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On the 15th of October our book “Real Fake – Playing with Reality in the Age of AI, Deepfakes and the Metaverse” has been released. It is our take on synthetic media, deepfakes, fake news, conspiracy theories, virtual humans, NFTs, the Creator Economy and the Metaverse. Real Fake is about how humans continuously manipulate reality and how new digital technology tools enable us to go one step further in this ancient game.
The Metaverse Takes Manhattan
“It was a coming-out party of sorts for the NFT community, which was born online and has only recently started to experiment with offline fun. On Sunday, the Bored Ape Yacht Club — an elite NFT clique whose members own a series of extremely expensive monkey cartoons — threw a rager on an actual yacht on the Hudson River. On Monday, partyers packed into VR World in Midtown for a party DJed by an NFT collector named Seedphrase, who appeared on stage in a light-up CryptoPunk helmet. And on Tuesday, entrepreneurs rubbed elbows with drag queens at a downtown party hosted by Playboy to promote the magazine’s new “Rabbitars” NFT collection.”
The times of SXSW where Web 2.0 exploded are happening again. But this time it’s not about social media, but about cryptomedia.
The Challenge of Being Human in the Age of AI
“AI will compel even more fundamental change: It will challenge the primacy of human reason. For all of history, humans have sought to understand reality and our role in it. Since the Enlightenment, we have considered our reason—our ability to investigate, understand and elaborate—our primary means of explaining the world, and by explaining it, contributing to it. For the past 300 years, in what historians have come to call the Age of Reason, we have conducted ourselves accordingly; exploring, experimenting, inventing and building. Now AI, a product of human ingenuity, is obviating the primacy of human reason: It is investigating and coming to perceive aspects of the world faster than we do, differently from the way we do, and, in some cases, in ways we don’t understand.”
AI is uncovering previously imperceptible but potentially vital aspects of reality. If AI perceives aspects of reality humans cannot, how is it affecting human perception, cognition and interaction? Can AI befriend humans? What will be AI’s impact on culture, humanity and history?
Shiba Inu Coin Craze Is Driving Demand for Shiba Inu Puppies
“With virtual life increasingly indistinguishable from everyday reality, it makes sense: Just as the price of dog-inspired cryptocurrencies Dogecoin and Shiba Inu coin have exploded, so has demand for—what else?—living, breathing shiba inus. […] But the morphing of an online phenomenon into a real-life trend is something that’s likely to proliferate as the idea of a “metaverse” gains traction.”
Great article. It basically tells the story of our book Real Fake. What happens when fake becomes the new real?
Nike Files for ‘Virtual Goods’ Trademarks
“Nike Inc. is seeking to trademark its brand for various virtual goods in the U.S., including shoes and clothing, as digital products become more popular. […] Digital items listed in the filings include headwear, eyewear, bags, backpacks and sports equipment. […] Virtual goods including apparel are gaining more interest as consumers scoop up items like digital art and video-game skins – decorations like outfits and accessories for virtual characters – for popular titles including Fortnite and NBA 2K.”
How Four NFT Novices Created a Billion-Dollar Ecosystem of Cartoon Apes
“Bored Ape Yacht Club became internet rock stars by making NFTs of grungy simians that aren’t just viral images — they’re tickets to a whole new lifestyle”
MUST WATCH: Real Fake
The promo video for our book!
MUST WATCH: I Interviewed Mark Zuckerberg about the Metaverse
Very interesting video. For once, Mark Zuckerberg looks actually human.
MUST WATCH: Flying With 50 Drones
Contact
Playing with Reality is a weekly newsletter in which SogetiLabs’s Research Institute VINT examines the future where synthetic reality becomes part or our objective reality. We investigate the impact of new technology on people, organisations and our society. If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us at vint@sogeti.com.
