News/Gaming
Farcical recognition: UK users bypass face-based age verification with video game characters
Discord users in the UK are bypassing new age verification requirements by using video game characters instead of their real faces, exploiting weaknesses in facial recognition systems. The workaround highlights significant vulnerabilities in age verification technology that could become even more problematic as AI-generated content grows more sophisticated. What's happening: The UK's new child safety laws require platforms like Discord to verify users are over 18 through government ID or face scans to access age-restricted content. Users discovered they could pass facial verification using screenshots from video games like Death Stranding, God of War, and Cyberpunk 2077. One user successfully...
read Aug 5, 2025Google’s Genie 3 takes users to new dimensions with interactive 3D worlds from text prompts
Google's DeepMind has unveiled Genie 3, an AI model that can generate interactive 3D worlds from simple text prompts, allowing users to navigate environments with mouse and keyboard controls. This represents a significant leap toward AI-generated video games, with the technology capable of maintaining visual consistency for several minutes while responding to user actions and real-time prompt modifications. Key improvements over Genie 2: The latest version delivers substantial upgrades from its December predecessor, which was limited to 360p resolution and 10-20 second interactions. Genie 3 now operates at 720p resolution with extended interaction periods lasting several minutes. Users can perform...
read Aug 5, 2025Fortune favors the well-trained: Google launches Game Arena where AI models compete
Google has launched Game Arena, an open-source platform where AI models compete head-to-head in strategic games to provide "a verifiable, and dynamic measure of their capabilities." The initiative addresses the growing challenge of accurately benchmarking AI performance as models increasingly ace conventional tests, potentially opening doors to new business applications through competitive gameplay analysis. What you should know: Game Arena is hosted on Kaggle, Google's machine learning platform, and aims to push AI capabilities while providing clear performance frameworks. The platform launches with a chess showdown between eight frontier AI models at 12:30 p.m. ET Tuesday. "Games provide a clear,...
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 24, 2025Answer.AI enables 70B model training on consumer gaming GPUs
Answer.AI has released an open-source system that enables training 70-billion parameter language models on consumer gaming GPUs for the first time. The breakthrough combines FSDP (Fully Sharded Data Parallel) and QLoRA techniques, making it possible to train massive AI models on two 24GB RTX 3090 or 4090 graphics cards—hardware costing under $10,000 compared to hundreds of thousands for data center equipment. The big picture: This development democratizes large language model training by making it accessible to individual researchers, small labs, and the broader open-source community rather than limiting it to well-funded tech companies with expensive data center hardware. Why this...
read Jul 24, 2025AI ads to drive entertainment media industry to $3.5T by 2029
Artificial intelligence-powered advertising is expected to drive the global entertainment and media industry to $3.5 trillion in revenue by 2029, according to a new PwC report. This growth comes at a critical time when economic uncertainty and inflation are forcing consumers to cut back on entertainment spending, making advertising revenue increasingly vital for industry survival. The big picture: The entertainment and media industry is projected to achieve a 3.7% compound annual growth rate through 2029, with AI-driven advertising serving as the primary growth engine alongside non-digital categories like live events. Why this matters: Economic pressures from inflation and shifting trade...
read Jul 23, 2025Samsung’s 43-inch AI smart monitor drops to $400 with 4K and gaming hub
Samsung has launched its most affordable large-screen smart monitor yet, offering the 43-inch M7 Smart Monitor (M70F) at $399.99, marking its first significant discount since the June release. This $100 price reduction makes the AI-powered 4K display the largest and most budget-friendly option in Samsung's 2025 Smart Monitor lineup, potentially attracting consumers seeking premium features without the flagship price tag. What you should know: The M7 Smart Monitor combines traditional display functionality with smart TV capabilities and AI-powered enhancements. The 43-inch 4K model regularly retails for $500 but is now available for $399.99 at both Samsung and Amazon, representing the...
read Jul 17, 2025Roblox launches AI age verification for teens amid safety concerns
Roblox is rolling out new safety features that use AI to scan video selfies of teens to verify their ages, enabling access to unfiltered chatting through a new "Trusted Connections" system. The platform aims to keep users engaged while addressing mounting concerns about child safety, following reports of at least 24 arrests related to grooming and abuse on the platform. What you should know: The new age verification system requires users to submit video selfies that are analyzed by AI against a "diverse dataset" to estimate age. Users who appear under 13 automatically lose access to age-inappropriate features, while those...
read Jul 17, 2025Candy Crush maker King fires 200 workers to replace them with AI they built
Two major gaming companies recently demonstrated how not to handle AI-driven workforce changes, with King (maker of Candy Crush) laying off 200 employees to replace them with AI tools those same workers had built, and Microsoft's Xbox division posting AI-generated artwork for new job openings just after conducting layoffs. These incidents highlight a growing concern about how companies communicate and implement AI-driven changes while maintaining employee trust and morale. What happened at King: The mobile gaming giant announced layoffs affecting approximately 200 staff members, primarily targeting middle management and UX and narrative copywriting roles. Multiple sources inside King alleged that...
