Actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck has weighed in on the ongoing debate over AI in the entertainment industry, arguing that AI poses little immediate threat to actors and screenwriters. Speaking to CNBC, Affleck stated that while AI can replicate certain styles, it lacks the creative depth required to craft meaningful narratives or performances, likening it to a poor substitute for human ingenuity.
Affleck, co-founder of a film studio with fellow actor Matt Damon, expressed optimism about AI’s role in Hollywood, suggesting it might even generate new opportunities for creative professionals. However, he raised concerns about its potential impact on the visual effects industry, which could face significant disruptions as AI technologies advance.
Strikes by Hollywood unions last year highlighted fears that AI could replace creative talent. Affleck remains sceptical of such a scenario, maintaining that storytelling and human performance remain uniquely human domains that AI is unlikely to master soon.
Asian News International (ANI), one of India’s largest news agencies, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing it of using copyrighted news content to train its AI models without authorisation. ANI alleges that OpenAI’s ChatGPT generated false information attributed to the agency, including fabricated interviews, which it claims could harm its reputation and spread misinformation.
The case, filed in the Delhi High Court, is India’s first legal action against OpenAI on copyright issues. While the court summoned OpenAI to respond, it declined to grant an immediate injunction, citing the complexity of the matter. A detailed hearing is scheduled for January, and an independent expert may be appointed to examine the case’s copyright implications.
OpenAI has argued that copyright laws don’t protect factual data and noted that websites can opt out of data collection. ANI’s counsel countered that public access does not justify content exploitation, emphasising the risks posed by AI inaccuracies. The case comes amid growing global scrutiny of AI companies over their use of copyrighted material, with similar lawsuits ongoing in the US, Canada, and Germany.
Brussels is planning new rules requiring Chinese firms to transfer technology and build factories in Europe to qualify for EU subsidies. These measures will apply to a €1 billion battery development scheme launching in December, potentially setting a precedent for other clean technology initiatives.
The proposals echo China’s own approach to foreign businesses, which compels them to share intellectual property to access its markets. The European Commission has also implemented tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and stricter rules for hydrogen technology, aimed at reducing reliance on cheaper imports that undercut local manufacturers.
Chinese companies such as CATL and Envision Energy are already investing heavily in European facilities. However, domestic challenges persist, with Sweden’s Northvolt struggling financially as it attempts to scale up battery production. Batteries are critical for electric vehicles, making supply chains essential for Europe’s transition to greener technologies.
Critics warn that these tougher trade policies could disrupt EU climate goals by driving up costs for consumers. While the measures aim to support European industries, experts suggest they risk creating uncertainty and hindering innovation.
David Attenborough has criticised American AI firms for cloning his voice to narrate partisan reports. Outlets such as The Intellectualist have used his distinctive voice for topics including US politics and the war in Ukraine.
The broadcaster described these acts as ‘identity theft’ and expressed profound dismay over losing control of his voice after decades of truthful storytelling. Scarlett Johansson has faced a similar issue, with AI mimicking her voice for an online persona called ‘Sky’.
Experts warn that such technology poses risks to reputations and legacies. Dr Jennifer Williams of Southampton University highlighted the troubling implications for Attenborough’s legacy and authenticity in the public eye.
Regulations to prevent voice cloning remain absent, raising concerns about its misuse. The Intellectualist has yet to comment on Attenborough’s allegations.
Tesla founder Elon Musk has revived a legal action against OpenAI, alleging the organisation abandoned its original non-profit mission. Filed in a California federal court, the amended complaint names Microsoft, Reid Hoffman, and Dee Templeton as defendants. Additional plaintiffs, including Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive and ally of Musk, have also joined the case.
Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, accuses the organisation of exploiting Microsoft’s infrastructure in what his lawyers describe as a ‘de facto merger.’ He claims OpenAI has benefited from favourable treatment by Microsoft, disadvantaging competitors such as xAI, Musk’s AI venture. The lawsuit also raises concerns over alleged antitrust violations involving OpenAI board members and their connections to Microsoft.
The filing alleges Reid Hoffman and Dee Templeton facilitated agreements between OpenAI and Microsoft that violated antitrust laws. It further details how Hoffman’s dual roles at Microsoft and OpenAI may have allowed access to sensitive information. Zilis, a former OpenAI board member, expressed similar concerns internally but was reportedly ignored.
Musk’s lawyers argue that OpenAI’s transition to a profit-driven model undermines its foundational principles of transparency and safety. The complaint references incidents such as a 2018 cryptocurrency proposal that Musk vetoed, citing potential reputational harm. OpenAI has dismissed the lawsuit as baseless and characterised it as a publicity stunt.
