Tech
Major game developer investigated for toxic work culture
Game developer giants Activision Blizzard are under investigation over reports of toxic workplace culture.
The developers behind Call of Duty & World of Warcraft have received severe backlash over the handling of a “frat boy” work culture that has victimised its female employees.
Roughly 2,000 current and former employees have signed an open letter to company leadership denouncing the “abhorrent and insulting” response to the ongoing behavior and a walkout has been planned. Social media has been alive with accounts of mistreatment and stories of disgraced employees participating in on-the-job drinking, sexual harassment, and troubling stories which have raised questions around how this has gone on for so long.
THE ALLEGATIONS SPAN COMPANY PRACTICE MORE BROADLY
The legal allegations also include the company of gender pay discrimination and allowing sexual harassment complaints to go unresolved.
Employees have planned a walkout in protest of the company’s response as the gaming community takes to social media to expand the allegations against the company.
The “Walkout for Equality” is to protest the feeling that – “our values as employees are not being accurately reflected in the words and actions of our leadership.”
Organizers reportedly asked management to cooperate with them and develop new recruiting practices and encouraged them to publish employee pay rates, undertake third-party audits to improve staff diversity and prevent harassment.
The gaming community has stood by the employees, signal-boosting the hashtag #ActiBlizzWalkout and donating to a series of charities on social media.
This isn’t the first time Blizzard employees have walked off the job – in 2019 efforts were made to protest the company’s handling of a Hearthstone player who made pro-Hong Kong statements during the protests that occurred throughout the city.
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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