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Toys ‘R’ Us uses OpenAI’s Sora to make a brand film about its origin story and it’s horrifying

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The rise of artificial intelligence in our media and entertainment industries has raised a lot of concerns about programs like Open Al’s text-to-video maker Sora replacing the artistic endeavors and aspirations of humans. If those AI made movies are anything like a new brand film about the Toys 'R' Us toy store chain's origin story, the only thing we’ll have to fear is watching them.

Toys ‘R’ Us’s current owner WHP Global worked with the Emmy nominated creative agency Native Foreign to create a short brand film called The Origin of Toys ‘R’ Us using OpenAI’s text-to-video creator Sora. The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and can currently be viewed on the toy retailer’s website.

The Origin of Toys ‘R’ Us is only a little over a minute long but it’s a mix of confusing and eerie. The film features the young version of the toy store chain’s founder Charles Lazarus coming up with the idea for his signature retail creation and its giraffe mascot Geoffrey but almost the entire thing takes place in some kind of cosmic fever dream. It’s like someone tried to take the hollow behavior of M3GAN, dressed her up like Opie Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show and let it loose in the remnants of a toy store that blew up near the edge of the universe.

In the movie, Mini-Charles is a starry eyed kid hanging out in a bicycle shop owned by his father who looks like a cross between Billy Eichner and John Denver. Little Charlie falls asleep and has a weird dream about some of kind of Dr. Seuss planetarium where every kind of generic toy you can dream of sits on shelves and floats above his head. This magical place is where he meets Geoffrey the giraffe, the store’s iconic mascot, that looks like Sona used a different AI to generate it.

The film leaves out the part where Lazarus wakes up in an emergency room after accidentally doing “all the mushrooms” that caused him to have his retail fever dream.

Sora is a generative AI model that creates “realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions,” according to the OpenAI website. OpenAI premiered its video generating model in February. Sora can generate videos that are about a minute long from text prompts. It’s not available to the public yet.

The current state of Toys ‘R’ Us isn’t as rosy as its brand film makes it out to be. The toy store chain filed for bankruptcy in 2018 closing all of its stores in one fell swoop. The acquisition firm WHP Global took over the brand’s parent company Tru Kids Inc. in 2021. Two years later, the firm announced plans to expand the toy store brand with new locations in airports and cruise ships starting with a location in Dallas-Fort Worth international Airport and locations of the department store chain Macy’s.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/toys-r-us-uses-openais-sora-to-make-a-brand-film-about-its-origin-story-and-its-horrifying-214730500.html?src=rss

Reddit puts AI scrapers on notice

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Reddit has a warning for AI companies and other scrapers: play by our rules or get blocked. The company said in an update that it plans to update its Robots Exclusion Protocol (robots.txt file), which allows it to block automated scraping of its platform.

The company said it will also continue to block and rate-limit crawlers and other bots that don’t have a prior agreement with the company. The changes, it said, shouldn’t affect “good faith actors,” like the Internet Archive and researchers.

Reddit’s notice comes shortly after multiple reports that Perplexity and other AI companies regularly bypass websites’ robots.txt protocol, which is used by publishers to tell web crawlers they don’t want their content accessed. Perplexity’s CEO, in a recent interview with Fast Company, said that the protocol is “not a legal framework.”

In a statement, a Reddit spokesperson told Engadget that it wasn’t targeting a particular company. “This update isn’t meant to single any one entity out; it’s meant to protect Reddit while keeping the internet open,” the spokesperson said. “In the next few weeks, we’ll be updating our robots.txt instructions to be as clear as possible: if you are using an automated agent to access Reddit, regardless of what type of company you are, you need to abide by our terms and policies, and you need to talk to us. We believe in the open internet, but we do not believe in the misuse of public content.”

