Category: Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way in recent years, and one area where it has made significant strides is in generating realistic portraits. With the help of AI-powered tools, anyone can now create stunning portraits that look like they were painted by a master artist. Let’s look at five tips for creating amazing AI portraits. 

Choose High-Quality Images 

The quality of the input image plays a crucial role in the quality of the output portrait. When selecting an image to use as the basis for your AI portrait, choose a high-quality image with good lighting, clarity, and detail. The more detail the input image contains, the more accurate the AI portrait will be. 

Use a High-Quality AI Portrait Tool 

Not all AI portrait tools are created equal. Some tools are more advanced than others and can produce more realistic and detailed portraits. Before starting your portrait, take some time to research different AI portrait tools and choose one that has a good reputation for producing high-quality results. 

Adjust the Settings 

Most AI portrait tools allow users to adjust various settings to achieve different results. Experiment with different settings to find the look you’re after. For example, you may want to adjust the level of detail or the amount of smoothing to create a more painterly effect. 

Add Your Own Personal Touch 

While AI portraits are generated by computer algorithms, there’s no reason you can’t add your own personal touch to make the portrait truly your own. For example, you can adjust the color palette, add texture or brush strokes, or even mix and match different AI-generated elements to create a unique portrait. 

Practice, Practice, Practice 

Creating amazing AI portraits takes practice. Don’t expect to produce perfect results right away. Take the time to experiment with different images, AI tools, and settings, and learn from your mistakes. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at creating stunning AI portraits. 

In conclusion, creating amazing AI portraits is a fun and rewarding activity that anyone can enjoy. By choosing high-quality images, using a high-quality AI portrait tool, adjusting the settings, adding your own personal touch, and practicing regularly, you can produce stunning portraits that look like they were painted by a master artist. Remember to have fun and be creative, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques and styles. With the help of AI, the possibilities for creating amazing portraits are endless.

There has been talk about artificial intelligence for many, many years, but it seems that more recently that there has been a legitimate push toward making AI a bigger part of the everyday life. From self-driving cars to marketing and everything in between, artificial intelligence has already been injected into the world more ways than you know.

Of course, there has always been that underlying fear about AI that’s been depicted in movies, books, and television shows. “The Terminator” series, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, and “I, Robot” are just a few pieces of media that have dealt with artificial intelligence taking over the world or doing nefarious things to human beings that detract from our humanity. Media like this and the loss of certain jobs has raised the question, though, “Should we be scared?” Let’s take a look at the future of AI to see how it will impact humanity.

Job Loss

Economists argue day and night about whether the population of Earth should continue to grow, if it should plateau where it is, or if it needs to shrink a little bit. Part of the reason why overpopulation might be a massive problem in the coming years is because of how many jobs will be completely done by artificial intelligence in the coming decades.

Economists predict that AI will take the place of many jobs that currently have a large population of people, from truck drivers to retail workers, to receptionists. As the years go on, people will figure out ways to make artificial intelligence even smarter, and will end up replacing more and more jobs. That leaves people to wonder how many jobs will even be left 100 years from now as everything becomes automated and how we’ll make money.

Loss of Humanity

One of the things that makes humans great is the ability to have our own personalities and artistic expression. In the future with AI, though, those might be completely wiped away. There are already plenty of AI programs that are creating art, with some companies using them for graphic design instead of hiring humans that can put actual detailed touches on things.

What’s much more concerning about art being replaced, though, is the use of things such as deepfakes. AI can now create a living video of you so that it looks like you’re moving and talking without even being in the room. It’s deeply disturbing, and the uses for deepfakes can be fun for a couple of things, but for the most part are entirely nefarious.

Part of the loss of humanity with AI is the loss of our privacy. There are a lot of companies that want to use artificial intelligence to know everything about you. Comedian Bo Burnham famously said in 2019 that companies are coming “for every second of your life” by finding out everything about you for marketing purposes since these companies are public and needing constant growth because there’s no other way to expand than to colonize your attention, and AI plays a big part in that.

Robots

There are plenty of instances in fiction where artificially intelligent robots develop their own feelings and lead a revolt against humans. In film, you have “The Terminator”, in books you have “I, Robot”, and in video games you have “Detroit: Become Human”. Of course, robotics that use AI are getting smarter, but how realistically could any of these scenarios happen?

Experts say that out of all of the fears regarding AI, the ones about a robot revolution are the least of our worries. There have been many intelligent people who say that there’s a possibility that it could happen, but that things would grind to a halt in terms of AI development before it comes close to happening.

Summary

There are plenty of reasons to worry about the future of artificial intelligence, no matter how much it can do for us. Truly, the only way that everyone can be satisfied with a future that’s filled with AI is for everyone to be assured an income that will get them by, and that the AI is perfected to keep everyone safe.

Self-driving cars are a great idea on paper, but until everyone can be assured that accidents will be avoided, there are still going to be a lot of people concerned and not wanting to get on board. Just like in all of the fictional media we mentioned, there will always be people dragged kicking and screaming into the AI-led future.

CGI is rising in popularity year after year. This exciting technology is used in movies, video games, art, and more. Still, it can be challenging to figure out how to get your start in the CGI industry. This article will offer tips and tricks for those interested in becoming professional CGI artists.

