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‘Obsession’ is an accidental allegory for the AI apocalypse
The article argues that Brian De Palma’s 1976 thriller ‘Obsession’ can be read as an unintended allegory for fears surrounding artificial intelligence. Its themes of identity, replication, grief and manipulation are said to resonate with contemporary anxieties about technology recreating people and exploiting emotional vulnerability. Although made decades before modern AI, the film centres on…
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The 850-acre data centre which would dwarf idyllic Devon countryside
Plans for an 850-acre data centre in the Devon countryside have provoked anger among local residents, who say the development would be sited barely a mile from their homes and would dramatically alter the character of the rural area. The scale of the proposed facility has become a flashpoint in the wider debate over Britain’s…
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Nvidia finally reveals what controls devs actually have for DLSS 5, and don’t worry folks, there are TWO main sliders to control the AI filter
Nvidia has outlined the developer controls available for DLSS 5’s AI filtering, indicating that studios will have two main settings to adjust. The disclosure matters because it gives developers a clearer way to balance image quality, stability and performance when implementing the technology. The available article text does not provide the names, ranges or technical…
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America needs to stop getting shocked by Chinese AI
The Verge argues that Western shock at recent Chinese AI breakthroughs is misplaced, since China’s models have been closing the gap on US systems for years. Two Chinese firms unveiled models last week claiming to rival the best from OpenAI and Anthropic, prompting media comparisons to a “Sputnik moment” and jittery markets, echoing the reaction…
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How AI may drive union-resistant tech workers to the bargaining table
Technology workers in Silicon Valley, long resistant to unionisation thanks to generous pay and perks, are increasingly turning to collective bargaining as artificial intelligence reshapes their industry. Months of AI-linked mass layoffs have left many employees facing heavier workloads and job insecurity from the very products they build, while staff at firms including Google DeepMind…
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Sony files another lawsuit against AI music generator Udio
Sony has filed a fresh lawsuit against AI music generator Udio, separate from the joint action it launched with Universal and Warner in 2024 accusing the company of copyright infringement “on a massive scale.” The new case matters because Sony is now pursuing Udio alone after its former co-plaintiffs, Universal and Warner, both settled and…
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3 One-Hit Wonders From Some of the Funniest People to Ever Live
An American Songwriter feature rounds up three chart hits written or performed by well-known comedians, highlighting how some of the era’s funniest performers briefly crossed over into pop music success. The piece celebrates the versatility of comic talents who parlayed their fame into standalone musical moments, even if none built on it with further hits.…
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Lisa Nandy Stays in Post as U.K. Culture Secretary, Kanishka Narayan Appointed First AI Minister
New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reshuffled his cabinet but kept Lisa Nandy in place as Culture Secretary, making her one of the longest-serving holders of the role in a post that has seen frequent turnover. The decision brings continuity to a department currently handling several major issues affecting the country’s media and screen…
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Who’s afraid of the big, bad GPU?
A feature from The Verge examines the environmental and ethical costs of GPUs, the chips powering the current AI boom, arguing that scrutiny should extend beyond AI data centres to the broader history and use of graphics processors. The piece notes that hundreds of thousands of GPUs are being installed in data centres worldwide, but…
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Scalding hot AI accelerators have put datacenters in hot water. Two-phase cooling could chill them out
US startup Accelsius has commissioned research suggesting datacentres could cut cooling costs significantly by switching to two-phase cooling fluids for AI accelerators, which run far hotter than traditional server chips. The approach matters because the ongoing AI datacentre building boom, combined with rising electricity costs and supply constraints, has made cooling efficiency an increasingly important…