16 hours ago
AI, TikTok and playing cupid...Pete shares a couple of thoughts
This week there are a couple of things I want to write about.
The first is AI. Not so long ago Trump was in the Gulf States on an official visit, and to all intents and purposes was very fruitful for America, with many deals being done.
After the visit, AI videos of the leaders of the Gulf States started to appear. They were slagging Trump off, but it was AI.
To a lot of the general public, these could have appeared totally legitimate, such is the quality. Surely this is very dangerous.
There should be more responsible labelling to show the authenticity of content online to avoid confusion and misinformation. Talking of Trump, I hate the way he calls the mainstream media 'another fake news channel or paper' when they don't agree with him.
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I've recently had a video taken down from TikTok, saying it had been removed for 'violating community guidelines'. I've got to tell you about this clip.
It was from one of my podcasts. I did a fabulous interview with Mike McCartney (known professionally as Mike McGear).
We promoted a short clip from the podcast. I'd asked: 'Your name. McGear, how did you get it?'
Mike responded: 'We were looking around ordinary words used in Liverpool, and we came up with gear, which can be clothes or a term of endearment, and that's how we got the name 'Mc', initials of Mike McCartney, plus Gear.
When TikTok took it down, we think the moderating tools had picked up on the word 'gear' which has on occasion been used as a slang word for drugs. After challenging it, it was eventually put back up.
I got a message this week that made me so happy. 'Hi Peter, just wanted to thank you for my life.
'My mum and dad met on your radio show in the 90s on your date segment, and they subsequently had three kids.
'I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you.' This little note made my job worthwhile, and in fact, we celebrated ten weddings through my evening encounters slot, plus many more found love.
Two years ago, when the Pride march was on, a young lady came up and hugged me, and informed me that her mum and dad had also met because of me.
The Cilla Black bronze statue in Mathew Street was created by Emma Rodgers and is now one of the big tourist attractions in Liverpool. Some people don't realise that all over her dress are pictures of her life.
There is one of me, just above her bottom. After years of people put their arms around the statue to have their photograph taken, many images engraved have now been worn down.
Thank goodness, I am still there!
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