Latest news with #Loti
STV News
26-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Island businesses say 'no sign' of promised £4.4m amid ferry crisis
Businesses on South Uist are calling on the Scottish Government to come good on their promise of £4.4m of resilience funds for those worst affected by the ongoing ferry crisis. The Government's original announcement came one month ago, the day before transport minister Fiona Hyslop travelled to the island to attend South Uist Business Impact Group's (SUBIG) crisis meeting, where over 50 businesses presented testimony on how the ferry crisis has affected them in the hopes of discussing a way forward. However, since the meeting, the business group has heard no further mention of the fund. John Daniel Peteranna, director of local community landowner Storas Uist, said: 'Uist has suffered a severely reduced ferry service all this year. 'Island businesses stand ready to work with the government on how the fund might work, but are disappointed at the government's slow approach. 'This fund is urgently needed to ensure island businesses can survive until the ferry service improves.' The call comes after South Uist's ferry, the Lord of the Isles, returned to its home port of Lochboisdale for the first time since Hogmanay. Saturday saw the first service between South Uist and its 'usual' mainland port of Mallaig for almost six months. Loti is the only 'large' ferry in CalMac's fleet capable of entering Mallaig harbour while also able to travel out to South Uist. At 37 years old, it is one of the oldest in the fleet and prone to breakdowns. Last September, a fire in the engine room during the crossing led to its removal from service for weeks, further disrupting the island's economy. The return of the island's ferry also means the island's full summer timetable can finally commence, albeit two months later than planned. This shorter route to Mallaig, only three and a half hours instead of the five and a half hours to Oban that businesses, families and other travellers have endured for the past six months, also means South Uist will benefit from two sailings a day on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the full summer timetable. But, as the MV Lord of the Isles slunk into her berth on Friday evening, shrouded by squalls of long absent rain, islanders know that this full summer timetable will last for only two weeks. For most of June and July, CalMac is cutting one service a week to the island and redirecting two others to distant Oban instead of Mallaig. 'Island businesses and families need a timetable they can rely on', Mr Peteranna added. 'We shouldn't live in fear of our service being cut every time there's a problem somewhere else in CalMac's fleet. We call on the government to present the details of the resilience fund.' With its regular ferry returning from helping out on routes to islands CalMac prioritises above South Uist, there is cautious optimism from hospitality and other businesses that something might yet be made of the summer season. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Scotland's island communities and businesses face many challenges, we recognise the need to provide additional targeted support and that is why we have allocated an initial £4.4m to establish a resilience fund to support island businesses. 'People and businesses need to have confidence in ferry services running reliably and frequently to support their livelihoods, among many other factors and it is clear that any delays or maintenance to vessels can create real difficulties and we are determined to do everything we can to support islands, local businesses and employers through these challenging times. 'We are currently working at pace with partners to refine eligibility criteria and so that we can open for applications as soon as possible.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Khosla Ventures Leads $16.2M Series A In Loti AI, Backed By WME & CAA, To Shield Celebrities From Deepfake Threats
Seattle-based Loti AI has secured $16.2 million in Series A funding to power the next wave of deepfake defense tech. Led by Khosla Ventures and joined by FUSE, Bling Capital, Ensemble, Alpha Edison, and K5 Tokyo Black, the $16.2 million raise brings Loti's total funding to $23 million, marking a pivotal shift in how seriously the industry is treating digital identity defense, according to Variety. Don't Miss: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — . Loti AI builds protection software for celebrities, influencers, politicians, athletes, and everyday consumers navigating a world where their faces and voices can be cloned in seconds. According to GeekWire, the startup uses proprietary facial and voice recognition to monitor global digital content, flag unauthorized uses, and remove manipulated or infringing media, from deepfake endorsements to fake social media accounts. Founded in 2022 by Luke Arrigoni, Rebekah Arrigoni, and serial entrepreneur Hirak Chhatbar, the company is quickly emerging as a leader in likeness protection. Loti's tech began with a focus on high-profile individuals but recently expanded to include consumer-facing tools that help anyone reclaim control over their digital presence. The funding comes at a pivotal moment. According to Variety, the re-introduction of the No Fakes Act, a bill designed to help artists and public figures protect their voice and likeness, has earned support from tech giants like Google and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN). Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. This tailwind in Washington is giving Loti an even stronger foothold as legal infrastructure begins to catch up with AI's rapid evolution. "They come to us to protect their likeness, their IP rights, and now increasingly to manage how they participate in the generative AI economy," said Loti CEO Luke Arrigoni, according to GeekWire. The company has also formed high-level partnerships with talent agencies WME and CAA, as well as Dolphin Entertainment, whose subsidiaries like 42West, The Door, and Elle Communications now have access to Loti's suite of tools, GeekWire writes. Khosla Ventures sees this moment as necessary. "Our thesis around Loti is simple. Generative AI enables new deepfake technology that creates new risks and challenges around fraud and trust – challenges that celebrities, influencers, and brands are not prepared for today," Jon Chu, a partner at Khosla Ventures, said in a statement. "And Loti has world-class technology paired with a category-leading product that has proven itself by protecting A-list celebrities, household name brands, and individuals and local businesses from threats.'Loti's platform has other features beyond detection and takedown. It equips clients with the tools to govern how their likeness is handled across digital ecosystems, spanning everything from social media to streaming sites to AI datasets. The system operates as both a shield and control panel, either by initiating removals or staying ahead of misuse through active monitoring. The startup is also facing competitive pressure, most notably from Sony-backed (NYSE:SONY) Vermillio AI, which raised $16 million last month, according to a statement. But Loti isn't flinching. 'We see new entrants to our space from time to time,' said Arrigoni, 'but they are often deterred by the massive technical complexity of monitoring the internet for face and voices so they pivot out of our space. While I'm sure everyone has decent tech, ours is battle-hardened and bespoke to those that rely on these protections.' Ranked No. 156 on GeekWire's list of top Pacific Northwest startups, Loti is growing fast and showing no signs of slowing down. While revenue numbers remain under wraps, the client list is reportedly "growing exponentially." Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Khosla Ventures Leads $16.2M Series A In Loti AI, Backed By WME & CAA, To Shield Celebrities From Deepfake Threats originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Khosla Ventures Leads $16.2M Series A In Loti AI, Backed By WME & CAA, To Shield Celebrities From Deepfake Threats
Seattle-based Loti AI has secured $16.2 million in Series A funding to power the next wave of deepfake defense tech. Led by Khosla Ventures and joined by FUSE, Bling Capital, Ensemble, Alpha Edison, and K5 Tokyo Black, the $16.2 million raise brings Loti's total funding to $23 million, marking a pivotal shift in how seriously the industry is treating digital identity defense, according to Variety. Don't Miss: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — . Loti AI builds protection software for celebrities, influencers, politicians, athletes, and everyday consumers navigating a world where their faces and voices can be cloned in seconds. According to GeekWire, the startup uses proprietary facial and voice recognition to monitor global digital content, flag unauthorized uses, and remove manipulated or infringing media, from deepfake endorsements to fake social media accounts. Founded in 2022 by Luke Arrigoni, Rebekah Arrigoni, and serial entrepreneur Hirak Chhatbar, the company is quickly emerging as a leader in likeness protection. Loti's tech began with a focus on high-profile individuals but recently expanded to include consumer-facing tools that help anyone reclaim control over their digital presence. The funding comes at a pivotal moment. According to Variety, the re-introduction of the No Fakes Act, a bill designed to help artists and public figures protect their voice and likeness, has earned support from tech giants like Google and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN). Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. This tailwind in Washington is giving Loti an even stronger foothold as legal infrastructure begins to catch up with AI's rapid evolution. "They come to us to protect their likeness, their IP rights, and now increasingly to manage how they participate in the generative AI economy," said Loti CEO Luke Arrigoni, according to GeekWire. The company has also formed high-level partnerships with talent agencies WME and CAA, as well as Dolphin Entertainment, whose subsidiaries like 42West, The Door, and Elle Communications now have access to Loti's suite of tools, GeekWire writes. Khosla Ventures sees this moment as necessary. "Our thesis around Loti is simple. Generative AI enables new deepfake technology that creates new risks and challenges around fraud and trust – challenges that celebrities, influencers, and brands are not prepared for today," Jon Chu, a partner at Khosla Ventures, said in a statement. "And Loti has world-class technology paired with a category-leading product that has proven itself by protecting A-list celebrities, household name brands, and individuals and local businesses from threats.'Loti's platform has other features beyond detection and takedown. It equips clients with the tools to govern how their likeness is handled across digital ecosystems, spanning everything from social media to streaming sites to AI datasets. The system operates as both a shield and control panel, either by initiating removals or staying ahead of misuse through active monitoring. The startup is also facing competitive pressure, most notably from Sony-backed (NYSE:SONY) Vermillio AI, which raised $16 million last month, according to a statement. But Loti isn't flinching. 'We see new entrants to our space from time to time,' said Arrigoni, 'but they are often deterred by the massive technical complexity of monitoring the internet for face and voices so they pivot out of our space. While I'm sure everyone has decent tech, ours is battle-hardened and bespoke to those that rely on these protections.' Ranked No. 156 on GeekWire's list of top Pacific Northwest startups, Loti is growing fast and showing no signs of slowing down. While revenue numbers remain under wraps, the client list is reportedly "growing exponentially." Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Khosla Ventures Leads $16.2M Series A In Loti AI, Backed By WME & CAA, To Shield Celebrities From Deepfake Threats originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Deepfake Detection Firm Loti AI Expands Access For All Users: 'These Threats Are No Longer Limited to Celebrities' (EXCLUSIVE)
