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- AI's takeover of NIL: the future of influence is here
AI's takeover of NIL: the future of influence is here
The human-machine power shift
Ryan Estes
January 15, 2025
Hi ,
The world of sponsorships is venturing into uncharted territory.
A new frontier has arrived: AI avatars of business influencers.
What does this mean?
Influencers are now licensing their AI likenesses to create content, produce ads, and even entertain their audiences. These AI avatars, designed to replicate their human counterparts, are reshaping the concept of influence—and with it, trust.
The sponsorship possibilities in this space are limitless. But will people trust AI avatars?
The answer is already clear: they do.
By the end of the year, AI influencers will be everywhere.
For content creators, this marks a seismic shift in what’s possible. The ability to scale authentic, relatable, and high-quality output through AI opens the door to a new era of creativity and efficiency.
At Wildcast, we’ve started incorporating AI-avatar NIL licensing into our representation agreements.
I’m bullish on AI licensing but I won’t deny some may have apprehension about diving into these waters.
So, I’d love to hear from you •yes or no• would you license your AI likeness for sponsorships?
From the tip of the spear:
AI projected to add 78 million jobs by 2030 LINK
The World Economic Forum's report predicts AI will create 170 million new jobs and eliminate 92 million, resulting in a net gain of 78 million positions by 2030.
Half of the surveyed companies plan to adapt their business strategies for AI, with two-thirds intending to hire AI-skilled workers and 40% expecting to reduce their workforce due to automation.
The report highlights AI, big data, and technological expertise as critical skills for future hiring, while roles like postal clerks and legal secretaries are expected to decline due to AI and other factors.
OpenAI has begun building out its robotics team LINK
OpenAI is expanding into hardware robotics, hiring roles like an EE Sensing Engineer and a Robotics Mechanical Design Engineer to design components for robots.
The robotics team aims to develop general-purpose robotics with AGI-level intelligence, integrating advanced hardware and software to explore diverse robotic forms.
OpenAI's newest venture into robotics marks its strongest commitment yet in this field and could lead to competition with the startup Figure.
New larger and smarter Starship almost ready to fly LINK
The larger version of SpaceX's Starship moved to the launch pad for a test flight scheduled next week, marking its seventh test and the first of 2025.
In preparation for the launch, SpaceX technicians will position the spacecraft on the Super Heavy booster and conduct final tests ahead of Monday's countdown at the South Texas facility.
The mission will include attempts to deploy a payload, conduct reentry experiments, and return the Super Heavy booster using upgraded sensors for improved accuracy in catching it.
Elon Musk says all human data for AI training ‘exhausted’ LINK
Elon Musk stated that AI has exhausted almost all available real-world data for model training, a situation he claims occurred last year.
Musk suggested that AI will now need to rely on synthetic data, generated by AI itself, to continue its development, a view shared by other tech companies like Microsoft and Meta.
While synthetic data offers cost savings, it also poses risks, such as model collapse and increased bias, which could affect the effectiveness and creativity of AI outputs.
In partnership:
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Keep it moving:
Judge refuses to let man search landfill for his lost $713 million Bitcoin hard drive LINK
Dreamteam IQ helps marketing agencies and startups staff top overseas talent, providing cash-saving solutions for roles on elite marketing teams. LINK
Blue Origin set to launch New Glenn, challenging SpaceX LINK
Meta ends its DEI programs LINK
Amazon curbs some DEI programs LINK
CES was a giant exercise in AI gaslighting LINK
Zuckerberg trash talks Apple in interview with Joe Rogan LINK
Nvidia hints at new consumer CPU plans LINK
Samsung will let you rent a robot LINK
Google wants to simulate the world with AI LINK
Meta ends fact-checking LINK
UFC boss Dana White joining Meta's board of directors LINK
A new study in Nature Medicine shows that lifestyle changes prevent cardiometabolic diseases more effectively than medications.
What I’m thinking about:
New tools:
Arnis: generates detailed Minecraft worlds from OpenStreetMap data, allowing users to recreate real-world cities, landmarks, and environments in the game. LINK
Bash Raycaster: lets users navigate a simplistic 3D environment using arrow keys for movement and rotation, with a focus on overcoming challenges due to bash's performance limitations and lack of floating-point support. LINK
FivePointFive: Transform your wellness instantly with FivePointFive’s science-backed breathwork, personalized biometric insights, and music from your favorite artists. LINK 50% OFF and 3 days free
Thanks for listening.
-Ryan
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p.s. When you are ready, here are two ways I can help.
1. We have successfully booked podcast interviews for over 800 funded startup founders, entrepreneurs with exits, and C-suite executives. If you're ready to lead your company from the front, let Kitcaster handle your podcast scheduling and create a powerful stream of content for you and your brand.
2. Our sister company, Wildcast, connects B2B, Tech, SaaS, and Business creators with companies targeting hard-to-reach customers. We deliver the most relevant online audiences through branded conversations, host-read podcast ads, and 360 sponsorships for tech companies aiming to scale their marketing. Start with a free audience psychographic and opportunity assessment tailored to your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).
I write about Revops, Product, and Founder-led marketing on Linkedin, Twitter, and my blog.
And if you are in Denver, we have the #1 culture and discovery podcast dedicated to the Queen City of the Plains —> realgooddenver.com