1. Netflix Ushering in the Slowest Sport in the World
Shaking the sports world to its very core, Netflix is reportedly considering live-streaming a celebrity golf tournament. Yes, you read that correctly. The streaming giant, known for its binge-worthy shows and addictive documentaries, has apparently decided that the world desperately needs to watch a bunch of celebrities swinging clubs and missing putts. The event will be set in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas and will feature the crème de la crème of celebrities from "Drive to Survive" and "Full Swing." We all apparently need to see Formula One drivers attempting to conquer a golf course. Ted Sarandos, Co-Chief Executive of Netflix, once declared, "We aren't anti-sports, we're pro-profit." Well Ted, congratulations on finally finding a way to turn the sporting world into a profit machine. Move over Tiger Woods. The era of celebrity golf is upon us.
2. Survey Uncovers Youth's Unquenchable Thirst for News... Just Kidding, They Don't Give a Damn
The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism declared in its annual Digital News Report that traditional media is losing the trust of the masses, and people are flocking to TikTok for their daily dose of news. Forget about those outdated websites and publications; the young generation has spoken, and they want their news delivered through social media, search engines, and mobile aggregators. Apparently, celebrities, influencers, and social media personalities are now the paragons of journalistic integrity, leaving actual journalists crying into their obsolete typewriters. The Institute confirmed that TikTok is the hottest place to get informed, with 20% of 18- to 24-year-olds relying on it for news. Meanwhile, news interest is plummeting faster than the prices of dignity on reality TV shows, with fewer than half of survey respondents caring about current events. Trust in the news has also taken a nosedive, with people putting their faith in app algorithms instead. So, while the world anxiously ponders the struggle to distinguish fact from fiction online, it seems we can all find solace in the profound wisdom of TikTok's 30-second dance videos and the guidance of influencers. Long live the revolution in news consumption!
3. Synthesia's Latest Funding Round.
UK-based AI startup Synthesia has achieved the highly coveted "unicorn" status by raising $90 million in funding. Led by venture capital firms Accel and Nvidia-owned NVentures, the fundraising round has valued Synthesia at the $1 billion mark. Their groundbreaking technology assists over 50,000 businesses, including the e-commerce giant Amazon, by providing AI avatars for instructional and corporate videos. While some worry about the potential misuse of AI in creating deepfakes (e.g., videos of Taylor Swift beating up Kanye West or clips of Leonardo Dicaprio on a date with someone his own age), Synthesia claims to address the issue by only creating avatars of individuals who have given their consent. So, congratulations to Synthesia for joining the exclusive club of unicorns, where dreams really do come true.
4. Google's Bard Barred From Entering Europe
Google, the always benevolent tech giant, has graciously decided to delay the launch of its AI chatbot, Bard, in the European Union after some privacy regulator raised concerns. It's worth mentioning that OpenAI, Google's rival, launched its own chatbot, ChatGPT, without any restrictions on where users could access it. And then Italy freaked out and temporarily disabled ChatGPT. But anyway, The Irish Data Protection Commission complained that they didn't receive enough information ahead of the launch. So now, we have no idea when Bard will make its grand entrance now, but don't worry, Europeans are happy to continue using ChatGPT for the time being. Thank you Google, for your unparalleled commitment to responsibility and transparency.
5. Accenture Hops on the AI Bandwagon, But Forgets to Bring Back Fired Workers
In a brilliant display of confidence and foresight, Accenture has decided to throw $3 billion into its data and AI practice. They plan to double the number of employees working with on AI technology, reaching a grand total of 80,000 people helping companies across 19 industries. This move perfectly highlights the trend of companies scrambling to add generative AI to their resumes so they can survive this next technological wave. Funny enough, all this splurge on artificial intelligence comes hot on the heels of Accenture's lovely decision to lay off 19,000 employees. Accenture, you truly are a beacon of innovation and compassion in these troubled times.