Arcade launches a product creation platform with artificial intelligence and presents this necklace.

Mariam Naficy, known for founding Eve and the design marketplace Minted, has dedicated much of her career to supporting independent artists and facilitating the sale of their creations. Her most recent initiative, Arcade AI, presents an innovative marketplace model that grants creative control directly to users. This generative artificial intelligence platform, which launched its beta version in September, allows customers, referred to as "Dreamers," to input their ideas into a generator that produces various jewelry design options. Additionally, users can upload images to further customize their creations.

Once a "Dream" is selected, it is assigned to one of Arcade's artisans, who bring these digital concepts to life in physical jewelry, including items such as bracelets, charms, earrings, necklaces, and rings. Users have a variety of materials at their disposal, including gold, bronze, silver, and various gemstones, with options ranging from diamonds to garnets and rubies.

I had the opportunity to try the new generator, which combines third-party models like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney. By entering my preferences, highlighting my fondness for opals, the AI tool generated a delicate gold floral necklace that captured my personal aesthetic. After that, I placed an order with Studio Maisette, a design studio on the platform, and within a few days, I received a video of the finished product for my approval. The entire process, from placing the order to receiving the product, took about two weeks.

Although the necklace initially seemed simple, I believe it perfectly reflects my tastes; moreover, the opals are of good quality, according to a gemologist friend. However, some generated results did not meet the desired standards; I encountered challenges such as the generator's inability to add multiple charms to a single piece or to create complex objects, like a 20-sided die. Naficy pointed out that to ensure manufacturability, it was necessary to limit the models to what the creators could produce. Fortunately, there is an editing tool that allows users to modify certain elements, although the final result may not always match the original vision.

Naficy plans to enhance the editor by incorporating image adapters to facilitate creation based on visual prompts. There are also proposals to allow users to modify specific parts of the image, with the option to drag and reposition elements. Designing personalized jewelry on Arcade can be expensive, with prices exceeding $1,000 for complex designs, while simpler pieces hover around $100. The cost depends on the material used and other specifications, such as the size or length of the necklace. Additionally, prices are set by the creators, who must approve both the design and the amount before proceeding.

Even for those who cannot afford to purchase their creations, Naficy emphasizes that they can enjoy the design process and add their works to "Dream Boards" on their profiles. The platform aims to make the experience magical and fun, allowing users to share their designs without needing to buy them. For those who become jewelry creators, there is a 2.5% commission on sales, and to access this option, they must have at least 100 followers and have sold three items or achieved total sales of $500.

The use of an AI generator for customers to control the design could generate controversy among jewelry designers, as there are concerns about the potential replication of unique creations and the reduction of opportunities for human designers. However, Naficy assures that the artisans participating in Arcade have been receptive, viewing this tool as a way to grow their business and better understand consumer preferences.

Arcade is also considering expanding its offerings to other categories, including accessories, apparel, and leather products, which would make it a direct competitor to platforms also aiming to help artists finance their AI-created designs. In the coming months, more social features are planned to be added, and they could include competitions where free jewelry is awarded to the most voted designs.

To date, Arcade has raised a total of $17 million in funding from several prominent figures in the business and entertainment world, supporting its potential growth and evolution in the market.