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artificial intelligence

5 mins read

6 Lucrative Digital Products You Can Create and Sell with AI

In this article, we’ll explore six digital products that you can create and sell using entirely free AI tools. Discover how these products, some of which have the potential to earn you substantial monthly income, can be generated with the help of AI, making much of the work hassle-free.

Let’s dive into each product and learn how you can tap into these opportunities.

Clipart: A Multi-Million Dollar Market

Clipart, those versatile and visually appealing images, can be a goldmine in the digital product landscape. Imagine a shop on Etsy with over 710,000 sales, primarily focused on selling clip art products. This particular shop has raked in an astounding $3.19 million, roughly $29,540 every single month.

The exciting part is that you can create clipart using free AI tools like Mid Journey. Let’s take a closer look at the process:

  1. Generate Ideas with AI: Utilize AI tools like Chat GPT to generate creative ideas for clipart.
  2. Create Clipart with Mid Journey: Use Mid Journey, a text-to-image generator, to bring your ideas to life. Simply input prompts including “clip art” to generate unique designs.
  3. Upscale and Sell: Choose the clipart designs you want to sell, upscale them, and ensure they have transparent backgrounds for versatility.
  4. Quick Background Removal: Use tools like Shutterstock’s background removal feature to make the background transparent, making your clipart ready for sale.

This is just a glimpse into the process of creating and selling clipart with AI. If you’re interested in a more detailed guide, let us know!

Virtual Backgrounds: A New Frontier

As the way we work has changed, the demand for virtual backgrounds, especially for Zoom calls, has soared. This emerging market presents a fantastic opportunity to earn a substantial income. Be among the first movers to tap into this growing trend by creating and selling virtual backgrounds. Here’s how:

  1. Creative Ideas: Use AI prompts to come up with various virtual background concepts.
  2. Utilize Mid Journey: Employ Mid Journey to turn these ideas into realistic virtual backgrounds.
  3. Seize the First Mover Advantage: Get ahead of the curve in this market, which is set to expand further.

Digital Paper: A Niche Product with High Earnings

Selling digital paper might sound unusual, but it’s a lucrative niche. Digital paper consists of patterns, textures, and designs that people can use digitally or print. There are sellers on Etsy earning substantial sums from this product. With AI, the process becomes more accessible:

  1. Generate Seamless Patterns: Use AI prompts to create seamless patterns.
  2. Turn Patterns into Products: Convert the patterns into digital paper templates, ready for sale.

Wedding Stationery: High Earnings with AI Assistance

Wedding stationery, including printable wedding invitations, is another profitable product. Sellers are making thousands, even millions of dollars by offering these products. With AI, creating these invitations becomes incredibly easy:

  1. AI-Generated Templates: Use AI prompts to create wedding invitation templates.
  2. Refine and Customize: Use graphic design tools to add customizable elements to the templates.

Product Mock-ups: Boost Sales with Visual Appeal

Product mock-ups are crucial for enhancing the visual appeal of products on platforms like Etsy. These mock-ups help customers envision how the final product will look. With AI, creating mock-ups is a breeze:

  1. AI-Generated Mock-ups: Use AI to create mock-ups of products like frames, mugs, and more.
  2. Offer User-Friendly Files: Provide downloadable files that customers can easily manipulate using graphic design tools.

Coloring Pages: Simple yet Profitable

Coloring pages, often paired with other digital products, offer a simple yet profitable avenue. AI can assist in creating diverse coloring page designs:

  1. AI-Generated Coloring Pages: Use AI prompts to create a variety of coloring page designs.
  2. Customer Customization: Provide blank spaces where customers can add their own text or designs.

AI is transforming our world, and it’s up to us to capitalize on the opportunities it brings. These six digital products are just the beginning. With the right AI tools and a bit of creativity, you can tap into lucrative markets and build a thriving online business.

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5 mins read

10 Ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) Can Help Create Wealth in the Black Community

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a hotly debated topic due to concerns about its impact on jobs. While there is some truth to these concerns, it’s important to recognize that AI can also be a powerful tool for creating new opportunities and enhancing job performance. This is particularly true in the Black community, where AI-powered solutions can help generate wealth.

From financial management tools to health monitoring and diagnosis, here are ten ways that AI can be used to create new opportunities and enhance economic empowerment in the Black community.

