I am standing in front of a camera that’s streaming to a giant video screen. The image recognition AI running on the camera puts a big green box around me. “PERSON,” it says. Artist Simon Weckert hands me his newest creation, a button-down shirt with flowery, blurry globs of green and pink. I put the shirt in front of me. The box and the word “PERSON” disappears. I pull the shirt away. The box pops back up. I put the shirt in front of me. It disappears. This is “digital camouflage,” and it has confused the algorithm. Weckert designed digital camouflage as a response to the proliferation of AI-powered surveillance cameras that detect people, vehicles, animals, bicycles, and other objects in their field of view. Many of these AI-powered cameras can detect when a person is lying down, “anomalous behavior” such as people loitering, people fighting, or an abandoned package, which can lead to a police response. These cameras are already relatively commonplace around the world, but Weckert created it because police recently deployed these types of cameras outside of Kotbusser Tor, a popular subway stop in Berlin. They are the first police-run object recognition surveillance cameras in the city. “Obviously people don’t like it because it means that AI is tracking the movements and behaviors of people. It’s one thing to have somebody behind the camera watching you, but now we have AI doing this kind of analysis,” Weckert told me. “It can detect if somebody’s laying on the ground so that means homeless people could be detected and police get triggered.”
Sep 1, 2026 · via 404media.co
Without image processing: Drone autonomously hangs onto branches with a gripper A drone from TU Delft manages without image recognition to grasp branches of a tree and land on them. It feels the branches. A research team from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) has developed a drone that can hang onto branches with a gripper to pause during a mission. The gripping function is triggered by tactile sensors, so no visual recognition systems need to be used, which would not function reliably in cluttered treetops anyway. When monitoring ecosystems, drones sometimes need to remain in one place to collect data. However, hovering is noisy and consumes a lot of energy. In such cases, it is better if the drone can switch off its motors and remain in a waiting position. This saves energy, and the battery lasts longer, as the scientists write in the study “Aerial tactile perching via an anthropomorphic hand with embodied soft tactile receptors,” which was published in Nature npj Robotics. The researchers therefore want to let the drone land on a branch without using complicated landing systems that rely on visual recognition and, by calculating the flight path and landing, would again consume a lot of energy. The TU Delft drone is intended to hang onto a branch with a simple tactile gripper, switch off its motors, and then collect data. Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externes YouTube-Video (Google Ireland Limited) geladen. Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (Google Ireland Limited) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung. In cluttered treetops, visual systems with cameras for landing calculations would be overwhelmed, the scientists write. Foliage and small branches restrict visibility, impairing landing calculations. Such systems are therefore not practical. Branch recognition
Sep 1, 2026 · via heise.de
House intel committee calls for international travelers to undergo biometric screening to stop another 9/11 See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google WASHINGTON — The House intelligence committee is urging the adoption of European-style border control booths that collect biometric information — including facial scans — on foreigners coming or going from the US to better safeguard against terrorism. The panel urged the change in a 66-page report drafted by Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), focused on implementing 9/11 Commission recommendations ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks. “Similar to the Schengen Area in Europe, foreign nationals traveling to the United States should pass control booths at points of entry at admission and departure, enabling the U.S. to track who is in the country, for how long, why, and when they leave,” the panel said. “Technological advancements make collecting biometric data at points of entry relatively quick and easy. As much as practically possible, U.S. borders should be secured to ensure foreign nationals seeking land exits to pass through land points of entry so CBP can collect biometrics and build profiles.” The committee said that land borders are particularly insecure in terms of scanning the faces of people entering from Canada or Mexico — and that airports do not currently scan outbound passengers’ faces, making it more difficult to verify that someone left the country. The 9/11 Commission in 2004 called for authorities to “quickly complete a biometric entry-exit screening system, one that also speeds qualified travelers” — however, it has not been done quickly. At least two — and possibly eight — of the 19 hijackers in the 9/11 attacks had phony or manipulated passports, the commission found. In the aftermath of the devastating attacks, commissioners
Sep 1, 2026 · via nypost.com
From disease-linked breath molecules to food spoilage and environmental pollutants, researchers are rethinking how sensors recognize the subtle molecular signatures hidden within complex odors. Paper: “Smelltronics” - From Gas to Smell Sensing. AI-generated abstract conceptual image created using ChatGPT/OpenAI A review recently published in the journal Advanced Materials examined recent trends in smell and odor-sensing studies, collectively referred to as “smelltronics”. The authors describe smelltronics as a materials-focused approach that bridges conventional gas sensing and biological olfaction by targeting larger, information-rich volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and designing sensing interfaces that can distinguish subtle differences in molecular structure, rather than relying primarily on downstream pattern recognition. Conceptual overview of smelltronics. The domain of chemical sensing is undergoing a transformation from traditional gas sensing, which predominantly focuses on highly volatile gases, to smelltronics, which seeks to detect and differentiate complex VOCs that convey specific odor information. To achieve precise odor identification, smelltronics relies on the development of three hierarchies: (1) diverse sensing materials engineered for specific interactions, (2) devices that transduce physicochemical events into digitized signals, and (3) systems that integrate sensor arrays with information science. Engineering Materials for Odor Recognition Noble metals, including platinum, gold, and palladium, can be incorporated into metal oxide chemiresistors to enhance their sensitivity to hydrogen, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other small gases. Tin dioxide nanowires have been functionalized using palladium, gold, or platinum nanoparticles and integrated into chemiresistors. Octadecylphosphonic acid (ODPA) has been used to modify zinc oxide nanowire-based chemiresistors to accelerate sensor recovery during nonanal gas sensing. Results showed that the ODPA-modified zinc oxide chemiresistor detected nonanal with higher sensitivity than the unmodified chemiresistor and did so reversibly. Cysteine was used to functionalize gold nanorods or nanoparticles, which were then used as plasmonic aggregative colorants. Gold nanoparticles with cysteine display color changes when exposed
Sep 1, 2026 · via azonano.com
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Sep 1, 2026 · via buzzfeed.com
ABC13 EXCLUSIVE: Flock camera use draws scrutiny over privacy, oversight and data access Va. (WSET) — It takes less than a second: A car passes a camera, a license plate is captured and that image can become a law enforcement lead. Supporters say Flock Automated License Plate Reader cameras, or ALPRs, can help police find missing people, stolen vehicles and suspects in minutes. Critics say the technology creates a detailed record of where people drive, even when they have done nothing wrong. At the center of the debate is a basic question: Where is the line between public safety and privacy? “Invasive" is how Risë Hayes, who's speaking on behalf of Deflock Lynchburg, describes the technology. The group wants the cameras removed. Where's the line between safety and privacy? And the fact that we're being monitored so closely, it's really scary to a lot of people, including myself," she said. In an exclusive interview with ABC13 News, Flock Safety said its cameras are designed to capture vehicles, not people. “It's really just a point-in-time image of the vehicle passing the camera. Flock's license plate readers do not and cannot track vehicles, much less individual people," Paris Lewbel, a spokesperson for Flock Safety, said. RELATED: Lynchburg City Council hears from residents, police on Flock camera use The company says the cameras capture a snapshot of a vehicle at a particular place and time. Flock says its system does not collect biometric data, driver information or facial-recognition data. But Hayes says a license plate can still be connected to a vehicle, and a vehicle can be connected to a person. “Police officers are able to access that without a warrant. They're able to track people, whether that person actually committed a crime or not," she said. What Virginia law allows Virginia now
Aug 31, 2026 · via wset.com
Use of license plate readers in Metro Detroit under scrutiny Automated license plate readers (ALPRs), such as Flock-brand cameras, are being used by police departments across the metro area, including in Detroit. As several law enforcement agencies continue to use the technology, lawmakers in the Michigan House have introduced bipartisan legislation to establish statewide guardrails for how the data is used and shared. It's an initiative backed by the ACLU of Michigan. "It's not just a license plate; it's much more than that," said Kyle Zawacki, legislative director of ACLU of Michigan. House Bill 5492 would regulate the use of ALPRs by private and governmental entities and regulate the use of plate data. Under the bill, governmental entities could obtain or use privately captured plate data only pursuant to a warrant or request, provided the system retained the data for up to 14 days. A similar bill was introduced in the state Senate by GOP Sen. Jim Runestad. Flock says its cameras capture still images of vehicles, including license plates and characteristics such as make, color, and distinguishing features. The company says it does not use facial recognition or identify who is inside. "That is not what these cameras are. Allegedly, they're not collecting video, but they are taking hundreds of images every minute, and those images are collecting beyond just your license plate," said Zawacki. Police say the technology can also help solve crimes. In Fraser, Flock cameras recently helped police locate a driver accused of a fatal hit-and-run involving a motorcyclist. In a statement to CBS News Detroit, the Detroit Police Department says it uses license plate readers "as an investigative tool to assist with solving crime." The department went on to say: "We have seen many cases move forward in their progress and be solved due to
Aug 31, 2026 · via cbsnews.com
