Ahiahi mārie, welcome to The Spinoff Daily.
Today on The Spinoff, Charlotte Muru-Lanning dispels the weirdly persistent / persistently weird myth about litter boxes in school bathrooms, Alex Casey learns how practical effects are making a big comeback in a new local creature feature and Tara Ward falls head over heels for a sultry Southland potato.
But first, designer Tim Gibson explains how to spot an AI political ad (for now).
“What a time to be alive. From Popes in puffers, to Levi’s diversifying their fashion models so fully that they’re not even living organisms any more, to AI-made ‘Aotearoa carnage’ ads from our own National Party, we’re awash with AI imagery.
Can we keep up with it all? How many fingers does Vladimir Putin have anyway? Is it OK to use imaginary people in ads endorsing (or attacking) real political parties? And how much should we care if gran thinks that farmer really grew a strawberry the size of a melon?
I’m an illustrator, art director and creative director in the advertising industry, and I have an unhealthy interest in how AI is changing and challenging creative jobs like mine. In this piece I want to show you how to spot fake images – and why it’s going to get a lot harder to spot fakes in the future.”
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The easy way to stay across the news
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The most glamorous New Zealander is a 40-year-old potato named Desirèe
“As the place where the cost of living crisis bites the hardest, finding any joy at the supermarket is rare. This is why I love the potato section the most – because if you’re lucky enough to live in the South Island, it’s here that you’ll find Desirèe, the mysterious, enchanting figure that adorns the Pyper’s Produce potato bags.”
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