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Why Colin Kaepernick Is Starting an AI Company

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Why Colin Kaepernick Is Starting an AI Company

As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for stories and the people behind them, I’m thrilled to see Colin Kaepernick entering the AI industry with his new project, Lumi. His journey from NFL quarterback to activist, media entrepreneur, and now tech innovator is truly inspiring.

I’ve supported Colin Kaepernick since he started taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016, protesting against police brutality and racial injustice. Sadly, his activism led him to lose his job as an NFL quarterback, but he didn’t let that stop him. Today, he’s making waves in the AI industry by launching a new project called Lumi. This platform aims to help people bypass “gatekeeping” and access opportunities more freely. I believe in Colin’s mission and am excited to see where this innovative endeavor takes us.

A new subscription platform launched today, July 24, offering storytellers the ability to develop, illustrate, publish, and earn money from their concepts. The business has secured $4 million in funding, headed by Seven Seven Six, founded by Alexis Ohanian.

In an interview with TIME, I shared my perspective on this project being an expansion of my activism. Many tales around the globe remain untold, and unfortunately, not everyone has the means or resources to reach publishers or platforms. Sometimes, it’s a lack of skills that hinders their ability to share their stories. Our mission is to unearth these hidden narratives and give voices to those who have been unheard until now. We’re excited to bring new worlds of stories and unique perspectives into the light.

As a cinephile and entrepreneur, I’ve faced my fair share of struggles while growing my media company, Ra Vision Media, and publishing house, Kaepernick Publishing. Long production timelines, exorbitant costs, and creators lacking control over their work were just some of the challenges I encountered. However, the emergence of AI models like ChatGPT, Dall-E, and others into the mainstream a few years back ignited my curiosity. I couldn’t help but experiment with these innovative tools, even attempting to leverage them in creating a children’s book. (Last year, I penned a graphic novel, “Change the Game,” based on my high school experiences.)

Lumi intends to assist indie content creators in crafting blended written-and-illustrated tales, such as comics, graphic novels, and manga. Kaepernick explained that the service is constructed “using base models” as its foundation—he didn’t specify which ones. (Base models refer to large, versatile machine learning models like ChatGPT.) Users engage with a chatbot to develop a character, expand their background and characteristics, and construct a plot. Afterward, they utilize an image-generation feature to depict the character and their adventure. “You can exchange ideas with your AI companion and experiment, ‘I’d prefer a different ending,’ or ‘Make it more humorous or emotional,'” Kaepernick added.

On Lumi, users have the ability to share and disseminate their stories directly, even requesting hard copies, and employ AI technology to manufacture and market merchandise derived from their intellectual property. Kaepernick envisions that this platform will resonate with emerging creators possessing incomplete skill sets; for instance, athletes endowed with a compelling narrative and fan base but struggling with artistic abilities, or content producers grappling with monetization issues.

He shared that our team engaged in conversations with over 500 creators, inquiring about their challenges. Some were struggling to secure financing for their projects, while others were unsure of the steps needed to enter the industry or had faced rejection. Additionally, some creators expressed apprehension towards managing the logistics of fundraising, manufacturing, project management, and distribution. Our goal is to provide a supportive platform that enables these creators to flourish by channeling their creativity effectively.

Read More: Colin Kaepernick, TIME Person of the Year 2017, The Short List

Lumi allows creators to retain complete control over their projects according to Kaepernick. Regarding potential copyright disputes concerning works produced on Lumi, Kaepernick stated, “We’ll establish our framework based on existing models, leaving it to lawmakers and others to determine the specific laws and boundaries.”

Kaepernick understands that there’s widespread skepticism and criticism towards the increasing role of AI in creative industries, with some fearing that it may lead to job losses. For instance, filmmaker Spike Lee, who is set to direct a documentary about Kaepernick, expressed his concerns in an interview last February, stating, “The threat AI poses to cinemas pales in comparison to its potential impact on the world.” Similar worries fueled the Hollywood strikes last year.

“Kaepernick acknowledges the apprehensions. The innovators should have full control. These advanced AI tools serve as an additional resource for them to produce more efficiently, thereby enabling them to tell stories they previously couldn’t. He draws a parallel between these new technologies and the iPhone’s influence on photography. ‘We witnessed a surge in photography and photographs,’ he states. ‘However, it didn’t diminish the role of professional photographers or their skills. We view this situation similarly.'”

Kaepernick’s team is made up of ex-engineers from Apple (Stefan Dasbach) and Reflex AI (Sam Fazel). Lumi, however, declined to reveal the monthly fee for their platform. Creators have the opportunity to join the beta program starting July 24.

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2024-07-24 20:06

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