The filmmakers behind The Brutalist, a likely Oscar contender currently being distributed by A24, used AI to alter actor's dialogue and create images used in the film's epilogue, the film's editor Dvid Jancs shared in an interview with RedShark News.The epic drama follows a fictional Hungarian architect (as played by Adrien Brody) who struggles to make art under the fickle system of American capitalism (and the weirdos that run it). To make Brody and his costar Felicity Jones' Hungarian pronunciation as accurate as possible, Jancs says the production used AI from a company called Respeecher to alter the actor's speech.Respeecher was able to adjust the actor's vocals to make them match a native Hungarian speaker's pronunciation, though Jancs says the process didn't do anything you couldn't achieve with traditional dialogue editing. "You can do this in ProTools yourself, but we had so much dialogue in Hungarian that we really needed to speed up the process, otherwise we'd still be in post.Generative AI was also used to help create architectural drawings used near the end of the film, according to Jancs. Both decisions were made because of the budgetary constraints the production was under. The Brutalist is an over three-hour film with multiple stars, period-appropriate costuming, and elaborate sets, that was reportedly made for less than $10 million.A little over a year after multiple Hollywood unions went on strike over the possibility of studios using AI to replace workers, it's still highly controversial to use the tech, let alone be open about it. But the problem is undeniably complicated when there are so many different ways AI can be used. "The aim was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicitys performances in another language, not to replace or alter them and done with the utmost respect for the craft," Brady Corbet, the director of The Brutalist, told The Hollywood Reporterin a statement.Respeecher was previously used to create new Darth Vader dialogue for Disney+'s Obi-Wan-Kenobi, and this likely won't be the last time similar tools are used to cut costs. Making movies requires a lot of resources, and while companies are trying to get AI to catch on, using AI tools will likely remain a viable options to save time and money.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/oscar-hopeful-the-brutalist-used-ai-during-production-223016216.html?src=rss

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Donald Trump launched a meme coin Friday night, while many of his backers were partying at the Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump is returning to the White House with an ambitious agenda, which he outlined in a brazen inaugural address after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday. It lays the foundation for a flurry of actions and executive orders meant to change the course of the country and usher in a golden age for his second term.All of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly, Trump said as he rattled off a dizzying number of changes his administration expects to make, from immigration and the economy to energy and gender issues.With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense, Trump said.Those plans include cracking down on immigration by doubling down onborder security and deportations;opening up energy development, saying we will drill baby drill; walking back protections for transgender students; and making sweeping changes in the military.His remarks signal an aggressive Day One agenda. Trump is reportedly planning to issue some 100 executive orders, making good on his campaign promises, with some 25 of those expected on his first day alone, per Reuters. While the President has said he will issues them within hours of taking office, it is unclear if he will sign them all Monday or in the coming days.Heres a look at some of the key issues President Trump outlined during his inaugural address, some of which are already live on the revised Donald Trumps White House website.Immigration Trump laid out what is expected to be a handful of executive orders on immigration and border security.First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border, Trump said. All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.Trump also said he plans to reinstate his Remain in Mexico policy and end the process of catch and release, adding, I will send troops to the southern border.However, according to the New York Times, this could bring immediate legal challenges because of the strict limits in American law for how the armed forces can be deployed inside the country. And as NBC News noted, Trump previously used his emergency authority to use military funds to build a border wall in his first term, which were frozen by federal courts.But thats not all. Trump also said, Under the orders I signed today, his administration would designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and would be working with federal and state officials to try and eliminate gangs from our inner cities.The economy and inflationNext, Trump spoke about his plans to rapidly bring down costs and address inflation.I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices, Trump explained. One way he plans to do this, according to administration officials cited by the Times, is by signing executive orders to open up oil and gas drilling in Alaska and end electric-vehicles incentives passed by the Biden administration.We will drill, baby drill, Trump said on Monday. I am keeping my pledge to our great auto workers . . . In other words, we will build automobiles at a rate never seen before.Gender roles: Male and female onlyIn his inaugural speech, Trump said the federal government going forward wouldonly recognize two sexesmale and female, thus reversing protections for transgender people enacted under the Biden administration. (This, incidentally, is a personal pet project of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who helped reelect Trump and stood by