Amazon Throws Money at ‘Netflix of AI'
Showrunner is the creation of Fable Studio, a virtual reality-turned AI-powered media company that blew up in 2023 after it released an AI version of South Park (which it happened to drop smack dab in the middle of the ongoing writers' strike that sought to secure protections against the encroachment of AI on the livelihood of creatives). A limited version of the service launched last year, dubbed the 'Netflix of AI,' with some AI-generated content that viewers could iterate on to create custom episodes and storylines.
Now, with Amazon's backing, it seems Showrunner is going wide. Per Variety, it is expanding beyond its closed alpha test of 10,000 users and launching widely this Thursday. The service will be free to use at first, but will eventually allow users to buy credits to create their own content using the platform's built-in content and generative AI tools. Those credits will cost between $10 and $40 per month, according to a pitch deck obtained by Business Insider. Viewing the content will be first, and users can share the content via YouTube and other third-party platforms.
Gizmodo reached out to Amazon for comment on its reported funding of Showrunner, as well as any potential content partnerships the company may enter into with Fable Studio. Amazon has not responded at the time of publication.
For now, it seems that Fable will be limited primarily to the company's own content, which is apparently AI-generated to begin with (and frankly not that well received by audiences who have been subjected to it). But the company certainly has its eyes set on bigger brands. According to Variety, Fable is in talks with Disney and other Hollywood studios about potentially licensing IP for Showrunner, which would allow users to use that material to create their own versions of familiar movies and shows.
Showrunner has some interesting ideas, which is ironic since creating your own version of an existing property is pretty uninteresting and glorified fan fiction. For instance, if a person creates a show on Showrunner that another person remixes, 40% of the revenue of the remix goes to the original creator, according to Business Insider. But, again, the fact that this is AI-generated content at the outset means there is likely a pretty low ceiling on the level of quality those shows will achieve.
Fable Studio founder Edward Saatchi, to his credit, seems fully aware that this might suck. 'Maybe nobody wants this and it won't work,' he told Variety. Probably! But hey, if you can burn someone else's money to find out for sure, who can really blame you?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shares in South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix tumble on US tariffs
SEOUL (Reuters) -Shares in South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix fell 3.1% in early Thursday trade, after President Donald Trump said the U.S. will impose a tariff of about 100% on chips. SK Hynix supplies Nvidia with chips called high-bandwidth memory used in artificial intelligence chipsets. Trump said on Wednesday the United States will impose a tariff of about 100% on semiconductors imported from countries not producing in the U.S. or planning to do so. But it would not apply to companies that had made a commitment to manufacture in the U.S. or were in the process of doing so. South Korea's trade envoy said on Thursday that SK Hynix and rival Samsung Electronics would not be subject to a 100% U.S. tariff on chips. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Macronix Introduces Cutting-Edge Secure-Boot NOR Flash Memory
ArmorBoot MX76 Features Ultra-Fast Boot Times, High Performance, Integrated Authentication Protection, Data Integrity Verification, Secure Update, SPI Interface, Low-Power Options HSINCHU, Aug. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Macronix International Co., Ltd. (TSE: 2337), a leading integrated device manufacturer in the non-volatile memory (NVM) market, today announced ArmorBoot MX76, a robust NOR flash memory combining in a single device, the essential performance and an array of security features that deliver rapid boot times and iron-clad data protection. The newest member of Macronix's highly successful and widely deployed ArmorFlash™ family, ArmorBoot MX76 is a high-performance, highly secure flash memory designed for artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), automotive electronics and other demanding applications that require ultra-fast boot times, integrated authentication protection, data integrity verification, secure flash updates, a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), power options of 3V or 1.8V, and capacities up to 1 Gb. "We developed ArmorBoot MX76 to address specific challenges designers in the AI, IoT and automotive-electronics markets face: achieving fast boot times, enhanced security and seamless updates," said F.L. Ni, vice president of marketing at Macronix International. "Those, along with other rapidly growing markets – industrial automation, healthcare and wireless communications, for example -- represent broad spectrum of system and device manufacturers demanding the greater performance and heightened security that ArmorBoot MX76 provides. In an age when cybersecurity is no longer a luxury but a necessity, and boot times are increasingly consequential to products' success, Macronix is delivering the highest level of security and performance in flash memory." ArmorBoot MX76's unique architecture sets it apart from previous secure NOR flash solutions in that it combines in-demand performance and security functions in a single device; no additional chips are needed to ensure required levels of data protection. During a system's critical startup or update phase, the memory's performance and security features kick in automatically and seamlessly. In addition to being a single-device solution for ultra-fast booting and robust security, ArmorBoot MX76's SPI interface enables smooth integration into new or existing systems. Top worldwide