Google’s Pixel Power Play, AI Lawsuits, and Revolutionary Robotics! ⚖️

📱 Google pushed influencers to favor Pixel

• Google introduced new stipulations for its Team Pixel initiative, which provides influencers with early access to Pixel devices. The new rules prohibit influencers from showcasing competing brands, threatening removal from the program if they express preference for rival products.

• Influencers, including notable tech reviewers, have reacted negatively to these terms, feeling they compromise their integrity. Some, like YouTuber Kevin Nether, have opted out of the program, citing the restrictions as unprecedented and detrimental to their professional relationships with various brands.

• Following the backlash, a Google communications manager stated that the controversial terms were a misstep and have since been removed. The Team Pixel program is distinct from traditional review initiatives, and the new requirements had caused confusion among influencers and reviewers alike Read more

⚖️ YouTube creator sues Nvidia and OpenAI for ‘unjust enrichment’ for using their videos for AI training

• YouTuber David Millette has filed a class action lawsuit against Nvidia, alleging the company profited from his and other creators' videos by scraping content from YouTube to develop its AI systems, violating California's Unfair Competition Law.

• The lawsuit asserts that Nvidia has unjustly enriched itself at the expense of content creators, claiming that the company used their videos without permission to create a new video model, thereby breaking federal labor laws.

• The lawsuit follows a 404 Media investigation that revealed Nvidia's extensive scraping of YouTube and other platforms, raising concerns about the ethical and legal implications of using creators' content without consent Read more

🚫 AI-powered ‘undressing’ websites are getting sued

• The city of San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against 16 AI-powered websites that create non-consensual nude images, accusing them of violating state and federal laws related to revenge and child pornography, as well as unfair competition laws. The lawsuit aims to shut down these sites and hold their operators accountable for the harm caused to victims, primarily women and girls.

• The targeted websites collectively received over 200 million visits in the first half of 2024, allowing users to upload images of clothed individuals and generate altered versions that simulate nudity. This practice has led to severe consequences, including bullying and harassment, particularly among school-aged children, with incidents reported where fake nude images were circulated among students.

• Many of the operators are based outside the U.S., complicating efforts to identify and prosecute them. The lawsuit is seen as a potential legal precedent in addressing the issue of AI-generated deepfake pornography, but it faces significant challenges due to the international nature of the websites involved Read more

🗳️ OpenAI says Iran tried to influence US elections with ChatGPT

• OpenAI has banned several ChatGPT accounts linked to an Iranian influence operation known as Storm-2035, which aimed to manipulate U.S. voters by generating articles and social media posts about the upcoming presidential election and other political topics.

• Despite the operation's intent to influence public opinion, OpenAI's investigation revealed that the content produced received minimal engagement on social media platforms, indicating limited effectiveness in swaying voter sentiment.

• This action comes amid heightened concerns about foreign interference in U.S. elections, especially with reports of Iranian hacking attempts targeting political campaigns, including those of former President Donald Trump and President Biden Read more

🔋 MIT unveils hair-thin battery for tiny robots

• Researchers at MIT have created a new type of battery that is as thin as a human hair, designed specifically for powering micro-robots. This innovative battery is lightweight and flexible, making it suitable for small-scale applications.

• The hair-thin battery could enable advancements in various fields, including medicine and environmental monitoring, by powering tiny robots capable of performing tasks in hard-to-reach areas or within the human body.

• The battery utilizes a unique architecture that allows for efficient energy storage and delivery, addressing the limitations of current power sources for micro-robots, which often struggle with size and weight constraints Read more

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