CivitAI Clubs make Community RAGE

Olivio Sarikas
6 Jan 202410:02

TLDRThe video discusses the controversy surrounding Civ's introduction of 'clubs,' a feature similar to Patreon for supporting creators. It critiques the use of a virtual currency 'bus' and the lack of direct financial support to creators. The video suggests improvements such as clearer explanations of club purposes and more practical rewards for patrons. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and compensating creators for their contributions to AI image generation, advocating for a fair and supportive community.

Takeaways

  • 🤔 Civ's introduction of 'clubs' has been met with confusion and criticism, as it resembles a Patreon-like platform but with unnecessary steps and currency exchanges.
  • 💡 The naming of these support platforms as 'clubs' is seen as misleading and fails to clearly communicate their purpose to users.
  • 💸 The use of a virtual currency ('bus') for transactions within Civ's platform raises questions about the transparency of financial support to creators.
  • 📊 The structure of the clubs and the lack of clear benefits for creators and users make the concept seem more complicated than it needs to be.
  • 😅 The lack of content and engagement on the club pages, such as empty feeds and posts, suggests that the platform was launched without sufficient preparation.
  • 🎥 A suggestion to include videos explaining the club's purpose on each page to help users understand the value proposition of joining.
  • 🚀 The concept of timed exclusive access and enhanced resources is seen as a positive aspect, aligning with successful practices on platforms like Patreon.
  • 🤖 The idea of providing additional resources, such as training data insights or advanced descriptions of models, is proposed as a way to enrich the user experience.
  • 💰 The discussion highlights the importance of fairly compensating creators for their work and contributions to the AI community.
  • 🌐 The open-source community's significant role in advancing AI image generation is acknowledged, emphasizing the value of collaborative efforts.
  • 🙏 The call for support and donations for creators is made, advocating for a fair system that rewards creators for their time, effort, and resources invested in developing AI models and resources.

Q & A

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

    -The main issue is that Civ's clubs, which are similar to Patreon, have been confusingly implemented with the use of a virtual currency called 'bus' instead of direct monetary support for creators. This has led to concerns about the transparency of how funds are distributed and whether the money is primarily benefiting Civ rather than the creators.

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

    -The term 'clubs' might be misleading because it does not clearly convey the idea of a platform for supporting creators. It could be confusing for users who are not familiar with the concept, as they might expect a social or entertainment aspect rather than a support system for creators.

  • What is the current process for supporting creators on Civ?

    -Currently, users must first purchase 'bus', the virtual currency on Civ, and then use this currency to support creators. There is uncertainty about whether creators can exchange 'bus' back into real money, adding an extra step to the support process.

  • What is the concern regarding the use of a virtual currency like 'bus'?

    -The concern is that by using a virtual currency, the money initially goes to Civ and may not directly reach the creators. This structure could potentially benefit Civ more than the creators themselves and lacks transparency regarding the distribution of funds.

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

    -The suggestion is to rework the club setup to be more transparent and directly support creators with real money, similar to how Patreon operates. Additionally, it is recommended to provide more information and content on club pages to give users a clear understanding of what they are supporting.

  • How does the concept of timed exclusive access work in the context of Civ's clubs?

    -Timed exclusive access means that supporters get early access to new models or content before it becomes publicly available. This is similar to how content creators on platforms like YouTube offer early access to their videos to patrons.

  • What is the idea behind enhanced resources in Civ's clubs?

    -Enhanced resources could include additional data, information on how the model was trained, or tips on how to best use the model. The idea is to offer supporters more in-depth content and insights that improve their experience with the model.

  • Why do some people believe that creators should receive payment for their work?

    -Creators invest their time, knowledge, and resources into creating models and other AI resources. As AI becomes more advanced and some creators make it their main job or passion, it is fair for them to receive payment, even in the form of donations, for the value they provide to the community.

  • What is the role of the community in the advancement of AI image generation?

    -The community has been a significant driving force in AI image generation, with many individuals contributing countless hours and resources to train models and create resources that surpass what commercial entities have provided. This open-source collaboration has been crucial for innovation in the field.

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

    -Companies like Midjourney and Runway charge for their services from the beginning and do not release their resources into the open-source community. This is in contrast to Civ, which has faced backlash for its club system that some users feel does not adequately support creators.

  • What is the suggestion for an alternative revenue model for Civ?

    -One suggestion is for Civ to introduce an ad-based model where users can choose to view ads or pay for an ad-free experience. However, this might not be as effective due to the prevalence of ad blockers.

