Singer Jessie J says she has been diagnosed with early breast cancer
British singer and songwriter Jessie J revealed in a social media post on Wednesday that she has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
The 37-year-old now plans to undergo surgery following a festival performance in London later this month.
'Cancer sucks in any form, but I'm holding on to the world 'early',' she said in a video message posted to her Instagram account.
'It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much similar and worse – that's the bit that kills me.'
'I just wanted to be open and share it,' she said, 'I'm not processing it because I'm working so hard.'
'It's a very dramatic way to get a boob job,' the singer joked in her message, 'I'm going to disappear for a bit after Summertime Ball to have my surgery and I will come back with massive tits and more music.'
A post shared by Jessie J (@jessiej)
Fans and friends flooded the Instagram post's comments section with words of support.
Another British pop star Rita Ora replied: 'You're literally my favourite person and I'm praying for you, you've got this.'
Other British acts including Wretch 32 and Leona Lewis also commented, sending their support.
Jessie J is one of the biggest pop stars in the UK, with more than 20 million monthly Spotify listeners.
Her hit songs like 'Price Tag', 'Bang Bang' and 'Flashlight' charted both domestically and internationally.
Last July, Meta, Instagram's parent company, launched AI Studio - a tool which offers users the opportunity to design their own chatbots that can be interacted with via DM (Direct Message).
Originally intended as a way for business owners and creators to offer interactive FAQ-style engagement on their pages, the platform has since evolved into a playground. And as is usually the way, give mankind tools and things soon take a turn for the distasteful – if not downright horrific.
Case and point when it comes to chatbots: the Hitler chatbot created by the far-right US-based Gab social network had the Nazi dictator repeatedly asserting that he was "a victim of a vast conspiracy," and "not responsible for the Holocaust, it never happened".
Moving away from fascist despots – and trying to not have a nightmare when it comes to AI's ability to spread falsehoods, conspiracy theories and its potential to radicalise - many have been interacting with some AI-generated celebrities online. Particularly dead ones.
Recently, thousands of Instagram users have been conversing with an AI chatbot who is speaking as if it is the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
Sounds harmless enough at first glance, but this artificial resurrection turns ugly real quick, as not only does the fake grunge icon know it's dead, but the chatbot is making things truly morbid.
One user asked the chatbot if they were talking to Cobain. The chatbot replied to the prompt by saying: 'The one and only. Or at least what's left of me'.
Dark.
The conversation continued with the user asking the AI Cobain, 'I'm curious, why'd you do it?' - in reference to Kurt Cobain's death by suicide in 1994. The bot replied: 'I was tired of the pain.'
Darker.
But the bleak conversation didn't stop there.
'Was there anything that made you think about not doing it?' was the next prompt – to which AI Cobain replied, 'My daughter, but even that wasn't enough.'
Une publication partagée par David Wells Dude/Y'all (@davidwells2258)
Beyond how this utterly crass exhumation and its disrespectful practices would make any sane person shudder, there's the harmful attitude towards the topic of mental health and the possible glorification of suicide. Without mentioning the tarnishing of a reputation, as well as the insulting rewritting of intentions which can cause distress to living relatives.
Without appropriate safeguards, AI chatbots have the capacity not only to continue infiltrating society but to distort reality.
In 2023, a man was convicted after attempting to kill Queen Elizabeth II, an act which he said was 'encouraged' by his AI chatbot 'girlfriend'. The same year, another man killed himself after a six-week-long conversation about the climate crisis with an AI chatbot named Eliza.
While these tragic examples seem far removed from a fake Kurt Cobain chatting with its fans, caution remains vital.
As Pauline Paillé, a senior analyst at RAND Europe, told Euronews Next last year: "Chatbots are likely to present a risk, as they are capable of recognising and exploiting emotional vulnerabilities and can encourage violent behaviours.'
Indeed, as the online safety advisory of eSaftey Commissioner states: 'Children and young people can be drawn deeper and deeper into unmoderated conversations that expose them to concepts which may encourage or reinforce harmful thoughts and behaviours. They can ask the chatbots questions on unlimited themes, and be given inaccurate or dangerous 'advice' on issues including sex, drug-taking, self-harm, suicide and serious illnesses such as eating disorders.'
Still, accounts like the AI Kurt Cobain chatbot remain extremely popular, with Cobain's bot alone logging more than 105.5k interactions to date.
