DTN 025: AI Fears Fuel Historic Hollywood Strike

Actors Approve Strike as AI Fears Bring Hollywood to a Standstill

“After talks between the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) broke down on Wednesday, members of the actors guild authorized a strike that began on Friday. Artificial intelligence, SAG-AFTRA said, poses an “existential threat” to actors and performers, one that the studios allegedly refused to meaningfully acknowledge. Some actors are concerned that AI technology will be used to replicate performances without their consent, or create additional content without compensation to match.” (Decrypt)

China just fought back in the semiconductor exports war

“China has been on the receiving end of semiconductor export restrictions for years. Now, it is striking back with the same tactic. On July 3, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that the export of gallium and germanium, two elements used in producing chips, solar panels, and fiber optics, will soon be subject to a license system for national security reasons. That means exports of the materials will need to be approved by the government, and Western companies that rely on them could have a hard time securing a consistent supply from China.” (MIT Tech Review)

Life-Threatening Consequences Loom as Cancer Drug Shortages Grip the US

“Across the U.S., there is a shortage of at least 14 cancer drugs, with the situation being particularly critical for two of them: cisplatin and carboplatin. These two platinum-based chemotherapy drugs are used extensively in cancer treatment, leading to heightened concern among doctors, patient groups and industry analysts. Cisplatin and carboplatin have a cure rate of more than 90% when used in the treatment of testicular cancer, according to NCI. They are also effective in treating various other types of cancer, including bladder, cervical, ovarian, lung, gastric, breast and head and neck cancers. The current situation is due almost entirely to a range of production problems at a single manufacturing facility in Gujarat, India.” (BioSpace)