Chaos & Amazement #2350 Threads in Europe, Putin’s Deepfake, and Gag World

This week: Meta's Threads in the EU, AI Act approval, Worldcoin's global move, AI art trends, content creation dynamics, and a sci-fi adventure on my blog.

Tech News

• Meta launches Threads in the European Union, extending its presence beyond the US, the UK, and 100+ other countries, with added accessibility for EU users to browse Threads without a profile. Speculation arises on the delayed EU release, possibly linked to antitrust concerns. https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/14/23953986/threads-european-union-launch-eu-meta-twitter-rival

  • Meta's Threads accounts will soon be interoperable on platforms like Mastodon, expanding user choices and content reach. Zuckerberg is optimistic about the move.

    Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck) on Threads: Starting a test where posts from Threads accounts will be available on Mastodon and other services

• EU finally approves The AI Act, cracking down on "high-risk" AI practices. Big models like GPT-4 face new rules, closed-source under scrutiny, open-source gets exemptions. Potential impact on innovation raises questions about OpenAI's EU operations. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/09/artificial-intelligence-act-council-and-parliament-strike-a-deal-on-the-first-worldwide-rules-for-ai/

  • Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Israel's military employs AI named "the Gospel" for rapid target identification, claiming reduced civilian casualties. The use of AI in warfare raises questions about ethical considerations and the future development of fully autonomous AI weapons. https://www.npr.org/2023/12/14/1218643254/israel-is-using-an-ai-system-to-find-targets-in-gaza-experts-say-its-just-the-st

• During a public Q&A session, a Saint Petersburg State University student presented President Vladimir Putin with a deepfake, raising questions about AI and doppelgangers. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12864047/Stunned-Putin-double-takes-confronted-AI-deepfake.html

• Worldcoin's World ID 2.0 integrates with major platforms, adds facial authentication, and expands globally to Mexico and Singapore. Security boosted, but privacy concerns persist. Sam Altman's vision sparks discussion amid evolving tech landscapes. https://worldcoin.org/blog/announcements/introducing-world-id-2.0

  

• What did Belgians google in 2023? https://trends.google.com/trends/yis/2023/BE/

  • The 11th Edition of Data Never Sleeps, the annual infographic depicting what happens every minute online, is here.

    What Happens in 60 Seconds on the Internet? https://www.domo.com/learn/infographic/data-never-sleeps-11

Fresh AI

• Checking out AI art trend Gag City, inspired by Nicki Minaj's new album. Barbz, the hardcore fans, are getting creative with AI, throwing in celebs and Barbie vibes. Surprisingly, it's blowing up online, showing how memes rule the internet. Here’s a Twitter thread with an overview:

  https://twitter.com/C27Deborah/status/1732866105012556147

  

• ChatGPT: Here's an image that epitomizes the "Ultimate Essence of Mundanity" at an infinite scale, representing a state of profound and boundless normality. More at this Twitter thread:

  https://twitter.com/ESYudkowsky/status/1734772533373939784

• AI makes content creation cheap, but the real value lies in trusted relationships. Guide your audience, offer insights, and as AI empowers, your worth increases. Success on Substack proves this trend.

From my Blog

• FLITE Sci-Fi Adventure with Mind-Blowing Visuals Made With Unreal Engine FLITE, directed by the talented Tim Webber and featuring Alba Baptista, is not your average short film. In a futuristic London, a hoverboard champion finds herself in a high-tech skyscraper trap; what follows is a thrilling ride.

• What If The World Was Governed by Sounds and Vibrations?

  I stumbled upon Mario Radev and Chiara Sgatti's [O] recently. The film delves into a world governed solely by sound frequency and vibration, portraying creatures navigating cycles in a unique environment. It explores the paradox of seemingly inactive creatures using their minds to manipulate a mysterious black fluid. Weird, but in an interesting way.

• AI: Grappling with a New Kind of Intelligence

  In a two hour video recording of a panel conversation at the World Science Festival, physicist and author Brian Greene and computer scientist Yan LeCun explore the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI). They discuss the potential benefits and risks of AI, and we hear from experts about how we can ensure that AI is used for good.

• Hank Green about Creator Economy: Creators are content licensors, not owners Hank Green is a well-known YouTuber and influencer. Alongside his brother, John, he co-founded the renowned YouTube channel Vlogbrothers, amassing a devoted fan base and propelling them into digital influencers.

Weird and Wonderful

• Duke and Harvard's ultrasound breakthrough: 3D printing implants inside the body. DAVP technique could revolutionize surgeries and treatments. https://pratt.duke.edu/news/soundwaves-harden-3d-printed-treatments-in-deep-tissues/

  

• DJ Cummerbund strikes holiday gold, blending Billy Idol's Rebel Yell with José Feliciano's Feliz Navidad. Special guests include Rob Zombie, Wham!, and Rush—your festive playlist just got a wild upgrade!

• Final thought.