1) AI-powered Financial Management Tools

AI-powered financial management tools can help individuals and businesses in the Black community to manage their finances better, make better investment decisions and generate wealth. These tools use advanced algorithms to analyze financial data, identify trends, and provide personalized financial advice.

2) Predictive Analytics for Business Optimization

AI-based predictive analytics can help businesses in the Black community to optimize their operations and increase efficiency, leading to cost savings and increased profitability. By analyzing data and identifying patterns, predictive analytics can help businesses make informed decisions that lead to better outcomes.

3) Personalized Marketing

AI can be used to develop personalized marketing strategies that target specific groups within the Black community, leading to increased sales and revenue. By analyzing customer data and identifying patterns, AI-powered marketing tools can deliver personalized messages that resonate with individual customers.

4) Fraud Detection and Prevention

AI can be used to develop fraud detection and prevention systems, which can help individuals and businesses in the Black community to protect their assets and avoid financial losses. These systems use advanced algorithms to analyze financial data and identify suspicious activity, helping to prevent fraud before it occurs.

5) Smart Contracts

AI-powered smart contracts can help facilitate secure, automated and transparent financial transactions, providing a reliable and efficient alternative to traditional contract management. Smart contracts use blockchain technology to store and execute contracts, ensuring that transactions are secure and transparent.

6) Health Monitoring and Diagnosis

AI can be used to develop health monitoring and diagnosis tools that can help individuals in the Black community to identify and address health issues early on, leading to better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. These tools use advanced algorithms to analyze health data and provide personalized health advice.

7) Job Matching and Career Development

AI can be used to match job seekers with appropriate job openings and provide personalized career development recommendations, leading to increased job satisfaction and higher salaries. By analyzing job data and identifying patterns, AI-powered job matching tools can help job seekers find the right job for their skills and experience.

8) Natural Language Processing and Translation

AI-based natural language processing and translation can help businesses in the Black community to communicate effectively with clients and customers who speak different languages, leading to increased sales and revenue. These tools use advanced algorithms to translate text and speech into different languages, making it easier for businesses to connect with customers from different backgrounds.

9) Energy Management and Optimization

AI can be used to develop energy management and optimization systems that can help households and businesses in the Black community to reduce their energy consumption and save money on energy bills. These systems use advanced algorithms to analyze energy usage patterns and provide personalized advice on how to reduce energy consumption.

10) Real Estate and Property Management

AI can be used to develop real estate and property management tools that can help individuals and businesses in the Black community to make better real estate investment decisions and manage their properties more efficiently. These tools use advanced algorithms to analyze real estate data and provide personalized advice on real estate investment opportunities.

by Tony O. Lawson

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8 mins read

Fake Drake: Exploring the Legal Risks of Using AI to Create Music

Every day, we are discovering the mind-blowing power of creating content using artificial intelligence (AI). Though exciting to many, there are risks associated with what we create and how we go about doing so using this groundbreaking technology. It is well-known that the law has often lagged behind the development of technology.

In many instances, we have to look to laws drafted decades before much of the technology we use today was created. Thus, the use of AI has spawned many unprecedented legal questions that we just don’t have clear answers to right now.

For example, last week, a creator by the name of Ghostwriter977 (Ghostwriter), set the internet ablaze when they released an allegedly AI-generated song entitled, “Heart on my Sleeve.” The song features vocals that sounded extremely similar to that of Toronto-born superstars, Drake and The Weeknd.

The song was released on many major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, SoundCloud, Tidal, and TikTok. The song reached over 15 million plays before it was taken down in response to complaints from the artists’ publishing company, Universal Music Group (UMG). 

Copyright

UMG argued the song was in violation of copyright law, however, it is unclear if this is actually true. Copyright ownership allows you the exclusive right to use and profit from creative works such as art, books, and music.

The United States Copyright Office only allows a copyright to attach to a creative work if there is human authorship. In this case, there is an argument that the content was generated by artificial intelligence, not by a human.

However, the question remains whether a compilation of the artists’ music was used to generate the sound-alike voices in the song, which may allow copyright ownership to attach.

Additionally, though the end product, the song recording itself, may have been generated by artificial intelligence, it was still prompted and potentially written by a human. And in that case, the lyrics of the song themselves, if originally developed by Ghostwriter, may actually belong to them.

There are some defenses to copyright infringement, such as fair use, which permits the unauthorized use of copyrighted material for the purpose of criticism, comment, news reporting, education, scholarship, or research. Ultimately, copyright issues of this novel nature are very subjective and would be determined in court. 

