Top News:
Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch:
Google tests bringing ads to AI Mode, both below responses as well as “integrated into” them, and expands ads in AI Overviews to desktop in the US — Google on Wednesday detailed its plans to bring ads to AI Mode, the company's AI-powered experience in Google Search.
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Andrew Romero / 9to5Google:
AI videos from Google's Veo 3, which features synchronized audio as well as crisper, more detailed video, are both impressive and terrifying — If the internet wasn't already full of misinformation and general filler content, Veo 3 is going to take it to an entirely new level.
Discussion:
The Keyword, BGR and IndieWire, more at Techmeme »
CNBC:
Google announces new video and image generation models Veo 3 and Imagen 4, alongside a new AI filmmaking tool Flow and expanded access to Lyria 2 — Google on Tuesday announced Veo 3, an AI video generator that can also create and incorporate audio. — The artificial intelligence tool competes …
Discussion:
Music Ally, The Keyword, @skirano, @googledeepmind, @martinnebelong, @nearcyan, @emollick, @nearcyan, @sherveen, The Indian Express, @cokanestudio, @arikuschnir, @emollick, @googledeepmind, @fofrai, @mattshumer_, @pizza_later, @google, @angrytomtweets, The Keyword, 9to5Google, The Verge, TechCrunch and Engadget, more at Techmeme »
Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
Every, which runs an online magazine, released an AI-powered word processor, and advises media companies on using AI, raised $2M from Reid Hoffman and others — The start-up Every centered its business model on artificial intelligence, and has raised $2 million from backers including Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn.
Discussion:
Brandon Gell on LinkedIn, @itsjackcohen, @hypervisible.bsky.social and @benmullin
Jake Kanter / Deadline:
Channel 4 unveils its Creative Investment Fund to invest in production companies as part a move to in-house production; the UK broadcaster has £111M in cash — Channel 4 is planning to take majority stakes in third-party production companies as part of its plan to move into in-house production.
Brian Stelter / CNN:
Live Nation, which is facing a US DOJ antitrust probe, adds Trump ally and the newly installed President of the Kennedy Center Richard Grenell to its board — Amid an antitrust battle with the Justice Department, global entertainment company Live Nation is adding one of President Trump's closest advisors to its board of directors.
Discussion:
The Hill, @brianstelter.bsky.social, The Wrap, Rolling Stone, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter
Betsy Morais / Columbia Journalism Review:
Several women attest to Wesley Lowery's pattern of predatory behavior toward young women in journalism between 2018 and 2024 — Lowery rose to prominence as a reporter and media thinker. Women in the industry say he engaged in sexual harassment and assault.
Discussion:
@espiers.bsky.social and @oliviamesser.bsky.social
The Wrap:
Atlas sues Comscore for allegedly leveraging its monopoly on box office data to “suppress competition” and forcing Atlas to shut down its CinemaCloudWorks app — Atlas claims the measurement company forced it to shutter its CinemaCloudWorks software app and restricted access to essential data
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck
Killian Faith-Kelly / Press Gazette:
An interview with Jonathan Nunn, founder of Vittles, a newsletter about food that has 84,000 subscribers, on the decision to launch a biannual print magazine — The first time Vittles founder Jonathan Nunn read a food magazine was in 2015, in a New York cafe whose coffee table was supporting …
Discussion:
@pressgazette and @mediaevan.bsky.social
Theodore Schleifer / New York Times:
A look at some of the projects looking to raise money from Democratic megadonors as party strategists try to “find the next Joe Rogan” — At private gatherings, strategists and donors are swapping ideas to help the party capture the digital mojo that helped President Trump win.
Discussion:
Columbia Journalism Review, Slate, Daily Kos, How Things Work, HotAir, The Information, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @mobute.bsky.social, @rlarochelle.bsky.social, @chronotope.aramzs.xyz, @steveolson.bsky.social, @charles.littlegreenfootballs …, @morglea.bsky.social, @thembo.bsky.social, @michaelcrawford.com, @joshuaconkel.bsky.social, @allenkenney.bsky.social, @secondaryjess.bsky.social, @itsmattjordan.com, @coolguy.party, @radmad.bsky.social, @brendannyhan.bsky.social, @jalefkowit@vmst.io, @poniewozik.bsky.social, @aaronhuertas.bsky.social, RedState, @teddyschleifer.bsky.social, @fishkin.bsky.social, @nickpinto.bsky.social, @billscher.bsky.social and Semafor
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: under Kristi Noem, the DHS has significantly expanded the use of polygraph exams to identify employees suspected of leaking information to the media — The information that DHS employees are accused of sharing with media often isn't classified — WASHINGTON—In a small interrogation room …
Discussion:
@wesdym@mastodon.social, The Independent, Talking Points Memo and @whodat35.bsky.social
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
How animation startup Toonstar uses its AI tools to make animated content up to 90% cheaper than traditional methods; its YouTube series has 30M weekly viewers — A.I. has yet to upend Hollywood. But it is starting to make big inroads in animation. — The founders of Toonstar …
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