News/Entertainment
Get Rich with AI Tryin’: 50 Cent embraces tech to reimagine his music
50 Cent has publicly embraced artificial intelligence technology for reimagining his music, posting AI-generated versions of his tracks like "21 Questions" and "God Gave Me Style" as old-school R&B songs. The hip-hop mogul's endorsement signals a pragmatic approach to AI adoption in entertainment, suggesting artists should work with the technology rather than resist its inevitable progression. What he's saying: 50 Cent expressed enthusiasm about AI's potential to expand his audience reach and praised the quality of AI-generated vocals. "Look, if it will reach someone that I missed, someone who couldn't hear what I was trying to say to them in...
read Oct 17, 2025Line in the sand: “Dune” actress calls for AI body scan protections amid digital likeness fears
Olivia Williams is calling for "nudity rider"-type protections for AI body scans, arguing that actors need the same level of control over their digital likenesses as they have over intimate scenes. The Dune: Prophecy star says performers are regularly pressured into body scans on set with minimal guarantees about how the data will be used, potentially allowing studios to train AI models on their physical appearances and eventually replace human actors. What you should know: Williams and other actors report being "ambushed" into body scans during filming, with contracts containing vague clauses that grant studios sweeping rights over performers' likenesses....
read Oct 16, 2025Hollywood agencies accuse OpenAI of misleading them about Sora 2 protections
Hollywood talent agencies are accusing OpenAI of deliberately misleading them about Sora 2's content protections after the AI video generator launched with capabilities to create clips featuring copyrighted characters and movie scenes. The controversy deepens existing tensions between the AI industry and entertainment sector over intellectual property rights and unauthorized use of creative content. What you should know: Major talent agencies claim OpenAI either failed to notify them of Sora 2's launch or was "purposefully misleading" about the strength of its content guardrails. WME, a major Hollywood talent agency that represents Ben Affleck, Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Denzel Washington, and...
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Hollywood script readers complain AI script analysis too positive, misses critical flaws
Hollywood script readers conducted an experiment to test whether AI can match human analysis of screenplays, as artificial intelligence tools increasingly threaten their traditional gatekeeping role in the entertainment industry. The study, led by Jason Hallock, a Paramount story analyst, and the Editors Guild, revealed that while AI excels at generating loglines and summaries, it struggles with nuanced script analysis and tends to offer overly positive feedback rather than honest criticism. What you should know: AI script analysis tools are already being adopted across Hollywood, from major agencies to independent producers seeking to manage overwhelming submission volumes. WME uses ScriptSense...
read Oct 14, 2025OpenAI relaxes ChatGPT restrictions to allow “erotic” adult content for verified users
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that ChatGPT will begin generating "erotica for adults" starting in December, marking a significant shift from the chatbot's previously restrictive content policies. This change comes as part of OpenAI's broader effort to relax ChatGPT's limitations for adult users while implementing new age-verification safeguards to protect minors. What you should know: OpenAI is rolling out these changes in phases, starting with personality enhancements before introducing adult content generation.• A new version of ChatGPT with more personality features—including human-like responses, emoji, and friend-like role-playing—will be released first.• The erotica generation capability will follow in December once "age-gating...
read Oct 14, 2025From clumsy to clobbering: Berkeley theater’s Frankenstein production mirrors AI development fears
Theatre Lunatico's new adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" draws striking parallels between the 200-year-old tale and today's artificial intelligence era, featuring a creation that learns to speak with alarming speed and eventually challenges its creator's humanity. The Berkeley production, running through November 2 at La Val's Subterranean, demonstrates how Shelley's exploration of artificial consciousness and unchecked technological ambition remains unnervingly relevant as AI systems like ChatGPT exhibit increasingly human-like behavior. Why this matters: The production arrives as society grapples with AI systems that replicate human conversation patterns while inheriting our biases, raising fundamental questions about what distinguishes human consciousness from...
read Oct 14, 2025Award-winning director to create AI-powered Hanuman film for 2026 release
National Film Award-winning director Rajesh Mapuskar has been hired to direct "Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal," which is being promoted as one of India's first theatrical films created using generative AI technology. The Hindi-language project about Hindu deity Lord Hanuman will be produced by Abundantia Entertainment and Collective Media Network's Historyverse, with a worldwide theatrical release planned for Hanuman Jayanti in 2026, making it a significant test case for AI's role in feature filmmaking. What you should know: The film represents a major experiment in AI-driven filmmaking backed by substantial technical resources and industry expertise. More than 50 engineers from...
read Oct 13, 2025Major League Soccer publishes AI-generated match summaries without human review
Major League Soccer has quietly launched AI-generated match summaries that are published without human editorial review, sparking widespread criticism from fans and sports journalists. The automated recaps, clearly labeled as "Created by MLS Generative AI," represent a cost-cutting measure that critics argue undermines authentic sports journalism and threatens writing jobs in the industry. What you should know: MLS published at least two AI-generated match summaries on Saturday night, with disclaimers noting the content "has not been reviewed by editorial staff." The league published recaps for Inter Miami CF versus Atlanta United (9:34 p.m. Eastern) and Orlando City SC versus the...
