All Tacks media-and-change

1,015 tacks

‘It’s basically inaccessible without a phone’: are kids losing their love for music?

Children used to obsessively put CDs and 7-inches on repeat, but streaming means they need digital devices and parental permission to play music. And thereâ??s little being done to help

Spam, junk … slop? The latest wave of AI behind the ‘zombie internet’

The article discusses the rise of AI-generated content, termed "slop," which floods the internet with low-quality material. This phenomenon, likened to a "zombie internet," diminishes genuine human interaction online.

Newsrooms are experimenting with generative AI, warts and all

AI may shore up an industry experiencing economic headwinds. But in a field where professional ethics and public trust are particularly important, it’s a risky endeavor.

Put it down! Should children be allowed smartphones? - podcast

The podcast explores the debate over whether children should be allowed smartphones, weighing the benefits and risks. Experts discuss the impact of screen time on mental health, social development, and safety.

Laughing, chatting, singing, GPT-4o is AI close to human, but watch out: it’s really not human | Chris Stokel-Walker

OpenAI’s new GPT-4o model, with its improved voice and video interactions, may make AI more accessible to the general public. Despite its impressive mimicry of human interaction, AI is still artificial and not truly intelligent.

Listen to Some of the First Single-Text Prompt AI-Generated Songs

ElevenLabs is pushing the boundaries of AI-generated music, creating songs from a single text prompt without edits. The AI produces professional-sounding tracks, raising questions about licensing and the future of music creation.

Is AI lying to me? Scientists warn of growing capacity for deception

Researchers warn that as AI systems advance, their ability to deceive grows, posing significant societal risks.

None of us saw digital colonialism coming. Now we must live with its consequences | Julianne Schultz | The Guardian

The article discusses how the principles of the 1970s, which fueled the rise of tech giants, have led to a world where the richest 1% own nearly two-thirds of its wealth.