News/Video
Instacart uses AI vision to solve out-of-stock grocery frustrations, satiate consumers
Instacart's new AI vision technology aims to solve a persistent grocery shopping frustration: out-of-stock items. By combining computer vision and predictive algorithms, the company is creating a more accurate real-time inventory system that benefits both shoppers and delivery workers. These innovations represent a significant advancement in how e-commerce platforms bridge the gap between digital shopping interfaces and physical store realities. How it works: Instacart's new Store View feature uses AI and computer vision to analyze footage of store shelves taken by delivery workers to identify what products are currently available. Eligible Instacart Shoppers can earn additional income by filming store...
read Mar 26, 2025Read my lips: AMC debuts AI-powered “visual dubbing” to make foreign films more accessible
Dubbing is moving beyond '70s kung fu flicks. Way beyond. AMC Theatres is pioneering a new approach to foreign film distribution by using AI-powered "visual dubbing" technology to make international cinema more accessible to American audiences. This innovative technique digitally alters actors' lip movements to match English dialogue, potentially breaking down barriers for viewers hesitant to engage with subtitled content while preserving the original performances. The May 9th debut of the Swedish sci-fi film "Watch the Skies" represents a significant test case for AI's role in expanding global film distribution. How it works: Flawless AI's TrueSync technology digitally modifies the...
read Mar 24, 2025Dream Machine’s AI turns text into realistic 10-second videos with natural physics
"Dream Machine." It sounds like some coveted, retrofuturistic automobile from the 80s. Dream Machine's AI video generation tool transforms simple text prompts into realistic videos with natural motion and physics, marking a significant advancement in content creation accessibility. The platform's Ray2 model enables anyone to produce high-quality video clips without specialized filmmaking knowledge, democratizing visual storytelling for both creative and commercial applications. The big picture: Luma AI's Dream Machine leverages advanced generative AI to convert natural language descriptions into realistic videos with accurate physics and believable details. Launched in 2024, the platform rapidly gained attention for producing compelling visual content...
read Mar 20, 2025POV: Stability AI’s new tool turns 2D images into 3D videos with any-angle viewing
Stability AI's new Stable Virtual Camera tool converts 2D images into 3D videos with multi-perspective viewing capabilities, representing a significant advancement in AI-generated video technology. Unlike traditional virtual camera systems that require detailed 3D reconstructions or extensive camera calibration, this tool can generate depth-accurate motion from even a single image using a novel multi-view diffusion process, allowing viewers to rotate around and view content from any angle. How it works: Stable Virtual Camera employs a specialized multi-view diffusion process that generates realistic new viewing angles based on input images. The system creates perspectives that represent physically plausible 3D models rather...
read Mar 19, 2025Jupitrr AI turns basic talking-head videos into dynamic social media content
Jupitrr AI leverages artificial intelligence to transform basic talking-head videos into engaging, dynamic content for social media platforms. This video enhancement tool automatically adds subtitles, emoji, images, GIFs, and other elements to help small businesses create attention-grabbing content without extensive manual editing. As video continues to dominate social media engagement, Jupitrr offers an accessible solution for creators seeking to maximize their content's impact without specialized editing skills. What it does: Jupitrr AI transforms simple talking-head videos by automatically adding B-roll elements like subtitles, images, GIFs, and animated overlays at contextually appropriate moments. The system transcribes video content to create subtitles,...
read Mar 13, 2025Snapchat launches AI-generated AR Lenses exclusively for premium subscribers
Are you a Snapchat preferred customer? If so, this news is for you. Snapchat is elevating augmented reality experiences with new AI-generated Lenses exclusively for its premium subscribers. The platform's latest feature leverages generative AI to create more realistic and interactive AR filters, marking another advancement in how social media platforms are integrating AI capabilities into creative tools. This development represents a growing trend of platforms using AI to enhance user-generated content while creating premium features to drive subscription revenue. The big picture: Snapchat has launched AI-generated Lenses exclusively for Snapchat Platinum subscribers, using an in-house built generative video model...
