👉 Freepik launches new platform for AI-Assisted creative collaboration

Freepik has introduced Spaces, a new collaborative platform unveiled at the Upscale Conference in Málaga, designed as a hub for designers and visual storytellers. It extends Freepik's extensive library of assets and templates into an interactive workspace, enabling users to build, refine, and share projects with features like auto-tidy node alignment for streamlined workflows.

The platform integrates millions of reference images, videos, and AI models to support experimentation and inspiration within a clean, user-friendly interface.Spaces targets creatives already using Freepik's resources, facilitating AI-assisted creation, connection, and automation in visual projects. It enters a competitive landscape alongside tools like Figma, Canva, Runway ML, and Simplified, as well as Adobe's forthcoming Firefly Boards, but stands out through seamless access to Freepik's vast asset collection.

→ Try here

👉 Google Maps introduces AI tools for interactive projects

Google Maps is adding AI features powered by Gemini models, including a builder agent that generates interactive map prototypes from text descriptions, such as creating Street View tours of cities or visualizing real-time weather in regions. Users can export the generated code, test previews with their API keys, or modify projects in Firebase Studio, while a styling agent enables customized map themes for specific color coding or branding.

The update also includes Grounding Lite for grounding AI models via the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing assistants to answer queries like finding the nearest grocery store with visual aids such as lists, maps, or 3D displays. Additionally, an MCP server connects AI to Google Maps documentation for developer queries, building on recent extensions for Gemini's command line tool. Consumer features include hands-free navigation with Gemini and incident alerts with speed limits in select Indian areas.

👉 Google's AI Mode expands booking capabilities

Google's AI Mode in Search now includes agentic features for booking event tickets and beauty appointments, allowing users to request specifics like cheap standing floor tickets for concerts, with the system searching multiple websites for real-time options and linking directly to booking pages. This builds on prior capabilities for restaurant reservations based on preferences such as party size, time, location, and cuisine, presenting curated lists from various platforms.

Available to U.S. users in Search Labs, with higher limits for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, AI Mode emphasizes high-quality information amid its experimental status. Launched in March and expanded to over 180 countries, it recently added Canvas for organizing study plans and Google Lens for screen-based queries.

👉 Meta launches AI-Generated video app in Europe

Meta has introduced Vibes, a short-form video feed consisting entirely of AI-generated content, now available in Europe through the Meta AI app, resembling platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels. The feature allows users to create videos via prompts, remix existing ones, and customize with visuals, music, or styles, with feeds personalizing over time based on interests.

Emphasizing its social and collaborative nature, Vibes enables sharing to the feed, with friends, or cross-posting to Instagram and Facebook Stories and Reels. Launched in the U.S. six weeks ago amid negative user feedback labeling it as "AI slop," the rollout follows OpenAI's Sora and contrasts with Meta's earlier stance against unoriginal content, while noting a tenfold increase in media generation in the app.

👉 Studio Ghibli and others ask OpenAI to stop using their content

The Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), representing Japanese IP holders including Studio Ghibli, Bandai Namco, and Square Enix, has sent a formal letter to OpenAI. The letter requests that OpenAI refrain from using members' content for machine learning without prior permission and respond sincerely to copyright infringement claims related to outputs from its video model, Sora 2. Under Japan's copyright system, prior permission is generally required for such use, with no provision to avoid liability through subsequent objections.

OpenAI initially indicated that copyright owners must opt out if they do not want their art used to generate AI content, but has since updated its policy to block generation of copyrighted IPs unless owners opt in. Japan's government has also requested that OpenAI avoid replicating Japanese artwork. While Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki previously called AI-generated animation "an insult to life itself," he has not commented on recent viral AI images mimicking Ghibli's style.

StrawberryFrog, an independent full-service creative advertising agency, has created Outleap, a retro-styled video game emulating 1980s arcade titles like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. The game features a frog character fighting dinosaurs and originated as an internal promotional project to demonstrate agency agility. Haeun Kim, associate creative director, and Jason Wilbur, creative technologist, contributed to the effort, with Kim stating, “The future of creativity doesn’t belong to those who stand still. It belongs to those who outleap.”

All elements of Outleap, including characters, environments, interfaces, gameplay mechanics, animations, music, and code, were produced using AI tools such as Midjourney, Runway, Photoshop AI, Ludo.AI, ChatGPT, Gemini (Nano Banana), Suno, Cursor, and Claude. The team employed these for visual generation guided by human direction, sprite sheet creation in Ludo.AI, soundtrack production in Suno, and spec-driven coding led by Wilbur. The project was completed in weeks.

→ Try the game here

_{Credits: StrawberryFrog}

AI magazine for creatives

The mahazine is your curated guide to mastering AI as a creative professional, with research, tools, and insider insights that help you shape the next wave of creativity.

Inside this issue:

✍️ Prompt mastery: Practical frameworks to turn your ideas into powerful AI outputs.

🖼️ JSON prompting: Structure prompts with precision for better results.

🎨 Midjourney deep dive: Parameters and tricks to bring more soul to your renders.

📸 Marketing tools: Standout content and AI-driven product shots that convert.

🔥 AI trend radar: The most innovative campaigns to keep you ahead of the curve.

🦜 Visual explorations: Experimental imagery on summer, outdoor culture, and more.

Limited printed copies available.

— The Mahazine Team