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Veteran actress, singer, and film producer Shan George has shared her thoughts on the importance of investigating one’s partner’s family background before marriage.
In a recent interview with Saturday Beats, Shan George emphasized the need for thorough check into a person’s family history, genotype, and other crucial issues.
Her advice comes amidst concerns about domestic violence and spousal abuse in Nigeria.
She acknowledged the cultural dynamics that can enable perpetrators to go unpunished, while also highlighting the complexities involved in addressing such issues, particularly when love, children, and family ties are at stake.
She said:
“Based on our culture that generally gives a man more authority at home, many perpetrators (of domestic violence and spousal abuse) get away with it. Also, their spouse may have a change of mind, don’t forget that love is involved here, and children too most times, have to be considered before any action is taken by women who suffer abuse.
“I will advise that like it used to be done in the past, please do an investigation into a person’s family history, genotype, and other important issues before marriage. Some of the things that cause pressure that aggravates to abuse, most times are in the lineage.”
Shan George commended the public outcry and response from authorities regarding recent cases of abuse and murder in Nigeria.
She noted that while the initial outrage may subside as security agents take over the cases, it is essential to continue advocating for justice and accountability.
“There’s a good outrage about such a situation already, knowing that it is traumatic for both parents, the one who lost a child and the one whose child killed another person, is probably why we may feel the outrage isn’t enough. Also, I believe such outrage usually draws the attention of the security agents, and once they are already handling the case, it’s normal for people to back down a bit. Until maybe when they sense an injustice in the handling of the case by the security agents.”
“Why beauty is not enough to succeed as an actress” – Temidayo Babatunde Shares Insights on Succeeding in Nollywood
AFOLABI
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Temidayo Babatunde has offered her thoughts on the importance of talent in achieving success in the film industry.
In a recent interview with Saturday Beats, Temidayo Babatunde emphasized that while physical beauty can be an asset, it is not enough on its own to succeed in the industry.
Babatunde acknowledged the role of beauty in the entertainment industry but stressed that talent is essential for building a lasting career.
“Beauty is never enough. As much as beauty is important, talent is also very important because your talent will pave the way for you and allow you to sit with kings and queens. Both talent and beauty complement each other, and one cannot do without the other,” she said.
Temidayo Babatunde also shared her thoughts on the impact of social media on her career.
While she acknowledged the benefits of social media, including its ability to help her share her work and connect with fans, she also noted its potential drawbacks.
“Social media has been a powerful tool and influence. As much as it has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. I have had my fair share of it.
“Social media has helped me share my craft and engage with many fans across the world. I would gladly say I am happy with the reception so far“, she stated
he House Of Representatives has submitted that the allegation by Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, against some federal lawmakers is not targeted at the lower chamber of the National Assembly as an institution but at some members of the House.
The position of the House was made known in a statement on Saturday by the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi (Jr).
He disclosed that the three lawmakers mentioned specifically in the $150 million bribe allegation have assured the leadership of the House of their innocence and have been encouraged to take legal action to clear their names.
Rotimi added that the matter has escalated to a diplomatic issue between Nigeria and the United States of America, which is being handled by those concerned but warned members of the public not to be carried away by claims aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions and public officials.
Due to the nature of the discussions, the spokesperson said the House would not be making further public comments.
“These allegations, which have been previously circulated last year, are directed at individual members, not the institution itself.
“The House of Representatives urges the public to rely on verified facts and not be misled by recycled claims aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions and public officials,” the House spokesperson said.
Naija News recalls Gambaryan, who is the Binance Head of Financial Crime Compliance, has insisted three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from him in order to facilitate his release from detention.
He made the fresh claim in a statement via his ? account on Saturday.
It would be recalled the Binance executive had earlier, In a statement on his ? handle on Friday, titled ‘Some Unknown Facts’, alleged that in collaboration with Department of State Sevices (DSS), House of Representatives members, Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe demanded $150 million bribe from him to be paid in cryptocurrency to their wallets.
Following denials by Agbese, and the federal government through the Minister of Information,Mohammed Idris, Gambaryan insisted on Saturday that his claims are nothing but the hard truth.
Reacting to the allegations, Rotimi described the allegations as hefty, thus requiring clarification and stressed the need for the affected members to clear their names.
“The Honourable Members named have assured the House Leadership that they never had any such dealings as reported. One of the members has already instituted legal action to clear his name, while others affected have been encouraged to do the same in pursuit of justice and the protection of their reputations,” the statement added.
He emphasized the diplomatic implications of the matter, noting that the issue has now “evolved into a government-to-government engagement between Nigeria and America.
“These facts raise serious questions about the credibility and intent of the allegations being peddled.”
The House of Reps said since the claim has been taken to court and is a “matter of ongoing diplomatic engagements,” the lower lawmaker body “will refrain from further comment in line with established parliamentary, judicial, and diplomatic principles.”
“The House of Representatives urges the public to rely on verified facts and not be misled by recycled claims aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions and public officials.
“The House remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” the statement added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the National Assembly to implement more stringent regulations prohibiting the possession of significant amounts of cash in polling locations.
