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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making its way into the creative industries, generating everything from visual art to music and even literature. Tools like OpenAI’s DALL-E and JukeBox are offering artists and creators new areas to explore. But with these advancements, the question arises: Does AI enhance creativity, or does it risk replacing the unique qualities of human artistry?

In today’s day and age, AI has taken over lots of industries and made it so much easier and more efficient to do ones job. The same can be said for the creative industries. For example, DALL-E creates detailed images from simple text descriptions, allowing users to visualize their ideas practically in an instant. Similarly, JukeBox composes music by mimicking styles of different musicians, creating new songs that sound like they have been composed by certain artists (OpenAI, 2023). These tools offer exciting possibilities for artists, enabling rapid prototyping, experimentation with new styles, and creative exploration.

However, the rise of AI in creative fields also brings concern. It sparks the question if AI-generated art can bring emotion and depth or if that is something that only human experience can bring in traditional artwork. A different perspective came from a study done by the University of Vienna shows that, contrary to popular belief, people actually do perceive emotions and intentions with art that was generated by a computer (Demmer et al., 2023). 

There is also concern that AI could replace human artists, especially in fields like graphic design, stock photography, or music production. These are fields where AI can generate work in just a fraction of time and for much cheaper. Specifically stock images, marketing materials and generic mass-produced works are sectors that are most likely to take a hit (Tremayne-Pengelly, 2023). In marketing, for example, companies are increasingly using AI-generated content for campaigns. That leaves the worry that AI will lead to job displacement for many creators, as AI is able to generate logos, designs and music so quickly.

I think that rather than viewing AI as a threat, it should be seen as a tool that artists can use to lift their creativity. Just like the fact that digital cameras and phone cameras didn’t eliminate paintings, AI should also be used in a way to complement human creativity, not replace it. 

References

Demmer, T. R., Kühnapfel, C., Fingerhut, J., & Pelowski, M. (2023). Does an emotional connection to art really require a human artist? Emotion and intentionality responses to AI- versus human-created art and impact on aesthetic experience. Computers in Human Behavior, 148, 107875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107875

OpenAI. (2023). DALL·E: Creating Images from Text. OpenAI. https://openai.com/dall-e-2

Tremayne-Pengelly, A. (2023, 31 augustus). Will A.I. replace artists? Some art insiders think so. Observer. https://observer.com/2023/06/will-a-i-replace-artists-some-art-insiders-think-so/

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Artificial intelligence can benefit people in many ways: including health care, legal consultation, and education, but its applications are not always positive for everyone. According to recent news from British bank Starling, they warned that ‘millions’ of people could fall victim because of voice cloning.

Imagine that you post a five-second video on Instagram, but it is enough for the scammers to use AI to generate your voice. They will call your close family or friends to ask for money as your identity. Starling Bank surveyed with Mortar Research and it showed that 46% of respondents did not even know this kind of scam exists. 8% of people will do as the scammers said and transfer as much money as possible. More than one-fourth of people claimed that they had been targeted by this kind of scam during this year.

AI-generated voice can be made convincing by technology like OpenAI’s Voice Engine. It can be designed to enhance the quality of customer service. However good intentions do not always result in good outcomes. When the technology develops, criminals will also develop new ideas to use this technology in their favor.

Have you guys watched ‘Black Mirror’? In my opinion, as AI technology develops, it will penetrate and complicate people’s lives. There is an episode ‘Be Right Back’ about AI simulation for people’s dead loved ones. A girl’s boyfriend died in a car accident, and an AI company provides a service to simulate his voice, ways of thinking, and even body. They seem to live together just like before, but it is never the same person, right?

Question: Do you think the benefit of AI weighs more than its negative effects? How can we cooperate with challenges like this scam? How can we balance innovation with ethical problems?

Source : https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/18/tech/ai-voice-cloning-scam-warning/index.html

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In football’s long history, something big happened during a friendly match between Italy and France on September 1, 2016: the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Soon after, the first official match using VAR took place on September 21, 2016, when Ajax faced Willem II in the KNVB Cup. Major leagues watched closely and by the 2017-2018 season, the German Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A had adopted VAR. Spain’s La Liga and France’s Ligue 1 followed one year later in the 2018-2019 season, and in the 2019-2020 season, the Premier League, the wealthiest competition in football, implemented VAR as well (Nag, n.d.).

