Latest news with #BridgetJones:TheEdgeofReason
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The AI copyright standoff continues - with no solution in sight
The fierce battle over artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright - which pits the government against some of the biggest names in the creative industry - returns to the House of Lords on Monday with little sign of a solution in sight. A huge row has kicked off between ministers and peers who back the artists, and shows no sign of abating. It might be about AI but at its heart are very human issues: jobs and creativity. It's highly unusual that neither side has backed down by now or shown any sign of compromise; in fact if anything support for those opposing the government is growing rather than tailing off. This is "unchartered territory", one source in the peers' camp told me. The argument is over how best to balance the demands of two huge industries: the tech and creative sectors. More specifically, it's about the fairest way to allow AI developers access to creative content in order to make better AI tools - without undermining the livelihoods of the people who make that content in the first place. What's sparked it is the uninspiringly-titled Data (Use and Access) Bill. This proposed legislation was broadly expected to finish its long journey through parliament this week and sail off into the law books. Instead, it is currently stuck in limbo, ping-ponging between the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The bill states that AI developers should have access to all content unless its individual owners choose to opt out. Nearly 300 members of the House of Lords disagree. They think AI firms should be forced to disclose which copyrighted material they use to train their tools, with a view to licensing it. Sir Nick Clegg, former president of global affairs at Meta, is among those broadly supportive of the bill, arguing that asking permission from all copyright holders would "kill the AI industry in this country". Those against include Baroness Beeban Kidron, a crossbench peer and former film director, best known for making films such as Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. She says ministers would be "knowingly throwing UK designers, artists, authors, musicians, media and nascent AI companies under the bus" if they don't move to protect their output from what she describes as "state sanctioned theft" from a UK industry worth £124bn. She's asking for an amendment to the bill which includes Technology Secretary Peter Kyle giving a report to the House of Commons about the impact of the new law on the creative industries, three months after it comes into force, if it doesn't change. Mr Kyle also appears to have changed his views about UK copyright law. He said copyright law was once "very certain", but is now "not fit for purpose". Perhaps to an extent both those things are true. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology say that they're carrying out a wider consultation on these issues and will not consider changes to the Bill unless they're completely satisfied that they work for creators. If the "ping pong" between the two Houses continues, there's a small chance the entire bill could be shelved; I'm told it's unlikely but not impossible. If it does, some other important elements would go along with it, simply because they are part of the same bill. It also includes proposed rules on the rights of bereaved parents to access their children's data if they die, changes to allow NHS trusts to share patient data more easily, and even a 3D underground map of the UK's pipes and cables, aimed at improving the efficiency of roadworks (I told you it was a big bill). There is no easy answer. Here's how it all started. Initially, before AI exploded into our lives, AI developers scraped enormous quantities of content from the internet, arguing that it was in the public domain already and therefore freely available. We are talking about big, mainly US, tech firms here doing the scraping, and not paying for anything they hoovered up. Then, they used that data to train the same AI tools now used by millions to write copy, create pictures and videos in seconds. These tools can also mimic popular musicians, writers, artists. For example, a recent viral trend saw people merrily sharing AI images generated in the style of the Japanese animation firm Studio Ghibli. The founder of that studio meanwhile, had once described the use of AI in animation as "an insult to life itself". Needless to say, he was not a fan. There has been a massive backlash from many content creators and owners including household names like Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney and Dua Lipa. They have argued that taking their work in this way, without consent, credit or payment, amounted to theft. And that artists are now losing work because AI tools can churn out similar content freely and quickly instead. Sir Elton John didn't hold back in a recent interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg. He argued that the government was on course to "rob young people of their legacy and their income", and described the current administration as "absolute losers". Others though point out that material made by the likes of Sir Elton is available worldwide. And if you make it too hard for AI companies to access it in the UK they'll simply do it elsewhere instead, taking much needed investment and job opportunities with them. Two opposing positions, no obvious compromise. Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here. Elton John and Dua Lipa seek protection from AI Artists release silent album in protest against AI using their work
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Looking to explore? 5 of the most picturesque villages in Hertfordshire
