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“Ideas like this usually just die”: Inside generative AI’s effect on modding, and how host sites struggle to maintain transparency
The article examines how generative AI is becoming more common in videogame modding, making it harder for players and journalists to identify work made wholly by people. It focuses on Nexus Mods’ approach, which permits AI-generated content unless a credible complaint is made by an affected creator or rights holder, and considers the transparency problems…
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Employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs in a sign of a wilting labor market
US employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs in July, signalling a weakening labour market and complicating the Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates. The result was well below forecasts of roughly 100,000 new jobs and represents a political setback for President Trump ahead of the midterm elections. Revisions also reduced employment estimates for May and June…
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Tributes paid after death of legendary electronic producer William Orbit, age 69: “He never followed the obvious path”
Electronic producer William Orbit has died at the age of 69, prompting tributes from artists and collaborators including All Saints, Melanie C, Fatboy Slim, Blur associates and leading DJs. His death matters because Orbit helped shape several influential pop and electronic records, with admirers praising his inventive, unconventional approach to production. Orbit, born William Wainwright,…
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The White House’s plan to vet potentially dangerous AI is cloaked in secrecy
The White House has finalised a voluntary framework for testing new artificial intelligence models for safety and cybersecurity risks, but is reportedly withholding the details from the public. The secrecy has prompted concern that businesses, researchers, foreign governments and the public will not know how potentially dangerous systems are assessed or what standards companies must…
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US loses 23K jobs in July, unemployment dips slightly
The article’s headline reports that the US economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, while the unemployment rate edged down slightly. If confirmed, this would indicate a mixed labour-market picture: fewer jobs overall but a marginal improvement in the headline unemployment measure. No further article content is available beyond an access-denied notice, so the underlying causes,…
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Eau the Music Shares New Single ‘In This Silence’
Montréal-born, Ottawa-based artist Eau the Music has released ‘In This Silence’, the first single from her forthcoming debut album, ‘Light in the Dark’. The self-produced track blends dream pop, shoegaze and alternative rock, and introduces a project shaped by personal reflection on identity, love, loss and change. Eau the Music, pronounced “O the Music”, wrote,…
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Marvel Tokon Launches to Mixed Reviews on PC, PS5 Players Encouraged to Disable Crossplay
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls has launched on Steam with ‘Mixed’ user reviews, mainly because of reported PC performance problems rather than complaints about its fighting mechanics. The issues may also affect cross-platform online matches, leading some PS5 players to disable crossplay to avoid inconsistent rollback netcode when opponents’ frame rates drop. Players have blamed factors…
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Phantom Blade Zero Dev ‘Still Finalising Details’ on Previously Announced State of Play
Developer S-GAME says it is still finalising plans for Phantom Blade Zero’s future marketing, including a previously announced dedicated State of Play presentation. The clarification matters because an 11-minute pre-order trailer is due on 11 August, prompting speculation that it could replace or delay the promised broadcast amid controversy over Sony’s decision to stop manufacturing…
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Game over: David Fincher’s Squid Game is reportedly dead at Netflix
Reports suggest that Netflix has cancelled a planned English-language Squid Game series from director David Fincher before it entered production. The decision would end a high-profile attempt to expand the South Korean hit into a separate project for international audiences, although neither Netflix nor Fincher has publicly confirmed it. The reported project had been in…
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Murkowski will oppose Blanche nomination, putting it in danger of stalling
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said she would oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination to become US attorney general, further complicating President Trump’s effort to secure his confirmation. Her decision mattered because Democrats were expected to vote against Blanche, leaving the administration with little room for further Republican defections and raising the prospect of a continued delay. Murkowski…