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Meta discontinues Instagram feature on new AI image generation tool after Hollywood backlash

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Meta discontinues Instagram feature on new AI image generation tool after Hollywood backlash

A new tool that let people take publicly posted Instagram photos and use AI to generate new images from them drew such a big backlash in Hollywood that Meta has discontinued one of the features.

Instagram’s parent company, Meta, on Tuesday rolled out the new AI tool, called Muse Image, which makes it easy to “turn your ideas into high-quality visuals you can download and share anywhere.”

In a promotional video, Meta showed examples like adding a friend into a band photo.

But the tool came under fire from talent agencies, managers and union officials. They noted that many Instagram accounts were opted in by default, allowing users to manipulate the image and likeness of celebrities without their consent.

“I just think it’s wrong again to expect people to opt themselves out of something that literally has been proven to be able to create harm,” said Kyle Hjelmeseth, chief executive of Los Angeles-based influencer talent management firm G&B.

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By Friday, Meta said a feature on Muse Image that helps pull photos from public Instagram accounts was no longer available.

“Earlier this week, we announced that one way for people to generate images in Meta AI is by @-mentioning public Instagram accounts that they want to reference,” Meta said in a blog post. “Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way. We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available.”

Creative Artists Agency, which raised concerns to Meta on behalf of its clients, commended the tech company for its swift decision.

“Putting individual rights and consent at the forefront is essential to building responsible technology,” the Century City-based talent agency said in a statement. “We look forward to ongoing conversations to ensure creators stay protected as technology evolves.”

Hollywood has long been wary of AI, after a string of deepfakes — videos or images depicting celebrities doing or saying things they never authorized. Jamie Lee Curtis and others have appeared in ads for products they never endorsed. Last year, OpenAI’s Sora 2 video tool drew outrage in Hollywood after users conjured up dead celebrities without their estates’ consent. OpenAI later said it would give rights holders more granular controls.

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After Meta rolled out its new tool, there was immediate backlash from Hollywood.

“Anything other than a clear and conspicuous OPT-IN for these types of uses of Instagram users’ images is unacceptable, and an utter miscalculation of public sentiment regarding the obvious dangers and harms inherent in such use,” performers union SAG-AFTRA said in a statement.

United Talent Agency was also critical of Meta, saying it demands opt-in for the use of likeness, image and intellectual property of its clients on any platform.

“The use of such property without OPT-IN consent, credit and compensation is exploitation, not innovation,” the Beverly Hills-based talent agency said.

Meta’s initial response on Wednesday was that users can choose to opt out of having their photos used by Muse Image by changing their settings.

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“We built Muse Image with strong controls and safety guardrails from day one,” Meta said in a statement. “Private accounts and those belonging to users under 18 are automatically excluded and adult users with public accounts can opt out with just a couple clicks. We will take action against any content that violates our Community Standards.”

Two days later, Meta removed a key feature from Muse Image, saying it received feedback that it “missed the mark.”

The launch fits a familiar Silicon Valley pattern — ship products first, ask for forgiveness later.

“They leverage their scale to make it easy to use the tools as well as to scale out the content that is available,” said Mickey Maher, chief business officer at Vermillio, which tracks people’s digital likenesses and intellectual property. “It’s not unique to this Meta product.”

Others said opt-out should be the default.

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“This dark pattern of AI overreach, where essentially it’s a free-for-all when it comes to your content, information, is something that nobody actually wants,” said Lori Fena, former chair and executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and co-founder of New York-based Personal Digital Spaces. “What we need in this new AI ecosystem is the ability to create trust and to have some sort of understanding and authenticity, and this does exactly the opposite.”

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Human-Shaped Robots at This Car Factory Can Perform Humanlike Tasks

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Humanoids — human-shaped robots — at this BMW factory in South Carolina are expected to respond to voice commands, solve problems and react to unforeseen events. U.S. automakers hope that this technology can give them a fighting chance against their Chinese rivals that enjoy lower costs.

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Spotify to label ‘AI personas’ and exclude AI music from personal recommendations

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Spotify to label ‘AI personas’ and exclude AI music from personal recommendations

In its latest effort to protect human creators from the flood of synthetic music, Spotify will soon require AI-generated identities to carry an “AI Persona” label while barring their tracks from users’ algorithmic mixes.

The change will take effect in mid-September. It follows Spotify’s earlier moves to help subscribers understand the difference between genuine and artificial creators. The platform announced a verification badge in April designed to highlight human artists. In a statement Tuesday, Spotify said the new AI persona label is meant to make the streamer “the most transparent and trustworthy place to listen to music.” Music from labeled AI personas will also be excluded from the Swedish company’s personalized recommendations by default.

“While we believe all artists have creative choice in determining how they present themselves, Spotify’s programming is focused on elevating music from authentic artists building careers in music,” the company said.

The AI persona badge will appear on an artist’s profile, in the search feature and in playlists.

This is a step in the right direction, said Tiffany Naiman, the director of Music Industry Programs at UCLA. But, she said, she’s more interested in how the company will be identifying AI personas.

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“I want to know the process. How [will they] know the difference? Are there going to be [real] artists that get tied up in it?” Naiman said. “It feels very ‘Blade Runner,’ right? Like you’re human, you’re not human.”

Starting Tuesday, Spotify users will be able to identify themselves as AI personas, if applicable. But the company said it “won’t rely on self-disclosure alone” and will use “human review alongside AI investigative tools to apply the label.”

Artists who get labeled as AI personas by Spotify will be allowed to appeal the label. In the coming months, users will also have the ability to report artist profiles as potential AI personas.

The label is the latest feature from the streaming platform that builds on transparency between the artist and their listeners. Recently, Spotify has also introduced SongDNA, an interactive feature that shows the creative team behind the track; AI Credits, a disclaimer where artists can reveal how much AI was used in their creative process; and Artist Profile Protection, which allows artists to review and approve all releases on Spotify.

Artificial intelligence is becoming an essential part of Spotify’s business. The company announced a new AI deal last week with the digital music licensing company Merlin. The partnership will enable artists across the more than 30,000 labels and distributors in Merlin’s network to participate in Spotify’s upcoming AI tool. It hasn’t launched yet, but the goal is to let fans create AI-generated remixes and covers of existing songs on the platform.

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Spotify is following in the steps of other streaming platforms that have taken more aggressive approaches to the new technology. Deezer, a French streamer, was the first to detect, tag and exclude AI-generated music from algorithmic recommendations. The company recently disclosed that up to 90,000 AI tracks are being uploaded to the platform daily, representing more than 50% of its new music uploads. Tidal has banned AI-generated music from receiving royalties on its platform.

“We know the music ecosystem is evolving, and so will our approach,” said Spotify in a statement. “We’ll continue to adapt as the landscape changes and as we learn from artists, listeners, and industry partners.”

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Nine shows, including ‘Clueless’ sequel, receive state tax credit

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Nine shows, including ‘Clueless’ sequel, receive state tax credit

Nine television shows, including a sequel to the 1995 hit “Clueless,” have been awarded a tax credit for filming in the Golden State, according to the California Film Commission.

Most of the shows chosen for a production incentive are in their first season, such as Universal Television’s “Newlyweds,” a new series starring Jamie Lee Curtis that will film 26 days in Los Angeles and received a credit of $5.8 million.

The largest credit of $45.1 million went to a new, untitled scripted series from Disney Entertainment Television, which will film 142 days in California, most of which are in Los Angeles, according to the state’s film commission.

Other recipients include Paramount Television Studios’ “Ascent,” which stars Viola Davis ($21 million), Universal Television’s “The Rockford Files” reboot ($21 million) and season two of Sony Pictures Television’s “S.W.A.T. Exiles” ($16.2 million). The “Clueless” sequel, which will see actor Alicia Silverstone reprise her role as Cher, was awarded a $16.3 million credit.

“I’m so grateful that ‘Clueless’ gets to tell Cher’s next chapter in the city where her story began,” Silverstone said in a statement. “Los Angeles has been through so much over the past several years, but the city is resilient. You simply can’t recreate this city anywhere else, and I’m excited to bring Cher home.”

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In total, the nine productions are expected to account for more than 1,000 shoot days in California and result in jobs for 3,000 cast and crew members, as well as 25,000 background actors, the California Film Commission said. The shows are set to generate about $608 million in direct production spending in state.

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