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Powys County Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
‘Significant challenges' in use of AI within UK screen sector
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the UK screen sector raises 'significant legal, ethical, and practical challenges' such as the use of copyrighted material being used without the permission of the rights holders, a report has warned. Other issues highlighted by the British Film Institute (BFI) report include the safeguarding of human creative control, the fear of jobs being lost as positions are replaced through the use of AI, and investment in training in new skills. High energy consumption and carbon emissions, and the risks to creative content around biased data, are also described as being of concern. The report, which has been carried out in partnership with CoSTAR universities Goldsmiths, Loughborough and Edinburgh, analyses how the screen sector is using and experimenting with rapidly evolving generative AI technologies. It warned that the 'primary issue' was the use of copyrighted material – such as hundreds of thousands of film and TV scripts – in the training of generative AI models, without payment or the permission of rights-holders. 'This practice threatens the fundamental economics of the screen sector if it devalues intellectual property creation and squeezes out original creators,' the report said. But it added that the UK's strong foundation in creative technology – as it is home to more than 13,000 creative technology companies – means that the UK screen sector is well positioned to adapt to the technological shift. The report – titled AI in the Screen Sector: Perspectives and Paths Forward – said generative AI promises to democratise and revolutionise the industry, with the BBC, for example, piloting AI initiatives. Meanwhile, projects such as the Charismatic consortium, which is backed by Channel 4 and Aardman Animations, aim to make AI tools accessible to creators regardless of their budget or experience. It said this could empower a new wave of British creators to produce high-quality content with modest resources, though concerns about copyright and ethical use remain significant barriers to full adoption. The report sets out nine key recommendations it suggests should be addressed within the next three years to enable the UK screen sector to thrive in using AI. These include establishing the UK as a world-leading market of IP licensing for AI training, and embedding sustainability standards to reduce AI's carbon footprint. It also calls for structures and interventions to pool knowledge, develop workforce skills and target investments in the UK's creative technology sector, while it urges support for independent creators through accessible tools, funding and ethical AI products. The BFI's director of research and innovation, Rishi Coupland, said: 'AI has long been an established part of the screen sector's creative toolkit, most recently seen in the post-production of the Oscar-winning The Brutalist, and its rapid advancement is attracting multimillion investments in technology innovator applications. 'However, our report comes at a critical time and shows how generative AI presents an inflection point for the sector and, as a sector, we need to act quickly on a number of key strategic fronts. 'Whilst it offers significant opportunities for the screen sector such as speeding up production workflows, democratising content creation and empowering new voices, it could also erode traditional business models, displace skilled workers, and undermine public trust in screen content. 'The report's recommendations provide a roadmap to how we can ensure that the UK's world-leading film, TV, video games and VFX industries continue to thrive by making best use of AI technologies to bring their creativity, innovations and storytelling to screens around the globe.' Professor Jonny Freeman, director of CoSTAR Foresight Lab, said: 'This latest CoSTAR Foresight Lab report, prepared by the BFI, navigates the complex landscape of AI in the screen sector by carefully weighing both its transformative opportunities and the significant challenges it presents. 'The report acknowledges that while AI offers powerful tools to enhance creativity, efficiency, and competitiveness across every stage of the production workflow – from script development and pre-production planning, through on-set production, to post-production and distribution – it also raises urgent questions around skills, workforce adaptation, ethics, and sector sustainability.' CoSTAR is a £75.6 million national network of laboratories that are developing new technology to maintain the UK's world-leading position in gaming, TV, film, performance, and digital entertainment. Last month stars including Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ian McKellen, wrote a joint letter to Sir Keir Starmer, urging the Prime Minister to introduce safeguards against work being plundered for free.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Significant challenges' in use of AI within UK screen sector
