This story also doesn’t account for how those same companies might use this technology to further undercut their workers and creators. Comic companies already have a not-so-great reputation for screwing over writers and artists who create iconic characters. Just look at what happened between Jack Kirby and Marvel for a hint of those issues.

If these same companies can use this same AI technology to produce more comics while not having to pay their artists or writers as much, they will do it. They’re a business. They’ll jump at any chance to pay less to get more. It’s cold, callous, and uncreative. But that’s the world we live in.

Add other tools like ChatGPT into the mix and it’s entirely possible that an AI could create an entire comic from scratch. And everything within it, from the art to the story to the characters, could not be copyrighted in any way. At a certain point, the AI might get so good that it would be hard to tell if there was ever a human creator to begin with.

These are all strange scenarios, equal parts exciting and distressing. We’re already seeing so much change as a result of these new tools, but I don’t think we’ve even seen a fraction of what’s possible. As AI technology improves, art generation and storytelling will change a great deal. The comics industry is more vulnerable than most, as Zarya of the Dawn just proved.

It’s hard to know what this will lead to. But whatever happens, it all started with this story and the precent it set.

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Some Helpful (And Mostly Free) AI Tools That Might Help You

I talk about artificial intelligence a lot, both on this site and on my YouTube channel. It’s not just because Artificial Intelligence has the potential to be one of the most important technologies that mankind will ever create. It’s a topic of genuine fascination for me. I’ve always been a fan of the science fiction stories that can be told about AI. I also have a keen interest in how it may ultimately impact the real world.

However, as much fun as it is to speculate on the future of artificial intelligence, it’s a bit more productive to understand what it can do for you right now. I feel like AI has become a lot more mainstream with the rise of programs like ChatGPT. It’s very likely that other programs like it will emerge in the coming years and be very disruptive to multiple industries.

Granted, these AI systems are nowhere close to becoming sentient like Skynet or Hal 9000. We honestly don’t know when we’ll reach a point where an artificial intelligence will be as sentient and as intelligent as an average human. But for the time being, there are a growing number of tools powered by AI that are helping people within multiple fields. I’ve used quite a few of them. I’ve even shared some of the work I’ve done with them. And I can use these tools, then anyone can.

So, in the spirit of exploring this new world AI is creating, I’ve created a brief list of current AI tools that I hope others might find useful in whatever it is they do. Whether it’s writing, graphic design, web development, cooking, or personal interaction, there’s probably an AI tool to help you. While these tools might be limited in their use at the moment, it’s likely just the early versions of something that’ll become much more refined in the future.

And if you have other AI tools you find useful, please share them in the comments.


Copy.AI – An AI-Powered Copywriting Program

Piggy To – An AI-Powered Program That Creates Small, Shareable Websites

Riffusion – An AI-Powered Music Generator That Creates Music From Simple Text Prompts

Midjourney – The Most Popular AI-Artwork Generator

Yoodli AI – An Interactive AI That Helps Improve Your Communication Skills

GymGenie – An AI That Helps Develop A Workout Program

Article Fiesta – An AI Tool That Helps You Create Articles For Websites And Blogs

MeetGeek – An AI Tool That Helps Record, Transcribe, And Summarize Meetings

ChefGPT – An AI Tool That Helps Develop New Recepies

Avatar AI – An AI That Helps Develop Digital Avatars

Natural Reeder – An AI Text-To-Speech Tool That Creates Natural Language Narration Audio

Cowriter – An AI Tool That Helps Improve Your Writing

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