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News Bulletin

Catherine Breillat Pushes the Boundaries With Stepmother-Stepson Relationship in New Film

Catherine Breillat Pushes the Boundaries With Stepmother-Stepson Relationship in New Film

When French filmmaker Catherine Breillat was 40, her husband left her for a much younger woman. Soon after, she began dating a man 12 years her junior. "Men often dismiss their older wives, saying they can no longer be loved," Breillat said in a recent interview, through an interpreter. "But that's not true. I want to tell other women that there is no reason to despair." In her new film Last summerhitting theaters on Friday, explores this concept through a provocative plot. Since the 1970s, the acclaimed director, now 75, has focused on the troubled sexual awakenings of young girls,…
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AI Phones and Computers: A Convenience Boon, But a Privacy Challenge?

AI Phones and Computers: A Convenience Boon, But a Privacy Challenge?

Tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft are racing to develop smartphones and computers powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These devices promise to make our lives easier by automating tasks like editing photos or scheduling meetings. But there’s a problem: They require a lot of data from us. More data, more convenience, less privacy? These new AI capabilities come at the cost of more data collection. Companies imagine Windows PCs taking screenshots every few seconds, iPhones stitching together data from multiple apps, and Android phones analyzing calls in real time to detect scams. That raises privacy concerns. To deliver personalized…
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Jonathan Tunick Unveils Grand Orchestration of Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music'

Jonathan Tunick Unveils Grand Orchestration of Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music'

At the climax of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music," the orchestra reaches what Sondheim called its Max Steiner moment, evoking the great scores of "Casablanca" or "Gone with the Wind." During a pivotal scene, Désirée and Fredrik, former lovers on the verge of losing their happiness, meet and kiss as the orchestra swells to a stirring reprise of "Send in the Clowns." Jonathan Tunick’s new orchestration premiered Thursday at David Geffen Hall with the 53-piece St. Luke’s Orchestra. Strings and winds soared, supported by rich, staggered chords and flourishing counterpoint, creating a moment fit for both film and opera.…
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Supreme Court Sides With Biden Administration in Social Media Case

Supreme Court Sides With Biden Administration in Social Media Case

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Biden administration in a case involving social media, scoring a significant practical victory. The ruling rejected a Republican challenge that sought to prevent the government from communicating with social media platforms to combat misinformation. In a 6-3 decision, the Court found that the plaintiffs, including states and individuals, had not suffered direct harm that would have entitled them to sue. The decision leaves unresolved broader questions about the First Amendment’s limits on government influence over tech companies, which control much of the flow of information online. The case arose from the government’s…
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The Evolving Voices of Artificial Intelligence

The Evolving Voices of Artificial Intelligence

What does AI sound like? Hollywood has been thinking about this for a long time, and now AI developers are following suit, creating voices for real machines inspired by movie adaptations. OpenAI recently introduced updates to its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, which now boasts the ability to hear, see, and speak in a natural voice. This voice, called Sky, bears a striking resemblance to the operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson in the 2013 film “Her.” With a husky, soothing tone, Sky’s voice was designed to be pleasant and versatile. However, Johansson has expressed concerns about the similarities, having previously declined…
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Apple Vision Pro review: First-gen headset falls short

Apple Vision Pro review: First-gen headset falls short

Seventeen years ago, Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, a revolutionary device that combined an iPod, a telephone, and an Internet browser in one. At $500, it was expensive, but its innovation justified the cost, despite some initial flaws. Fast forward to today, and my experience with Apple’s new $3,500 Vision Pro headset has been less than stellar. This ski-goggle-style virtual reality headset aims to merge the physical and digital worlds. Apple bills it as a “space computer” designed for work, entertainment, and play. Without an advance review unit from Apple, I purchased the Vision Pro myself. With essential add-ons like…
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“House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 3 Recap: A Deep Dive

“House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 3 Recap: A Deep Dive

Did Alicent actually believe that Viserys's final words were about her son, or was she simply interpreting them in a way that suited her own wishes? (And, more critically, should a serious drama base its central conflict on a misunderstanding more suited to a sitcom? Resolving that question at this point may be beyond the scope of this summary.) Rhaenyra's brave secret return to King's Landing, aided by Mysaria, to confront her arch-enemy-friend sets the record straight. Alicent is convinced that Viserys means Aegon. Rhaenyra, for her part, truly believes that Alicent holds this belief. But when the Queen Mother…
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Robots Have Chubby Faces (and Smiles), According to New Research

Robots Have Chubby Faces (and Smiles), According to New Research

In Japan, engineers are working to create robots that can mimic human expressions, particularly smiles. They developed a face mask using human skin cells, which they attached to robots using a new technique that hides the bond and is flexible enough to form expressions such as a grimace or a slight smile. The look is a mix between the disturbing Hannibal Lecter mask and the claymation character Gumby. However, scientists believe that these prototypes could lead to more advanced robots. These robots would have a durable, elastic outer layer that protects the machine while making it more human-like. The “skin…
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Investors Plough .1 Billion Into AI Startups Despite Economic Struggles

Investors Plough $27.1 Billion Into AI Startups Despite Economic Struggles

In May, CoreWeave, a provider of cloud computing services for AI companies, raised $1.1 billion, followed by $7.5 billion in debt, reaching a valuation of $19 billion. Scale AI, a data provider for AI companies, secured $1 billion, at a valuation of $13.8 billion. Additionally, xAI, founded by Elon Musk, raised $6 billion, reaching a valuation of $24 billion. According to Kyle Stanford, research analyst at PitchBook, these funding rounds have increased overall deal volume in the industry, both in terms of dollar amounts and number of deals. "It's not declining anymore," he said. "The bottom has already fallen out."…
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How to Optimize Your Phone's Photo Library for More Storage Space

How to Optimize Your Phone's Photo Library for More Storage Space

Is your phone constantly warning you about low storage space? Do you find yourself endlessly scrolling to find a particular photo? Over time, our phones accumulate countless images, apps, and files that can clog up space. Here's how to effectively clean up your photo library and free up storage space using tools readily available on your device. Check your storage space First, assess how much space is left on your device and identify what is taking up space. For Android users, go to the Settings app and select Storage. On Samsung Galaxy devices, go to Settings, choose Device care or…
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