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CNET
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
I Tried Using AI to See My Future Baby's Face. It Got Weird
Bringing a new life into this world is one of the most cosmic, transcendent experiences. I have yet to experience it, but the women in my life tell me so and pass down their wisdom. We wait nine laborious months to see who that little soul is and what they look like. But with the birth of artificial intelligence, there are apps that can show you what your baby's face will look like. Or so they say. These apps are more entertaining than scientific, more likely offering comic relief during pregnancy than accuracy, because no one can ever predict what their baby will look like. The moment that parents and baby meet will continue to remain a beautiful surprise, no matter how good AI gets. Zooey Liao/CNET I'm extra curious about what AI will generate, given I'm in a same-sex relationship and we have options when choosing our genetic "other half." But for the sake of this example, I'm going to use a friend, who might be a potential donor. My goal, as with my AI-crafted headshots, is to generate future baby pictures that don't look like cartoons. AI baby pictures: AI Baby Generator app I decided to test out the AI Baby Generator: FaceMaker app, as it came up a few times in my research. The features beyond the baby generator also sounded interesting -- you can transform ultrasound images into visual predictions, swap genders, create a family photo and generate baby names. AI Baby Generator is free to download, with upgrade options for unlimited Pro features. It was developed by Wowoo AI and launched in November 2022. To test its full capabilities, I signed up for the free trial of Pro. It's $7 per week but I'll delete it after I use it so I'm not charged. I went through my camera roll and picked seven photos of myself that I liked, where you could see my face. I cropped the photos to focus in on my face. I did the same for the three male photos. When I started uploading photos, I received a notification that they would be uploaded to the servers for analysis but deleted immediately after processing. You can pick the gender but I selected "surprise me," because we need a little mystery in our journey. You can also "customize your baby," which was an odd feature, so I stuck with the automatic preset -- which promised 91% accuracy. The first result? Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET The app told me that the probability of a boy is 64%. I pressed Regenerate and Customize Your Baby to tweak the settings but the features were similar. I kept getting boys so I just selected "boy" for all of them, so I could easily compare. AI did get my age wrong. Some of these photos were from a few years ago, so I uploaded one from last year when I was 35. It listed my age as 29. At least it's not telling me I'm of geriatric pregnancy age. Phew! I wanted to see if I'd get similar photos with another AI baby app or if it was just random. For reference, this was me as a child. Courtesy of Amanda Smith/CNET AI baby pictures: Cosplay app I picked Cosplay for the second tool because it was a top option in the App Store. I used the free trial but if you're using it be sure to delete it before it expires, otherwise it's $13 per week. When I input my first image, the app said it would take 24 minutes to generate the baby pics but it took only five minutes. The results were wildly different. I didn't see myself in these images at all. Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET I tried with the next two images of me but it didn't get better. It was a whole lot of the same. AI baby pictures: Make a Baby app Disappointed by this second round, I wanted to try one more app to see if the third time's a charm. I went with the Make a Baby app. It's $5 per week, with no free trial. And things got even worse. The app displayed the two genetic parents' faces in a way that cropped out everything below the nose, and it wouldn't let me adjust them -- and then it simply mashed up those adult faces onto an image of a baby. I have no words besides "Give me my $5 back." Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET Let's go back to the beginning, to AI Baby Generator, and test one more photo to see if I can get consistency with two different photos in the same model. But I got an error message this time. Was it a sign from the universe? Should you bother with AI-generated baby pictures? I was excited to try out these tools, especially to support our unique journey where we get to pick the genetic other half for our future child. It's an odd and overwhelming experience and these AI apps didn't necessarily make it easier. The results either felt too similar or -- when the apps actually worked -- fake. Do I think our baby will look like any of these photos? No, and I'm happy about it. I want to keep some semblance of surprise.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
I have power of attorney, now what?
