Tech
Air New Zealand bunk beds for economy to take-off
Fancy a snooze on a long haul flight? Now Air New Zealand is launching bunk beds for economy class passengers
You’re flying 12+ hours to a global destination, and the number one thing you want to do to pass the time is sleep, right?
Air New Zealand is now launching the world’s first lie-flat pods, coming to economy class.
SkyNest has been in development for the past five years, but by 2024 the new beds will be ready to take off.
The seats are fully flat, made up with real mattresses plus cooling pillows and bedding, and located in the back of the plane, right behind the premium economy cabin.
The new beds were meant to debut on Air New Zealand in 2020 but were pushed back due to the pandemic.
Passengers will be able to fly on them on the Auckland-New York route, flying non-stop for an 18 hour journey.
The fine print
But not so fast, after all this is an aviation announcement in a post covid world.
First, you can’t just rock up to the flight and sleep, and they’re not included in the economy price ticket, of course.
SkyNest is a separate product, and the bunk beds will be stacked three high, bookable in four hour increments.
That’s how much time the airline believes we need for two sleep cycles (about 90 minutes each).
When you can try it
Skynest is set to debut on the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2024.
We don’t have any details yet on the cost of booking one of these bunk beds, but they will be available to all economy and premium economy passengers.
It makes us wonder what Qantas is thinking with an even longer flight to New York or London from Sydney on Project Sunrise, with not much more planned than LED lighting and space to stretch, because who really ever does that on a plane?
Over to you flying Roo!
Tech
OpenAI limits deepfakes after Bryan Cranston’s concerns
OpenAI protects against deepfakes on Sora 2 after Bryan Cranston and SAG-AFTRA raise concerns over unauthorized AI-generated content
OpenAI protects against deepfakes on Sora 2 after Bryan Cranston and SAG-AFTRA raise concerns over unauthorised AI-generated content
– OpenAI partners with Bryan Cranston and unions to combat deepfakes on its Sora app.
– The app now includes options for people to control their likenesses and voices.
The partnership aims to enhance protections against unauthorized AI content. The Creative Artists Agency and United Talent Agency had previously criticized OpenAI, citing risks to their clients’ intellectual property.
Last week, OpenAI blocked disrespectful videos of Martin Luther King Jr. at the request of his estate, following similar pressures. Zelda Williams also requested the public refrain from sending her AI-generated clips of her late father, Robin Williams.
Policy Changes
Following tensions post-launch, CEO Sam Altman revised Sora’s policy to give rights holders greater control of their likenesses.
The app now allows individuals to opt-out, reflecting OpenAI’s commitment to respond quickly to concerns from performers.
OpenAI backs the NO FAKES Act, supporting legislation that aims to protect individuals from unauthorized AI-generated representations.
OpenAI is focused on ensuring performers’ rights are respected regarding the misuse of their voices and likenesses. Altman reiterated the company’s dedication to these protections.
Tech
Major apps down as AWS experiences global outage
AWS outage disrupts Fortnite, Snapchat and multiple services globally
AWS outage disrupts Fortnite, Snapchat and multiple services globally
– AWS outage on Monday disrupted major apps like Fortnite, Snapchat, and affected several global companies.
– UK companies including Lloyds Bank and Vodafone reported issues due to the AWS outage.
Amazon’s AWS experienced a significant outage on Monday, impacting major apps including Fortnite and Snapchat. The disruption affected connectivity for numerous companies globally.AWS reported increased error rates and latencies across multiple services and is attempting to recover quickly.
The outage marks the first significant internet disruption since a previous incident last year that impacted essential technology systems globally. AWS offers on-demand computing and storage services and is vital for many websites and platforms.
Multiple companies reported disruptions, including AI startup Perplexity, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, and trading app Robinhood. Perplexity’s CEO confirmed on X that the outages were linked to AWS issues.
Amazon’s shopping site, Prime Video, and Alexa services also faced difficulties, according to Downdetector. Other affected platforms included popular gaming applications like Clash Royale and financial services such as Venmo and Chime.
Uber competitor Lyft’s app was reported down for numerous users in the U.S. Messaging platform Signal also acknowledged connection problems stemming from the AWS outage.
British Companies
In the UK, Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, and telecom services provider Vodafone were notably affected. The HMRC’s website also encountered issues during this outage.
Elon Musk stated that his platform, X, remained operational despite the widespread disruptions.
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