Hive3 Debuts to Link Brands with Top AI Creative Talent

By now, brands and individuals recognize the opportunity to find freelance creatives for their projects on platforms like Fiverr and major social media sites such as Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).

However, the emergence of generative AI is transforming this landscape. Technologies, including text-to-image generators like OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, and text-to-video tools such as Runway’s Gen2, are rapidly becoming essential creative resources.

With these advanced tools powering innovative projects across the web, brands may feel uncertain about where to find creative talent proficient in generative AI. This challenge is what Forum3 aims to address. Founded in Seattle, Washington, by Adam Brotman, former Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks and co-creator of the Starbucks Rewards mobile app, along with Andy Sack, a former innovation consultant for Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Forum3 is led by these co-CEOs.

Gamifying AI-Created Brand Assets

In the summer of 2023, Forum3 launched Hive3, an online platform designed to gamify the connection between brands and experienced AI creatives. The platform offers time-boxed challenges where creatives compete to develop the best assets for specified brands, with cash prizes awarded to the winners, determined by Hive3's community and a panel of judges.

Since its preview launch, Hive3 has hosted 10 community-driven challenges, and now, with the public launch of “Season One,” it presents approximately 30 consecutive weekly competitions for various brands. Creatives need only to secure 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in any challenge to qualify for the playoffs.

For each brand challenge, creatives placing in the top three can claim a share of a $5,000 prize pool, while playoff winners will receive grand prizes ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

Despite the immense potential of generative AI as a creative tool, some brands might hesitate to explore it due to ongoing legal questions surrounding the data used for training AI models and the U.S. Copyright Office’s stance that GenAI artworks cannot be copyrighted.

Upcoming Challenge for Crumbl Cookies on Nov. 3, 2023

The platform's first challenge, set for Crumbl Cookies—an increasingly popular dessert brand—launches on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, with a submission deadline of Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. The challenge invites participants to “Create an innovative ad campaign for a fast-growing cookie company,” allowing for creative freedom.

Adam Brotman emphasized the need for brands to embrace digital transformation. “The new digital transformation playbook starts with brands understanding how to use AI, and the Forum3 team is uniquely positioned to guide brands as they navigate this technology for the first time. We look forward to partnering with forward-thinking brands like Crumbl Cookies to generate new creative outputs, activate customer communities, and elevate brand marketing using AI,” he stated.

The Hive3 community has already enlisted influential AI artists and designers, including Heather Cooper, Tatiana Tsiguleva, Nicolas Neubert, and Ben Myhre, to provide tutorials and promote the platform.

“Platforms like Hive3 give creators the opportunity to leverage generative AI technology to produce comprehensive projects in a competitive environment,” said Cooper. “I’m excited to join Hive3 as a brand ambassador and help creators advance their skills in generative AI.”