Taking on the role of power of attorney for a loved one can be tough – if you need to act on their behalf it will mean that person no longer has the capacity to make decisions for themselves. But by understanding your role and responsibilities, you can at least make things a little easier for all parties. Helen Strong, lead solicitor in the private client department at law firm BTTJ, said: 'A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows a person to appoint someone, an 'attorney', to make decisions on their behalf if they become unable to do so.' One or more trusted persons, such as family members or friends, can be nominated. An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before it can be used. This can be done at any time. Here, Telegraph Money explains what you need to do after taking on the responsibility of power of attorney. Responsibilities as an attorney Should you need to act on behalf of the donor – that is, the person who appointed you as their attorney – there are a number of responsibilities you'll be taking on. These include: Being able to demonstrate that the donor consents to you acting on their behalf. Making choices about the donor's healthcare arrangements, or staying on top of their day-to-day finances. Stepping in if the donor is at risk of being a victim of scammers. Taking action if you need to use the donor's assets to help pay for their care. The most important thing you must keep in mind as an attorney is your duty to protect the wishes of the donor throughout their lifetime. Heledd Wyn, a TEP (trust and estate practitioner) and partner at Rothley Law, said: 'You have to act in the best interests of the person who has appointed you. You must also have regard for the Mental Capacity Act 2005.' You can read more about what's involved in being an attorney at Ms Wyn added: 'It is important people understand their responsibilities as attorneys, and that they keep records of transactions, such as everything they have spent money on – and why.' Your responsibilities may vary depending on which type of LPA you have been granted – there are two, and you may have been appointed to cover both. Health and welfare power of attorney This type of LPA enables an attorney to make decisions about health, personal and medical matters. It can be very wide-ranging: It covers aspects of day-to-day life, such as where a patient lives, what they eat, how they dress and who can visit them. It can cover decisions about their medical treatment, dental and optical care. It can even include matters of life and death, such as issuing 'do not resuscitate' orders. Ms Strong said: 'Anyone taking out a health and welfare LPA can decide to give their attorneys the power to consent or refuse 'life-sustaining' medical treatment.' Note that this LPA only takes effect once the donor has lost mental capacity or cannot express their own wishes and feelings. It must be correctly registered with the OPG before an attorney can use it. Property and financial affairs power of attorney This type of LPA allows an attorney to make a range of decisions about the donor's finances. This might include: Managing bank accounts. Paying bills. Collecting their pension. Buying and selling property, or renting it. Making investment decisions. Unlike a health and welfare LPA, this type can be used, or 'triggered', as soon as it's registered, provided the donor has given their permission. This is the case even if the donor still has capacity. Ms Strong said: 'A property and financial affairs LPA can either be used immediately – or when the donor no longer has the ability to make financial decisions.' It is down to the donor to specify this. Who to notify that you are an attorney If the LPA is being used to make decisions about the donor's finances or property, you may want to notify certain relevant parties, such as: The donor's bank. Their mortgage provider. Their landlord. If you're using the LPA when making choices about the donor's health and welfare, you may need to notify: The individual's friends and family. Their doctor and other health-care staff. Their care workers, social workers or other social-care staff. How long power of attorney lasts Once an LPA has been registered with the OPG, it then lasts indefinitely, unless one of the following happens: The donor dies. The donor chooses to revoke it (they must still have mental capacity at this time). The attorney becomes incapable (if they lose mental capacity, pass away or choose to no longer act on behalf of the donor). Assuming none of these things happen, a person's LPA will continue to operate, with you, as the appointed attorney, making decisions as required. Ms Wyn said: 'An LPA usually lasts until the donor passes away or revokes it. If the attorney dies before them – and there are no replacements named – the donor must inform the OPG.' The donor must then choose someone else to be an attorney, providing they have the capacity to do so. This will mean setting up a new LPA. Ms Wyn added: 'The donor can also decide to revoke their LPA if they change their mind for any reason. Further, the OPG may cancel an LPA if someone has mis-used it.' This last point highlights just how important it is to choose the right attorney who can be trusted to make good decisions.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Donor offers £1.2m to complete St Michael le Belfrey project
