WithAI FM™ – Details, episodes & analysis

What happens when an experienced creative, designer, photographer and director dives into the world of AI? This week on Creatives with AI, host Lena Robinson chats with Simon Needham, a Yorkshire-born photographer, director, and adventurer now based in LA.

From co-founding ATTIK, a global design agency that changed the game, to crafting AI-powered visuals for conservation projects, Simon works hard to be ahead of the curve.

In this lively conversation, Simon shares how his career evolved from creating communications for Nike and PlayStation to capturing breathtaking wildlife and sports photography, and how AI tools have become a surprising companion in his creative process. Along the way, he talks about lessons learned from dismissing the internet back in the 90s, the difference between traditional photography and AI-generated images, and why staying curious is the best skill a creative can have.

Whether you’re curious about how AI is reshaping creativity or just love a good story about big ideas and bigger adventures, this episode has plenty to inspire.

Takeaways:

• AI’s Creative Revolution: Simon shares how tools like MidJourney and Runway ML are transforming visual storytelling.
• Lessons from the Past: Early mistakes with the internet taught Simon the importance of embracing new technology like AI.
• AI vs. Real Photography: AI can mimic visuals, but can it replicate the emotional depth of real-world photography?
• The Future of Creatives: Roles like art direction and prompt engineering will likely define the next wave of creative careers.
• Balancing Passion and AI: Simon balances adventurous photography with the efficiency of AI innovation.
• Storytelling Still Rules: Despite AI advancements, emotional storytelling remains key to resonating with audiences.

How to find Simon online:

• Website- simonneedham.com
• Instagram - @simonneedhamphotography | @human.kind.photography | @simon.fineart
• LinkedIn

People and Companies mentioned in this episode:

• ATTIK (now part of dentsu)
• dentsu: https://www.dentsu.com
• Nike: https://www.nike.com
• PlayStation: https://www.playstation.com
• Toyota: https://www.toyota.com
• MidJourney: https://www.midjourney.com
• Runway ML: https://runwayml.com
• OpenAI: https://openai.com
• Sam Altman CEO of OpenAI -

Bogdan Maran, founder of VisualHive, discusses the transformative potential of AI in the B2B events industry, emphasising the challenges of content management and engagement post-events.

His company aims to revolutionise how event organisers leverage data and content to enhance attendee experiences and maximise ROI.

Bogdan shares insights from his extensive background in startups and media, highlighting how his journey has shaped the development of VisualHive's first product, Erleah, an AI-driven assistant designed to streamline operations and connect exhibitors with valuable leads.

The conversation delves into the importance of user-curated content and the need for effective tools that allow non-technical stakeholders to manage event data seamlessly.

As they explore the competitive landscape, Bogdan also reveals his vision for a future where the value of event content is fully realised, creating a sustainable business model that benefits all participants in the event ecosystem.

Takeaways:

• VisualHive is redefining how B2B events utilise data, enhancing attendee experiences and maximising ROI.
• Bogdan Maran’s journey involved years of trials, leading to the creation of Erleah, an AI-driven assistant.
• The importance of content in B2B events is often overlooked, leading to missed opportunities.
• VisualHive’s unique value proposition lies in merging media expertise with event technology solutions.
• The company focuses on user-curated content to improve engagement and streamline event follow-up processes.
• The market for event tech solutions is vast, with significant untapped potential in Europe alone.

Links referenced in this episode:

• www.visualhive.co
• www.pwc.com
• www.redbull.com
• www.reuters.com
• www.kaspersky.com
• www.eventtechlive.com
• www.youtube.com
• www.instagram.com
• www.twitter.com
• www.facebook.com
• www.linkedin.com

In this unconventional episode Lena Robinson, host and guest, dives into a self-reflective and candid conversation about creativity, technology, and the intersection of the two. Faced with a scheduling hiccup, Lena takes the opportunity to interview herself, offering listeners a rare glimpse into her multifaceted life as a creative, Kiwi entrepreneur, creative thinker, and champion of emerging tech.

From her early exposure to creativity through her parents' artistic pursuits to her current ventures with The FTSQ Gallery, Lena explores how creativity has shaped her career and personal growth. She shares insights on her journey as an early tech adopter, discussing how tools like AI are not only streamlining her work but also sparking curiosity and enhancing her creative output. Lena candidly reflects on her experiences using AI for idea generation, research, and overcoming mental blocks on challenging days.