read Jul 9, 2025Google expands Circle to Search with AI Mode and gaming support
Google is expanding Android's Circle to Search feature with new AI capabilities and gaming assistance, alongside updates to Gemini Live for foldable devices. The enhancements integrate Google's AI Mode chatbot directly into Circle to Search and introduce camera-sharing support for Samsung's latest foldable phones, marking a significant step toward more seamless AI-powered mobile experiences. What you should know: Circle to Search now includes AI Mode integration, allowing users to access Google's chatbot-style search without switching apps. Users can "long press the home button or navigation bar, then circle, tap, or gesture on what you want to search," with AI Overviews...
read Jun 27, 2025Job alert: AI Futures Project seeks developer to build online AGI simulation game
The AI Futures Project, creators of the AI 2027 scenario, is seeking a full-stack developer to build an online version of their tabletop exercise that simulates AI takeoff scenarios. The digital adaptation would use large language models (LLMs)—AI systems trained on vast amounts of text—to drive game characters, potentially reaching millions of users to help them understand artificial general intelligence (AGI) dynamics and risks without requiring human facilitation. What you should know: The team has already developed and successfully tested a tabletop version where participants role-play as key decision-makers during AI development scenarios. Reviews have been positive, with participants finding...
read Jun 25, 2025Motorica raises $5.4M to make game animation 200x faster with AI
Motorica has emerged from stealth with €5 million ($5.4 million) in seed funding to replace traditional motion capture with generative AI for character animation in video games. The Stockholm-based startup's technology promises to reduce animation costs by over 90% while accelerating workflows up to 200 times faster than conventional mocap pipelines, potentially transforming how studios approach one of game development's most expensive bottlenecks. The big picture: Motion capture represents a massive production challenge for AAA game studios, with animation alone accounting for 10-30% of total budgets and requiring millions of dollars for single projects like Red Dead Redemption 2, which...
read Jun 10, 2025SAG-AFTRA secures AI guardrails in tentative video game contract deal
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Hollywood's union for video game performers, has reached a tentative contract agreement with major video game companies that could end an 11-month strike over artificial intelligence protections. The strike, which began in July 2024, centered on performers' concerns that unregulated AI could be used to replicate their voices and likenesses without consent, potentially displacing human talent in the gaming industry. What you should know: The tentative deal includes AI guardrails that SAG-AFTRA says will protect performers' livelihoods in the digital age. Union members struck against major gaming companies including...
read May 22, 2025Gaming YouTuber claims AI voice cloning has taken the words right out of his mouth
YouTube gaming commentator Mark Brown is facing an increasingly common problem in the AI era: someone has stolen his voice. A channel called Game Offline Lore published videos using an AI-generated version of Brown's distinctive British voice, creating content he never narrated or authorized. This incident highlights how AI voice cloning is enabling a new form of identity theft that goes beyond traditional content plagiarism to appropriate someone's actual vocal identity. The big picture: A YouTube channel is using an AI clone of gaming commentator Mark Brown's voice without permission, representing a disturbing evolution of digital identity theft. The unauthorized...
read May 21, 2025SAG-AFTRA files labor complaint over AI-recreated Darth Vader voice in Fortnite
SAG-AFTRA's dispute with Epic Games over the AI recreation of James Earl Jones' Darth Vader voice in Fortnite highlights the emerging tensions between AI technology and performers' rights in entertainment. The conflict centers on the use of voice recreation technology without union negotiation, despite family permission, revealing the complex intersection of legacy rights management, AI development, and labor protections in the evolving digital entertainment landscape. The dispute: SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Epic Games' Llama Productions for using AI to recreate James Earl Jones' Darth Vader voice in Fortnite without union negotiation. The actors union claims...
read May 20, 2025AI expands creative horizons with 4 new directions including audio and XR
Artificial intelligence continues to evolve beyond text-based applications into new creative domains, opening fresh possibilities for businesses and creators. A recent panel at an Imagination in Action event revealed how AI researchers and companies are expanding neural network technologies into audio processing, gaming analysis, extended reality, and biomimicry. These emerging directions highlight how AI is becoming increasingly multisensory and adaptive, requiring enterprises to understand both technological capabilities and the changing expectations of AI-native generations. 1. Mining the audio world Audio represents a largely untapped frontier for AI development compared to text-based systems. While text has been the primary focus of...
