🗞 What's New: AI creators may be coming to TikTok

Here's what you'll find in this issue:

• ByteDance's new initiative will let human creators make AI versions of themselves.
• Microsoft's Ignite conference was full of product updates featuring AI.
• 7 figures in ARR. Keith Perhac kickstarted growth by getting back to his "why," and focusing on his core user base.

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AI avatars are taking over social media, and TikTok doesn’t want to be left behind.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is launching “V Project,” a new initiative that will bring AI-generated creator look-a-likes to Douyin, TikTok’s Chinese counterpart.

V Project will allow human creators to create an AI version of themselves that can interact with fans 24/7, participate in group chats, reply to DMs, and host livestreams. Basically, it will be a version of you that never sleeps.

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📈 Mastodon sees a boost from the X exodus.

🏃 Get SOC 2 compliant super fast, without breaking a sweat. #ad

🤝 DHH joins Shopify's board of directors.

🎙️ The most popular podcasts of 2024, according to Apple.

🎄 Three Christmas app ideas that people are actually searching for.

✨ The art of crafting a memorable slogan.

Microsoft has been busy building the biggest AI agent ecosystem out there. From Copilot Studio to a new Azure AI Foundry, Microsoft wants AI in every part of its business software.

The company announced a host of updates at its Ignite conference this week, many of which tie together existing parts of its software portfolio.

Although it's largely focused on enterprise business (85% of the Fortune 500 are using Microsoft's AI services in some form), plenty of these new features and integrations will be useful for indie hackers.

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Keith Perhac built an internal product for his agency, then realized there was a market for it. So, he turned it into a standalone SaaS and shut down the agency. SegMetrics is a marketing analytics tool designed for digital marketers.

It's currently making low- to mid-seven figures in annual revenue. Keith grew the business by sacrificing immediate income for future revenue.

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Bingo. AI is much better at helping you build great ideas than it is at helping you have great ideas. So, that's the skill to train right now.

—@channingallen

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Special thanks to Jay Avery for editing this issue, to Gabriella Federico for the illustrations, and to Stephen Flanders, Darko Gjorgjievski, Katie Hignett, and James Fleischmann for contributing posts. —Channing