Deepfake detection and takedown service Loti AI revealed that its likeness protection technology is being made publicly available. Previously only offered to public figures and celebrities, the company will now offer tools to anyone 'who wants to safeguard their digital reputation.' 'The internet is getting out of hand, and people's digital reputations are at risk like never before,' said Loti AI CEO Luke Arrigoni. 'From deepfakes to unauthorized illicit content, these threats are no longer limited to celebrities. That's why Loti AI is stepping up to offer everyone tools to take control of their digital identity.' More from Variety A Quarter of All Broadcasters Now Using AI, More Than Doubling Last Year, New Report Finds Ahead of PGA Awards, Guild Says Fighting Runaway Production Is Top Priority: 'We Have to Stand Up and Fight for Los Angeles' AI Was Nearly Used to Recreate the French Voice of Sylvester Stallone. Now, European Dubbers Are Doubling Down on the Need for Protection Loti Ai, which was founded in 2022, will offer free and paid membership options on a rolling basis. The platform scans the internet daily, looking for deepfakes, impersonations, and other misleading unauthorized content. Users have the choice to automate takedowns or handle them individually. The company claims that users of its auto-takedown functionality saw a 95% takedown rate within 17 hours. 'Whether you're an everyday person or a high-profile individual, you should be able to protect your image and personal data online,' Arrigoni said. 'Our goal is simple: to help you reach zero—zero images of you online that you haven't approved.' In addition to online protection, Loti AI's scans also find authorized images, like old photos and videos that could hold sentimental value. Users can sign up at or download the Loti AI app. Last fall, entertainment marketing and production firm Dolphin partnered with Loti AI to provide its subsidiaries — businesses including 42West, The Door, Shore Fire, Special Projects and Elle Communications — access to Loti's tools. The firm also provides feedback to assist Loti (which also has a partnership with WME) in further developing and expanding use of its services. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Inside the AI Ground War Against Celebrity Deepfakes
In January, a French woman lost $900,000 after falling victim to scammers posing as Brad Pitt who convinced her to send money for medical treatments. The elaborate scheme, which lasted over a year, featured artificial intelligence-generated photos showing the actor in a hospital bed, supposedly battling kidney cancer. Pitt's representatives later issued a statement expressing dismay that 'scammers take advantage of fans' strong connection with celebrities.' These scams can also work at scale. This month, investigators uncovered an operation out of Tbilisi, Georgia, that used deepfakes and fabricated news reports to promote cryptocurrency schemes featuring well-known British personalities, including financial expert Martin Lewis, radio DJ Zoe Ball, and adventurer Ben Fogle. The operation defrauded thousands of victims of $35 million. Welcome to the 24/7 reality confronting the world of celebrity and fame in these times, with no larger target than star-laden Hollywood. While AI is the culprit in many of these cases, the weapons to fight that battle are being powered by AI as well, highlighting a new market opportunity for digital upstarts looking to be on the frontlines for studios and talent agencies. Enter Loti, which calls itself a 'likeness protection technology' firm that has a partnership with talent agency giant WME and secured $7 million in seed funding last fall. It is positioning itself as a solution to a growing problem: the proliferation of AI-generated content that misappropriates celebrities' faces and voices without permission. 'Coming into this area, you can't really fight technology without having technology in support of what you're doing,' Chris Jacquemin, WME partner and head of digital strategy, told TheWrap last fall. The size of the problem is staggering. According to DeepMedia, another company working on AI detection tools, approximately 500,000 audio and visual deepfakes were shared on social media in 2023. For the biggest stars, the impact can be severe. In January 2024, X blocked searches for Taylor Swift after pornographic deepfakes of the singer went viral on the platform. Lawmakers are trying to pass laws that could create consequences for people making these nonconsensual images. U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) plan to reintroduce the NO FAKES Act within weeks, according to CNN. This legislation joins the Take It Down Act, which targets AI-generated deep-fake pornography and recently gained support from First Lady Melania Trump. 