The Future is Here — Ohnahji U Syllabus for November 18th, 2023

🎼 “ See we were all just little nebulae in a nursery / From supernovas now we’ve grown into our history / We’re taking what’s right out of mystery, closure / Now we’re taking in all the star exposure!” 🎵

Hey y’all, it’s your boy Jamal comin’ at ya from Ohnahji U! I’m a Tech major tryna be the best developer out this piece! I stays on top of all the digital news — Disney droppin NFT pins, TikTok pushin’ crypto rewards, even AI gettin’ a little crazy lately. When I heard about all that, I had to slide thru to the ONJU study session to take some notes to share wit my people. C’mon to the halls of knowledge, and let’s chop it up! 🎓

This space was live on 11/18/23 at 10 am PST, hosted by the ONJU Dev and Co-founder ⁠Ohnahji B⁠, and cohosted by ONJU Deans EyeSeeThru & BOSS2.0. From gaming integrations with TikTok to Disney’s plans for digital collectibles, brands old and new are buying into Web3 — and for good reason! 🎓

PINS THAT PACK A PUNCH

Will Disney’s collectible NFT capture the hearts of IRL pin enthusiasts?

Beginning the topics for today’s Ohnahji U Saturday was Disney Pinnacle, the newest NFT drop from Dapper Labs. Pinnacle will bring Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars characters onto the Flow blockchain in uniquely styled collectible and tradable digital pins. Disney parks across the world have a beloved tradition of collecting physical pins, but there is debate among our speakers about whether this will appeal to traditional Disney collectors.

Some perspectives from our speakers:

An avid Disney park attendee, Ohnahji B shares that he collects Disney pins and is excited about the digital pins but unsure if they will detract from the physical appeal of wearing real pins in the parks. He shares:

“I don’t know if people are going to take to this because with when it comes to the pins, people wanna wear them. They fill up their vest and their jackets and their backpacks and the different straps and everything and walk around the park with their pins all on them. So I don’t know if this is gonna take away from that because you can’t really do that.”

EyeSeeThru argues that the digital pins don’t provide the same tangible utility to pin collectors. He thinks the offering needs to provide some connection to physical pins to capture that market. EST expresses:

“You’re not gonna get the grannies that collect pins that have them all over everything on the entire outfit when they go to the park, right? A digital pin doesn’t do anything for them, and they got plenty of disposable income…you’re missing the whole market cap, right?”

Both Boss and DR Smart are optimistic about the NFTs, especially if they unlock additional benefits, like limited edition physical pins or the potential to use them in mixed reality experiences. DR inserts:

“I’m thinking that future-wise is if they do the mixed realities, where you’re walking in the [Disney] park, you get the digital pin, you have the digital function that you can see and that you can open up. I don’t think this is gonna be their opening of their own [Metaverse] world, they still probably have some other stuff in the mix, but I think it’s really cool.”

THE METAVERSE GOES MAINSTREAM

How brands are driving mass adoption of Web3 through gamification

Adding more context to the Metaverse mentioned by DR, Speaker Denae joins the conversation to provide an insider view into how major brands are embracing Web3 and the Metaverse.

An advocate for public relations techniques that quietly usher mass consumers into Web3 through things they already enjoy, Denae explains that companies like Disney, TikTok, and even Dunkin’ Donuts are actively gamifying experiences to onboard users into crypto and digital ownership models.

For example, TikTok has an entire creator economy fueled by coins and points awarded for engagement. These can then be utilized to purchase real products. Denae views this as a clever entry point for mainstream Web3 adoption.

More gems from the conversation:

• Web3 entry points are already emerging via crypto integrations with popular digital platforms like TikTok
• Gamification tactics are key to driving mainstream adoption by incentivizing participation through games, loyalty programs, and creator monetization.
• Rebranding Web3 to focus on new earning models over scary jargon is needed to attract wider audiences.
• Seamless ways to convert fiat (paper) money to crypto help overcome the skepticism behind its value.
• Gradual exposure to crypto ownership draws people into Web3 versus sudden expectations to embrace full decentralization.

For the Metaverse vision to become a reality, onboarding the next billion users requires reframing the value proposition so it feels manageable for the average consumer.

AI HITS TURBULENCE

Thoughts on OpenAI’s recent leadership shakeup

The recent news about AI company OpenAI removing their CEO, Sam Altman, rounded out our conversation for the day. Though the news shocked many, EyeSeeThru, our ONJU Dean of all things AI, noted, “Whatever happens, we’re gonna have to ride with it. It’s here. We can’t put that genie back in the bottle.”

At the time of the conversation, there were still many unknowns surrounding the reasons behind Altman’s removal, but he has since been reinstated to the helm of the innovative company.

Instead, it has sparked valuable conversations about the pace of AI development, particularly OpenAI’s origins as a non-profit and its deal with Microsoft.

EyeSeeThru highlights that OpenAI changed the wording on its website to state that Microsoft loses all commercial rights once the AI reaches advanced general intelligence (AGI) status for safety reasons.

Speakers agree — AI is neutral, but fully decentralized models require informed users with confidence in these systems. We need to learn to develop it ethically, guide it with human intentions, and manage its risks to keep creating while being mindful of its influence. Despite the uncertainties, this is an intriguing time of progress for AI while recognizing the need to establish guardrails.

Brands like Disney, TikTok, and OpenAI grabbed headlines over the past week for their forays into digital collectibles, the Metaverse, and recent AI development challenges. While uncertainties remain around mainstream adoption and ethical technology, one thing is clear — innovation waits for no one. The future is here whether we are ready or not.

Ohnahji is ready to keep you up to speed — find out how you can be at the helm of leading emerging tech by tapping in with us on Twitter or visit our website or campus. 🎓

Don’t forget our audio Spaces — The Commons with BOSS2.0 on Wednesdays at 5 pm PST /7 pm CST and Ohnahji U Saturdays, Saturdays at 10 am PST /12 noon CST.