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Technology And Culture

All articles tagged with #technology and culture

technology-and-culture3 days ago•9 min saved

AI-Generated 'Comedians' Steal Stand-Up Jokes to Funnel Traffic to Adult Subscription Sites

A network of AI-generated female personas on Instagram is plagiarizing viral stand-up comedy clips to drive traffic to adult subscription platforms. These accounts, such as 'Tiffany Sloane' and 'Aylen Skye,' replicate jokes word-for-word, including filler sounds, while upgrading visual aesthetics to maximize engagement. Comedians report that these AI clones often outperform the original human creators in view counts. Meta has declined to remove the accounts, stating that copying content without impersonation does not violate community guidelines, leaving creators with limited legal recourse due to weak copyright protections for jokes.

via WIRED|

#ai-content #copyright #instagram

technology-and-culture4 days ago•0 min saved

San Francisco Developer Unveils 'Night Shift,' a Controversial Zombie Shooter Set in the Tenderloin

Pierre-Louis Biojout, founder of AI platform NanoCorp, released a free multiplayer browser game called 'Night Shift' that depicts San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood as a zombie-infested shooter environment. The game, built in a single weekend using AI coding tools, features recognizable local landmarks and characters representing individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction. While Biojout claims the game has generated $300 in ad revenue, it has sparked intense backlash for trivializing the city’s social crises, though some users praise it as an innovative indie title.

via SFist|

#ai-development #san-francisco #social-media-controversy

technology-and-culture17 days ago•1 min saved

Shivon Zilis Announces Sudden Split From Elon Musk After Unfollow

Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive and mother of four of Elon Musk’s children, publicly announced the end of their relationship on October 2, 2026. She stated the split occurred 'with no warning' within one week, following Musk’s decision to unfollow her on X. Zilis expressed deep gratitude for their children and wished for a continued friendship, while including a screenshot of a private text exchange regarding a dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

via Business Insider|

#elon-musk #neuralink #personal-life

technology-and-culture22 days ago•13 min saved

SNL Season 52 Premiere Mocks AI Anxiety Through Dario Amodei Parody

Saturday Night Live's Season 52 premiere featured a sketch mocking Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's recent AI safety warnings, using a split-personality bit to highlight the disconnect between AI developers' public reassurances and their private caution.

via Gizmodo|

#ai-safety #anthropic #dario-amodei

technology-and-culture25 days ago•0 min saved

Scottish Grandmother Cath Bowie Recognized as Oldest Female Fortnite Streamer

Cath Bowie, a 78-year-old resident of Inverurie, Scotland, has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest female Fortnite streamer. She began playing the game in 2017 after her grandson introduced her to it and has streamed for up to six hours daily ever since. Her achievement is featured in the recently released Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2027, which highlights gaming across diverse age groups. Bowie, known online as 'grumpygran1948,' has accumulated over 24,000 followers on Twitch and describes herself as a 'Fortniter' rather than just a gamer. She emphasizes that age should not be a deterrent to starting new hobbies, noting that she has continued to enjoy the game for nearly nine years.

via ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|

#cath-bowie #fortnite #gaming

technology-and-culture25 days ago•1 min saved

Scottish grandmother Cath Bowie recognized as world's oldest female Fortnite streamer

Cath Bowie, a 78-year-old resident of Inverurie, Scotland, has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest female Fortnite streamer. Known online as grumpygran1948, she began playing the popular battle royale game in 2017 after her grandson introduced her to it. Despite initial skepticism from family members about her ability to attract an audience, Bowie has cultivated a following of over 24,000 people. She appears in the upcoming Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2027, highlighting the game's appeal across diverse age groups.

via BBC|

#elderly-gamers #fortnite #gaming

technology-and-culture1 month ago•2 min saved

Gen Z Embraces 'Ghost Posting' to Bypass Social Media Performance Pressure

A new social media trend called 'ghost posting' involves users uploading photos to Instagram, immediately archiving them, and restoring them days later. This technique allows content to appear on a user's profile grid without being pushed to followers' feeds, thereby avoiding immediate engagement metrics. The practice, popular among Gen Z, serves as a strategy to reduce the anxiety associated with curating a perfect online presence and to decouple posting from the pressure of public validation.

