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**kyonides** · 09-22-2024, 09:32 PM

Lionsgate's AI Films

Lionsgate Signs Deal with AI Company to ‘Save Millions’ in Film Production

Quote:Hollywood studio Lionsgate has contracted with an artificial intelligence company called Runway to develop a custom AI model to “save millions” in film production.

Even as the entertainment industry is grappling with the effect that AI could have on human crews and behind the scenes workers as well as actors in front of the camera, Lionsgate is moving ahead with the deal in an effort to have more control over the filmmaking process.

The studio says it will initially use the technology to create storyboards to help plan film shots but also hopes that it will be useful for backgrounds and special effects as the tool develops and improves, according to The Decoder.

Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns reportedly said he feels the tool with save “millions and millions of dollars” in film pre-production costs.

Runway will fully digitize Lionsgate’s entire film library and will then create a “personalized AI library” for the studio.

The AI company’s CEO, Cristóbal Valenzuela, says that its computer system is not powerful enough to generate actual movie scenes at this time, but that they are moving towards that goal down the line. Valenzuela added that the latest Gen-3 Alpha Turbo model is available via an API.

Lionsgate’s Brianna Domont — SVP, Visual Effects — says that the new tools from Runway could be a game-changer in helping to keep costs lower in film production, especially for low-budget projects.

But many of Hollywood’s actors as well as the families of legacy actors as worried that AI tools will replace human beings in entertainment. Others are rushing to contract with AI to stave off other companies from stealing a deceased actor’s image, likeness, and voice.

Several high-profile actors and directors, though, have warned that AI will lead to the total destruction of the film industry.

Actor Nicolas Cage, for instance, warned that AI will lead to theft of intellectual property and even remarked that computers are “just going to steal my body.”

Oscar-winner Sean Penn similarly blasted the idea of AI, saying in 2023 that using it will create a “human obscenity.”

Ron Nyswaner, the screenwriter of the film Philadelphia, also warned about AI this year when he said that it will create soulless dreck that will remove the possibility for artists and viewers to “think and feel.”

Producer, writer, and director James Cameron claimed that AI will lead to a Judgment Day-style cataclysm with out-of-control algorithms taking control of warfare.

Director Ridley Scott of Blade Runner fame called AI bad for humanity and compared the technology to a “technical hydrogen bomb.”

Director Christopher Nolan said AI will surely reach an “Oppenheimer moment” — or a point of no return — and that people need to be “held accountable” for its development.

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Google Trial

Google Trial 2.0: Internal Documents Show Internet Giant Used Exclusivity Deals to Maintain Ad Empire

Quote:Internal Google documents released during the ongoing antitrust trial against the tech giant have shed light on the company’s efforts to maintain its dominance in the digital advertising industry through exclusivity deals and tying its ad-tech businesses together.

Marketing Brew reports that on day seven of the Google antitrust trial saw the release of a tranche of internal Google communications that the DOJ claims reinforce its argument that the company unfairly tied its ad-tech businesses together to maintain a monopoly on the industry. The documents revealed that Google employees were aware that the company’s publisher ad exchange, AdX, heavily relied on exclusive access to Google’s advertisers to maintain its dominance in the market.

In an internal memo weighing the benefits of opening up ad inventory to third parties, Google employees expressed concern that if AdX lost exclusivity to Google’s advertisers, “many publishers would terminate their AdX relationship in favor of their preferred vendors.” This revelation underscores the importance of advertiser exclusivity in Google’s strategy to maintain its market position. Internal emails previously revealed at the trial show that crushing competition was vitally important to Google executives.

Further evidence presented in court showed that Google’s own buy-side tools were seen as weaker because they were exclusive to the company’s own AdX. An internal company conversation revealed that Google employees suggested the company’s buy side was “subsidizing” the sell side, which “greatly weakens GDN’s position in the market.” GDN, or Google Display Network, refers to Google’s display ads business.

The extent of Google’s reliance on its exclusivity deals was highlighted in a 2014 internal simulation, which showed that the company’s revenue would fall by 70 percent if Google’s ad network didn’t bid on AdX inventory.

Publishers, in an attempt to circumvent Google’s dominance, turned to header bidding, an open-source technology that allows publishers to access multiple ad exchanges. The DOJ had earlier revealed that Google executive Chris LaSala considered header bidding an “existential threat” in a 2016 email. Google allegedly considered a proposal to “starve” publishers that adopted header bidding technology, although the proposal never went into effect. The company also contemplated building a firewall between its buy and sell-side businesses to “legitimize AdX as a platform,” but Nirmal Jayaram, a senior director of engineering at Google, testified that he wasn’t aware of any formal firewall being implemented.

Google Trial 2.0: Economist Testifies Internet Giant Charges Up to 27% More for Ads than a ‘Competitive Market’

Quote:As Google’s second antitrust trial this year continues, a Boston University economist testified that Google’s stranglehold over the advertising market allows it to charge between 19 and 27 percent higher rates to advertisers than a “competitive market” would allow.

Marketing Brew reports that the ongoing antitrust trial against Google has shed light on the tech giant’s dominant position in the digital advertising market, with particular attention being paid to its ad exchange, AdX.

The government has argued that AdX is a core component of Google’s advertising monopoly due to its exclusivity. Lawyers for the DOJ have emphasized that publishers cannot access the vast number of advertisers using Google’s ad tools without going through AdX, a claim supported by testimony from executives at major media companies like News Corp and Gannett.

