How NASA announced moon-bound astronauts, AI evolves with video and more   

Former President Donald Trump is being arraigned today in New York City with split reactions from the nation. Whether you love him or hate him, the world is tuning in to see what becomes of the first former president to be indicted in the country’s history.   

Today will go down in history as the nation watches. We can’t turn away. Check back here on Wednesday for more on Trump.   

An inclusive trip to the moon    

Four astronauts will go where some men have gone before—to the moon.   

Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Hammock Koch and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen will take an upcoming 10-day trip to the moon on space rocket Artemis II, NASA announced.   

Here they are. @SenBillNelson announces the #Artemis II crew, the next astronauts to fly around the Moon:@Astro_Christina@Astro_Jeremy@AstroVicGlover@Astro_Reid

We go together. https://t.co/XdUizg2Wye pic.twitter.com/6Yo4I2lKeJ

— NASA (@NASA) April 3, 2023

They are part of “the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis.”   

This will be a historic mission with the first woman and first person of color on the Moon aboard, according to a NASA post.    

“The world is just holds their breath when things like this happen,” President Joe Biden told the astronauts in a phone call to the crew about the country being proud of their efforts and advancement in space.   

The @NASA Artemis II crewed mission around the Moon will inspire the next generation of explorers, and show every child – in America, in Canada, and across the world – that if they can dream it, they can be it. pic.twitter.com/X8q3GLTBiQ

— President Biden (@POTUS) April 3, 2023

“Thank you very much for your trust,” Wiseman responded.   

Why it matters: NASA’s thoughtful communications execution and all-in messaging of, “We go together,” brings everyone to the table. Even if we cannot physically go to space with the team, we feel part of something bigger. The fanfare and buildup of the upcoming mission serve as a great reminder that a sense of wonder and a feeling of ownership is irreplaceable. Every brand can look to build more inclusive messaging where it fits and see how the stars align with public engagement.   

What’s at stake with AI    

AI has come a long way and there’s even further to go with these increasingly prominent tools that are embedded in numerous aspects of our lives.   

The 2023 AI Index Report, an independent initiative at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), discussed the complexity and controversies of AI.  

Some survey takeaways include an increase in AI use and a growing awareness of its misuse.    

“Some of those reported issues included a deepfake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy surrendering, face recognition technology to try to track gang members and rate their risk, and surveillance technology to scan and determine emotional states of students in a classroom,” according to the report.    

Good news includes an increase in job postings seeking AI skills across all sectors.   

Information services are at the highest with 5.30% needing AI in comparison to 4.85% in 2021.     

Why it matters: Keeping your finger on the pulse of what is trending in the marketplace, with AI will be helpful in the long run as evolving changes become more integrated into everyday life and work. And it won’t be long until AI know-how is an expected skill in PR and communications, too. Are you ready?   

It’s giving authenticity    

Being authentic is a courageous, bold move in 2023 when so many are going along with whatever is #trending for the day on social media.   

According to an Insider article, viral trending slang — “It’s giving,” “era,” “gatekeeper” and “lit” (just to name a few) — are terms that influencers are all too happy to say in their videos, in person, via text and beyond. But is that how they really talk?   

John Baugh, a linguist at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, told Insider that authenticity in language goes beyond a few trending phrases. Being oneself and saying naturally meaningful words in conversation that happen to go viral is where it’s at.    

“Even though slang has always existed, the emergence of social media has created a situation where the potential for slang virality has increased. What better way to become an influencer than to figure out some slang expression that can be spread and then traced back to you.”   

Why it matters: Baugh’s takeaway on cutting down on using slang on social media is a good tip for influencers on finding their true voice and potentially going viral along the way.   

It’s also a reminder that you should never try to make fetch happen. Brands using slang unauthentically will take you from cool to “how do you do, fellow kids,” in a flash. Find ways to relate without trying too hard.   

Instant videos are here   

Want to see a cow at a birthday party? Check. A dog scrolling online? Double check.   

A New York Times article was posted about short videos that are AI-generated based on descriptions typed into a search box.   

“Runway, which plans to open its service to a small group of testers this week, is one of several companies building artificial intelligence technology that will soon let people generate videos simply by typing several words into a box on a computer screen,” according to the article, which adds that the videos “represent the next stage in an industry race.”   

Some think that the videos could be the “next big thing” in technology like web browsers or the iPhone, according to the article.   

“At this point, if I see a high-resolution video, I am probably going to trust it,” said Phillip Isola, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who specializes in A.I. “But that will change pretty quickly.”   

Why it matters: Buckle up, PR pros a lot more of integrated technology with AI is on tap. Knowing the difference between what is real and what’s fake will be a keen asset in the future, which is now. But this also presents an opportunity for cash-strapped comms pros to quickly create videos and B-roll. Just remember to be transparent and honest about what’s real and what’s not.