Reclamation and Algorithmic Defiance
"The Internet is hungry for the meanest kind of funny and somebody's gotta feed it."
Loewe and On's collaboration defies traditional branding rules with a daring hybrid logo; Mubi secures Andrea Arnold's "Bird" for North America after its Cannes triumph; Canva expands into office suites, hoping to simplify your work life; OpenAI inks big deals to supercharge ChatGPT; Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ embrace ads, shaking up streaming; Ted Sarandos argues Netflix could make "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" just as big; AI’s potential to combat loneliness sparks debate; and frustrated Spotify users are empowered to regain control of their streaming experience.
Loewe and On’s new hybrid logo proves brand rules are meant to be broken, Fast Company
Loewe and On have collaborated on a capsule collection, featuring a hybrid logo that merges Loewe's luxurious monogram with On's minimalist style. This bold move challenges traditional branding rules and has sparked industry debate. Joanne Chan, global CEO of Turner Duckworth, criticizes the design, saying, "It makes the anagram kind of illegible, and it’s two logos that have a very different look and feel to them." This innovative approach signifies a new era in brand partnerships, showcasing both the potential and challenges of logo fusion.
Mubi Swoops on Andrea Arnold’s Cannes Competition Entry ‘Bird’ for North America (EXCLUSIVE), Variety
Mubi has secured the North American and Turkish rights to Andrea Arnold's "Bird," starring Barry Keoghan and Franz Rogowski, after previously acquiring rights for the U.K. and Ireland. The film, praised for its blend of social realism and fantasy, received a "seven-minute standing ovation" at its Cannes premiere. Arnold's film, which marks her return to fiction since 2016's "American Honey," is set for further release details soon.
Canva tackled digital design — and now the office suite is next, The Verge
Canva is launching significant updates to enhance its platform for professional use, including a redesigned interface and a new Enterprise tier focused on collaboration and brand management. Co-founder Cameron Adams states the goal is to reduce "organizational complexity and 'app sprawl,'" aiming to streamline design and workflow tools into a single service. Availability begins today for the first million users.
Here are the companies OpenAI has made deals with to train ChatGPT, Fast Company
OpenAI has secured content deals with major publishers such as News Corp, Reddit, and The Associated Press to train its AI, ChatGPT. These partnerships aim to enhance AI capabilities amidst challenges like copyright issues and data biases. As Chris Morris notes, "With the stroke of a pen, ChatGPT and the company’s other services added the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, MarketWatch, Barron’s, and other publications to its database," highlighting the scale and impact of these agreements.
What Happened to Our Ad-Free TV?, The New York Times
Streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ are increasingly incorporating ads to cope with financial pressures. Despite their original promise of ad-free viewing, these platforms now offer lower-priced, ad-supported tiers. As Brian Wieser, an industry analyst, notes, there are now "at least 170 million ad-supported subscriptions" in the U.S., highlighting the shift toward commercial content in streaming.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos contends that blockbuster films like "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" could have attracted equally large audiences on Netflix as they did in theaters, disputing the notion that larger screens enhance film quality. Sarandos asserts, "There is no reason to believe that the movie itself is better on any size screen for everyone," highlighting the changing dynamics of film consumption. He suggests that Netflix's blend of licensed and original content continues to captivate global audiences effectively.
Could AI help cure ‘downward spiral’ of human loneliness?, The Guardian
Professor Tony Prescott advocates for AI as a potential remedy for loneliness, suggesting it can help people develop social skills and maintain self-worth. He states, "There may be ways in which AI companionship could help break this cycle by scaffolding feelings of self-worth and helping maintain or improve social skills." However, experts like Sherry Turkle caution that relying on AI might weaken human connections. The debate is highlighted by the development of increasingly sophisticated chatbots, like OpenAI's GPT-4o.
Spotify Hates Albums. Here’s How to Fix That, Wired
"Spotify seems to always be fighting me on this," Justin Pot remarks, voicing a common frustration among users who prefer listening to full albums rather than algorithmic playlists. He offers several solutions to improve the album listening experience on Spotify: disable autoplay to prevent unrelated tracks after an album ends, play albums sequentially by the same artist, and use keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation. Pot also suggests exploring user-curated playlists to discover new music outside of Spotify's algorithm, offering a more personalized listening experience.
Recommended watch for a good week: