All posts tagged: replace

Lionsgate’s AI Deal Sounds a Lot Like It Wants to Replace the Jobs of Storyboard and VFX Artists

Lionsgate’s AI Deal Sounds a Lot Like It Wants to Replace the Jobs of Storyboard and VFX Artists

Published by José

The goal is to save “millions and millions of dollars,” the studio says. Cine-files Lionsgate, the studio behind hit franchises ranging from “John Wick” to “The Hunger Games” to cult classics like “American Psycho,” is entering into a major partnership with the AI firm Runway, The Wall Street Journal reports. As part of the deal, announced Wednesday, Runway receives access to Lionsgate’s treasure trove of movies and TV shows — which in return the startup will use to develop a new AI model exclusively for the Hollywood studio. Runway claims that the AI model will be capable of generating “cinematic video.” And Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns says the tech will save the company “millions and millions of dollars,” per the WSJ — remarks that suggest an aim of slashing jobs if the project is successful, with Burns saying the goal is to use the tool for roles that have traditionally been done by humans, like storyboarding and the creation of visual effects. “We do a lot of action movies, so we blow a lot of …

Could robot weedkillers replace the need for pesticides? | Farming

Could robot weedkillers replace the need for pesticides? | Farming

Published by skeptic

On a sweltering summer day in central Kansas, farm fields shimmer in the heat as Clint Brauer watches a team of bright yellow robots churn up and down the rows, tirelessly slicing away any weeds that stand in their way while avoiding the growing crops. The battery-powered machines, 4ft (1.2 metres) long and 2ft (0.6 metres) wide, pick their way through the fields with precision, without any human hand to guide them. Brauer, a former California-based tech executive who moved back to his family farm in central Kansas after his father developed Parkinson’s disease, sees the robots as critical tools to help farmers reduce their reliance on chemicals and be more protective of their health and the environment. His Greenfield agricultural technology company now builds and programs its robots in a shed behind an old farmhouse where his grandmother once lived. Twenty farmers are signed up for the robotic services this season, and the company hopes to weed 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) this year. “The answer is here,” he said. “This solves a lot of …

‘I fear when we stop, no one will replace us’: Madagascar’s forest guardians – in pictures | Global development

‘I fear when we stop, no one will replace us’: Madagascar’s forest guardians – in pictures | Global development

Published by skeptic

Friends, left to right, Mara Tongamana, 46, Soja Mahafeliky, 38, and Realy Tsitigna, 45, are three of the last four rangers looking after the Enekara forest. They are also apprentice healers, or ombiasy, and use the forest to gather plants, leaves and bark. Among the challenges they face is people coming into the forest to kill owls, snakes and chameleons, which are all associated with black magic in local folklore Source link

From the archive: Can computers ever replace the classroom? – podcast | News

From the archive: Can computers ever replace the classroom? – podcast | News

Published by skeptic

We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2020: With 850 million children worldwide shut out of schools, tech evangelists claim now is the time for AI education. But as the technology’s power grows, so too do the dangers that come with it. By Alex Beard How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know Source link

West Ham agree deal to replace David Moyes at end of season | UK News

West Ham agree deal to replace David Moyes at end of season | UK News

Published by Sam

West Ham have agreed a deal in principle with Julen Lopetegui to take over from David Moyes as manager at the end of the season, Sky Sports News understands. Lopetegui, 57, has been out of work since leaving Wolves three days before the start of the season but has stayed in England in the hope of landing another job in the Premier League. The Spaniard, who has also managed Porto, Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla during an illustrious coaching career, looks set to take charge at the London Stadium at the end of the season after Moyes’ expected departure. Image: Julen Lopetegui. File pic: PA West Ham are ninth in the league after Sunday’s 5-0 defeat at Chelsea. Moyes, 61, who is out of contract in the summer, has faced increased questions about his future as his team have won only one of their previous nine league games. He said he felt “really sorry” for West Ham fans after watching his side fall to a heavy loss at Stamford Bridge. He said: “The fans have …

Scottish singer drafted in to replace Olly Murs at Glasgow Take That concert thought offer was a ‘joke’ | UK News

Scottish singer drafted in to replace Olly Murs at Glasgow Take That concert thought offer was a ‘joke’ | UK News