The bodies continue to wash up. But the morgues have already run out of room. Since the deadly floods coursed through the Himalayan valleys of Nepal and Tibet, the numbers of people killed have continued to rise. The bodies have surfaced in their hundreds and continue to be pulled from the thick, tar-like mud that engulfed everything after the flood waters receded. By Sunday, the death toll stood at 804 in Nepal and Tibet. Morgues across Nepal are already overflowing. Authorities say they are overwhelmed with the task of trying to identify the dead, many mangled beyond recognition and turning up miles from home. As places to safely store the victims run out, mass burials have begun in the district of Bharatpur. DNA samples were taken from each body before it was given a tag and a location number, wrapped in a plastic bag and then placed in a shallow grave. The hope, said the police, was that these bodies would eventually be identified by loved ones through DNA and retrieved for proper funeral rites. In Chitwan, about 100 miles downstream from the region worst hit by the flash floods and mudslides, more than 250 bodies have washed up along the riverbanks. But they are in such a disfigured state that only nine have been successfully identified. Many will now be buried, at least temporarily, in the forest on the edge of the city. In an effort to speed up the identification exercise, local officials have adopted a macabre approach of simply asking people to go through pictures of the bodies and look for identifying features: a necklace, a wedding ring, a tattoo, a scar. Photos of those recovered have been placed on to PowerPoint slideshows, for relatives to sit patiently through, and have been uploaded to the Nepal police
Aug 31, 2026 · via theguardian.com
A study published in the journal PLOS Digital Health demonstrates the accuracy of an artificial intelligence system developed at USP in Ribeirão Preto for identifying teeth and detecting cavities in x-rays. Approximately 30 researchers from the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages at Ribeirão Preto and the School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto are collaborating within the Interdisciplinary Research Group in Digital Dentistry (InReDD) on the project. According to professor Alessandra Alaniz Macedo, the technology is based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), a type of artificial intelligence specialized in image processing; she explained that the system aims to streamline diagnosis and treatment by assisting dentists in radiographic analysis. Convolutional Neural Networks Detect Cavities in Dental X-rays The University of São Paulo’s Ribeirão Preto campus has developed an artificial intelligence system capable of identifying cavities in dental x-rays with a high degree of accuracy, streamlining diagnostic workflows for dentists. This capability stems from the implementation of Convolutional Neural Networks, or CNNs, a specific type of artificial intelligence architecture designed for image processing and pattern recognition. According to professor Alessandra Alaniz Macedo, “Within artificial intelligence, different methods are used to analyze different types of data. Neural networks are one of these approaches and currently produce the best results for various types of problems.” Training the AI to reliably detect cavities requires a supervised learning process where the system is fed thousands of previously analyzed radiographs. Researchers create a dataset, essentially teaching the artificial intelligence to correlate specific image characteristics with the presence of lesions. The model then iteratively compares its own analysis of new radiographs against this established ground truth, correcting errors and refining its accuracy with each iteration. Researchers explained that the model continuously compares its output with the ground truth and corrects its own errors during training, gradually learning to
Aug 31, 2026 · via quantumzeitgeist.com
Facial recognition technology 'scope creep' is upon us, experts warn A shopper walks into a supermarket and grabs a basket. By that time, a camera has scanned their face. That is what experts warn could be the new normal for Australians. Supermarkets started with exit gates and bagging-area cameras. Now they are trialling facial recognition technology. In August, Coles and Woolworths rolled out facial recognition technology trials in a bid to combat crime with about a third of retail workers not feeling safe in their workplace, according to a union survey of about 3,000 staff. Last week, Coles reported that incidents of abuse towards retail staff had increased by 85 per cent over the past two years in Victoria. The technology scans the features of a person's face to create a unique digital code and identify them. Neither of the supermarket giants has said if it would be rolled out in their Australian stores. However, both companies said they were looking into improving protection for their customers and staff. Industry groups say the move is about safety, but experts warn once the technology is installed the "scope creep" does not stop. 'Scope creep' Scope creep, also known as function creep, is when society incrementally allows things to happen over time that people feel uncomfortable about. "We let it pass and all of a sudden you see a layering of the technology being used for more privacy-intrusive purposes," said responsible technology policy specialist Lauren Perry from the University of Technology Sydney. She is concerned face scans could shift from safety and security to customer experience in ways that could disadvantage and harm the consumer. The layering of new technologies such as face scan-enabled EFTPOS machines and the widespread rollout of digital price tags across supermarkets could tailor the real-life shopping experience.
