Latest news with #Of
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SoundCloud updates AI policy after backlash: ‘AI should support artists, not replace them'
Following controversy over a quiet update to the terms of use that seemed to permit the content uploaded to the streamer being used to train AI, SoundCloud has updated its AI policy. Futurism had previously reported that SoundCloud 'quietly' updated its terms and conditions in February 2024 in which users were 'explicitly agreeing' by using the platform to have their content used to train AI. The policy read: 'You explicitly agree that your Content may be used to inform, train, develop, or serve as input to artificial intelligence technologies as part of and for providing the services.' Users were understandably upset and now, following backlash, SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton has responded regarding the platform's stance on AI and 'how content may interact with AI technologies within SoundCloud's own platform'. The letter, titled 'A Letter from our CEO: Clarifying our Terms of Use', states: 'SoundCloud has never used artist content to train AI models. Not for music creation. Not for large language models. Not for anything that tries to mimic or replace your work.' It also states: 'We don't build generative AI tools, and we don't allow third parties to scrape or use artist content from SoundCloud to train them either.' 'Our position is simple: AI should support artists, not replace them.' Seton went on to explain the updates to the Terms Of Use last February were meant to clarify how 'we may use AI internally' to improve SoundCloud for its users, including 'powering smarter recommendations, search, playlisting, content tagging, and tools that help prevent fraud'. Now, SoundCloud has changed its Terms Of Use, and it will only use AI-training on content uploaded to the platform with users' consent. The new policy reads: 'We will not use Your Content to train generative AI models that aim to replicate or synthesize your voice, music, or likeness without your explicit consent, which must be affirmatively provided through an opt-in mechanism.' Today, the Data (Use and Access) Bill returns to the UK House of Lords for consideration, in order to address how the government's desire to foster a British AI industry could allow technology companies to circumvent copyright laws and use creative content to train their models – all without the permission of the creators. Chi Onwurah, the chair of the cross-party committee, has previously urged the government to bring forward the AI safety bill. Onwurah told the Guardian: 'It's absolutely critical that the government shows it is on the side of people when it comes to technology, particularly when it comes to the tech platforms and the impact technology is going to have in their lives.' This also comes at a time when artists have been speaking out against companies exploiting copyrighted works and warning against 'predatory' use of AI in music. Earlier this year, more than 200 artists featured on an open letter submitted by the Artist Rights Alliance non-profit, calling on artificial intelligence tech companies, developers, platforms, digital music services and platforms to stop using AI "to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.' Amongst those names were Stevie Wonder, Robert Smith, Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, R.E.M., Peter Frampton, Jon Batiste, Katy Perry, Sheryl Crow, Smokey Robinson, and the estates of Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra. The letter, while acknowledging the creative possibilities of new AI technology, addressed some of its threats to human artistry. Those include using preexisting work to train AI models - without permissions - in an attempt to replace artists and therefore 'substantially dilute the royalty pools that are paid out to artists.' The letter stated: 'Make no mistake: we believe that, when used responsibly, AI has enormous potential to advance human creativity and in a manner that enables the development and growth of new and exciting experiences for music fans everywhere. Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rightsholders. When used irresponsibly, AI poses enormous threats to our ability to protect our privacy, our identities, our music and our livelihoods.'
Euronews
2 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
SoundCloud updates AI policy following backlash
Following controversy over a quiet update to the terms of use that seemed to permit the content uploaded to the streamer being used to train AI, SoundCloud has updated its AI policy. Futurism had previously reported that SoundCloud 'quietly' updated its terms and conditions in February 2024 in which users were 'explicitly agreeing' by using the platform to have their content used to train AI. The policy read: 'You explicitly agree that your Content may be used to inform, train, develop, or serve as input to artificial intelligence technologies as part of and for providing the services.' Users were understandably upset and now, following backlash, SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton has responded regarding the platform's stance on AI and 'how content may interact with AI technologies within SoundCloud's own platform'. The letter, titled 'A Letter from our CEO: Clarifying our Terms of Use', states: 'SoundCloud has never used artist content to train AI models. Not for music creation. Not for large language models. Not for anything that tries to mimic or replace your work.' It also states: 'We don't build generative AI tools, and we don't allow third parties to scrape or use artist content from SoundCloud to train them either.' 