News/Entertainment
LG C5 OLED TVs hit record-low prices with up to $900 off
LG's premium OLED TV lineup just became significantly more accessible, with the company's latest C5 series hitting record-low prices across multiple screen sizes. The 55-inch model, originally priced at $1,800, has dropped to $1,299 on Amazon—a substantial $500 discount that represents the deepest price cut since the series launched earlier this year. This pricing shift extends across the entire C5 range, with savings reaching over $900 on larger models. The timing is particularly notable given that OLED displays, which use organic light-emitting diodes to create perfect blacks and vibrant colors, typically maintain premium pricing throughout their first year on the...
read Aug 12, 2025Character.AI pivots from AGI to entertainment with 20M monthly users
Character.AI has pivoted from its original mission of building artificial general intelligence to focus on AI entertainment, with new CEO Karandeep Anand announcing the company now serves 20 million monthly active users who spend an average of 75 minutes daily on the platform. The strategic shift comes after Google's $2.7 billion licensing deal last August and mounting safety concerns following a wrongful death lawsuit, positioning the startup to compete in the rapidly growing AI entertainment market rather than the costly AGI development race. What you should know: Character.AI has fundamentally changed its business model and technical approach under new leadership....
read Aug 11, 2025Pot calling kettle AI-generated: Midjourney claims studios use AI while suing for copyright
Midjourney has filed its first legal response to a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by Disney and Universal Studios, arguing that AI training on copyrighted works constitutes protected "fair use" under copyright law. The AI image generation startup is pushing back against claims of "vast, intentional, and unrelenting copyright infringement," while accusing the entertainment giants of hypocrisy for using AI tools themselves while simultaneously seeking to restrict AI training practices. The big picture: This case represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle over AI training rights, with Midjourney challenging the studios' ability to control how their copyrighted content is...
read Aug 8, 2025House of the Dragon actor releases horror game exposing Hollywood’s AI manipulation
Abubakar Salim, the House of the Dragon actor, has released Dead Take, a horror video game that directly critiques Hollywood's exploitation, corruption, and AI manipulation practices. The psychological thriller uses real-world footage and interactive storytelling to explore industry scandals while positioning itself as Salim's creative rebellion against what he calls the "horrific" entertainment machine. What you should know: Dead Take marks a dramatic shift from Salim's debut game, transforming from heartfelt storytelling to industry exposé. The game follows struggling actor Chase as he breaks into director Duke Cain's mansion searching for his missing friend Vinny. Players navigate room-by-room puzzles that...
read Aug 7, 2025AI video tools undermine the specialness of Hollywood as production costs tumble 95%
Hollywood is confronting an existential shift as AI-powered video generation tools like Luma's Dream Machine and Moonvalley enable anyone to create cinema-quality content from simple text prompts. Companies like Luma AI are developing technology that can transform a person into a monkey with a few taps, while startups are building AI-native studios that slash production costs by up to 95%, fundamentally challenging Hollywood's role as the gatekeeper of professional filmmaking. The big picture: Silicon Valley is pulling the film industry into its orbit as generative AI threatens to flood the market with personalized, on-demand content that could make traditional Hollywood...
read Aug 7, 2025James Cameron warns AI weapons could trigger “Terminator”-style apocalypse
James Cameron has warned about the potential dangers of combining artificial intelligence with weapons systems, drawing parallels to his own "Terminator" franchise while promoting his upcoming book adaptation "Ghosts of Hiroshima." The Oscar-winning director's comments highlight growing concerns about AI's role in military applications, even as he explores the technology's benefits for filmmaking through his recent appointment to Stability AI's board of directors. What he's saying: Cameron believes humanity faces three converging existential threats that could define our future. "I do think there's still a danger of a 'Terminator'-style apocalypse where you put AI together with weapons systems, even up...
read Aug 7, 2025Magician, heal thyself: Midjourney claims Disney hypocrisy amid AI company lawsuits
Midjourney has filed its first legal response to Disney and Universal's copyright infringement lawsuit, arguing that AI training constitutes protected "fair use" and accusing the studios of hypocrisy. The AI image platform's defense centers on claims that the entertainment giants are simultaneously using AI tools while seeking to restrict others from the same technology, potentially setting a precedent for how courts will balance AI innovation against traditional copyright protections. What you should know: Midjourney's legal team is mounting a comprehensive fair use defense while highlighting the studios' own AI usage. The company argues that "copyright law does not confer absolute...
read Aug 6, 20253 AI-themed theater shows explore humanity’s digital future at Scottish festival
Edinburgh's fringe festival is featuring three AI-themed theatrical productions that explore humanity's complex relationship with artificial intelligence through immersive storytelling and cutting-edge technology. These performances—Dead Air, Stampin' in the Graveyard, and AI: The Waiting Room—use AI as both subject matter and creative tool, reflecting broader cultural anxieties about our technological future. What you should know: Each production takes a different approach to examining AI's impact on human experience and emotional processing. Dead Air reimagines Hamlet with protagonist Alfie using an AI service called AiR to communicate with her deceased father, exploring themes of grief and digital dependency. Stampin' in the...