manufacturers who've already designed ArmorFlash memories into their AI, IoT and automotive-focused solutions are presently evaluating ArmorBoot to expand their product portfolios to offer enhanced performance and secure-boot capabilities. ArmorBoot's Key Features Support for the secure boot process without exposing code on the data bus Device authentication Unmatched array of security features that ensure data protection SPI interface for seamless design integration Ideal flash solution for AI, IoT, automotive, healthcare, communications, industrial systems 3V or 1.8V for optimal power efficiency Capacities up to 1Gb – suitable for targeted applications Broad Array of Secure NOR Flash Macronix's award-winning ArmorFlash family, of which ArmorBoot MX76 is the latest addition, features a broad array of NOR flash memories developed for a wide range of applications demanding data security. It features security schemes such as Physical Unclonable Function, or PUF, and unique ID, with authenticated and encrypted links for NOR, NAND or flash. ArmorFlash has achieved several safety and security certifications, including from standards bodies focused on automotive electronics and cybersecurity. For more information and specifications on ArmorFlash and ArmorBoot, go to Availability ArmorBoot MX76 is sampling now, with production scheduled for later in 2025. Showcased at FMS Macronix will showcase ArmorBoot, along with a range of other NVM solutions, at the Future of Memory and Storage conference, August 5-7, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, in Santa Clara, California. Macronix will be located in booth #1142. About Macronix Macronix, a leading integrated device manufacturer in the non-volatile memory (NVM) market, provides a full range of NOR Flash, NAND Flash, and ROM products. With its world-class R&D and manufacturing capability, Macronix continues to deliver high-quality, innovative and performance-driven products to its customers in the consumer, communication, computing, automotive, networking and other market segments. Find out more at ArmorFlash is a trademark of Macronix International Co., Ltd. eMMC is a trademark of JEDEC/MMCA View original content: SOURCE Macronix Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chevy Just Set An Insane EV Range Record—In A Big Truck
Chevy Just Set An Insane EV Range Record—In A Big Truck originally appeared on Autoblog. No hardware or software changes were required to set a new record It's been a record-breaking month for Chevrolet. Already, the company set a new record for American cars at the Nürburgring with the Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X. Its latest record won't be as exciting for gearheads, as it involves the longest range on a full charge for an EV, but it's another stellar technical achievement. 300 miles is generally accepted as the psychological mark of a useful EV range, but Lucid far surpassed this by hitting 749 miles in the Air sedan last month—a record at the time. Chevy has now crushed that figure, and even more impressively, it pulled off the feat with a heavy, full-size pickup, not an aerodynamic 1,000 Miles On A Full Charge The record-breaking achievement came behind the wheel of a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Max Range Work Truck, which went 1,059.2 miles on a full charge, breaking Lucid's 749-mile record. This truck is rated by the EPA for a 493 mile range, so how was it able to more than double that figure? GM says the record attempt began with a casual conversation between GM engineers late last year. They started guessing what sort of range they could achieve if the pickup could be optimized for range and efficiency. 'Getting this kind of range on a full charge doesn't happen by accident,' said Kurt Kelty, VP, battery, propulsion, and sustainability. 'It takes deep integration across battery chemistry, drive unit efficiency, software and vehicle engineering—and that's exactly what the team delivered. This achievement is a great example of how far our EV technology has come, and the kind of innovation we're building on every day at GM.'Real-World Test Sees Staggering Results The GM team performed the record-breaking test on public roads in southeastern Michigan, close to GM's Milford Proving Ground. The team optimized every feasible aspect of the truck, but left the hardware and software as is. While it's technically possible for owners of the truck to put some of these optimizing measures in place, combining them all will be just about impossible in normal driving. These were the measures taken by the team: When conditions allowed, drivers averaged 20 to 25 mph, and hard braking was minimized No passengers were in the truck for most of the test Windshield wiper arms were set to the lowest possible position, reducing drag The highest acceptable tire pressure was used, resulting in lower rolling resistance The wheel alignment was optimized and the spare tire was removed The climate control wasn't used at all For smoother airflow, an accessory tonneau cover was added The test occurred in warmer summer conditions None of these measures are particularly groundbreaking, but the cumulative effect clearly made all the difference. The various engineers who drove the truck did so in one-hour shifts, allowing them to incorporate the project into their normal work schedules. 'If we drove it downhill the whole time, sure, we'd get insane mileage,' said Jon Doremus, propulsion calibration engineering manager. 'But that's not what this was about. We wanted this to be real, on public roads.' The test suggests that by incorporating just a few of these measures, owners of this Chevy pickup should easily be able to squeeze over 500 miles of range from it, a commendable effort. The EPA rating of the Chevy is already better than all other rivals, including the Rivian R1T, Tesla Cybertruck, and Ford F-150 Just Set An Insane EV Range Record—In A Big Truck first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 6, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
