CivitAI Clubs make Community RAGE

The video discusses the controversy surrounding CivitAI's introduction of 'Clubs,' a platform similar to Patreon, which allows users to financially support creators of models and other AI-related content. The speaker criticizes the decision to use a virtual currency, 'bus,' instead of direct monetary support, questioning the transparency of the financial flow and the value provided to the creators. They also suggest that the concept of Clubs needs clarification and reworking to better align with community expectations. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing the effort and resources invested by creators and the need for a fair system that allows them to receive donations for their work. The speaker also contrasts the community's open-source contributions with commercial services that charge from the outset without offering open access to their resources.

Takeaways

• 🤔 CivitAI has introduced a 'Clubs' feature similar to Patreon for supporting creators, which has sparked controversy due to its implementation.
• 💡 The term 'Clubs' is considered confusing and not clearly defined, leading to user dissatisfaction.
• 💰 Users must first purchase a virtual currency (Bus) on CivitAI to support creators, which is seen as an unnecessary step.
• 📉 Concerns are raised that funds may initially go to CivitAI before reaching creators, potentially affecting the support mechanism.
• 🏢 The setup of the clubs is questioned, with some seeming more like social groups rather than platforms for financial support.
• 🎟️ Participation in generation contests and sponsoring these contests is seen as a more logical use of the clubs' system.
• 📅 Timed exclusive access to models and resources is a good practice, aligning with the early access model used by platforms like Patreon.
• 📚 Enhanced or additional resources could include in-depth information on model training, which would be valuable for a dedicated audience.
• 💼 The idea of a paid commercial license for models is intriguing but raises questions about the licensing of training data.
• 🌐 Open source has been a significant driver of innovation in AI image generation, with the community contributing significantly to advancements.
• 🙌 Creators of valuable resources should be recognized and supported, either through donations or a more transparent system that allows direct financial support.

Q & A

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

The main issue is that it is confusing and not transparent about how the money is distributed to creators. It involves an extra step of using a virtual currency (bus) which may not be directly convertible to real money for the creators.

Why is the term 'clubs' considered a strange choice?

The term 'clubs' may not accurately represent the purpose of the platform, which is to support creators financially. It could lead to misconceptions about the nature of the platform.

What is the concern regarding the current setup of CivitAI's clubs?

The concern is that the money may first go to CivitAI and then possibly be distributed to creators, which is not a direct support mechanism. Also, the lack of content and information on the club pages makes it unclear what users are paying for.

What does the speaker suggest as a better approach for supporting creators?

The speaker suggests a more direct financial support mechanism similar to Patreon, where users can support creators with real money, possibly with additional benefits like exclusive access to content or resources.

Why does the speaker find the idea of paying to be a part of certain clubs on CivitAI strange?

The speaker finds it strange because the clubs, such as the comedy club, seem to be more about community interaction and sharing work rather than a service that should be paid for.

What is the alternative suggestion for handling the virtual currency (bus)?

The speaker suggests that creators should be supported directly with real money instead of using a virtual currency, which simplifies the process and makes it clearer where the funds are going.

What does the speaker suggest for enhancing the value of club membership?

The speaker suggests offering timed exclusive access to models, additional resources like training data or information, and advanced descriptions about model training as part of the club membership.

What is the speaker's opinion on the concept of a paid commercial license for models?

The speaker finds the idea interesting but questions how it would be implemented, as there may be concerns over the licensing of images used to train the models.

Why does the speaker argue that creators deserve some form of payment for their work?

The speaker argues that creators deserve payment because they invest time, knowledge, and money into their work. They also contribute to the innovation in AI image generation, and it's fair for them to receive donations for their contributions.

What does the speaker criticize about the mindset of some people who expect to access resources for free?

The speaker criticizes the mindset that creators should work for free, ignoring the effort and resources they put into their creations. They argue that just because a file can be copied doesn't mean the creator's effort is without value.

Why does the speaker mention companies like Mid Journey and Runway in the context of paid services?

The speaker mentions these companies to highlight the contrast between their paid services from the start and the backlash against CivitAI's clubs. They note that there seems to be no issue with companies that never release their resources for free.

What does the speaker suggest for improving the overall perception and functionality of CivitAI's clubs?

The speaker suggests reworking the clubs to clearly define their purpose, directly support creators with real money, and provide a better preview of what users are paying for, possibly including explanatory videos on the club pages.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Controversy Over Civi's 'Clubs' Feature

The video discusses the controversy surrounding Civi's introduction of 'Clubs,' a feature similar to Patreon that allows users to financially support creators. Criticisms include the confusing name, the requirement to use the virtual currency 'bus,' and the indirect support mechanism that may not benefit creators directly. The speaker also questions the setup of the clubs, suggesting that some clubs should not be clubs and that there should be more transparency about how creators are compensated. The video suggests improvements such as timed exclusive access, enhanced resources, and additional content for supporters, and ends with a call for a more community-focused approach.

