Though the buzz in Hollywood over artificial intelligence is old news, Lionsgate’s revolutionary move into AI is about to take the industry by storm. With AI being the cornerstone issue of both the writers’ and actors’ strikes in Hollywood in 2023, the industry is now witnessing how AI is being utilized in real time. 

Lionsgate will be partnering with Runaway, a creative technology company that specializes in AI, to integrate AI into its production process unlike any other studio has done before.

While other studios have begun to use AI in their process at various stages, this new partnership intends to integrate AI technology from pre-production to post-production.

GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE

How will Runaway’s technology be utilized by Lionsgate?

Lionsgate will be integrating Runaway’s generative AI models as well as other technological advancements into its creative process. Lionsgate believes that AI technology can help expedite traditional manual tasks, which would help give filmmakers the ability to focus on more inspired and innovative storytelling.

SMALL SIZE, BIG CLEAN: THE WORLD’S SMALLEST DISHWASHER

Below are a few key integration points at each stage of the filmmaking process utilizing Runaway’s technology:

• Pre-production: Rewriting scripts and visually seeing creative ideas in real-time
• Production: Creators will be able to experiment and play around with different visual styles, use text prompts to generate different visual effects or scenery
• Post-production: Faster color correction and editing and enabling directors, editors and other special effects teams to collaborate and create in real-time

Though studios have already utilized AI in the past to generate realistic backgrounds and perform editing tasks, this will be the first time a studio has deeply integrated AI in all parts of its process. In addition to streamlining and reducing production timelines, there will be more visually stunning and engaging stories spun from AI-driven content.

ALERT: 106 MILLION AMERICANS EXPOSED AS MASSIVE DATA LEAK ROCKS BACKGROUND CHECK FIRM

A cameraman working in Hollywood (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOW TO POLICE HOLLYWOOD FROM SWIPING ORIGINAL CREATIVE WORK WITH AI

Are fears around AI unfounded?

With this elaborate integration of AI, there is, of course, the fear that AI will take over or replace human talent. However, the recent collaboration between Lionsgate and Runway shows that it has actually been enhancing the process versus diminishing creativity. 

Instead of replacing their human counterparts, these technologies are being used as tools to help humans cut down on time for specific tasks, which allows them to focus on the joy of creating. It also enables more creative approaches at a lower cost.

106 MILLION AMERICANS EXPOSED AS MASSIVE DATA LEAK ROCKS BACKGROUND CHECK FIRM

Illustration of a traditional Hollywood production (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOLLYWOOD HIJACKED: THE AI TAKEOVER OF TINSELTOWN’S FILMS TO FAKE OUT AMERICANS

Industry reactions and future prospects

The industry has been abuzz with reactions to this groundbreaking partnership. Michael Burns, vice chair of Lionsgate, emphasized that AI will be a tool for augmenting and enhancing the creative process rather than replacing it. Runway’s CEO, Cristóbal Valenzuela, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the best stories are yet to be told with the aid of these new technologies. As Lionsgate pioneers this comprehensive integration of AI, other studios are likely to follow suit, potentially transforming the landscape of film and television production.

THE HIDDEN COSTS OF FREE APPS: YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION  

Kurt’s key takeaways

Whether or not the industry is ready for AI-driven studios, Lionsgate’s partnership with Runaway is introducing a new frontier in Hollywood. The ability for individuals in every part of the filmmaking process to have more manual, time-consuming tasks assisted by or enhanced by AI is showing that instead of being a replacement for creativity, it is an enhancer of creativity. It remains to be seen how this integrated approach of AI technology in Hollywood will be a boon or a bust for all.

Have you played around with AI? Do you think AI will enhance or ruin movie magic? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

THE PEELABLE PAINT YOU CAN REMOVE FROM YOUR WALLS IN MINUTES

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover

Follow Kurt on his social channels

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

New from Kurt:

Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

Former news anchor Brian Williams is in talks to host an Amazon Prime election night special, reports Variety. The show would apparently be a “non-partisan discussion” as election night news comes in and could include multiple guests.

Williams has been out of the news game for a while. He lost his role as anchor of NBC’s Nightly News after some of his reporting was found to have been repeatedly embellished. He went on to host MSNBC’s 11th Hour until he resigned from the network in 2021.

If the deal goes through, Williams would begin the November 5th presidential election night broadcast as early as 5PM ET and continue for up to eight hours — or longer if the election is too close to call, writes Variety, citing unnamed sources familiar with the talks. The show reportedly wouldn’t keep up with breaking news; instead, Williams and his guests would explain events as the night goes on. And the show won’t call the race, according to The Daily Beast.

The deal isn’t final, Variety reported. Its sources also cautioned that the news doesn’t necessarily mean Amazon is planning on regular news programs.

Ever scanned a QR code to pay for parking and thought, “Wow, that was easy?” 

Well, hold onto your smartphones because we’re about to tell you about a sneaky new scam that’s giving parkers everywhere a major headache. 

You might think you’re pretty sharp when it comes to spotting online trickery, but these fraudsters are seriously upping their game with QR codes.

GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE

QR codes: From convenience to con

Remember when QR codes were just those funky square patterns you’d see on product packaging? Well, they’ve come a long way, baby. These days, they’re everywhere — from restaurant menus to, you guessed it, parking meters. But while they’ve made our lives easier, they’ve also opened up a new avenue for scammers to exploit.

SMALL SIZE, BIG CLEAN: THE WORLD’S SMALLEST DISHWASHER

Fraudulent QR code (Redondo Beach Police)

DON’T FALL PREY TO THIS ELECTION SEASON’S CRAFTIEST SCAMS  

The scam in action

Picture this. You’re headed to the beautiful beaches of Redondo, California. You find a spot, stroll up to the meter and see a QR code for easy payment. Convenient, right? Not so fast. In a brazen move, scammers plastered fake QR codes on about 150 parking meters along the Esplanade and Riviera Village area. These phony codes were strategically placed right next to the legitimate ParkMobile and PayByPhone labels. Talk about hiding in plain sight.

ILLEGAL MOVIE DOWNLOADS COULD BE HIDING DANGEROUS NEW MALWARE

Head down the coast to San Clemente, and you’ll find a similar story. One unsuspecting driver fell victim to this digital deception. He scanned what he thought was a legitimate code, only to find himself on a fraudulent website. Within minutes, his wife’s credit card company was calling about unauthorized charges. Talk about a parking nightmare.

This scam isn’t isolated to California. Law enforcement agencies across the country are reporting similar scams, now dubbed “quishing” (QR code phishing). These scams typically target high-traffic areas and aim to collect personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims.

ALERT: 106 MILLION AMERICANS EXPOSED AS MASSIVE DATA LEAK ROCKS BACKGROUND CHECK FIRM

Images of ParkMobile and PayByPhone apps (Redondo Beach Police)

HOW TO AVOID BECOMING A MOVING SCAM VICTIM  

How the scam works

These scammers are using QR code technology to pull off their tricks. Here’s their playbook:

The fake sticker: The scammers create QR code stickers that look just like the real deal.

The lookalike URL: The crooks set up websites with names eerily similar to legitimate parking payment sites. For example, PoyByPhone instead of PayByPhone. Spot the difference? It’s not easy.

The data grab: Once you’re on the scammer’s site, they ask for your location and payment info, just like a real parking app would.

The quick getaway: With your data in hand, the thieves start making unauthorized charges faster than you can say “parking ticket.”

Park and pay station (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM TECH SUPPORT SCAMS 

How to protect yourself

1. Scrutinize the URL: Before entering any information, carefully examine the web address for any irregularities or misspellings.

2. Use official apps: Whenever possible, use the official city parking app instead of scanning QR codes.

3. Inspect for tampering: Be wary of QR codes that appear to be afterthoughts or look like they’ve been added on top of existing signage.

4. Consider alternative payment methods: Sometimes, using coins or a credit card directly at the meter is the safest option.

5. Keep your device updated: Regularly update your phone’s operating system and security software to protect against the latest threats.

6. Avoid public Wi-Fi for payments: Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, making them prime hunting grounds for cybercriminals. When making parking payments, use your cellular data connection instead. Remember, it’s better to use a bit more mobile data than to risk your financial information falling into the wrong hands. If you must use public Wi-Fi, consider using a VPN to encrypt your connection and protect your data from potential hackers. For best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.

7. Be wary of unsolicited messages: Ignore links sent via email, text or social media claiming to be for parking payments. Instead, manually enter the official parking website or use the city’s app.

8. Use secure scanning methods: Your smartphone’s built-in camera is typically sufficient for scanning QR codes. Avoid downloading third-party QR code scanning apps, which could potentially contain malware.

9. Verify payment requests: If you receive a QR code for payment via email, don’t rush to pay. Contact the company directly through their official channels to confirm the request.

10. Don’t click on suspicious links: Be cautious about clicking on any links that appear in emails, texts or social media messages regarding parking payments. Scammers often use these methods to direct you to fake websites that may look legitimate but are designed to steal your personal and financial information.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.

360-DEGREE THROWABLE TACTICAL CAMERAS ARE CHANGING THE GAME FOR THE MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

What to do if you’ve been scammed

If you think you’ve fallen victim to a QR code con, don’t panic. Here’s your action plan:

Contact your bank: Immediately call your credit card company or bank to report the fraud and freeze your accounts.

File a report: Contact your local police department.

Alert the FTC: File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

Monitor your credit: Keep a close eye on your credit reports for any suspicious activity.

THE HIDDEN COSTS OF FREE APPS: YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Kurt’s key takeaways

Remember, scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, but so are the good guys. By staying informed and using a healthy dose of skepticism, you can enjoy the convenience of digital payments without falling victim to these parking predators. So, the next time you’re out and about looking for a parking spot, keep these tips in mind, and don’t let the scammers take you for a ride.

In your opinion, how can cities better protect residents and visitors from scams like these? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover

Follow Kurt on his social channels

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

New from Kurt:

Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.