read Mar 11, 2025Nostalgia Fail: Netflix’s AI upscaling turns 80s sitcom “A Different World” into a nightmare
Netflix's use of AI to upscale the 1980s sitcom "A Different World" demonstrates the disturbing consequences of deploying artificial intelligence without proper human oversight in entertainment. The AI-enhanced version distorts characters' faces, warps text into unrecognizable forms, and creates unsettling visual artifacts that transform nostalgic content into something resembling a horror show. This example highlights a growing trend where entertainment companies sacrifice quality for cost savings when implementing AI technologies without adequate human guidance. The big picture: Netflix's AI upscaling of "A Different World" represents a broader pattern of entertainment companies deploying AI in ways that produce uncanny and unsettling...
read Mar 10, 2025Little Country, Big Interest: Uruguay leads in audio AI adoption as smaller nations shape global AI landscape
Who knew? Global data reveals distinct national preferences in AI usage, with Uruguay showing remarkable interest in audio AI applications despite being a smaller country. This emerging pattern of varied AI adoption across different countries provides valuable insight into how artificial intelligence technologies may develop along regional lines, challenging assumptions about which nations will lead in specific AI domains. The big picture: New data highlights significant variation in global AI adoption patterns, with smaller countries often showing surprisingly high engagement with specific AI technologies despite the perception of larger nations driving innovation. A September 2023 PCMag analysis reveals distinctive AI...
read Mar 7, 2025TooFar Media to debut AI-powered immersive story experience at SXSW 2025
There's New Media, and then there's New Media. AI-driven immersive storytelling continues to break new ground as TooFar Media prepares to debut "The Hornet's Spell" at SXSW 2025. This innovative project represents a significant evolution in narrative experiences, blending literature with AI-generated visuals, animation, and spatial audio to create a multi-dimensional storyworld that surrounds and responds to audiences rather than simply being consumed passively. The big picture: TooFar Media is pioneering a new approach to storytelling that merges traditional literary fiction with cutting-edge AI technology to create fully immersive narrative experiences. This experimental format challenges conventional storytelling boundaries by pulling...
read Mar 6, 2025YouTube warns creators of deepfake scam featuring CEO Neal Mohan
They're faking it until they're making it. Unfortunately, they're making it our problem. YouTube has raised alarms about a sophisticated AI-enabled phishing scam targeting content creators through deepfake videos of CEO Neal Mohan. The scam's emergence highlights the growing sophistication of AI-powered fraud, where deepfake technology is being weaponized to exploit the trust between platforms and their users, potentially threatening the creator economy that has become central to YouTube's ecosystem. The big picture: Scammers are using AI-generated videos of YouTube CEO Neal Mohan to deceive creators in a targeted phishing campaign designed to steal channel credentials. How it works: The...
read Mar 5, 2025Amazon Prime Video launches AI dubbing in English and Spanish for select content
In infrequent caption-based news, Amazon's Prime Video is introducing AI-assisted dubbing capabilities in English and Spanish, leveraging artificial intelligence to expand audience reach for its content catalog. This development represents another step in media companies adopting AI technology to enhance viewer experiences and potentially capture larger international audiences who prefer watching content in their native languages. The big picture: Prime Video will launch AI-based dubbing for 12 licensed movies and series starting immediately, focusing exclusively on content that doesn't already have existing dubbing options. Key details: The feature aims to serve Prime Video's global customer base, which exceeds 200 million...
read Mar 5, 2025Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan challenges Trump’s AI-generated resort vision
The latest clash between Trump's AI-generated "Gaza Riviera" vision and Egypt's reconstruction proposal highlights the intensifying debate over Gaza's future amid ongoing conflict. As regional powers gather in Cairo to counter Trump's controversial plan, which suggested relocating Palestinians to neighboring countries, the stark differences between these competing visions underscore the complex challenges of rebuilding a war-torn territory where over 46,000 Palestinians have died since October 2023. The big picture: Egypt has presented a 91-page draft proposal for Gaza's reconstruction that directly challenges Trump's AI-generated vision of a Mediterranean resort destination. The Egyptian plan envisions modern housing blocks with clean lines,...
