Chaos & Amazement #2449 TikTok Death Clock, Sora Text to Video, and the Red Velvet Ant’s Exact Dimensions
Made it through the most intense week of the year 🥵💪 Now entering the "that sounds like a next year’s problem" phase of December 🎄🛋️ How are you doing?
Tech News
Big changes ahead for digital marketers in Europe: A potential TikTok ban in the U.S. could shift global social media trends. With creators diversifying to Reels and Shorts, now’s the time to rethink strategies. https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/tiktok-files-emergency-motion-for-injunction
Romania's top court annulled (!) presidential election over Russian meddling claims, including cyberattacks and TikTok campaigns. The EU demands TikTok preserve election data, citing concerns of foreign interference. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/06/europe/romania-annuls-presidential-election-intl
Don’t worry, https://skedsocial.com made this TikTok Ban Survival guide (.pdf)
And, as always, Soren Iverson is spot on with this TikTok death clock on Instagram:
Sauron is gaining attention in home security with its use of drones and facial recognition technology. Recently, it raised an $18M seed round and has a waiting list of very eager tech CEOs and VCs. Is this the future of home security?
Avatar Robot Cafe Dawn in Tokyo is staffed by robot waiters that are remotely controlled by workers with disabilities working from home. This would make the perfect script for a movie in any genre. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240913/p2a/00m/0na/036000c
Fresh AI
OpenAI just launched Sora, a next-gen AI video tool that creates stunning 100% AI videos. Pro users get 500 vids/month in 1080p; Plus users, 50 in 720p. Amazing, but sadly, it’s not available in Europe yet due to regulations. https://openai.com/index/sora-is-here/
Microsoft research reveals that lonely people often turn to ChatGPT for emotional support. 8% showed signs of loneliness, with these users having longer and more emotional conversations. It raises key ethical questions about AI’s role in mental health. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2412.01617
“AI isn't 'fake and sucks'—it's real and dangerous.” I agree AI's impact is undeniable. Critics focus on its flaws, but ignoring its potential harms won't make them go away. Time to plan for a world where scaling doesn't stop. https://www.platformer.news/ai-skeptics-gary-marcus-curve-conference/
Weird and Wonderful
Dimensions.com is a treasure trove of weirdly specific measurements. Need the exact size of a Red Velvet Ant (aka the Cow Killer) or the geometry of 'Young Adults Holding Hands - Women - Front'? They’ve got you covered.
Simone Giertz strikes again with a quirky but clever invention: a chair designed to hang your half-dirty clothes. With a swiveling bar for easy access, it's perfect for those 'wear again' outfits. Functional *and* fun. Would you buy one?
The dj set you didn’t know you needed today: Fatboy Slim - Elevator Music