This initiative aims to combat vote-buying and other forms of electoral misconduct.
During a consultative meeting held in Abuja over the weekend, which included security personnel and a technical committee focused on electoral law reforms, INEC’s Director of Litigation and Prosecution, Tanimu Muhammed, SAN, expressed serious concerns regarding the escalating issue of vote-buying, which poses a substantial risk to Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
This meeting was organized by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters, in partnership with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
It served as a forum for stakeholders to discuss electoral security and necessary legal changes.
The INEC representative pointed out that politicians frequently defend their possession of large sums of cash on election day by referencing payments to party agents and logistical needs.
However, he cautioned that the unregulated cash flow at polling stations has exacerbated vote-buying and undermined the credibility of elections. To mitigate this issue, Muhammed proposed that individuals should be restricted to carrying no more than ₦50,000 in polling areas.
“Vote-buying remains one of the biggest threats to credible elections in Nigeria. We need legislation that not only criminalizes this practice but also puts preventive measures in place,”Muhammed stated.
The commission has called on legislators to focus on amendments aimed at eliminating loopholes that are being taken advantage of by political figures.
In addition to concerns regarding vote-buying, officials from INEC emphasized their persistent request to create an Electoral Offenses Commission, contending that the electoral body does not possess the necessary capabilities to prosecute violators adequately.
While INEC is making efforts to manage prosecutions, there is a pressing need for a specialized institution equipped with the legal power and resources to thoroughly investigate and prosecute electoral offenses, as stated by Muhammed.
“The creation of an Electoral Offenses Commission would ensure that vote-buying, ballot snatching, and other crimes are met with swift legal action,” he added.
On his part, the Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, stressed that reducing cash transactions at polling units would make it harder for politicians to influence voters with financial inducements.
“If we set a cash limit, security agencies will have clearer guidelines on what constitutes an electoral offense, making enforcement easier,” she added.
In addressing the concerns raised by INEC, the security agencies present at the meeting reiterated their dedication to facilitating free and fair elections.
Nonetheless, they recognized the difficulties faced, especially regarding logistics and coordination.
Police Face Logistic Issues During Elections
The Commissioner of Police responsible for election planning and evaluation, Abayomi Shogunle, who stood in for the Inspector General of Police, emphasized that insufficient resources frequently hinder law enforcement operations during electoral processes.
“We face major logistical challenges, from deploying officers to remote areas to ensuring real-time communication during elections. These are issues that need to be addressed if we are to effectively enforce electoral laws,” Shogunle said.
Despite these challenges, security agencies pledged to remain neutral and professional in carrying out their duties.
Responding to the concerns raised, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, assured that all issues discussed would be addressed in future electoral reforms.
He announced plans for a 2025 Electoral Act to replace the current 2022 version, which he said had exposed gaps during the 2023 elections.
“The 2022 Electoral Act was a significant step forward, but its implementation in the last general elections showed areas that need improvement. We are committed to strengthening our electoral laws to reflect the realities of our democracy,” Balogun said.
He underscored the need for heightened awareness among political parties, INEC officials, and civil society organizations regarding the risks associated with vote-buying and other electoral misconduct and the need for legislative reforms.
The citizens of Nigeria are entitled to a trustworthy electoral process. It is imperative that our laws are not only robust in theory but are also rigorously enforced, Balogun stated.
The Senate Chairman on Electoral Matters, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, remarked that although the 2022 Electoral Act was initially viewed as thorough, its execution has exposed deficiencies that require rectification.
“This meeting is a step towards strengthening our electoral system. The reforms we propose must reflect lessons learned from past elections and ensure that our democracy continues to evolve positively,” Alli said.
Cameras equipped with AI technology and special bands to protect the neck are among the measures introduced by forest officials in Pune's Junnar area which witnessed nine deaths due to leopard attacks in the past one year.
With the availability of water, the hilly region on the northern end of Pune district, adjoining the Konkan, has ideal conditions for horticulture, but the plantations and orchards also provide a shelter to the big cat, officials said.
The Junnar forest range has witnessed 17 deaths due to leopard attack in the last five years, nine of them in 2024 alone.
With 17 people dying and 41 suffering injuries in five years, the district administration last year declared 233 villages across the tehsils of Junnar, Khed, Ambegaon and Shirur as "highly sensitive" and "potential leopard disaster-prone areas".
According to Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India, the Junnar forest division has 6 to 7 leopards every 100 sq km.
"The region, with a hilly terrain and a network of irrigation projects, has seen an increase in cultivation of crops like sugarcane, banana, grapes and pomegranate. These dense plantations provide an ideal cover for leopards to hide and move undetected," Deputy Conservator of Forests Amol Satpute told PTI.
The rising number of domestic animals provide them with easy prey, he noted.
"Human-wildlife conflict has been increasing in the division over the past 24 years due to these reasons. 2024 saw nine fatalities, the highest in 24 years. Local farmers and farm labourers demanded that something be done. We have introduced a slew of measures using the latest technology," said Satpute.
