The SEC Newgate AI Weekly

Drake's diss track dilemma 

Drake's latest track, "Taylor Made," featuring AI-generated voices of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, has stirred up controversy, with Tupac's legal team threatening legal action if the song isn't removed from the internet. Litigator Howard King slammed the song as "blatant abuse" of Tupac's legacy, stating that the estate never approved the use of Tupac's voice. The release of "Taylor Made" comes amidst a flurry of diss tracks from various rap artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. Drake's move to poke fun at Lamar's height and shoe size in "Push Ups" escalated tensions further. The inclusion of Tupac's voice in "Taylor Made" without authorisation has raised eyebrows, reflecting the ongoing debate around AI-generated music and record label responses. Despite the threat of legal action, Drake may be prepared to defend his creation in court, adding another layer to the ongoing rap beef. 

Unleashing the future of the Olympics?  

At London's Lee Valley VeloPark, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched its AI Agenda, heralding the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in sports. IOC president Thomas Bach emphasised AI's role as a gamechanger, citing its impact on talent identification, training methods, judging, event organisation, broadcasting, and spectator experience. Demonstrations showcased AI's ability to enhance judging in diving by providing real-time data on height, rotations, and form, ensuring fairer scores. Other projects include using AI to spot talent in remote villages and colorise historic footage from the 1924 Paris Games. Athletes and industry experts, including legends like Nadia Comaneci and Lindsey Vonn, expressed intrigue and optimism about AI's possibilities, but also raised concerns about safeguards and ethical implications. 

Bollywood deepfakes raise alarms 

Two viral AI-generated videos featuring Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and endorsing the opposition Congress party have sparked controversy in India's ongoing general election. Despite being labelled as "manipulated media," the videos garnered over half a million views on social media. This election marks the first in India where AI is being used extensively for campaigning. While both actors have disclaimed the videos as fake, the spread of such content underscores the potential influence of AI-generated fakes, or deepfakes, in the political landscape. Police investigations have been initiated, and Facebook has removed some of the videos for policy violations. Additionally, politicians are leveraging AI in other ways, including creating videos featuring deceased politicians and using AI-generated anchors for political messaging. 

AI companion or smartphone substitute? 

Rabbit unveiled its R1 AI-assisted device, drawing a crowd of over 100 paying customers alongside media representatives. CEO Jesse Lyu underscored the device's innovative approach, emphasising its focus on actions rather than conventional app usage. Demonstrations showcased its functionality, including weather checks and language translation, although there were a few hiccups with DoorDash orders attributed to network latency issues. Crafted by Teenage Engineering, the R1's compact, plastic design features a scroll wheel and swivelling camera but lacks intuitive functionality and voice command integration. Priced at $199, the R1 faces scrutiny regarding its potential to replace smartphones for AI-driven tasks. Despite its aesthetic appeal and practical carrying case, the device confronts challenges in establishing a distinct market presence amidst established smartphone competitors.