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Hollywood vs. AI: Scarlett Johansson Takes on ChatGPT in Voice Cloning Fight

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Ponder Road
May 24, 2024

Remember "Her," that movie where Joaquin Phoenix falls for his AI assistant? Things are getting eerily similar in the real world as Scarlett Johansson throws some serious shade (and legal threats) at OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

Here's the tea:

  • Soundalike Scandal: Johansson claims ChatGPT's new voice assistant, "Sky," sounds suspiciously like her voice, and she's not having it. 🤷‍♀️ 

  • Betrayal and Disbelief: The actress says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman approached her about licensing her voice but she declined. Now, she feels betrayed by the uncanny resemblance. 💔 

  • Deepfakes and Disinformation: Johansson is using the situation to highlight the lack of regulations around AI and the potential dangers of voice cloning, especially in the age of deepfakes.

  • OpenAI Backpedals: After initially denying any connection to Johansson's voice, OpenAI abruptly paused "Sky" and claims they used a different actress (who remains anonymous). 🤔 

Why should you care?

This isn't just Hollywood drama. This is a sign of the times. As AI gets more sophisticated, we're facing some BIG questions about ethics, copyright, and the very nature of human connection. Buckle up, folks, this is just the beginning.

Source: NPR

Remember that time Rome ruled the world? Yeah, good times. Turns out even empires at their peak can be brought low, and in Rome's case, a nasty pandemic played a major role. Think of it as the OG COVID, only with fewer Zoom calls and way more togas.

Here's the TL;DR:

  • The Antonine Plague (166 AD) ravaged the Roman Empire for decades. We don't know what caused it, but it spread like wildfire thanks to Rome's interconnectedness (ironic, right?).

  • Climate change played a part: Droughts and storms messed with food supplies, making people vulnerable even before the plague hit.

  • Rome's strengths became weaknesses: Those awesome roads and trade routes? They helped the plague spread like wildfire.

  • Sound familiar? This ancient pandemic highlights the importance of understanding how environmental factors, interconnectedness, and public health intersect.

The Takeaway: Even empires aren't invincible. The Antonine Plague reminds us that pandemics have always been a threat, and understanding the lessons of the past is crucial for navigating the challenges of the present.

Want to dive deeper? Check out the full article [link to article]. It's a fascinating read!

Source: The Bulletin

Move over, MacBooks, Microsoft's coming in hot with new AI-powered PCs that promise to change the game. 🔥 

In a nutshell, Microsoft's new Windows laptops are packing some serious heat with Qualcomm's latest chips, ditching those ancient Intel ones. Think all-day battery life, whisper-quiet operation, and performance that'll make your head spin.

But here's the real kicker: these PCs are optimized for AI. Say hello to NPUs (neural processing units), the brainiacs handling complex AI tasks right on your laptop. No more waiting around for the cloud! ☁️➡️💻

Here's what you need to know:

  • Blazing fast: Microsoft claims these new Surfaces are 58% faster than the M3-powered MacBook Air.

  • AI on the edge: New features like Recall use on-device AI to help you find anything you've ever seen on your screen.

  • Live translation on steroids: Live Captions can translate 44 languages in real-time, working across video calls and even in-person conversations.

  • Unleash your inner artist: Cocreator uses AI to help you create stunning images, even if you're a stick-figure enthusiast like me.

The bottom line: Microsoft's not just playing catch-up; they're aiming to redefine what a computer can do. This might just be the start of a whole new era of AI-powered everything.

P.S. Don't miss the full interview with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella where he spills the tea on their AI vision! ☕

Source: WSJ

Get ready to dive into the fascinating (and slightly terrifying) world of wildfires in the Pacific Northwest! 🌲 🔥 

This ain't your typical California wildfire story. We're talking about old-growth rainforests, those majestic, moss-covered giants that suck up more carbon than almost anywhere else. They've survived for centuries, but climate change is changing the game. 🌡️ 

Here's the lowdown:

  • More frequent and intense wildfires are hitting the PNW, even those famously damp coastal forests.

  • These rainforests are carbon-hoarding champions, but when they burn, they release a massive amount of CO2 back into the atmosphere.

  • Old-growth forests are more resilient to fire than younger, logged forests, bouncing back with a wider variety of species.

  • Scientists are racing to understand how these ecosystems recover after a fire and what we can do to protect them.

Think of it like this: Imagine a fire ripping through a well-stocked pantry versus a bare-bones one. The well-stocked pantry (old-growth forest) has more ingredients (diverse species, deep carbon stores) to rebuild after the blaze.

Here's the kicker: Less than 30% of old-growth forests in the US Pacific Northwest remain. Protecting these remaining giants is crucial for fighting climate change.

Bottom line: This is a wake-up call. We need to rethink how we manage forests, prioritize old-growth conservation, and get serious about tackling climate change – before these vital ecosystems go up in smoke. 💨

Source: Hakai Magazine

Hey techies and history buffs,

Remember the days of clunky desktop computers? Well, a London cleaning crew just stumbled upon a 1972 Q1 microcomputer, considered one of the world's oldest surviving desktop computers! 🤯 

Here's the scoop:

  • Workers found the vintage machine while clearing a property, initially mistaking it for junk. 😅 

  • Turns out, it's a super rare Q1, complete with a built-in screen, keyboard, and printer. We're talking pre-Apple, pre-Microsoft days here!

  • This bad boy is expected to fetch a whopping $60,000+ at auction later this week. 💰️ 

Why should you care?

This discovery is a fascinating glimpse into the early days of personal computing. The Q1 was a pioneer, paving the way for the tech we use today. Plus, imagine the stories this computer could tell!

Want to learn more about the Q1's journey from forgotten relic to auction block? Click here to read the full story.

Source: Smithsonian