In recent news, actress Scarlett Johansson expressed her dismay after discovering an AI voice created for ChatGPT that sounded suspiciously like her own. This led to a temporary halt in the use of the vocal avatar, prompting Johansson to involve her lawyers. Despite OpenAI’s clarification that the avatar’s voice was not an imitation of Johansson’s but rather another actress using her natural speaking voice, the actress remains frustrated.
Meanwhile, concerns were raised by leading computer scientists at the AI Seoul Summit about the lack of progress in regulating autonomous technology. Eleanor Shearer, a senior research fellow at London’s Common Wealth think tank, emphasized the need for governments to disclose specific threats posed by AI. Government minister Mel Stride also mentioned that the police would thoroughly investigate the possibility of bringing corporate manslaughter charges in the NHS infected blood scandal.
In other news, University of New Mexico researchers discovered microplastics in every testicle as part of a men’s health study. Northwestern University linked “pink noise” to improved sleep quality, while individuals raced to witness the Northern Lights and tech firms faced criticism for their handling of pre-election misinformation. Lastly, a tiny robot conducted surgery on corn kernel-sized patients. To stay up-to-date on tech and science news, tune into the Tech & Science Daily podcast on Apple, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform.