05:02

💭 The Role of Open Source in AI Image Generation

This paragraph explores the significance of open-source contributions to the advancement of AI image generation. It acknowledges the community's substantial role in creating and sharing resources, which have significantly outpaced the offerings of companies like Stability AI. The speaker expresses confusion over the expectation that creators should work for free and emphasizes the need for fair compensation, especially as AI becomes more integral to creators' livelihoods. The video also addresses the lack of backlash against companies that charge for services without releasing their technology into the open-source domain. The speaker advocates for a system of donations to support creators and concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on the matter.

Keywords

CivitAI Clubs

CivitAI Clubs are a feature introduced by CivitAI, similar to Patreon, where users can financially support content creators who make models and luras. The concept is to provide a platform for patrons to contribute to creators they appreciate, but it has faced criticism for its implementation and the use of a virtual currency, 'bus', instead of direct monetary support.

Virtual Currency (Bus)

In the context of the video, 'Bus' is a virtual currency used within the CivitAI platform, specifically for transactions within the CivitAI Clubs. Users purchase 'bus' and then use it to support creators, which has been criticized for its indirect nature and the potential for the platform to act as an intermediary in financial transactions.

Content Creators

Content creators in the video script refer to individuals who produce models, luras, and other digital assets for the CivitAI platform. These creators are the primary beneficiaries of the CivitAI Clubs system, as they are the ones receiving support from patrons.

Community Backlash

Community backlash refers to the negative response from the user base or community members towards a particular decision, feature, or action. In this video, the backlash is directed at the CivitAI Clubs and the use of 'bus' as a virtual currency, which has led to confusion and dissatisfaction among community members.

Patreon

Patreon is a platform that allows creators to receive financial support from their fans or patrons on a subscription basis. It is mentioned in the video as a comparison to the CivitAI Clubs, highlighting the differences in how each platform facilitates financial support to creators.

Commercial License

A commercial license refers to the legal permission to use a product, service, or intellectual property for business or commercial purposes. In the context of the video, it discusses the possibility of CivitAI offering commercial licenses as a way for creators to monetize their models, which would require users to pay for the right to use the models in commercial contexts.

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

Value of Work

The value of work refers to the recognition and compensation that creators deserve for the time, effort, and resources they invest in producing content or products. The video argues that creators should be fairly compensated for their contributions, even if their work is available online for free.

Ads and Ad-Free Experience

Ads, or advertisements, are promotional messages typically used to market products or services. An ad-free experience refers to a user experience that does not include interruptions from advertisements. The video script discusses the possibility of CivitAI introducing ads as a way to monetize the platform, with an option for users to pay for an ad-free version.

Community Models

Community models refer to AI models that are created and shared by the community of users, rather than by a single individual or a company. These models are often developed collaboratively and made available for others to use, experiment with, and learn from.

Enhanced Resources

Enhanced resources are additional materials or features that provide more depth or value to a product or service. In the context of the video, these could include exclusive videos, workshops, or one-on-one sessions that offer insights into the use or creation of models, available to patrons who support creators.

Highlights

CivitAI has introduced 'Clubs', a platform similar to Patreon, allowing users to financially support creators of models and other content.

The term 'Clubs' is considered confusing and not directly indicative of its purpose.

Currently, users must purchase a virtual currency called 'BUSD' to support creators, which is seen as an unnecessary step.

Concerns are raised that funds may initially go to CivitAI before being distributed to creators.

The structure of Clubs, featuring various categories like 'Real Cartoon Fan Club' and 'Comedy Club', is questioned for its value.

Paying to be a part of a club on CivitAI is considered strange, as it doesn't clearly add value for the user.

Participation in generation contests and sponsoring these contests is seen as a more logical use of the Clubs feature.

The lack of content on many Club pages, such as empty feeds and posts, suggests the platform may have launched too early.

A suggestion to include a video explaining the concept of Clubs due to its novelty and to provide users with a preview of what they're supporting.

Best practices for Clubs include timed exclusive access to content, similar to early access offered by Patreon to YouTubers.

The idea of having both a light and premium version of a model is proposed, with the premium version being available for those who support the creator.

Exclusive metadata insights are recommended, providing supporters with additional information on how to best use the model.

Enhanced resources could include advanced descriptions and training data, offering a deeper understanding for power users.

Feedback suggests different versions of CivitAI, such as an ad-supported version with payment options for an ad-free experience.

The concept of a paid commercial license for models is introduced, raising questions about the control and licensing of training data.

Open source has been a significant driver of innovation in AI image generation, with the community contributing greatly to the field.

The community's decision to provide resources for free is highly praised, but also raises questions about the sustainability of working for free.

The importance of supporting creators with donations is emphasized, especially as AI becomes a more significant part of people's livelihoods.

There is a noted contrast between the backlash against CivitAI Clubs and the acceptance of paid services like Mid Journey and Runway, which do not offer open-source alternatives.

The speaker believes that while the implementation of Clubs has been flawed, creators deserve donations for their contributions to the community.