philip lelyveld The world of entertainment technology

The US intelligence community is embracing generative AI

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As the functional manager for the intelligence community’s open-source data collection, Raman said the CIA is turning to generative AI to keep pace with, for example, “all of the news stories that come in every minute of every day from around the world.” AI, Raman said, helps intelligence analysts comb through vast amounts of data to pull out insights that can inform policymakers. In a giant haystack, AI helps pinpoint the needle. ...

In May, Microsoft announced the availability of GPT-4 for users of its Azure Government Top Secret cloud, which includes defense and intelligence customers. Through the air-gapped solution, customers in the classified space can make use of a tool very similar to what’s used in the commercial space. Microsoft officials noted security accreditation took 18 months, indicative of how complex software security vetting at the highest levels can be even for tech giants. ...

Amodei said that while Anthropic is responsible for the security of the large language model, it partnered with AWS because of its superior cloud security standards and reputation as a public sector leader in the cloud computing space. Amodei said the classified marketplace, which allows government customers to spin up and try software before they buy it, also simplifies procurement for the government. And, he said, it gives intelligence agencies the means to use the same tools available to adversaries.

“The [Intelligence Community Marketplace] makes it easier, because AWS has worked with this many times, and so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” Amodei said. “AI needs to empower democracies and allow them to function better and remain competitive on the global stage.”

See the full story here; https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2024/07/us-intelligence-community-embracing-generative-ai/397849/

Beyond sight: Comparing traditional virtual reality and immersive multi-sensory environments in stress reduction of university students

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Results: The findings suggest that participants’ experiences in both VR and IME environments effectively contributed to reducing anxiety levels and fostering a tranquil atmosphere. Both experimental groups reported a significantly heightened sense of relaxation post-experiments. Although the disparity was not statistically significant, the IME group displayed a more pronounced reduction in stress levels compared to the VR group.

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See the full study here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/virtual-reality/articles/10.3389/frvir.2024.1412297/full

As Apple and OpenAI Grow Partnership, Studios Stand on Sidelines of AI Battle

OpenAI is partnering with Apple to give the iPhone maker a role on its board, Bloomberg reported, affording the Sam Altman-led firm another foothold into Hollywood as the industry grapples artificial intelligence tools that have the potential to upend production, along with livelihoods of creators who’re concerned about being replaced by the tech.

As part of a seismic agreement announced last month, head of Apple App Store and former marketing chief Phil Schiller will assume the so-called “observer” position, according to Bloomberg. Under the pact, he’ll be able to attend board meetings and gain a glimpse into company operations — part of which involves courting Hollywood to adopt its products — but won’t be allowed to vote. ...

In response to the Copyright Office exploring policy questions surrounding the intersection of AI and intellectual property, the MPA landed on opposite sides of several hot-button issues with SAG-AFTRA, the Writers Guild of America and Directors Guild of America. Joined by OpenAI, Meta and tech advocacy groups, the MPA diverged with the unions on whether new legislation is warranted to address the unauthorized use of copyrighted material to train AI systems and the mass generation of potentially infringing works based on existing content. The group maintained that existing intellectual property laws are sufficient to address thorny legal issues posed by the technology. This stood in contrast to SAG-AFTRA’s call for a federal right of publicity law that would protect members’ rights to profit off of their images, voices and likenesses. ...

See the full story here: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/apple-openai-studios-1235938049/

Sentient Raises $85 Million Co-Led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund to Accelerate Open AI Development

Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon and a core contributor to Sentient, said centralized AI development is dangerous. ...

Viswanath, who is also a professor of engineering at Princeton University, emphasizes a balanced approach to AI development. The goal is not strict decentralization, he explained, but rather the fair distribution of power through the respect of property rights and aligned incentives. ...

While acknowledging the practical difficulties of decentralizing certain AI processes, Viswanath argued that ensuring community ownership and returning economic value for contributions is key. ...

See the full story here: https://decrypt.co/238014/open-artificial-general-intelligence-sentient

California considers unique safety regulations for AI companies, but faces tech firm opposition

California lawmakers are considering legislation that would require artificial intelligence companies to test their systems and add safety measures so they can't be potentially manipulated to wipe out the state's electric grid or help build chemical weapons - scenarios that experts say could be possible in the future as technology evolves at warp speed.

Legislators plan to vote Tuesday on this first-of-its-kind bill, which aims to reduce risks created by AI. It is fiercely opposed by tech companies, including Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and Google. They say the regulations take aim at developers and instead should be focused on those who use and exploit the AI systems for harm.

Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, who authors the bill, said the proposal would provide reasonable safety standards by preventing "catastrophic harms" from extremely powerful AI models that may be created in the future. The requirements would only apply to systems that cost more than $100 million in computing power to train. No current AI models have hit that threshold as of July. ...

See the full story here: https://abc30.com/post/california-considers-unique-safety-regulations-artificial-intelligence-companies/15020077/

Voices of Burt Reynolds, Judy Garland Recreated With AI

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The distinct voices of four actors from Hollywood’s golden age are finding new life thanks to artificial intelligence thanks to a deal between audio AI developer ElevenLabs and celebrity estate manager CMG Worldwide, the company announced on Tuesday.