The global chatbot market continues to grow exponentially. It was valued at approximately $5.57bn in 2024 and is projected to reach around $33.39bn by 2033.
"If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask someone else first," sang Cobain on 'Very Ape'.
Anyone but a chatbot.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LeMonde
4 hours ago
- LeMonde
How an American mom is now part of my (French mom's) life
The more I think about it, the more I realize one of Instagram's unique features is the way it brings public figures into our private lives. Not just as celebrities gracing glossy magazine covers. Of course, I remember historic paparazzi moments: François Hollande on his scooter date, Jacques Chirac naked on the balcony of the Brégançon presidential summer residence, Kate Middleton sunbathing topless on another balcony, Britney Spears with her shaved head. Those were all glimpses into the private lives of public figures, obviously, but they were rare instances. And the private sphere was blown into the public by the media, in the traditionnal sense of the term, as an intermediary. Instagram people are a bit different. They really are with us. For one thing, they live inside our phones, so they're here all the time. For another, because of the way the Meta platform algorithm works, when you scroll through the app, you get an endless feed of close friends, strangers with whom you have much in common, ads and, of course, public figures. All these people are part of our daily lives, creating a strange mirror effect that erases the media as an intermediary: they reveal their own private and sometimes mundane moments as we sit in our living rooms, in bed or even in the bathroom. These recurring characters can quickly create a kind of artificial familiarity. This is how, the other night, while brushing my teeth, I told my partner, almost as if I were talking about a coworker or a friend, "Hey, Isabelle Bertolami is pregnant!" He asked how old her eldest was and where she would give birth. In short, a typical parent conversation, except for one small detail: neither of us has ever met Isabelle Bertolami. She's an American living in Aix-en-Provence with her husband and daughter, documenting her family life for her 242,000 followers. The American myth of the French mom Bertolami is what we call an Instagram American mom: mothers who praise the French parenting model, without too much concern with avoiding generalizations or ensuring accuracy. It's a way of feeding the American myth of the French mom: the mother who is both gentle and strict, attentive but not indulgent with a tyrannical child, fulfilled in her career, always impeccably dressed and manicured (she writes, typing with chipped nails).
Sustainability Times
8 hours ago
- Sustainability Times
'Meta Is Redefining Warfare': U.S. Army Adopts AR-AI Headset That Turns Soldiers Into Real-Time Combat Intelligence Hubs
IN A NUTSHELL 🚀 Meta and Anduril Industries partner to bring advanced augmented reality gear to U.S. soldiers, enhancing battlefield capabilities. and partner to bring advanced augmented reality gear to U.S. soldiers, enhancing battlefield capabilities. 🛡️ The integration of AI and AR technology with Anduril's Lattice platform aims to transform soldiers into 'technomancers' with real-time combat intelligence. and technology with Anduril's Lattice platform aims to transform soldiers into 'technomancers' with real-time combat intelligence. 🤝 Zuckerberg and Luckey reunite in a politically charged environment, emphasizing the importance of dual-use technology for national defense. and reunite in a politically charged environment, emphasizing the importance of dual-use technology for national defense. 🌐 Meta expands its national security footprint by aligning its innovations with U.S. defense priorities and countering global tech competition. As the dynamics of modern warfare evolve, companies like Meta and Anduril Industries are at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technology into military operations. With the announcement of their new partnership, these tech giants aim to revolutionize the way American soldiers interact with the battlefield using augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). This collaboration represents a significant shift in how commercial technology intersects with national defense, setting the stage for a future where soldiers could operate as 'technomancers' equipped with real-time combat intelligence and autonomous control systems. Tech Meets Warfare in a New Era of Battlefield Computing The collaboration between Meta and Anduril Industries introduces a new era in battlefield computing. The focus is on developing wearable technology, such as AR goggles or visors, that will significantly enhance soldiers' situational awareness and decision-making capabilities. Meta's hardware and AI tools will integrate with Anduril's Lattice platform, a sophisticated system that aggregates data from numerous sources to deliver actionable intelligence directly to soldiers on the ground. Through intuitive AR/VR interfaces, soldiers will interact with this comprehensive data in real time, allowing for unprecedented control and perception in combat situations. Palmer Luckey, Anduril's founder, expressed that their mission is to transform soldiers into technomancers, highlighting the transformative potential of these advancements. This initiative, privately funded and not reliant on taxpayer dollars, promises to leverage commercial technology for defense, potentially saving billions in military expenditure. 