🎶 I’m a Visi0nary girl, in a Visi0nary world.🎶
If you’re new here, welcome! I’m Jules, and this is Visi0nary - a place for the tech and creative worlds to meet. We’re not always this pink, I promise.
July 21st marks the release of the Barbie movie, which has grown from a fun concept for a film about dolls to a mega-successful marketing and media phenomenon. The dream team of Mattel and Greta Gerwig have shown the world that Apple isn’t the only company that can pull off a sexy (and successful!) launch.
While Barbie has been making waves in fashion, gaming, and even insurance (incredible thread here with more examples), web3 and Hollywood creatives have been busy forging their own landmark paths. It’s been a busy news cycle. The writer’s strike has reached its next stage, and the crypto space has (maybe) found some regulatory clarity in the Ripple case. How can we keep up?
Tech does not exist in a vacuum devoid of legal challenges, pop culture trends, and changing public opinion. Maintaining a digital presence in the modern era, let alone launching a business in it, takes thoughtful strategy. Luckily, we can build with the future in mind. Let’s start the show. 🎟
This Week in New AI Features 🤖
Let’s take a quick Barbie break to share the latest and greatest from the AI world (including an incredible AI pet photo).
Your pet, plus lightsabers: Who says AI headshots are just for humans? Make your pets even cuter with clothes and accessories.
A(I)affirmations: AtFirst is your AI coach for self-discovery and well-being.
Level up your startup funding: Take the headache out of raising with term sheets, investor prep, and due diligence prep - all backed by AI.
Apply to more jobs, faster: Tired of putting your resumé details into yet another job form? JobWizard uses your LinkedIn details to fill out applications.
Rethink your living space: PAINTIT transforms your interior design with AI-powered mockups.
What the Ripple ruling really means for web3 🌊
For those that missed it, a federal judge ruled Tuesday that “XRP, as a digital token, is not in and of itself a 'contract, transaction, or scheme' that embodies the Howey requirements of an investment contract.”
Here's a summary of the judgement:
The SEC alleged Ripple's offers and sales of XRP violated Section 5 of the Securities Act.
The court found Ripple's institutional sales of XRP were investment contracts and violated Section 5.
The court found Ripple's programmatic sales on exchanges were not investment contracts.
The court found Ripple's other distributions of XRP were not investment contracts.
The court found Larsen's and Garlinghouse's individual XRP sales were not investment contracts.
The court rejected Defendants' due process and fair notice defenses regarding the institutional sales.
The court denied the SEC's motion for summary judgment on the aiding and abetting claim.
While the initial news “broke the internet” in shares on social media and beyond, the commentary that followed has been even more telling. CoinDesk published an opinion piece entitled “Ripple's XRP Ruling Does Nothing for Regulatory Clarity,” while Cointelegraph shared an interview with Ark Investment Management’s CEO, Cathie Wood, who claims to be “bullish on Coinbase after Ripple court ruling.”
These competing narratives aren’t surprising. Web3 has struggled to reach widespread adoption because of unaligned industry priorities. Some founders build with accessibility in mind, while others believe in tech for tech’s sake. We need to focus on growing the web3 industry for everyone. The Ripple decision will undoubtedly set a precedent for future legal decisions. It should also lay the foundation for a brighter and more inclusive web3.
Living your best Barbie life– 👛
Has anyone’s social media feed looked extra sparkly lately? The Barbie movie branding delivers a bold answer to the question, “Do companies need marketing in 2023?” Barbie’s interactive, diverse, and strongly branded content says yes, and shows successful marketing in action.
Modern-day marketing needs to tap into the wide (and sometimes weird) digital space. With hyper-personalized algorithms driving most social media platforms, brands can reach more audiences with a spray of niche content. Add in a superstar diverse cast, the brand collaborations of a lifetime, and interactive AI selfie generators with high social-sharing potential, and you’ve got a winning strategy. It’s creating a new standard for impact-driven marketing campaigns.
–amid a major moment for Hollywood
The SAG-AFTRA union (representing actors) voted to strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP, representing studios, broadcast networks, and streaming services) earlier this month. In a newer move for strikes, the official guidelines call for influencers to refrain from promoting struck work. It’s part of the changing way society consumes entertainment.
And as we explored in an earlier Visi0nary edition, AI remains a central theme of union discussions.
David Hunter of Collider writes:
A future where creative workers are replaced by generative AI feels closer than ever, and actors may be at the most risk. Voiceover actors are already reporting competition from AI-generated performances. On social media, support for the entertainment unions is strong (as it is in the streets), but videos that use AI voiceover in place of actors still go viral, with no real sense of contradiction.
If the Ripple decision represents a new crypto era and the Barbie release sets new marketing standards, the writer’s strike will establish a similar precedent. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland of SAG-AFTRA called this season a “hot labor summer,” with teachers and hospitality workers in California also striking against unfair working conditions. AI isn’t the only technology that will transform the workplace. But it might be the one that sparks conversations on how all industries can adapt.
Following the pink-brick road 🛼
Whether you’re hitting the theaters for Barbie or Oppenheimer this weekend, you’re consuming content developed and marketed with technology in mind. Advertising, crypto, and labor are only some of the areas emerging tech will touch in the coming years. It may feel daunting, but I believe the future is bright.
P.S. In August, Visi0nary will take a brief summer hiatus and share one newsletter during the month. We’ll be back in touch then 😎