Oxford study finds AI performance tests lack scientific rigor

Widely used tests to measure artificial intelligence capabilities may be fundamentally flawed and oversell AI performance, according to a new study from the Oxford Internet Institute. Researchers examined 445 benchmarks that AI developers use to evaluate their models and found significant methodological problems. Jared Perlo reports for NBC News that roughly half of the benchmarks …

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AI browsers can bypass paywalls and content blockers

OpenAI’s Atlas and Perplexity’s Comet pose new challenges for publishers trying to control AI access to their content. These AI browsers can retrieve paywalled articles that traditional AI interfaces cannot access, the Columbia Journalism Review reports. The browsers succeed because they appear identical to human users in website logs. While automated crawlers identify themselves with …

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Coca-Cola uses AI to produce holiday ads faster and cheaper

Coca-Cola has released new holiday commercials created with AI, a year after its first AI-generated ads drew criticism from creative professionals. Katie Deighton reports for The Wall Street Journal. The new “Holidays Are Coming” campaign includes two commercials produced by AI studios Silverside and Secret Level. Chief Marketing Officer Manolo Arroyo says the production was …

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Real estate agents use AI to create listings, raising concerns about deception

Real estate agents are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence to create marketing materials for properties. Kat Tenbarge reports for Wired that agents use AI tools to generate videos from photos, virtually furnish empty rooms, and write listing descriptions. An expert from the National Association of Realtors estimates that a vast majority of real estate professionals …

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Wikipedia reports a significant drop in visitors due to generative AI

The Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization behind Wikipedia, is experiencing a dangerous decline in human traffic. The foundation attributes this to generative AI chatbots and search engines summarizing Wikipedia content directly for users. Emanuel Maiberg reports for 404 Media. This trend means people get information without visiting the online encyclopedia, which threatens its long-term sustainability. …

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OpenAI introduces new safeguards for Sora video app after deepfake backlash

OpenAI is implementing new restrictions for its AI video generator, Sora, following public backlash over unauthorized deepfakes of public figures. The changes come after the company faced pressure from the estate of Martin Luther King Jr. and actor Bryan Cranston. At the request of Dr. King’s estate, OpenAI announced it paused the ability for users …

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Sora’s realistic videos of dead celebrities cause distress for families

OpenAI’s new text-to-video tool, Sora 2, allows users to create realistic videos of deceased public figures, leading to widespread criticism and distress among their families. Tatum Hunter and Drew Harwell report for The Washington Post that a wave of crude, disrespectful, and racist AI-generated clips has spread across social media since the tool’s launch. The …

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MrBeast calls AI a potential threat to creators’ livelihoods

Top YouTube creator MrBeast has publicly expressed concern that artificial intelligence could endanger the careers of professional content creators. In a social media post, he questioned how AI-generated videos might affect the millions of people who make content for a living, calling the current developments “scary times.” Sarah Perez reports for TechCrunch. As Forbes’ highest-earning …

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AI as a Tool for Creative Expression

What if we see generative AI not solely as a threat to creatives, but also a powerful new tool for creative expression? Don’t get me wrong: I’m very familiar with the fears and criticism around AI. Just have a look at the tag “Criticism” on this page. It’s important to acknowledge and document these discussions: …

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Debut of AI actress sparks backlash from Hollywood actors

The announcement of Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actress, has ignited a debate within the entertainment industry. The creator, Eline Van der Velden, introduced Norwood at the Zurich Summit, stating that multiple talent agencies are already interested in representing the digital character. Van der Velden, whose AI talent studio Xicoia developed Norwood, said her goal is …

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