News/Entertainment
Grok AI suggests Sacha Baron Cohen to play Elon Musk in biopic
The potential casting of Sacha Baron Cohen as Elon Musk in an upcoming biopic has sparked discussion, with Musk's own AI chatbot Grok endorsing the comedic actor as an unexpectedly fitting choice for the role. The casting proposition: Grok, the AI chatbot from Musk's xAI company, suggests that Sacha Baron Cohen would be the most entertaining choice to portray the tech mogul in the planned A24 biopic. The film, set to be directed by Darren Aronofsky, will be based on Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Musk Grok emphasizes that Baron Cohen's satirical expertise could effectively capture Musk's blend of "genius...
read Dec 11, 2024Rapper 50 Cent shares fake AI video of Jay-Z and Diddy being arrested
There's new controversy in the hip-hop community as rapper 50 Cent uses artificial intelligence to mock fellow artists facing serious legal challenges. Latest developments: Rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) has shared an AI-generated video depicting Jay-Z and Diddy being arrested, amid serious legal allegations against both music moguls. The artificial intelligence video shows both men in tuxedos being arrested at a party and transported to jail while holding wine glasses Jackson captioned the post with a joke about potential retaliation: "I want to post this but I'm afraid I'm gonna get shot" Social media reactions were mixed, with some followers...
read Dec 10, 2024Animation Guild leaders reject contract over AI concerns
The Animation Guild faces internal dissent over AI protections in its recently negotiated contract with major studios, highlighting growing concerns about artificial intelligence's impact on the entertainment industry workforce. Key dispute overview: The tentative agreement between the Animation Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has sparked opposition from prominent members over perceived inadequate AI safeguards. Mike Rianda, director of "The Mitchells vs. the Machines," publicly opposed the deal on Instagram, citing insufficient protections against AI replacing workers The contract allows studios to implement "technological change" with provisions for retraining and severance pay for displaced workers The...
read Dec 7, 2024AI and the billion-dollar business of deceased celebrity estate management
The evolution of celebrity estates has created a complex intersection of technology, commerce, and legacy management, where deceased stars continue generating revenue through various commercial ventures and digital resurrections. The modern celebrity estate landscape: The business of managing deceased celebrities' images and rights has become increasingly sophisticated and profitable since the late 20th century. Robbert de Klerk's role as CEO of Humphrey Bogart's estate exemplifies how celebrity legacy management has evolved into a professional industry Deceased celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Whitney Houston, and James Dean continue generating revenue through product endorsements, hologram performances, and AI-generated content Michael Jackson's estate earned...
read Dec 6, 2024Mariah Carey says, no, her Spotify appearance wasn’t a deepfake
Artificial intelligence enters the spotlight once again as pop superstar Mariah Carey addresses viral speculation about her recent Spotify Wrapped thank-you message to fans. The controversy unfolds: A seemingly routine holiday message from Mariah Carey to her Spotify listeners sparked unexpected debate across social media platforms. The 55-year-old singer recorded a personalized message thanking fans as part of Spotify's year-end Wrapped campaign Viewers on X (formerly Twitter) began speculating that the footage was generated by artificial intelligence The video featured Carey in holiday attire with red lipstick, thanking supporters and promoting the 30th anniversary of her "Merry Christmas" album Carey's...
read Dec 4, 2024Animation artists challenge AI terms in new Guild contract
The Animation Guild's new contract with major studios has been met with mixed reactions, particularly around artificial intelligence protections and staffing minimums for its 5,000 members. Key contract terms: The tentative agreement, reached on November 23rd after three months of negotiations, includes modest AI protections while securing some traditional labor gains. The deal requires studios to provide written notice when AI will be used in projects Members cannot opt out of AI use if required for their job or prevent their work from training AI models The agreement establishes a minimum of three writers for animated TV shows, with some...