The episode also touches on Lena's vision for the future of AI, emphasising collaboration over competition between humans and machines. With her characteristic warmth and humour, Lena invites listeners to embrace curiosity and take on a creative challenge using AI, making this episode a thought-provoking exploration of the evolving creative landscape.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Lena's Plant/Flower Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/flora.lishus/
• The FTSQ Gallery - https://ftsqgallery.co.uk/
• FTSQ Consultancy - https://ftsq.co.uk/
• Oscar Mitchell-Heggs - https://www.instagram.com/omhlondon/
• The Snug - One Hundred Shoreditch - https://www.onehundredshoreditch.com/social-spaces/
• ChatGPT - https://chatgpt.com/
• Tom Morley - https://www.instagram.com/_tommorley_/
• Midjourney - https://www.midjourney.com/home
• Canva - https://www.canva.com/
• Vista Print - https://www.vistaprint.co.uk/
• Popology Networks - https://www.popologynetworks.com/
• Stephen Fry - https://www.instagram.com/stephenfryactually/
• Stephen Fry - Quote mentioned - https://www.openculture.com/2024/07/stephen-fry-explains-why-artificial-intelligence-has-a-70-risk-of-killing-us-all.html

Where to find Lena Robinson on Social Media:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinsonlena/
• Twitter - https://x.com/LenaRobinson
• Instagram -

Join us on this intriguing podcast episode as David converses with Keith Smith, a seasoned professional with an impressive sales and business development background and, more recently, podcasting related to creative agency landscapes.

Weathering a derecho and venturing into the artificial intelligence (AI) world, he discusses how AI has helped get over 'the blank page syndrome' by generating unique ideas and assisting with post-production tasks. While AI has its benefits, Keith also highlights the importance of the human touch in content editing, artwork generation, and making aesthetic decisions.

In this episode, they discuss a myriad range of topics:

- How could AI's ability to replicate voices impact the music industry?

- What is the future role of AI in DJing, and could it replace human DJs?

- How will AI's automation of many human tasks impact jobs and the economy?

- Will society turn into a heterotopia with AI fulfilling the necessities of life?

One highlight of the conversation is Keith's insight on AI and its future role, "We have to roll with this. We have to accept that it's coming and we can't fight it". This and many more fascinating takes on how AI is navigating our lives, its ethical implications and even its impact on creative forms like photography, music and much more are explored.

Prepare to illuminate your creative process and enrich your perspective as we sit down with Natalia, the founding force behind Natalka Design, a company renowned for transforming complex business narratives into engaging visual content. Natalia shares her expertise regarding the augmentation of design strategies with AI tools and their potential to expedite the workflow and ignite the spark of creativity. Despite the rising technological influence, we stress the undying essence of the human touch that crafts designs with a unique and impactful semblance.

As our dialogue unfolds, we delve into the profound implications of burgeoning technology on our lives and professions. From potential shifts in job markets to the looming fear of living in a data-driven bubble, we traverse these pressing concerns. Natalia guides us through this intricate web, contemplating the promise of a renaissance of highly skilled humans and the urgent necessity of inclusivity in this rapidly transforming landscape.

Lastly, we ponder upon the omnipresent algorithms shaping our online experiences, their role in serving personalised content, and the consequential loss of serendipity and randomness. Stay tuned as we navigate through these pressing issues, stressing the importance of retaining diverse experiences in an increasingly monocultural digital world. Our conversation encourages a balanced approach, embracing the power of AI tools whilst celebrating the irreplaceable value of human creativity and connection.

Get ready to embark on a thought-provoking journey as we traverse the thriving London tech scene, engage in stimulating AI discussions from this year's London Tech Week and explore the burgeoning tech transformation in India.

Welcome to the Creatives with AI podcast! This is a show where we share insights about the future of artificial intelligence and how it will affect the lives of people working in the creative industries.