Name, Image, and Likeness 

The argument could be made that Ghostwriter violated the right of publicity of Drake and The Weeknd by creating a song featuring voices that sound like theirs without their permission. The right of publicity grants you a right to profit from your name, image, and likeness, including your voice.

However, there is a clear distinction between using a person’s actual voice versus a voice that only sounds like the person’s voice. The First Amendment allows one to imitate the sound of another even when they specifically intend to do so – think cover artists.

However, there may be an exception to this rule when the imitation is connected with the intent to sell a product. See Midler v. Ford, 849 F.2d 460, 463 (9th Cir. 1988).

If so, there may be a showing of a violation of a right of that person’s publicity. In Midler, the Ford Motor Company used a Bette Midler sound-alike to sing one of her songs to sell cars. In the case of “Heart on my Sleeve,” it is not clear if anything was actually sold in connection with the song.

We’d also have to know how much the Ghostwriter tried to connect the song to Drake and The Weeknd and whether Ghostwriter received or attempted to receive any compensation in exchange for the song via the streaming platforms. Without more information, it is difficult to say there is a publicity right violation in this instance. 

Consumer Protection 

Although a less sexy topic, “Heart on my Sleeve” may also violate consumer protection laws. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state governments enforce laws that protect the public from deceptive or unfair business practices.

One may argue that the Ghostwriter used deceptive or unfair business practices to stream and popularize a song that misled consumers by using vocals that mimic Drake and The Weeknd.

We would likely have to determine the lengths the Ghostwriter took to connect the song to the artists; like if the artists were listed in the credits and if their imagery was used in the cover art on streaming platforms. The developer of the underlying AI technology that facilitated the creation of the song could also be liable under consumer protection laws.

The FTC may come after you if you make, sell, or use a tool that is effectively designed to deceive – even if that’s not its intended or sole purpose. The FTC warns developers of AI technology to consider how their products could be used to deceive consumers and mitigate the risks where possible.

However, this may be a stretch since it does not appear that consumers were actually led to consume anything other than listening and sharing the song.

As you can see, the law is not very clear when it comes to the issue of using AI-generated content that mimics a real person. These types of analyses are extremely fact-specific and require a full investigation to determine what laws are implicated, what types of damages should be attached, and ultimately who should be held liable.

There have been many lawsuits filed to address some of these unclear issues and we will be sure to update you when we have more answers. 

— Contributed by Ashley Cloud

Ashley Cloud is the founder of The Cloud Law Firm, servicing creative entrepreneurs in all 50 states. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok for more information.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.  Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.  This website contains links to other third-party websites.  Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; Ashley N. Cloud and The Cloud Law Firm PLLC do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
4 mins read

Can Black-Owned Banks Benefit From Fintech layoffs?

Over the past few years, Black-owned banks have had some difficulty attracting IT professionals. And a national labor shortage, a pandemic, and the “great resignation” have not made this issue any easier to resolve.

Over the past few months, a slowdown in venture capital funding into the fintech sector has led to a wave of layoffs as a result of high interest rates, rising inflation, and falling stock market valuations.

Coinbase announced in June that it was laying off 18% of its workforce. Robinhood cut 9% of its workforce in April, followed by a 23% reduction in August. PayPal’s security R&D team, which was focusing on emerging technologies, was also laid off.

The fintech sector’s funding woes could possibly be the answer to the tech talent shortage at Black-owned banks. The opportunity presents itself at a pivotal time as the banking sector accelerates its transition to modern technology across the board, from artificial intelligence software to core computing in the cloud.

Black-owned banks now have an opportunity to hire innovative candidates that possess a combination of tech, customer experience, and finance skills.

But first, banks should ensure they have the systems in place to hire as quickly as possible.

Solutions include video interviews or implementing an interview and evaluation structure that allows multiple stakeholders to speak with applicants over the course of a single day. These  “marathon interviews” can be demanding but will accelerate the hiring process.

A particular focus should be placed on hiring those who specialize in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. Banks have lagged behind when it comes to personalizing financial services and products. Meanwhile, fintech’s have done a great job of understanding client concerns.

As more fintech talent becomes available, banks should also consider what customer experience experts with fintech experience can bring to the table.

This would be an opportunity to hire those who have a thorough understanding of millennial and Gen Z customers and know how to cater to their needs.

