The creator economy is evolving at lightning speed, and staying ahead of the curve is essential for any content creator.

Last week, the monetization tech landscape saw some developments that you simply can’t afford to miss.

We’ve rounded up the most important news from the industry to keep you informed and ahead of the game:

1. Artificial Intelligence vs. Content Licensing in Hollywood

2. How AI apps make money

3. FinTech supporting creators in the USA and Brazil

4. Pinterest Creator Inclusion Fund

5. PayPal’s stable coin on Solana

Artificial Intelligence vs. Content Licensing

AI is (and will be) thirsty of data, and not only text, but images and video. It seems, main AI companies are reaching out those with the largest database on images and video. With the exception of Alphabet (who owns both Gemini AI and youtube), the rest have to look for sources. AI major firms are heading to Hollywood, but major studies don’t seem particularly interested (by Bloomberg). Time will tell.

PS. If you don’t want Meta to train on your Facebook, WhatsApp & Instagram reels, images and videos, you need to manifest your will against that before June 26th (tricky path within their apps btw.)

How AI apps make money

Kylie Polar makes a deep dive in his newsletter into pricing models used (so far) in the AI tools available in the market. It’s rather simple, but not successful (not yet). It states lack of innovation, which I definitely agree on that one.

Pricing something based on users can be profitable if the resources used to fetch those users is low, but that’s not the case in AI. Those AI tools are mining resources to analyze, train and generate responses. In my view, responses that should be priced. Oh! that’s it, let’s price responses. Wait, it may be not as simple as it sounds, or maybe it’s not appropriate for all sectors.

Now, for the sake of simplicity, let’s think of Sora AI, the tool for generating AI-based videos. Here, results will need a LOT of effort, therefore, might result in a LOT of value, so why not charging for result? I’ll hold up on this, and elaborate in a following writing.

FinTech supporting creators in the USA and Brazil

This last week I came across two marvelous companies which are helping creators in the USA and in Brazil to grow, by providing them tailored financial solutions.

Neither incumbent banks nor neobanks have been able to help that niche. Luckily, we’re seeing new players every day. Kudos to Slingshot and Noodle.

Pinterest Creator Inclusion Fund

Pinterest is growing its Creators Funds to help individuals and SMEs grow in the creator economy, by focusing in providing resources to the traditionally unserved. Reported by TechCrunch, while this initiative is still in its early stage, it’s not the first iteration.

I love to see such a project grow in capabilities, and with strong partners all along. Can’t wait to see this life besides USA and Canada.

PayPal’s stable coin on Solana

This might be too techie, but still, related to the creators economy.

Creators are everywhere, and technology is enabling anyone to connect from anywhere to consume anything. This means, that eventually, money will follow: either to pay for something, or earn through something.

Seeing a big player like PayPal collaborating with Solana sends a clear message to the world: reach and speed is everything in Payments (maybe also security though).

That’s all folks!

Bonus Track, an absolute must-hear for

Perception Paradox Podcast, hosted by Zivile Einikyte, explores the fascinating journey of James Song, a British-born Chinese figurative artist and content creator.

Spoiler for this month

We already started shooting our new podcast series with Ana Maria Jipa, stay tuned and make sure you subscribed to our newsletter.