Smita Rajhans, the Assistant Conservator of Forests (Junnar range), said electric fences powered by solar energy are turning out to be useful in stopping leopards from entering orchards and plantations.
"A solar energy fencing with electric current is set up around the house. If the animal tries to cross the fence, it will receive a non-lethal shock and run away," she explained.
Such fences have been installed around 150 houses in the most "leopard-prone" areas, and additional 650 fences have been proposed to be installed, Rajhans said.
The forest department has also installed Artificial Intelligence (AI)-equipped cameras at vantage points, she said.
These cameras can detect leopards. The system triggers a siren which alerts forest officials. "The sound scares the leopard and it will run away," said Rajhans. Officials have also installed 'Animal Intrusion Detection and Repellant Systems' which can detect the presence of a leopard at night time.
"Besides, we have distributed specially designed neck belts to farm labourers in the region. Generally, leopards catch hold of a person by the neck, and the belt will provide protection in such a case," Rajhans said.
Also, there is the Special Leopard Protection Force (SLPF), on the lines of the Special Task Tiger Protection Force.
The Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre in Junnar, home to 44 leopards, provides temporary or long-term care to the big cats injured in attacks by villagers or trapped in conflict situations, but it is running short of space. "There are plans to expand the rescue centre so that around 125 leopards can be accommodated," said an official.
Dnyaneshwar Pawar, a forest guard, said leopards thrived during the COVID-19 as human activity dwindled.
"During this period, the population of the animal grew, leading to more human and leopard confrontation. Several measures have been taken at the ground level, such as creating awareness among locals, discouraging them from venturing out at night, and using nets around cattle farms. Since this is a sugarcane area, a lot of sugarcane cutters come from other regions. We provide them guidance on how to remain safe," he said.
Mayuri Bankar, a resident of Warulwadi, has been using the neck belt, provided by the forest department three months ago.
"I make sure to use it all the time while working in the fields. It has spikes on the exterior which can serve as a deterrent if the leopard grabs you by the neck," she said.
Nitin Bhujbal, a resident of Walanwadi in Narayangaon, installed a solar fence around his house two months ago. The area has large sugarcane fields which are frequently visited by leopards, he said.
"There have been two instances where a leopard attempted to sneak inside but retreated immediately after coming in contact with the electric current," he said, adding the system is completely safe and non-lethal.
[telegraphindia]
While the seismic market moves caused by DeepSeek were short-lived, the release of the Chinese startup’s high-performing and inexpensive large language model is likely to have long-term implications for technology, trade, and economic relations between the US and China.
Here are four predictions about these potentially dramatic impacts.
1. Artificial intelligence costs will continue to plummet
All innovations are fundamentally about doing more for less, or, in economic terms, being unit price deflationary. The AI revolution exemplifies this. Prior to DeepSeek’s release, costs of dominant AI models had already fallen by around 80 per cent on an annualized basis over the past two years. DeepSeek has simply accelerated this trend.
The 30x pricing difference between the token prices, or the cost of use, of DeepSeek and the market leader OpenAI reflect algorithmic improvements by the former and the latter’s more aggressive pricing strategy. This deflationary trend should continue as AI research progresses and more competition enters the field.
2. The AI economic pie will get bigger and be sliced differently
As AI becomes cheaper and more accessible, usage should expand significantly, following Jevons paradox, the idea that demand for a resource increases as technology makes it more efficient.
As foundational models become commoditized, value creation should shift toward applications, meaning more resources will be devoted to inference, or the deployment of AI to specific tasks, as opposed to training.
This, in turn, should increase demand for custom XPUs, chips designed to perform application-specific tasks more efficiently, as opposed to standardized GPUs which are particularly well suited for training.
Nvidia has indicated that this shift may already be starting. In May 2024, the AI leader said that demand related to inference was growing faster than for training, with the former now representing 40 per cent of total demand.
As AI applications widen, the opportunity to participate in AI research will likely no longer be limited to well-funded entities, opening doors for broader innovation across academia and many other areas. For example, DeepSeek’s R-1 model has already spawned thousands of new open-source models based on its architecture.
3. US chip export controls will deserve careful reassessment
DeepSeek’s breakthrough was achieved using far fewer and less advanced chips than its American counterparts, demonstrating how innovation can be born of constraint.
So even though US export controls may limit DeepSeek and its Chinese peers in the short term, these restrictions are unlikely to stop their progress. And these measures risk isolating US technologies from China’s market, possibly on a permanent basis.
Export controls also seem counterproductive for a US administration that places a high priority on addressing structural balance of payment issues with China. As one Chinese minister put it plainly, “If we want to buy from the US, but they … are restricting their exports … How can they cut their deficit?”
True, US politicians on both sides of the political aisle have been calling for more regulations on China in recent years, not fewer.
The decision to adjust chip export controls would thus signal a turning point in US-China economic relations and would not be taken lightly.
Nonetheless, the pros and cons of the current chip export restrictions have become more balanced and deserves a careful reassessment.
4. Interests of US and Chinese tech leaders may become more aligned
While DeepSeek’s breakthrough and open-source approach initially caused angst among US investors, many US tech leaders have welcomed the development.
