In the world of video game development, the rise of AI has sparked concern among performers who fear it could threaten their jobs. Motion capture actors like Noshir Dalal, who perform the physical movements that bring game characters to life, worry that AI could be used to replicate their performances without their consent, potentially reducing job opportunities and diminishing the value of their work.
Dalal, who has played characters in the most popular video games like ‘Star Wars Jedi: Survivor,’ highlights the physical toll and skill required in motion capture work. He argues that AI could allow studios to bypass hiring actors for new projects by reusing data from past performances. The concern is central to the ongoing strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which represents video game performers and other media professionals. The union is demanding stronger protections against unregulated AI use in the industry.
Why does this matter?
AI’s ability to generate new animations and voices based on existing data is at the heart of the issue. While studios argue that they have offered meaningful AI protections, performers remain sceptical. They worry that the use of AI could lead to ethical dilemmas, such as their likenesses being used in ways they do not endorse, as seen in the controversy surrounding game modifications that use AI to create inappropriate content.
Video game companies have offered wage increases and other benefits as negotiations continue, but the debate over AI protections remains unresolved. Performers like Dalal and others argue that AI could strip away the artistry and individuality that actors bring to their roles without strict controls, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how AI is regulated in the entertainment industry, impacting the future of video game development and beyond.
Nvidia Research has introduced a new generative AI model called StormCast that promises to significantly enhance the accuracy of short-range weather forecasting, particularly for extreme weather events. This advancement in the meteorology field could mark a bigger shift in forecasting, providing more precise predictions that could save lives and protect property.
StormCast is the first AI model capable of simulating small-scale weather phenomena, such as thunderstorms and flash floods, with improved accuracy compared to existing models. It operates at the mesoscale level, allowing it to predict how storms will develop, intensify, and dissipate, offering an edge over traditional methods like the high-resolution rapid refresh (HRRR) model used in the US.
Thanks to its generative AI capabilities, Nvidia’s model is faster and more efficient, producing detailed forecasts in minutes rather than hours. The prediction rapidity allows it to be used in ensemble forecasting, where multiple runs with slightly different data provide a more reliable prediction or highlight potential changes in weather patterns.
While AI-driven models like StormCast transform weather prediction, experts caution against abandoning traditional physics-based models entirely. Nvidia’s approach involves integrating AI with established methods to ensure the reliability and accuracy of forecasts.
Nvidia is collaborating with The Weather Company and Colorado State University to test and refine StormCast, which has the potential for broader application in the future. As AI continues to evolve, the impact on local weather forecasting is expected to grow, offering new ways to predict and respond to weather hazards.
The growing demand for data centres, driven by the AI boom, is leading to a significant increase in water consumption, particularly for cooling the computing equipment. In Virginia, home to the world’s largest concentration of data centres, water usage surged by nearly two-thirds between 2019 and 2023, rising from 1.13 billion to 1.85 billion gallons.
The trend, mirrored globally, raises concerns about sustainability. Microsoft, a key player in the data centre industry, reported that 42% of the water it used in 2023 came from regions experiencing water stress. Google, which operates some of the largest data centres, revealed that 15% of its freshwater withdrawals occurred in areas with high water scarcity.
Although many data centres use closed-loop systems to recycle water, a significant portion is still lost due to the need for humidity control, especially in dry regions. Humidified air is essential to prevent static electricity, which can damage sensitive computer equipment.
The increasing water consumption by data centres underscores the environmental challenges posed by the rapid expansion of AI and digital infrastructure, prompting concerns about the sustainability of such practices.
OpenAI has intensified its efforts to prevent the misuse of AI, especially in light of the numerous elections scheduled for 2024. The company recently identified and turned off a cluster of ChatGPT accounts linked to an Iranian covert influence operation named Storm-2035. The operation aimed to manipulate public opinion during the US presidential election using AI-generated content on social media and websites but failed to gain significant engagement or reach a broad audience.
According to Reuters’ latest news..
The US has accused Iran of launching cyber and influence operations aimed at the campaigns of US presidential candidates and sowing political discord among the American public. A joint statement from the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency highlighted increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during the election cycle. The statement follows earlier allegations from Donald Trump’s campaign regarding an Iranian hack on one of its websites. Iran has denied the accusations, describing them as ‘unsubstantiated and devoid of any standing.’ The US intelligence community remains confident in its assessment, citing attempts to access individuals within the presidential campaigns and activities intended to influence the election process.
The operation generated articles and social media comments on various topics, including US politics, global events, and the conflict in Gaza. The content was published on websites posing as news outlets and shared on platforms like X and Instagram. Despite their efforts, the operation saw minimal interaction, with most posts receiving little to no attention.
OpenAI’s investigation into this operation was bolstered by information from Microsoft, and it revealed that the influence campaign was largely ineffective, scoring low on a scale assessing the impact of covert operations. The company remains vigilant against such threats and has shared its findings with government and industry stakeholders.
OpenAI is committed to collaborating with industry, civil society, and government to counter these influence operations. The company emphasises the importance of transparency and continues to monitor and disrupt any attempts to exploit its AI technologies for manipulative purposes.
Prince Harry, alongside his wife Meghan, emphasised the need for caution regarding artificial intelligence during their visit to Colombia. Speaking at a panel in Bogota, the Duke of Sussex expressed concerns about AI’s impact on society, highlighting the fear and uncertainty surrounding the technology. He also pointed to social media’s role in creating division, warning that misinformation is driving a wedge between people.