It’s not the first time the company has taken a hard line when it comes to data access. The company cited AI companies’ use of its platform when it began charging for its API last year. Since then, it has struck licensing deals with some AI companies, including Google and OpenAI. The agreements allow AI firms to train their models on Reddit’s archive and have been a significant source of revenue for the newly-public Reddit. The “talk to us” part of that statement is likely a not-so-subtle reminder that the company is no longer in the business of handing out its content for free.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/reddit-puts-ai-scrapers-on-notice-205734539.html?src=rss

ChatGPT for macOS no longer requires a subscription

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The macOS ChatGPT desktop app is now available to everyone. That is, provided you’re running an Apple Silicon Mac (sorry, Intel users) and your computer is on macOS Sonoma or higher. OpenAI rolled out the app gradually, starting with Plus subscribers last month.

ChatGPT now has an official macOS client before it has a Windows one. (In case you haven’t heard, Microsoft is its most crucial partner.) Of course, Windows 11 has the OpenAI-powered Microsoft CoPilot baked into its OS, which likely explains the omission. OpenAI and Apple are also teaming up on Apple Intelligence, which arrives later this year (unless you’re in Europe).

The Mac app includes a keyboard shortcut (option-space by default, but it’s customizable) for typing chatbot queries from anywhere in macOS. Otherwise, the app mirrors the ChatGPT website’s appearance and functionality (including custom GPTs), except in native app form. You can also upload files, photos and screenshots.

You can download and install ChatGPT for macOS from OpenAI.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chatgpt-for-macos-no-longer-requires-a-subscription-204959264.html?src=rss

OpenAI will block people in China from using its services

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OpenAI plans to block people from using ChatGPT in China, a country where its services aren’t officially available, but where users and developers access it via the company’s API anyway. Securities Times, a Chinese state-owned newspaper reported on Tuesday that OpenAI had started sending emails to users in China outlining its plans to block access starting July 9, according to Reuters.

“We are taking additional taps to block API traffic from regions where we do not support access to OpenAI’s services,” an OpenAI spokesperson told the publication. The move could impact several Chinese startups which have built applications using OpenAI’s large language models.

Although OpenAI’s services are available in more than 160 countries, China isn’t one of them. According to the company’s guidelines, users trying to access the company’s products in unsupported countries could be blocked or suspended — although the company hasn’t explicitly done so until now.

It’s not clear what prompted OpenAI’s move. Last month, the company revealed that it stopped covert influence operations — including one that originated from China — that used its AI models to spread disinformation across the internet. Bloomberg pointed out that OpenAI’s move coincides with Washington's pressure on American tech companies to limit China’s access to cutting-edge technologies developed in the US.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-will-block-people-in-china-from-using-its-services-200801957.html?src=rss

Epileptic teen receives first ever seizure-controlling brain implant

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A 13-year-old boy with severe epilepsy in the United Kingdom has become the first person in the world to receive a brain implant that helps keep seizures under control. Per The Guardian, Oran Knowlson underwent surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London to have the Picostim neurostimulator fitted into his brain to address Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare treatment-resistant form of epilepsy.

Knowlson received the neurostimulator in October 2023 as part of a pilot program run by GOSH in collaboration with University College London, King’s College Hospital and the University of Oxford. Since receiving the implant, which was developed by Amber Therapeutics, Oran’s daytime seizures have been reduced by 80 percent. Previously, his seizures were so severe he required constant care, and would sometimes lose consciousness and need resuscitation.

“For Oran and his family, epilepsy completely changed their lives and so to see him riding a horse and getting his independence back is absolutely astounding,” said Martin Tisdall, the pediatric neurosurgeon at GOSH. “We couldn’t be happier to be part of their journey.”

Tisdall’s surgical team installed the implant by mounting the Picostim to Knowlson's skull and inserting two electrodes deep into his brain until they hit the thalamus. The electrodes were then connected to the neurostimulator, which sends constant, mild electrical current to his brain to prevent or attenuate seizures. Justine Knowlson, Oran’s mother, confirmed as much when she discussed how the implant improved her son’s quality of life.