Major cloud platforms like Microsoft, AWS, and Hugging Face have already integrated various models based on DeepSeek R-1, and many of these companies’ leaders have noted that the development of less expensive LLMs (large language models) should spur demand for their cloud services and thus enhance their revenue streams.
Looking further ahead, businesses stand to benefit massively from the potential productivity boost and cost savings from wider AI applications, regardless of their origins. This is especially true in the US, where wages are elevated compared to the rest of the world and STEM talent is persistently in short supply.
A useful historical parallel may be the frictions between the US and Japanese auto industries in the 1980s. Japanese auto makers eventually introduced their innovative “lean production” method to the US, significantly boosting productivity in the American auto industry.
The evolving AI landscape presents a tremendous opportunity for collaboration between the two global superpowers, especially as the industry pursues artificial general intelligence, a potentially world-changing mission. But the ongoing tensions between China and the US – on trade, technology and other issues – risks hampering progress by fracturing the technology landscape.
It is unclear whether this is the beginning of a new era of technological cooperation or a period of rising global competition, but either way, DeepSeek is a reminder of how rapidly things can, and likely will change, in the age of AI.
[cyprusmail]
… As Catholic priest is kidnapped
Tears flowed freely in Onitsha yesterday as the remains of the murdered member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency, Justice Azuka, was laid to rest in his country home Ogbeoza village, Onitsha.
This came on the heels of the kidnapping of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr Jude Onyeka on Thursday.
Azuka was kidnapped on 24th December 2024; his abductors never released him alive until they were caught and they led security agencies to recover his decomposing body in a swamp along the second Niger Bridge.
At a burial mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Inland Town, Onitsha officiated by the Onitsha Archdiocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr Prudentus Aroh who represented Archbishop Valerian Okeke, the homilist, Episcopal Vicar in charge of Onitsha Region, Rev. Fr. John Bosco Okafor reflected on the lack of the sense of the sacred, which he described as one of the greatest problem of human society today.
Fr. John Bosco regretted that the youths of today no longer realise that life is sacred and that any human being created by God doesn’t have any right to take another person’s life. He called for repentance for those who shed human blood, noting that hard work pays instead of the get-rich quick syndrome destroying the society today.
“God created man in his own image and likeness and therefore we must respect that life that God gave man. It is only God that has the power to take that life when He wills and not anyone else. Life is very sacred and we must be very careful about how we treat humans. That is what some of our youths have failed to realise and that is why they are wasting human lives as if they are pouring water away.”
The priest said that even as security is everybody’s responsibility, the governments at all levels must double their efforts and do more to secure lives and properties.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo in a remark condoled with the immediate family of the late lawmaker, noting that the death was a big loss to the entire state.
He recalled having a cordial working relationship with Azuka and disclosed that there were plans for some strategic partnership with him before the worst happened.
Governor Soludo said that the good thing was that his killers had been apprehended and that justice would surely be served in the matter.
“This is a promising young man with all his dreams cut off. Anambra State is grieving with you, but we shall take steps to ensure that this grief is ameliorated. We will do the needful.
“What is happening is a case of what the Igbo say that ‘when abominable acts last for one year, it becomes a tradition.’ All of us must share in this complicity. When people were applauding those who kill security agencies and snatch their rifles, this is what it has resulted into.
“But light and darkness have nothing in common. We are determined to flush out criminal elements in our midst including the evil native doctors who promote ritual killings and quick money making scams. Surely Anambra will return as the safest state in Nigeria. May we be able to rise up to see something and say something. With combined efforts and partnership, a new Anambra is possible,” Soludo stated.
The burial ceremony was attended by lawmakers both at the state and national levels, labour party stalwarts including the National leader, Mr Peter Obi and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko.
Meanwhile, a priest of Onitsha Archdiocese, popularly known as Fr. Marshal, formerly the Parish Priest of St. Edmund Catholic Church, Nkpor was kidnapped days before the incident. He was recently transferred to St. Dominic Catholic Church, Abatete, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State.
Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Rev. Fr. Prudentus Aroh who broke the news in a terse statement sent to the Onitsha Archdiocesan Presbyterium platform, said the sad incident occurred on Thursday evening, 13th February 2025, along Building Material-Ugwunwasike Bypass. Ogidi.
He said that until now, the abductors had not established any contact with anybody.
“His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian M. Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, invites us to earnestly pray for his quick and safe release as all efforts are being made to secure his freedom. We commend our brother, Fr. Jude, to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his abductors,” the chancellor stated.
When contacted for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, SP Ikenga Toochi said the incident had not been brought to his attention.
- Elon Musk said in a recent panel that humanoid robots will unlock "quasi-infinite" services.
- The Tesla CEO said he wasn't sure if money would have much value by then.
- Tesla is starting production of its Optimus robots in 2025, according to Musk.
Speaking to the UAE's AI minister, Omar Sultan Al Olama, in a video call on Thursday, Musk said that humanoid robots and deep intelligence will unlock the global economy's potential by providing "quasi-infinite products and services."