read Dec 3, 2024Hollywood must embrace AI or risk falling behind, warns Zack Snyder
The relationship between artificial intelligence and filmmaking continues to evolve, with prominent directors like Zack Snyder weighing in on AI's potential impact on the entertainment industry. Current industry perspective: Director Zack Snyder shared his views on AI in filmmaking during WIRED's The Big Interview event in San Francisco, offering a pragmatic take on the technology's role in cinema. While acknowledging that widespread access to technology doesn't automatically lead to quality content, Snyder emphasized the importance of understanding and embracing AI rather than avoiding it He drew a parallel to smartphone cameras, noting that despite their ubiquity, we haven't seen an...
read Dec 3, 2024Argentine film to be the first with AI voice dubbing in original actors’ voices
The rise of AI-powered movie dubbing marks a significant shift in how foreign films may soon reach international audiences, with potential ripple effects across the entertainment industry. The groundbreaking development: Argentine horror-fantasy film "The Witch Game" is set to become the first theatrically released movie using AI-generated dubbing to recreate the original actors' voices in English. The film follows a young woman who receives a VR headset for her 18th birthday, transporting her to a mysterious magical school in another world Director Fabian Forte's Harry Potter-inspired creation will bypass traditional dubbing methods, using AI to translate and synchronize dialogue while...
read Dec 2, 2024Manga publisher taps AI to translate Japanese comics
Manga localization is undergoing rapid transformation as Japanese startup Orange deploys Anthropic's Claude AI model to accelerate English translations, addressing the massive gap between available Japanese titles and translated versions in the US market. Market dynamics and opportunity; The US manga market, valued at $880 million in 2023 and projected to reach $3.71 billion by 2030, currently has access to only 2% of Japanese manga titles. Orange's AI-powered translation system can complete manga titles in days, compared to the traditional 2-3 month timeline for human translators The company distributes translated content through their proprietary app called emaqi The automated process...
read Dec 2, 2024AI translates Harry Potter-inspired horror film for release
The rise of AI-powered dubbing is enabling international films to reach broader audiences, as demonstrated by a new Spanish-language horror film from Argentina that will be released in English-speaking markets. Film overview: "The Witch Game," directed by Fabian Forte, blends Harry Potter-inspired elements with horror in a story about supernatural discovery and family survival. The plot centers on a teenage girl (Lourdes Mansilla) who receives a mysterious virtual game that transports her to an occult realm At a medieval school of magic, she must master witchcraft to protect her family from demonic forces The cast includes established actors Ezequiel Rodriguez,...
read Dec 2, 2024What one bizarre movie about beavers implies for creativity in the AI era
The recent film "Hundreds of Beavers" stands as a unique artistic statement about human creativity and craftsmanship in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and automated content creation. Film Overview and Style; This black-and-white silent comedy, released in 2022, blends influences from classic slapstick, animated cartoons, and video games into a distinctively handcrafted production. The story follows a Wisconsin applejack maker who turns to fur trapping after his distillery explodes, leading to increasingly absurd encounters with beavers The film draws inspiration from diverse sources including Looney Tunes, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, kung fu movies, and Super Mario Bros With...
read Dec 1, 2024Cate Blanchett expresses deep concern over AI’s impact on acting
Acclaimed actress Cate Blanchett has expressed significant concerns about artificial intelligence's societal impact while promoting her new apocalyptic comedy film "Rumours." Key concerns about AI: Blanchett articulates broad apprehensions about artificial intelligence that extend far beyond its potential impact on the entertainment industry. The actress questions the value of emerging technologies like robots and autonomous vehicles, expressing uncertainty about their societal benefits She emphasizes that her concerns focus less on AI's impact on acting and more on its implications for average citizens Blanchett warns that voice replication technology can now duplicate anyone's voice with just a few seconds of recorded...