via USA Today|

#digital-privacy #gen-z #instagram

technology-and-culture1 month ago•1 min saved

Fake Shopping Apps Surge as Users Seek Dopamine Without Spending

A new trend of 'dopamine sites' has emerged, primarily originating in South Korea, where users simulate shopping and ordering food without making actual purchases. These platforms, such as 'Food Never Arrives' and 'FakeHaul,' mimic the full checkout and delivery tracking process to provide the psychological satisfaction of consumption while saving money. While some users report these tools help them resist real spending, experts warn that the novelty may fade quickly and could potentially increase cravings for real goods. The trend has expanded to include virtual smoke breaks and other simulated experiences, attracting millions of users globally.

via futurism.com|

#consumer-behavior #digital-trends #dopamine-sites

technology-and-culture1 month ago•3 min saved

AI Food Slop: Why Generative Menus Trigger Disgust and Backlash

AI-generated food images are triggering widespread consumer disgust and backlash, with diners describing the visuals as 'uncanny' and 'unappetizing.' While 26% of restaurant operators use AI to cut costs amid slim margins, the resulting 'slop' imagery often distorts textures and ingredients, leading to viral outrage, vandalism, and lost revenue. Experts argue that while AI is useful for back-end operations, it fails to capture the authenticity and safety cues essential to food marketing, prompting a shift toward traditional photography or hand-drawn alternatives.

via The Guardian|

#ai-in-advertising #consumer-psychology #food-marketing

technology-and-culture1 month ago•164 min saved

AI 'Slop' Menus Spark Global Backlash as Restaurants Face Real-World Consequences

AI-generated food images are causing widespread disgust and financial harm to small restaurants. While 26% of owners use AI to cut costs, the resulting 'uncanny' visuals trigger evolutionary disgust responses, leading to viral backlash, negative reviews, and even vandalism. Experts argue that authenticity and human-made photos are essential for maintaining customer trust in the dining experience.

via cnn.com|

#ai-in-marketing #consumer-behavior #food-industry

technology-and-culture1 month ago•4 min saved

AI-Generated Menu Images Spark Public Outrage and 'Food Slop' Backlash

AI-generated food images are replacing traditional menu photos in some delis, causing widespread disgust and a phenomenon dubbed 'AI food slop.' While these images trigger visceral reactions and anxiety, experts note that the uncanny valley effect makes them impossible to ignore. The trend reflects broader public skepticism toward AI in creative fields, with many consumers preferring authentic, even if simple, photography over synthetic alternatives.

via USA Today|

#ai #consumer-psychology #digital-trends

technology-and-culture1 month ago•6 min saved

Silicon Valley's Longevity Obsession: Inside Bryan Johnson's Exclusive San Francisco Event

Bryan Johnson hosted a high-demand private longevity event in San Francisco, drawing over 3,000 applicants for 100 slots. The gathering featured biological age testing, breathwork, and a Q&A with his lead doctor, reflecting a growing tech-sector fascination with extending life through rigorous wellness protocols.

via Business Insider|

#biohacking #bryan-johnson #health-tech

technology-and-culture1 month ago

Basement Club Enforces Permanent Ban on Smart Glasses to Protect Privacy

Basement, a prominent underground techno club in Queens, New York, has announced a strict policy banning smart glasses. The venue states that devices capable of discreet recording violate its privacy standards, resulting in immediate removal and potential permanent bans for offenders. This move reflects growing public backlash against smart glasses, often criticized for enabling non-consensual recording and harassment. While Meta has introduced technical safeguards, such as disabling cameras when indicator lights are obscured, critics argue these measures are insufficient. The ban distinguishes itself from general phone restrictions by targeting specific surveillance hardware, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to perceived privacy violations in nightlife spaces.

via Futurism|

#basement-nyc #meta-ray-ban #nightclub-policy

technology-and-culture1 month ago•16 min saved

Australia Bars Wholly AI-Generated Tracks from Official Music Charts

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has updated its code of practice to exclude tracks wholly generated by artificial intelligence from official charts. Effective August 31, 2026, only recordings that are 'substantially human-made' and free from manipulation concerns are eligible. While AI tools remain permissible for mastering or drum machines, artists must now declare AI usage, and ARIA retains the power to retrospectively remove ineligible songs or revoke awards.

via AP News|

#ai-regulation #aria-charts #copyright

technology-and-culture2 years ago•2 min saved

Starlink Brings Internet to Remote Amazon Tribe, Sparks Addiction to Porn and Social Media

The Marubo tribe in the Amazon rainforest has gained internet access through Elon Musk's Starlink, leading to both positive and negative impacts. While the internet has facilitated communication and opened new opportunities, it has also introduced modern vices like social media addiction and exposure to explicit content, causing concerns about cultural erosion and generational disconnect.

via Futurism|

#amazon-tribe #cultural-impact #internet