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Innovation

Google unveils ‘mind-boggling’ quantum computing chip

Google unveiled a new chip, called Willow, that takes 5 mins to solve a problem that would take the world’s fastest super computers 10 septillion years. But it’s experimental, meaning a quantum computer that could solve real-world problems is still years — & billions of dollars — away

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c791ng0zvl3o

Technology

The tech world is ‘disrupting’ book publishing. But do we want its effortless art

https://theconversation.com/the-tech-world-is-disrupting-book-publishing-but-do-we-want-its-effortless-art-244821

The battle over copyright in the age of ChatGPT

HT @publishingtrend 90% of recent US econ growth is from intellectual property. IP created by AI—all the drug & tech patents; images, films, stories may become a major portion of the world’s financial value.

https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/to-whom-does-the-world-belong/

Seth Godin: AI Is Accelerating Book Publishing’s Decline

https://www.forbes.com/sites/torconstantino/2024/12/11/acclaimed-author-says-ai-is-accelerating-book-publishings-decline/

HarperCollins CEO touts Spotify’s audiobooks entry, AI’s impact on publishing

Internally, HarperCollins is exploring AI to create audiobooks for smaller markets. AI could expand book translations & speed up the process from manuscript to scripts for screen adaptation.

https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/10/harpercollins-ceo-touts-spotifys-audiobooks-entry-ais-impact-on-publishing/

YouTube’s AI-powered dubbing is now available to many more creators

YouTube’s AI-powered dubbing is now available to hundreds of thousands of Partner Program Channels. It enables auto dubbing for videos in multiple languages. Creators can preview, unpublish, & delete AI-generated dubs before they go live.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/10/24318309/youtube-partners-ai-auto-dubbing-translation-knowledge-information-videos

Automattic Acquisition Will Bring AI Into WordPress

Automattic’s acquisition of WPAI signals the integration of AI into WordPress in the near future.

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/automattic-acquisition-will-bring-ai-into-wordpress/535015/

OpenAI releases hyperrealistic AI video generator Sora Turbo to the public

Concerns re. copyright, as it may be trained on unlicensed video game content. Videos of game playthroughs involve layers of copyright, complicating legal landscape for AI-generated content

https://venturebeat.com/ai/open-ai-sora-launches/

X’s reintroduced Aurora image generator

xAI claims it can produce high-quality images, incl. detailed representations of real-world entities and realistic human portraits. During testing it generated of images featuring public figures and graphic content.

https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/09/x-says-its-new-image-generator-aurora-will-launch-for-all-users-within-the-week/

DeepMind’s Genie 2 can generate interactive worlds that look like video games

DeepMind claims that Genie 2 can generate a “vast diversity of rich 3D worlds,” including worlds in which users can take actions like jumping and swimming by using a mouse or keyboard. Trained on videos, the model’s able to simulate object interactions, animations, lighting, physics, reflections, and the behavior of “NPCs.”

https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/04/deepminds-genie-2-can-generate-interactive-worlds-that-look-like-video-games/

Apple’s new 5G modem could change the iPhone forever – and the Mac too

Apple modems will be in iPhone SE 4 next year; then in a radically redesigned iPhone 17; and then in iPads, Macs & possibly Vision Pro.

https://www.t3.com/tech/iphones/apples-new-5g-modem-could-change-the-iphone-forever-and-the-mac-too

Watch, Shop and Swoon With Walmart’s First Fully Shoppable Series

Rom-commerce! HT @benedictevans Last year Walmart made a romcom streaming TV series with embedded e-commerce for smart TVs: this year it’s trying a Hallmark movie.

https://corporate.walmart.com/content/corporate/en_us/news/2023/11/28/watch-shop-and-swoon-with-walmarts-first-fully-shoppable-series.html

Publishing & Media

Hundreds of bookstore staffers receive holiday bonuses from author James Patterson

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/hundreds-bookstore-staffers-receive-holiday-bonuses-author-james-116630992

Guardian in Observer Sale to Tortoise Media

The owner of the Guardian is entering a deal to sell the Observer to Tortoise Media, following a 48-hour strike at the newspaper.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89xvjz75l1o

Advertising Firms Omnicom and Interpublic Nearing Merger That Would Reshape Industry

Omnicom Group is in advanced talks to acquire Interpublic Group, a deal that would create the world’s largest advertising company.

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/advertising-firms-omnicom-and-interpublic-nearing-merger-that-would-reshape-industry-a2dd2286

Reading Children’s Lit in Troubled Times

https://lithub.com/bear-it-somehow-our-year-in-family-reading/

Resources & Opportunities

Freelance Pitch Roundup

https://x.com/job_writers/status/1866559278997262782

Ida B. Wells 2025 Investigative Reporting Fellowship

MT @IBWellsSociety Applications to our Investigative Reporting Fellowship! Professional journalists looking to expand their investigative reporting skills under the guidance of some of the top journalists in the industry are encouraged to apply. Share with a journalist.

https://idabwellssociety.org/news/2025-investigative-reporting-fellowship/

National Endowment for the Arts FY 2026 Grant Opportunities Now Available

MT @NEAarts Fiscal Year 2026 grant opportunities are now available on our website. Eligible applicants incl nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations, units of state or local government & federally recognized tribal communities or tribes.

https://www.arts.gov/news/press-releases/2024/national-endowment-arts-fy-2026-grant-opportunities-now-available

NYPL TechConnect Classes

MT @nypl If you’re looking to boost your computer skills for work, school, or your own business, the Library’s TechConnect program is here for you! Join us for classes online and in person.

https://www.nypl.org/techconnect

Research 101: Free Public Classes & Workshops at NYPL

MT @nypl Whether you’re an experienced researcher looking to learn about maps, or a writer hoping to learn about copyright—our Research 101 series of classes, lectures, and workshops will have what you need to help advance your research.

https://www.nypl.org/events/research-101

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