Aug 31, 2026 · via abc.net.au
How China buried Tibet flood images after Nepal disaster August 31, 2026 When a catastrophic flash flood swept through the rugged China-Nepal border on August 26, the physical devastation was immediate. In Nepal, a black torrent of mud and rock tore through communities, leaving hundreds dead and thousands more missing along the borderlands. But across the frontier in Tibet, an autonomous region of China, the physical disaster was almost instantly followed by a digital one: the rapid, high-tech erasure of the catastrophe's visual evidence. As survivors tried to upload raw footage of the deluge, China's state-backed information control apparatus swung into action, executing a sophisticated, precision operation to shape the public narrative and bury inconvenient truths. The contrasting realities — a tragic humanitarian crisis in Nepal and a tightly sanitized, triumphant rescue narrative in China — reveal the evolving mechanics of Beijing's modern censorship machine. Rather than imposing a blunt, blanket blackout, authorities deployed advanced image-recognition technology and "saturated information" tactics to drown out domestic scrutiny while deflecting diplomatic friction abroad. Collapse of the border gate In the immediate aftermath of the flood-triggered mudslide, local residents captured dramatic footage of the torrent engulfing Gyirong Port, a critical overland trade hub between China and Nepal. The most striking video showed a black wall of water and debris crashing into and destroying the "national" border gate. In an article titled "An Unrecorded Mudslide Rushes into Gyirong Port" on China's WeChat, a universal app that combines messaging with payment options and social media functions, local blogger "Matou Qingnian" described the chaotic scene. "The most terrifying moment happened at the Gyirong Port," the author wrote, describing video footage of crowds, including children, fleeing in panic before a pitch-black torrent swallowed the camera's view. Within hours, both the article and the raw video footage had
Aug 31, 2026 · via dw.com
Figures Abstract Effective monitoring of desert rangeland ecosystems is of crucial significance to regional ecological security. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) hyperspectral remote sensing provides an effective means for the fine identification of vegetation species. However, in practical applications, vegetation classification using hyperspectral images often faces the problem of limited labeled samples, which makes it difficult for traditional deep learning methods to obtain stable and accurate classification results. To address these issues, this study proposes a meta-learning with Mamba (MetaMamba) method for vegetation classification in desert rangeland. This method constructs a local-global dual-branch structure in the feature extraction stage to achieve effective fusion of local and global spatial context information. Specifically, the local branch uses convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to extract fine-grained spatial features, while the global branch models long-distance spatial dependencies based on the Mamba model. Additionally, a meta-learning strategy is introduced to enhance the feature learning and generalization abilities of the model under few-shot conditions. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms existing methods across multiple evaluation metrics. The overall classification accuracy (OA) reaches 90.85%, the average accuracy (AA) reaches 91.67%, and the Kappa coefficient reaches 87.77%. The method shows good stability and adaptability under different sample sizes. The MetaMamba model can achieve high-precision classification of desert rangeland vegetation species under few-shot conditions, providing an effective technical approach for ecological monitoring and rangeland resource management. Citation: Hao F, Gao X, Zhang T, Du J, Wang S, He X (2026) MetaMamba: Meta-learning with mamba for few-shot vegetation species classification using UAV-based hyperspectral imagery in desert rangeland. PLoS One 21(8): e0352744. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0352744 Editor: Yaseen Al-Mulla, Sultan Qaboos University, OMAN Received: June 12, 2026; Accepted: August 14, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026 Copyright: © 2026 Hao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Aug 31, 2026 · via journals.plos.org
Did you know that a number of smart TVs come equipped with cameras? While that idea may raise privacy concerns for many people, and rightfully so, these cameras offer several neat features you can explore. Cameras embedded inside a smart TV aren't extremely common, but we've seen them in select models by Samsung, LG, Sony, and others. Additionally, some manufacturers offer add-on cameras that buyers can plug into the TV's USB port for video calls or Zoom meetings. How to tell if a smart TV has a camera Give it a look To determine whether your smart TV has a camera, inspect it visually, check the user manual, look up the specifications list, and skim through the hardware section or software features. If your TV has features like gestures or video calling, it probably has a camera. Like most smartphones and laptops, the first place to look on your Smart TV is the top center bezel between the screen and the outer frame. It could also be slightly off-center or on the left or right side. Look for a small circle cutout or lens. They're almost as small as the front-facing camera on your phone, so look close. Check for a small camera on the frame or even near the base. Many TVs have infrared sensors on the bottom middle that interact with the remote control, and a camera could be there, but don't confuse the little red IR circle with a camera. Smart TV camera features you can try Exercise, video calls, and more It's kinda scary to think that your TV is spying on you and watching back as you watch it, and we'll talk more about that in a moment. If you're not worried and simply want to try some of the many features a camera provides,