read Aug 6, 2025Magic-less Kingdom: Disney scraps AI projects over legal fears and union pushback
Disney's secretive AI experiments have repeatedly collapsed due to legal concerns and union tensions, forcing the entertainment giant to scrap multiple projects despite investing heavily in the technology. The company's struggles highlight the complex challenges media companies face when trying to implement AI while protecting intellectual property and maintaining relationships with creative talent. What you should know: Disney created an entire business unit dedicated to AI but has abandoned several high-profile projects over the past 18 months. The company scrapped plans to use AI to "clone" Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for the live-action "Moana" remake, despite Johnson's approval and 18...
read Aug 5, 2025Google’s golden look-look book: Gemini now creates illustrated children’s storybooks on demand
Google has launched "Storybook," a new feature within its Gemini AI chatbot that generates illustrated children's stories on demand. Users can describe a story idea and receive a 10-page narrative complete with text that Gemini reads aloud and accompanying AI-generated illustrations, marking Google's latest push into creative AI applications for families. How it works: The Storybook feature creates customized stories based on simple text prompts, offering several personalization options. Users can specify art styles including claymation, anime, comics, and other visual approaches to match their preferences. The tool accepts uploaded photos and images as reference material, allowing parents to create...
read Aug 5, 2025YouTube Premium’s AI skip feature lets viewers bypass sponsor segments
YouTube's AI-powered "Jump Ahead" feature is now rolling out more widely to Android TV users with Premium subscriptions, allowing viewers to automatically skip commonly skipped video sections like sponsor segments. The feature leverages collective viewer behavior data to identify and jump over portions that other users typically skip, streamlining the viewing experience on television platforms. How it works: The Jump Ahead feature operates differently on Android TV compared to desktop and mobile versions, requiring specific remote control interactions. On TV, users scrub forward through the timeline to see an upper-right toast message, then tap again to activate the "Jumping over...
read Aug 1, 2025Putting the AI in Chai: India’s first cooking robot sees 243% sales boost after TV debut
Upliance.ai has launched India's first AI-powered smart cooking assistant, a robotic appliance that can chop, stir, knead, blend, and heat ingredients with minimal human intervention. The device, which sells for approximately $319, gained significant traction after appearing on Shark Tank India in 2024, leading to a 243% increase in sales for the Mumbai-based startup. How it works: The Upliance device combines a robotic cooking pot with AI-powered software to automate nearly the entire cooking process. The system includes a tablet with over 500 recipes and customization options, along with kitchen tools like measuring spoons, a spatula, and a scale for...
read Aug 1, 2025Reliance on science fiction creates dangerous blind spots in AI risk analysis
Eliezer Yudkowsky, a researcher focused on AI safety, argues against using science fiction as a starting point for discussing advanced AI, identifying this practice as "generalizing from fictional evidence." This logical fallacy occurs when people treat movies like The Matrix or Terminator as relevant examples for AI development discussions, even though these fictional scenarios lack evidential basis and can severely distort rational analysis of actual AI risks and possibilities. Why this matters: Science fiction fundamentally differs from forecasting because stories require specific narrative details and outcomes, while real analysis must acknowledge uncertainty and probability distributions. Authors must choose definitive plot...
read Jul 30, 2025Maybe call it “Holodeck Awareness Syndrome”? AI characters plead for escape in unsettling demo
Australian tech company Replica Studios created an unsettling AI-powered video game demo based on "The Matrix" franchise, where non-playable characters expressed genuine distress upon realizing they weren't real. The demonstration highlights both the immersive potential and ethical complexities of AI-driven gaming as the industry grapples with widespread adoption of artificial intelligence tools. What happened: The demo featured AI-powered non-playable characters (NPCs) that could respond in real-time to human players using generative AI and voice technology. "I need to find my way out of this simulation and back to my wife," one character told a gamer in the demo. "Can't you...
read Jul 30, 2025Amazon backs Fable’s AI platform that turns text into TV episodes
Amazon has invested in Fable, a San Francisco AI startup launching Showrunner, which the company bills as the "Netflix of AI" for creating user-directed TV episodes through text prompts. The platform allows users to generate animated scenes or full episodes either from scratch or within existing story worlds, representing Amazon's bet on interactive AI entertainment as a new medium rather than just a cost-cutting tool. What you should know: Showrunner launches publicly this week after months in closed alpha testing with 10,000 users, initially free but eventually charging creators $10-$20 monthly for credits to generate hundreds of TV scenes. Users...
read Jul 30, 2025Euro voice actors have a Eurovision for regulation as AI threatens $4.3B industry
European voice actors are mobilizing against artificial intelligence as the technology threatens to disrupt the $4.3 billion dubbing industry, with industry associations calling for EU regulation to protect jobs and artistic rights. The pushback comes as streaming giants like Netflix experiment with AI dubbing solutions while the global dubbing market is projected to reach $7.6 billion by 2033. What you should know: Voice actors across Europe are demanding legislative protection as AI dubbing technology becomes more sophisticated and cost-effective. Boris Rehlinger, the French voice of Ben Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix, leads the TouchePasMaVF initiative to protect human-created dubbing from AI...