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the UK screen sector raises 'significant legal, ethical, and practical challenges' such as the use of copyrighted material being used without the permission of the rights holders, a report has warned. Other issues highlighted by the British Film Institute (BFI) report include the safeguarding of human creative control, the fear of jobs being lost as positions are replaced through the use of AI, and investment in training in new skills. High energy consumption and carbon emissions, and the risks to creative content around biased data, are also described as being of concern. The report, which has been carried out in partnership with CoSTAR universities Goldsmiths, Loughborough and Edinburgh, analyses how the screen sector is using and experimenting with rapidly evolving generative AI technologies. It warned that the 'primary issue' was the use of copyrighted material – such as hundreds of thousands of film and TV scripts – in the training of generative AI models, without payment or the permission of rights-holders. 'This practice threatens the fundamental economics of the screen sector if it devalues intellectual property creation and squeezes out original creators,' the report said. But it added that the UK's strong foundation in creative technology – as it is home to more than 13,000 creative technology companies – means that the UK screen sector is well positioned to adapt to the technological shift. The report – titled AI in the Screen Sector: Perspectives and Paths Forward – said generative AI promises to democratise and revolutionise the industry, with the BBC, for example, piloting AI initiatives. Meanwhile, projects such as the Charismatic consortium, which is backed by Channel 4 and Aardman Animations, aim to make AI tools accessible to creators regardless of their budget or experience. It said this could empower a new wave of British creators to produce high-quality content with modest resources, though concerns about copyright and ethical use remain significant barriers to full adoption. The report sets out nine key recommendations it suggests should be addressed within the next three years to enable the UK screen sector to thrive in using AI. These include establishing the UK as a world-leading market of IP licensing for AI training, and embedding sustainability standards to reduce AI's carbon footprint. It also calls for structures and interventions to pool knowledge, develop workforce skills and target investments in the UK's creative technology sector, while it urges support for independent creators through accessible tools, funding and ethical AI products. The BFI's director of research and innovation, Rishi Coupland, said: 'AI has long been an established part of the screen sector's creative toolkit, most recently seen in the post-production of the Oscar-winning The Brutalist, and its rapid advancement is attracting multimillion investments in technology innovator applications. 'However, our report comes at a critical time and shows how generative AI presents an inflection point for the sector and, as a sector, we need to act quickly on a number of key strategic fronts. 'Whilst it offers significant opportunities for the screen sector such as speeding up production workflows, democratising content creation and empowering new voices, it could also erode traditional business models, displace skilled workers, and undermine public trust in screen content. 'The report's recommendations provide a roadmap to how we can ensure that the UK's world-leading film, TV, video games and VFX industries continue to thrive by making best use of AI technologies to bring their creativity, innovations and storytelling to screens around the globe.' Professor Jonny Freeman, director of CoSTAR Foresight Lab, said: 'This latest CoSTAR Foresight Lab report, prepared by the BFI, navigates the complex landscape of AI in the screen sector by carefully weighing both its transformative opportunities and the significant challenges it presents. 'The report acknowledges that while AI offers powerful tools to enhance creativity, efficiency, and competitiveness across every stage of the production workflow – from script development and pre-production planning, through on-set production, to post-production and distribution – it also raises urgent questions around skills, workforce adaptation, ethics, and sector sustainability.' CoSTAR is a £75.6 million national network of laboratories that are developing new technology to maintain the UK's world-leading position in gaming, TV, film, performance, and digital entertainment. Last month stars including Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ian McKellen, wrote a joint letter to Sir Keir Starmer, urging the Prime Minister to introduce safeguards against work being plundered for free. 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
Daily Record
24-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Supermarket shoppers can get money back on gardening essentials with easy hack
Those looking to get in on the deal need to just do one thing With the arrival of spring and another bank holiday weekend just around the corner, it's the perfect time to give your garden or outdoor space a bit of tender loving care. And we've found a clever offer that is helping shoppers save while they stock up on garden essentials.. Whether you're planning a family barbecue or looking to add a splash of colour with fresh flowers, new members of TopCashback can claim £5 cashback on a £5 spend at any UK supermarket or garden store. This provides the perfect opportunity to stock up on flowers, grass seed, barbecue fuel, or any other outdoor goodies. This is an excellent way to save on those last-minute spring gardening tasks or to replenish anything that your outdoor spaces may need. This useful offer is available only to new TopCashback members, and all you need to do to claim the cashback is keep a copy of your receipt. The offer is valid until 23:59pm on June 30. Even better, popular home and garden store The Range is currently offering a 35 per cent off garden sale, allowing you to double your savings when shopping for everything from solar lights to garden furniture and accessories, reports the Mirror. Alternatively, Argos has reduced the price of the Habitat Folding Wooden Garden Deck Chair in its clearance to £30. Debenhams has also cut the price of its Metal Square Firepit Table by 58 per cent, bringing it down to £24.99. There are no codes or special vouchers required for this cashback offer. Simply retain your receipt to upload to