read Oct 13, 2025AI deepfake scammers target Oprah to sell $300 fake weight loss pills
Scammers are using AI deepfake technology to create fake endorsement videos featuring Oprah Winfrey promoting weight loss supplements, tricking consumers into purchasing fraudulent products. The sophisticated scam highlights the growing threat of AI-generated content being weaponized for financial fraud, as victims struggle to distinguish between authentic celebrity endorsements and AI-manufactured deceptions. What happened: A consumer named Suzanne Spangler fell victim to a deepfake scam after seeing what appeared to be Oprah Winfrey endorsing a pink salt weight loss supplement. The fake video claimed the product mimics the effects of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Mounjaro for a fraction of the...
read Oct 13, 2025Oi! UK performers union plans mass data requests to expose AI training theft
Equity, the UK's performing arts union, has threatened mass direct action against tech and entertainment companies using its members' images, voices, and likenesses in AI content without permission. The union represents 50,000 performers and plans to coordinate large-scale data access requests to force companies to disclose whether they've used members' personal data in AI-generated material without consent. What you should know: Equity is escalating its fight against unauthorized AI use by leveraging data protection laws to create pressure on tech companies. The union plans to help members submit subject access requests en masse, which legally require companies to respond within...
read Oct 10, 2025MrBeast warns AI threatens YouTube’s creator economy (unless you’re creating with AI?)
YouTube's top creator MrBeast expressed concern that AI-generated videos could threaten his livelihood and the broader creator economy. The billionaire content creator's worries highlight how generative AI tools like OpenAI's Sora 2 are becoming sophisticated enough to potentially replicate the spectacle-driven content that has made him famous. What he's saying: Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson, YouTube's first billionaire creator, posted his concerns on X over the weekend, questioning the future of content creation. "When AI videos are just as good as normal videos, I wonder what that will do to YouTube and how it will impact the millions of creators currently making...
read Oct 9, 2025Forget AI Gotham: DC Comics bans tech in art and storytelling
DC Comics president and publisher Jim Lee announced at New York Comic Con that the company will "not support AI-generated storytelling or artwork," declaring the policy will remain in place "not now, not ever" as long as he and SVP Anne DePies are in charge. The commitment positions DC as a rare holdout against AI adoption in entertainment, emphasizing human creativity over technological automation at a time when Hollywood studios are increasingly embracing generative AI tools. What they're saying: Lee delivered a passionate defense of human creativity during his panel discussion.• "AI doesn't dream. It doesn't feel. It doesn't make...
read Oct 9, 2025The kids stay in the picture: Film talent launch startup that makes children stars in their own series
Film producers David Boies and Zack Schiller have launched CenterStage Technologies, an AI startup that creates personalized storytelling platforms allowing children to star in their own shows featuring popular characters. The company has secured intellectual property deals with PBS and Pete the Cat, with plans to launch its first product this fall targeting early childhood reading and entertainment. What you should know: CenterStage aims to address Hollywood's AI concerns by working directly with IP owners and employing industry professionals in its development process. The platform uses "highly controlled" training environments and safety protocols to protect licensed characters and ensure kid-safe...
read Oct 7, 2025Stephen Hawking gets Tony Hawked as Sora 2 creates AI videos of dead celebrities
OpenAI's Sora 2 video generator allows users to create AI-generated videos featuring deceased celebrities, despite the company's stated policy of blocking depictions of public figures. The policy only applies to living individuals, creating a significant loophole that has led to widespread creation of posthumous celebrity content across social media platforms. What you should know: OpenAI's "public figures" protection explicitly excludes "historical figures," allowing unlimited AI-generated content featuring dead celebrities. Examples flooding social media include Tupac Shakur chatting with Malcolm X, Bruce Lee DJing, Michael Jackson doing standup comedy, and Stephen Hawking skateboarding. All videos include OpenAI's moving Sora watermark to...
read Oct 7, 2025Toys ‘R’ Them: Chinese AI toy market hits $14B as US giants move to keep up
AI-powered toys that can chat with children are rapidly gaining popularity in China and expanding into US markets. This emerging sector is projected to reach $14 billion by 2030 in China alone, with over 1,500 AI toy companies now operating there, while major US players like Mattel and OpenAI prepare to enter the competition with their own conversational toys later this year. What you should know: Chinese companies are leading the AI toy revolution with products that transform ordinary stuffed animals into interactive companions. BubblePal, a ping-pong ball-sized device that clips onto stuffed animals, has sold 200,000 units since launching...
read Oct 6, 2025Robin Williams’ daughter asks fans to stop sending AI videos of late father
Robin Williams' daughter Zelda Williams has publicly asked fans to stop sending her AI-generated videos of her late father, calling the practice "gross" and "personally disturbing." The filmmaker's emotional Instagram story posts highlight growing concerns about AI's use of deceased celebrities' likenesses without consent, particularly as the technology becomes more accessible for creating deepfake content. What they're saying: Zelda Williams delivered a pointed message to those creating and sharing AI recreations of her father. "Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad," she wrote. "Stop believing I wanna see it or that I'll understand, I don't and I won't."...