YouTube is testing an AI-driven feature allowing select creators to remix songs by describing desired stylistic changes. This builds on its Dream Track toolset, which debuted last year and lets users generate AI-based tracks using artist vocals. The new feature, ‘Restyle a track,’ enables creators to transform a song’s genre or mood, producing 30-second snippets for Shorts while preserving the original’s essence.
The tool uses Google DeepMind’s Lyria model and ensures proper crediting of the original music. YouTube has partnered with Universal Music Group to compensate artists and rights holders, addressing potential concerns from the music industry. Creators participating in the trial can experiment with a limited selection of tracks under this system.
This development follows a growing trend of platforms enabling AI-generated music customisation. YouTube’s approach highlights its commitment to both creative innovation and maintaining industry standards. Competitors like Hook, an app for remixing music, are also exploring similar functionalities for short-form video content.
Adobe has unveiled new AI tools that allow users to create modified images from its stock photo library while ensuring the original creators are compensated. The software giant, known for products like Photoshop, has been rapidly integrating AI into its platform as it faces competition from newer firms like OpenAI. Adobe‘s strategy focuses on making AI-generated content legally safe for commercial use and guaranteeing fair payments for artists.
The newly released tools enable customers to take stock images and modify them with AI to meet specific requirements. Adobe compensates the original image creators as if their unmodified work was used, ensuring fair earnings. Matthew Smith, Adobe’s vice president for strategy, design, and emerging products, emphasised that the goal is to enhance creative possibilities, not replace traditional stock imagery or artists.
Smith also highlighted the demand for flexible content creation. While some users prefer generating images from text prompts, many still need to adapt conventional stock images to fulfil their unique purposes. Generative AI, he said, provides an opportunity for creatives to increase their potential earnings by making their contributions more adaptable.
Google is testing an AI-driven feature for YouTube Shorts, allowing creators to alter licensed audio tracks to fit different styles or genres. Part of YouTube’s Dream Track experiment, the feature lets select creators customise songs by simply describing their desired transformation, such as changing the music genre. YouTube’s AI then generates a 30-second soundtrack for the creator’s short video, maintaining the original vocals and lyrics.
The experimental tool has clear attribution rules, ensuring viewers can see that the song has been restyled with AI. Videos featuring these AI-enhanced tracks will display the original song information and note that AI was used to alter the sound. This setup helps protect the rights of original music creators while giving video makers new artistic possibilities.
The Dream Track experiment has been in testing since last year, initially giving creators access to AI-generated artist voices with approved songs. This latest feature now expands to allow broader soundtrack customisation within Shorts, aiming to boost creator flexibility and viewer engagement.
Separately, YouTube is testing a swipe-up feature for its Android app, making it easier to navigate between videos. Available to a limited number of users, the swipe-up gesture now brings a navigation method similar to Instagram Reels, potentially signalling an interface shift across YouTube’s mobile platform.
French news publishers, including Le Monde, Le Figaro, and Le Parisien, have taken legal action against the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, over alleged unpaid content rights. They argue that X has distributed their material without compensation, as required by French ancillary rights laws, which mandate payments to news outlets when digital platforms use their content.
The dispute centres around X’s refusal to open negotiations with French media, contrasting with platforms like Google and Meta, which have reached agreements with publishers. French newspapers contend that X has ignored an order by the Paris Court of Justice from May, which requires the company to disclose financial information needed to determine the amount owed.
In a statement, the publishers emphasised that revenue from these payments supports media independence, plurality, and quality, contributing to freedom of expression and the right to information in society. They argue that securing these funds is vital for sustaining a democratic press.
A representative of the Paris court has confirmed that a hearing will take place on May 15, 2025, where both parties will present their cases. X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has yet to comment on the legal challenge.
Disney is establishing a new division, the Office of Technology Enablement, dedicated to advancing the company’s use of AI and mixed reality (XR). Led by Jamie Voris, Disney’s former chief technology officer for its film studio, the unit will oversee projects across Disney’s film, television, and theme park segments to leverage these rapidly evolving technologies. This group will focus on coordinating various initiatives without centralising them, ensuring each project aligns with Disney’s broader technological strategy.
The new office, which will ultimately expand to about 100 employees, comes as Disney looks to tap into cutting-edge AI and augmented reality (AR) applications. Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman emphasised the importance of exploring AI’s potential while mitigating risks, signaling Disney’s intention to create next-generation experiences for theme parks and home entertainment. Voris’s leadership will be succeeded by Eddie Drake as Disney’s new film studio CTO.
Disney has been actively building expertise in AR and virtual reality (VR) as technology companies like Meta and Apple compete in the emerging AR/VR market. The company also rehired Kyle Laughlin, a specialist in these technologies, as Senior VP of Research and Development for Disney Imagineering, its theme park innovation branch. By assembling a team with expertise in advanced tech, Disney aims to create immersive, engaging experiences for its global audience.
