Sports/Entertainment

Meta has discontinued a controversial feature on Instagram that allowed users to create AI-generated images using content from public accounts simply by tagging them. The feature faced significant backlash for potentially violating users' rights to their likenesses, as it permitted the use of their images without permission. Critics, including the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and the Screen Actors Guild, expressed concerns that the capability could facilitate malicious activities such as sextortion and misuse by scammers. Although Meta initially intended to provide users with a creative tool and some control over their content, the backlash highlighted the risks of deploying AI technology without robust safeguards. Meta's decision to turn off the feature reflects the growing scrutiny on AI applications in social media and the ethical implications of using individuals' likenesses without consent.

Tem, a London-based startup, has raised $75 million in a Series B funding round to revolutionize electricity markets through AI technology. The company has developed an energy transaction engine called Rosso, which uses machine learning algorithms to match electricity suppliers with consumers directly, thereby reducing costs by cutting out intermediaries. Tem's focus on renewable energy sources and small businesses has attracted over 2,600 customers in the UK, including well-known brands like Boohoo Group and Fever-Tree. While the AI-driven approach promises to lower energy prices and improve market efficiency, concerns remain regarding the potential for monopolistic practices and the impact of AI on employment within the energy sector. As Tem plans to expand into Australia and the U.S., the implications of their AI system on existing energy markets and labor dynamics must be closely monitored. The startup's dual business model, which includes the neo-utility RED, aims to showcase the benefits of their technology while ensuring that no single entity controls a large portion of the market to prevent monopolistic tendencies. This raises questions about the balance between innovation and the need for regulation in AI-driven industries.

Darren Aronofsky's AI-driven docudrama series 'On This Day… 1776', produced by Primordial Soup in collaboration with Time magazine, has raised concerns regarding the quality and authenticity of AI-generated content. Critics have harshly evaluated the initial episodes, describing them as repetitive and visually unappealing, suggesting that the reliance on AI tools compromises the storytelling of American history. While the project employs a combination of human creativity and AI technology, the significant time investment in generating each scene—taking weeks for just a few minutes of finished video—highlights the limitations of current AI capabilities in filmmaking. The series represents a broader experiment in integrating AI into creative processes, but it underscores the potential risks of diluting artistic quality and historical integrity in pursuit of technological advancement. This situation exemplifies the ongoing debate about AI's role in creative industries and its potential to overshadow human craftsmanship, affecting not only filmmakers but also the audiences who consume these narratives.