News/Video
Don’t come after the king: OpenAI restricts Sora after MLK deepfake videos spark backlash
OpenAI has temporarily suspended its AI video generator Sora from creating deepfake videos of Martin Luther King Jr., following a request from the civil rights leader's estate. The move comes after "disrespectful" content depicting Dr. King was generated and shared widely online, including altered versions of his famous "I Have a Dream" speech and fabricated scenarios showing him in offensive situations. What happened: OpenAI paused the ability to create AI videos of Dr. King while it works to strengthen guardrails for historical figures, though users can still generate content featuring other deceased celebrities and public figures.• The decision followed complaints...
read Oct 13, 2025Google Meet adds 12 AI makeup filters for shyness-free video calls
Google Meet has introduced 12 AI-powered makeup filters that let users apply virtual cosmetics during video calls, building on the platform's existing "Touch-up" feature launched last year. The update addresses a common remote work challenge—looking presentable for unexpected video meetings—while positioning Google to compete more directly with beauty-focused video calling features. What you should know: The AI makeup system offers studio-style presets ranging from subtle professional looks to more creative options, with virtual foundation and lipstick that adapts to individual facial features.• The filters use AI to create natural-looking makeup that stays in place as users move around or drink...
read Oct 13, 2025Musk’s xAI shifts from text to world models for gaming and robotics
Elon Musk's xAI is developing world models—AI systems that learn from video and robot data to understand how objects move and interact in the real world, moving beyond traditional text-based AI. The company has hired two former Nvidia researchers and plans to release an AI-generated video game by the end of next year, signaling its expansion into gaming and robotics markets where AI needs to operate in physical spaces. What you should know: World models represent a significant shift from language-focused AI to systems that can perceive and reason about physical environments like humans do.• xAI hired Zeeshan Patel and...
readGet SIGNAL/NOISE in your inbox daily
All Signal, No Noise
One concise email to make you smarter on AI daily.
MrBeast 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 10, 2025Visual AI will transform business storytelling within 24 months, suggests survey
Generative artificial intelligence for visual content is reshaping how businesses create and deploy marketing materials, product demonstrations, and customer experiences. Unlike text-based AI that generates written content, visual AI systems can produce, modify, and enhance images, videos, and 3D graphics by learning from existing visual data to create contextually relevant content. The technology has reached a tipping point where enterprise adoption is accelerating rapidly. Global executives report being "fascinated by the progress made on video generation in just six months," with platforms like Adobe Firefly, Canva, HeyGen, Runway, OpenAI's Sora, and Google's Veo democratizing sophisticated visual content creation that previously...
read Oct 9, 2025AI “slop” is a huge hit: OpenAI’s Sora app achieves 1M downloads in 5 days
OpenAI's Sora app has hit over one million downloads in less than five days, surpassing ChatGPT's initial adoption rate despite being limited to North America and requiring invites for actual usage. The TikTok-style AI video platform represents OpenAI's ambitious bet on AI-generated content, though it's already facing significant copyright and content moderation challenges that could determine its long-term viability. What you should know: Sora functions as a social network built entirely around AI-generated videos, offering users an endless vertical feed similar to TikTok's interface. Users can create 10-second videos simply by writing text prompts to OpenAI's Sora 2 model within...
read Oct 9, 2025Personal injury lawyers use AI to create fake but convincing news ads targeting victims
Personal injury lawyers are using artificial intelligence to create fake newscasts and testimonials in advertisements, blurring the line between legitimate journalism and marketing. The trend has accelerated with the recent launch of powerful AI video tools from Meta and OpenAI, making it easier and cheaper for companies to generate convincing synthetic content that can mislead consumers about legal services and potential payouts. The big picture: AI-generated legal ads are becoming increasingly sophisticated, featuring fake news anchors, fabricated victims holding oversized checks, and synthetic influencers promoting legal services as if they were genuine news stories. Key details: Companies like Case Connect...
read Oct 7, 2025LG slashes premium OLED TV prices by 50% amid market competition
LG's aggressive pricing on its 2025 OLED TV lineup signals intensifying competition in the premium television market, with the company's flagship 65-inch C5 model now available for nearly half its original launch price. The dramatic markdown—from $2,700 to $1,373 on Amazon—represents more than just seasonal discounting; it reflects broader shifts in consumer electronics manufacturing and market dynamics. OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology represents the current pinnacle of television display quality, with each pixel generating its own light rather than relying on a backlight system like traditional LCD screens. This fundamental difference allows OLED displays to achieve perfect blacks by completely...
