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An image shows avatars generated through artificial intelligence (AI) technology by CONNECTAS with the headline reading "La Chama, El Pana," Venezuelan slang for the girl and the friend.
Meet Venezuela’s new AI broadcasters
There’s a news broadcast in Venezuela that’s using artificial intelligence to do things a little differently. It’s not a bid for innovation for innovation’s sake, but instead for the protection of journalists behind the camera. “Before we continue, in case you haven’t noticed, we want to tell you that we are not real,” two AI-generated presenters tell their audience. “Although we were generated by AI, our content is real, verified, of high quality, and created by journalists.”
The broadcast, called “Venezuela Retweets,” launched in response to Nicolas Maduro’s post-election crackdown on journalists. The government has reportedly detained 16 journalists since the election on charges from “terrorism and incitement to hatred,” according to CNN. The Venezuelan election in July is hotly contested with Maduro’s rival, Edmundo González, having fled to Spain and claiming he was forced to concede in order to leave the country.
While transparency in news is an asset in countries with press freedom, it can be dangerous to those in countries antagonistic to journalists. Thus, new technology can give reporters a way to stay safe while informing the public about information that might make the government look bad.
Political Mini Crossword: An Emmy enigma
Did you watch the Emmy's last night? Prove it by solving this crossword puzzle on the best of TV right now.
James Hawes giving evidence on British film and high-end television to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee at the Houses of Parliament, London. Picture date: Wednesday February 21, 2024.
A night at the soap opera
British director James Hawes recently testified to Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport committee that AI might be able to make realistic soap operas within three to five years. That number comes from Hawes’ own polling of visual effects professionals in the film industry and lawyers advising the Hollywood screenwriters union in its negotiations with major studios this summer.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Hollywood director Tyler Perry has reportedly put his studio expansion on hold citing concerns about AI video generators taking hold and disrupting the filmmaking industry. He said he’s reconsidering a plan to pour $800 million into his Atlanta, Georgia studio after seeing OpenAI’s Sora video generator, which is yet to be released to the public.
Perry said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter that AI technology might eliminate the need for him to shoot on location, if he’s instead able to simulate scenes convincingly through text generation. Of course, he’s worried about the human toll: “I immediately started thinking of everyone in the industry who would be affected by this, including actors and grip and electric and transportation and sound and editors, and looking at this, I’m thinking this will touch every corner of our industry.”