‘The Brutalist’ reignites debate over AI’s role in Hollywood
Artificial intelligence is transforming Hollywood, from music studios to writers’ rooms. Now, “The Brutalist” is fueling debates about its role in filmmaking.
The film tells the story of a Hungarian Jewish Holocaust survivor who immigrated to the U.S. in 1947. It has earned major awards, including Best Drama Motion Picture and Best Director Motion Picture at this year’s Golden Globes.
Despite its success, some question the authenticity of the film. A film editor revealed to Red Shark News that AI tools were used in post-production to refine Hungarian accents.
Respeecher, an AI tool from Ukraine, helped adjust Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones’ accents. The actors recorded their lines, which the software enhanced to sound closer to a native speaker.
Hungarian film editor Dávid Jancsó supported the choice, saying, “I am a native Hungarian speaker, and it’s one of the most difficult languages to learn to pronounce. Even with Adrien’s Hungarian background, it’s not that simple.”
AI in film sparks controvery
Critics and social media users have questioned the film’s use of AI. One user wrote, “Don’t think it’s too reactionary to say this movie should lose the Academy buzz it’s getting.”
Some argue AI undermines the authenticity of performances, sparking debates about its place in storytelling.
Director defends decision
Director Brady Corbet defended the move, explaining that AI was used to enhance, not replace. “No English language was changed,” Corbet told Variety. “The aim was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicity’s performances in another language, not to replace or alter them.”
Respeecher has also worked on Disney’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series. The AI recreated Darth Vader’s voice after James Earl Jones retired from the role.
Jones signed an agreement before his passing, giving Disney and Respeecher rights to his voice. The move allowed Disney to preserve his iconic sound for future Star Wars projects.
AI tools like Respeecher are changing filmmaking. Many studios now use AI for voice modulation and visual effects.
While some see it as a breakthrough, others fear it will replace human talent. Critics worry AI may erase the creativity and authenticity that make films unique. The debate over AI in Hollywood continues to grow as technology advances.
Apple pulling new AI news summary feature after series of false headlines
It’s only been available for less than six months, but Apple is already disabling one of its artificial intelligence features. Apple announced Thursday, Jan. 16, it is temporarily suspending the AI feature that summarizes news headlines after getting multiple complaints that the technology issued a series of inaccurate news alerts.
Apple is also adding a warning for users who receive notification summaries for other apps that will say the feature is still in development, and that the information could contain errors.
On Thursday, Apple deployed a beta software update to developers that disabled the AI feature for news and entertainment headlines. The company plans to later roll that out to all users while it works to improve the AI feature. Apple said once it’s fixed, the company will reenable the feature in a future update.
Last month, the BBC filed a formal complaint, after a news alert was summarized by Apple Intelligence, but branded with the BBC’s logo, incorrectly claiming Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself.
Apple’s AI also wrongly summarized other BBC app notifications last month to say tennis star Rafael Nadal came out as gay, and named the PDC World Darts Championship winner hours before the competition even began.
Just this week, the AI-powered feature once again incorrectly summarized a headline. The notification from The Washington Post said, “Pete Hegseth fired; Trump tariffs impact inflation; Pam Bondi and Marco Rubio confirmed.” None of those were true.
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist arrested in Calif. on child pornography charges
A Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist has been arrested in California for allegedly possessing child pornography. Detectives say some of the images were created using artificial intelligence.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the home of 49-year-old Darrin Bell on Wednesday, Jan. 15, after authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Initially, the tip concerned someone uploading 18 files containing child sex abuse material. Investigators said they ultimately found 134 child pornography videos linked to the same account, which they believe was controlled by Bell.
Before Jan. 1, possession of computer-generated child sex abuse material was not illegal in California. However, state lawmakers passed a bill criminalizing AI-generated child pornography in September, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation into law.
California State Sen. Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, co-author of the bill, said: “Some people might say, ‘Well, there’s no victim,’ because the image is not of an actual child. But I would argue that all the thousands of children whose images were used, scraped off the internet, scraped off of school websites, scraped off of public social media profiles… all of those children are abused when their images are used to create this terrible content.”