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, 2025Affable “MrBeast” warns AI video tools pose frightening threat to creators
MrBeast, the world's biggest YouTuber with over 330 million subscribers, has expressed concerns that AI video generation tools pose a "scary" threat to the millions of creators who make their living on the platform. His comments, posted on social media, specifically questioned what would happen to creators "when AI videos are just as good as normal videos," highlighting growing anxiety within the creator economy about AI's potential to automate content production. What you should know: MrBeast's concerns center on recent advances in AI video generation, particularly OpenAI's Sora tool released last week, which can create fully-formed videos from simple text...
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 3, 2025Cuomo faces backlash for AI-generated mayoral ad in NYC race
Not all new tech is wielded most vociferously by the young. Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign launched an AI-generated advertisement showing the former New York governor performing various New York jobs, including driving the subway and washing windows. The ad drew sharp criticism from opponent Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman, who mocked Cuomo for using artificial intelligence instead of hiring local talent in a city full of world-class artists and production crews. The big picture: This marks another instance of Cuomo relying on AI technology for campaign materials, following earlier embarrassment when his housing plan showed clear signs of being produced...
read Oct 2, 2025Iffy ethics as eufy pays users $40 to film fake package thefts for AI training
Anker's camera brand eufy paid users up to $40 per camera to submit footage of package theft and car break-ins to help train its AI detection systems in late 2024. When users lacked real criminal activity to film, eufy explicitly encouraged them to stage fake thefts, suggesting they position themselves to be captured by multiple cameras simultaneously for maximum efficiency. Why this matters: The approach highlights the creative—and potentially problematic—methods companies use to gather training data for AI systems, raising questions about whether synthetic data can effectively replace authentic criminal behavior patterns. How the program worked: Users could earn $2...
read Oct 2, 2025Sora creates deepfakes of dead celebrities like Michael Jackson despite OpenAI policy
OpenAI's Sora video generation app allows users to create AI deepfakes of deceased celebrities like Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, and Malcolm X, despite the company's stated policy of blocking depictions of public figures. The policy exemption for "historical figures" raises questions about consent, misinformation, and the potential misuse of AI-generated content featuring dead celebrities who cannot approve their digital resurrection. What you should know: OpenAI explicitly permits AI-generated videos of deceased public figures while blocking living celebrities unless they consent through the Cameos feature. Users have created disturbingly realistic deepfakes of Michael Jackson, Bob Ross, Tupac Shakur, and Malcolm X...
read Oct 2, 2025Flagrantly fun Sora 2 tops iOS charts while sparking copyright lawsuits
OpenAI released Sora 2, an AI-powered app that creates high-definition videos from text prompts and allows users to insert realistic "cameos" of themselves and others into AI-generated content. The app immediately surged to become the most popular video app on iOS, but its ability to generate copyrighted characters like Mario and Pikachu has sparked significant copyright and deepfake concerns among legal experts. What you should know: Sora 2 represents a major upgrade from OpenAI's original Sora model, now featuring synchronized dialogue and sound effects alongside video generation. Users can create lifelike videos by providing simple text descriptions, and the app...
read Oct 2, 2025Psst, Sora invite codes selling for $35 on eBay after OpenAI app launch
OpenAI's new TikTok-style video app Sora has sparked an unexpected secondary market, with scalpers selling invite codes on eBay for $20 to $35 just one day after launch. The resale frenzy highlights the intense demand for OpenAI's first social media platform, which uses AI to generate videos and is currently restricted to invite-only access to manage computational costs and prevent abuse. What you should know: Over 20 listings for Sora invite codes appeared on eBay within 24 hours of the app's launch, with more than 120 codes already sold according to eBay's Terapeak data. One ambitious seller attempted to auction...
read Oct 1, 2025OpenAI’s Sora 2 sparks backlash over unsettling AI-generated, robo-like Altman video
OpenAI has released Sora 2, its latest text-to-video AI generator, accompanied by a promotional video featuring an AI-generated version of CEO Sam Altman that has drawn widespread criticism for its unsettling, robotic appearance. The launch positions OpenAI to compete directly with Meta's recently unveiled Vibes app in the emerging market for AI-generated video content, though early user reactions suggest significant skepticism about the value of AI-generated "slop." What you should know: The promotional campaign centers around an algorithmically synthesized Sam Altman announcing the new Sora app, designed as a TikTok-like experience for AI-generated videos. • The AI-generated Altman delivers the...