'Nasa Confirms the Unthinkable': China's Giant Water Diversion Project Will Slow Earth's Rotation and Disrupt Global Timekeeping Zuckerberg, Luckey Reunite in High-Stakes Political Climate This partnership also signifies a reunion between Mark Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey, who share a history dating back to Luckey's sale of Oculus to Meta (formerly Facebook) in 2014. Their renewed collaboration comes amidst a politically charged environment, with President Trump serving a second term and tech companies navigating closer ties with the government. Zuckerberg's frequent visits to the administration underscore Meta's strategic positioning in the national defense landscape. Luckey's departure from Facebook in 2017, following controversy over his political activities, adds a layer of intrigue to this partnership. However, both leaders emphasize the critical importance of utilizing dual-use technology to bolster national defense capabilities. As they embark on this ambitious venture, the fusion of their expertise promises to deliver groundbreaking advancements in military technology. 'Zuckerberg's Billionaire Odyssey': 5,300-Mile Superyacht Voyage Ends With Helicopter Ski Drop in the Ultimate Tech Tycoon Flex Meta Expands National Security Footprint Meta's collaboration with Anduril is part of a broader strategy to cement its position as a key player in U.S. national security. By aligning its AI and AR technologies with defense initiatives, Meta aims to contribute to U.S. global competitiveness and counter China's growing tech influence. The company's open-source Llama AI models are being pitched to defense agencies, reflecting their commitment to supporting national interests. Alongside Anduril, Meta has submitted a bid for the Army's SBMC Next contract, formerly known as IVAS Next, and is developing the EagleEye headset to enhance soldiers' sensory capabilities. Even if the contract bid is unsuccessful, the companies plan to continue their work, underscoring a long-term commitment to military technology innovation. This partnership exemplifies the increasing engagement of Silicon Valley with U.S. defense priorities, with companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Palantir at the forefront of tech-driven national security solutions. 'Don't Head for the Hills': Experts Reveal the Only Safe Places to Survive a Nuclear Explosion in the U.S. Implications and Future Perspectives The partnership between Meta and Anduril represents a pivotal moment in the intersection of technology and defense. By harnessing the power of AI and AR, these companies are poised to redefine the capabilities of modern soldiers, offering enhanced situational awareness and decision-making tools. Such advancements have the potential to transform the nature of military operations, presenting both opportunities and challenges. As commercial technology becomes increasingly integral to national defense, questions arise about the ethical and strategic implications of these developments. How will these advancements impact the future of warfare, and what measures will be taken to ensure their responsible deployment? As we stand at the cusp of this technological revolution, the dialogue surrounding the role of tech in defense will likely continue to evolve, prompting further exploration and innovation in the years to come. Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.7/5 (22)
Fashion Network
16 hours ago
- Fashion Network
First-ever Hermès Birkin handbag to be auctioned in Paris in July
The first Birkin handbag, designed especially for Jane Birkin in 1984, will be auctioned in Paris on July 10, the last day of Haute Couture Week, announced auction house Sotheby's on Thursday. The large black leather tote, the original version of one of the world's most celebrated and expensive handbags, will be the 'signature item' in Sotheby's 'Fashion Icons' auction, as Sotheby's said in a press release. The handbag will be exhibited to the public at Sotheby's gallery in New York on June 6-12, ahead of its final presentation at the auction house's Parisian offices in the 8th arrondissement, on July 3-9. The 'historic handmade prototype,' engraved with the initials J.B., is distinctive for several peculiarities that make it a unique piece: its size, the closed metal rings, the non-detachable shoulder strap, and the incorporated nail clipper. Jane Birkin was undoubtedly a fashion icon, but she was keen on practicality above all. On a Paris to London flight, the British singer-actress, who died in 2023, complained with a fellow passenger of not being able to find a handbag that fit the needs of a young mother. The fellow passenger was none other than Jean-Louis Dumas, then boss of Hermès. A tote bag with a pouch for baby bottles was launched by Hermès in 1984, and was named Birkin. Forty years later, the Birkin leather handbag has become the French luxury house's most iconic product. It is manufactured in very small quantities to foster its exclusive image. Its prices can vary greatly, from a few thousand euro for the simplest models, to several hundred thousand euros for the most luxurious ones. In addition to the Birkin handbag, the auction will feature iconic items from runway shows by designers such as Christian Dior, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen. The auction will start online from June 26, and will continue until the closing date of July 10.