On today’s show, we chat with Professor Steve Watson from the University of Cambridge, where we touch on

• the transformative role of AI in education, particularly its potential to personalise learning, promote inclusivity, and assist teachers in creating better test questions and designing curricula;
• the changing dynamics between teachers and students in the era of digital revolution and the debates on the purpose and form of education;
• the potential of AI in decision-making within the educational sphere, supporting diverse teaching and learning styles, and fostering critical thinking; and 
• how AI tools like Grammarly are transforming communication.
• 
  

Dr Steve Watson, an Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge, focuses on Large Language Model AI's impact on education. He co-chairs the Faculty's Knowledge Power Politics research cluster and serves as Associate Executive Editor for the Cambridge Journal of Education. He uses methodologies like Social Systems Theory and Phenomenology to explore media, policy, education, and teacher professional learning.

His engineering and educational studies degrees are from Cambridge, the Open University, and Nottingham. He holds a Postgraduate Certificate of Education from Sheffield, worked in retail, telecommunications, and taught mathematics before academia.

As always, links to Steven’s profile and social media will be in the show notes on our website at creativeswith.ai.

Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy this educational conversation with Steven.

Get ready to shake up your perceptions of the future of work and society as we navigate the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). This episode promises to be an enlightening journey as we delve into how AI, through chatbots like GPT, is revolutionising productivity by undertaking tasks such as summarising podcasts and generating show notes. However, we're not just here to marvel at AI's potential. We also grapple with the urgent need for regulation in its development and usage. Whose ethics, we ponder, should guide AI's trajectory, and why we propose human rights as the starting point?

Have you ever wondered how AI will shape our future? Or how it might replace certain aspects of our work? This episode brings together two brilliant minds in business and AI - John Caswell and Nicole Yershon. John, an artist turned tech entrepreneur, and Nicole, a marketing maven who pioneered bringing businesses into the 21st century, share their unique journeys and insights on the evolving role of AI in our industries.

From the creative fields to business analysis, AI is not just a tool but an assistive partner that amplifies our capabilities. John and Nicole open up about their experiences using AI to generate insights and advise clients while debunking misconceptions about AI replacing creatives. They also explore the power and challenges of AI in generating presentations and revolutionizing creative design. But with great power comes great responsibility, and they delve into the complexities of establishing an ethical framework for AI that respects varying values across different regions.

Our dynamic duo doesn't stop there. They envision AI creating new industries in hospitality, leisure, and free time. We also get into the recent tech developments, like Apple's announcement of the Apple Vision Pro, and speculate on how these developments could revolutionize the way we work. This episode is a deep dive into the potential of AI as an assistive tool in business and how it might change our lives in ways we can only begin to imagine. Join us on this journey into the future of AI in the creative industries and beyond.

The world, as we know it, is evolving at an unprecedented pace. The future is not only arriving faster but is also more unpredictable than ever. To navigate through this rapidly changing landscape, we need to equip ourselves with certain skills and characteristics. 

In this episode, we delve into this topic with David Wood, co-host of the globally renowned London Futurist podcast.

Here's a rundown of the seven most important characteristics that David believes people will need to be successful over the next 2-3 years.

1. Fast Learning: The ability to learn quickly is crucial. As David puts it, "No matter what you may have learned in previous jobs or in school, almost certainly that's not going to be the entirety of what we're going to need to know for any new skill area."

2. Insightfully Collaborative: With the pace of change accelerating, we need to build bridges with other people. Building the right set of collaboration partners and finding the right communities is key. 

3. Political: In addition to small "p" politics (cooperating and getting on with people you don't always like), we also need to consider big "P" Politics. This means getting involved in guiding our political leaders to understand the seriousness of the changes facing society.

4. Trustable: In an era of misinformation, companies need to focus on gaining trust. Being able to convince partners, customers, and clients that we are on their side will be crucial.

5. Emotionally Resilient: With the job market becoming increasingly disruptive, the ability to adapt is essential. This can mean changing one's skills, identity, or even location to stay competitive. 

6. Agile: Breaking down large, complex tasks into something more manageable and tangible is key. The concept of agile working, which involves a fail-fast, fail-smart approach, can be beneficial.

7. Astute: As AI continues to evolve and impact various aspects of our lives, understanding its potential and implications is essential. This includes the benefits of AI, the importance of a safety mentality, and the need to be aware of what we don't know.

These seven characteristics are not just essential for personal growth, but they also have broader societal implications. As we move into a future characterized by rapid change and unpredictability, these skills will become increasingly crucial. It's time to fast-forward and thrive in the fast-forward future.

In the words of David Wood, "Everybody should become a part-time Futurist because the future is coming faster than it ever did before."