CivitAI Clubs make Community RAGE

Olivio Sarikas
6 Jan 202410:02

TLDRThe video discusses the controversy surrounding Civ's introduction of 'clubs,' a system akin to Patreon for supporting creators. Criticisms include the confusing use of 'bus' as virtual currency and the lack of direct monetary support for creators. The video suggests improvements, such as clearer communication about club purposes and offering additional resources to patrons. It also addresses the importance of recognizing and compensating creators for their contributions to AI image generation, advocating for a fair system of donations and support.

Takeaways

  • 🤔 Civ's introduction of 'clubs' has been met with confusion and criticism, as they resemble a Patreon-like system but use a virtual currency called 'bus'.
  • 💡 The use of a virtual currency (bus) for supporting creators is seen as an unnecessary step, as direct monetary support would be more efficient and transparent.
  • 📦 The concept of clubs is not well-defined, with some clubs like 'real cartoon fan club' and 'comedy club' raising questions about their purpose and value.
  • 🏆 Participation in generation contests and sponsoring them is seen as a more understandable aspect of the club system, providing clearer benefits for creators and users.
  • 📈 The idea of timed exclusive access and enhanced resources is appealing, but the execution needs improvement to ensure creators receive proper support and users understand the value.
  • 🎥 Suggestion to include videos on club pages to better explain the concept and value to potential supporters, as the current content is lacking.
  • 💸 There is a general consensus that creators deserve support for their work, and the community should be willing to donate for the resources they provide.
  • 🌐 Open source has been a significant driving force in AI image generation, with the community contributing greatly to the field's innovation.
  • 🚀 The community's willingness to invest time and resources for free is commendable, but there is a growing need to recognize and compensate creators for their contributions.
  • 🤝 The concept of supporting creators through donations is seen as fair and reasonable, allowing users to access resources freely while giving creators recognition for their efforts.
  • 🔄 The issue of commercial licensing for models is raised, questioning the control and rights over the images used for training, which could impact the viability of such a system.

Q & A

  • What is the main issue with Civ's introduction of clubs?

    -The main issue is that the clubs' concept is confusing, and it seems like the money is first going to Civ and then possibly to the creators, which is not a direct support mechanism like Patreon.

  • Why is the term 'clubs' potentially misleading in this context?

    -The term 'clubs' might be misleading because it is not clear what benefits or services the members are receiving, and it could imply a social or hobbyist group rather than a platform for financial support of creators.

  • What is the problem with using a virtual currency like 'bus' for supporting creators?

    -Using a virtual currency adds an extra step in the support process, which could lead to confusion and a sense that the money is not going directly to the creators but rather to the platform first.

  • How does the speaker suggest Civ could improve the club concept?

    -The speaker suggests that Civ should rework the clubs' purpose, allow direct financial support to creators, and provide more information and content on the club pages to give potential supporters a clear understanding of what they are paying for.

  • What is the feedback given by the community regarding Civ's club system?

    -The community feedback suggests that Civ should consider ad-supported options, clearer explanations of what the clubs offer, and a more transparent system for how the funds are distributed to creators.

  • How has the open-source community contributed to AI image generation?

    -The open-source community has been a driving force behind the innovation in AI image generation, investing countless hours and resources to train models and build resources that significantly outperform those provided by commercial entities like Stability AI.

  • What is the speaker's stance on creators receiving payment for their work?

    -The speaker believes that creators should be fairly compensated for their work, especially when they invest their time, knowledge, and resources into creating models and other AI resources that are made available for free to the community.

  • Why is it important to support creators through donations or other means?

    -Supporting creators through donations or other means is important because it acknowledges their efforts and investments, allows them to continue producing valuable resources, and sustains their passion and livelihood in the field of AI and creativity.

  • How do companies like Mid Journey and Runway differ from Civ in terms of their business model?

    -Companies like Mid Journey and Runway charge for their services from the beginning and do not release their resources into the open-source world, unlike Civ which initially offered free access to its platform and resources.

  • What is the speaker's suggestion for a potential solution to the payment issue?

    -The speaker suggests that a paid commercial license could be an interesting option, but questions the feasibility due to the lack of control over what the models have been trained on and the potential licensing issues.

  • What is the importance of providing additional resources to users?

    -Providing additional resources, such as metadata insights or advanced descriptions about model training, can enhance the user experience by offering a deeper understanding and more effective use of the models, which can be particularly valuable for power users and those deeply interested in the subject.

Outlines

00:00

💰 Criticism of Civ's Club System and Payment Model

The paragraph discusses the issues with Civ's introduction of clubs, which are similar to Patreon, allowing users to support creators. The criticism includes the confusing naming, the unnecessary use of the virtual currency 'bus' instead of direct monetary support, and the potential for funds to primarily benefit Civ rather than creators. It also addresses the lack of content and clarity on club pages, suggesting the need for more transparency and better community interaction. The speaker recommends improvements such as timed exclusive access, enhanced resources, and additional metadata insights for club members.