Musk was responding to Al Olama's question on where he believes the "biggest economic returns" of AI models will come from.
"You can produce any product, provide any service," Musk said of humanoid robots. "There's really no limit to the economy at that point. You can make anything."
The billionaire said that money may not carry much value by then.
"Will money even be meaningful? I don't know; it might not be," he said, adding that robots could create a "universal high-income situation" because anyone will have the ability to make as many goods and services as they want.
Musk's bullishness on humanoid robots comes as no surprise. The CEO said during an earnings call on January 29 that Tesla will begin production of "several thousand" Optimus robots by the end of 2025.
"It's one of those things where I think, long term, Optimus has the potential to be north of $10 trillion in revenue," he said during the call. "Like, it's really bananas."
Musk has been known to overshoot timelines for delivery dates, including on the Cybercab robotaxis. The CEO once said that Tesla would have a million robotaxis on the road by 2020. Then in 2022, he pushed that timeline to 2023.
While Musk said in the company'smost recent earnings callthat Tesla will begin providing autonomous ride-hailing services in Austin by June, the Cybercab, Tesla's dedicated robotaxi car, won'tbegin volume production until2026, according to its earnings presentation.
Tesla isn't the only player betting on humanoid robots.
Meta is creating a product group focused on robots and announced on Friday that former Cruise CEO Marc Whitten would spearhead the team, according to an internal memo obtained by Business Insider.
A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
[businessinsider]
Former lawmaker representing Kaduna South Senatorial District and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Danjuma Laar and 20 other politicians in the district have decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani received Senator Laar who represented the district from 2015 to 2023 alongside other defectors from the PDP and the Labour Party (LP) to APC during the ruling party’s stakeholders’ meeting in Kafanchan.
The defectors, who joined the APC included serving and former federal legislators, as well as lawmakers from Kaduna State House of Assembly, former Council Chairmen, state party chairmen, and flagbearers of opposition parties.
Among them are member, House of Representatives for Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji and his counterpart for Kaura Federal Constituency, Hon. Donatus Mathew.
Others are a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Godfrey Ali Gaiya; member representing Jaba State Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Henry Marah Zakarieh, among others.
Governor Sani thanked the stakeholders for their commitment to the progress of the party and assured that his administration will continue to develop and implement policies and programmes to empower citizens.
“I had the honour of receiving very important personalities and their supporters who decamped to the APC. They include both serving and former lawmakers, and executives from other political parties, amongst others,” Governor Sani said.
Adobe this week released the first public version of an artificial intelligence tool that can generate video clips and revealed how much it will charge, but said it will not set pricing for major users such as studios until later this year.
The Firefly Video Model, as Adobe is calling the service, will compete against Sora, a model developed by ChatGPT creator OpenAI, and startup Runway, both of which currently offer video-generation services. Facebook owner Meta Platforms has also developed a video-generation AI model but has not given a timeline for when it will be released.
Adobe’s model differs from its rivals because it is geared toward generating clips that will fit into how film and television studios use Premiere Pro, its flagship video editing software.
To that end, many of the features that Adobe is emphasizing revolve around feeding existing shots into the video model and asking it to generate clips that fix or expand on shots that were taken on a real production set but that did not come out quite right.
Adobe said the service will generate five-second clips at 1080p resolution. While that is shorter than the clips of up to 20 seconds generated by OpenAI’s service, Adobe executives said the majority of individual clips in most productions are only three seconds.
Adobe said a user can generate 20 clips per month for $9.99 and 70 clips for $29.99. That compares with 50 videos for $20 per month with OpenAI’s plan at lower resolution and a $200 OpenAI plan that can handle longer, higher resolution videos.
Adobe is also working on a “Premium” pricing plan for studios and other high-volume video users and will release those pricing details later this year. Alexandru Costin, Adobe’s vice president of generative AI, said the company is working to generate 4K video and will remain focused on quality rather than longer clips.
“We actually think that great motion, great structure, great definition scheme, making the actual clip look like it was film, is more important than making a longer clip that’s unusable,” Costin told Reuters.
[Cyprus Mail]
More...
FuriosaAI, a South Korean AI chip startup, is reportedly in acquisition talks with Meta Platforms, with discussions could conclude by the end of February, according to Forbes.
The company develops AI inference accelerators for data centers, including its latest RNGD chip, which launched in August.
The chip offers cost and energy efficiency advantages over Nvidia’s high-end processors. Estimated at around US$10,000 per unit, the RNGD chip is significantly cheaper than Nvidia’s US$40,000 H100.
The potential acquisition aligns with Meta’s efforts to reduce reliance on Nvidia as AI processor demand surges.
While Meta has developed its own MTIA chip, it is still in the early stages of achieving full independence.
Following the news, shares of FuriosaAI’s investors surged on Korea’s Kosdaq market.