The sheriff’s office says this is the first arrest it has made in which a suspect has been charged with possessing computer-generated or AI child pornography.
It remains unclear, however, whether the California law will stand. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down portions of the federal Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996. They ruled that graphic manipulation of images — even if they depict children appearing to engage in sex — is protected under the First Amendment.
It is also unclear if all of the images allegedly in Bell’s possession were computer-generated or real.
Bell is currently in custody, being held on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, Jan. 17.
Could AI decode animal communication and transform conservation efforts?
Imagine a world where humans can understand animals. That world is closer than you might think, thanks to research in Montreal.
Researchers at McGill University are using artificial intelligence to decode animal vocalizations. According to the Associated Press, the project aims to unlock the secrets of animal communication by studying the chirps of zebra finches and the calls of beluga whales. The goal is to bring humans and the natural world closer together, potentially transforming conservation efforts.
Postdoctoral fellow Logan James, who leads the research in partnership with the Earth Species Project, believes they are making significant progress. Researchers isolate and record unique sounds by simulating specific calls during interactions with finches. These recordings are then fed into AI models, which are being trained to understand animal “language.”
AI in wildlife conservation around the world
Montreal isn’t the only place where AI and conservation intersect. In Uganda, white-backed vultures are outfitted with AI-enabled trackers to combat poaching. According to the Wall Street Journal, these trackers analyze vulture behavior in real-time, alerting rangers to possible poaching incidents—an innovative approach that’s helping protect endangered species.
Meanwhile, in Costa Rica, biologist Jenna Lawson has deployed 350 audio monitors across the Osa Peninsula to track endangered Geoffrey’s spider monkeys. As the Associated Press reported, the AI-analyzed data has provided critical insights into the wildlife refuge’s health.
With 28% of plant and animal species at risk of extinction, experts say AI could revolutionize conservation efforts.
Ethical concerns surround AI in animal research
Despite its promise, the use of AI in animal research has sparked ethical concerns. Critics worry about the potential exploitation of animals or disruptions to their natural habitats in the name of technological progress. Experts are calling for establishing ethical guidelines to ensure the responsible use of AI in conservation efforts.
James, of McGill University, is optimistic about AI’s potential to decode animal communication. He believes this research could foster a deeper appreciation for the planet, especially as humanity faces the growing challenges of climate change.
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy’ and ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
President Joe Biden’s farewell speech to America on Wednesday included several warnings. And a ceasefire deal to end more than a year of fighting in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas hit a snag. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
Biden warns of ‘oligarchy,’ ‘tech-industrial complex’ in farewell speech
Speaking from the Oval Office one last time, President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address Wednesday night, Jan. 15. Biden spoke on reforms he would like to see in Washington and issued a stark warning detailing his concerns about what he sees as a concentration of power among the ultra-wealthy and the risks of technology.
In what is likely his final address to the nation after a political career spanning five decades, Biden opened his speech with the ceasefire deal in Gaza announced earlier in the day. He said he kept the incoming administration fully informed during the process.
He said some of his top accomplishments in office include job growth following the pandemic, infrastructure modernization and Medicare reform, telling Americans it will take time to feel the full impact of what has been achieved.
With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump just days away, Biden said he would ensure a peaceful transfer of power, but he did have a warning.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said. “We see the consequences all across America, and we’ve seen it before. More than a century ago, the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts. They didn’t punish the wealthy. They just made the wealthy play by the rules everybody else had. Workers want rights to earn their fair share.”
Referencing former President Dwight Eisenhower’s concerns about a military-industrial complex six decades ago, Biden said he’s equally concerned about the dangers of a potential rise of a tech-industrial complex.
“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power,” he said. “The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit. We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families and our very democracy from the abuse of power.”
Biden remarked on the rise of artificial intelligence, calling it the most consequential technology of our time. He emphasized that the U.S., not China, must lead the race.
The president also spoke of his hopes for change in the nation’s capital, calling for an end of hidden funding called “dark money” from campaign contributions, a ban on stock trading from members of Congress and for the U.S. to enact an 18-year term limit on Supreme Court justices. He also called for the U.S. Constitution to be amended.