The couple arrived in Colombia at the invitation of Vice President Francia Marquez. During their visit, they engaged with students at a local school and enjoyed a traditional dance performance, showcasing their support for Colombian culture. Harry’s remarks on AI were part of a broader conversation about the challenges posed by new technologies and their influence on social dynamics.
Harry and Meghan, founders of the Archewell Foundation, are expected to continue their tour with a visit to Cali, where they will participate in the Petronio Alvarez festival, celebrating Afro-Colombian music and culture. Their visit reflects a commitment to addressing global issues such as cyber-bullying, online violence, and discrimination.
Vice President Marquez thanked the couple for their visit, acknowledging their efforts to forge connections and work on pressing global challenges. The royal couple’s engagement in Colombia underscores their ongoing dedication to social causes and global humanitarian efforts.
Donald Trump has shared AI-generated images on social media, showing Taylor Swift fans endorsing his presidential campaign. The images, which are clearly fake, have sparked controversy, particularly since Swift has not publicly supported any candidates in the 2024 US election.
Trump, however, embraced the images, responding with ‘I accept!’ on his platform. The posts were also shared by an account that reposts his content on X (formerly Twitter). Despite their obvious fabrication, the posts have drawn significant attention online.
( @realDonaldTrump – Truth Social Post ) ( Donald J. Trump – Aug 18, 2024, 3:50 PM ET )
— Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) August 18, 2024
Taylor Swift, who endorsed Joe Biden in the last election, has not commented on these fake images. Her history with AI-generated content has been fraught, including deepfake videos that once led to a temporary ban on her searches on X.
Swift’s potential legal actions against AI content providers remain a topic of interest. However, the source of these recent fake posts remains unknown, raising concerns about the use of AI in political propaganda.
Researchers at the University of Auckland’s Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand have used machine learning to delve into athletic recovery. They tracked 43 endurance athletes, gathering extensive data on sleep, diet, heart-rate variability, and workout routines. The study revealed that while certain factors like sleep quality and muscle soreness broadly influence recovery, the most effective predictors vary from person to person.
For instance, sleep data might be a strong indicator for one athlete, while for another, protein intake and muscle soreness could be more relevant. A simpler model using just a few variables performed nearly as well as more complex ones, emphasising that not all factors are equally important for every athlete. However, the effectiveness of predictions significantly improved when tailored to individual data.
The study also examined heart-rate variability (HRV) but found that predicting HRV changes based on controllable factors, like training load and diet, proved challenging. Although HRV is often used as a gauge for readiness to train, the researchers concluded that its predictive value might be limited.
Ultimately, the research underscores the importance of personalised recovery strategies. While broad patterns exist, the best approach to recovery seems to hinge on understanding the unique factors that impact each athlete individually.
Plans to introduce AI-powered textbooks in South Korean classrooms have sparked concerns among parents. The government aims to roll out tablets with these advanced textbooks next year, with the goal of using them across all subjects by 2028, excluding music, art, physical education, and ethics. The AI textbooks will be designed to adapt to different learning speeds, and teachers will monitor student progress through dashboards.
However, many parents are uneasy about the impact of this new technology on their children’s well-being. Over 50,000 have signed a petition urging the government to prioritise overall student health rather than focusing solely on technological advancements. They argue that excessive exposure to digital devices is already causing unprecedented issues.
One concerned parent, Lee Sun-youn, highlighted worries about the potential negative effects on children’s brain development and concentration. She pointed out that students in South Korea are already heavily reliant on smartphones and tablets, and increased screen time in classrooms could exacerbate these problems.
The government has yet to provide detailed information on how the AI textbook program will be implemented. As the rollout approaches, the debate over the balance between technology and student welfare continues to intensify.
Klaxon AI, a start-up based in Peterborough, has received £50,000 in funding from the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, to develop a new tool that allows small businesses to create computer-generated podcast adverts. The new system, expected to launch in January, will enable companies to produce 30-second podcast ads in just a few minutes, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional advertising methods.
Co-founder Arup Biswas expressed excitement over the funding, noting that the tool will be ‘incredibly cheap’ and accessible to small businesses that typically cannot afford podcast advertising. The system will allow users to input a few words about their business or provide specific text, with AI generating the audio advert.
The service will cost about £50 for businesses to download their ad, or they can opt to use it for free on Klaxon AI’s network of podcasts. The funding is part of a broader £30 million investment by Innovate UK in high-potential businesses within the creative sector.
AMD announced plans to acquire server maker ZT Systems for $4.9 billion, aiming to strengthen its position in the AI hardware market and compete with industry leader Nvidia. The acquisition will be financed through a combination of cash and stock, with AMD leveraging its $5.34 billion in cash reserves. That strategic move is intended to enhance AMD’s ability to meet the growing computing demands of AI, where the integration of vast numbers of chips into powerful server systems is crucial.
ZT Systems, which generates about $10 billion in annual revenue, will bring approximately 1,000 engineers to AMD, allowing the company to accelerate the testing and deployment of its AI GPUs on a larger scale, particularly for major cloud providers like Microsoft. AMD’s CEO, Lisa Su, emphasised that AI systems are the company’s top strategic priority and expects the acquisition to boost GPU sales significantly. However, AMD plans to divest ZT Systems’ server manufacturing business post-acquisition, as it does not intend to compete in that segment.
The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025, with AMD anticipating a positive impact on its financial performance by the end of that year. The following acquisition is part of AMD’s broader strategy to challenge Nvidia’s dominance in the AI hardware space, where Nvidia is projected to generate $105.9 billion from its data centre segment this year.