him on the podium of the Capitol Rotunda as Trump made the remarks.)If enforced, this action could affect how Americans are able to identify on passports, visas, and other government documents, according to USA Today, which spoke with a Trump White House official.Changes to the military Trump said this week that he will reinstate any military personnel with full back pay who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine and was forced from service.Its going to end immediately, Trump said. Our armed forces will be able to focus on their sole mission: defeating Americas enemies.Trump explained in his second term, he wanted to be known as a peacemaker and a unifier, and for America to be known for the wars it didnt enter.Renaming the Gulf of MexicoWhile it may seem beyond random, among the first executive orders set to be signed by Trumpwill be an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico.A short time from now, we are changing the name from Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, Trump said in his inaugural address.According to ABC News, presidents do have the authority to rename geographic regions and features. However, other countries dont have to recognize such a move. And unlike then-President Barack Obamas order to rename Alaskas Mount McKinley to Denali (a move that Trump has also said he wants to reverse), the body of water isnt fully located within U.S. boundaries.TikTokWhile he did not name TikTok (which is now back online) in his speech on Monday, Trump has said he wouldsign an executive orderMonday to delay the ban that took effect Sunday and give the apps parent company, China-based ByteDance, time to broker a deal with new U.S.-based investors, possibly in a joint venture. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew attended Mondays inauguration.

Promotion: a project spanning several European countries has explored how it can empower small and remote places by transforming underutilised public spaces.The research project, called Smoties, sought to create a useable framework for creatives in remote communities in making such places more liveable, drawing upon residents, policy-makers and other local organisations.Smoties aims to connect cultural institutions with remote townsThe research produced the Smoties Toolbox, functioning as a methodological framework, guide and tools to help revitalise community interaction in spaces across Europe.Austrian university FH Joanneum worked alongside nine research groups in Milan, London, Ljubljana, or Reykjavik, which in turn worked closely with communities in small and remote places local to them, such as Apano Meria in Greece, Penmachno in Wales, Joaveski in Estonia or Estreito da Calheta in Madeira, Portugal.It encourages interdisciplinary collaboration to transform public spaceThey developed a set of tools and prototypes which feature formats for workshops, masterclasses and a broader methodology to support others looking to transform underused spaces, and are free to download.The goal behind the project said they wanted to use design methods to address the growing problem across Europe of fragmentation within and across communities, neglected towns and loneliness.Smoties is a free platform that offers online resourcesResearch project started as a cooperation between 10 project partners in 2020 and was co-funded by the "Creative Europe" programme of the European Union.The idea is to create a replicable design framework to revive small and often hard to reach places by making them more liveable, dynamic and creating social cohesion across different communities.A total of 10 institutions have worked on Smoties projects across EuropeA network of design, art and architecture universities, research centres, creative agencies as well as local communities and public officials have been drawn upon as part of the Smoties project.The researchers at FH Joanneum selected a town called Oberzeiring with just 500 residents as its case study.The former silver mining town has seen its population shrink and impacted with poor transport links, a car-oriented society and no obvious common spaces.Local communities engage in workshops and masterclassesThe Smoties project sought to temporarily alter the design of its centre by limiting car access, creating urban furnishings and a pedestrian friendly festival space."This transformation highlights the power of creative collaboration to revitalize even the smallest communities," said Anke Strittmatter, architect, urbanist and associate professor at University of Applied Sciences FH Joanneum."As a result of the Smoties project in Austria, Oberzeiring's officials and stakeholders are now exploring options to make this change permanent, with the goal of restoring the square as a central, car-free public space for the community to enjoy," Strittmatter added.A public square was the focus of the Smoties project in OberzeiringTeachers and students from the Institute of Design & Communication at FH Joanneum worked with the local residents to revitalise the square and implement a car-free weekend, when the space was temporarily transformed into a festival.The project partners were University of Applied Sciences FH Joanneum in Austria; the Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano in Italy; Cit du Design, Ecole Suprieure dArt et de Design in France; Clear Village Trustee Limited in the UK; Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia; Estonian Association of Designers; University of the Aegean, Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering in Greece; Zamek Cieszyn in Poland; Universidade da Madeira, Art & Design Department in Portugal; and Alternance slf in Iceland.For more information on the research and the framework, visit the Smoties website here.Partnership contentThis article was written by Dezeen for FH Joanneum as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.The post Europe-wide initiative sets out to revitalise small and remote spaces appeared first on Dezeen.