“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president, no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office,” Biden asserted. “The president’s power is not limit[less] — it is not absolute. And it shouldn’t be.”
In closing, Biden called on Americans to stay engaged in democracy. Telling the story of a veteran who worked at the Statue of Liberty, known as the Keeper of the Flame, he said America will always be defined by one word: “possibilities.”
“My eternal thanks to you, the American people,” Biden said. “After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands [for] — a nation where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith. I love America. You love it, too.”
Republicans, Democrats react to Biden’s farewell address
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X, “Joe Biden discussing democracy, a free press, institutions and the abuse of power in his final farewell speech is rich.”
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., also weighed in, writing, “Joe Biden’s going out of office the same way he went in: petty, partisan and frankly not telling the truth.”
“President Biden’s ‘farewell address’ should have been a formal apology for the endless lawfare, inflation-fueling policies and reckless decisions made during his administration,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida added.
Democrats responded differently.
“Tonight, President Biden delivered his farewell address to a nation that is stronger because of his leadership,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “In doing so, he honored the vision of founders, the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and the aspirations of our children.”
Former President Barack Obama also responded to his former vice president.
“Four years ago, in the middle of a pandemic, we needed a leader with the character to put politics aside and do what was right. That’s what Joe Biden did… I’m grateful to Joe for his leadership, his friendship and his lifetime of service to this country we love,” Obama said.
Netanyahu says cabinet won’t meet over ceasefire deal with Hamas yet
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his cabinet will not meet to approve the deal for a ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas ends a “last-minute crisis.” The decision comes after Netanyahu’s office said Hamas retracted on some of the terms of the agreement but did not specify which.
Even as a deal seems close or even imminent, Israeli strikes continued in the Gaza Strip, with the territory’s health ministry reporting at least 48 people killed over the past day.
Under the three-phase ceasefire agreement, fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days. Thirty-three Israeli hostages, including two Americans, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed during the first phase. It is set to go into effect Sunday, Jan. 19.
The remainder of the hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, are to be released during the second phase. Hamas said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes — something many people took to the streets to celebrate. Israel is also set to allow a flood of humanitarian aid into the region.
The Associated Press reported Thursday morning that mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. will meet in Cairo on Thursday for talks on implementing the deal.
On Truth Social, Trump said his administration will continue to work closely with Israel to make sure Gaza never again becomes what he called a “terrorist safe haven.”
Crews work to control Los Angeles area wildfires as winds die down
The National Weather Service lifted the red flag warning for the Los Angeles area Wednesday night as winds died down. Strong winds have made it harder for fire crews to battle the flames.
However, dangerous fire and weather conditions are expected to return next week.
Good news: We are expecting a much-needed break from the fire weather concerns to close this week. Bad News: Next week is a concern. While confident that we will NOT see a repeat of last week, dangerous fire weather conditions are expected. #cawx#PalisadesFire#EatonFirepic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp
This comes as firefighters still work to contain the two biggest, deadliest and most destructive fires in Southern California. The Palisades and Eaton fires continue to rage in the Los Angeles area.
Plus, a new vegetation fire broke out in the San Bernardino area Wednesday afternoon.
The Eaton and Palisades fires have not grown much over the past few days, but they are both still largely uncontained. Fire officials reported some progress in the desperate fight to extinguish the flames.
Meanwhile, the Little Mountain fire in San Bernardino spans over 30 acres at 0% containment. Police arrested a man in connection with that fire on two felony charges, including one of reckless burning.
Senate confirmation hearings continue as Inauguration Day nears
Senate confirmation hearings continue Thursday, Jan. 16, as President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for interior secretary, EPA administrator, housing and urban development secretary and treasury secretary answer questions from lawmakers.
“To my knowledge, Donald Trump has never acknowledged the legal results of the 2020 election,” Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said to Bondi. “Are you prepared to say today, under oath without reservation, that Donald Trump lost the presidential contest to Joe Biden in 2020?”