TopCashback later. The £5 cashback offer is valid for a single purchase of gardening items totalling £5 or more. To ensure the cashback can be claimed without hassle, the receipt must clearly show the date and time of purchase, the name of the supermarket or retailer, and the eligible item bought. How to secure £5 cashback on your garden essentials Spend £5 or more on garden essentials: Purchase garden essentials worth at least £5 from any supermarket or retailer Sign up to TopCashback: Use this link to register as a new member of TopCashback Upload Your Receipt: Snap a picture of your receipt and upload it through the TopCashback platform to earn your £5 cashback TopCashback boasts a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot, with numerous previous customers lauding its cost-saving deals. One satisfied user commented: "I have been using TCB now for a long time, and amassed a fair amount of cash from shopping savvy, I just let it build up over the year then use it at Christmas." Another remarked: "Doesn't cost you anything as you were buying items you want anyway. Extra money which reduces the normal price you would pay and it's very easy to use. Sometimes it takes time for a company to pay out but customer service always sorts it out for you." A third happy shopper shared: "It works. Sometimes it takes a while for the cashback to be approved but eventually it does come through. I have found it to be very helpful." However, some reviewers claimed that they did not received the promised cashback on some of their purchases, with them being forced to chase up the company for the cashback they were owed. With the improving weather, more people are spending time in their outdoor spaces for extra relaxation. But this isn't always a quiet time for dog owners, especially when their pets start barking at something next door. One way to tackle this is by installing a privacy screen to make your space more private by blocking those gaps that pets can peek through. Right now, the The WOLTU Balcony Privacy Screen is selling on Amazon for a reduced price of £21.99 for a 10m length. It was previously selling at £23.99. Homewares deal of the week With summer on the horizon, you'll be wanting to spend more time in your garden relaxing. To help keep you protected from harmful UV rays, a stylish parasol can really refresh your outdoors space. Fortunately, Asda has just bought back its sell-out item that shoppers can't stop raving over. The supermarket's highly coveted Riviera Stripe Parasol was so popular when it first launched in 2024 that it apparently "sold out in nine weeks." Now, it can be yours for just £59 when you buy it here. The supermarket's summer garden staple is said to "bring a slice of the Riviera into any garden" thanks to its trendy striped canopy and intricate tassel edging that offers a "boho touch" to the design. It's not just a stylish addition to your garden, as the FSC-certified wood pole has a lean function that allows you to tilt the canopy whenever you feel the position sun shift. Meanwhile, the polycotton canopy is said to be "weatherproof", making it suitable for unpredictable UK summers. Since the Riviera Stripe Parasol sold out within just over two months last year, it's expected that it will be popular once again this year. It's also no surprise to hear that it has managed to amass glowing five-star reviews on the George at Asda website. One delighted customer wrote: "I'm blown away by how amazing this product is. I've been wanting to get a patterned parasol with a boho touch for a while, but unwilling to spend the £150+ that they normally are. I thought I'd give this one a go, but didn't expect much for the price. "It is exactly what I wanted. Furthermore it also tips and has a lovely case. It is stylish, good, waterproof fabric and looks like something you would get from a much fancier, 'bespoke' store. I could not recommend it more."
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Super Micro Stock: Proceed With Caution
Super Micro Computer stock (NASDAQ:SMCI) fell approximately 11% on Tuesday after the company released preliminary results for its March quarter that significantly underperformed expectations. The server manufacturer is now expecting revenue between $4.5 billion and $4.6 billion, a considerable drop from its previous guidance of $5 billion to $6 billion. Earnings per share are also anticipated to be well below predictions, ranging from $0.29 to $0.31 per share. Super Micro has blamed the miss on 'delayed customer platform decisions,' which resulted in some orders being postponed until the next quarter. However, the extent of the shortfall does raise apprehensions about broader demand trends and may indicate a potential loss of market share for Super Micro Computer to competitors like Dell Technologies. The U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter of this year, and the outlook seems increasingly difficult. President Donald Trump's suggested tariffs on major trading partners are starting to take effect, heightening the risk of renewed inflation. The AI sector could be particularly susceptible to budget reductions during an economic downturn, as AI investments are still unprofitable for most companies. Export restrictions might also exert further pressure on U.S.