Here’s your Friday creative tech roundup for June 12, 2025:

Abstract digital art with flowing gradients Photo by Unsplash

AI Art & Creative Tools

The AI art space continues to evolve at breakneck speed with some major developments this week:

  • Midjourney Enters Video Generation: After dominating the static image generation space, Midjourney has launched its V1 video model. The tool can animate user-uploaded images or ones created on the platform, marking a significant expansion of their creative suite. The company envisions this as a stepping stone toward “real-time open-world simulations.”

  • Stable Diffusion 3.5 Gets Faster: Stability AI announced that Stable Diffusion 3.5 models optimized with NVIDIA TensorRT now deliver 2X faster performance while using 40% less memory on RTX GPUs. This makes high-quality AI generation more accessible to creators with consumer hardware.

  • Copyright Battles Heat Up: In a significant legal development, Disney and Universal have filed a 110-page lawsuit against Midjourney, claiming the AI company used “countless” copyrighted works to train its models without authorization. This case could set important precedents for the future of AI training data.

Generative Art & Creative Coding

The generative art scene is flourishing with new exhibitions and installations worldwide:

  • “Future You: Code and Soul” in Beijing: Universal Everything’s first major solo exhibition in China opens at 798CUBE on June 28. Running through October 8, the show explores future visions for humanity, technology, and evolution through immersive generative artworks.

  • Kevin Abosch’s “Parallax” at Palazzo Citterio: The conceptual artist’s generative video work is on display in Milan through September 14, 2025. Abosch, known for his exploration of identity and value in the digital age, brings his signature style to this historic venue.

  • “Nebula” by Chris May: This multimedia art installation explores inner space through an immersive, meditative descent into an otherworldly mineral-like form. The piece uses generative techniques to create textures and transformations that draw viewers inward.

Interactive & Immersive Experiences

VR, AR, and immersive installations are pushing the boundaries of audience engagement:

  • INSIDER-OUTSIDER at Grand Palais: A musical VR experience inspired by the visionary outsider artist Henry Darger opens June 20 in Paris. Running through September 21, the experience transforms Darger’s elaborate fantasy world into an immersive digital journey.

  • La Magie Opéra Celebrates 150 Years: The Palais Garnier in Paris debuted “La Magie Opéra” in May—an immersive, multi-user, geolocated experience that plunges visitors into dreamlike scenes inspired by legendary operas and the iconic opera house itself.

  • Rarible at NFC Lisbon: The NFT platform showcased six interactive art installations featuring works by established and emerging artists using TouchDesigner and other cutting-edge interactive technologies.

Tech in Film, Music & Gaming

Creative industries are seeing exciting integrations and new tools:

  • Sony Opens 360 Audio Tech: Sony Corporation is expanding access to its 360 Virtual Mixing Environment (360VME) audio technology to creators across music, education, and more. This spatial audio tech was previously limited to select professional studios.

  • Avid + Splice Integration: Pro Tools now features seamless integration with Splice’s massive sample library, making millions of sounds directly accessible within the industry-standard DAW. This partnership streamlines workflows for music producers worldwide.

  • Korg Gadget Comes to PlayStation 5: The popular mobile music production suite has evolved into an immersive 3D virtual music studio for PS5, allowing gamers to create music in a visually stunning environment.

  • Suno Acquires WavTool: The AI music generation company has acquired WavTool, an AI-accelerated browser-based DAW, signaling deeper integration between AI composition and traditional music production workflows.

Cool Projects & Maker Art

The maker community continues to blend traditional craft with modern technology:

Abstract flowing art Photo by Unsplash

  • Rotary Phone Pensieve: Designer Adrian Granchelli embedded a vintage rotary phone with a modern microcontroller to create an interactive art activation. The piece bridges analog nostalgia with digital interactivity.

  • 10-Foot Painting Robot: Former US Air Force engineer Paul Kirby created “Dulcinea”—a fully automated fine art painting robot standing 10 feet tall. The machine merges art and automation to create unique paintings.

  • Thermochromic Sunshine Clock: A delightful Paper Sunshine Clock by maker “anneosaur” uses thermochromic materials to create a sun-ray display that changes with time, offering a fresh take on analog timekeeping.

Projection Mapping & Digital Festivals

Large-scale projection art continues to transform public spaces:

  • Digital Graffiti Festival 2025: The annual event at Alys Beach transformed the Florida community into an immersive open-air gallery of light, motion, and interactive art using Panasonic projection technology.

  • ART on THE MART Summer Season: The world’s largest permanent digital art projection—covering 2.5 acres on Chicago’s Merchandise Mart—debuts “Currents of Chicago – A Moving Artwork” by Perkins&Will, celebrating the city’s dynamic urban flow.

  • Threshold at Uncontained Festival: Artist Laura Alice’s large-scale sculpture projected with particle simulations creates an otherworldly architectural experience for festival-goers.

Key Takeaway

This week underscores a fascinating tension in creative technology: while AI tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion are democratizing creation like never before, they’re also sparking serious conversations about copyright, authorship, and the future of creative industries. Meanwhile, immersive experiences, projection mapping, and maker projects remind us that the most compelling art often emerges at the intersection of cutting-edge tech and human imagination—not replacement, but collaboration.

The lines between creator and tool, digital and physical, professional and amateur continue to blur. For artists and technologists alike, the question isn’t whether to embrace these tools, but how to use them to tell stories that resonate with the human experience.

What creative tech projects are inspiring you this week? Let me know in the comments or on social media.