TL;DR
LETS GO! First newsletter - WIP
UMG files AI patent that combats AI generated music copyright infringement (Music Business Worldwide)
Google’s Threat Intelligence group identifies AI assisted hacks for the first time (Reuters)
Let’s GO!
We signed!
Our printing contract with Community Impact is official. In July, 1000 copies of Work will be distributed around Austin, the same day we launch the site.
As a fresh publication and first time business owner, we are figuring out some kinks and how to manage our time. It’s just two of us here, Chris and I. WORK was built outside the algorithm. Literally outside.
We show up in the real world where you are. That’s our business plan. So let us know, as a creative where do you go? We are partnering with rehearsal spaces, art galleries, venues, coffee shops and more to distribute our print. Point us over and we can show up at your spots and get to know our creative community.
Next Tuesday, May 19 I’ll be on a panel discussing musicians vs. AI. This is not a doom and gloom talk, but a conversation around adapting and building agency. Come by with your experience-driven questions. Our first News In Rotation here will be referenced and has inspired some reflective questions:
How does a lack of privacy change our online behavior?
How can I ‘vibe hack’ in a way that makes tech better?
and what the heck is the music industry up to now????
Shunya
News in Rotation
UMG automates music licensing in AI patent filings (MBW)
Universal Music Group, via a new entity called Music IP Holdings (MIH) and in partnership with IP firm Liquidax Capital, has been building a portfolio of more than 60 patents covering AI-generated music derivatives.
Three key filings describe a system where an artist must pre-approve AI remixes of their work, with outputs receiving embedded watermarks that control where and how long the derivative can be distributed. The filings describe a web scraper that compares songs with licensed works. If unlicensed sounds are found, the author is notified and flagged to lawyers.
Google recognizes Vibe Hackers
Hackers from a prominent cybercrime group "TeamPCP" (aka UNC6780) used AI to uncover a previously unknown software flaw and develop an exploit — the first time Google has identified AI assisted attacks at scale.
Google's report also detailed how state-linked groups tied to China, Russia, and North Korea are experimenting with integrating AI directly into attack workflows, warning the techniques could accelerate campaigns by reducing the time and expertise needed to launch complex attacks.
Less privacy, more DMs
As of May 8, end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages is no longer available. Meta can now analyze what's in messages shared between users with AI, and that information can be shared with agencies worldwide.
A New Mexico case alleged that Meta “knew that E2E would make its platforms less safe by preventing it from detecting and reporting child sexual exploitation and the solicitation and distribution of child exploitation images sent in encrypted messages.”
Unencrypted messages allow for the company and law enforcement to detect and respond to safety concerns in DMs. Days later, Instagram launched Instants, a new Snapchat-like photo sharing feature.
If you made it down here. You’re the best! If you want to give us some feedback on how our first newsletter went, YOU ROCK!
- Shunya