-based server manufacturers like Super Micro. There is a chance that after years of substantial investment in AI infrastructure, companies could begin to emphasize the efficiency of their code rather than strictly increasing computing power. (Related: Should DeepSeek R2 Worry Nvidia Investors?) Back in February, Super Micro anticipated that fiscal 2026 revenue might hit $40 billion, representing a 70% increase compared to FY'25. Nevertheless, these projections may be challenging to meet given the escalating macroeconomic challenges and the company's recent earnings setback. Currently, there are some positive aspects for Super Micro stock as well. Super Micro's server products are closely linked to Nvidia's GPU ecosystem, and with Nvidia increasing production of its new Blackwell chips, demand for SMCI's server platforms might improve. The company is also making strides into the direct-liquid-cooled (DLC) server market, recognized as a crucial technology for managing compute-intensive AI workloads. Additionally, the company's valuation remains appealing. SMCI is trading at approximately 13 times estimated earnings for 2025, which is significantly lower than the S&P 500's forward multiple of over 20 times. This valuation seems even more justifiable when considering the fact that revenue has grown at an annual rate of 74.5% over the past three years. That said, investors should be cautious. Super Micro has encountered considerable controversy over the past year, including claims of accounting irregularities, delays in SEC filings, and scrutiny from short-sellers. Some of these issues have subsided in recent months, following the company's recent submission of its financial statements. However, the latest earnings miss, combined with a patchy history of corporate governance, indicates that investors may need to tread carefully with SMCI stock. Investing in a single stock like SMCI carries risk. Conversely, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, which includes 30 stocks, has a history of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 4 years. What accounts for this? As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks have yielded better returns with less risk compared to the benchmark index, proving to be less volatile as seen in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
'Beyond brilliant' Henry cordless vacuum that 'outlasts Shark' gets £110 Amazon price cut
When someone mentions Henry Hoover, the majority of us would imagine the smiling red machine that you may see people fighting to tug round corners. While this a staple cleaning appliance for the brand, many may be surprised to find out that Henry also sells cordless vacuums. While they may not be as joyous to look at, some Amazon shoppers think that the cordless Henry vacuum is better than those manufactured by giants Shark and Dyson. Normally retailing for £299.99, the Henry Quick Hen.100 Cordless Stick Vacuum is currently down to £189.05 in an Amazon Prime Deal. While you will need to have an Amazon Prime membership to snap up this massive £110 saving, it will be worth it as the Henry Quick Vacuum promises to give you all the benefits of cordless cleaning with no dust, no mess and no added fuss. READ MORE: Snap up 10-in-1 'game-changer' Tefal air fryer for less than £50 in time-limited deal READ MORE: Amazon shoppers are rushing to buy £50 Dryrobe alternative that feels 'like a feather' While hoovering away, the Hen. 100 Cordless Vacuum compacts dust inside a clever pod system that comes with one-click, dust-free emptying, reports Wales Online. Additionally, the Henry Cordless Hoover is also said to have a bigger capacity than most leading vacuums, allowing for more cleaning and less emptying. Equipped with a lithium-ion battery, the Henry Quick Vacuum can deliver up to 60 minutes of powerful, cordless cleaning, allowing you to make sure your house is completely hair and dust free. Along with a variety of attachments and a charging stand, you will be able to clean every nook and cranny of your home efficiently with this much-loved Henry Cordless Vacuum. Sporting a 4.1 star rating from shoppers, the Henry Quick Cordless Vacuum is currently one of Amazon's top choices for hoovers. One delighted shopper said: "Having a double coated dog and a cat, I have had many vacuum cleaners and they tend not to last. The Dyson cracked, the Shark blew up (literally) and even the Miele eventually bit the dust. "I've been using it for a couple of months now and still far have only just had to change the bag.. impressive for such a small bag! The charge easily does a 3 bedroom house and even in boost mode ( which almost sucked my carpet off the stairs) it had never yet run out. Suction is excellent. The Quick feels solid but not too heavy and it simply does an excellent job!" While another shopper added: "HenryQuick is a super cordless vacuum which is very easy to use and is powerful without having to use the boost mode. Battery life is excellent also and for me the best part is having no bags. The pods are great, no dust at all." A third five-star reviewer also wrote: "Nice and light as I have mobility issues. Love the different attachments helps me get the house clean in one go. Doesn't take long to charge." Another customer went on to gush: "Always been a fan of Henry's but this goes beyond brilliant. On strong suck mode practically took the carpet up." However, some shoppers did note some issues, as one customer explained: "I thought it was pretty good at first, although it wasn't as light as advertised. It felt quite heavy in hand and not light at all. In the first few months, the suction power was good and the power was enough to vacuum the entire room. "However, after half a year, the suction power weakened significantly and the battery capacity also decreased. It consumes very quickly and needs to be recharged to fill the entire room." Another shopper also shared: "The battery stopped charging within 2 months of purchasing." If you want to buy the Henry Quick Hen.100 Cordless Stick Vacuum while it is down in price, you can click HERE. Another popular cordless vacuum on Amazon is the Levoit Cordless Vacuum Cleaner . Normally retailing for £249.99, this vacuum is also in a Prime deal which has dropped the price to £199.99. Alternatively, to Bosch Unlimited 7 Aqua 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum has been marked down to £379 on Argos (RRP £500).
