On a summer Tuesday evening, press, content creators and established professionals alike gathered in midtown’s NeueHouse to experience Meta’s exciting new Super Fan initiative. Fans were invited to delve deeper into their favorite fandom by utilizing the power of Meta’s AI assistant.
Photo Credit: Meta
The immersive event hosted several ways AI and creative could combine. A wall featured the history of the WNBA with suggested prompts sprinkled in between showing that going from a fan to a “super fan” is easier with AI. I was reminded of the days when I was challenged by pimply headed teenage boys on whether I “really liked metal music” and to name five metal bands. Such challenges were irksome at worst but still, having facts on hand seemed like excellent usage for fans of any background. Guests could also have a basketball photoshoot with AI generated backgrounds and play with Meta’s latest AI image generator.
Makeup artist Raisa Flowers created AI inspired looks for women’s basketball fans in collaboration with Meta. While the on-site makeup was reserved for models and panelists, that did not stop guests from staring longingly, wishing that we too could get our makeup done in such a creative way.
Change the Rapper ( left ), Juju Watkins ( center ), Ime Archibong ( right ) | Photo credit: Meta
The event with Meta centered around an intimate panel talk with Ime Archibong, VP of Product Management at Meta, USC basketball player JuJu Watkins, NYC based multidisciplinary artist COVL, and American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer Chance the Rapper. Panelists voiced their thoughts around the role of AI and how it could be used to inspire and empower users.
It was an interesting blend of sports, tech and art, industries that in the past may have had very separate participants that were now being brought together.
Juju Watkins, who started her journey at the age of 12, talked about the accessibility that Meta AI can bring to young athletes, especially those from an under-resourced community like her. Meta AI could provide support with sample routines, training regiments, and customized nutrition plans.
Chance the Rapper, who admittedly did not use AI and “writes his own raps”, mentioned how Meta AI could be helpful for emerging talent with resources on sharing music and reaching audiences. He also referenced the growing nature of AI and its human response despite being non-human. He mentioned how it “is trying to learn with you”and liked how it gives you suggestions or points of view that are not necessarily common.
Ime Archibone talked about the power from within your pocket. Meta AI gives people a new way to connect by providing information from the convenience of already used messaging platforms: Messenger, Instagram and What’s App.
Artist COVL utilized AI during the creation of a multimedia piece and shared how she could see it being great for artists working alone and for bouncing ideas. She also stated how she enjoyed being able to revisit old painting styles and sculptures.
Chance the Rapper and Juju Watkins | Photo credit: Meta
The Meta AI was an excellent talk, bringing big voices and different disciplines together to converse about something affecting every industry. AI, while powerful, does still draw concern and suspicion in the creative community. COVL mentioned approaching AI with discernment. By having discussions like these that allow multiple viewpoints to come together, concerns can be addressed, ethical guidelines can be established, and innovative insight can be provided into the beneficial effects of AI and the future it will shape.