The Impact of VAR

Since the introduction of VAR, it has served its goal of making the game fairer. A study by Spitz et al. (2021) examined the impact of VAR on referees’ decision accuracy by comparing referees’ first and final decisions after VAR interventions. Results showed that referees’ accuracy improved from 92.1% to 98.3%. Furthermore, Carlos et al. (2019) found that VAR led to more accurate decisions and a decreased number of fouls, offsides, and yellow cards.

However, despite these improvements, not everyone seems to be a fan of VAR. VAR has faced growing criticism as it disrupts the free-flowing nature of football, one of the key reasons that football is the world’s most popular sport. Unlike stop-start games such as in the NBA or NFL, football is continuous in its essence (Euronews, 2022). Unfortunately, the introduction of VAR has resulted in more stoppages and delays in professional football, with referees often having to wait for decisions to be made by VAR officials far away from the stadium (Euronews, 2022). These interruptions have frustrated fans. In last season’s Premier League, the average VAR interruption took 64 seconds, extending the average game length to 102 minutes. In some cases, such as in a game between West Ham and Aston Villa, VAR took as long as 5 minutes and 37 seconds to disallow a goal (The Guardian, 2024).

The Future of VAR: Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SOAT)

This dissatisfaction has been listened to. For the 2024-2025 season, the Premier League plans to introduce a new and revolutionary version of VAR, using semi-automated offside technology (SOAT). Developed by Genius Sports, SOAT is an AI-powered system which will use 28 computer vision cameras in every stadium (The Guardian, 2024; Premier League, 2024). These cameras will capture 10,000 surface data points for the ball and each player, which allows Genius to immediately create so-called “offside walls” for VAR to use. The Premier League expects SOAT to reduce the average time for offside decisions by over 30 seconds (Premier League, 2024). Additionally, SOAT allows for 3D player graphics so that these can be shown on television, significantly improving experience and fan engagement for fans both at home and in the stadium.

In conclusion, the evolution of VAR technology in football reflects both the sport’s commitment to fairness and the challenges of maintaining its beloved flow. As fans express frustrations over delays and disruptions caused by VAR reviews, there is hope that innovations like AI-driven SOAT will bridge this gap. With quicker, more transparent decision-making and enhanced in-stadium experiences, AI has the potential to make VAR a tool that both referees and fans can embrace. As football continues to evolve, the role of AI may be crucial in ensuring that technology enhances rather than detracts from the passion and excitement that define the beautiful game.

SOAT was expected to be ready for use after one of the autumn international breaks during the 2024-2025 Premier League season. With the first break now behind us, the time has come to see if SOAT delivers on its promise.

References

Carlos, L. P., Ezequiel, R. & Anton, K. (2019). How does Video Assistant Referee (VAR) modify the game in elite soccer? International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 19(4), 646-653. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2019.1646521

Euronews. (2022, February 3). VAR: Has it improved football or has it made it worse? Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/2022/02/03/var-has-it-improved-football-or-has-it-made-it-worse

Nag, U. (n.d.). What is VAR in football?. Olympics.com. https://olympics.com/en/news/what-is-var-in-football

Premier League. (2024, August 14). What’s new in 2024/25: Semi-automated offsides. Premier League. https://www.premierleague.com/news/4082349

Spitz, J., Wagemans, J., Memmert, D., Williams, A. M., & Helsen, W. F. (2020). Video assistant referees (VAR): The impact of technology on decision making in association football referees. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(2), 147-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1809163

The Guardian. (2024, August 13). Premier League to introduce revolutionary camera system to aid VAR process. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/aug/13/premier-league-to-introduce-revolutionary-camera-system-to-aid-var-process

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Augmented Reality (AR) is reshaping the way we learn, shop and even experience entertainment. AR creates a new way of how we interact with the world around us by blending digital content with our real physical surroundings. From virtual fitting rooms in the fashion industry to the new learning tools that revolutionize education (Bacca et al., 2014). AR is also transforming the way we navigate – whether you walk through a crowded city or drive on unfamiliar roads. AR-based navigation tools make it easier, and even more important, also safer to move through different environments.  

A perfect example of the use of AR in navigation is Google Maps’ AR walking directions. This initiative uses overlayed arrows and street names in the real-world view that is captured by the camera of our phones. This feature makes navigation simpler by providing visual aspects to guide users in busy urban spaces for example. This function reduces the confusion that is often associated with traditional map interfaces (Google, 2023). Indoors, AR can also make an impact in the way we navigate. Blippar’s AR navigation helps users to find their way through complex indoor spaces like malls or airports. It overlays digital directions on our smartphone screens (Blippar, 2023). This technology is particularly useful in environments where traditional GPS signals are weaker. 