This 1963 Chevy Corvette Stingray brings Peter Brocks original vision into the modern age. By respecting the iconic split-window coupes design while solving the compromises of its production predecessor, this restomod strikes a balance between heritage and function. Powered by a 550-hp LS3 V8 engine, its a modern interpretation of one of the most celebrated automotive designs ever created.Designer: Peter BrockThe original 1963 Stingray was groundbreaking, shaped by the genius of Bill Mitchells styling team at GM and driven by Peter Brocks foundational sketch at just 19 years old. While Brocks design was forward-thinking, the realities of mass production and marketing priorities altered some of its details. This updated version revisits Brocks early ideas with modern precision, elevating what was already an icon.Gooding & CompanyThe exterior retains the sharp lines and dramatic proportions that made the Stingray legendary but includes subtle updates that enhance functionality. The bodywork has been discreetly reshaped to accommodate wider 18-inch wheels, giving the car a more planted stance without disrupting its original elegance. Vents and scoops, purely decorative on the production model, now function as intended, improving airflow and cooling. These thoughtful changes make this Stingray feel like Brocks original vision, brought to life without compromise.The split rear window remains a centerpiece of the design, but its been widened to improve rearward visibility. This addresses one of the original Stingrays shortcomings while maintaining the cars signature silhouette. By blending aesthetics with practicality, the update honors the legacy of the split-window coupe without losing its dramatic impact.Barrett-JacksonChrome accents, a hallmark of 1960s automotive styling, have been stripped back to let the cars sculptural form take precedence. The minimal brightwork enhances the timeless quality of the design, making it feel more like a concept car come to life. Unlike many restomods that prioritize flashy features, this Corvette emphasizes restraint, letting its shape and details speak for themselves.Inside, the cabin continues the theme of refinement. While the original Stingrays interior was bold and inspired by jet-age design, this version opts for muted leather tones and minimal chrome. The result is a space that feels luxurious but purposeful, modernizing the dual-cockpit layout in a way that complements the exterior. Every detail reflects a focus on the driving experience, not just aesthetics.Barrett-JacksonMechanically, this restomod delivers a level of performance the original could only dream of. The 550-hp LS3 V8 engine, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, provides smooth and powerful acceleration. Beneath the surface, an Art Morrison chassis with Corvette C7 suspension components ensures precise handling and modern drivability. Wilwood brakes provide the stopping power necessary to match the engines performance, creating a car that excels on the road while staying true to its design roots.Comparing this updated Stingray to the original highlights how automotive design and engineering have evolved. The 1963 Corvette was a product of its time, blending artistic ambition with the practical realities of mass production. This restomod, unburdened by those constraints, delivers on the full potential of Brocks vision. Functional scoops, widened glass, and precise bodywork updates all reflect a thoughtful approach to blending form and function.The dark gray paint finish enhances the Stingrays understated elegance. By avoiding loud colors and excessive ornamentation, the design feels timeless, emphasizing the purity of its lines. The restraint shown in the color palette and detailing create a car that looks like it stepped out of Brocks original sketchbook, refined for today.Ron Browns 1963 Corvette Sting RayAs a one-off prototype, this Stingray offers an incredible opportunity for collectors. It reimagines one of the most iconic cars ever built, not as a radical departure but as a subtle evolution that respects its heritage. Crossing the auction block at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, this Corvette is a realization of a vision decades in the making, perfect for the modern era. For Peter Brock, this project represents a chance to see his original ideas come to life with the precision and detail they deserve. This Stingray embodies the best of the past and present, offering a rare glimpse of what might have been if design and engineering had no limits.The post 1963 Corvette Stingray Restomod: A Timeless Rebirth of Peter Brocks Automotive Masterpiece first appeared on Yanko Design.

