Latest news with #Checkmate
TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- Science
- TimesLIVE
Revolution or risk? How AI is redefining broadcasting and raising red flags
Imagine watching the evening news, only to find out later that the images, voices or even the person reporting were not real. This is not fiction any more; generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is transforming the broadcasting industry and not without consequences. Prof Nelishia Pillay, an AI expert at the University of Pretoria, says while the technology is opening exciting opportunities for content creation, it also raises serious ethical concerns. "GenAI creates new content based on what it learns from online data," she said. "While it doesn't come up with truly original ideas – that creativity is still reserved for humans – it does help reshape existing ones." Used widely, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has made life easier for broadcasters. Journalists can now create engaging visuals using just voice prompts, producers can create music or video clips in minutes and translate subtitles in different languages in just few clicks. Even converting text to speech using AI also helps broadcasters to do more with fewer resources. However, with this convenience comes ethical concerns, especially around what is called "deepfakes". These are digitally forged images or videos that can be convincing, posing a threat to truth and trust in the media. "A challenge that comes with GenAI is how to ensure the ethical use of these tools," she said. "Deepfakes can be used to produce fake news and harmful cybersecurity attacks on businesses." Pillay also highlighted how tailoring content through AI can reinforce biases if left unchecked. To address such risks, tools are emerging to detect GenAI misuse. According to the International New Media Association, AI has already shown success in detecting the unethical use of GenAI, with machine-learning being used to detect fake news. Tools like Checkmate, a real-time fact checking system that flags claims in videos and checks them against reliable sources and Turnitin used in the academic world to detect student plagiarism are also evolving. "Such tools need to be embedded in GenAI systems in the broadcasting industry to detect the unethical use of GenAI," said Pillay. Beyond fake news, there are deeper ethical questions. Who owns content created by machines? Is it fair to use information from social media platforms to train tools? And the impact of personalised content on audiences. As AI is making it harder to tell the difference between human and machine creation, media organisations need to come up with clear rules protecting intellectual property and privacy, especially when they use datasets. "Broadcasters need strict guidelines to respect privacy rights of individuals when creating images or video," Pillay said.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Students' gambit: Calgary foundation builds connection through chess
Team sports like soccer play fundamental parts of childhood development and signing up is a no-brainer for most parents. Generally, chess is not mentioned in the connection and world-building context with other, more physical team sports. However, a local organization is trying to change that narrative, beginning with brain-teasing Calgarians. The Checkmate Foundation , a Calgary-based not-for-profit, focuses on making chess accessible for everyone through tournaments, workshops and structured programming in schools and the community. While most events are open to everyone, they also run separate events focused on vulnerable, underrepresented, or marginalized groups. Muhammad Saim, the president of the Checkmate Foundation and UCalgary student, said in his experience, chess has helped build community connection, make friendships and positively impact mental health. 'For a lot of people, (chess) can help them build resilience,' he said. Beginning in the late pandemic, Checkmate was founded out of the need for connection. Initially, the foundation ran a virtual summer camp in partnership with Calgary charity Closer to Home to engage families and children in the sport. In the return to pre-COVID normalcy, the foundation has begun offering in-person classes, open to rook-ies and experienced players, all cost-free to attend. 'We first started off running our library sessions, where we provided places where people could come and learn chess, open to anyone. A lot of our sessions were tailored to beginners,' Saim said. After initial workshop success, the foundation began expanding sessions, with some focused on higher-level chess lessons and free play, an approach Saim said worked well. In addition to library classes, the foundation is involved with the Trellis Society , hosting games during their after-school program. Since its 2022 creation, Canada's only chess-based non-profit has taught more than 3,000 individuals, hosted more than 8,000 games and run more than 60 events, according to a foundation-made press release. The program has made progress aside from students, as they have taught in places like the Kerby Centre . 'A lot of seniors were really excited to learn chess, one of them even told us that he's learning chess because he wants to play with his grandson,' Saim said. 'It's a way to bridge those gaps and really allow people to make meaningful connections with each other.' The foundation has 65 active volunteers and a total of 200 volunteers in what Saim calls their 'volunteer pool.' In addition to chess knowledge, volunteers receive orientation and training to meet the specific needs of the groups they work with. Saim said that like him, most volunteers are University students within the 16-24 age range. This fall, the foundation has plans to work with the Calgary Dream Centre, an opportunity to teach the skills of chess to a new demographic, this time people who are recovering from homelessness and addiction. Saim said that he hopes that Checkmate volunteers can help make a positive difference in the lives of people who are struggling. They will host an eight-week program, with weekly chess sessions to be held in the centre's cafeteria. 'While many already know the basics of the game, the structured environment encourages reflection, focus, and social connection,' their media release reads. Without looking too far ahead, the foundation's next event is Saturday, June 7 at the Nose Hill Library. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Bloomberg
22-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Checkmate's CEO on Voice AI, Kiosks, Catering: Choppin' It Up
Voice AI at the drive-thru is one or two years away from being ready to be rolled out to hundreds of thousands of locations, Checkmate's CEO and Founder Vishal Agarwal tells Bloomberg Intelligence. In this episode of the Choppin' It Up podcast, Agarwal sits down with BI's senior restaurant and foodservice analyst Michael Halen to discuss the rapid evolution of voice AI technology. He also comments on how kiosks have become a must have, the rapid growth of catering and what problems AI is best suited to solve.