Bondi replied, “Ranking Member Durbin, President Biden is the president of the United States. He was duly sworn in, and he is the President of the United States. There was a peaceful transition of power. President Trump left office and was overwhelmingly elected in 2024.”
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, also had his hearing Wednesday. Straight Arrow News political correspondent Ray Bogan has a complete breakdown of what happened here.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifts off on first space flight
Thursday morning saw a big win for billionaire Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, as its New Glenn rocket blasted off into orbit.
The company’s first rocket powerful enough to launch satellites into space took off just after 2 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. All seven of its engines fired successfully.
Blue Origin marked the mission a success after demonstration technology on board, called the Blue Ring Pathfinder, was safely carried to orbit.
However, the company did not reach its bonus goal of guiding part of the New Glenn rocket back to a safe landing on a platform in the middle of the ocean after takeoff.
It took rival SpaceX four tries to get a similar maneuver right.
Still, Blue Origin stressed its most important goal was for the test satellite to reach orbit. NASA intends to use the New Glenn rocket to launch two orbiters to Mars in the future.
Americans frown upon AI, but many don’t realize they already use it: Poll
A new poll finds that although Americans don’t like artificial intelligence very much, nearly all use it. The catch? Most don’t realize they’re using it.
A poll by Gallup and tech advocacy group Telescope found that nearly two-thirds of all Americans don’t realize that many of the features of their everyday lives –– social media, online shopping, navigation apps, etc. –– are AI-enabled.
Most Americans believe AI will have a net negative impact on U.S. national security, opportunities for Americans to get good jobs, social connections among people and the spread of false information.
Americans split evenly on whether AI would have a positive, negative or neutral effect on detecting nonviolent crimes. A majority said they expected it to be a positive for medical diagnosis and treatment.
The poll found higher rates of AI usage among younger adults and those with higher incomes. However, while the poll gauged usage of products that include AI, it didn’t specifically ask how many Americans actively used AI tools in those products, such as Apple Intelligence or Meta’s AI search prompts.
The poll also found that by and large, Americans feel both the government and businesses bear responsibility for addressing some of AI’s biggest risks, with some of the broadest support for the government stepping in to address threats to national security that AI might pose.
Biden administration finalizes ban on Chinese, Russian tech in passenger cars
President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration finalized rules Tuesday, Jan. 14 to ban the sale and import of Chinese and Russian tech in connected passenger vehicles. The move is Biden’s last push to address national security concerns tied to the auto industry.
The Commerce Department said the systems from those foreign adversaries pose unacceptably high risks and open the door to spying or interference.
The features include components that connect vehicles to the outside world, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as self-driving systems. The software bans start with 2027 model year cars, while for hardware, it begins with 2030 model year cars.
General Motors and Ford build some vehicles in China, including the Buick Envision and the Lincoln Nautilus, which will be impacted by the new ruling.
Volvo also makes the S90 sedan in China, as well as sister brand Polestar with the Polestar 2 EV sedan.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation trade group, which represents several automakers, said the new rules are fair and acknowledged the risks of foreign tech.
The group’s CEO, John Bozzella, also said the timing of the rules going into effect a few years from now strikes a good balance because changing the “world’s most complex supply chain can’t happen overnight.”
The rule not only applies to the import and sale of Russian and Chinese-made cars but also to any cars that have Russian or Chinese technology in them, even if the cars are assembled or manufactured in the U.S.
The Commerce Department said it plans to create another rule for large vehicles like buses and trucks in the future, but it’s not clear exactly when that will happen.
The new rule comes as President Biden also signed an executive order to fast-track the development of artificial intelligence infrastructure, paving the way to lease federal land for companies that agree to build AI data centers. This goes along with new trade restrictions to curb the sale of AI chips from Nvidia and other data centers around the world.
While the incoming Trump administration could reverse some of Biden’s latest steps, Trump could keep some of the policies involving China, given there’s wide bipartisan agreement on national security risks.
Nvidia criticizes Biden over his new AI chip rules, praises Trump
The second most valuable company in the world is taking aim at President Joe Biden, while at the same time praising President-elect Donald Trump. Nvidia’s criticism is in response to Biden’s last minute export controls on AI chips.
