Upcoming Events

TV & Video Insider Summit
(March 17-20, MediaPost, Scottsdale AZ, $$)

2024 GTC AI Conference
(March 17-21, Nvidia, Hybrid Event – San Jose CA, $$)

Game Developers Conference (GDC)
(March 18-22, Informa Tech, San Francisco, $$)

DAM Los Angeles 2024
(March 19-20, HS Events, Los Angeles, $$)

The Do’s and Don’ts of Hyper-Personalization
(March 20, Placer, SmartBrief, Webinar)

How Marketers Can Become AI-Ready
(March 20, Acceleration, Webinar)

Precision Motion Control for Robotics Systems
(March 20, WTWH Media, Webinar)

Supply Chain Security Summit
(March 20, SecurityWeek, Virtual Event)

Turn Shoppers into Brand Advocates
(March 20, Adweek, Stackline, Webinar)

Digital Out-of-Home Insider Summit
(March 20-23, MediaPost, Scottsdale AZ, $$)

Advancing the New Era of Work with Copilot
(March 21, Microsoft, Digital Event)

AI and Multimedia Content Production
(March 21, TVNewsCheck, Webinar)

How to Validate the Sustainability Claims Employing DPP
(March 21, Circularise, Webinar)

HPA Networking Education Technology Roundtables
(March 21, HPA NET, Universal City CA, $$)

House Passes Bill That Could Remove TikTok from App Stores

The House of Representatives voted 352 to 65 today to pass a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban of popular video-sharing app TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance and currently used by 170 million Americans. The bill, introduced out of concern for national security, would prohibit TikTok from app stores in the U.S. unless it is spun off from ByteDance. It is not clear how the Senate will respond to the proposed legislation, which advanced unanimously by the House Energy and Commerce Committee (50-0), and President Biden indicated he would sign. Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry has called the measure an “act of bullying.” Continue reading House Passes Bill That Could Remove TikTok from App Stores

ETC Releases White Balancing Tutorial for Virtual Production

ETC@USC has posted a tutorial that offers best practices for white balancing during production on a curved wall LED volume stage. Due to the growing number of LED volume and backing wall applications emerging worldwide, many critical color calibration issues have resulted. The informative tutorial — authored by cinematographer Tim Kang from Quasar Science with support from producer Erik Weaver from ETC — provides cinematographers and production teams with a simple graphical guide that breaks down the problems between the camera and its LED wall perception, while specifying different means to implement solutions. The Virtual Production White Balancing Tutorial is now available on the ETC site. Continue reading ETC Releases White Balancing Tutorial for Virtual Production

ETC’s CES 2024 Report: Creators, Displays, and AI Innovation

CES 2024 attracted more than 135,000 attendees to Las Vegas where 4,300 companies filled 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space. Technology that empowers creators, a new generation of displays, and the promise and peril of artificial intelligence dominated the show. After several years of incremental advances, market development built on maturing technology, and over-hyped trends, this year felt different with an energy that suggests the beginning of a new era. Among the major themes were embedded AI, vehicle tech, digital health, screens and XR, and numerous policy and regulation topics. ETC@USC attended the conference for live reporting on products and services. Our post-show report features extensive coverage and perspectives related to key creative, business, and technology areas. Continue reading ETC’s CES 2024 Report: Creators, Displays, and AI Innovation

Is Foldable iPhone What’s Next for Apple After the Vision Pro?

In the wake of the recent Vision Pro launch, mostly positive reviews, and (reportedly) selling out of its modest 200,000 unit initial production run, Apple seems to have reignited its appetite for innovation. The company is said to be considering the release of a foldable iPhone after quietly developing the technology since 2018. A sticking point for the design-oriented firm may be the “ubiquitous foldable crease,” which has pundits speculating that Apple’s debut entry won’t hit the market before 2026. Early reports suggest the company is pursuing a clamshell form factor that folds lengthwise. Continue reading Is Foldable iPhone What’s Next for Apple After the Vision Pro?

Experts Discuss Copyright, Licensing at RightsTech AI Summit

The RightsTech AI Summit at Digital Entertainment World 2024 covered a range of technical and legal issues over the course of seven panels with a focus on generative AI, copyright and licensing. The event, held at UCLA, featured speakers from areas including entertainment, data management, legal and academia. Among the key takeaways: fair use is expected to become a defense in AI cases, data used to train AI will likely become a legal issue in regards to licensing agreements, we may soon need copyright law that protects an artist’s style, Big Tech lobbying efforts are becoming a concern, and states are outpacing Washington on AI regulation. Continue reading Experts Discuss Copyright, Licensing at RightsTech AI Summit