? Source: The Korea Times
Elon Musk has once again captured global attention with the announcement of Grok 3, the latest iteration of xAI’s artificial intelligence chatbot. Musk described it as the “smartest AI on Earth,” with a live demonstration scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. Pacific Time (PT). This corresponds to 11 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), 10 p.m. Central Time (CT), 9 p.m. Mountain Time (MT), 4 a.m. GMT (Tuesday), and 9:30 a.m. Indian Standard Time (IST, Tuesday).
The Promise of Grok 3: A Leap Forward in AI?
While specific details about Grok 3’s capabilities remain under wraps, early indications suggest the AI model will introduce advanced features, possibly including text-to-video conversion and significant efficiency improvements. If true, these enhancements could position Grok 3 as a major competitor to leading AI models like OpenAI’s GPT-4, Google DeepMind’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude.
Musk’s announcement, made via his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has amplified speculation about Grok 3’s potential. Given Musk’s history of ambitious claims, many are eager to see whether the AI truly delivers on its promise of unmatched intelligence and versatility.
Skepticism and Industry Competition
Despite the excitement, not everyone is convinced Grok 3 will outperform existing AI models. Critics point to Musk’s pattern of making bold statements that sometimes outpace the actual product’s capabilities. Some experts question whether Grok 3 will genuinely surpass the likes of GPT-4 Turbo, which has already demonstrated remarkable reasoning, problem-solving, and multimodal capabilities.
Moreover, competition in the AI space is fiercer than ever. OpenAI continues to refine its ChatGPT models, Google is pushing its Gemini AI, and Meta is expanding its LLaMA series. With these giants already setting high standards in AI development, Grok 3 must demonstrate truly revolutionary features to claim the top spot.
A Strategic Move for xAI and X
Musk’s AI venture, xAI, has been positioning itself as a major disruptor in the artificial intelligence landscape. Unlike OpenAI, which collaborates closely with Microsoft, or Google DeepMind, which operates under Alphabet, xAI has emphasized its independence and integration with Musk’s other ventures, particularly X.
The integration of Grok into X’s ecosystem gives it a unique advantage, allowing direct engagement with millions of users. Previous iterations of Grok have been available exclusively to X Premium subscribers, and if Grok 3 continues this trend, it could be a strategic push to drive subscriptions and engagement on the platform.
Additionally, Grok 3’s launch aligns with Musk’s broader vision of creating a more transparent and decentralized AI model. He has frequently criticized OpenAI for deviating from its original nonprofit mission and has positioned xAI as a company dedicated to the ethical and open development of artificial intelligence.
The Live Demo: A Defining Moment
The upcoming live demo is expected to be a crucial moment for Grok 3. AI showcases often make or break public perception, as real-time demonstrations provide a rare glimpse into an AI’s actual performance. Given Musk’s history of high-profile events—ranging from Tesla’s Cybertruck unveiling to SpaceX’s Starship launches—the Grok 3 demo is likely to be a spectacle.
Observers will be watching closely for evidence of Grok 3’s ability to generate complex responses, engage in nuanced reasoning, and possibly create AI-generated video content. If successful, the event could mark a turning point in AI development, further intensifying competition in the space. However, if the demo falls short of expectations, skepticism surrounding Musk’s AI claims could grow.
Market and Industry Reactions
The announcement has already generated strong reactions from the tech and investment communities. AI stocks, particularly those tied to major players in the field, have seen increased volatility since the news broke. Investors are keen to understand whether Grok 3 represents a true market disruption or simply another incremental improvement in the AI race.
Technology leaders and AI researchers have also weighed in, with some expressing cautious optimism while others remain skeptical. The debate centers around whether Grok 3 is genuinely an industry-defining leap or a continuation of existing advancements repackaged with bold marketing.
What’s Next for AI?
The launch of Grok 3 underscores the rapid pace of AI development and the intensifying competition among major players. Regardless of whether it lives up to Musk’s claims, its release signals continued innovation in artificial intelligence, bringing new possibilities—and challenges—for businesses, researchers, and society as a whole.
If Grok 3 successfully demonstrates groundbreaking capabilities, it could force rivals to accelerate their own advancements. On the other hand, if it falls short, it may serve as a reminder that AI progress is often more incremental than revolutionary.
One thing is certain: the world will be watching closely on Monday night as Musk and xAI unveil Grok 3 in what could be a defining moment for the future of artificial intelligence.
Conversations about both the detriments and benefits of artificial intelligence use in academic settings have been prevalent in recent years. However, an often overlooked consideration in these discussions is the impact that AI has on the environment.
Consequences of computing
With the sheer amount of information AI makes accessible, there exists a need for a place to house all of the power needed for this data: AI data centers are large facilities that provide the power and computing resources for machine-learning models.
These centers consist of hardware and software systems that continuously store, compute and transmit data. Due to thousands of servers operating uninterrupted, the data centers require significant maintenance to prevent overheating through robust cooling methods often utilizing large quantities of water.
One query on ChatGPT requires 519 milliliters of water, which is a little more than one bottle of water. The chatbot handles around 10 million queries daily, using up to 1.4 million gallons alone for answering user’s questions, not including the water usage needed to maintain data centers themselves.