'Everyone deserves the right to own and protect their voice and likeness, no matter if you're Taylor Swift or anyone else,' Sen. Coons said when the NO FAKES Act was first introduced in 2024. But even if the legislation passes, images will continue to get made, keeping companies like Loti busy. Luke Arrigoni, Loti's chief executive, describes an ecosystem of unauthorized content that ranges from merely annoying to potentially devastating. The company employs a tiered approach to removal requests, recognizing that not all AI-generated media warrants the same response. The most egregious category involves explicit material, which platforms typically remove promptly upon notification. Far more prevalent and challenging are impersonator accounts on social media platforms, which Arrigoni said can inflict substantial economic harm. For a single high-profile client, Loti might issue as many as 1,000 takedown requests in a day. When it comes to fan-made content, Loti clients take a more nuanced approach. Some clients distinguish between harmful impersonation and benign creative content, leading to varying standards for what gets flagged for removal. 'There's a sliding scale,' Arrigoni said. 'I would say half of our clients don't even care about the benign. If it's not anything too crazy, they'll say you don't need to take it down.' While Arrigoni declines to identify specific clients, he acknowledges that Loti serves individuals across entertainment, politics and corporate leadership, including military officials, politicians, chief executives, estate managers of deceased celebrities and numerous musicians, particularly in the country genre. He hints at a roster that includes 'a famously introverted adrenaline junkie with a penchant for long coats,' 'Hollywood's most trusted everyman,' 'a podcast philosopher who moonlights as a combat sports enthusiast,' and 'a hip-hop icon whose signature flow and laid-back delivery helped define the genre's evolution.' The company also monitors accounts of associates connected to celebrities, such as managers or family members, who are frequently impersonated in sophisticated scams targeting fans. The company's approach represents a technological advancement over previous methods, in which unauthorized content was identified haphazardly by fan communities who would alert management teams. Those teams would then engage attorneys to negotiate removals — a process ill-suited to the volume and velocity of today's digital environment. Loti's system scans approximately 100 million images and videos daily, utilizing 40 different AI models across six services to identify unauthorized content. Their methods include face recognition, voice recognition and impersonation detection, with the company claiming a 95% success rate in removing offending material within 17 hours. Rather than employing the traditional 'fingerprinting' techniques that spot copyright violations but become ineffective when faces are altered or backgrounds changed, Loti's technology actually becomes more precise as AI-generated content grows increasingly sophisticated. 'The better the technology gets, the more realistic it looks, the easier our stuff has to work to find it,' he said. For a standard monthly fee of $2,500, clients receive unlimited takedown requests — a pricing model that deliberately avoids penalizing those who face disproportionate targeting, particularly women. 'These people are being victimized,' Arrigoni said. 'We're not trying to be war profiteers.' Arrigoni acknowledges a paradox inherent in Loti's business model: utilizing AI to combat the harmful effects of the same technology. 'I'm selling golden pans and golden picks,' he said, referring to the gold rushes when there's always a sub-industry making money on the picks and shovels. 'It's a bizarre irony, right?' The company faces that irony head on when explaining their methodology to clients' legal teams. The process requires sensitive permissions — scanning facial features and processing biometric data with AI models — which can raise concerns. Arrigoni said Loti addresses these by emphasizing strict limitations on how the data is used and offering contractual assurances that the company will never create generative models of their clients. Nevertheless, he maintains that this approach represents a pragmatic and ethical application of tools that would otherwise be impossible to deploy through human effort alone. While Loti's technology may effectively counter AI threats across much of the internet, it cannot overcome geopolitical realities. Despite the company's sophisticated tools and extensive reach, Arrigoni acknowledges that international borders still present barriers. 'We're pretty clear with clients — Russia is out of bounds,' he said. Russian-hosted sites typically ignore takedown requests. Loti issues removal notices across multiple layers of internet infrastructure — targeting not only websites but also domain registrars, content delivery networks, and even payment processors — but Russian platforms have developed independent alternatives to these services, rendering such approaches ineffective. Loti is, however, able to get social media posts linked to those sites taken down, which reduces their visibility and accessibility to the average user. For public figures confronting a deluge of unauthorized digital representations — from explicit fabrications to fraudulent accounts targeting their supporters — such technology offers some recourse in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Many clients report that beyond the technical success, the service provides psychological relief from constantly monitoring their digital presence. 'We get consistent feedback that the problem set is getting smaller,' he said. 'The problem is solved for people when they join with us. The mental space dedicated to this is gone.' The post Inside the AI Ground War Against Celebrity Deepfakes appeared first on TheWrap.
