The Unsocial Network📲🎦

👀 TLDR

In this week’s What’s Appening, we cover the upcoming launch of OpenAI’s Sora 2 video generator and its companion app, which will reportedly resemble TikTok but will only allow AI content generated from Sora. OpenAI has been ruffling feathers with Sora, contacting Hollywood studios to tell them they can use their content unless they expressly opt-out. We also have news on how AI firms are looking at world models ahead of LLMs, a farewell to Spotify founder Daniel Ek, discuss a mini-app builder on the Nothing Phone, and more!

🔥 Vibe & Validate with 3A: Workshop, Prototype and Roadmap in ONE Week 🔥

🎬 Our Top Take

📱📵 OpenAI – TikTok-Style Social Media App Is in the Works

It’s been a busy old week for OpenAI. It’s launched a bunch of those safety guardrails that probably should have been in place years ago, and it’s also finalized its “Buy It In ChatGPT” instant checkout tool, putting it in direct competition with Amazon and Google. But the most surprising news comes from an exclusive scoop from Wired, which reports that the company will launch a new social media platform with AI videos powered by its new Sora 2 video generator. The reports suggest it’s going to look something like TikTok. Comparisons to TikTok feel a little premature, even if ‘traditional’ social media companies took a hit on the stock market as the news was announced, as users won’t be able to upload their own videos and images from their phones. So, most are considering this more of a showcase app for Sora 2 rather than a full-blown social media network. Most of the focus on Sora 2 has gone to another area, though, as OpenAI has spent the last week (as per WSJ reporting) contacting entities like Hollywood studios to tell them that their intellectual property and content are fair game for Sora 2 (and the social app) unless they actively opt out. That’s not really how copyright law should work, as it is supposed to be based on getting permission first, but AI companies seem to be going for a “use first and wait for the lawsuit” approach. It’s a bold tactic, but they appear to be comfortable with it. #Sora2 Read more here.

📲 App of the Week: Neon

Now and again, we highlight an app not because we love it, but we want to draw your attention to it for other reasons. This week, it’s Neon, which came to our attention by reaching No.2 social app on the Apple App Store. Neon is an app that records users’ phone calls, paying users for their recordings, which Neon then sells to AI companies for model training. Now, apparently, they only record what opt-in Neon users say on the call, and not the potentially unknowing 3rd party on the other end of the line. That said, red flags are unsurprisingly being raised about what Neon is doing with the data. Now, we understand that some users won’t care about their privacy if they can make a few dollars (it pays up to $30 per day), but it is a reminder that any call might be recorded, and that voice-cloning is now easily possible (you’ve seen our Self Speak app, right?). Probably worth remembering this when you answer a call from obvious spammers… Anyway, find out more about Neon here, and for goodness sake, update your Phone settings in iOS17 to “Screen Unknown Callers”.

🧐 Stat of the Week: 3%

📈📉 MSTR - Michael Saylor’s Firm Now Owns Over 640K BTC

All the way back in July 2022, our Stat of the Week for What’s Appening covered Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy, which reached the milestone of 129,699 Bitcoin. Back then, we marveled at the fact that MicroStrategy owned 1 out of every 161 BTC that would ever exist. Just over three years later, Saylor has bought over 640,000, meaning he owns close to 3% of the supply, or 1 out of every 32 Bitcoin. It is an incredible strategy – one that looks smart now as Bitcoin sits north of $113,000 – but as with those heady days of July 2022, we wonder what the endgame is, and whether Saylor’s vision for Bitcoin matches that of its mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.

🗞️ Other Stories

📍 Meanwhile at 3Advance

1A Fest is back. On Saturday, Oct 11 from 2-6 pm, The Wharf’s District Pier in DC will host a free, family-friendly celebration of free expression – thanks to our friends at Freedom Forum. There will be live music, line dancing, activities for all ages, food, and 1A swag giveaways. It’s a simple but powerful reminder of the everyday freedoms we get to use – including the one that lets us send this very newsletter.