read Dec 1, 2024Focus Features acquires distribution rights for AI thriller ‘Hot Spot’
The evolving landscape of AI-themed cinema is set to expand with a new high-profile acquisition by Focus Features of the sentient AI thriller "Hot Spot" from acclaimed director Agnieszka Smoczyńska. Deal specifics and film premise: Focus Features has secured worldwide distribution rights for "Hot Spot," excluding Poland, Greece, and France, marking the studio's second collaboration with Smoczyńska. The near-future thriller follows a private investigator who discovers a rebel group capable of challenging a sentient AI regime while investigating a murder case BAFTA nominee Noomi Rapace leads the cast alongside Andrzej Konopka and Reika Kirishima Production wrapped in Greece on November...
read Nov 30, 2024IMAX AI partnership will take voice dubbing to a new level
The emergence of AI-powered content localization is reshaping how global entertainment reaches diverse linguistic audiences, with IMAX's latest partnership marking a significant step in this evolution. Partnership Overview: IMAX has joined forces with India-based CAMB.AI to leverage advanced AI translation and speech emulation services for its content portfolio. The collaboration, announced on November 27, will focus on localizing IMAX original content, including documentaries, into multiple languages CAMB.AI's DubStudio platform will be the primary tool for content transformation The partnership aims to expand IMAX's reach to non-English speaking audiences worldwide Technical Capabilities: CAMB.AI's technology employs two proprietary AI models that work...
read Nov 25, 2024AI-focused film festival debuts at LMU
The Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television is pioneering new ground in film education with an innovative festival focused on the intersection of filmmaking and artificial intelligence. Event Overview: LMU's inaugural Innovators Film Festival, scheduled for March 27-28, 2025, will showcase student-created short films that incorporate advanced technology in their production. The two-day festival will take place at LMU's Westchester campus Student filmmakers from around the world will present works that integrate AI, visual effects (VFX), or virtual reality (VR) technologies Each submission must demonstrate the use of technological elements in its production process Program Highlights: The festival...
read Nov 25, 2024Hollywood unions battle Trump, AI and industry slowdown
Entertainment industry labor dynamics are evolving rapidly in 2024, as various groups of workers beyond actors and writers seek improved working conditions, better compensation, and protections against emerging technologies. Current landscape: Following the landmark 2023 writers' and actors' strikes, a new wave of entertainment industry professionals are organizing for better working conditions and protections. Video game performers represented by SAG-AFTRA are leading current labor actions, focusing particularly on AI safeguards and fair compensation Visual effects artists and animation workers are pursuing unionization efforts across multiple studios and production companies Intimacy coordinators have unanimously voted to unionize under SAG-AFTRA, marking a...
read Nov 23, 2024Netflix drops AI-generated poster after creator backlash
The growing tension between AI-generated art and traditional human artistry has reached a new flashpoint with Netflix's recent controversy over promotional material for its acclaimed animated series Arcane. The incident in detail: Netflix faced immediate backlash after viewers spotted AI-generated art in a promotional poster for Arcane's second season. A fan first noticed unusual hand proportions in the poster while the show was paused, prompting questions about its origin Arcane brand lead Alex Shahmiri confirmed the AI usage was a mistake and confirmed the poster's swift removal The show, produced by Riot Games and French animation studio Fortiche, has established...
read Nov 19, 2024Captain Kirk and Spock get a final farewell thanks to AI video tools
The emergence of AI-powered deepfake technology has enabled a poignant reunion between Star Trek's most iconic characters, offering fans the farewell scene they never got to see on screen. Project overview; The Roddenberry Archive, in collaboration with director Carlos Baena and AI company OTOY, has created "765874 -- Unification," a short film that digitally resurrects William Shatner's Kirk and Leonard Nimoy's Spock for one final meeting. The storyline imagines Kirk stepping out of the Nexus to visit Spock in his final moments, providing emotional closure that was notably absent from Star Trek: Generations Actor Lawrence Selleck provided the physical performance...
