APRIL 2021: Unlocking New Possibilities in Art & AI

APRIL 2021: Unlocking New Possibilities in Art & AI And we discuss the future of trust View this email in your browser

Today — we’re seeing progress all around us. Steps forward in the journey toward a more just and inclusive society. Amazing work with our Media Lab members and student challenge participants. And buds on the trees, as spring is in the air.

In the weeks ahead, we’re going to explore NFTs, announce a big initiative with 5 amazing partners, and roll out our early summer Machines + Media event. But for now, enjoy the warm breeze and the hope it brings with it.

As always, if you have an idea you think we can help with we’re always glad to hear from you.

Steven Rosenbaum
Executive Director
NYC Media Lab
steve@nycmedialab.org NEW & NOTEWORTHY Teams Announced: NYC Media Lab x CHANEL Synthetic Media & Exploring the Future of Storytelling

Machine learning, GANs, computer vision, and other emerging tech are changing the way media is produced, distributed, and consumed. Within this ever-evolving landscape of new media and synthetic production, the application of algorithmically-generated media is an exciting area of innovation — an area that promises to streamline the creative process and unlock new possibilities at the intersection of art & AI.

NYC Media Lab and CHANEL have teamed up to launch an exploratory prototyping program for select teams of graduate students. The semester-long project is an open-ended exploration highlighting the creative potential of emerging tech which aims to answer the question: What’s possible now that wasn’t before?

More specifically, graduate student teams will explore how emerging synthetic media production might impact the future of storytelling, giving form and expression to early-stage concepts.

We’re thrilled to announce the following selected teams:

• Bigotis Fabra: Irene Font Peradejordi (Connective Media, Cornell Tech, Cornell University) and Victor Perez Muñoz (Art Breeder)
• SNAP MIL: Ziv Schneider (Columbia University, NYU) and Shirin Anlen (MIT)
• Clouds: Colleen Macklin, Jason Li, Emi Sato, and Anna Garbier (Parsons)
• IMUU: Weilu Ge (Creative Practice & Critical Inquiry, Harvard University) and Kelon Cen (IMUU)
• Team name TBD: Kevin He, Nick Boss, and Paul Baumgartner (ITP, NYU)

NYC Media Lab Explores “The Future of Trust” With Leading Experts

As tech creates an ever-growing avalanche of information, news consumers become news creators — and at scale. But where does that leave the concept of trust? Who do we believe? What sources are trustworthy? What’s the difference between news and information, and can the growing impact of AI create a new, more trustworthy environment to re-establish trust?

On April 14th, NYC Media Lab brought together leading experts to virtually explore “The Future of Trust”:

• Vasant Dhar, Professor at NYU Stern & Center for Data Science
• Amy Mitchell, Director of Journalism Research at PEW Research Center
• Richard Edelman, President & CEO of Edelman
• Janet Coats, Managing Director of the Consortium on Trust in Media & Technology at University of Florida College of Journalism & Communications

ICYMI, the full recording is now available on NYC Media Lab’s YouTube channel. “Tech + Storytelling” Full Playlist Now Available to Stream

Tech + Storytelling: Engaging the Immersive Future

Over the last month, we’ve been releasing short clips from our March 10th event “Technology + Storytelling: Engaging the Immersive Future.” Held in NYC Media Lab’s virtual Exploratorium (ahem, not Zoom), the 5-hour event brought together creators, filmmakers, and technologists who shared their cutting-edge methods of storytelling in 2021.

In case you missed it — or would like to refer back to some of your favorite immersive XR moments — we’re thrilled to report that the full event playlist is now available to stream on NYC Media Lab’s YouTube channel. Yes, this includes panels, fireside chats, and mind-bending, immersive demos. Stay Tuned: NYCML x ASCAP Immersive Music Studio Challenge

From games, holograms, and concerts to AR-based experiences, immersive and spatial technologies are unlocking new ways we compose, experience, and interact with music. With this in mind, NYC Media Lab has once again teamed up with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) to launch the Immersive Music Studio Challenge.

The challenge will encourage teams to explore one of the following guiding questions: How can emerging tech such as AR, VR, spatial audio, GANs, LiDAR, and avatars help us reimagine the experience of music? What’s possible now that wasn’t before? Final teams will be announced shortly — stay tuned!

Full SXSW Panel on “The Perils of De-Platforming” Now Available to Stream

SXSW panelists discuss “The Perils of De-Platforming” You may recall that back in March, NYCML Executive Director Steven Rosenbaum joined panelists Ben Smith (The New York Times), Kate Ruane (ACLU), Amarnath Amarasingam (Queen’s University), and Jillian York (Electronic Frontier Foundation) for a SXSW discussion on “The Perils of De-Platforming.”

Much was discussed during that timely and provocative panel — most notably AWS responsibility, the newly minted Facebook Oversight Board, and of course, Section 230 reform. The full recording is now available to stream via NYC Media Lab’s YouTube channel alongside pithy, thought-provoking soundbites. NYCML x New York Times R&D: Graduate Student AI Research

Advancements in Natural Language Processing (NLP) now power everything from voice assistants and automatic voice transcription to intelligent text analysis. In partnership with NYC Media Lab, The New York Times R&D team is interested in the potential these advancements may hold for journalism.

Specifically: machine article translation that maintains tone and factual accuracy; potential bias in NLP models; and techniques to understand reader questions and provide trusted answers via various channels, including web, mobile, voice assistant, or messaging platform.

Selected researchers will be awarded with a grant of up to $5,000 per semester. Final selections TK! (That’s journalism speak for “to come.”) VIRTUAL EVENTS APRIL 23: Columbia | IBM LAUNCH Accelerator Virtual Demo Day

Don’t miss the 2021 Columbia | IBM LAUNCH Accelerator Virtual Demo Day on Friday, April 23 from 10am-1pm ET! The cohort of 9 early-stage teams are focused on a wide range of deep tech applications and have made incredible progress over the 12-week educational bootcamp leading up to this culminating event.

The virtual session will feature pitches from each cohort team and a keynote address from the Chief Technology Officer of Global Industries, IBM Global Markets, Dr. Mahmoud Naghshineh. Register here.

MAY 4–5: Data Science Salon Virtual: Applying AI & Machine Learning to Media, Advertising, & Entertainment

Data Science Salon Virtual: Applying AI & Machine Learning to Media, Advertising, & Entertainment is the only industry conference that brings together specialists in media, advertising, and entertainment data science fields to educate each other, illuminate best practices, and innovate new solutions in a casual atmosphere.

Learn from practitioners, technical experts, and executives on how to solve real-world problems by harnessing disruptions in data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cutting-edge technologies. Online, May 4–5, 2021. Register today.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO CREATE PHOTOREALISTIC DIGITAL HUMANS

MetaHuman Creator

Decades in the making, MetaHuman Creator is a cloud-based app that empowers users to create photorealistic digital humans, fully rigged and complete with hair and clothing. Thanks to Epic Games, what used to take months now takes minutes.

Epic Games is offering the opportunity to join the free Early Access program. Oh yes, we think we’ll go ahead and start creating our narrative right now…

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NYC Media Lab connects media and technology companies with NYC’s universities to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent development. Visit our website or contact us at info@nycmedialab.org with any questions or comments.

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