It’s time for Bits & Bytes…
… where we bring you news, innovations, and thought-provoking insights from AI, IT, and beyond. In this week’s newsletter we’re looking at:
- OpenAI’s Sora Leak Exposes Artist Tensions
- Trump and Microsoft Shape AI Policies
- AI’s Human Side: From Music to Digital Twins
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
🔥 Sora Leak: Artists Turn Against OpenAI
Early access testers have dramatically exposed OpenAI’s unreleased Sora video generator, allowing brief public access through Hugging Face. The protesting group claims OpenAI demands unpaid work and positive PR from artists, while keeping tight control over what testers can share about the tool’s true capabilities.
As OpenAI struggles with technical challenges and Hollywood partnerships, this leak exposes growing tensions between AI companies and the creative community they depend on.
TL;DR
- Sora leaked by protesting artists.
- Claims of unpaid work and PR manipulation.
- Advanced video generation capabilities exposed.
- Signals deeper AI-creator tensions.
TECH HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE WEB
🏛️ Trump Eyes AI Czar Role for 2025 White House
President-Elect Trump is considering creating an “AI czar” position to oversee federal AI regulation and usage, with input from Tesla’s Elon Musk and DOGE co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy. The role, potentially combined with a “crypto czar” position, would bypass Senate confirmation and could replace Biden’s existing AI governance structure.
🛡️ Microsoft Denies Using Office Data to Train AI Models
Microsoft has firmly rejected claims that it uses customer data from Microsoft 365 apps for AI training, clarifying that its “optional connected experiences” feature is strictly for internet-based services like co-authoring. The controversy highlights growing public concern over tech companies’ use of personal data for AI development.
🎵 Spotify Adds Gemini AI Voice Commands
Google’s AI assistant Gemini now integrates with Spotify, enabling users to control music playback through natural language commands on Android devices. While the feature supports basic music search and playback functions, it requires account linking and currently works only in English, marking Spotify as the second non-Google app to gain Gemini capabilities.
TECH FOR GOOD
🧬 AI Can Clone Humans Now
Stanford and Google DeepMind researchers have developed a groundbreaking approach to creating AI replicas of individuals through natural conversations. In a landmark study, two-hour interviews proved sufficient to create digital twins that matched their human counterparts with 85% accuracy in personality tests and social surveys. This innovation could revolutionize social science research by enabling studies that would be otherwise impractical or ethically challenging with real participants.