read Nov 18, 2024David Attenborough disgusted by unauthorized AI voice clone in documentary
The rise of AI voice cloning technology has reached a concerning milestone with the unauthorized replication of renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough's voice, highlighting growing concerns about digital impersonation and truth in media. Initial Discovery: The BBC recently uncovered an AI-generated clone of David Attenborough's voice promoting a documentary series about Asia, demonstrating the sophisticated capabilities of current voice synthesis technology. The broadcaster's researchers found the AI-generated clip online, which was played alongside a genuine recording of Attenborough BBC host Kasia Madera noted that the two recordings were nearly indistinguishable, stating she "wouldn't know if I didn't know" Attenborough's Response:...
read Nov 18, 2024Ben Affleck’s take on AI in Hollywood goes viral
The integration of artificial intelligence into Hollywood filmmaking has become a significant topic of discussion, with actor Ben Affleck offering a nuanced perspective at CNBC's Delivering Alpha 2024 investor summit. Key perspective: Ben Affleck, co-founder of Artists Equity production company, shared an optimistic view of AI's role in the film industry, emphasizing its potential to enhance rather than replace human creativity. Affleck emphasized that AI cannot replicate the nuanced interactions between actors or the creative discernment needed in filmmaking He specifically pointed to visual effects as the area most likely to be disrupted by AI technology The actor drew a...
read Nov 18, 2024The massive Hollywood database being used to train the biggest AI models
The rapid adoption of movie and TV show dialogue for AI training has sparked controversy in Hollywood, raising questions about copyright, consent, and the future of creative work. The scope of unauthorized data usage: A massive collection of subtitles from over 53,000 movies and 85,000 TV episodes has been utilized by major tech companies including Apple, Anthropic, Meta, and Nvidia to train their AI systems. The dataset includes dialogue from iconic shows like The Simpsons, Seinfeld, The Wire, and Breaking Bad, as well as every Best Picture nominee from 1950 to 2016 Even pre-written dialogue from awards shows like the...
read Nov 17, 2024Jerry Garcia’s AI-resurrected voice is just the start of a new wave of content
The intersection of artificial intelligence and music legacy reaches a new milestone as Jerry Garcia's voice is digitally resurrected through AI technology, allowing fans to experience the Grateful Dead icon's distinctive vocals in entirely new ways. Key Development: ElevenLabs has partnered with Jerry Garcia's estate to create an AI voice model that can read various written content in multiple languages, marking a significant advancement in posthumous artist technology. The AI system can read audiobooks, e-books, articles, poetry, and other written content in 32 different languages The technology was developed in close collaboration with the Jerry Garcia Estate to maintain authenticity...
read Nov 14, 2024How Cybever and Cloud Zeta make 3D environment rendering easy
Cybever and Cloud Zeta are partnering to create a web-based platform that aims to simplify 3D environment creation by combining AI-driven world-building capabilities with advanced cloud infrastructure for 3D asset management. Strategic partnership overview: The collaboration between Cybever's AI-powered world-building platform and Cloud Zeta's specialized 3D data hosting service will launch in Q1 2025, utilizing the OpenUSD standard for 3D asset compatibility. The platform addresses key industry challenges including high production costs, workflow complexity, and format compatibility issues Both companies were recently founded, with Cybever established in 2022 and Cloud Zeta in 2024 The joint solution targets both entertainment and...
read Nov 11, 2024AI is resurrecting dead celebrities, and not everyone is into it
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is enabling new forms of digital resurrection and AI-powered media content, raising both creative opportunities and ethical questions about recreating real people's likenesses and voices. Recent developments: A groundbreaking AI podcast called "Virtually Parkinson" is set to feature an artificially generated version of beloved British TV host Michael Parkinson, with support from his family. The 8-part series has received backing from Parkinson's son and estate, marking a significant milestone in AI-powered content creation Off Radio Krakow recently experimented with AI-generated radio hosts, though the initiative was ultimately discontinued following public criticism Technology capabilities: Advanced...
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