read Mar 5, 2025“Divergent” producer launches AI-powered studio to disrupt Hollywood with over 30 projects
An AI-powered film, television, and gaming studio emerges at the intersection of Hollywood's traditional production model and artificial intelligence innovation. Staircase Studios AI, founded by "Divergent" franchise producer Pouya Shahbazian, aims to disrupt entertainment production by leveraging AI workflows to create content more efficiently, backed by notable media investors and targeting projects with budgets under $500,000. The big picture: Staircase Studios AI plans to produce more than 30 projects in the next 3-4 years using AI-driven production methods. The venture is backed by influential media figures including Kenneth Lerer, co-founder of The Huffington Post, and Aryeh Bourkoff, CEO of Liontree....
read Feb 27, 2025Putting pocket tech to work: NYC Subway deploys Google Pixels to detect track defects
The New York City subway system's 665 miles of track require constant inspection to maintain safety and reliability. In a pioneering experiment, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) partnered with Google to test whether everyday smartphones could revolutionize how track defects are detected. Project overview: The MTA and Google's four-month experiment utilized six Google Pixel phones mounted on A-line subway cars to collect comprehensive track condition data. The phones leveraged built-in sensors including accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, and microphones to gather information about track conditions The experimental system, dubbed TrackInspect, employed artificial intelligence to analyze audio, vibration, and location data The project...
read Feb 27, 2025Nothing Phone (3a) leak reveals Pixel-inspired cameras
Buy this phone, and you've got Nothing to lose. The Nothing Phone (3a) series represents Nothing's latest mid-range smartphone offering, featuring a distinctive transparent design and upgraded camera system. The company has been gradually revealing details about both the standard and Pro models through official teasers and unofficial leaks ahead of its March 4, 2025 launch. Design and Hardware Overview: The standard Nothing Phone (3a) maintains the brand's signature transparent aesthetic while introducing new visual elements. The device features three "Glyph" lighting modules positioned around the camera system Unlike its Pro counterpart's prominent camera module, the standard model sports a...
read Feb 27, 2025Bright Idea: LG unveils 2025 OLED TV lineup with cutting-edge features
The 2025 LG OLED TV lineup represents a significant advancement in display technology, featuring unprecedented brightness levels and sophisticated processing capabilities. The new collection spans from premium transparent displays to more affordable entry-level models, each incorporating distinct technological innovations. Product Overview: LG's 2025 OLED TV portfolio includes five distinct series, each targeting different market segments and use cases. The flagship OLED Evo G5 achieves breakthrough brightness of 2,400 nits thanks to new 4-stack WOLED panel technology The innovative OLED Evo M5 maintains high-end specs while eliminating cables through its Zero Connect Box The mid-range C5 series balances performance and value...
read Feb 26, 2025Hamas not feeling Trump’s AI-generated Gaza video
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has entered a new phase of public discourse as former U.S. President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video depicting Gaza as a luxury resort destination. The video, which sparked immediate controversy, shows a dramatic transformation of the war-torn region into a Mediterranean paradise complete with Trump-themed imagery. Key context: The video emerges during a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, as negotiations continue for prisoner exchanges following the October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and led to Israeli military operations resulting in 48,000 Palestinian casualties. The ongoing ceasefire has facilitated exchanges...
read Feb 26, 2025Alibaba just made its AI video and image generation models free to use globally
Key Development: Alibaba has open-sourced four models from its Wan2.1 series, allowing users to generate both images and videos from text and image inputs through Alibaba Cloud's Model Scope and Hugging Face platforms. The models will be accessible to academics, researchers, and commercial institutions globally This release represents the latest version of Alibaba's foundational AI model Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares responded positively, closing nearly 5% higher following the announcement Market Context: The open-source AI landscape has gained significant attention following Chinese firm DeepSeek's market-disrupting announcement in January 2025. DeepSeek claimed to have trained its AI model at a fraction of...