'Our position is simple: AI should support artists, not replace them.' Seton went on to explain the updates to the Terms Of Use last February were meant to clarify how 'we may use AI internally' to improve SoundCloud for its users, including 'powering smarter recommendations, search, playlisting, content tagging, and tools that help prevent fraud'. Now, SoundCloud has changed its Terms Of Use, and it will only use AI-training on content uploaded to the platform with users' consent. The new policy reads: 'We will not use Your Content to train generative AI models that aim to replicate or synthesize your voice, music, or likeness without your explicit consent, which must be affirmatively provided through an opt-in mechanism.' Today, the Data (Use and Access) Bill returns to the UK House of Lords for consideration, in order to address how the government's desire to foster a British AI industry could allow technology companies to circumvent copyright laws and use creative content to train their models – all without the permission of the creators. Chi Onwurah, the chair of the cross-party committee, has previously urged the government to bring forward the AI safety bill. Onwurah told the Guardian: 'It's absolutely critical that the government shows it is on the side of people when it comes to technology, particularly when it comes to the tech platforms and the impact technology is going to have in their lives.' This also comes at a time when artists have been speaking out against companies exploiting copyrighted works and warning against 'predatory' use of AI in music. Earlier this year, more than 200 artists featured on an open letter submitted by the Artist Rights Alliance non-profit, calling on artificial intelligence tech companies, developers, platforms, digital music services and platforms to stop using AI "to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.' Amongst those names were Stevie Wonder, Robert Smith, Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, R.E.M., Peter Frampton, Jon Batiste, Katy Perry, Sheryl Crow, Smokey Robinson, and the estates of Bob Marley and Frank Sinatra. The letter, while acknowledging the creative possibilities of new AI technology, addressed some of its threats to human artistry. Those include using preexisting work to train AI models - without permissions - in an attempt to replace artists and therefore 'substantially dilute the royalty pools that are paid out to artists.' The letter stated: 'Make no mistake: we believe that, when used responsibly, AI has enormous potential to advance human creativity and in a manner that enables the development and growth of new and exciting experiences for music fans everywhere. Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rightsholders. When used irresponsibly, AI poses enormous threats to our ability to protect our privacy, our identities, our music and our livelihoods.' First, Donald Trump lashed out at one music icon... Now, Elon Musk is following suit and making his own rock star enemy. Bono was on the Joe Rogan podcast on Friday (30 May) to talk about the release of his documentary Bono: Stories Of Surrender. During the three-hour conversation, the U2 frontman took the opportunity to critise the Trump administration and singled out Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which oversaw the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Bono, who has been a campaigner for humanitarian aid for decades, criticised the cuts to international aid and cited a Boston University study that estimated that the cuts will cause more than 300,000 deaths around the world. 'There's food rotting in boats, in warehouses – 50,000 tons of it,' Bono said. 'The people who knew the codes, who were responsible for distributing that aid, were fired. That's not America, is it?' Unsurprisingly, considering Rogan voted for Trump, his audience were quick to react – and not in a happy way. One wrote: 'That guy's about as evil as they come Joe', while others stated they would be skipping the episode altogether and that it would be 'the first time I look forward to commercials'. Then came Elon Musk's reaction, who took to X to say brand the singer 'such a liar/idiot', before adding that 'zero people have died' as a result of the USAID cuts. In a later exchange, he said: 'South Park lampooned Bono as the biggest shit in the world. They were right.' Musk stepped down from his wildly unpopular role at DOGE last week after serving the maximum 130-day term as a special government employee without Senate confirmation. During his time at DOGE, hundreds of thousands of people participated in the "Hands Off" protests across all 50 states of the US to express their opposition to the policies of the Trump administration and cuts made by Musk's DOGE. "Hands Off" event organizers said: "They're taking everything they can get their hands on — our healthcare, our data, our jobs, our services — and daring the world to stop them. This is a crisis, and the time to act is now." Check out some of the best signs seen during these nation-wide protests. Bono: Stories Of Surrender is a hybrid of concert movie and visual memoir, featuring spoken word passages from the singer's 2022 autobiography, 'Surrender.' It is streaming on Apple TV+ now.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Donald Trump fires National Portrait Gallery director for being 'strong supporter' of DEI
President Donald Trump fired the director of the National Portrait Gallery, Kim Sajet, for being a "strong supporter" of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Trump announced the termination in a post on Truth Social on Friday afternoon. "Upon the request and recommendation of many people, I am hereby terminating the employment of Kim Sajet as Director of the National Portrait Gallery," the president wrote. "She is a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position. Her replacement will be named shortly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" A White House official told Fox News Digital that Sajet had donated $3,982 to Democrats, including presidential campaigns for former President Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. Sajet also reportedly donated to other Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris. Dems Erupt After Report Of Trump Firing Librarian Of Congress: 'A Disgrace' The White House also pointed to the gallery's photo of Trump, which was curated by Sajet. The caption of the photo reads, "Impeached twice, on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, he was acquitted by the Senate in both trials. After losing to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump mounted a historic comeback in the 2024 election. He is the only president aside from Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) to have won a nonconsecutive second term." Read On The Fox News App The White House official also said it was ironic that Sajet said, "We try very much not to editorialise. I don't want by reading the label to get a sense of what the curator's opinion is about that person. I want someone reading the label to understand that it's based on historical fact." The National Portrait Gallery did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the matter. White House Vows To Implement 'System Of Merit' In Us, Dismantle Dei 'Strangulation' According to the National Portrait Gallery website, Sajet was the first woman to serve as the director of the National Portrait Gallery, and she spent time in the role looking for ways to put her experience and creativity at the center of learning and