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Actors union backs Scarlett Johansson after claim of voice misuse by OpenAI

Actors union backs Scarlett Johansson after claim of voice misuse by OpenAI

by | May 21, 2024 | Technology


The dispute over the rights to actors’ voices and images has become a focal point in Hollywood as studios evaluate AI’s potential for creating new entertainment. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

2 min read Last Updated : May 21 2024 | 9:53 PM IST


SAG-AFTRA, an influential body representing television and radio artists, on Tuesday backed Scarlett Johansson after the American actress raised concerns over the voice feature of a new OpenAI system that she said sounded “eerily similar” to her own.

 


OpenAI unveiled its latest artificial intelligence model, GPT-4o, last week, featuring an audio-interacting persona named “Sky”.


Johansson said on Monday that she had previously turned down a request from the company to use her voice for this system.


OpenAI CEO Sam Altman clarified that the voice belonged to a different professional actress and said he was removing Sky’s voice from the company’s products.

 


“We thank Ms. Johansson for speaking out on this issue of crucial importance to all SAG-AFTRA members. We share in her concerns and fully support her right to have clarity and transparency regarding the voice used,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said.


SAG-AFTRA, which represents about 160,000 entertainment and media professionals globally, played a big role in securing agreements from Hollywood studios for better pay and protections against the use of AI for actors.

 


The dispute over the rights to actors’ voices and images has become a focal point in Hollywood as studios evaluate AI’s potential for creating new entertainment. The issue is particularly relevant as computer-generated images and sounds become increasingly indistinguishable from human ones.

 


SAG-AFTRA said it was “strongly championing federal legislation that would protect their voices and likenesses” and will continue engaging with OpenAI and other stakeholders “to enshrine transparent and resilient protections for all of us.”

First Published: May 21 2024 | 9:53 PM IST



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Google brings new artificial intelligence-powered updates to advertisements

Google brings new artificial intelligence-powered updates to advertisements

by | May 21, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : May 21 2024 | 10:33 PM IST


Tech giant Google launched new Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to help merchants better market brands and products at a Google Marketing Live event on Tuesday.


The tools for retailers include a new profile option for e-commerce brands, generative AI features for more effective product imagery, and new immersive ad formats.

 


“Businesses need to be on every surface with creative assets that capture people’s attention. Until now, it has felt impossible to do this at scale, but that’s changing with generative AI. This technology is helping us better meet advertisers’ needs and unlock new possibilities across the marketing process, from new immersive ads experiences to high-performing creative assets,” said Vidhya Srinivasan, vice president and general manager, Ads.


In the new update, advertisers will soon be able to enhance their shopping ads with immersive visuals, including virtual try-on and AI-generated 3D spinning ads. Later this year, the company plans to introduce a feature that lets shoppers see product videos, summaries, and similar products provided by the advertiser.

In addition, the company will also allow advertisers to generate new asset variations by sharing their font and colour guidelines, as well as by providing image reference points.


“We’re introducing new image editing capabilities so advertisers can try adding new objects, extending backgrounds, and cropping to adapt to any format, size, and orientation,” said the company.


Google will also start testing search and shopping ads in AI overviews for users in the United States. “Advertisers will have the opportunity to appear within the AI overview in a section clearly labelled as ‘sponsored’ when they’re relevant to both the query and the information in the AI overview,” said the company.


The firm is also introducing new advertising formats for brands and retailers. One such feature, which is initially launching for retailers as a closed beta later this year, will allow brands to connect their short-form product videos, or videos from creators, to their advertisements on Google.


Further, Product Studio will also give brands the ability to generate videos from just one photo, where with just the click of a button, brands will be able to animate components of still product images to create short videos or playful product GIFs for social media.

First Published: May 21 2024 | 9:35 PM IST



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Industry 4.0: Uttar Pradesh govt to equip future workforce with AI

Industry 4.0: Uttar Pradesh govt to equip future workforce with AI

by | May 21, 2024 | Technology


2 min read Last Updated : May 21 2024 | 5:53 PM IST


The Uttar Pradesh nodal technical university has tied up with technology major IBM for artificial intelligence (AI) and Cloud computing training to align the future workforce with the modern Industry 4.0 concept.


The state is also pushing for the ‘one district, one incubator’ scheme. 


Since the AI spend in India is projected to hit $5 billion by 2027, the Yogi Adityanath government is looking to tap the growing sector for job creation, self-employment, and catalysing startups.


State’s Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IBM for free online courses in such programmes across more than 500 affiliated colleges.


AKTU Vice Chancellor J P Pandey said the varsity was equipping its students with the new and evolving technologies to facilitate seamless placements in accordance with industry demand.


Under the MoU, IBM would offer free online courses to the registered students of the B Tech stream under the AKTU network.