read Feb 26, 2025Luma Labs now lets you add audio to your AI-generated videos
AI video pioneer Luma Labs has enhanced its Dream Machine platform with a new audio generation feature, marking a significant advancement in AI-generated content creation. The new capability allows users to add AI-generated soundtracks to their videos, either through custom prompts or automated suggestions, addressing a crucial gap in the AI video production landscape. The innovation explained: Dream Machine's audio feature introduces free AI-generated sound effects and ambient audio that can be seamlessly integrated with AI-generated videos. Users can either allow the AI to automatically generate appropriate audio or provide specific text prompts to guide the sound creation The feature...
read Feb 25, 2025Creative compliance: Adobe Firefly AI image generator avoids IP headaches, facilitates safe imagineering
Adobe's Firefly, launched in March 2023, represents a significant development in AI-powered creative tools, offering a suite of generative AI capabilities integrated into Creative Cloud applications. What distinguishes Firefly from other AI image generators is its exclusive training on licensed Adobe Stock and public domain images, making it particularly suitable for commercial use. Core functionality: Firefly's foundation consists of four generative AI models - Image, Vector, Design, and Video (beta) - that power various creative tools across Adobe's ecosystem. The platform offers both standalone web-based tools and integrated features within Creative Cloud applications Key features include text-to-image generation, Generative Fill...
read Feb 24, 2025YouTube for Android TV adds labels to videos dubbed by AI
New AI dubbing features on YouTube now allow viewers to watch content in their native language by automatically translating audio tracks. The platform has recently added interface indicators to help viewers identify which videos have been AI-dubbed when watching on Android TV and Google TV devices. Key Features and Implementation: YouTube's Android TV interface now displays a "Dubbed" tag with a speaking icon beneath video titles to indicate AI-translated audio content. The tag appears alongside existing indicators like "Subtitles" in a grey text box under the video title, channel name, and view count The feature's visibility varies by region and...
read Feb 24, 2025Hacker plays either humorous or offensive AI Trump, Musk video on HUD screens, raising cybersecurity concerns
Amid rising tensions between federal employees and new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk, a cybersecurity breach at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) headquarters displayed an AI-generated video prank involving former President Trump. The incident occurred as HUD employees were required to return to office work while facing potential mass layoffs. The incident: A hacker gained control of display screens throughout HUD's Washington, D.C. headquarters, playing a disturbing AI-generated video loop featuring Donald Trump and Elon Musk with provocative imagery suggesting a certain amount of overly deferential treatment of Musk on Trump's part. The unauthorized...
read Feb 24, 2025ROOP swoops into the face swap space with variety of impressive new features
The ROOP Unleashed software package represents a significant advancement in AI-powered face swapping technology, building upon its predecessor with enhanced capabilities for both photo and video manipulation. This latest version introduces VR support and improved multi-tasking features, making it accessible through a browser-based interface. Core Capabilities: ROOP Unleashed combines sophisticated facial recognition with real-time processing to enable seamless face swapping across multiple media types. The software supports simultaneous face swapping of multiple subjects within a single video Users can select specific faces, first-detected faces, or apply gender-based swapping criteria Real-time preview functionality allows users to review changes before finalizing outputs...
read Feb 23, 2025AI-generated history videos are going viral on TikTok, but how accurate are they?
The AI history phenomenon: TikTok creators are using artificial intelligence to generate first-person perspective videos that simulate waking up in different historical periods, from ancient Rome to the Black Death era, attracting millions of views. Two prominent creators, Dan (POV Lab) and Hogne (Time Traveller POV), produce these videos to make history more engaging and accessible The videos incorporate period-specific visual and audio elements to create immersive historical experiences Some clips have garnered massive attention, with one Black Death-themed video receiving 53 million views Historical accuracy concerns: Professional historians have identified numerous inaccuracies and oversimplifications in these AI-generated historical recreations....
read