civic awareness. Prior to taking the position, Sajet was the president and CEO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and held other positions at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Her biography notes that she was born in Nigeria, was raised in Australia and is a citizen of the Netherlands. She came to the U.S. with her family in 1997. Defunding Dei: Here's How The Trump Administration Has Undone Biden's Very Prized Programs While speaking at the Richardson Symposium: Racial Masquerade in American Art and Culture, at the National Portrait Museum on Nov. 4, Sajet told a crowd that she was asked what she spent most of her time on, to which she answered, "identity politics." "America has never been able to separate a person's appearance from their potential," she said. "Our history is filled, and continues to be, with examples of hatred, discrimination, fear, and alienation." She then talked about a moment on Dec. 7, 1972, when she "suddenly felt" the world was going to come together and do away with "petty differences" while thinking holistically about what it meant to be a human. That was the day astronaut Jack Schmidt of Apollo 17 snapped a picture of the earth and coined it the "Blue Marble." "Well, that utopian vision feels very, very far away today in the terrifying wake of the most uncivil, mistrustful, racially insensitive, sexually exploitative, factually untruthful, digitally manipulated, secretive and inflammatory election of the modern era," she said. "The National Portrait Gallery, as I've mentioned, is all about identity politics, whether it is to defend the label text that says President Eisenhower was cautious on civil rights or explaining why only 25% of women were historically considered cool or standing firm or not, allowing Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, to be removed from the Smithsonian or even outlining why we show the portrait of Sylvia Rivera, the transgender activist in the galleries," Sajet later said during the same speech. Hours after taking the Oath of Office on Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate all DEI programs from the federal government. A day later, the president directed the Office of Personnel Management to notify heads of agencies and departments to close all DEI offices and place those government workers in those offices on paid leave. Earlier this month, Trump fired Shira Perlmutter, who was in charge of the U.S. Copyright Office, which came just days after terminating the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. The termination was part of the administration's ongoing purge of government officials who are perceived to be opposed to Trump and his agenda. Both women were notified of their termination by email, The Associated Press previously reported. Hayden tapped Perlmutter to lead the Copyright Office in October 2020. Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this article source: Donald Trump fires National Portrait Gallery director for being 'strong supporter' of DEI
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Burger King Employee Gifted Over $40K In Donations After Working On Graduation Day
A Georgia teenager has been gifted over $40K, and counting, in GoFundMe donations after working a Burger King shift in his graduation clothes. Eighteen-year-old Mykale Baker of Georgia, had every reason to celebrate on May 21. The Mills Creek High School senior had just walked across the graduation stage, donning medals earned through years of hard work. But instead of heading to parties or family gatherings like many of his peers, Baker reported to his late-night shift at Burger King — still in his graduation attire, minus the robe. His quiet act of dedication didn't go unnoticed. Maria Mendoza, a fellow Mills Creek parent whose daughter graduated that same day, happened to be a customer that night. Struck by the young man's work ethic, she recorded a 20-second TikTok video of him bagging orders behind the counter. The clip quickly went viral, racking up over three million views and inspiring Mendoza to start a GoFundMe campaign for Baker. 'While many graduates spent the night celebrating with friends and family, one young man quietly showed the world what determination looks like,' Mendoza wrote on GoFundMe. 'Just after receiving his diploma—still proudly wearing his medals—he reported to his shift at Burger King.' 'He didn't do it for attention. He doesn't even know his story went viral. But thousands of people were moved by his dedication, humility, and work ethic,' she added. Mendoza later told 11 Alive, 'His dedication and quiet strength really moved me. I felt called to do something to recognize that. I'm just grateful I got to do something for him.' On May 26, Mendoza surprised Baker with the donations raised, bringing both him and his mother to tears — a moment that was also shared on TikTok. The emotional reveal served as a reminder of how a simple act of commitment can ripple across the internet and touch countless lives. Baker, who hopes to attend trade school and study mechanics, was deeply moved by the outpouring of support. 'Thank you so much, I was thinking of taking a gap year because I didn't have money for school, but thank you to all of you now, I might actually go straight to technical college and get my mechanical,' he said to Mendoza's TikTok followers. 'I never thought this would happen to me, I'm very thankful,' Baker added, fighting through tears. The moment was the culmination of a feel-good story that reminds us that work ethic and hustle doesn't go unnoticed and can be rewarded when we least expect it. VIBE extends our congratulations to Mykale Brown and the rest of the graduates of the Class of '25. More from Late Adult Film Star Sophia Leone's Cause Of Death Revealed 310babii Receives Platinum Plaque At His High School Graduation Janelle Monáe And John Legend Address Loyola Marymount University Class Of 2024
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
😅 Every Sunday league player knows: Hazard loses the ball in the box
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. Eden Hazard has ended his professional career, but he can't quite let go of football and still kicks the ball around in his free time. Of course, a slip-up in the best Kreisliga style can't be missing either. — Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) May 27, 2025 However, without any influence from the opponent, he couldn't even get a penalty from the referee. The former Real and Chelsea star quickly found the culprit in his shoes, though. Hazard has already arrived in the Kreisliga game, it seems. 📸 VIRGINIE LEFOUR
