News/Entertainment
Marvel denies rumors it used AI to create ‘Fantastic Four’ poster
Key developments: Marvel's release of promotional posters for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" has sparked debate over the potential use of artificial intelligence in their creation. The film features an all-star cast including Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch Marvel representatives have explicitly denied using AI to create the controversial poster The film is scheduled for theatrical release on July 25, 2025 Broader context: This controversy emerges amid growing concerns about AI's role in film production and marketing. A recent...
read Feb 3, 2025Nicolas Cage blasts AI use in film at Saturn Awards
Nicolas Cage delivered an impassioned speech against artificial intelligence in filmmaking while accepting the Best Actor award at the Saturn Awards for his role in Dream Scenario. Award Context; Cage won Best Actor for his portrayal of Paul Matthews, a character whose life is disrupted when he begins appearing in strangers' dreams. The film, directed by Kristoffer Borgli, explores themes of human consciousness and shared experiences The role showcases Cage's ability to portray complex characters dealing with surreal circumstances Core Message; Cage used his acceptance speech to voice strong concerns about AI's growing influence in the entertainment industry. He emphasized...
read Jan 28, 2025New film ‘Companion’ explores what it means to be human in the age of AI
"Companion" is a sophisticated horror-thriller that blends artificial intelligence concepts with classic genre elements in a story about an AI companion who discovers her true nature. Core premise and setup; Set in the near future where AI companions are commonplace, the film follows Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid) during what begins as a seemingly routine lake house getaway with friends. The narrative takes a sharp turn when Iris discovers she is actually an AI companion programmed by Josh, a revelation that sets off a chain of violent events The story evolves from a casual gathering into a tense...
read Jan 25, 2025Paul McCartney calls on UK government to reconsider AI copyright law
Sir Paul McCartney warns that proposed UK copyright law changes could enable AI companies to exploit artists' work without proper compensation. The core issue: The UK government is considering copyright law changes that would allow AI developers to use creators' online content for model training, with creators having to actively opt out rather than opt in. McCartney argues this could make it impossible for musicians and artists to earn a living from their work The proposed changes would permit AI companies to use online material for text and data mining without respecting existing copyright protections Artists would need to individually...
read Jan 23, 2025Variety and Adobe to host panel on AI in film at Sundance
The Variety media organization will present three Adobe-sponsored panels featuring industry professionals at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Event Overview: The panels will be hosted at the Adobe House on January 24-25, bringing together filmmakers, actors, and industry experts to discuss creative processes and emerging technologies. The first panel examines the making of "Bubble & Squeak," featuring producer-actor Steven Yeun, director Evan Twohy, producer Christina Oh, and actors Himesh Patel and Sarah Goldberg Variety senior entertainment writer Angelique Jackson will moderate this deep dive into the creative and technical aspects of Twohy's debut feature Innovative Format: The "Editors on Editors"...
read Jan 21, 2025Director of ‘The Brutalist’ defends his use of AI in the filmmaking process
Period drama "The Brutalist" has sparked controversy after revelations that AI technology was used to enhance Hungarian language pronunciation and create architectural designs, leading to debate about its awards eligibility. The central controversy: Director Brady Corbet's film faces scrutiny after editor Dávid Jancsó revealed the use of AI technology to refine Hungarian dialogue pronunciation for leads Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. The AI adjustments focused solely on Hungarian language segments, using technology from Ukrainian company Respeecher to improve specific vowels and letters The film's total budget was under $10 million, with AI technology employed to expedite post-production work Both actors...
read Jan 21, 2025Google’s AI is being used to judge snowboard halfpipe competitions at X Games
The X Games is testing artificial intelligence to assist with judging snowboard halfpipe competitions in Aspen, marking a significant step in bringing AI technology to subjectively judged sports. The technology setup: Google Cloud's Vertex AI system has been trained on thousands of hours of halfpipe footage and established judging criteria to evaluate snowboarding performances. The AI platform was developed through a collaboration between X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom and Google founder Sergey Brin The system analyzes key performance elements including jump height, trick difficulty, and execution Judges traditionally score runs on a 100-point scale based on these technical components Initial...
read Jan 21, 2025AI-powered virtual product placement reshapes brand integration in media
Artificial intelligence tools are enabling virtual product placement in media content, allowing brands to digitally insert products into shows, movies, and influencer content after filming is complete. The technology landscape: New AI-powered virtual product placement platforms like Mirriad, Ryff, and Inshorts are transforming how brands integrate their products into entertainment content. Major brands like Cheetos have already implemented this technology, with Mirriad integrating ghost pepper chips into "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" These tools can seamlessly add products, from fried chicken to paint cans, into existing content without requiring physical presence during filming Companies like Hallmark and Univision have been experimenting with...
