Can Artificial Intelligence Produce Unattractive Designs?

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This Week’s Edition

AI Aesthetics: Can Machines Create Something Beautiful?

As a non-expert in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), I’ve noticed that many tools claiming to detect AI-generated text fail spectacularly. But what about when it comes to creating something beautiful? Can machines truly create art, music, or even fashion designs?

Recently, I had the chance to chat with Pepper Bio chief scientific officer Samantha Dale Strasser and CEO Jon Hu about their work in transomics, a novel approach to discovering drugs for untreated diseases like certain forms of cancer. I didn’t know what transomics meant beforehand, but after our conversation, I could grasp how it could help unlock new treatments.

But can machines create something beautiful? Take AI-generated art, for example. Some argue that it’s not truly creative because it relies on pre-programmed algorithms and datasets. Others believe that the output is entirely novel and deserves recognition as a form of human expression.

I’d love to hear from you: do you think machines can create something beautiful?

Insurtech: Can New Players Solve the Problem of Affordability?

While AI has made significant strides in various industries, one area where it’s struggling is in insurtech. The affordability crisis facing many countries’ insurance markets is a pressing issue that requires innovative solutions.

French newspaper Les Echos recently noted that while France hasn’t yet seen the same level of insurer withdrawal as the US, "the phenomenon is already visible in the French overseas territories, where property insurance coverage stands at 50%, compared with 96% in mainland France." This raises questions about how new players can solve this problem.

According to LeoCare CEO Jon Hu, neoinsurers aren’t the only solution but are essential for addressing insurability. "Without their digital and APIzation know-how, without their ability to deploy quickly and make data speak, there will be no social and societal answer to THE question of insurability."

Pepper Bio’s Pitch Deck Teardown

As a non-expert in biotech, I often find it intimidating to write about topics that are outside my expertise. But when I covered Pepper Bio seed round, chief scientific officer Samantha Dale Strasser and CEO Jon Hu did an excellent job of explaining what they do in a way that was easy for me to understand.

But can their pitch deck convey the same level of clarity? My colleague Haje dissected Pepper Bio’s $6.5M seed deck for his Pitch Deck Teardown series and found both strengths and weaknesses.

Stay tuned for more insights from the world of startups, AI, and insurtech. Subscribe to TechCrunch Daily News or add it to your subscription choices today!

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