“We’ve seen a big improvement; seizures have reduced and are less severe,” she said. “He’s a lot more chatty, he’s more engaged. He’s turned 13 and I definitely now have a teenager – he’s happy to tell me no. But that adds to his quality of life, when he can express himself better.”

The Picostim neurostimulator is just one device for seizure treatment being tested. In 2020, researchers in Israel developed a wearable EEG device called Epiness, which can predict seizures up to an hour before they start. Two years earlier, a smart arm bracelet called Nightwatch was created to detect nighttime epileptic seizures and contact the wearer’s care staff when they strike.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/epileptic-teen-receives-first-ever-seizure-controlling-brain-implant-193617887.html?src=rss

Dead by Daylight’s next survivor is Lara Croft

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Behavior Interactive just announced another Dead by Daylight crossover that brings everyone’s favorite looter/archeologist Lara Croft into the game. The Tomb Raider expansion launches on July 16 and features the younger and grittier version of the character as seen in the newer titles collected in the Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy.

This is technically Croft’s first foray into horror, but she’s definitely no stranger to cold-blooded murder. Throughout the franchise, she’s ended the lives of around 3,000 people. She’s a bigger killer than Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers combined. She even signed up to fight in the Call of Duty franchise. In other words, Croft will be right at home fending off Leatherface, Pinhead and the other horror icons featured in the game.

Dead by Deadlight is currently embroiled in a chapter inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, complete with a murderous Vecna and plenty of new maps. So the addition of a non-horror character like Croft doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. There’s also a Castlevania-inspired chapter coming later in the year, with details to be released in August.

There’s only one problem with this Tomb Raider crossover. The survivors in Dead by Daylight are typically unarmed and, well, Lara Croft loves her pistols, knives and bows. It’ll be weird to control a terrified and unarmed Croft, right? I guess we'll find out on July 16. Also, for those wondering, the devs still haven’t added the long-requested Jason to the lineup of killers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dead-by-daylights-next-survivor-is-lara-croft-184439686.html?src=rss

Waymo’s robotaxis are now open to anyone in San Francisco

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Waymo is now available for anyone in San Francisco to fire up the app and hail a robotaxi. The Alphabet-owned company has had government approval to operate paid driverless cars in the city since last August but had been working its way through a waitlist in the months since. Following Cruise’s unceremonious exit from California (after dragging a pedestrian 20 feet and concealing evidence from regulators), Waymo is now the only company with autonomous commercial cars in the state.

Waymo says its cars have logged over 3.8 million driverless miles in San Francisco, and the company claims its vehicles tally “tens of thousands of weekly trips” there. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Waymo’s fleet in the city has about 300 cars, up from around 250 in January. However, despite the wider availability, it reportedly doesn’t plan to aggressively expand its San Francisco lineup in the near future.

San Francisco is Waymo’s second city to offer rides to the general public, following Phoenix. The service was exclusive to Waymo One members (and their invitees) starting in 2020, and expanded to anyone in the city two years later.

Cruise may have flamed out spectacularly, but Waymo hasn't been without its own troubles. Earlier this month, it pushed a software update for its fleet after one of its driverless cars hit a telephone pole in Phoenix. That followed a bizarre incident earlier this year when two Waymo robotaxis “made contact” with the same backward-facing pickup truck being towed. The company later said its software had incorrectly predicted the truck’s movements due to a “persistent orientation mismatch” between the towed vehicle and the one pulling it.

If you’re in San Francisco (or Phoenix), you can book a Waymo ride through the iOS or Android app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/waymos-robotaxis-are-now-open-to-anyone-in-san-francisco-181326362.html?src=rss

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been recalled again

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Tesla’s Cybertruck is being recalled yet again, according to reporting by The Verge. The company issued a physical recall that could impact nearly 12,000 owners of the controversial vehicle.

Here’s how it breaks down. The company’s recalling 11,688 Cybertrucks due to a faulty windshield wiper that could significantly reduce visibility while driving. It’s also recalling 11,383 electric pickups because of trim in the bed that could come loose and create a road hazard for other people on the road. Tesla said that it’s “not aware of any injuries or deaths” related to either issue, according to Quartz.

