Chaos & Amazement #2341 Digital Afterlife, Runway Academy, and Ada Lovelace
Chaos & Amazement #2341 Digital Afterlife, Runway Academy, and Ada Lovelace
From celebrities embracing Meta's AI chatbots to the digital afterlife industry's unsettling rise, this week's newsletter delves into the intriguing and concerning aspects of tech news.
Tech News
Why are celebrities like Kendall Jenner (as “Your Sis Billie” on Instagram), Snoop Dogg and Mr Beast allowing Meta to create AI chatbots in their likeness, ignoring warnings about the risks to actors and creatives? It's a slippery slope that could lead to deepfakes and loss of control. https://jezebel.com/meta-ai-celebrity-chatbots-1850919667
The rise of the digital afterlife industry is both fascinating and deeply concerning. As technology brings the dead back to life using their data, we must grapple with issues of consent, privacy, and human rights. What does it mean to live on in the digital world without our control? https://spectrum.ieee.org/digital-afterlife
LinkedIn is ramping up support for newsrooms, prioritizing high-quality content and journalist success on the platform. Smart move! https://pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/linkedins-newsroom/
Fresh AI
Explore Runway Academy: a new resource for tutorials and insights on using
@runwayml ’s creative AI tools, from basics to advanced techniques.
Watch @runwayml 's evolution, learn tech behind Stable Diffusion, as well as legal challenges, financials, and company's mission to democratize generative AI at https://turingpost.com/p/runway
Initially launched in 2019 as a model directory - is that why it’s called Runway?
Google is testing AI-generated imagery in Search. Users create images with generative AI by providing descriptive search queries. The feature is available to English-speaking U.S. users who have opted into the Search Generative Experience (SGE) experiment. https://blog.google/products/search/google-search-generative-ai-october-update/
Harvard & Oxford researchers introduce EVEscape, an AI system predicting virus mutations (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, HIV, influenza). Promising potential for vaccine improvement and pandemic preparedness. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/10/scientists-develop-ai-tool-that-predicts-virus-mutations/
From my blog
On Oct.
1210, the world celebrates Ada Lovelace Day to honor the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Lovelace was a renowned scientist who collaborated with Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first computer. She wrote a program for his machine that focused on calculating mathematical formulas.
Weird and Wonderful
FaceCheck - Face Recognition Search Engine. Oh boy...
colorword.recu3125.com Word associated color voting
Just saw a video of a paper shredder on wheels, and it's strangely fascinating. It chews through paper like a champ!
Absolutely heartwarming and impactful video by @NorwichCityFC on #WorldMentalHealthDay. It's a powerful reminder to check in on our loved ones, especially when the signs are subtle. Thank you for this moving message.