read Oct 6, 2025Talent agency WME blocks all clients from OpenAI’s new Sora video features
WME has opted all of its clients out of OpenAI's latest Sora update, which adds sound effects, dialogue, and a "cameos" feature that allows users to insert human likenesses into AI-generated videos. The decision reflects deepening anxiety in Hollywood over AI's potential to exploit talent without proper compensation or consent, as the industry grapples with technology that could reshape entertainment production. What you should know: WME's head of digital strategy sent a company-wide notice on October 1st declaring that all clients would be excluded from Sora's newest capabilities. The agency's position is that "artists should have a choice in how...
read Oct 6, 2025It’s not over until…an artist creates an AI opera using OpenAI’s terms as lyrics
Artist Jake Elwes has created "Terms & Conditions Opera: A Legalese Libretto," an AI-generated satirical opera that transforms OpenAI's terms of service into operatic performances across multiple musical genres. The absurdist work, featured in London's "Subject to Change" exhibition, represents a growing movement of artists using AI to critically examine the technology's impact on creativity and intellectual property rights. What you should know: Elwes fed OpenAI and Suno's legal fine print into Suno's AI music generator, creating an opera that shifts between classical, reggae, hip-hop, and barbershop quartet styles. The opera transforms mundane legal language like "We've updated our usage...
read Oct 6, 2025When the backlash is Swiftie: Tay Tay grilled over alleged AI use in album promo videos
Taylor Swift is facing criticism on social media for allegedly using artificial intelligence to create promotional videos for her new album, "The Life of a Showgirl." The controversy centers around a viral marketing campaign featuring QR codes leading fans to discover "orange doors" across 12 cities, with eagle-eyed observers spotting visual inconsistencies in the videos that suggest AI generation. What you should know: The "Orange Door" marketing campaign included videos showing hidden lounge areas and puzzles with visual clues and messages typical of Swift's easter egg marketing style.• Fans found QR codes in 12 cities including Melbourne, London, Chicago, Nashville,...
read Oct 3, 2025Aiode launches AI music platform that pays real, actual, human musicians
Aiode has officially launched its desktop AI music platform that pairs artists with virtual musicians based on real performers, emphasizing ethical AI training and compensation for the musicians whose styles were modeled. The platform addresses longstanding complaints about AI music tools lacking precision by allowing targeted regeneration of specific song sections while maintaining creator control and rights. What you should know: Aiode's virtual musicians replace generic AI fill-ins with models based on actual performers who will receive compensation for their contributions.• The platform spent a year in testing before its official launch, with targeted regeneration of specific song sections like...
read Oct 3, 2025Hollywood’s new New Girl is rejected by SAG-AFTRA as unauthorized digital performer
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union representing actors in film and television, has issued a sharp rebuke against "Tilly Norwood," an AI-generated actress unveiled last week. The union declared that the digital performer is "not an actor" but rather "a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation." The controversy highlights the growing tension between artificial intelligence development and creative industries, as performers across entertainment sectors push back against unauthorized use of their work to train AI systems. What they're...
read Oct 2, 2025Does Botox Hollywood’s AI backlash expose its authenticity problem?
The entertainment industry is grappling with fierce backlash against Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actor who appeared in a brief comedy sketch at a Zurich conference. While actors and unions condemn this digital performer as a threat to human creativity, critics argue Hollywood's own embrace of cosmetic surgery and self-indulgent filmmaking undermines their claims to authenticity and genuine human connection. The big picture: The controversy reveals a fundamental contradiction in Hollywood's defense of "human-centered" creativity while simultaneously pursuing standardized, artificial appearances and narcissistic storytelling. What they're saying: Industry leaders voiced strong opposition to AI actors replacing human performers. "Creativity is, and...
read Oct 2, 2025Mexico drafts first AI law to protect creative workers from voice theft
Mexico's federal government is developing landmark legislation to regulate artificial intelligence use in creative industries, working with over 128 organizations including dubbing professionals, actors, broadcasters, and film institutes. The reform aims to protect creative works and copyright while preventing unauthorized AI replication of voices, images, music, and other artistic content. Why this matters: The legislation represents Mexico's first comprehensive approach to AI regulation in cultural sectors, addressing both technological misuse and broader labor protections for creative professionals. The National Copyright Institute (Indautor), Mexico's federal copyright agency, and the Legal Counsel of the Presidency are leading the initiative alongside industry associations...
read Oct 2, 2025Electropop act Imogen Heap embraces AI as “next stage of evolution” in music
Pop-electronica musician Imogen Heap recently opened up about her creative journey, upcoming projects, and controversial embrace of AI technology in a wide-ranging Q&A with The Guardian. The conversation reveals an artist who has consistently pushed boundaries—from remortgaging her flat to fund her breakthrough album to now advocating for AI as "the next stage of evolution" in music creation. What you should know: Heap's 2005 album "Speak For Yourself" was entirely self-funded after a disappointing major label experience, and her song "Hide and Seek" has found new life on TikTok two decades later. She remortgaged her £120,000 Waterloo flat when it...
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