Hulu Is Joining Netflix in Cracking Down on Password Sharing

Hulu has revised its Terms of Service in an effort to ban password sharing amongst friends and family members outside of a subscriber’s primary personal residence. Hulu has been announcing via email that subscribers will have until March 14 to comply. According to the revised Terms of Service: “If we determine, in our sole discretion, that you have violated this Agreement, we may limit or terminate access to the Service and/or take any other steps as permitted by this Agreement.” The move by Hulu follows what has been reported as a successful crackdown on password sharing by Netflix in addition to a record number of subscribers in the fourth quarter. Continue reading Hulu Is Joining Netflix in Cracking Down on Password Sharing

Instagram Threads Reaches the Top of App Store Downloads

Instagram’s Threads app, an X competitor designed for sharing text updates and joining public conversations, is now gaining traction after an inconsistent 2023. New data from app intelligence firm Appfigures reveals that Threads is growing, tripling its number of downloads month-over-month in December, positioning it as one of the Top 10 most downloaded apps for Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store. Ahead of Threads in downloads for December were popular apps such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and WhatsApp (Instagram took over the No. 1 spot from TikTok). Meanwhile, X continues to decline. Continue reading Instagram Threads Reaches the Top of App Store Downloads

OpenAI Partners with Common Sense Media on AI Guidelines

As parents and educators grapple with figuring out how AI will fit into education, OpenAI is preemptively acting to help answer that question, teaming with learning and child safety group Common Sense Media on informational material and recommended guidelines. The two will also work together to curate “family-friendly GPTs” for the GPT Store that are “based on Common Sense ratings and standards,” the organization said. The partnership aims “to help realize the full potential of AI for teens and families and minimize the risks,” according to Common Sense. Continue reading OpenAI Partners with Common Sense Media on AI Guidelines

CES: AI Was Everywhere but Not the Only Thing in Las Vegas

Technology that empowers creators, a new generation of displays, and the promise and peril of artificial intelligence dominated CES 2024. After several years of incremental advances, market development built on maturing technology, and over-hyped trends, this year felt different with an energy that suggests the beginning of a new era. Among the highlights were next generation displays, including MicroLED and transparent technologies. If a consensus emerged, it is that AI may be everywhere but it isn’t everything. “People at the heart of creativity” was Sony’s CES slogan, yet its people-centered sentiment applied broadly across the show. Continue reading CES: AI Was Everywhere but Not the Only Thing in Las Vegas

CES: Panelists Weigh Need for Safe AI That Serves the Public

A CES session on government AI policy featured an address by Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson (who is also administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration), followed by a discussion of government activities, and finally industry perspective from execs at Google, Microsoft and Xperi. Davidson studied at MIT under nuclear scientist Professor Philip Morrison, who spent the first part of his career developing the atomic bomb and the second half trying to stop its use. That lesson was not lost on Davidson. At NTIA they are working to ensure “that new technologies are developed and deployed in the service of people and in the service of human progress.” Continue reading CES: Panelists Weigh Need for Safe AI That Serves the Public

CES: Experts Discuss the Path Toward a National Privacy Law

In a conversation with CTA Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs Rachel Nemeth during CES 2024 in Las Vegas, a group of experts on consumer affairs and federal regulatory policy delved into the impact of existing and recent legislation on various sectors. Interestingly, they all agreed on one thing: the need for a national privacy law to replace the patchwork of differing state laws. T-Mobile Director of Federal Regulatory Affairs Melanie Tiano noted that currently 13 states have comprehensive privacy laws and that, two weeks into the new legislative session, she’s tracking more than 30 privacy-related bills. Continue reading CES: Experts Discuss the Path Toward a National Privacy Law

CES: Voiseed Upgrades Its Platform for Expressive AI Voices

Milano-based Voiseed demonstrated its web-based Revoiceit platform at CES, pitched as the best way to manage synthetic voice actors, particularly ensuring that synthetic voices present realistic emotions. The company describes it as a cloud-based solution that uses “generative AI to infuse virtual voices with human emotions and prosody, creating highly expressive, lifelike audio experiences.” While Revoiceit’s most obvious feature is its Studio (imagine Adobe Audition devoted to second-by-second management of voices), it may well be the product’s forthcoming API that provides real value to developers of entertaining technology products. Continue reading CES: Voiseed Upgrades Its Platform for Expressive AI Voices

CES: Championing Consumer Product Safety in the Age of AI

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric spoke with CTA Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs Rachel Nemeth during CES 2024 about the challenges of extending safety to products that are constantly evolving and incorporating new technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. Nemeth pointed out that the agency’s authorizing statute was enacted in 1972 and was last amended in 2008. “We’re doing a lot of good work with the statute we have,” Hoehn-Saric responded. “But we’re changing the way we operate. We talk a lot about machine learning and AI.” Continue reading CES: Championing Consumer Product Safety in the Age of AI