According to a joint study released recently by Intel and International Data Corporation, AI spending in India is expected to grow 31.5 per cent from 2023. The growth is highest among the eight countries surveyed — Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan.


Industry 4.0 refers to the integration of intelligent digital technologies into manufacturing and industrial processes. It covers a set of technologies spanning industrial IoT (internet of things) networks, AI, big data, robotics, automation.


The state is nudging the educational institutions to upgrade their curriculum in accordance with the demands of industry and evolving technologies.


As the state has the country’s 4th largest startup ecosystem, the government is taking steps to integrate education with incubators and facilitate angel funding to business ideas. It is planning to set up an incubator at every higher educational institution across 75 districts.


Currently, over 60 incubators are operational in the state.


The state boasts of about 10,000 recognised startups, of which 50 per cent have emerged from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, according to a KPMG report. Nearly 4,300 startups are being run by women entrepreneurs.


UP is home to eight of the total 108 unicorns in India, such as Paytm, Paytm Mall, India Mart, Moglix, Pine Labs, Innovaccer, InfoEdge, and Physics Wallah.

First Published: May 21 2024 | 5:53 PM IST



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Indian digital economy growing at 2.8%, will reach trn by FY28: IT Min

Indian digital economy growing at 2.8%, will reach $1 trn by FY28: IT Min

by | May 21, 2024 | Technology


The minister said the main ask of the technology industry is that they want the momentum of development to continue.

3 min read Last Updated : May 21 2024 | 4:32 PM IST


India’s digital economy is growing at 2.8 per cent per annum and is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2027-28, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said at an outreach programme.


The minister further said the value of the IndiaAI mission will be doubled to Rs 20,000 crore from Rs 10,000 crore.


The government earlier expected India to reach the $1 trillion-mark by 2026-27 but the target has been moved by a year due to various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.


“Digital economy is growing at the rate of 2.8 per cent because of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His vision laid down in 2015 has played out well. We are already the fastest growing digital economy of the world. We are aiming to be $1 trillion digital economy by 2027-28,” Chandrasekhar said.


He was speaking at “Vishesh Sampark Abhiyan” on Monday evening at Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s official residence. The event was attended by leaders of about 300 ITs, startups and the technology industry.


The minister said the prime minister has already approved Rs 1 lakh crore as seed fund, which will be invested in research and development for fuel innovation and India AI mission with a total value of Rs 20,000 crore.

 


The cabinet has approved only around Rs 10,000 crore for India AI mission but the minister said the total value is about Rs 20,000 crore, “including some other factors that cannot be disclosed at the moment”.


“One of the big things that he (the prime minister) has done is to take these young Indians and make them globally competitive and become globally talented entrepreneurs that the world today respects,” he said.


The minister said the main ask of the technology industry is that they want the momentum of development to continue.


“There are many, many more things to be done to continue this growth, including access to capital, lower cost of capital, issues of customs, duties for manufacturing. These are all things on the government’s radar.


“We are very determined to make sure that the momentum continues. The Indian innovation ecosystem continues to grow and will become one of the leading innovation ecosystems in the world,” Chandrasekhar said.


He said every Indian will have an internet connection and will be fully digitally empowered as part of Prime Minister’s vision for Digital India launched in 2015.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: May 21 2024 | 4:31 PM IST



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Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could carry new design, higher price tag

Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could carry new design, higher price tag

by | May 21, 2024 | Technology


Representative image: iPhone 14

2 min read Last Updated : May 21 2024 | 4:27 PM IST

Apple could hike the price of the next-generation iPhone SE over the current generation model. Consumer technology news platform 9To5Mac has reported that Apple could increase the price of the next generation model by up to 10 per cent in the US. Reportedly, Apple has been working on a revamped iPhone SE model based on the iPhone 14 chassis and is anticipated to arrive in 2025.


According to the report, the 10 per cent hike in the launch price of the iPhone SE fourth-generation could see it launch at $469. This is in line with earlier reports stating that the next generation iPhone SE would launch under the $500 mark. It is also entirely possible that Apple launches the next iPhone SE model at $429, same as the current generation model.


iPhone SE fourth-generation: What to expect


As per media reports, the next-generation iPhone SE could sport a 6.1-inch display with a notch design, incorporating the front facing camera and Face ID sensors similar to iPhone 14. This will be a major shift from the current model which features a home button with TouchID and a 4.7-inch display.


The iPhone SE fourth-generation model is expected to get a flat frame design, similar to the iPhone 15 series, and glossy back panel with a single camera setup. The iPhone 15 inspiration does not end with the flat frame design as the fourth-generation iPhone SE model could get some of the functionalities from the most recent iPhone series as well. It would likely feature a USB Type-C port, which debuted on the iPhones 15 series. There are also reports stating that the redesigned iPhone SE model could get an “Action Button” instead of the “Mute Switch”, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max model. 

First Published: May 21 2024 | 4:27 PM IST



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