read Jan 21, 2025Veteran filmmaker Paul Schrader sparks controversy for endorsing AI in filmmaking
The renowned filmmaker Paul Schrader has publicly endorsed ChatGPT as a valuable tool for generating movie plot ideas, praising its speed and creativity in a recent social media post. Key endorsement: Veteran screenwriter and director Paul Schrader expressed amazement at ChatGPT's ability to generate compelling film plots in the style of various famous directors. Schrader tested ChatGPT by requesting plot ideas mimicking the styles of renowned directors including Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, and Ingmar Bergman The filmmaker praised the AI's ability to produce "good," "original," and "fleshed out" ideas within seconds He questioned why writers should spend months developing...
read Jan 10, 2025CES 2025 Variety Summit highlights AI-driven shifts in streaming content and monetization
CES 2025's Variety Entertainment Summit explored major shifts in streaming, AI, and content creation, featuring insights from top media executives and industry leaders. Industry transformation: The entertainment industry is experiencing significant changes in content production and distribution following the 2023 strikes and ongoing media consolidation. Networks and platforms are increasingly open to partnerships and creative content windowing strategies Production volume has decreased from peak TV levels, with a renewed focus on high-quality "Marquee TV" International content and stories from outside the U.S. are gaining more traction with audiences Technology integration: Entertainment companies are actively embracing new technologies to enhance production...
read Jan 8, 2025Nvidia’s latest GPUs have enabled a barrage of entertainment-related announcements at CES
NVIDIA's newest GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and Blackwell AI chip headlined the company's announcements at CES 2025, marking a significant advancement in AI-powered graphics processing technology. Major hardware announcements: NVIDIA's latest GPU lineup represents a substantial leap forward in consumer graphics and AI computing capabilities. The GeForce RTX 50 Series, powered by the new Blackwell AI chip, demonstrates unprecedented real-time graphics processing capabilities NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang emphasized the revolutionary nature of Blackwell, comparing its significance to the introduction of programmable shading a quarter-century ago The company confirmed that Blackwell is now in full production, signaling immediate availability for...
read Jan 6, 2025AI transforms historical content with enhanced video restoration offering new ways to experience the past
AI technology is enabling new ways to experience and reimagine historical moments through enhanced video content and algorithmic recommendations. The evolution of digital consumption: Social media algorithms and AI-powered recommendation systems have become deeply integrated into how we discover and consume content. Platforms like Instagram, Netflix, and Amazon use AI to deliver personalized content recommendations based on individual preferences and browsing history These algorithmic systems shape our daily digital experiences and influence the content we encounter The technology has created new ways to experience both historical footage and reimagined versions of the past AI-enhanced time travel: Advanced AI tools are...
read Jan 1, 2025Comic book creators warn AI may kill their industry
Comic book creators are grappling with concerns over artificial intelligence's impact on their industry, with some fearing it could threaten their livelihoods while others see opportunities for enhanced productivity. The state of the industry: The comic book sector, despite its connection to billion-dollar movie franchises, has faced multiple near-death experiences throughout its history. Previous challenges included political censorship in the 1950s and a significant sales decline in the 1990s The industry has consistently demonstrated resilience by adapting to new technologies and distribution methods AI adoption and opportunities: Some prominent figures in the comic book world are embracing AI technology as...
read Dec 29, 2024The surprising ways AI is transforming the entertainment landscape
Current state of AI in media: The entertainment industry is leveraging artificial intelligence to rethink content creation, distribution, and audience engagement while maintaining its tradition of pushing creative and technological boundaries. Media companies are combining AI capabilities with traditional creative processes to enhance storytelling and content production The transformation spans multiple sectors including streaming services, film production, and content moderation AI tools are being deployed to automate previously manual tasks while enabling new forms of personalization Content creation innovations: Artificial intelligence is streamlining the creative process across various entertainment mediums, from script writing to video editing. Large language models can...
read Dec 26, 2024Animation Guild approves new studio contract despite lingering concerns over AI protections
The Animation Guild has approved a new three-year contract with major studios with 76.1% membership support, despite concerns over artificial intelligence protections. Key terms of the agreement: The contract includes staggered wage increases and specific improvements for certain job categories over three years. Members will receive raises of 7%, 4%, and 3.5% across the board The agreement introduces "pay equity" measures for color designers, a traditionally female-dominated role A new staffing minimum requirement has been established for TV animation writers AI provisions and limitations: The final agreement falls short of the union's initial demands for comprehensive AI protections. The contract...
read Dec 21, 2024Hip-hop offers example of how music can thrive in the AI era
The future relationship between artificial intelligence and human musical creativity is entering a pivotal phase, with 2025 potentially marking a turning point in how these forces interact and complement each other. Current landscape: Hip-hop music serves as a compelling case study for understanding how AI might integrate with human creativity in the music industry. The genre's history of sampling and remixing makes it particularly well-suited for AI integration and experimentation Hip-hop artists have already begun exploring AI tools for production, beatmaking, and creative collaboration The intersection of human artistry and AI technology is creating new opportunities for musical innovation [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHVqo5m9iG0[/embed]...
