CivitAI Clubs make Community RAGE

Olivio Sarikas
6 Jan 202410:02

TLDRThe video discusses the controversy surrounding Civ's introduction of 'clubs,' a feature akin to Patreon for supporting creators. Criticisms include the confusing use of 'bus' as virtual currency and the lack of direct financial support to creators. The video suggests improvements such as clearer communication of club purposes and the option for ad-free experiences or enhanced resources. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and compensating creators for their contributions to AI image generation, advocating for a more community-focused approach to financial support.

Takeaways

  • 🤔 Civ's introduction of 'clubs', similar to Patreon, has been met with confusion and criticism.
  • 💰 The requirement to purchase and use virtual currency ('bus') before supporting creators adds an unnecessary step.
  • 💸 There are concerns that the money might first go to Civ and then be distributed to creators, which is not ideal.
  • 😕 The naming and categorization of clubs (e.g., 'Real Cartoon Fan Club', 'Comedy Club') is seen as strange and potentially off-putting.
  • 😶 The lack of content on club pages, such as empty feeds and posts, makes it difficult for users to understand what they're paying for.
  • 📹 Suggestion to include videos on club pages to better explain the concept and value to potential supporters.
  • 🚫 The idea of 'enhanced resources' is a bit unclear, but could be improved by offering additional data or insights into model training.
  • 🎥 Timed exclusive access and metadata insights are seen as reasonable and beneficial for supporters, akin to early access for YouTube videos.
  • 💡 The community's role in driving AI image generation through open-source contributions is highlighted and appreciated.
  • 🤝 There is a call for recognition and support of creators who generously share their resources for free, through donations or other means.
  • 🤔 The script questions the sustainability of the current model and the need for a more community-focused approach to supporting creators.

Q & A

  • What is the main issue with Civ introducing clubs similar to Patreon?

    -The main issue is that Civ's clubs require users to purchase a virtual currency (bus) to support creators, which adds an extra step instead of allowing direct financial support. This setup may lead to the perception that Civ takes a cut of the funds before they reach the creators.

  • Why is the term 'clubs' potentially confusing in the context of Civ's platform?

    -The term 'clubs' might be confusing because it's not immediately clear what it refers to or how it functions within the platform. Users might expect a more straightforward naming that directly reflects the purpose of supporting creators.

  • How does the current system of using a virtual currency (bus) affect the support for creators?

    -The use of a virtual currency (bus) creates an extra step in the support process, which could lead to confusion and a sense that the platform is taking a portion of the funds before they reach the creators. This might discourage some users from participating in the support system.

  • What is the suggestion for improving the club setup on Civ's platform?

    -The suggestion is to rework the club setup to more closely resemble platforms like Patreon, allowing for direct financial support to creators. Additionally, it's recommended to provide more information and content on the club pages to give users a clear understanding of what they're supporting.

  • What are the potential benefits of timed, exclusive access for supporters in the club system?

    -Timed, exclusive access allows supporters to see new content or features before it becomes available to the general public. This can be an attractive incentive for users who want early access to creators' work and feel more connected to the creators they support.

  • How does the concept of enhanced resources work within the club system?

    -Enhanced resources could include additional content or data that provides a deeper understanding or expanded use of the creators' work. For example, this could involve detailed information on how a model was trained or tips on how to use it more effectively.

  • What is the concern regarding the commercial use of models trained on potentially unlicensed images?

    -The concern is that if the models were trained on images without proper licensing, offering a paid commercial license for their use could lead to legal issues. Creators would need to ensure they have the rights to the images used for training before offering such licenses.

  • 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 some AI companies. They have also chosen to make these resources freely available for others to use and experiment with.

  • Why is it important for creators to receive support or donations for their work?

    -Creators invest their time, knowledge, and often their own money into producing resources like models and UIs. It's important for them to receive support or donations as a form of recognition for their efforts and to help sustain their work, especially if they are creating these resources full-time.

  • What is the difference in perception towards platforms like Midjourney or Runway compared to Civ?

    -Platforms like Midjourney or Runway, which charge for their services from the start and do not release their work into the open-source community, do not seem to face the same level of criticism as Civ. This could be because users expect a certain level of monetization from these platforms, whereas they might have different expectations for a community-driven platform like Civ.

  • What is the suggestion for Civ's monetization strategy to avoid potential backlash?

    -One suggestion is for Civ to introduce ads and offer an ad-free experience for those who pay. However, this might not be the most effective strategy as users might simply turn to ad blockers. The focus should be on improving the club system to better align with the community's needs and expectations.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Criticism of Civ's Club System and Payment Model

The paragraph discusses the issues with Civ's newly introduced club system, which is likened to Patreon but with complications. The speaker criticizes the use of the term 'clubs' and the requirement to purchase a virtual currency (bus) to support creators, questioning why direct monetary support isn't an option. The speaker also raises concerns about the potential for funds to go directly to Civ before reaching creators, and the lack of content and information on the club pages. Suggestions are made for improvements, such as timed exclusive access and enhanced resources, but overall the speaker finds the concept strange and poorly executed.

