🔮 Metaproof

Metaproof is a media company that covers the business of the metaverse. We keep you informed how the metaverse and web3 are changing YOUR industry.

🔮 Metaproof is a weekly newsletter that aggregates all of the top stories from each of our industry-specific newsletters so you get a holistic view on what is going on.

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📲 By the numbers

📫 News & trends

🏀 Metaproof Sports

🎾 DraftKings tees up PGA Tour NFT fantasy golf game

Sports betting company DraftKings has unveiled plans to introduce a new NFT fantasy golf game, in partnership with the PGA Tour, after creating NFT-based fantasy sports games around the NFL and UFC. The upcoming game Reignmakers PGA Tour, slated for a March launch, will follow the same format as the previous NFT projects of DraftKings, which will include the creation and sale of digital cards representing PGA Tour golfers with the help of Polygon.

The PGA Tour had previously announced a collaboration with Autograph, a Tom Brady's NFT startup, in September, which has yet to produce any tangible outcomes. Autograph's NFTs are anticipated to be digital collectibles linked to on-the-course moments, while DraftKings is centered on player cards that can be used in-game.

The PGA Tour foresees NFT projects' ability to increase fans' attachment to players through ownership of their respective assets, referring to players like Jon Rahm and Max Homa, who competed in the Genesis Invitational last weekend.

🕶 Metaproof Fashion

❓How ChatGPT and AI are appearing on Fashion Week runways

Fashion and technology have been intertwined for years, and we are seeing more and more players in the space use technology to improve their operations. At London Fashion Week, 5-year-old British brand Ahluwalia announced a partnership with digital ID startup EON and Microsoft to bring full supply chain consumer traceability to Ahluwalia’s fall collection through digital IDs.

Here are other developments in fashion tech:

• For Fall 2023, designers are leveraging tech to inform marketing, designs, and supply chain tracking rather than just using it as a gimmick. KWK by Kay Kwok, based in Shanghai, collaborated with a sound artist who utilized ChatGPT to produce lyrics that were accompanied by a violin for their runway show's soundtrack, while British designer Christopher Kane incorporated AI to create animal prints for his collection.

• Adidas, Burberry, and Carrefour have tied up with blockchain startups to create digital IDs that can be used to track a product's journey from raw materials to the finished product. This helps customers know that they are buying authentic products while also enabling brands to track their supply chains more effectively.

• Microsoft has partnered with the Fashion Institute of Technology to create a revolutionary new degree program that teaches students how to use AI in fashion design, helping students learn how to use AI to analyze data and produce more personalized and on-trend creations.

🎮 Metaproof Gaming

🤔 Rockstar Games to launch GTA 6 metaverse with in-game cryptocurrency?

2022 leaks have revealed that the development of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is underway. According to SeekingAlpha, its creator Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive could position the upcoming game as more than just a traditional game and morphing into a platform, with potential metaverse and cryptocurrency integration.

GTA Online has already introduced some metaverse elements, and it seems likely that GTA 6 will follow suit. The success of GTA 6 is crucial for Take-Two Interactive, with developers aiming to surpass the sales record set by GTA 5 - $1B made in three days - by making the new game more robust and targeting earning $1B in a day or two. The inclusion of the metaverse and cryptocurrency in GTA 6, however, is not confirmed until the game’s eventual release.

🎥 Metaproof Media, Entertainment, IP

❗Bluesky rolls out its decentralized social media app as invite only

Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's Bluesky, a social media app and protocol group, is currently undergoing beta testing. It can be remembered that in 2019, when the project started, Dorsey said: “Twitter is funding a small independent team of up to five open source architects, engineers, and designers to develop an open and decentralized standard for social media.”

The app, designed to promote decentralization and provide users with more control over their data, is an alternative for Twitter users who are uneasy with the constant change and paid product approach. It operates on the AT Protocol, aiming to create a more open and interoperable social media space, where users can easily connect and share information. Bluesky is currently only available for download via the Apple App Store, and it is invite-only at this time.