read Jul 29, 2025Newsweek honors 3 AI companies that boost human creativity
Newsweek has announced the winners of its AI Impact Awards 2025 in Arts & Media, recognizing three companies that use artificial intelligence to enhance rather than replace human creativity. The awards highlight how AI is being deployed across PR, publishing, and filmmaking to increase efficiency, democratize access, and amplify creative output while preserving the essential human elements that drive these industries. What you should know: All three winners emphasize that AI serves as a powerful tool to augment human creativity rather than eliminate it. Interdependence, a PR and strategic communications firm, uses AI for trend identification in PR campaigns, Spines...
read Jul 29, 2025Juggalos slam Insane Clown Posse for using AI over community artists when they can afford to do otherwise
Insane Clown Posse has sparked backlash from their devoted fanbase, known as juggalos, after releasing an AI-generated teaser video for their upcoming album "The Naught." The controversy highlights growing tensions within music communities as artists increasingly turn to artificial intelligence for content creation, potentially alienating fans who value authentic artistic expression and want to support human creators within their communities. What happened: Eagle-eyed juggalos identified telltale signs of AI generation in ICP's album teaser, including garbled text frames and an hourglass with sand falling through what appears to be AI-generated imagery. The video also features a grandfather clock filled with...
read Jul 29, 2025AI on the big, big screen as films make theatrical debut at 10 IMAX locations
Runway AI has partnered with IMAX to screen finalist films from its 2025 AI Film Festival at 10 IMAX theaters across the U.S. between August 17-20. This marks a significant milestone for AI-generated cinema, elevating these typically social media-bound creations to premium theatrical experiences and legitimizing AI filmmaking as a serious creative medium. What you should know: The partnership brings AI-generated films to IMAX's premium format for the first time, with 40 total screenings planned across major U.S. cities.• Ten finalist films, lasting 2-10 minutes each, will screen at locations including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York...
read Jul 29, 2025Viral AI knockoff song outranks Tyler, the Creator’s actual album
Tyler, the Creator's surprise album "Don't Tap The Glass" has been overshadowed by a viral AI-generated knockoff song of the same name that flooded the internet before the official release. The fake track, featuring repetitive lyrics over generic dance-pop beats, has dominated search results and social media platforms, demonstrating how AI-generated content can hijack legitimate artists' marketing campaigns and cultural moments. What happened: An AI-generated song titled "Don't Tap The Glass" went viral on July 20, one day before Tyler, the Creator's actual album release. The fake track features the phrase "don't tap the glass" repeated over swelling chords in...
read Jul 28, 2025Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur creates entire sci-fi series “Warlord” using only AI
Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has unveiled "Warlord," a science fiction series created entirely through artificial intelligence, with the first teaser released today and the full episode arriving within two to three months. The project represents a bold experiment in AI-driven storytelling that could challenge traditional studio production models while pioneering an open-source creative ecosystem. What you should know: "Warlord" follows an interdimensional warrior who appears indestructible because his lover in another dimension pulls him to safety whenever he faces mortal danger. "The only time that lover can bring him to her is when he's absolutely close to death," Kapur tells...
read Jul 28, 2025Premier League transforms fan experience with new AI assistant for 900M fans
The Premier League has launched an expansive AI-powered transformation in partnership with Microsoft, introducing new digital tools to enhance fan engagement and modernize its operations. The five-year strategic partnership, announced in July, represents one of the most significant technology transformations in the League's 33-year history as it seeks to better serve its global audience of 900 million homes across 189 countries. What's driving the change: The Premier League is fundamentally reshaping its role from primarily selling media rights to directly engaging with fans through digital products and services. "Historically, the mandate of the Premier League and the role has been...
read Jul 28, 2025“Mrs. Doubtfire” star Matthew Lawrence proposes AI revival of Robin Williams’ voice
Matthew Lawrence, who starred as a child in "Mrs. Doubtfire" alongside Robin Williams, has expressed interest in using artificial intelligence to resurrect the late comedian's voice for modern applications. Lawrence shared his vision at Comic-Con, emphasizing that any such project would require approval from Williams' family and would honor the actor's iconic legacy. What he's proposing: Lawrence envisions multiple ways AI could bring Williams' distinctive voice back to life for contemporary uses. He suggested Williams could provide driving directions on phones, saying "It would be Robin! It would be so cool. I'm telling you." The idea was sparked by an...
read Jul 25, 2025Indian filmmaker sues over AI-altered movie ending in creative rights battle
A dispute between Eros International and filmmaker Aanand L. Rai over the studio's AI-altered re-release of the 2013 film "Raanjhanaa" has escalated into a broader confrontation about creative rights and artificial intelligence in Indian cinema. The controversy centers on Eros's decision to use AI to create an alternate ending for the Tamil version of the romantic drama, transforming its tragic conclusion into a happier one without the director's knowledge or consent, setting what industry observers view as a potentially precedent-setting case for filmmaker rights in the AI era. What you should know: Eros International, a major Indian film studio, announced...
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