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 is critical of the decision to use a virtual currency (bus) for transactions instead of direct monetary support, questioning whether the funds are primarily benefiting Civ before the creators. The structure of the clubs is also questioned, with examples like the 'real cartoon fan club' and 'comedy club' mentioned as being confusing for potential supporters. The speaker suggests that the clubs should focus more on supporting creators and providing value, such as early access to content or exclusive videos about model usage. The paragraph ends with a critique of the current system, advocating for a more transparent and community-focused approach.

05:02

💡 Suggestions for Improvement and Support of Creators

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of supporting creators and rethinking the club system to better serve the community. The speaker acknowledges that the concept of clubs isn't inherently bad but needs reworking to align with the community's expectations. The idea of a commercial license is floated as a potential solution, though concerns about the origins of the training data for models are raised. The speaker also addresses the broader issue of payment for AI resources, advocating for recognition and compensation for the time, effort, and resources creators invest. The paragraph highlights the community's significant role in advancing AI image generation and criticizes the expectation that creators should work for free. The speaker calls for a fair system where creators can receive donations and the community can access resources, suggesting that a more balanced approach to monetization is needed.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Civi

Civi is a platform mentioned in the transcript that seems to be related to AI and content creation. It has introduced a system called 'clubs', similar to Patreon, where users can support creators. However, there are concerns about the implementation and the use of a virtual currency called 'bus'.

💡Clubs

In the context of the transcript, 'clubs' are a feature introduced by Civi, functioning as a support system for creators akin to Patreon. Despite the intention to foster creator support, there are criticisms about the naming, functionality, and the use of a virtual currency rather than direct monetary support.

💡Virtual Currency (Bus)

The 'Bus' is a virtual currency used within the Civi platform. Users purchase 'Bus' and then use it to support creators, which has raised concerns about the transparency of how the funds are distributed and whether the money goes directly to the creators or stays within the Civi ecosystem.

💡Patreon

Patreon is a platform that allows creators to receive financial support from their fans or patrons. It is mentioned in the transcript as a comparison to Civi's 'clubs', highlighting the differences in how creators are supported and the potential issues with Civi's approach.

💡Creators

In the context of the transcript, 'creators' refers to individuals who produce content, such as models, luras (likely a reference to AI models), and other digital creations on the Civi platform. The discussion revolves around how these creators can be supported through the 'clubs' system.

💡Community

The 'community' in the transcript refers to the collective group of users and creators on the Civi platform. The community's role is crucial in driving innovation and supporting creators through the 'clubs' system, but there are concerns about whether the current system aligns with the community's needs and expectations.

💡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 transcript, it is highlighted as a driving force behind AI innovation, particularly in AI image generation, where the community has contributed significantly by sharing their resources freely.

💡Ads

Ads, or advertisements, are promotional messages used to market products, services, or ideas. In the transcript, the suggestion is made that Civi could implement an ad-supported model, where users could pay to remove ads, as a potential way to generate revenue and support creators.

💡Commercial License

A commercial license is a legal agreement that allows the licensee to use a product, such as software or content, for commercial purposes. In the context of the transcript, the idea of a paid commercial license for AI models is considered, raising questions about the control and rights over the training data and the potential for monetization.

💡Donations

Donations refer to the act of giving money or resources to a person, organization, or cause without expecting anything in return. In the transcript, the speaker advocates for the idea that creators who contribute to the community should receive donations as a form of support and appreciation for their work.

💡Feedback

Feedback in this context refers to the responses, comments, or suggestions given by users regarding the Civi platform's 'clubs' system. It is an essential part of understanding user concerns and making improvements to better align with the community's expectations.

Highlights

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

The use of virtual currency 'Bus' in the Civ platform has raised concerns about the direct support to creators.

There is confusion over the term 'Clubs' and its relevance to the Civ community.

The current system seems to favor Civ's revenue before creators, raising questions about the distribution of funds.

The lack of content in the Clubs section leaves users without a clear understanding of what they are paying for.

The concept of supporting creators directly with money is preferred over the use of a virtual currency.

The idea of timed exclusive access as a reward for supporters is well-received, mirroring practices on platforms like Patreon.

Enhanced resources such as metadata insights and exclusive videos are suggested as potential benefits for supporters.

The notion of providing additional resources like training data or model insights is proposed to add value for the community.

The potential of ad-supported versions of Civ is discussed, though concerns about ad blockers are raised.

The importance of open-source contributions in driving AI image generation innovation is emphasized.

The community's significant role in training models and creating resources is acknowledged.

The expectation that creators should work for free is challenged, emphasizing the value of their time and resources.

The need for structures like Civ to cover costs for development and hosting is recognized.

The idea of creators being paid through donations for their full-time work on AI resources is suggested.

The introduction of Clubs has been met with mixed reactions and suggestions for improvement.

Creators who provide amazing resources should be rewarded with donations from the community.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their thoughts in the comments.