🎵 Metaproof Music

🎧 Spotify launches an AI DJ

In its continuing bid for personalized music listening experiences, streaming platform Spotify has launched an AI DJ that isn’t a far cry from a radio DJ in that it delivers a curated selection of music alongside AI-powered spoken commentary about the tracks and artists. Get the lowdown below:

• To access the DJ: head to the Music Feed on the Homepage of the app. Tap Play on the DJ card to begin, then the DJ will begin to play a lineup of music and short commentary.

• Get a personalized stream of songs that includes both newer tracks and old favorites, as well as a variety of genres.

• Spotify is leveraging generative AI through OpenAI to create the commentary while its AI voice comes from its 2022 Sonantic acquisition. While a market leader in personalization for years in this space, Spotify seeks to attract and retain users who want a more lean-back experience and amid rivals’ use of similar technologies.

🎨 Metaproof Art

😱 Deep Fake: The world’s largest AI art exhibition

AI art continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, and physical exhibitions featuring AI-assisted artwork are becoming increasingly common. Its presence at the NFT Paris this week is a testimony to this, with Superchief Picture Gallery NFT teaming up with AI art advocate and backer Claire Silver on Artist x AI 000003, where they present works from 39 of the most inventive AI-empowered creators in the space and with each production dropping as a 1/1 on NFT marketplace Foundation on February 23.

That gallery handily leads into another Superchief-run AI art show in Los Angeles on March 3 called Deep Fake – curated by ClownVamp – which advertises itself as the largest gathering of AI art ever. A few choice details:

• In a similar style to the NFT Paris exhibition, 62 of the 73 artworks were minted on Foundation and available for auction a day before the show, while the remaining 11 pieces were collaborative efforts by MAIF artists released on Objkt as editions of 30 for 20 XTZ each.

• The artist roster included Tomeo, Prostov, Str4ngeThing, Jenni Pasanen, Anna Condo, Stephan Vasement, Nikita Blank, 0009, Richard Nadler, Ren AI, and Leônidas Valdez.

• According to show curator CloudVamp: “Perhaps these ‘fake’ tools can create some real thoughts and feelings,” referring to AI.

👩‍💻 Metaproof AI

🦾 Elon Musk is hiring artificial intelligence researchers to develop ChatGPT rival

Is Elon Musk feeling the heat? The billionaire’s recent efforts to recruit AI researchers to form a new research lab and develop an alternative to the chatbot ChatGPT is now in the spotlight. Musk has been in talks to hire Igor Babuschkin, a researcher who recently left Alphabet's DeepMind AI unit, to lead the development of the competition to the high-profile chatbot produced by startup OpenAI.

It can be noted that Musk has been critical of ChatGPT, calling it “scary good” and has warned of the dangers of AI by dubbing it “one of the biggest risks to the future of civilization.” He has also cut ties with OpenAI and suggested regulating AI safety. We’ll keep posted on where Musk and Babuschkin’s discussions will lead in the pursuit of AI research.

💸 Finance buzz

• AI crypto assets continue to surge despite a brief downturn in mid-February, with the net value of 74 listed AI-focused cryptocurrencies rising to more than $4B, which accounts for 0.37% of the entire crypto economy’s value. (Source)

• In India, gaming industry veteran Manish Agarwal and web3 investor Ishank Gupta raised ₹160 crore ($20M) in a seed round for a new web3 gaming startup called Kratos Studios. (Source)

• Warner Music Group-backed Styngr announced a music deal with licensing hub ICE, where the more than 330,000 rights holders who ICE represents will be able to receive publishing royalties for usage of their works by Styngr’s clients. (Source)

• Former Apple executive Trip Hawkins is joining web3 startup Games for a Living (GFAL) as its co-founder and strategy chief as it looks to take on top blockchain games like Axie Infinity. (Source)

🗣️ Quote of the week

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All content on this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not aim to serve as or replace expert investment advice.

If you are a startup building in the metaverse / web3 ecosystem and are raising capital, please reach out to Sfermion. Sfermion is an investment firm focused on accelerating the emergence of the metaverse.

Stay informed via our Twitter and Subscribe here to get your metaverse news roundup every Friday.