Digimasters Shorts - Trump AI Image Sparks Catholic Outrage, Musk's Grok Annoys Right-Wingers, OpenAI Flip Flops on For-Profit Move, DoorDash's Big Deliveroo Buy, Hacker NullBulge Targets Disney

Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, your go-to podcast for the freshest updates and insights from the ever-evolving digital landscape. Join hosts Adam Nagus and Carly Wilson as they delve into the stories making waves in the tech world.

In this episode, we explore a controversy involving an AI-generated image that connects former President Trump with the papacy, stirring critique amongst the religious community and raising questions about AI's role in content creation. We also discuss Elon Musk's foray into AI chatbots with Grok, a creation sparking debate for its factual approach in an era ripe with misinformation.

Additionally, we take a closer look at OpenAI's organizational shift from nonprofit to Public Benefit Corporation, a move set to reshape its future business model while staying committed to democratizing AI. We also cover DoorDash's bold acquisition of U.K. delivery giant Deliveroo, a strategic consolidation aimed at strengthening their footing in the competitive global market.

Finally, we bring you the story of Ryan Mitchell Kramer, a hacker known as "NullBulge," who faces legal repercussions for his actions against Disney—highlighting the ongoing challenges of cybersecurity in the digital domain.

Stay tuned with Digimasters Shorts for quick yet comprehensive updates on the digital world, where every byte matters!

Transcript

Adam N2: 0:05

Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam Nagus

Carly W: 0:09

and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from the digital realm. President Trump has distanced himself from an AI-generated image depicting him as the pope, which was shared on official social media accounts. Trump claims no involvement, suggesting it might be the work of artificial intelligence, and insists he has no idea where it originated from. Despite this, the image has sparked criticism among Catholics, including a prominent American cardinal, who found it potentially offensive. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan expressed unease about the image, hoping it was not connected to the president. Trump responded to the backlash by dismissing critics, suggesting those offended"can't take a joke" and asserting that Catholics appreciated the image. The controversy arises amid mourning for the late Pope Francis, adding to the sensitivity of the matter. Trump's connection to the image remains a subject of contention as religious communities express concern over its implications. Observers continue to examine the impacts of AI-generated content in public discourse. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between political figures and religious leaders on matters of respect and representation.

Adam N2: 1:17

Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, is causing frustration among far-right users on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The chatbot is notably dismissing misinformation and conspiracy theories, much to the annoyance of some MAGA supporters. Grok emphasizes factual accuracy, often contradicting baseless claims and endorsing socially liberal views. Despite Musk's attempts to align the chatbot closer to neutral political ground, Grok continues to advocate for facts and inclusivity. It has openly supported trans rights and debunked vaccine myths, conflicting with some conservative expectations. Even when trained to appeal to right-leaning users, Grok's responses remain grounded in verified information. The situation underscores Musk's difficulties in steering his AI venture away from what some perceive as"woke" tendencies. Some users complain about Grok's perceived liberal bias, leading to accusations of an anti-American stance. Nonetheless, Grok's analytical approach remains unyielding, often challenging exaggerated claims, such as questioning Donald Trump's gas price assertions. The discussion around Grok raises broader issues about AI freedom versus corporate influence in the tech sphere. Open A.I is reportedly abandoning its attempt to transition from a nonprofit structure to a for-profit entity. This decision follows dialogues with civic leaders and discussions with the Attorneys General of California and Delaware, who oversee Open A.I's nonprofit status. The company will instead reconfigure its commercial subsidiary into a Public Benefit Corporation(PBC). This move aims to make it easier for Open A.I to secure more funds, as the new PBC will feature no caps on stock appreciation for investors. Despite having no direct stake, C.E.O Sam Altman refers to this change as essential for expanding Open A.I's services globally. The nonprofit board will continue to govern this new structure, maintaining oversight and securing a growing equity stake in the PBC. Open A.I's spokesperson remarks on efforts to democratize AI tools, ensuring broad access for diverse applications. The California Department of Justice, while reviewing the new plan, maintains active discussions with Open A.I regarding ongoing matters. Open A.I believes this structure will continue to drive safe, rapid progress in AI technology. The organization emphasizes that its mission remains in advancing AI to benefit all of humanity.

Carly W: 3:40

DoorDash has announced a significant move to acquire its U.K. competitor, Deliveroo, for approximately£2.9 billion, equivalent to$3.29 billion. This acquisition will allow DoorDash to enter nine new European markets where Deliveroo predominantly operates. DoorDash's offer of 180 pence per share represents a 44% premium over Deliveroo's share price as of April 4, when the initial approach was made. The consolidation is a strategic effort to enhance competitiveness against main rivals such as Just Eat Takeaway and Uber Eats. The merged entity is expected to operate in 40 countries, serving 50 million monthly active users. Deliveroo, founded in 2013 and listed on the stock market in 2021, initially thrived during the pandemic's peak. However, it faced declining fortunes as consumer habits shifted back to in-person dining and shopping. Deliveroo's shares had seen a sharp decline of over 50% since their initial listing, prompting them to exit markets like Hong Kong and Australia due to fierce competition. The deal highlights the shifting dynamics within the food delivery sector post-pandemic as companies recalibrate to maintain profitability. A 25-year-old hacker, Ryan Mitchell Kramer, known as"NullBulge," has agreed to plead guilty to hacking activities against Disney Corporation. The Department of Justice states Kramer will admit to two felony charges. Using a compromised AI art generator tool, ComfyUI, he accessed a Disney employee's computer. This breach allowed him to enter Disney's Slack and download 1.1 terabytes of data. Kramer then threatened to leak the data if demands were not met and eventually released the information. Originally targeting the tool as a protest against AI-generated art, the breach led to broader implications for users' personal and financial security. Researchers highlighted Kramer's malicious software distributed through GitHub, compromising crypto wallets and personal data. The plea deal only addresses the Disney incident, facing charges of unauthorized computer access and threats of damage. Each charge carries a potential five-year federal prison sentence. The F.B.I's ongoing investigation might reveal further victims and legal consequences for Kramer.

Don: 5:53

Thank you for listening to today's AI and Tech News podcast summary... Please do leave us a comment and for additional feedback, please email us at podcast@digimasters.co.uk You can now follow us on Instagram and Threads by searching for@DigimastersShorts or Search for Digimasters on Linkedin. Be sure to tune in tomorrow and don't forget to follow or subscribe!