The far right is celebrating what it views as a clear signal from the X owner and Donald Trump associate, who made the gestures on stage Monday.

MacworldUnlike Sir Keir Starmer (who, rather ominously, says he wants to mainline the technology into Britains veins) Im broadly pessimistic about AI. We may not be talking existential doomif you ask me, the chances of humanity being wiped out by AI are no higher than 60 or 70 percentbut eliminating jobs and spreading misinformation is bad enough. I just cant see this thing ending well.Still, every cloud has a silver lining. The future may be gloomy, thanks to the corporate worlds unthinking embrace of AIs dubious merits, but the situation is bringing some benefits in the short term. And frankly, I think we should take the wins where we can find them.Im talking, of course, about Apple Intelligence specifically. Partly because Im more interested in Apple than other tech companies, and partly because Apples AI platform is that much more likely to be somewhat constrained by social ethics and the principles of data privacy. The company isnt perfect by any means, but as a general rule its reliance on customer goodwill incentivizes better behavior.While were on the subject of incentives, lets talk about products. Apple came late to the AI party, and is extremely keen to catch up; this motivates the company to get as many customers using Apple Intelligence as possible, as soon as possible. And this means that the cheapest and therefore biggest-selling products need to support Apple Intelligence.The 4th-gen iPhone SE and 11th-gen iPad are both expected to launch in March or April and thanks to Apple Intelligence, they are set to be considerably more powerful than we would otherwise expect. The new iPhone SE will probably boast an A17 Pro processor (a nice jump from the A15 on the previous model) and 8GB of RAM (up from 4GB) for the simple reason that anything less would not be enough to support Apple Intelligence. The 11th-gen iPad, meanwhile, will enjoy an even bigger step up from the A14 to the A17 Pro, which is far more muscle than Apples entry-level tablet would get in a world without Apple Intelligence.The Mac has benefitted from Apple Intelligence as well. Predictive Code Completion in Xcode 16, part of the Apple Intelligence suite, requires 16GB of RAM, which left out many Apple silicon Macs when it launched with macOS Sequoia 15. Subsequently, several Macs got a bump to 16GB in the fall, including the M2 and M3 MacBook Airs, entry-level MacBook Pro, and M4 Mac mini. Weve been complaining about 8GB of RAM for years, and thanks to Apple intelligence, we finally got it.Under normal circumstances, Apple likes to improve its products as slowly as possible; its philosophy is that each device should be exactly as much of an improvement on the previous model as is necessary to persuade customers to upgrade, and not one gigabyte more. Budget iPad and even Mac buyers in 2025 are unlikely to regard either the processor or RAM as dealbreakers, so Apples instinct would naturally be to offer the bare minimum. But because Apple needs those things to make it onto the specs sheet, its suddenly practical and cost-effective to include them. Funny how that works out.Of course, Apple Intelligence isnt just here to force Apple to improve the spec lines of its budget mobile devices. Its here to create wildly inaccurate notification summaries and put illustrators out of work. Its here to sidetrack Apple software engineers for several years when they could be working on something worthwhilelike fixing Siri, for example. Oh but David, I hear you cry, Siri is being fixed as part of the Apple Intelligence project. To which I answer, possibly (although I havent noticed much improvement so far), but Siri is at its worst on the HomePod, and the HomePod cannot run Apple Intelligence.I suppose we can look forward to the HomePod miraculously leaping up to Apple Intelligence-ready specs in the near future. But that isnt much consolation to me.FoundryWelcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.Trending: Top storiesApples