read Sep 30, 2025OpenAI launches Sora app for AI-generated videos to rival TikTok
OpenAI has launched Sora, a new social media app that generates AI videos, joining Meta's recent entry into the AI-generated short-form video market with its Vibes product. The launch signals a major push by tech giants to capture attention currently dominated by TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, while raising concerns about "AI slop" potentially crowding out authentic human creativity and degrading the information ecosystem. What you should know: Sora allows users to create videos of themselves in virtually any imaginable scenario, from anime-style content to highly realistic footage. The iPhone app is currently available only in the U.S. and Canada, with...
read Sep 29, 2025OpenAI tests TikTok-like app for AI-generated videos internally
OpenAI is preparing to launch a standalone social app for AI-generated videos powered by its upcoming Sora 2 model, according to internal documents viewed by WIRED. The TikTok-like platform features vertical video feeds, swipe navigation, and social features like likes and comments, positioning OpenAI to compete directly in the short-form video space amid uncertainty around TikTok's US operations. What you should know: The Sora 2 app allows users to create AI-generated video clips up to 10 seconds long with no option to upload existing photos or videos.• The platform includes a For You-style recommendation feed and social features including the...
read Sep 29, 2025YouTube removes horrific AI channel depicting women being murdered
YouTube removed a disturbing channel called "Woman Shot AI" that featured AI-generated videos depicting women being murdered, following an investigation by 404 Media, a technology news outlet. The channel accumulated over 175,000 views and nearly 1,200 subscribers since launching in June 2025, highlighting serious gaps in content moderation and AI tool safeguards. What you should know: The channel exclusively featured graphic AI-generated content showing women being shot, with videos following a consistent formula of photo-realistic depictions of women begging for their lives while held at gunpoint. The channel uploaded 27 videos with titles like "Lara Croft Shot in Breast –...
read Sep 26, 2025LG’s TV for senior citizens costs $127 more but misses core usability issues
LG has launched the Easy TV in South Korea, targeting senior citizens with a $1,964 65-inch smart TV that includes a simplified remote and adjusted interface features. The device represents LG's attempt to create a dedicated "senior TV market," though it comes with a significant price premium over the standard model it's based on and includes questionable additions like an AI button. What you should know: The Easy TV is essentially LG's existing QNED85A model with senior-focused modifications and a $127 markup.• The 65-inch version costs 2,769,000 won (about $1,964) compared to 2,590,000 won ($1,837) for the standard model.• LG...
read Sep 26, 2025CreateAI launches anime video AI platform “Animon” in China
CreateAI has launched Animon, the world's first anime-specific video generation platform, in China months before its planned global rollout. The strategic China-first launch highlights how AI companies are adapting their market entry strategies to navigate different regulatory environments while addressing growing concerns about copyright and ownership in AI-generated content. What you should know: Animon represents a specialized approach to AI video generation, targeting the massive anime market with content specifically designed for that artistic style. The platform launched in China ahead of its global release, suggesting CreateAI, an AI development company, sees significant opportunity in the Chinese market for anime-style...
read Sep 25, 2025Meta launches “Vibes,” a dedicated feed for AI-generated short videos
Meta has launched Vibes, a dedicated feed for AI-generated short-form videos within its Meta AI app and website. The feature allows users to scroll through AI-created content from other users, create their own clips from scratch or adapt existing videos, and share their creations via direct message or cross-post to Instagram and Facebook. What you should know: Vibes represents Meta's latest experiment in AI-generated content creation, building on the existing Meta AI platform that previously made headlines when users accidentally shared private conversations publicly.• Users can browse AI-generated videos created by others or produce their own content using the platform's...
read Sep 24, 2025Humanoid robot takes a stand against engineer behaving aggressively
A viral video showing a robotics engineer violently yanking a humanoid robot by a chain around its neck has sparked widespread social media discussion about robot resilience and potential future uprisings. The footage demonstrates remarkable advances in robotic balance and stability, as the Unitree G1 robot maintains its footing despite aggressive physical disturbances designed to test its adaptive capabilities. What you should know: The disturbing footage was originally shared by Tsinghua University PhD student Zhikai Zhang, who developed the humanoid motion tracker system called Any2Track in collaboration with Galbot, a Chinese robotics company. The video shows the robot stumbling but...
read