Happy Friday, reader. We're kicking off the weekend with a discussion of everyone's favorite hot topic right now: AI. Plus:

The Case for and Against AI Art

Is artificial intelligence a boon to the creation of art or a threat to it? It’s been a long time since the art world was so divided, but the lines in the sand are clear: some regard the technology as just another creative implement, while others see it as a malicious tool for theft and abuse of copyright.

Here, two artists lay out their side of the debate: Eva Toorenent arguing against the tech and Phillip Toledano arguing in its defense.

Yesterday, we asked you about your preferred sunglass shape. Nearly half of you voted for Wayfarers, 37% of you said aviators and 15% of you went with sports style.

These Craft Beer Styles Are Dying. Can They Be Saved?

No one can accuse the American craft brew world of lacking choice — at least on the surface. With nearly 10,000 craft breweries now operating in the United States, beer lovers can drink a seemingly infinite number of styles and derivations, including mad-scientist concoctions like Crooked Hammock Brewery’s Frankenbooberrry, Hitchhiker Brewing’s Oreo Speedwagon and the Rogue Ale-Xicha Brewing collaboration of tamarind and pineapple blonde ale.

Clearly the American craft industry has no qualms about brewing outside the box. In fact, that may be the superpower that keeps it at the vanguard of the global game. Nevertheless, for all its diversity, the scope is becoming progressively narrow, leaving many beer styles out in the proverbial cold. While it’s easy to find half a dozen IPAs in nearly every taproom or corner store, styles like eisbock, roggenbier, bière de garde, Baltic porter, English mild and many more are almost nowhere to be seen.

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All Your SPF Questions Answered

Sunny season is upon us, and with a myriad of sunscreens out there, choosing the best one for you can be dizzying. To help understand what to look for and decipher the technical jargon, we consulted with Dr. Robyn Gmyrek, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology, UnionDerm, and Ian Michael Crumm, celebrity esthetician, skincare expert and co-host of the educational beauty podcast Beauty Curious.

How “The Minotaur at Calle Lanza” Reinvented the Travel Memoir

Zito Madu’s new book The Minotaur at Calle Lanza is about a lot of things. First and foremost, it’s an impressionistic memoir about its author’s time in Venice in the early days of the pandemic. Through that combination of time and place, Madu also weighs in on a host of other subjects, from his sometimes-contentious relationship with his own father to the experiences of immigrants in the United States and Europe.

InsideHook talked with Madu about the unlikely reason he was in Venice in 2020 to begin with, the art of making conversation with strangers and the project’s evolution.

The Best Pre- and Post-Theater Dining in Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles has a long and storied history with the performing arts. It’s home to the first and largest historic theater district on the National Register of Historic Places while also supporting the expansive Music Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Throughout the year, theatergoers are treated to opera, musicals, plays and concerts.

No matter the entertainment, what all these arts outings have in common is the need to eat before or after the show. Fortunately, downtown L.A.’s restaurant scene mirrors its vibrant theater scene.