According to the Washington Post, “a large data center, researchers say, can gobble up anywhere between 1 million and 5 million gallons of water a day — as much as a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people.”
According to University of Arizona associate professor of chemical and environmental engineering Kerri Hickenbottom, these centers can use air or water-based cooling systems, both of which necessitate large quantities of water, albeit from different sources.
“If you think about your home, you can have a swamp cooler that cools your home, or you can have AC, which is like a mechanical compression system. These systems, both of them, take quite a bit of water to operate. The evaporative cooling systems evaporate the water, and then they use that latent heat of evaporation as a cooling effect, and then they distribute that cold air to cool off the servers,” Hickenbottom said. “Air cooled systems also use water, except not necessarily on site. What they’ll do is use a mechanical compressor […]. They use a lot of energy on site to compress a coolant to then be used to cool the servers. On site, they may not use a lot of water, but they use a lot of water at the power generation facility that generates the energy to run your cooling system.”
The water can only be recycled a few times before replenishing the system with clean freshwater to prevent mineral and salt buildup.
Beyond this water usage, the centers also require extensive amounts of energy, energy that often comes from fossil fuels.
According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, “a request made through ChatGPT, an AI-based virtual assistant, consumes 10 times the electricity of a Google Search, reported the International Energy Agency.”
The IEA further reported that “by 2026, electricity consumption by data centers, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence could reach 4% of annual global energy usage — roughly equal to the amount of electricity used by the entire country of Japan.”
Eyes on Arizona: Why the southwestern state is prime real estate for data centers
Arizona currently houses 111 data centers with 102 in Phoenix, eight in Tucson and one in Nogales.
According to Hickenbottom, Arizona is an ideal location for these centers for multiple reasons; not only is energy relatively cheap in the state, but Arizona is located on a high quality fiber optics line with good connection to other major metropolitan areas, like Los Angeles and San Antonio. Arizona has stable climate conditions (no natural disasters) that make it more suitable to the construction of these centers.
However, Arizona is also water-stressed, making the increased usage of this already precious resource troubling for many communities across the state. Drought conditions throughout Arizona continue to worsen; over the past few months, Phoenix fell just one day short of reaching its record for straight days of dry conditions (the record is 160, and the city finally received measurable precipitation after 159 days). In addition to this, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, nearly 64% of Arizona is now experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions.
This data begs the question: how is Arizona equipped to meet the needs of the data centers it attracts?
According to Hickenbottom, it might not be.
“I do not think we’re prepared for this load. I think that there’s a lot of excitement for attracting these data centers, because, you know, it does bring a lot of economic growth. However, in the long run, it doesn’t provide a lot of jobs. Initially it does, because, you know, you’re building these data centers, which is a huge infrastructure undertaking,” Hickenbottom said.
University of Arizona assistant professor of watershed management and ecohydrology Shang Gao expressed a similar sentiment about the impact of data centers on a state that is already short of water.
“It always boggles my mind why we have to have a huge data center in the middle of the desert. In terms of energy it sort of makes sense, as we have large solar energy input, but the real question is the water usage,” Gao said. “Having data centers is really not an option if you ask me, as we are already short of water. Even if the adjacent areas of Phoenix where the data centers are located have more water than Tucson from their local source of water from the two reservoirs in the Phoenix area, it is still an issue. The region depends on the Central Arizona Project, which migrates water from Colorado hundreds of miles away which brings the water price here up.”
Water prices have become a concern for all parties involved, companies and individuals alike.
Negotiating conflicting interests: Reactions from public and private sectors
According to a report published from the University of Tulsa, tech companies are able to often negotiate better rates for water than local residents, as water rates are set by public authorities on factors of cost of water treatment and distribution rather than the supply.
Some Arizona residents were outraged about Google’s negotiated water rate for its planned data center in Mesa, Arizona, which is “$6.08 per 1,000 gallons of water, while residents paid $10.80 per 1,000 gallons”, placing the community at a disadvantage.
However, in this similar vein of negotiation, these centers also have leveraging power when it comes to the use of renewable energy.
“[Arizona] is really trying to shift a lot of its energy sources, shifting from natural gas and coal. We’ve seen some power generating stations using conventional natural gas and coal, those types of resources, we’ve seen those generating stations close and more solar popping up in the area. These data centers also have a big sustainability component. They know that they need to be more sustainable, and so they can help drive the market for renewable energy resources,” Hickenbottom said. “When they’re looking for contracts and new places to set up their establishments, [data centers] actually have a lot of bargaining power with the local municipalities and utilities to say, hey, I want my energy portfolio to be 90% renewable energy resources, which helps these utilities for planning and and building new infrastructure that’s more renewable and resource based. so they do have a lot of sway in that space, which is very positive.”
Not all negative: How AI is being used to solve problems it creates
The irony lies in the reality that despite the water consumption of artificial intelligence, it is becoming a major force in presenting unique methods and knowledge of improving water conservation.
AI is a double-edged sword. While it requires many resources for upkeep, it remains a valuable tool for researchers, assisting in decoding large data sets and advancing various components of research initiatives.