string of failures shows just how badly things need to change.Go home Mark Zuckerberg, youre drunk.Apples stuffed 2025 release calendar is missing one very important product.The iPhone 17 will be a small step backwardagain.Apples Calculator app will get one of its best features back in iOS 18.3.Podcast of the weekIf you thought 2024 was a pretty good year for Apple products, 2025 looks to be even bigger. On the latest episode of the Macworld Podcast, were talking about Apples loaded release schedule for the year. If youre pondering some major Apple purchases this year, youll want to listen in!You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast onSpotify,Soundcloud, thePodcasts app, orour own site.Reviews cornerMalwarebytes Privacy VPN for Mac review: Respectable speeds, a fair price, and an easy-to-use app.FastestVPN review: A good choice for VPN newbies.Zens Nightstand Charger Pro 2 review: Slim speed for the nightstand.Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Powerbank 20000mAh 145W Max review: Smart pillar with plenty of power.Anker 140W 4-Port Charger review: Powerful PD 3.1 wall charger.The rumor millApples fall launches are shaping up to be a little smarter than usual.Apple is looking to snatch back the limelight with a huge year for the iPhone.iPhone SE 4 dummy model reveals key features of Apples next budget phone.The M4 MacBook Air is set to kick off a loaded 2025 for the Mac.Apple Intelligence brings a huge spec bump for the basic iPad.Software updates, bugs, and problemsHackers have devised a simple text scam to bypass Apples iPhone protections.New Mac malware can bypass Apples XProtect security scanner.Apple tweaks AI notification summaries in iOS 18.3 following outcry.Researcher finds a vulnerability in the iPhone USB-C controller.Apple releases first MagSafe Charger firmware in nearly two years.And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up forour newsletters. You can also follow uson Facebook, Threads, or Twitter for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

The M4 Mac mini came with a surprise a slotted and upgradeable SSD. Here's how to install one, get it running, and what to expect for speed.An upgrade SSD on top of the M4 Mac miniMac mini upgradeability has varied over the years. The 2012 and before models were the gold standard, with both upgradeable RAM and storage. The 2014 model had upgradeable storage, but not RAM. The 2018 had RAM slots, but lacked upgradeable storage.When the M1 mini shipped, nothing was upgradeable. And while Apple doesn't strictly approve of SSD upgrades on the M4 Mac mini, it's at least possible. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Its been a rough week for Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games, which recently saw their projects cancelled. While Sony has stated that the studios wouldnt be shut down, the future is unknown. On somewhat of a brighter side, Bend Studio community manager Kevin McAllister took to Twitter to reaffirm that the developer still plans on creating cool s**t.Ill keep this short. Thanks for the love and support everyone, especially to those who reached out. P.S. We still plan on creating cool s**t.Bend Studios project was a new IP with multiplayer that built upon the open-world systems of Days Gone, its prior title. It offered a whole new world that the studio was extremely excited to craft, though further details werent revealed. With its cancellation, there are hopes it will pivot towards creating a sequel to Days Gone 2, which fans have demanded for years. Stay tuned for more updates in the meantime.Concords failure is rumored to be the catalyst behind the cancellations and a shift in Sonys thinking towards live-service projects. The hero shooter sold a measly 25,000 copies in its first week or so of launch before being pulled from storefronts. It would subsequently shut down alongside Firewalk Studios.Ill keep this short.Thanks for the love and support everyone, especially to those that have reached out. P.S. We still plan on creating cool shit. Kevin McAllister (@vikingdad278) January 17, 2025