read Dec 21, 2024TCLtv is streaming AI-generated short films — watch them here
TCL's recent release of five AI-generated short films on its TCLtv Plus streaming platform provides a stark illustration of both the current capabilities and limitations of AI-generated video content. Overview of the initiative: TCL's experimental venture into AI-generated content through five distinct short films spans multiple genres, from comedy to science fiction, revealing the current state of AI video generation technology. The films represent various storytelling approaches, including futuristic narratives, superhero-style content, docufiction, comedy, and psychological horror Each film serves as a test case for different aspects of AI video generation capabilities The content is exclusively available on TCL's streaming...
read Dec 19, 2024AI-generated article allegedly to blame for Steve Harvey death hoax
Breaking news confusion: A false report claiming Steve Harvey's death circulated widely on news aggregation platforms, causing unnecessary alarm and confusion among fans. The hoax originated on Trend Cast News with the headline "Steve Harvey Passed Away Today: Remembering The Legacy Of A Comedy Legend" The story gained significant traction after being shared by Newsbreak, a platform with over 50 million monthly users The fake article notably included a future publication date of December 19, 2024 Ongoing platform issues: Newsbreak's involvement in spreading the misinformation reflects a broader pattern of challenges with AI-generated content on their platform. The platform previously...
read Dec 18, 2024AI filmmakers can now find work on Runway’s new talent platform
The rapid evolution of AI-powered video creation has created a growing demand for professionals who can effectively leverage these tools in creative workflows. Market context and timing: Runway's talent network launch comes as major players like Google and OpenAI continue to advance their AI video generation capabilities. The New York-based company has introduced a platform connecting AI filmmaking specialists with brands, agencies, and studios seeking creative talent The network already features dozens of independent AI artists and production houses specializing in various aspects of AI-powered video creation Members of Runway's Creative Partner Program, who have privileged access to new tools...
read Dec 18, 2024Fury vs Usyk heavyweight boxing championship to be the first ever judged by AI
Recent advancements in sports technology have taken an unprecedented turn as artificial intelligence prepares to make its debut in professional boxing judging during the highly anticipated Fury vs Usyk 2 heavyweight title fight. The groundbreaking development: The upcoming heavyweight championship rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will be the first boxing match to incorporate an AI judge, marking a significant shift in combat sports officiating. The AI judging system, introduced by Ring Magazine owner Turki Alalshikh, is being promoted as a solution "free from bias and human error" While the technology provider hasn't been officially confirmed, reports suggest it...
read Dec 17, 2024YouTube partners with CAA to combat AI deepfakes of celebrities
The rise of AI-generated deepfakes has prompted major platforms and talent agencies to develop tools for protecting celebrities' digital likenesses and intellectual property rights. Key Partnership Announcement: YouTube and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) have formed a groundbreaking collaboration to help talent identify and remove unauthorized AI-generated content featuring their likenesses from the video platform. The initiative will launch in early 2025, initially focusing on celebrity talent, including award-winning actors and professional athletes from the NBA and NFL YouTube is developing specialized likeness-management technology that can detect AI-generated content featuring faces "at scale" The system will allow talent to submit takedown...
read Dec 17, 2024Asteria, Moonvalley build ‘ethically trained’ AI video model for movie studios
The race to develop ethically-sourced AI tools for video content creation is heating up as Hollywood grapples with concerns over copyright and fair compensation for creators. Key Development: Asteria, a newly formed AI studio under nonfiction producer XTR, is collaborating with AI research startup Moonvalley to develop "Marey," an AI video model designed specifically for Hollywood's needs. The model is scheduled to launch in early 2025, targeting January or February for its initial release Unlike existing AI models that rely on scraped web data, Marey will be trained exclusively on properly licensed content with explicit permission from rights holders Content...
read Dec 15, 2024WGA urges studios to sue AI companies over plagiarism
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has initiated a confrontation with major Hollywood studios over the unauthorized use of copyrighted scripts by artificial intelligence companies, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing debate about AI's role in creative industries. Key developments: The WGA's east and west chapters have issued formal letters to top executives at major studios including Amazon MGM, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The letters were delivered on Thursday to prominent industry leaders including Bob Iger, Ted Sarandos, and David Zaslav The Guild explicitly references a November 18 article from The Atlantic that...
read Dec 15, 2024Amazon introduces ‘AI Topics’ to make Prime Video recommendations via AI
The streaming industry continues to evolve as Amazon tests new artificial intelligence features to enhance content discovery on its Prime Video platform. Core innovation: Amazon is introducing 'AI Topics,' a new recommendation system that groups content based on artificial intelligence analysis rather than traditional algorithmic suggestions. The feature creates tailored categories like "mind-bending sci-fi," "fantasy quests," and "thrilling character journeys" based on viewer interests Users can refine their content discovery by selecting related topics within each category The system aims to provide a continuous discovery experience without reaching recommendation dead ends Implementation details: The AI Topics feature is currently in...
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