An anonymous donor has offered to pay £1.2m towards the cost of renovating a church in York after the project stalled due to a change in tax at St Michael Le Belfrey began last year but alterations to a government grant scheme left the future of the project hanging in the church - famous as the place where Guy Fawkes was baptised - was left with a £1.4m shortfall after the government changed the rules around recouping VAT on the Rev Andy Baker, priest at St Michael Le Belfrey, called the donor's offer to pay the outstanding funds if necessary "an answer to prayer". He said the renovation, which includes stonework repairs and cleaning, replacing the roof and adding insulation, would have had to be "significantly scaled back" if the money had not been found."It would have been very disappointing really to have had to go through such a long process to then end up with a reduced finished product," he the cap was imposed in March, the church reduced the shortfall by £200,000 through making advance payments to unnamed donor pledged the donation the day before St Michael Le Belfrey was due to instruct the design team that the scope of the project would need to be reduced, Mr Baker said. Mr Baker said while he was "relieved" the project - which has a completion date of summer 2026 - could continue, he was sympathetic to other churches that faced a similar dilemma."Churches aren't just beautiful buildings - we're working with our community, in our community. These aren't just vanity projects," he said.A spokesperson from the DCMS previously said the changes took place against a "tough financial background" and "competing priorities" within the said 94% of claims were expected to be unaffected by the change, adding that the the government had extended the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme until 31 March Baker said St Michael Le Belfrey would continue to campaign "for an outcome where the government fully recognises the value that our churches make to society, spiritual development and the economy of this country"."We are so thankful to all those who have supported us in particular local MP Rachael Maskell, who has worked tirelessly on our behalf," he said."We pray that their passion and wisdom will be heard and understood."The latest offer is the second time an unnamed benefactor has stepped in to help the church, which was previously gifted £1m that it used to set up a social action programme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Stem cell donors: Five-year-old Arsenal fan needs to find match
'You wouldn't know to look at him that he's ill' 9 minutes ago Share Save Share Save DKMS Mason needs to find a stem cell donor Mason is like most five-year-old boys, according to his mother Emily. He loves dance, gymnastics, doing arts and crafts, being on his scooter, supporting Arsenal, playing dress-up and baking. But Mason, who lives in Islington, north London, needs to find a potentially life-saving 10/10 matching stem cell donor to treat his severe congenital neutropenia, a rare blood disorder. "I just want him to have a normal life – this has always been his normal, but all the hospital visits, surgeries, tests, cannulations and injections shouldn't be his normal," says Emily. 'Magic medicine' Mason's condition means he is at risk from life-threatening bacterial infections and an increased risk of leukaemia and other cancers. The stem cell transplant will replace damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells, which will then create new blood cells, reduce his symptoms and lessen the risk of leukaemia developing. His dual Caribbean (Bajan/St Lucian) and British heritage means finding a matching donor is an even greater challenge. None of his family are a match. People from UK ethnic minority heritages are under-represented on the stem cell donor register, and people from such backgrounds often face a much longer wait to find a matching donor. Mason is one of approximately 2,000 people in the UK who are waiting for a stem cell transplant. Emily says: "Mason knows that he needs 'magic medicine' and that it will come from someone else. "He's very resilient and just gets on with it – even though he's been through so much and I wouldn't be able to cope with half of what he has gone through. "But we've talked to him about sharing his story, to help him and other people find a match, and he's said yes, he wants to help." "To look at him right now, you wouldn't know he is ill and needs a transplant," she added. On Sunday Mason's family and friends, led by Emily, held a stem cell donor registration event to encourage more people to sign up as potential stem cell donors. The process is described as "quick and easy, and can be completed with a simple cheek swab". DKMS Mason is one of about 2,000 people in the UK waiting for a stem cell transplant Blood cancer charity DKMS helped organise the donor registration event at a primary school in Islington. The charity's spokesperson, Deborah Hyde, says: "By registering as a donor, you could give hope not just to Mason, but countless others from all backgrounds, who are relying on the stem cell register for a second chance at life. "Signing up is a quick and easy process involving some painless mouth swabs: if you are aged 17 to 55 and in general good health, you're eligible to join the register with DKMS. "And if you were then matched with someone needing a transplant, in nine out of ten cases donating is a simple, outpatient process similar to donating blood platelets." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
