AI and society Archive

Jan 14, 2026

Actor Matthew McConaughey just got eight trademark applications approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office to protect himself against unauthorized AI copies. The trademarks cover a seven-second clip of him standing on a porch and audio of his famous line "Alright, alright, alright" from the 1993 film "Dazed and Confused," among others, according to the Wall Street Journal.

McConaughey says he wants to make sure his voice and likeness are only used with his permission. "We want to create a clear perimeter around ownership with consent and attribution the norm in an AI world," he writes in an email to the WSJ. His lawyers Jonathan Pollack and Kevin Yorn see the trademarks as a potential tool against AI abuse in federal court, though whether this strategy will hold up before a judge remains to be seen.

McConaughey hopes for federal legislation on the issue, but he's not opposed to AI itself. He's both an investor in and a voice for Elevenlabs.

Comment Source: Wall Street Journal

Maximilian Schreiner

Jan 14, 2026

AI and society

After Grok's deepfake flood, Senate passes bill letting victims take creators to court

Abstract visualization of people in a data stream

Maximilian Schreiner

Jan 14, 2026

Short News

Music platform Bandcamp now prohibits music created entirely or substantially by generative AI. The company says the new policy protects human creativity and the direct connection between artists and fans. The updated rules also strictly ban using AI tools to imitate specific artists or styles.

Unlike most streaming services, Bandcamp focuses on direct purchases of music and merchandise, letting fans support creators financially without intermediaries.

Users can now report content that sounds heavily AI-generated. Bandcamp reserves the right to remove music from the platform based on suspected AI origins alone.

Comment Source: Bandcamp

Matthias Bastian

Jan 13, 2026

Short News

Several monkeys have escaped in St. Louis, and AI-generated images are making the search for the animals harder, another sign of how synthetic media is muddying everyday reality. The vervet monkeys were first spotted Thursday near a park in the north of the city, AP reports. Since then, social media has been flooded with rumors and AI-generated images from people falsely claiming they've caught the animals. As of Monday, the monkeys still hadn't been captured, according to Willie Springer, a spokesman for the city health department.

It’s been a lot in regard to AI and what’s genuine and what’s not. People are just having fun. Like I don’t think anyone means harm.
Willie Springer

Authorities still don't know who owns the monkeys, how they escaped, or exactly how many are out there. They're urging residents to keep their distance, as the animals can turn aggressive when stressed.

Comment Source: AP

Maximilian Schreiner

Jan 13, 2026

Short News

Microsoft is rolling out a new initiative for AI data centers after facing mounting opposition from communities across the US. The company says it will fully cover the power costs of its data centers, ensuring residents won't see higher electricity bills as a result. The announcement comes as data center regions like Virginia, Illinois, and Ohio have seen electricity prices climb 12-16 percent faster than the national average.

Beyond power costs, Microsoft is making several other commitments: the company will stop requesting local tax breaks, cut water consumption by 40 percent by 2030, and replenish more water than it uses. Microsoft President Brad Smith told GeekWire that the industry used to operate differently and now needs to change its approach. Trump previewed the announcement on Truth Social before Microsoft made it official.

As part of the initiative, Microsoft also plans to train local workers and invest in AI education programs in affected communities.

Comment Source: Microsoft

Maximilian Schreiner

Jan 13, 2026

AI and society

UAE leads with 64% AI adoption rate, leaving the US and Europe far behind, Microsoft says

Maximilian Schreiner

Jan 12, 2026

AI and society

British media regulator Ofcom has opened an investigation into X over the AI chatbot Grok. The probe follows reports in recent weeks that Elon Musk's chatbot and social media platform were increasingly being used to create and share non-consensual intimate images and even sexualized images of children.

Ofcom is now examining whether X violated the UK's Online Safety Act. The regulator contacted X on January 5, 2025, demanding a response by January 9. The investigation aims to determine whether X took adequate steps to protect British users from illegal content. Violations could result in fines of up to 18 million pounds or 10 percent of global revenue. In severe cases, a court could even order X blocked in the UK.

Ofcom is also looking into whether xAI, the AI company behind Grok, broke any regulations. Last week, the EU Commission ordered X to preserve all internal documents and data related to the Grok AI chatbot through the end of 2026.

Comment Source: Ofcom

Maximilian Schreiner

Jan 12, 2026

AI and society

Google brings personalized discounts to AI search and launches open commerce protocol

The search engine company introduces personalized discount ads in its AI mode and presents an open protocol to bind retailers more closely to the Google ecosystem.

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Maximilian Schreiner

Jan 10, 2026

AI and society

US wants to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050, but past failures cast long shadows

Jonathan Kemper

Jan 10, 2026

AI and society

China captured the global lead in open-weight AI development during 2025, Stanford analysis shows

Chinese open-weight AI is conquering the world: According to a Stanford analysis, models from China have already overtaken their US counterparts in distribution and adoption. But with success come growing geopolitical and security risks.

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