Master foundational CGI skills

Several CGI skills are likely to always be in demand. Lighting, for example, is a CGI skill you’ll want to master to ensure your work is appealing to potential hiring managers. You’ll also need excellent attention to detail. Nowadays, movie studios and game developers want their artists to pay close attention to textures, such as threads on clothes, reflections on particular objects, and each hair on a character’s head.

Consider a specialty

There is a lot that goes into CGI between characters, environments, lighting, and movement. Luckily, you don’t have to master every element to become a professional CGI artist. It can be beneficial to decide whether you want to specialize in character creation, environments and backgrounds, rigging and animation, or lighting. In most cases, you’ll be part of a larger team that works together to create the final project.

Develop a keen eye for human behavior and anatomy

If you decide to work with character modeling or rigging, you’ll need an expert understanding of human anatomy. Your characters must have realistic proportions. If their arms or legs are unusually long, it will make them appear less realistic. Of course, your artistic style may involve unrealistic proportions. In this case, you’ll still need to understand human behavior to ensure your characters’ facial expressions and mannerisms are believable.

Consider getting a related degree

Due to the complex nature of CGI art, many jobs require a bachelor’s degree. Those looking to enter the field should consider getting a degree in art, computer graphics, animation, or computer science. Earning a degree takes time, and it’s easier said than done. Still, it can set you up for success as you begin your journey to become a professional CGI artist.

Practice time management

CGI artists must imagine intricate scenes and bring them to life. You’ll often face tight deadlines, so you must know how to make the most of your time. Planning tools, like the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, can be a lifesaver when you begin your first professional CGI job.

The Eisenhower Decision Matrix breaks your tasks into urgent, not urgent, important, and not important. This method helps you determine which tasks should take priority, which should be delegated, and which should be ignored. If structured planning methods aren’t for you, it can still be beneficial to break your tasks down into smaller subtasks and write them down in order of importance.

Begin networking

Some say, “it’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” This is true in many industries, but in the CGI industry, it’s what you know and who you know. It never hurts to begin making connections. Sites like Linkedin can connect you with professional CGI artists and others who work alongside them. You may not find a job immediately, but you can get your foot in the door.

Connecting with those in the industry can put you in touch with people that can teach you the ins and outs of how they landed their job. Sometimes, they may need to delegate simple tasks to you, which can be a great learning experience. More importantly, you can make friends that can further your career down the line.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way in the last few years. What was once a novelty is becoming an integral part of our daily lives. Do you own an Alexa device or use chat boxes to interact with your favorite online retailers? If so, you’re already using AI. AI can also be useful in making your side hustle, your way of earning a little extra income, a lot easier. Below are a few suggestions on how to harness this power to make your side business more lucrative and efficient.

Leveraging AI for your side hustle

Nearly 40 percent of Americans earn extra money on the side by doing things like selling things online, offering services, renting out their homes or cars and/or freelancing. Since the object of a side hustle is to make money, you don’t want to have to invest a lot of money in the project. That’s where AI technology can be invaluable in saving you from having to pay an employee or outside contractor to help you. Below are a few suggestions. All of the tools we suggest are affordable on a limited budget. Most also offer a free trial period.

1. Automate your marketing

One of the best things that AI can offer you for your small side gig sales efforts is to automate your marketing efforts. This allows you to do more with the limited time you have available to devote to your side business. For example, AI can write email marketing messages for you and even target and personalize them to appeal to different segments of your customers. Tools like MailChimp and Cortex can be very useful for those working side gigs.

2. Offer “big company” customer service

It’s not expensive to install a chatbot on your e-commerce website and offer your customers answers to all but the most complex questions 24/7. Affordable customer relationship management (CRM) software can provide this service as well as help you manage other customer inquiries. Good, affordable CRM tools for freelancers and those working side gigs include Monday.com and Hubspot. 

3. Give your customers a better way to view your products

Another big asset of AI for small entrepreneurs is the ability to offer 3D virtual views of your products, turning your 2D drawings into 3D models. Tools like 3DFY let your customers view your products from all angles and better visualize what the finished product will look like.  

4. Use AI as your personal assistant

If your side hustle involves appointments, let AI keep your calendar for you. You can use this technology to allow customers/clients to schedule time slots for things like piano lessons, massages, online tutoring or landscaping. AI tools, such as Vagaro, manage your calendar and handle things like reoccurring appointments and rescheduling. Most tools also send out confirmation reminders, which reduces your rate of “no-shows”.

5. Help you communicate better with clients and customers

One of the challenges to freelancing or offering services as a side gig is keeping in contact with your customers while you are working your primary job or working for other of your side gig customers. AI platforms like Slack offer an affordable way for you to consolidate all of your communication methods, such as text, instant messaging, email and others, on one dashboard, so you never lose a message. The free version of Slack permits you to integrate up to 10 applications.

You shouldn’t view AI as this mysterious concept that’s only applicable to computer geeks and scientists. Use AI to your advantage in your side business by using this technology to help you better connect with customers 24/7, showcase your products and improve your marketing.