Morning Bird: AI actress seeks an agent, acting unions protest. Russia carried out over 100 sabotages in the EU, 5 in the Czech Republic.
Xicoia company offers its AI product in the form of an actress generated by artificial intelligence to acting agencies in Hollywood. Representatives of the local acting guilds strongly reject such competition. Globsec described 110 sabotage operations organized from Russia in Europe, 5 of them are in the Czech Republic and include, for example, threats of bomb attacks on Czech schools.
Actors rebel against actress created by artificial intelligence
Tilly Norwood is a character created solely by artificial intelligence. Norwood, heralded as the first Hollywood "actor with artificial intelligence," is a product of Xicoia, which identifies itself as the world's first talent studio with artificial intelligence. They are currently offering her as a product to acting agencies.
Ever since Dutch producer and comedian Eline Van der Velden launched the promising career of this digital character, Tilly Norwood has been widely talked about in Hollywood. But not in a good way. Trade unions, actors, and filmmakers immediately opposed and protested the Xicoia product, arguing that artificial intelligence should not play leading roles in the acting profession. In a Tuesday statement by the Actors Guild, it is stated that "creativity is and should remain human-focused," according to critics Norwood, audiences want to watch real actors with life experience, not images generated by a computer, the agency APreported.
Russia has carried out 110 sabotage operations in Europe since 2022
Arson, vandalism, or bomb threats. These are a brief list of sabotage operations conducted in Europe and organised by Russia. Their most frequent targets are Poland, which is among the biggest supporters of Ukraine, and France. According to Globsec, there have also been 5 such operations in the Czech Republic, including bomb threats in schools. Russian secret services utilise various criminal structures for their activities.
"Evasion of sanctions and illegal trade provides Russia with resources, while organized crime provides networks. Moscow combines both dimensions in its hybrid war against Europe," stated co-author of the Globsec analysis Julian Lanches according to ČTK.
Danes are learning from Ukrainians to build anti-drone defense
The Ukrainian army is sharing its experiences in combating Russian unmanned aircraft with European countries, and has sent a mission to Denmark for joint exercises, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday. European Defense Ministers agreed last week to build a so-called "drone wall" along the borders with Russia and Ukraine to better detect, track and capture drones disturbing European airspace.
Europe's readiness and technology are considerably behind Ukraine and Russia, as the most modern drone war has become a characteristic feature of the war in Ukraine, the agency AP reported.
A two-year-old girl declared a goddess in Nepal
A two-year-old girl, who was chosen as Nepal's new living goddess, was carried by members of her family from her home in one of Kathmandu's streets to the temple palace during the country's longest and most significant Hindu holiday on Tuesday.
Aryatara Shakya, who is two years and eight months old, has been elected as the new Kumari, or "virgin goddess", replacing the previous goddess who, according to tradition, becomes a mere mortal after reaching puberty. The Kumaris are selected from the Shakya clans of the Newar community, which is the indigenous population of the Kathmandu Valley and is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists in the predominantly Hindu nation, CNN reported.
Sources: CNN, AP, ČTK