These experts specialize in paying attention to consumer behavior and pain points while collaborating with technology teams to create personalized solutions.

Another reason that banks have struggled to attract tech talent is that their traditional cultures do not align with that of tech workers.

Traditional financial institutions should explore key motivators which would make their culture appealing to those who have developed skills in the fintech industry.

Flexible scheduling and the option to work from home are benefits that will help lure fintech talent. Talented millennial employees have realized the benefits of working when they are most effective as individuals, as opposed to the typical 9–5.

However, although fintechs’ cool culture and excitement gave them an advantage in recruiting, in uncertain economic times, workers with families may find greater security in traditional banks.

All of that being said, recruiting is only half the battle. As the skills gap continues, banks will also need to prioritize employee retention. Investing more in emerging technology and updating legacy systems will help retain these tech savvy professionals.

Tony O. Lawson

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3 mins read

Top 5 AI Robotics Trends in 2022

We live in a time where technology is moving faster than we could have imagined. One such popular breakthrough has been artificial intelligence. The AI Robotics market is expected to grow from USD 6.9 billion in 2021 to USD 35.3 billion by 2026.

As technology has advanced, more and more technological developments have been implemented in this field. A lot of efforts are being put into making artificial intelligence robots safe, friendly, and efficient, from increasing functionalities to improving security.

Keep reading to learn more about the trends in AI Robotics in 2022.

1. AI-Powered Robotics and RPA

RPA improves quality control, lowers costs, and boosts efficiency, among other benefits. The adoption of RPA is growing exponentially in the 2020s. Integrating AI in robots and RPA will allow us to automate many processes that humans currently handle, thus saving time and resources on tasks that machines can perform. AI is the ideal complement to RPA, allowing for more accurate and efficient automation.

2. Rise of Cobots

Cobots are collaborative robots that are low-cost, safe, and easy to deploy. These are intended to collaborate with humans in businesses to combine the strengths of human employees and robots. Many industries have been adopting cobots to lower their production costs while improving the quality of their products.

3. Robotics in Healthcare

The healthcare industry is also taking advantage of the benefits of AI and robotics. Robotic devices that perform surgeries are being used to conduct complex operations. These machines can help surgeons work more efficiently, allowing them to spend less time on each patient. They can also assist with rehabilitation after an injury or illness by monitoring progress through exercise programs.

4. Delivery Robots

The era of delivery robots has been on the rise, with increased demand for them in the retail and food and beverage industries. The global delivery robots market is expected to grow at a higher CAGR of 31.3% from 2022 to 2030. The reduction of delivery costs in last-mile deliveries and increased venture funding are key drivers of growth in this market.

5. Smart Factories

As robots become more intelligent, manufacturing and distribution businesses have become smarter. Industrial robots and automated solutions are assisting businesses with assembly lines more efficiently. When performing repetitive tasks, industrial robots provide manufacturers with greater consistency and quality.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way people interact with computers and machines. As we move towards a more digital world, robotics will play an important role in our lives.

AI is a game-changer in many industries and shows no signs of slowing down.

 

Tony O. Lawson

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1 min read

Black Owned Customer Service Platform Chatdesk Raises $7 Million to Support E-commerce Brands

Chatdesk is a Black-owned customer service platform that helps companies deliver better customer service with messaging and analytics.

Founded in 2018 by Andrew Olaleye and Aneto Okonkwo, Chatdesk aims to bridge the gap between customers and companies.

While most people believe that Artificial Intelligence will eventually replace jobs that are done by people today, Chatdesk helps create job opportunities for the “Superfans” of eCommerce brands while leveraging machine learning to enable brands to deliver best-in-class support.

The New York-based startup recently raised $7 million in a round led by Cultivation Capital, with participation from Harlem Capital, Serena Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Stormbreaker Ventures, and Fika Ventures.

This funding will enable Chatdesk to help more brands scale their customer service 24/7 and drive sales on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.

Leading up to the fundraise, Chatdesk saw revenue growth of 300% year-over-year driven by a sharp increase in the volume of customer service tickets for e-commerce brands.

As the COVID-19 pandemic increased both the need for customer support and demand for remote work, Chatdesk has accumulated a waitlist of 5,000+ people that are excited to become customer support Superfans for the brands on the platform.

“We’re grateful to our customers and will use the new funds to grow our team, help more brands and create even more jobs,” says Aneto.

Tony O. Lawson


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