The NHTSA's recall notice for the wiper indicates that Tesla will replace the wiper motor once the owner brings it in for service. As for the potentially loose trim, the company will apply “adhesion promoter and pressure sensitive tape or replace missing applique as necessary.” Both of these fixes will be free of charge.

This follows another significant recall from earlier this year. That one involved a faulty accelerator pedal that could get stuck during use. The accelerator pedal issue impacted nearly 4,000 vehicles.

It’s tough to figure out what percentage of sales these recalls impact, but it could be just about all of them. Back during the accelerator pedal fiasco in April, Tesla revealed it had manufactured and sold 3,878 units to date. The company hasn’t released updated sales figures but these latest recalls account for nearly 12,000 vehicles. How many more could it have sold since April? Maybe people are snatching them up just for the purpose of spray painting anti-Elon graffiti.

The Cybertruck has been plagued by issues since launch, though most of them didn’t reach the level of a recall. Consumers have complained about an overall lack of visibility, difficulty in off-road conditions, costly repairs, an inability to drive on snow, poor mileage and all kinds of other frustrations. It also starts at nearly $82,000.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/teslas-cybertruck-has-been-recalled-again-174632424.html?src=rss

Made by Google’s next event will be August 13

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Typically, Google shows off its next generation of devices in the fall. But this year it seems that time frame has moved up: the company's next Made by Google event will be August 13 at 1PM ET.

While Google didn't share any specific details regarding upcoming announcements, the invite says the company will "showcase the best of Google AI, Android software and the Pixel portfolio of devices." In another break from tradition, this year's event will take place at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, CA instead of New York City, which has been the typical host location for Pixel launches.

Based on rumors and the release cadence of Google's existing devices, we're expecting to learn more about the Pixel 9, the next version of the Pixel Fold, a new Tensor chip, a third-gen Pixel Watch and possibly an update to the Pixel Buds. And based on the amount of attention the company gave to AI during Google I/O earlier this spring, it's basically a guarantee that we'll see some new machine learning-based features as well. 

While it remains unclear what prompted Google to move its next product launch up to August 13, between this event and rumors of an upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, it's shaping up to be a busy summer for gadget fans. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/made-by-googles-next-event-will-be-august-13-165538940.html?src=rss

Snapchat is making it harder for strangers to contact teens — again

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Snapchat is, once again, beefing up its safety features to make it harder for strangers to contact teens in the app. The company is adding new warnings about "suspicious" contacts and preemptively blocking friend requests from accounts that may be linked to scams.

It’s not the first time Snap has tried to dissuade teen users from connecting with strangers in the app. The company says the latest warnings go a step further in that the alerts rely on “new and advanced signals” that indicate an account may be tied to a scammer. Likewise, Snap says it will block friend requests sent by users who lack mutual friends with the requestee, and "a history of accessing Snapchat in locations often associated with scamming activity.” The app’s block feature is also getting an upgrade so that users who block someone will also automatically block new accounts made on the same device.

These updates, according to the company, will help address sextortion scams that often target teens across social media platforms, as well as other safety and privacy concerns. Snap, like many of its social media peers, has come under fire from lawmakers over teen safety issues, including sextortion scams and the ease with which drug dealers have been able to contact teens in the app. The latest update also just happens to come shortly after Rolling Stone published an exhaustive investigation into how Snapchat “helped fuel a teen-overdose epidemic across the country.”

The article cited specific features like Snapchat’s Snap Map, which allows users to share their current location with friends, and “quick add” suggestions, which surfaced friend recommendations. (The company began limiting “quick add” suggestions between teen and adult accounts in 2022.) And while teens can still opt-in to the Snap Map location sharing, the company says it’s simplifying these settings so they’re easier to change and surfacing more “frequent reminders” about how they are sharing their whereabouts in the app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/snapchat-is-making-it-harder-for-strangers-to-contact-teens--again-163824048.html?src=rss