Aug 31, 2026 · via howtogeek.com
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to introduce Facial Biometric Verification (FBV) in the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). According to the Board’s weekly bulletin released on Monday, the move was part of efforts to tackle impersonation, examination malpractice and restore greater integrity to the examination process. JAMB said the planned transition marks another major step towards strengthening biometric identification and tightening security around the UTME. This will feature the Board partnering with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to verify candidates through live facial recognition before they are allowed to sit the UTME. The Board said candidates seeking to take the examination would undergo live facial verification through an application, with the verification result forwarded to NIMC. The identity management agency would subsequently return a code to JAMB to either affirm or reject the candidate’s identity claim. The Examination body informed that it would initially retain the existing 10-fingerprint biometric format alongside the live facial verification system. It however hinted that the facial verification technology would eventually replace the use of One-Time Passwords (OTPs), while fingerprint verification would be gradually phased out within the next two to three years. To facilitate the transition, JAMB said it was already putting measures in place to ensure that all accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres were equipped with appropriate Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and that personnel were adequately trained. The Board explained that facial biometric verification uses unique facial features to establish a person’s identity, offering advantages over conventional biometric methods such as fingerprint and iris scanning.
Aug 31, 2026 · via thefact.ng
How China buried Tibet flood images after Nepal disaster August 31, 2026 When a catastrophic flash flood swept through the rugged China-Nepal border on August 26, the physical devastation was immediate. In Nepal, a black torrent of mud and rock tore through communities, leaving hundreds dead and thousands more missing along the borderlands. But across the frontier in Tibet, an autonomous region of China, the physical disaster was almost instantly followed by a digital one: the rapid, high-tech erasure of the catastrophe's visual evidence. As survivors tried to upload raw footage of the deluge, China's state-backed information control apparatus swung into action, executing a sophisticated, precision operation to shape the public narrative and bury inconvenient truths. The contrasting realities — a tragic humanitarian crisis in Nepal and a tightly sanitized, triumphant rescue narrative in China — reveal the evolving mechanics of Beijing's modern censorship machine. Rather than imposing a blunt, blanket blackout, authorities deployed advanced image-recognition technology and "saturated information" tactics to drown out domestic scrutiny while deflecting diplomatic friction abroad. Collapse of the border gate In the immediate aftermath of the flood-triggered mudslide, local residents captured dramatic footage of the torrent engulfing Gyirong Port, a critical overland trade hub between China and Nepal. The most striking video showed a black wall of water and debris crashing into and destroying the "national" border gate. In an article titled "An Unrecorded Mudslide Rushes into Gyirong Port" on China's WeChat, a universal app that combines messaging with payment options and social media functions, local blogger "Matou Qingnian" described the chaotic scene. "The most terrifying moment happened at the Gyirong Port," the author wrote, describing video footage of crowds, including children, fleeing in panic before a pitch-black torrent swallowed the camera's view. Within hours, both the article and the raw video footage had
Aug 31, 2026 · via amp.dw.com
And how do I use artificial intelligence without getting in trouble with the state board?
The answers point to a simple conclusion: Artificial intelligence does not replace appraisers.
How Computer Vision Is Trained to “See” What We See Computer vision is a subset of artificial intelligence that enables computers to extract information from pictures.
USPAP Obligations in an Artificial Intelligence Assisted Appraisal While USPAP does not prohibit the use of artificial intelligence, it clearly assigns responsibility for results to the appraiser, not the technology.
Artificial intelligence is not a threat to professional valuation — it’s an opportunity to elevate it.
Aug 31, 2026 · via appraisalbuzz.com
The Federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland is releasing draft legislation, to tackle new technologies including smart glasses and artificial intelligence.
The proliferation of cheap smart glasses have challenged the relevance of Australia's existing privacy laws.
Meanwhile, tech firms are gobbling up huge reams of data to help train AI models, often with little regard for people's privacy or copyright.
Labor plans to introduce the proposed new laws into parliament by the end of the year.