05:02

🤔 Reflection on Open Source Contributions and Payment Models

This paragraph reflects on the importance of open source contributions to AI image generation and the community's role in driving innovation. It questions the expectation that creators should work for free and emphasizes the value of their time, knowledge, and resources. The paragraph also discusses the need for structures like Civ to support creators by covering development and hosting costs. It contrasts the community's generosity in sharing resources for free with companies like Mid Journey and Runway, which charge for their services without open-sourcing their tools. The speaker advocates for a fair system where creators can receive donations for their work and for clubs to be more aligned with the community's needs.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Civi

Civi appears to be a platform or community in the video that is involved in creating and supporting AI models and other digital content. The term is used in the context of a controversy surrounding the introduction of 'clubs', which are likened to Patreon-style support systems for creators. The video discusses the platform's decision to use a virtual currency called 'bus' for these transactions, which the speaker finds confusing and potentially exploitative.

💡Virtual Currency (Bus)

In the context of the video, 'Bus' is a virtual currency used within the Civi platform. The speaker is critical of this system because it adds an extra step in the process of supporting creators, potentially directing funds first to Civi before reaching the creators. This could lead to a loss of direct support and create confusion around where the money is actually going.

💡Patreon

Patreon is a platform that allows creators to receive direct financial support from their fans or users, typically on a monthly basis. In the video, the speaker compares Civi's 'clubs' to Patreon, indicating that they should function more like a direct support system rather than involving a virtual currency like 'bus'.

💡Creators

In the context of the video, 'creators' refers to individuals who produce content such as AI models, textures, and other digital assets for platforms like Civi. The speaker is concerned about the fair compensation and support of these creators, advocating for a system that allows them to receive direct financial contributions from users who value their work.

💡Clubs

Clubs, as mentioned in the video, are a feature introduced by Civi that are likened to clubs on Patreon, where users can financially support creators. However, the speaker finds the term 'clubs' confusing and criticizes the implementation, suggesting that it should be more about direct support of creators rather than a novel concept that might not be fully understood by the community.

💡Open Source

Open source refers to a philosophy and practice of allowing others to view, use, modify, and distribute a work under certain licenses. In the context of the video, the speaker praises the open-source community for their contribution to AI image generation, emphasizing that this collaborative spirit has been a driving force behind the innovation in the field.

💡Community

The 'community' in the video refers to the collective group of individuals who contribute to the development and innovation of AI technologies, particularly in the field of AI image generation. The speaker emphasizes the community's role in freely sharing resources and knowledge, which has greatly outperformed the offerings of some commercial AI platforms.

💡Value of Work

The 'value of work' concept in the video addresses the speaker's belief that creators should be fairly compensated for their time, effort, and expertise. The speaker argues against the idea that digital creations should be expected to be given away for free, emphasizing the real-world costs and investments made by creators.

💡Donations

In the context of the video, 'donations' refer to voluntary contributions made by users to support creators and their work. The speaker advocates for a system where users can choose to donate to creators as a way of showing appreciation for their efforts and contributions to the community.

💡Commercial License

A 'commercial license' typically refers to a legal agreement that allows the use of a product or service in exchange for payment. In the video, the speaker speculates about the potential for Civi to offer paid commercial licenses for AI models, raising questions about the control and rights over the training data used by these models.

💡Feedback

In the video, 'feedback' refers to the responses or suggestions provided by users or community members regarding the Civi platform's features and policies. The speaker discusses the importance of Civi taking user feedback into account to improve the 'clubs' system and better align with the community's needs and expectations.

Highlights

Civi introduces 'Clubs', a platform similar to Patreon for supporting creators.

The use of the term 'Clubs' may be confusing for users.

Currently, users must purchase the virtual currency 'Bus' to support creators, which may lead to confusion about direct support.

There are concerns that the money might first go to Civi and then, possibly, to the creators, instead of a direct transaction.

The club setup includes various categories like 'Real Cartoon Fan Club' and 'Comedy Club', which may not appeal to all users.

The lack of content on the club pages, such as empty feeds and posts, might have been better filled before launch.

Suggestion to include a video on the club's page to better explain the concept to users.

The concept of timed exclusive access aligns with successful models on platforms like Patreon.

Enhanced resources could include additional data or insights on model training, providing a deeper understanding for users.

The idea of a paid commercial license for models raises questions about the control and licensing of training data.

Open source has been a significant driving force behind AI image generation, with the community contributing greatly to innovation.

Creators should be supported with donations for their work and resources provided for free to the community.

The introduction of 'Clubs' has faced backlash and needs to be reworked to better align with community needs.

Creators deserve support for their efforts in creating resources, especially when they offer them for free to the community.

The video discusses the importance of recognizing the value of digital creations and the effort behind them.

The speaker questions the expectation that some have for creators to work for free and the importance of giving back.

The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their thoughts and a prompt for likes and future engagement.