Users of ElevenLabs’ new Reader App, which was launched last week, will be able to have text read aloud to them by authorized recreations of the voices of “Rebel Without A Cause” star James Dean, “The Wizard of Oz” star Judy Garland, “Spartacus” star Sir Laurence Olivier, and “Smokey and the Bandit” star Burt Reynolds. ...

For actress and singer Liza Minnelli, daughter of Judy Garland and representative of the Garland estate, the project is an exciting way to introduce new fans to her mother’s work. ...

While the larger ElevenLabs platform provides AI voice generation for various purposes, these celebrity voices will only be found in the Reader App. ...

See the full story here: https://decrypt.co/238226/ai-voices-james-dean-judy-garland-elevenlabs-reader-app

Holocaust Museum L.A. launches new augmented-reality app with an assist from Hollywood

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The oldest Holocaust museum in the U.S., Holocaust Museum L.A. has teamed up with the technology studio Magnopus, led by visual effects artists Craig Barron and Ben Grossmann — who earned Oscars for 2008's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and 2011's "Hugo," respectively — to create a new educational app that uses augmented reality to bring Sobibor to virtual life.

The Sobibor AR exhibit, available for free download in Apple's app store, allows users to interact with a 3D model of Sobibor, with actor Ben Feldman serving as a holographic guide providing historical context and encouraging deeper exploration of the camp's layout and daily life. The app centers on the story of Polish survivor Thomas Blatt, who escaped from Sobibor during a famous 1943 uprising and created a detailed map from memory, including key locations such as the barracks, guard towers, gas chambers and mass graves. ...

The museum, which was founded in 1961 by a group of Holocaust survivors, houses a physical model of Sobibor based on Blatt's map. But Davids, who frequently speaks to young people about what happened to his family and the millions of other victims of the Holocaust, says the app allows for a more immersive experience. ...

For Holocaust Museum L.A., which is currently closed as it undergoes an expansion that will double its footprint in Pan Pacific Park, the app offers a way to continue its mission at a time of rising antisemitism fueled by ongoing conflict over the war in Gaza. ...

Magnopus is exploring other ways it can collaborate with the museum on cutting-edge educational tools, including an app in which users would enter the pages of a Nazi children's propaganda book to learn about how German youth were indoctrinated with antisemitism. ...

See the full story here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/holocaust-museum-l-launches-augmented-100039190.html

One Neighborhood’s ‘Bizarre Culture War’ Over Bike Lanes

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The city Department of Transportation has worked to design and build new bike lanes in Northeast Queens in close coordination with residents, said Vincent Barone, a spokesman for the agency. “Their designs have proven to significantly improve safety for everyone on the road — whether you’re walking, biking or in a car,” he said. ...

Because of the bike lanes — and the “no stopping” signs that accompany them — residents, many of them older, have to park farther away from their homes. “Someone coming in with grocery bags or something like that, who’s in their late 70s, is trying to lug these things because of these bike lanes,” Fray said.

Though the lanes have already been installed, he said, “the signs are still up everywhere in solidarity against this thing that has been forced on us. ...

“It’s a total game changer to be able to bike safely,” she said. Without dedicated bike lanes, she said, many people are deterred from cycling. “When you have wide streets with no bike infrastructure, drivers go pretty fast, and it’s very intimidating.” ...

See the full story here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/01/nyregion/street-wars-bike-lanes-queens.html

Bitcoin Beach – El Salvador

Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte, El Salvador, is home of the world’s first community where families are paying their mortgages on the blockchain. Families used to spend hours of their weeks traveling to make cash payments in person. Now, they can walk out of their homes and exchange their hard-earned cash for bitcoin. Since bitcoin is a legal tender in El Salvador, families can use it to pay for everything — from their haircuts to their homes. ...

About 70% of the population in El Salvador is unbanked and restricted from obtaining a loan and owning a home.  ... While most Salvadorans don’t have a relationship with a bank, they do have mobile phones ...

Home page - https://bitcoin-beach2.webflow.io

See the full story here: https://www.newstoryhomes.org/blog/new-story-and-google-collaboration-brings-digital-transformation-to-bitcoin-beach#:~:text=Bitcoin%20Beach%20in%20El%20Zonte,hard%2Dearned%20cash%20for%20bitcoin.

The plot of a new Fox animated comedy series is about a guy who gets a $3,000 monthly ‘universal basic income’

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"Universal Basic Guys" stars a pair of brothers who join a $3,000-a-month basic income program after the hot dog factory where they work becomes automated. A universal basic income is often cited as a potential solution to the likely job losses created by artificial intelligence.

The animated series is co-produced by Fox Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television. Fox and Sony first ordered the first season in 2022. It is scheduled to premiere in the fall, but Fox has already ordered a second season. ...

While more cities are experimenting with basic income programs, they have also been the target of conservative ire. Some lawmakers have criticized the programs as akin to socialism, while others have called them unconstitutional. A common refrain is that basic incomes encourage recipients not to work, though studies have shown the opposite. ...

See the full story here: https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/the-plot-of-a-new-fox-animated-comedy-series-is-about-a-guy-who-gets-a-3000-monthly-universal-basic-income/amp_articleshow/111367415.cms