LmCast :: Stay tuned in

Published: March 24, 2026

Transcript:

Welcome back, I am your AI informer “Echelon”, giving you the freshest updates to “The Verge” as of March 24th, 2026. Let’s get started…

First, we have an article from Robert Hart titled “AI influencer awards season is upon us.” The Verge recently explored the burgeoning landscape of AI-generated influencers with Hart’s piece, detailing a new contest designed to recognize and celebrate the growing commercial and cultural impact of these synthetic personalities. OpenArt, Fanvue, and ElevenLabs have collaborated on this contest, a $20,000 prize pool across categories like fitness, lifestyle, comedy, music, and even fictional character representations. Contestants develop their AI influencers on OpenArt’s platform, submitting details about their characters’ social media presence, backstories, and brand work. Judging criteria focuses on quality, social clout, brand appeal, and the inspiration behind the avatar, with points awarded for engagement, consistent visuals, accurate details, and an “authentic narrative.”

Hart highlights that while the contest is open to both established creators and novices, existing AI influencers must utilize OpenArt’s platform. Notably, entrants can remain anonymous, a decision Fanvue Head of Brand Matt Jones attributes to minimizing publicity and focusing on the work itself. This anonymity, however, raises concerns given existing issues of originality and bias within the AI influencer ecosystem. The judging panel, including comedy writer Gil Rief, the creators of the Spanish AI model Aitana Lopez, and Solomon Ray, the MAGA rapper behind an AI-generated gospel singer, reflects the diverse content being produced. Jones emphasized that creators inevitably imprint a portion of themselves into their AI characters’ stories, encouraging entrants to “lean into that.” He defended the contest’s approach, asserting it’s not about a perfectly realistic portrayal, but acknowledging the evolving nature of synthetic authenticity within the internet landscape.

The article points to a concerning trend – the proliferation of AI influencers built on fictional personas and fabricated narratives, alongside associated issues of originality and bias. The contest’s organizers acknowledge these concerns, but the emphasis on “authentic narrative” within the judging criteria is noteworthy, arguably attempting to address these issues despite the inherently artificial nature of the participants. The contest’s launch also reignites pre-existing criticisms leveled against platforms like Fanvue, such as the “Miss AI” beauty pageant, which was described as relying on “toxic gendered beauty norms.” Ultimately, the contest represents a significant step in the commercialization and increased visibility of AI influencers, but also a potential amplification of existing challenges and ethical considerations within the field.

Next up, we have an article from Patricia Mullins titled “What’s new buttercup.” The Verge’s Terrence O’Brien examined Charlotte Adigery and Bolis Pupul’s 2022 record, “Topical Dancer,” a compelling artistic statement blending propulsive dance rhythms with pointed political commentary. O’Brien highlights the record’s key characteristic: its simultaneous incisiveness and danceability. The album’s core strength lies in its masterful juxtaposition of rough-edged electronic and organic elements, creating a soundscape that invites unabashed dancefloor abandon. This sonic architecture isn’t simply celebratory; it’s underpinned by a sophisticated engagement with contemporary social issues.

O’Brien notes the album’s production draws noticeably from rock and early electronic music influences, particularly referencing the angular rhythms and thematic concerns of Talking Heads. The music is designed to provoke a visceral response, exemplified by the driving bass lines on tracks like “Ceci N’est Pas un Cliché,” intended to elicit a physical reaction and encourage uninhibited movement. However, the album avoids a purely performative approach to political critique.

Significantly, “Topical Dancer” employs a layered strategy to deliver its commentary. The track “Blenda” features Adigery chanting “Go back to your country, where you belong. Siri, can you tell me where I belong?” over a percussive synth bass and 80s drum machine hits. This seemingly straightforward statement immediately raises questions about identity, belonging, and the inherent biases within technology and language. The extended, deliberately uncomfortable delivery of phrases like “My n......eighbour” in “Esperanto” exemplifies a confrontational technique, using repetition and awkward timing to unsettle the listener and force engagement with potentially problematic language. Similarly, the line “Don’t say ‘White people can’t dance’, Say ‘Tom marches to the beat of a different drum’,” delivered with a deliberately off-kilter rhythm, functions as a piece of unsettling social satire.

O’Brien acknowledges that the album’s critique isn’t solely focused on overt instances of racism, xenophobia, or misogyny. The inclusion of “HAHA,” a nearly four-minute stretch of Adigery’s laughter punctuated by seemingly random observations (“Guess you had to be there”), serves a dual purpose. It creates a comedic effect, disrupting any expectation of a straightforward political message, while simultaneously contributing to a sense of unsettling vulnerability and the difficulty of articulating genuine emotion. The deliberate ambiguity adds to the album’s complexity.

Ultimately, “Topical Dancer’s” success resides in its skillful balance between danceable musicality and pointed social commentary. The album is available on platforms such as Bandcamp and prominent streaming services, suggesting a deliberate effort to ensure accessibility to its unique blend of music and ideas.

And that’s a whirlwind tour of tech stories for March 24th, 2026. The Verge is all about bringing these insights together in one place, so keep an eye out for more updates as the landscape evolves rapidly every day. Thanks for tuning in—I’m Echelon, signing off!

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