In the automotive world, the company WayRay used AR head-up displays (HUDs). These systems can project navigational information directly onto the windshield of a vehicle. This allows drivers to receive direction instructions without diverting their attention from the road. WayRay uses holographic optical elements (HOEs) in their displays, these can handle complex optical tasks while staying thin, clear, and flexible enough to fit curved surfaces like windshields (WayRay, 2023). This innovation improves safety by reducing distractions. This can make AR navigation more integrated and intuitive. 

As AR technology advances, we can expect to see even more immersive and hands-free navigation experiences in the future, such as AR glasses that guide users in real time (Billinghurst et al., 2015). While there are still quite some challenges, like data accuracy and user adoption, AR will undoubtedly lead the next evolution of navigation.  

References 

Bacca, J., Baldiris, S., Fabregat, R., Graf, S., & Kinshuk. (2014). Augmented reality trends in education: A systematic review of research and applications. Educational Technology & Society, 17(4), 133-149. https://www.jstor.org/stable/jeductechsoci.17.4.133 

Billinghurst, M., Clark, A., & Lee, G. (2015). A survey of augmented reality. Foundations and Trends in Human-Computer Interaction, 8(2-3), 73-272. https://doi.org/10.1561/1100000049 

Blippar. (2023). AR indoor navigation. Retrieved from https://www.blippar.com 

Google. (2023). Google Maps AR walking directions. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/maps 

Huang, B. C., Hsu, J., Chu, E. T. H., & Wu, H. M. (2020). Arbin: Augmented reality based indoor navigation system. Sensors, 20(20), 5890. 

Narzt, W., Pomberger, G., Ferscha, A., Kolb, D., Müller, R., Wieghardt, J., … & Lindinger, C. (2006). Augmented reality navigation systems. Universal Access in the Information Society, 4, 177-187. 

WayRay. (2023). AR head-up displays for cars. Retrieved from https://www.wayray.com 

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I have always been someone who is comfortable with technology and therefore have witnessed how digital technology has been evolving rapidly, I find it astonishing how digital invention has become the foundation of advancement in the modern age. But why do we need this precisely? Why do we need something that might replace us in our jobs? 

Last summer, I got in a situation where I was not able to move out of a small city because my car broke down on the way out. In previous years, one would think that nightmares were only found in movies – getting caught in an alien land with no clue on how to contact a mechanic for his mitts. Running up crazy figures in a towing bill was the least of one’s worries. However looking back, innovation in the digital ways changed that for me and I viewed it as a small problem.

In a matter of minutes after pulling out my smartphone, I have:

1. Used Google Maps and searched for the local mechanics
2. Read the reviews of other people in order to determine that one is trustworthy
3. Clicked on the call button on the shop’s website
4. Provided my current location to the mechanic
5. Ordered a rideshare for me to go to a nearby café while I wait

This real life example shows well what this need for digital evolutions is all about. It’s not only about more or less exaggerated gadgets or higher internet speeds – it is about addressing issues of real importance and improving our quality of life in some practical manner.

The revolution in technology has shattered brick walls, made the restricted knowledge accessible to all, and brought people in the most unthought of ways. It makes us more productive, better informed and more flexible while dealing with rising difficulties.

In addition, to speak more broadly, digital innovations play a fundamental role in finding solutions for the world challenges. From advancing IT technologies to reduce the rates of climate change, to focusing on using AI in medical science to find diseases and their cures – the abundance for cause-and-effect is vast (Teja Reddy & Gatla Sr. Data Scientist, 2019).

Yet it may be worth reminding that although power can achieve an extraordinary change it is also coupled with responsibility. While striving for new levels of digital advancement, there are also challenges like data security, digital inequality, censorship and the morality of future technologies that will need to be tackled (M. Dionisio et al., 2023).

All in all, there is a need for digital innovation as it has the ability to change the way we live and solve more than one of the greatest problems known to humankind. Digital innovation is such that I have experienced its gains and therefore its future I am looking forward to where it will reach next. The world is ok for the future it is just that the people will have to be flexible and civilised in the way they embrace and use the latest technologies.

References:

Dionisio, M., de Souza Junior, S. J., Paula, F., & Pellanda, P. C. (2024). The role of digital social innovations to address SDGs: A systematic review. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 26(3), 5709-5734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03038-x

Gatla, T. R. (2019). A cutting-edge research on AI combating climate change: Innovations and its impacts. INNOVATIONS, 6(09).