05:02

💡 Suggestions for Improvement and Support of Creators

This paragraph expands on the idea of supporting creators and the need for a more transparent and direct payment model. The speaker acknowledges the value of the community's contributions to AI image generation and criticizes the expectation that creators should work for free. The paragraph also touches on the concept of open source and its role in AI innovation, emphasizing the importance of compensating creators for their time and resources. The speaker suggests that while Civ's approach with clubs has been flawed, creators deserve recognition and donations for their contributions to the community.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Civi

Civi is a platform mentioned in the transcript that allows users to support creators who make models and luras. It operates through a system of clubs, similar to Patreon, where users can financially contribute to the creators they admire. The term is used in the context of discussing the platform's recent decision to introduce a club system and the associated issues that have arisen from it.

💡Clubs

In the context of the video, clubs refer to a feature introduced by Civi that is akin to a subscription or membership model. These clubs are designed to allow users to financially support creators on the platform. However, the term 'clubs' is seen as confusing by the speaker, and the implementation of this system is critiqued for its indirect method of supporting creators through a virtual currency, rather than a direct monetary contribution.

💡Virtual Currency (Bus)

The term 'Bus' refers to the virtual currency used within the Civi platform. Users must purchase 'Bus' to support creators through the club system. The speaker expresses confusion and criticism over this system, questioning why an extra step of exchanging money for virtual currency is necessary instead of supporting creators directly with money.

💡Creators

Creators in this context are individuals who produce content such as models, luras, and other digital assets on the Civi platform. The video discusses the importance of supporting these creators and the controversy surrounding Civi's method of enabling this support through the club system and virtual currency.

💡Patreon

Patreon is a platform that allows creators to receive financial support from their fans or patrons. In the video, Patreon is used as a comparison to Civi's club system, highlighting the differences in how each platform facilitates financial support for creators.

💡Backlash

Backlash refers to the strong negative reaction or opposition from the community towards the changes or decisions made by Civi, particularly concerning the introduction of the club system. The term is used to describe the dissatisfaction and criticism that the platform has received from its users.

💡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, open source has been a driving force behind the innovation in AI image generation, with the community contributing significantly by sharing their models and resources freely.

💡Community Models

Community models refer to AI models that are created and shared by the broader community of users, rather than a single organization or company. These models are often developed collaboratively and made available for free, showcasing the collective effort and creativity of the community.

💡Commercial License

A commercial license is a type of license that allows the user to use a product, service, or content for commercial purposes, typically involving payment or royalties to the creator or rights holder. In the context of the video, the speaker suggests the idea of a paid commercial license as an alternative way for Civi to support creators, though questions arise regarding the control over the content used for training these models.

💡Donations

Donations refer to the act of giving money or resources to a person, organization, or cause without expecting anything in return. In the video, the speaker advocates for the idea that creators who contribute to the AI community should receive donations as a form of support and recognition for their work, emphasizing that their contributions are valuable and deserving of compensation.

💡Advanced AI

Advanced AI refers to sophisticated artificial intelligence systems that can perform complex tasks, often at a level comparable to or surpassing human abilities. In the context of the video, advanced AI is a key driver of innovation, particularly in the field of AI image generation, where it has become a significant part of people's jobs and passions.

Highlights

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

The term 'Clubs' is considered confusing and a strange decision for the platform.

Civi's use of virtual currency 'Bus' for transactions raises questions about direct support to creators.

There are concerns that money may first go to Civi and then possibly to creators, which is seen as an unfavorable structure.

The setup of Clubs, with categories like 'Real Cartoon Fan Club' and 'Comedy Club', is seen as odd and not clearly beneficial for comedians on Civi.

Participation in generation contests and sponsoring them is seen as a sensible aspect of the Clubs.

The lack of content on Club pages, such as empty feeds and posts, suggests a premature launch without enough material for users.

A suggestion to include a video on Club pages to explain the concept, as it is a novel idea for some users.

The concept of timed exclusive access aligns well with existing models like Patreon and could work well for Civi's Clubs.

Enhanced resources are suggested, such as additional data or information on model training, which could provide a deeper understanding for power users.

The idea of offering exclusive metadata insights makes sense and could include workshops or one-on-one sessions for model usage.

The potential issue with the commercial licensing idea is the lack of control over what the models have been trained on.

Open source has been a significant driving force behind AI innovation, especially in image generation.

Community members have generously contributed their time and resources to train models and create resources for free use.

There is a concern that some people believe creators should offer their work for free, ignoring the personal investment behind the creation.

Creators who dedicate their time to developing resources should be fairly compensated, even in the form of donations.

The introduction of Clubs has been met with backlash and is seen as needing rework to better align with community needs.

Creators deserve support in the form of donations for their contributions to the community and the resources they provide.

The video concludes with a call for viewer opinions on the matter and an invitation for further discussion in the comments.