News July 23, 2024
AI Is Already Taking Jobs in the Video Game Industry
As I scrolled through the email from Michael Vance, the chief technology officer of Activision, my stomach began to churn with anxiety. It was spring 2023 and the video game publisher was touting the promise of artificial intelligence, claiming it would revolutionize their industry. But for many employees, including myself, this news was a harbinger of doom. We had already seen the devastating impact AI could have on our livelihoods, as jobs began to disappear like sandcastles in the wind. I felt like we were sacrificing our humanity for the sake of progress. And then, the layoffs started. Thousands of people lost their jobs in 2023 alone, and it only got worse this year. The gaming industry is in trouble, and AI is the culprit. It’s not just a matter of job automation, but also deskilling and attrition. As I look around at my colleagues, I see the fear and uncertainty etched on their faces. We’re all wondering what the future holds for us, as we struggle to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of AI.
For the Director of Wicked, There’s No Place Like Silicon Valley
As we embarked on casting for Wicked, our instincts led us to actors who were familiar yet not overly known. However, after seeing numerous auditions and receiving calls from big stars, we realized that these two roles required someone at the top of their game. We needed individuals who could hit those iconic soprano notes and bring a sense of reality to these complex characters. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande stood out as pros, with Cynthia’s youthful energy and unique twinkle in her eyes making us feel like we’d never seen Elphaba before. Meanwhile, Ariana Grande’s dedication to the role was evident, as she came back multiple times without makeup, transforming into Glinda with ease. Despite initial reservations, her performances left me thinking she was still the most interesting choice for the part. As for editing Wicked in VR, I’m utilizing the Vision Pro to scale and manipulate the visuals, allowing me to feel like I’m in a boxing ring with the movie itself.
How Russia-Linked Malware Cut Heat to 600 Ukrainian Buildings in Deep Winter
As Russia continues to wield its arsenal of attacks against Ukraine’s civilians, it has now been revealed that hackers linked to Russia attempted to leave Ukrainians in the cold last January by deploying a malicious software known as FrostyGoop. This specimen of malware allowed hackers to directly access a Ukrainian heating utility, shutting off heat and hot water to hundreds of buildings during a winter freeze. The attack, which occurred in late January, disabled service to 600 buildings for around 48 hours, leaving the civilian population to endure sub-zero temperatures. FrostyGoop is one of less than 10 specimens of code ever discovered that’s designed to interact directly with industrial control-system software, and it marks the first confirmed case in which hackers have directly sabotaged a heating utility. The malware was discovered by Dragos, an industrial cybersecurity firm, after it was uploaded to an online scanning service, and it is believed to have been used in a cyberattack that targeted a heating utility in Lviv, Ukraine.
NASA shares 25 jaw-dropping space images from Chandra X-ray Observatory
The wonders of space never cease to amaze us, do they? To celebrate a quarter century of the Chandra X-ray Observatory’s journey through the cosmos, NASA has released 25 breathtaking new images that showcase the telescope’s incredible ability to illuminate regions of space that would otherwise remain hidden. From supermassive black holes to supernova remnants, these stunning visuals offer a glimpse into the mysteries of the universe.
One image captures a large spiral galaxy, NGC 6872, as it loses some of its superheated gas to a smaller neighbor. Another shows a close-up of a supermassive black hole at the heart of the spiral galaxy NGC 1365, surrounded by stars and smaller black holes. A pulsar wind nebula takes on a skeletal form in another image, while Jupiter’s magnetic poles are highlighted by X-ray auroras.
The Eagle Nebula, M16, is also featured, with its iconic Pillars of Creation showcasing star formation in action. The columns of gas and dust stretch towards the upper right, surrounded by dozens of young stars emitting X-rays and infrared light. These images are a testament to the incredible discoveries made possible by the Chandra X-ray Observatory over the past 25 years.
Stephen Colbert shares his thoughts on Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential race
With Biden’s departure from the 2024 presidential race, Stephen Colbert has bid adieu to his Joe Biden aviators, impression, and treasure trove of Biden-themed jokes. But before hanging up his Biden boots, Colbert took a moment to reflect on the former President’s impact. “Personally, I’m going to miss Joe Biden,” he said with a hint of nostalgia. “I remember encouraging him to run back in 2015, and boy, did he ever take my advice… five years later.” Colbert praised Biden for his accomplishments, from navigating the country through a pandemic to reasserting America’s global presence - all without being Donald Trump.