As AI continues to integrate into our everyday lives, how does it impact our creativity? Many researchers and scholars agree that the technology may promote significant opportunities in this space. By introducing novel ideas and opportunities to users, it may be most effective as a tool to augment, rather than replace, human creativity.
Many museums have gravitated towards utilizing XR (VR, AR, or other extended reality modes) in numerous ways to enhance visitor experience. While there are successful ways to support visitor experience, it is possible that XR can have negative impacts. This article explores case studies of two museums who have integrated XR into their exhibitions: the Cleveland Museum of Art and Illinois Holocaust Museum, discusses the positive and negative facets of these technologies on visitor experience, and analyzes implications for the arts field.
Major breakthroughs in the markets for art, books, and fashion arrive perfectly timed for the holiday season. Tech innovations demonstrate their ability to reshape markets and incentivize commerce across digital economies. From fine art to rare fashion finds, tech is redefining how we navigate digital art and cultural commerce. Read on to learn how you might make your next purchase with the help of artificial intelligence or the blockchain.
As the video game industry continues to grow, Hollywood studios are capitalizing on this intellectual property (IP) success through film and television adaptations. Students from Heinz College’s Master of Entertainment Industry Management program sought to better understand the current market for these adaptations. In Part II, see what film and video game executives consider to make an adaptation successful. Additionally, through a survey of gamers and non-gamers, learn what potential audiences prefer to see.
Colonialism has consistently been a force in the global purview, including the technological space. In recent years, the expansion of artificial intelligence has vastly increased corporations’ global influence. As the world’s technologies continue to advance and innovate, individuals must keep a watchful eye on the ways in which digital colonialism might repeat harmful practices from the past.
Cryptocurrency has the potential to and is already beginning to disrupt philanthropy and the ways that nonprofit organizations collect donations. In previous eras, philanthropic innovation was spurred by “new sources of wealth,” as with John D. Rockefeller creating America’s first foundation or Bill and Melinda Gates translating his immense success in the tech revolution into global philanthropic influence in areas of “poverty, disease, and equity.” Similarly the emergence of a new class of “crypto-elite[s]” has the potential to disrupt traditional methods of philanthropy. Now, as blockchain technology and its myriad applications become more mainstream and our society becomes more crypto-curious, nonprofit organizations have an opportunity to adapt by incorporating cryptocurrency and its various tokens into their fundraising strategies.
The cryptocurrency market is in turmoil, mirroring both the U.S. stock market and the emotional state of many of its citizens. Though some crypto investors have found astronomical financial success, skeptics have long voiced concerns about the volatility and inherent peril of pursuing such investments. These naysayers have ground to stand on given the instability of Spring 2022, as more than “$700 billion has been wiped out” from the crypto-economy, entire currencies have collapsed, and related companies and market exchanges are scrambling in response to the downturn.
Deemed as a white, male-dominated space, many female artists and celebrities have voiced their enthusiasm for inviting more women into the Web3 movement. While many NFT projects focus on education, philanthropy, and providing visibility for women creators, some have been criticized for using social justice issues as selling points, undermining their risks and actual contribution to the cause. Is NFT an outlet for women to express and achieve financial independence, or is it another “tokenizing” marketing gimmick to exploit female audiences? What are some of the risks and opportunities with “pinkwashing” the NFT market?
In recent years, the advancement of cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based technologies has led to increased exploitation from criminals. From “pump and dump” scams to cybercrimes, the rapid rise of digital assets has raised questions about their exploitation by criminals to launder money and commit fraud in untraceable and anonymous ways. Lawmakers and regulators have been trying to figure out ways to combat the threats that the growing sector imposes. On February 17, 2022, the Department of Justice announced its new National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) appointing Eun Young Choi as director. Many argue that the NCET and the FBI’s Virtual Asset Exploitation Unit that launched on February 18, 2022 signals more crackdowns on the crypto industry. As the possibility of regulations looms, what are some of the effects it may bring to the crypto and NFT markets? This article explores what some may look like.
There is ongoing legal debate around Quentin Tarantino's latest project, an exclusive behind-the-scenes NFT collection based on the 1994 Miramax blockbuster hit "Pulp Fiction," published in December 2021 on Opensea by SCRT Labs. A California lawsuit will determine whether Tarantino's plan is too cavalier, and whether Miramax should receive a cut of the sale. Today’s NFT world is governed by crude and antiquated laws surrounding copyright and trademark ownership. Hopefully this lawsuit establishes new legal boundaries and guidelines for future cases. In the meantime, NFT collectors should stay wary of ambiguous claims and unclear terms.
Streaming technology in the last decade has rebuilt the structure of film revenue models. Motion pictures now earn revenue through a network of internet-based over-the-top (OTT) content distributors, reaching worldwide audiences by partnering with multiple streaming platforms. More recently, the Covid-era decline in theatrical film distribution has led to a purely OTT distribution model, and a complete reliance on internet-based revenue. In the future, advancements in blockchain technology are expected to disrupt and further redesign the film distribution waterfall. Ambitious filmmakers should have a clear understanding of how revenue distribution waterfalls work before they tackle a blockchain-based film production.
As innovation using blockchain continues in 2020, we are looking back at all the research our contributors have done around blockchain and its applications in the arts sector, including fundraising, contracts, and auctions. Let AMT Lab know if there are more blockchain topics you would like to see covered or if you are using blockchain or cryptocurrency in novel ways in your organization.