Published by skeptic

A Scottish singer plucked from obscurity at the last minute to replace Olly Murs as the opening act for Take That in Glasgow has told Sky News he thought the life-changing opportunity was a “joke”. Daniel Rooney, 26, was playing at the Radisson Red hotel opposite the OVO Hydro when news broke that Murs was forced to cancel his support act on Friday due to transport issues. TV presenter Ross King, who was enjoying a family dinner at the hotel, was impressed with Mr Rooney’s vocals and recommended the singer to his friend and Take That frontman Gary Barlow. With 30 minutes to go before the show was due to start, Mr Rooney was quickly whisked to the arena and opened the festivities with a range of upbeat cover songs. Barlow later thanked him on Instagram. Image: Take That: Howard Donald, Gary Barlow and Mark Owen. Pic: PA Mr Rooney, from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, told Sky News he thought it was a wind-up at first. He said: “I was thinking, ‘right, who’s trying to …

Google Lays Off 200 Workers to Replace Them With Cheaper International Workers

Google Lays Off 200 Workers to Replace Them With Cheaper International Workers

Published by skeptic

Nothing like doing layoffs during a pivot to AI. Core Sample Google is gutting hundreds of workers from its “Core” team and replacing their jobs with cheaper international labor as it continues its pivot to AI. As CNBC reports, the search giant laid off at least 200 people ahead of an April 25 quarterly earnings call that saw its parent company, Alphabet, report an uptick in sales and a 14 percent jump in share value, both of which outpaced analyst estimates. Tasked with building out the foundations of the company’s products and helping keep users safe, the core unit umbrella oversees teams related to information technology, code development, infrastructure, and security. News of the layoffs comes after prior reports indicated that Google was cutting jobs to cut costs and restructure the business amid its AI efforts, with many of the eliminated American roles being replaced with identical jobs abroad. At least a quarter of the cuts took place at the company’s Sunnyvale, California campus, impacting the engineering team there. According to internal documents viewed by CNBC, Google plans …

Don Gilet To Replace Ralf Little In Death In Paradise

Don Gilet To Replace Ralf Little In Death In Paradise

Published by skeptic

Death In Paradise has unveiled its new lead detective. Comic actor Ralf Little announced back in March that he would not be returning to the hit crime comedy after four seasons at the helm as DI Neville Parker. Since then, a number of potential replacements have been named in the press, including former The Inbetweeners actor Simon Bird, Harry Potter star Rupert Grint and US performer Michael Rapaport all touted to be joining the show. However, on Thursday afternoon it was revealed that Don Gilet will make his Death In Paradise in this year’s Christmas special. Don Gilet on the set of Death In Paradise Don will be playing new addition Detective Inspector Mervin WiIson, with filming already underway in Guadeloupe. The former EastEnders star enthused: “Being offered the new lead role in Death in Paradise feels like a deeply loved and incredibly precious jewel has been placed in my hands. This is a big show, with a big heart and the love continually grows for it. It is my intention to never lose sight …

Legal battle over who will pay to replace Key Bridge has begun

Legal battle over who will pay to replace Key Bridge has begun

Published by skeptic

Salvage crews in Baltimore continue to remove wreckage from the Dali on April 26, one month after the cargo ship smashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused it to collapse. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Salvage crews in Baltimore continue to remove wreckage from the Dali on April 26, one month after the cargo ship smashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused it to collapse. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Workers have yet to finish removing pieces of the Francis Scott Key Bridge from Baltimore Harbor. Investigators are still trying to understand why a cargo ship called the Dali lost power before crashing into the bridge in March, killing six people, blocking the Patapsco River and severing an interstate highway. But the fight over who will pay to replace the bridge is already underway. “It’s a very unusual circumstance. But in many respects, how the law is going to apply here is actually fairly well established,” said Martin Davies, the director of the Maritime Law Center at Tulane …

Kate Forbes not running in SNP leadership race to replace Humza Yousaf as Scotland’s first minister | UK News

Kate Forbes not running in SNP leadership race to replace Humza Yousaf as Scotland’s first minister | UK News

Published by skeptic

Kate Forbes has announced she is not entering the race to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister. The former finance secretary had been tipped as a potential frontrunner after narrowly failing to beat Mr Yousaf in last year’s leadership election to replace then first minister Nicola Sturgeon. The search is currently on to find a new leader for the SNP and Scotland following Mr Yousaf’s resignation on Monday. Former deputy first minister John Swinney is the first to join the race. In a statement following his announcement, Ms Forbes confirmed she would be throwing her support behind Mr Swinney following a “frank and constructive” discussion with him over the future of the SNP and Scotland. She said: “What emerged was that we share a powerful common purpose for the country. That includes a passion to revitalise our party, reach out to those who feel disempowered and reinvigorate the independence movement. “It also includes an understanding that economic growth and tackling poverty must again be key priorities, and that a just transition …