There are endless places to discover across Hertfordshire, whether you want a picnic spot with one of the best views in the country or historic streets brimming with quaint shops. If you are looking to explore some new treasures across the region, then look no further, as we have rounded up some of the prettiest villages to visit. Keep this list somewhere safe in case you want to wander around any of the picturesque locations in the area anytime soon. Set between Hitchin and Stevenage in the Chiltern Hills, St Ippolyts has the perfect charm of a small village while being near towns. Properties in the village date back to the 17th century with gables houses and timber-framed houses back to the 16th century. St Ippolyts has a handful of popular pubs, including The Rusty Gun, The Bird In Hand and the Hermit of Redcoats. Near Tring, Aldbury is also located in the Chiltern Hills and people describe it as offering the "ultimate chocolate box charm." Medieval stocks still stand in the village along with several historic homes, all offering impressive views of the surrounding countryside. The Greyhound Inn is the local pub and has a 4.4 Google Rating, with one guest sharing: "Fantastic food and service. Really happy with our overnight accommodation. The view from our bedroom window is a, "feel good" feeling." Aldbury has also been used in several film and TV productions, including Midsomer Murders, Inspector Morse and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. The village of Redbourn was previously named Hertfordshire Village of the Year, home to a busy high street and many independent shops. With a handful of local pubs and a Common that welcomes joggers, dog walkers and cricketers, Redbourn is a popular spot. It also benefits from being near Harpenden and the M1 along with the annual Hertfordshire Show taking place just outside the village. Much Hadham was once named among the best places to live in the UK by the Sunday Times, earning praise for a strong community and being a picturesque village. The village is between Ware and Bishop's Stortford with a historic high street home to characterful buildings, including the local pub, The Bull. Recommended Reading Quintessential market town Faversham perfect for a getaway Abingdon the beautiful market town an hour from Watford Discover the seaside town an hour from Watford for a getaway The Bull has a 4.4/5 rating from over 290 reviews with one guest sharing: "Simply a great pub. The menu is lovely, not too big but has something for all. The staff are just attentive and friendly. There is a good bar for both drinkers and those who wish to eat." Ayot St Lawrence is filled with cottages and a picturesque view from the village best known for its links to playwright George Bernard Shaw. Shaw's former home is now a National Trust property, Shaw's Corner, that attracts many visitors every year. Between Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City and Harpenden, Ayot St Lawrence comes at a hefty price as Zoopla once named it the most expensive village in the region.
Forbes
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy' Gets Digital Streaming Date
Renée Zellweger and Leo Woodall in "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy." Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy — the final chapter in Renée Zellweger's Bridget Jones movie saga — is coming soon to digital streaming. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is the fourth movie in the series. Based on the bestselling novels by Helen Fielding, Zellweger originated the big-screen iteration of the character in Bridget Jones's Diary in 2001 and reprised the role in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004. Zellweger played Bridget once again in 2016 for Bridget Jones's Baby before returning in 2025 for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. The logline for the latest film reads, 'After jumping back into the dating pool, single mother Bridget Jones finds herself caught between a younger man and her son's science teacher.' Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will be released on digital video via premium video on demand on Tuesday, May 13. Pricing information is not yet available for the PVOD release of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, but generally new films on digital streaming cost $19.99 to purchase and $14.99 to $24.99 to rent for 48 hours. The film should be available on a variety of digital platforms, including AppleTV, Fandango at Home and Prime Video. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy first debuted on Peacock on Feb. 13 and is still available on streaming video on demand on the NBC Universal platform for subscribers. While Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy debuted on Peacock in the U.S., it did play in movie theaters internationally, where it earned $124.6 million against a $50 million production budget before prints and advertising, per The Numbers. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy received an 88% 'fresh' rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 116 reviews, while audiences gave the film a 76% 'fresh' rating on RT's Popcornmeter based on 500-plus verified user ratings. The RT Critics consensus for the film reads, 'A bittersweet romp about new beginnings with another sparkling turn by Renée Zellweger, Mad About the Boy gracefully closes the book on Bridget Jones' diary.' Directed by Michael Morris, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy — which is rated R — also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones and Isla Fisher. Bridget Jones book author Helen Fielding wrote the screenplay for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy with Abi Morgan and Dan Mazer. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy arrives on PVOD on May 13.
