May 11, 2023

empowering you with insights and information from the edge of today’s headlines

Technology

Artificial Streaming: You might remember the hooplah over AI Drake. Chinese pop fans just had a similar problem when an AI-generated video went viral for Mandopop singer Stefanie Sun. Spotify, however, has been attempting to tackle the AI-generated music flood by removing the songs as fast as they can be detected. But one more unintended consequence, the AI-generated music is being listened to by AI-generated audiences in order to monetize the streams. We thought the robots would be taking over our jobs, but they are taking over our leisure activities as well.

Artificial Wendy: Wendy’s has announced that it has partnered with Google to train an AI chatbot to take drive-through orders. The challenge will be to learn the unique Wendy’s lingo while ignoring the background, street and car noise. The chatbot will even be taught to upsell larger sizes. Guess the days of accidentally running into Ben Affleck at the window are gone.

Cable Bundling: Disney announced that it plans to combine Disney+ and Hulu into one app by the end of the year. Disney owns the majority of Hulu, although it will have to negotiate with Comcast about the remaining third in 2024.

Mini Mobility: European city dwellers might have a new transport alternative soon: the Luvly. The Luvly is a mini electric car that weighs under 400kg, runs on 2 removable batteries, seats 4, and hits a top speed of 90kmph. The manufacturers took inspiration from Formula One racing cars to make the new vehicle more energy efficient and safe, although I doubt you will see Max Verstappen taking it for a spin any time soon.

Eat your Veggies: We’ve all joked that we’d eat more vegetables if they only tasted better. In the US they make vegetables look better, so we don‘t have to buy the ugly rejects. Well now our wishes might be coming closer to reality. Scientists are fiddling with the genetics of vegetables to actually target our taste buds. Using the gene-editing technology CRISPR, plant breeders have reinvented Brussel sprouts, and may be coming for our salad greens next.

Business / Politics

Planned Obsolescence: We’ve heard of upcycling and antiques, and luxury items that are meant to be passed down through the generations, but would you buy a jacket that is meant to last 100 years? LIVSN has created the Century Jacket, a craftsman-style garment that is constructed entirely from natural materials, designed to last 100 years, and comes with free repairs. Wishful thinking that the robots won’t have taken over by then.

No Business: The new state of play in the US is just to ignore lawmakers with whom the majority doesn’t agree with. Earlier this month it was Zooey Zephyr in Montana, where the transgender lawmaker was ignored and then voted off the House floor (she is suing alongside the ACLU). Missouri legislators also refused to call on an openly gay, Republican representative who opposed a bill on gender affirming care, and he stated that the move has made him consider switching parties. In Oregon, the Republican party is choosing just not to show up at all, to prevent a quorum, so that the democrat majority can not vote on bills regarding gender-affirming care, abortion and gun control. Democracy by tantrum, or taking a page out of Mitch McConnell’s playbook.

So much for the bees: Utah decided to redesign its State Flag in March of this year, replacing a more traditional flag from 1911. The governor signed off on the new flag design that was meant to be a nod to Mormon heritage. The poor 72 designers who contributed to what looks like a clip art beehive. The critics think it is “too woke” because it removes some of Utah’s history. So much for change.

Culture

Chocolate makes everything better: Compartés Chocolatier and Velveeta are teaming up to create a collection of truffles that looks like Velveeta’s signature shells. The outer coating is white chocolate, and unfortunately, infused with the cheese. “TruffVels combine the brand’s “La Dolce Velveeta” aesthetic of unapologetic enjoyment of the creamy taste of the cheese spread with unapologetic indulgence in fine chocolate.” While cheese and chocolate are our two favorite indulgences, we aren’t sure about the combination.

And if you want to try another unique chocolate indulgence of the anti-luxury variety, Miller High Life has teamed up with Philip Ashley to create their own line of truffle snacks. The goal was to celebrate the taste of a dive bar with flavors such as grilled cheese, pretzel praline and lemon pepper chicken wing.

Remake we can get behind: Filming has begun for the sequel to the 1988 film Beetlejuice. Warner Bros and director Tim Burton made some great casting moves with Michael Keaton and Wynona Ryder set to return, and Jenna Ortega (from Wednesday fame) will join the cast as Wynona’s daughter. We have our fingers crossed for the return of Catherine O’Hara.

Book your tickets: If you watched Nine Perfect Strangers during the pandemic, and like us wanted to visit a spa and try micro-dosing, you now have your chance — without having to travel to Amsterdam. Oregon has now opened up its first legal shroom therapy center (sans Nicole Kidman). The sessions don’t come cheap: “a ‘high dose’ session, lasting 6 hours, costs $3,500 plus the cost of medicine; the price includes a one-hour prep session and one-hour integration session after taking the psilocybin.” We don’t think the offering comes with smoothies, massages and a pool, unfortunately.

Art for the People: The Uffizi Gallery of Italy is relaunching its Uffizi Difusi Project where it showcases precious artworks by taking them on tour across Tuscany and displaying them in the local area of context. This year’s show will feature Madonna del Baldacchino painted by Raphael at the Turini Chapel.

If you can’t make it to Italy, try California, as the Getty is granting $17M to support the 2024 run of the regionwide cultural collaboration known as Pacific Standard Time. The 60 museum shows will be focused on the climate crisis.

Suspicious Character: If you watched the Coronation this weekend, you might have noticed a suspicious-looking character sitting next to Andrew Lloyd Weber. The internet was abuzz with claims that this was most likely Meghan Markle in the worst disguise ever or someone there to steal the crown jewels aka Mike Myers-style. In fact, it was composer Sir Karl Jenkins who has a uniquely British appearance.

— Lauren Eve Cantor

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