Nvidia’s Vice President of Government Affairs Ned Finkle called the new rules “misguided” and “sweeping overreach” in a blog post on Monday, Jan. 13.
“In its last days in office the Biden administration seeks to undermine America’s leadership with a 200+ page regulatory morass, drafted in secret and without proper legislative review,” Finkle wrote.
Biden’s policy changes would steer sales to allies, while curbing access to countries where there are national security concerns, like China. That’s another blow to Nvidia, which often sells its products to Chinese companies.
Nvidia’s China revenue has already taken a hit over past restrictions. It dropped from around a quarter of total revenue to 10%-15% in recent years.
Finkle’s blog post goes on to applaud Trump. He said his first administration showed “America wins through innovation, not by retreating behind a wall of government overreach.”
“We look forward to a return to policies that strengthen American leadership, bolster our economy and preserve our competitive edge in AI and beyond,” Finkle said.
The stance is a departure from Nvidia’s approach during the presidential campaign. The company and its CEO Jensen Huang stayed quiet on politics and did not make an endorsement.
This latest policy rule from Biden includes a 120-day comment period, leaving Trump’s incoming administration in charge of seeing it through.
In Trump’s first term, his team did restrict Chinese companies from getting their hands on the best U.S. semiconductor tech.
Biden administration proposes new rules limiting AI chip exports
With just a week left until he leaves office, President Joe Biden is making his last few policy changes as president. On Monday, Jan. 13, the Biden administration proposed a new framework for how advanced computer chips used to develop artificial intelligence are exported.
The changes would help facilitate sales to allied nations while curbing access to countries where there are national security risks, like China. However, the proposal is raising concerns of chip industry executives, who said the rules would limit access to existing chips used for video games.
They also said the rules would restrict the chips used for data centers and AI products in 120 countries, limiting access to U.S. allies like Mexico, Portugal, Israel and Switzerland.
The Biden administration said the framework is designed to “safeguard the most advanced AI technology and ensure that it stays out of the hands of our foreign adversaries” but also enable the broad “diffusion and sharing of the benefits with partner countries.”
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the framework would ensure that the most cutting-edge aspects of AI would be developed within the United States and with its closest allies, instead of possibly being handed over to other countries.
Because the framework includes a 120-day comment period, President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration would be in charge of seeing it through and determining the rules for international sales of advanced computer chips.
Luxury market still thriving despite expected shrinkage
While the global luxury market is expected to shrink in 2025, the U.S. remains the second largest, valued at $106 billion. According to AP News, Europe holds the top spot. This highlights the need for advanced technology to combat counterfeit schemes.
The Hollywood Reporter says Cool Kicks, a popular sneaker store in Los Angeles, attracts 200 to 600 customers daily at its Melrose location. Customers bring in shoes for the store to buy and resell.
To reduce the risk of counterfeit goods, Cool Kicks partners with AI company Entrupy. Entrupy uses a system that takes detailed photos of products from multiple angles to analyze their authenticity.
According to Entrupy, its app compares the photos with a database of verified goods, ensuring accuracy in authentication.
Traditional methods still in use
Before the rise of AI, and still today for some companies, physical inspections were –– and are –– used to verify luxury goods. For instance, real UGG boots have security labels with QR codes and holographic logos.
At sneaker resell stores, inspectors look for signs like uneven stitching, poor-quality leather and mismatched logos. Some luxury bag companies have introduced microchips for digital verification.
Counterfeiters continue to evolve despite these measures, making their products harder to detect.
Last November, retailer Lacoste began using AI to identify counterfeit items returned to their stores. According to a press release, the technology delivers over 91% accuracy in real-world scenarios.
Counterfeits fuel organized crime
Buying counterfeit goods may seem harmless, but it poses risks beyond financial losses. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that counterfeit goods are part of a multi-billion-dollar global industry linked to transnational organized crime.
The best way to avoid fake luxury goods is to shop from authorized retailers and check for authenticity certificates. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.