The Guardian
24-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Beeban Kidron joins calls against PM's AI tsar over tech-firm interests
Beeban Kidron, the film director who is campaigning against government plans to overhaul copyright rules for AI companies, has become the latest high-profile figure to complain about the role being played by the prime minister's AI tsar, Matt Clifford. Lady Kidron, an award-winning film director whose work includes Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, said ministers were only listening to people who stood to benefit from the controversial proposals, which will take another step forward on Tuesday. Clifford, a technology investor who is advising Keir Starmer on his AI strategy, continues to hold shares in dozens of AI companies, attracting criticism from anti-corruption campaigners. Ministers will on Tuesday close a consultation on whether they should make it easier for AI companies to train their algorithms on creative content such as films, songs and books – proposals which have sparked a backlash from cultural heavyweights such as Sir Elton John. Kidron said Clifford's appointment was part of a pattern of behaviour whereby the government pays more attention to the technology industry than those who stand to be affected by it. She said: 'It is for Peter Kyle [the technology secretary] and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to explain why they are taking advice exclusively from tech sector people such as Matt Clifford.' She added: 'It is obvious, that if you only listen to those who stand to benefit from a policy then you will hear that it is a great idea … This is a shameful policy based on lobbyist numbers and takes no account of the national interest.' Kidron's comments add to concerns among campaigners against the proposed changes that they are being sidelined in favour of corporate interests. Clifford began working as Starmer's AI adviser last year, having also advised his predecessor, Rishi Sunak. As an investor in technology stocks, he holds shares in dozens of companies in the AI sector, including many British startups. He is also the chair of Entrepreneur First, an investment firm he set up, which has holdings in more than 100 companies of its own. The government announced on Monday, however, that Clifford had sold all his shares in Faculty AI, the strategy company which has worked closely with the government on AI safety, the NHS and education. Downing Street defended Clifford, saying he had stuck to government disclosure rules since taking up his role. The prime minister's spokesperson said: 'He has followed the process … There is a process on appointment where you declare all of your interests, you work through necessary mitigations to manage any interests.' Sources have told the Guardian that Clifford has agreed not to buy or sell any of the companies he part-owns while working for the government, or to be involved in decisions on new investments made by Entrepreneur First. In the coming weeks, ministers will have to decide how easy they want it to be for AI companies to access creative content to build their models. The government has said it wants such content to be available by default, with an option to opt out of any such arrangement. But industry figures including John have argued it should instead be an opt-in system.
Express Tribune
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy makes the biggest opening collection at UK box office
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, the fourth installment in the beloved franchise starring Renée Zellweger, has achieved a record-breaking debut at the UK and Ireland box office. Universal confirmed that the romantic comedy grossed £11.8 million ($14.9 million) in its first four days, making it the highest-grossing opening for a romantic comedy in the region. The film surpassed the previous record set by Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004. According to Comscore, the film dominated cinemas across 2,250 screens and accounted for 45% of total box office revenue in the UK and Ireland on Saturday. It also outperformed Captain America: Brave New World, which debuted in second place with $8 million. Universal further revealed that the film recorded the highest-ever opening for a Working Title production and ranked as the 11th biggest Universal debut in the market, trailing Jurassic World Dominion but surpassing Oppenheimer, Minions, and Despicable Me 3. Despite its strong UK performance, Mad About the Boy has not been released theatrically in North America, where it premiered directly on the Peacock streaming platform. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Front Row, The Telegraph film critic Robbie Collin attributed this decision to Bridget Jones being "an extremely local concern," noting that the character, created by British author Helen Fielding, has less appeal in the US. Beyond the UK and Ireland, the film also topped the weekend box office in several European countries, including Poland, the Netherlands, and Norway, Universal reported.