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Kimberlee Weatherall, Professor of Law at University of Sydney researching technology and the law
Aug 31, 2026 · via abc.net.au
Threads could soon offer another incentive to keep people posting, with a new post recognition screen recently added to the app’s back-end code. As shown in this image posted by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, Threads may soon give users a virtual gem for posting highly engaging content, as a means to recognize user contributions, and potentially gamify the process. Threads itself hasn’t offered any insight into this yet, so the reward could merely be visual, or it could include a monetary incentive. Incorporating a monetization element would make it similar to X’s efforts to guide posting behaviors by offering cash prizes for articles, videos and other kinds of posts. The post recognition process also seems similar to X’s Bangers promotion, in which X tried to recognize the most engaging posts in the app. Last November, X announced its Bangers promotion, which was meant to recognize the most engaging posts in the app each month by highlighting them in a dedicated Bangers account. Creators who received recognition also got a special badge that appeared on their profile. The idea, like this concept from Threads, was that this type of additional recognition would motivate the most engaging posters to keep sharing content in the app. But X seemed to lose interest in the concept pretty quickly. The @Bangers account has been dormant since November, after it recognized the first round of bangers. Maybe Threads will be more dedicated to the recognition. It looks like it might be easier because these gems would be awarded based on engagement thresholds, not on external judgment. Either way, it looks like Threads may soon have a new way to celebrate its most popular posts.
Aug 31, 2026 · via socialmediatoday.com
Subscribe to The Informer for monthly expert analysis, and to Events for advance notice of visiting world leaders and distinguished guests. You may unsubscribe from Lowy Institute newsletters at any time. For information on our privacy practices and how to unsubscribe, see our Privacy Policy. The most-pressing world events explained by Lowy Institute experts and global contributors, in your inbox, every Thursday. You may unsubscribe from The Interpreter at any time. For information on our privacy practices and how to unsubscribe, see our Privacy Policy. Artificial intelligence, explained. A staff member works on script refinement, on-location filming, AI post-production, and overseas translation and distribution at a micro drama production company on 21 July 2026 in Jiaxing, China (VCG via Getty Images) A face licensed for one AI advert can be reused indefinitely, and local laws have not caught up with that. Would you accept US$15 to let an AI company use your face in artificial intelligence generated content? In China, this is becoming a real proposition. A recent Rest of World (Opens in new window) article reports that people are paid from between US$15 to US$700 to license their facial likenesses for AI-generated microdramas and advertisements produced for mobile phone viewing. China’s mobile entertainment industry is already enormous – and the use of AI-generated content is growing. More than 95% of microdramas released in China during the first three months of 2026 reportedly used AI somewhere in their production. The industry needs more faces – celebrities and ordinary people – to meet the demand for fast-paced, audience-driven microdrama production (Opens in new window). One response has been straightforward: pay people for their faces. At the same time, regulators and platforms are cracking down on harmful and pirated content (Opens in new window),unauthorised digital likeness (Opens in new window), and homogeneous
Aug 31, 2026 · via lowyinstitute.org
Have you ever woken in the morning steeped in a sense of nonspecific dread? It’s undefined, and even though you have no idea what it’s about, it’s palpable. You recognize that it’s just a feeling, not a fact, yet the heaviness presses. You scan the night’s memories for a bad dream… nothing in jackboots chased you through a field, the mean girls didn’t take your coat. With dreams coming up empty, you look around. Did your psyche manage to bury something horrific, just to give you the mercy of sleep? Did yesterday bring a terminal illness diagnosis? An IRS audit? No. And yet. That foreboding sense, ominous and ill-defined, persists. Writing days don’t always go as planned That’s how I woke up one day last week: Marinating in apprehension worthy of a straightjacket. It was a planned writing day, and I had it all laid out: coffee, pickleball, then up to the rooftop sofa to write under a tattered pergola. The morning dreads smashed that. Scanning for the source of what woke me up scared for the world, I remembered. Of course. It was something I stupidly read right before bed the night before. It was a deep dive on Trump’s total dismantling of U.S. counterintelligence and counterterrorism efforts. Trump has systematically removed U.S. counterterrorism and counterintelligence assets, the professionals tracking communications and operations of adversarial governments and terrorist cells planning bombs, manipulating politics, and sowing dangerous division in the U.S., and reassigned them instead to monitor Trump’s domestic political adversaries. Trump gutted foreign risk monitoring functions under the DOJ, the FBI, and DHS, while deliberately elevating terrorism risks those divisions were created to track. The threat environment from Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Mexico, and Cuba is now at an all-time high, and we have a weakened detectionsystem in place.
Aug 30, 2026 · via dailykos.com