“AI is data resilient, the system depends on what data you want and the model will be trained accordingly so it makes things super efficient. So we can skip the hidden mechanisms that we may or may not understand and look at the end results without the intermediate steps. If you ask anybody in academia involved in prediction, optimization, categorization work they will use AI techniques and I am for sure using it,” Gao said.
According to an article published in the scientific journal Discover Water, “by leveraging data from diverse sources, including micro sensing, imaging, in situ and remote sensing devices, AI techniques are now enabling the creation of reliable and robust hydrological models at finer spatiotemporal resolutions, which is crucial for addressing highly nonlinear hydro-meteorological processes [31,32,33,34,35]. Therefore, exploring innovative AI models is essential for better allocation, regulation and conservation of water resources, significantly contributing to their sustainable management.”
There is always room for improvement in the functionality of technology. “If we can develop technology to improve the water usage efficiency for the data centers, like how we are already doing research on how to make agriculture water usage efficient, if we make the usage in data centers less wasteful, we can create more room to meet that demand,” Gao said.
AI and accessibility: How energy and water usage sparks broader conversations
As conversations about the role AI plays in academic, professional, social and environmental spheres continue, researchers are keeping an eye on how this influence will affect data usage and accessibility. With these data centers contributing to significant energy consumption, prices may start to rise for average consumers.
Hickenbottom believes that users will see a change in the prices of resources, which may affect how we engage in different activities.
“Maybe we’ll go back to watching more DVDs, streaming less. I don’t know. Maybe we’ll read more actual books instead of downloading. Maybe we’ll go to the library more. Maybe we’ll regress a little bit, do a little bit of a data cleanse […] and start to connect more with real objects, which wouldn’t be a bad thing. I don’t know,” Hickenbottom said.
This change in prices could also impact accessibility and create economic disparities in data usage.
“Accessibility to data I think will change a lot, like who can access it, because it’s going to get more expensive to access […]. I don’t think it’s going to necessarily be as accessible as it has always been, so that will be something interesting to keep an eye on moving forward,” Hickenbottom said.
[wildcat]
The government must invest in long-term renewable energy if it wants to drive artificial intelligence (AI) growth in the East of England, experts have warned.
AI is set to be at the forefront of a £2bn data centre in Loughton, Essex, as well as the chancellor's plans for 'Europe's Silicon Valley' between Cambridge and Oxford.
Dr Haider Raza, a senior AI lecturer at the University of Essex, said it was a "very exciting time" for the region but stressed sustainable energy was needed for AI to flourish.
A government spokesman said it was "exploring bold, clean energy solutions" to meet its AI ambitions while aligning with the UK's net zero goals.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has outlined his vision to "unleash" AI, saying it offered "vast potential" for rejuvenating public services.
The Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor is a key part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' plan for economic growth via AI
The East of England was placed at the forefront of the government's plan for AI technology.
Nscale pledged £2bn towards the Loughton data centre, due to be built by 2026.
It was also hoped development in the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor would boost the UK economy by up to £78bn, with AI playing a catalytic role.
The plan has received backing from AstraZeneca, GSK and Astex, which is using AI to develop new cancer drugs at Cambridge Science Park.
However, Dr Raza said "awful" electricity costs could stunt growth and said the government should invest in renewable energy to power AI centres.
"We have to make data centres more efficient. This point is very, very important," he told the BBC.
"Data centres are going to churn through a lot of energy, especially if they are processing too many jobs and mining large amounts of data.
"There are so many aspects we have to manage. Considering the cost of electricity, it's very challenging financially."
The energy issue could be worsened when using a generative AI system, according to a study by Dr Sasha Luccioni.
The research found generative AI might use about 33 times more energy than machines running task-specific software.
Concerns have also been raised by Kenso Trabing, whose AI firm Morphware builds its computer servers in the UK but runs them for a cheaper cost in South America.
He said the country's industrial electricity price of £350 to £400 per megawatt hour (MWh) was unattractive when compared to £35 to £40 per MWh in Paraguay.
The 35-year-old feared despite the UK being a leader in AI, Rachel Reeves' 'Silicon Valley' plan was unrealistic without cheaper electricity.
"High energy costs are a significant barrier to innovation because they make it too expensive to test and experiment with new technologies," he added.
"AI and blockchain projects require enormous computational power, which directly translates to high electricity consumption."
Science minister Lord Patrick Vallance visited Cambridge Science Park after he was chosen by Reeves as the person to lead the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor.
He said the area could become "one of the most important innovation zones in the world".
Cambridge City Council leader Mike Davey said AI must be used responsibly and in line with the authority's green ambitions.
Concerns have been raised about the region being among the driest in the country, a factor that has previously hindered development.
"We've got to make sure water is in place for the AI data centres, and we have to make sure the electricity grid is up to scratch," Davey said.
However, he stressed AI "will be at the heart of what we do in the future".
A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesman said it recognised data centres faced "sustainability challenges such as energy demands and water use".
He added: "Many newer data centres are already addressing these issues, using advanced cooling systems that significantly reduce water consumption."
[BBC]