Geek Dad
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Dad
Review – Secret Six #3: Betrayal in Checkmate
Secret Six #3 cover, via DC Comics. Ray: I love it when comics manage to combine concepts that should never work together. Nicole Maines' Secret Six is a follow-up from the Gail Simone run and Tom Taylor's Suicide Squad in a lot of ways, but it's also a fascinating look at the dysfunctional dynamics in DC's teen heroes right now – which makes it the best successor to the Teen Titans franchise DC has had in a long time. The core trio of Jon Kent, Jay Nakamura, and Nia Nal have enough issues with each other to fill a magazine rack at this point, and Black Alice is mainly there to stir some shit and enjoy the chaos. And now they have to infiltrate a Checkmate gathering, one where Amanda Waller's fate is being determined as powerful players try to get her power and positions back – and the two factions of the team have completely different intentions for what comes next. And it's all about to come to the fore in the messiest way possible. Cloak and dagger. Via DC Comics. Of course, there are some other characters here too – Catman and Deadshot – and they have some issues to work out too. There are some fascinating reveals about exactly what happened to Deadshot when he was dead (when he wasn't a zombie over in Task Force Z), that calls into harsh relief the stakes they're playing with here. This issue also has a great edge to it, as the characters were all wronged by Amanda Waller's regime in one way or another and all have their own idea of what justice looks like. As things fall apart between Jon and Nia as he realizes just how far she's willing to go, we start to even see some common ground between her and the vengeful Jay. There isn't all that much plot advancement in this issue, but there's some great character work and a twist ending that hints at the return of a major player from the Gail Simone run – which is more than enough to make me excited for the next issue. To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week. GeekDad received this comic for review purposes. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Checkmate: USA vs India aims to take chess from fringes of sports world into the mainstream
Since the COVID pandemic, chess has gained millions of new fans. But the one area that remains largely uncharted for the sport is television broadcast, with streaming platforms still the primary source of distribution. Checkmate: USA vs India — pitting two of the strongest nations in the sport against each other – hopes to make it attractive for broadcasters and casual fans, who stay away finding it too complicated. The event will see four of the top five players in the world —Hikaru Nakamura, D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and Fabiano Caruana — playing for their countries. They will be joined by the likes of Divya Deshmukh, Ethan Vaz, chess commentator Sagar Shah (all representing India), Carissa Yip, Tanitoluwa Adewumi and popular streamer Levy Rozman (representing the USA). The thought behind the venture is to make the sport more accessible to casual fans who find the grammar of the sport riddled with technicalities. 'This is built for fans — not just chess purists. Most chess events today are tailored for serious players, with heavy theoretical commentary. We're moving away from that,' Salim Belcadi of Checkmate Strategic Ventures, the main organiser of this event, tells The Indian Express. The idea is to have a product that appeals to casual fans, but not at the expense of hardcore chess romantics. Belcadi says that at the moment, most chess broadcasts are designed to cater to 'insiders', whom he says are 'serious players that are fluent in theory and analysis'. The group wants to create compelling storylines for all audiences. 'It will be a format that major broadcasters can carry, casual fans can enjoy, and sponsors can support. It's about building a commercially viable sport that still honours the depth of the game,' he says. Despite its growing appeal, getting chess on TV has been next to impossible barring occasional appearances. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, in a recent conversation with ChessBase India, even admitted: 'Maybe, we don't have a product that is ready to be televised in a way that millions of people can follow it.' The Checkmate: USA vs India event is an attempt to change that perception. Belcadi says the idea behind the event was to 'have a format that delivers intensity, identity, and storytelling'. It germinated in 2023, but they only approached players two months ago. 'We expected a bit of resistance, but there was none. Players were either curious, excited, or enthusiastic. They found the format fun and fresh — something they wanted to be part of,' he says. What was the thought behind picking India and USA, over other countries like Russia, China and Uzbekistan, which also have a massive footprint in the sport? 'It was clear that India and the USA are the two largest markets for chess. They are two powerhouses of chess by objective measurements such as participation, viewership, player depth, number of grandmasters, and global rankings. India brings youth, depth, and momentum. Even fearlessness. The USA brings star power, legacy, and global media reach. This event is about the future of chess, and these two countries are currently shaping that future, in their own way,' Belcadi says. The need to create a 'narrative' for the battle, led them to have a nation-based team event, even though chess remains a largely individualistic sport. 'Individual brilliance is still front and centre, but framing the event as a national face-off introduces something more powerful — a narrative,' he says. 'Chess still sits on the fringe of mainstream sports, and our mission is to help change that.'
