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Earlier this month, a viral TikTok video featuring a young Chinese man in a blue T-shirt captured the attention of millions. Sitting beside a traditional tea set, he addressed the camera in accented English, declaring, “Let’s expose luxury’s biggest secret.”
He then stood up to reveal an Hermès Birkin bag—one of the most coveted luxury handbags in the world. Pointing to shelves filled with additional bags behind him, he declared, “You recognize them: Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci—all crafted in our workshops.” His video concluded with an invitation for viewers to purchase directly from his factory.
This type of video, where sales representatives disclose the material costs behind luxury items ranging from handbags to perfumes, is increasingly prevalent on TikTok. Regardless of the veracity of these claims, the trend underscores a concerted effort by Chinese manufacturers to engage directly with American consumers. Read the full story.
—Caiwei Chen
The Intersection of AI and Creativity
The swift integration of artificial intelligence into our everyday lives brings forth pressing questions surrounding authorship, authenticity, and ethics in both work and art. More critically, it presents a uniquely human dilemma: How can we comprehend these machines rather than merely utilize them?
Three recent publications delve into the implications of allowing machines to generate content, exploring what is gained and what is sacrificed in the process. They also raise an important inquiry: How do the narratives we construct about technology influence its role in our creative endeavors? Read the full story.
—Rebecca Ackermann
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