Matthew Wheatland, chief digital officer of the Daily Mail, testified in court that the publication had considered switching from Google’s ad server but ultimately decided against it due to its reliance on AdX. An internal test conducted by the Daily Mail revealed that leaving AdX could result in a 28 percent loss of programmatic revenue. Wheatland also noted that AdX’s take rate of 20 percent is significantly higher than other exchanges, nearly double in some cases.

The DOJ further argued that this reliance on AdX also comes at a cost to advertisers. Expert witness Timothy Simcoe, an economist from Boston University, presented research indicating that AdX overcharges advertisers by 19% to 27% compared to what would be expected in a competitive market.

Throughout the trial, internal documents and emails from Google employees have been presented, highlighting concerns about the exclusivity of AdX. As early as 2011, Google began developing a tool called AWBid (AdWords bidding) to open up the platform and allow more exchanges to bid on Google’s inventory. However, the tool was eventually limited to retargeting campaigns and accounted for only a small portion of Google’s advertising business. Emails from Google employees, including former VP Scott Spencer, expressed apprehension about the potential impact of AWBid on Google’s sell-side business and the desire to maintain the company’s 20 percent revenue share.

MS Nuclear Plant in Pennsylvania!?

Microsoft Plans to Revive Infamous Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant to Feed Insatiable AI Power Requirements

Quote:Microsoft has partnered with Constellation Energy to revive the dormant Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, aiming to feed its power-hungry AI data centers with energy from the site of America’s most infamous nuclear accident.

Bloomberg reports that in a move that demonstrates the constantly growing energy demands of AI, Microsoft has struck a deal with Constellation Energy, the largest US operator of nuclear reactors, to resurrect the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. The tech giant has agreed to purchase all the output from the plant, which is set to go back into service in 2028, as it seeks to secure a reliable source of carbon-free electricity for its data centers.

The $1.6 billion investment by Constellation Energy aims to revive one of the two reactors at the Three Mile Island site, which has been dormant since 2019 due to its inability to compete economically. The other reactor at the plant was permanently closed nearly half a century ago following the worst nuclear accident in US history.

Microsoft’s decision to partner with Constellation Energy highlights the growing demand for clean energy sources as the tech industry grapples with the power-intensive nature of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. Data centers, which form the backbone of these technologies, require vast amounts of electricity to operate, and companies are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint while meeting these energy needs.

The agreement between Microsoft and Constellation Energy is a significant step towards achieving this goal, as nuclear power provides a stable, carbon-free energy source that can operate around the clock. By securing the entire output of the revived Three Mile Island reactor, Microsoft aims to ensure a consistent supply of clean energy for its data centers, reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to its overall sustainability efforts.

The revival of the Three Mile Island plant marks a significant milestone in the ongoing debate about the role of nuclear power in the American economy. While nuclear energy has faced criticism and concerns over safety and waste management, proponents argue that it is a necessary component of a diverse, clean energy mix.

Three Mile Island suffered a partial meltdown in 1979 that forever changed the course of nuclear energy in the United States.

History.com explains:

In the early morning hours of March 28, 1979, a mechanical or electric failure set off an unlikely series of events that led to a partial meltdown at the Unit 2 reactor. Water pumps that helped to cool the radioactive fuel in the reactor core malfunctioned.

Plant staff didn’t realize the reactor was experiencing a loss of coolant and took a series of actions that made the problem worse. These further starved the reactor core of water flow and caused it to overheat.

The nuclear fuel began to melt through its metal container—about half the reactor core melted. Trace amounts of radioactive gasses escaped into the surrounding community as a geyser of steam erupted from the top of the plant.

Breitbart News will continue to report on AI and its implication for the future.

Italy: Bye bye Fake Videogames & Consoles

Bogus Mario: Italian Police Smash Fake Retro Video Game Ring Valued at Almost $55 Million

Quote:Italian authorities have dealt a significant blow to crooks trafficking in fake retro video games, confiscating counterfeit vintage consoles and games with an estimated value of nearly $55.5 million (€50 million).

BBC News reports that in a major crackdown on the illegal trade of counterfeit video games and consoles, Italian police have seized a massive haul of fake retro gaming devices and titles. The operation, led by the economic crime unit of Turin’s financial police, uncovered around 12,000 consoles containing over 47 million pirated video games.

According to Alessandro Langella, head of the economic crime unit, the seized items had an estimated value of €47.5 million, which includes the value of the consoles and hundreds of licenses for the pirated programs. Among the counterfeit games were popular titles from the 1980s and 90s, such as Mario Bros., Street Fighter, and Star Wars.

The pirated consoles were imitations of iconic devices produced by Nintendo, Sega, and Atari. However, these counterfeit products did not meet strict safety standards set by the European Union. All the devices were reportedly imported from China and were intended to be sold in specialized shops or online.

Langella noted that the seized consoles were fitted with non-certified batteries and electrical circuits, which posed potential safety hazards for consumers. As a result, the confiscated game systems have been destroyed to prevent them from entering the market.

Nine Italian nationals have been arrested in connection with the trafficking ring and charged with trading in counterfeited goods. If found guilty, they face up to eight years in prison.

The popularity of retro gaming, or “retrogaming,” has surged in recent years, with old games and second-hand consoles commanding high prices. Genuine retro gaming devices can fetch significant sums, depending on their condition. In 2021, a sealed copy of the video game Super Mario 64 sold at auction for more than $1.5 million, setting a new record. Breitbart News previously reported on a sealed copy of The Legend of Zelda selling for $900,000 at auction.

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