In Short:
– 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.

OpenAI announced it will work with Bryan Cranston, SAG-AFTRA, and actor unions to combat deepfakes on its AI video app, Sora.Cranston voiced concerns after unauthorized AI-generated clips featuring his likeness emerged after Sora 2’s launch in late September. He showed gratitude to OpenAI for taking steps to safeguard actors’ rights to control their likenesses.

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.

In Short:
– 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.

In Short:
– Elon Musk announced X’s transition to the AI-driven Grok recommendation system within four to six weeks.
– Grok will personalise content based on real-time user engagement and improve visibility for smaller creators.

Elon Musk has announced that X will transition to a fully AI-driven recommendation system called Grok within four to six weeks. This move will eliminate all heuristic-based algorithms and represents a significant shift in how content is distributed on the platform.Grok will analyse over 100 million posts and videos daily to tailor content to individual user interests. Unlike traditional algorithms, it will learn from real-time user engagement to provide personalized recommendations.

The evolution aims to solve issues faced by smaller content creators, ensuring their quality posts gain visibility. Grok will assess posts holistically, rather than strictly adhering to predetermined rules.

Feed Control

Users will have enhanced control over their feeds through natural language commands. Musk stated that users can request overall adjustments, such as “show more tech news” or “less politics,” simplifying the customization process.

This aligns with Musk’s vision of integrating AI across his ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX. Grok, a product of Musk’s xAI, started as a conversational assistant and now has 64 million monthly users.

Alongside this AI-centric strategy, Musk acknowledged shortcomings in X’s creator payment system, admitting it has failed to compensate content creators adequately compared to platforms like YouTube. This reflects ongoing efforts to improve sustainability for creators as technology evolves on the platform.