TOGETHER WITH

It's Tuesday and YouTube TV is providing a big perk for football fans: “unlimited streams at home for NFL Sunday Ticket.”

LET’S TAKO ‘BOUT IT

TikTok is the latest app to test out an AI chatbot. Here’s what to expect from Tako:

TikTok is jumping on the chatbot trend. Just weeks after the tumultuous introduction of Snapchat’s ChatGPT-style chatbot—which resulted in the app being review-bombed by angry users—TikTok has begun testing its own AI assistant in global markets and on IOS devices in the U.S.

TechCrunch reports that TikTok’s generative chatbot, Tako, will be able to answer users’ questions about videos they’re currently watching, and recommend additional content based on certain niches or topics (e.g. cooking, pottery, DIY projects).

Right now, the chatbot’s abilities are still largely under development: according to TechCrunch, TikTok warns first-time Tako users that the bot is “experimental,” should not be relied upon for medical, legal, or financial advice, and may offer information that is not “true or accurate.”

Users should also be aware that their correspondence with Tako isn’t exactly private. TikTok’s initial warning notes that all of the chatbot’s conversations are reviewed for safety purposes and to “enhance your experience.” Given legislators’ ongoing concerns about TikTok’s (alleged) surveillance of U.S. user data, we’re guessing Washington power players won’t be too thrilled about Tako’s debut.

🔆 SPONSORED 🔆

Wondering what you could do with extra funds? Here’s how top creators leveraged their investments from Spotter

For YouTube’s most-subscribed-to creators, there’s only one place to find immediate creator-friendly capital and top-notch support: Spotter. Spotter has paid out more than $775 million in investments since 2019 to 1,500 channel partners. Best of all: deals with Spotter are super flexible and always personalized, with amounts ranging between $100,000 and $50+ million.

So, how do the internet’s top creators invest their  Spotter funds ?

• Level-Up Content: Creators have elevated their content by investing in premium equipment, expanding their teams, and reinvesting in essential production personnel. 🎥
  
  

• Brand Development: With the support of Spotter capital, creators have developed their own unique brands and creator products both on YouTube and beyond to secure brand longevity. 📈
  
  

• Studio Space: Creators have increased their production capabilities, ideation, and creativity by investing in properties that provide functional workspaces to unlock their full creative potential. 🏡

And since Spotter understands that creating a world-changing catalog requires more than just capital, they also provide a community that hinges on two elements. First,  invaluable performance insights  to better inform creators’ content strategy via exclusive YouTube data. Second, they bring creators together through events aimed at generating fresh ideas, collaborations, and knowledge sharing.

So, when you’re ready to make your dream a reality…

 Fund your future with Spotter → ​

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• According to StreamElements and Streams Charts, the number of active channels on Twitch’s fast-growing rival, Kick, jumped from 9.1K in January to nearly 70K in April. (Tubefilter)
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• Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos has announced that this year’s iteration of his record-breaking creator boxing event, La Velada del Año III, will be broadcast in English for the first time. (Gizmodo)
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• In a lawsuit filed last week, Twitter’s former PR firm accused the platform of owing more than $830,000 in unpaid invoices. (Gizmodo)
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• Bluesky—the Twitter alternative backed by Jack Dorsey—has debuted a “custom feed” option that allows users in its closed beta to choose from different algorithms or create their own. (Engadget)

DATA • ICYMI 📈

Creators launched everything from shoe brands to AI girlfriends last week

​#1 - Amouranth made an AI copy of herself that fans can pay to be their “sexy and playful girlfriend”​​
Amouranth—who reaches 6 million followers on Twitch—announced a new partnership with Forever Voices AI to create “AI Amouranth.” According to the streamer, the bot companion is “designed to satisfy the needs of every fan, ensuring an unforgettable and all-encompassing experience.”

#2 - MrBallen’s new management company seeks YouTube storytellers​
MrBallen (aka true crime YouTuber John Allen) launched his own management arm, Ballen Management, under the umbrella of his content production company Ballen Studios. The new org has already co-signed its first two creators with UTA: Nick Crowley (1.7M subscribers) and Nexpo (2.8M subscribers).
​
#3 - D’Amelio Footwear has officially launched. Here’s the latest on Charli and Dixie’s shoe brand.​​
This month, the TikTok-famous D’Amelio family debuted their latest venture: D’Amelio Footwear. The new brand kicked off with a May 18 launch party that welcomed notable guests like Real Housewives cast member Teresa Giudice, basketball star Azzi Fudd, and creators Tana Mongeau, Jack Wright, and Jason Nash.

​#4 - Top 50 Most Viewed U.S. YouTube Channels • Week Of 05/21/2023​
Last week’s U.S. Top 50 delivered some pretty impressive stats. Every single channel collected at least 110 million weekly views, while the #1 hub—DaFuq!?Boom!—scored a whopping 816.7 million weekly views.

LISTEN UP 🎙️

This week on the podcast...

It’s time for a lesson in Constitutional law, and that means we’re diving into TikTok’s latest lawsuit. As the app takes Montana to court, the rest of the tech world is left wondering: who will win in a battle of the Bill of Rights?

Joshua Cohen is out this week, so Lauren Schnipper and a special guest delve into the details on the latest episode of Creator Upload. Check out the full story—and pick up a few exclusive insights from Jellysmack president Sean Atkins—on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen. Drew Baldwin helped edit, too. It's a team effort.