read May 20, 2025Actors’ union bypassed by Epic Games in use of AI-voiced Darth Vader
SAG-AFTRA's complaint against Epic Games over AI-generated Darth Vader voice marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between entertainment unions and game developers. This case highlights the evolving battle over AI voice rights in creative industries, where technological capabilities are outpacing established contractual frameworks. The dispute illustrates how AI voice cloning is creating new legal and ethical challenges around performer rights and proper compensation. The big picture: SAG-AFTRA has filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against Epic Games for using an AI-generated version of James Earl Jones' Darth Vader voice in Fortnite without union negotiation. Epic Games acquired rights...
read May 17, 2025AI-powered Darth Vader shocks fans with unexpected profanity
Artificial intelligence voice technology faces a new embarrassing mishap as Darth Vader's character in Fortnite temporarily spewed profanity and inappropriate language. The incident highlights ongoing challenges with AI voice implementations in mainstream entertainment, exposing the risks of deploying synthetic voice technology based on iconic performers in interactive environments where user input can trigger unexpected responses. The incident: Epic Games' Fortnite featured an AI-powered Darth Vader that briefly responded to players with profanity and inappropriate language. A viral exchange occurred when Twitch streamer Loserfruit triggered the character to repeat expletives, with Vader responding, "Such vulgarity does not become you, Padme." According...
read May 12, 2025AI-powered gambling content floods Gannett newspapers nationwide
Gannett, America's largest local newspaper owner and publisher of USA Today, has begun using AI to mass-produce articles about lottery results across dozens of its publications. This algorithmic content strategy raises significant ethical concerns as the automated articles frequently direct readers to Jackpocket, an online lottery platform that provides Gannett with financial kickbacks—all while gambling addiction rates soar nationwide, a trend Gannett's own journalism has documented. The big picture: Since February 2024, Gannett has deployed AI to generate formulaic lottery content that appears in local newspapers across multiple states, creating a nationwide pipeline of automated gambling-related articles. The articles often...
read May 12, 2025Nintendo denies using AI-generated imagery in Mario Kart World amid controversy
Nintendo's upcoming Mario Kart World has become the center of controversy after fans speculated that some peculiar in-game imagery was created using generative AI. The unusual visuals—including a billboard featuring a physically impossible car with elongated windows and tiny chassis—exemplify the kind of proportional errors commonly associated with AI-generated content. This incident highlights growing tensions around AI use in game development as major studios navigate the technology's benefits and pitfalls. The official response: Nintendo has categorically denied using AI-generated imagery in the development of its Switch 2 launch title. "AI-generated images were not used in the development of Mario Kart...
read May 7, 2025How Acer is evolving beyond hardware in India
Acer marks 25 years in India with a strategic evolution from PC manufacturer to comprehensive technology solutions provider, highlighting its adaptability in a rapidly changing tech landscape. In an interview with Chief Business Officer Sudhir Goel, the company reveals how it's expanding its retail footprint, embracing gaming's mainstream adoption, and integrating AI across its product lineup. This transformation reflects broader industry shifts where traditional hardware companies are repositioning themselves as integrated technology ecosystem providers to remain competitive in an increasingly AI-driven market. The big picture: Acer's quarter-century journey in India demonstrates how tech companies can successfully evolve beyond their original...
read May 6, 2025Console-driven conflicts: Video game firms make final AI offer to SAG-AFTRA amid strike
The video game industry standoff over AI usage has reached a critical juncture as major game companies submit their "final offer" to SAG-AFTRA after nearly 300 days of strike action. This AI-focused dispute represents a significant battleground for performer rights in the digital age, with implications that could reshape how creative professionals are compensated when their likenesses and performances are replicated through artificial intelligence technologies. The big picture: Major video game companies have issued what they call their "final offer" to SAG-AFTRA as the voice and motion capture performers' strike approaches its 300-day mark. The work stoppage, which began July...
read May 1, 2025Dating apps get gamified RPG-style in effort to boost user charisma
Dating apps are undergoing a transformation to address what many users describe as frustrating, boring conversations that rarely lead to meaningful connections. As Gen Z shows lower rates of teenage romantic relationships compared to previous generations (56% vs. 76-78% for Gen X and Boomers), major platforms like Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr are implementing game-like features and conversation aids to help users develop basic dating skills that many may have missed through traditional social experiences. The big picture: Popular dating apps are pivoting toward features that teach users how to have better conversations rather than simply matching them with potential...
read Apr 30, 2025Now livestreaming: AI models tackling Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokemon games have emerged as a surprising but effective benchmark for evaluating artificial intelligence capabilities, with major AI models from companies like Anthropic and Google now competing to master the 1996 classic. These nostalgic Game Boy adventures provide an ideal testing ground for assessing AI problem-solving abilities, requiring models to maintain focus through complex, open-ended gameplay with ambiguous objectives. The competitions between different AI systems playing through Pokemon Red and Blue have attracted dedicated audiences on Twitch and become significant enough that companies now highlight Pokemon progress when announcing new AI models. The big picture: Major AI models are playing...
read