Hollywood’s tightening budgets and declining support for diversity efforts have had a negative impact on projects by and for people of color, according to Charles D. King, founder and CEO of MACRO, one of the largest media companies centered on Black entertainment. Speaking at Bloomberg’s New Voices event, King discussed the industry’s economic challenges and highlighted how these factors have strained the viability of diverse storytelling in Hollywood. Job Cuts and Funding Challenges in an Evolving Industry With the shift in viewing habits towards streaming, coupled with rising production costs
Federal authorities are investigating disturbing racist text messages sent anonymously to Black Americans across the United States, including students. These messages invoked themes of slavery, instructing recipients to “report to the nearest plantation.” The texts have triggered concern and condemnation, and multiple law enforcement agencies are now involved. Text Messages Spark National Alarm The texts have been reported in states such as New York, California, Alabama, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Each message varied slightly in wording, but most instructed the recipients to gather their belongings and prepare to “pick cotton”
TECNO, a leader in smartphone technology, has launched the #ToneProud campaign to combat skin tone bias in AI-driven imaging systems. This initiative aims to promote inclusivity in imaging technology by ensuring accurate representation of diverse skin tones, especially in emerging markets often overlooked by larger tech players. 268 Skin Tones Database: A Technological Milestone for Inclusive Imaging The foundation of TECNO’s #ToneProud campaign is its new 268 skin tone database, a collection developed to improve how AI-driven imaging systems capture various skin tones. By assigning specific color codes to skin
A team of researchers has revealed a new set of algorithms designed to enhance the realism of highly coiled hair in digital animation. The study presents advanced geometric techniques that achieve levels of accuracy, addressing the challenges of representing coiled, afro-textured hair—a crucial development for more inclusive digital storytelling. Advancing Hair Animation with Phase Locking and Period Skipping Historically, digital hair modeling has excelled at simulating straight and wavy hair but has struggled to capture the intricacies of coiled textures. This new research introduces several methods: Phase Locking: By employing
Vesti, an AI-powered neobank specializing in services for immigrants, has announced plans to preorder 100 Tesla Robotaxis, following Tesla’s recent reveal of the vehicle’s design. The goal is to provide accessible transportation options tailored to immigrant needs in major cities worldwide. Accessible Transport Solutions for Immigrant Communities With cities becoming more crowded and public transport systems under strain, Vesti’s Robotaxis aim to simplify local travel for immigrants navigating new environments. Vesti plans to deploy these autonomous vehicles in cities like New York, Toronto, and London, where immigrant communities face unique
Google has added 15 African languages to its Voice Search, Gboard’s talk-to-type, and Translate dictation, bringing online access to around 300 million more Africans. The newly supported languages include Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Nigerian Pidgin, Chichewa, Kikuyu, Oromo, Rundi, Shona, Somali, Tigrinya, and Twi, allowing more people to interact with Google services in their native languages. More Languages on Voice and Gboard With this update, Google Voice Search and Gboard talk-to-type now support 12 more African languages, raising the total to 25. Google Translate has also added voice input for 13
This article is sponsored by TripleTen. For many, the path to a successful tech career is anything but linear. Colburn Sanders, now a Senior Software Engineer at New Balance, knows this all too well. From film student to software engineer Before becoming a software engineer, Sanders studied film, balancing creativity with the struggle for financial stability. That all changed when a programming elective shifted his focus. While Sanders had been fascinated by computers since childhood, “from the early days of AOL dial-up to tinkering with Myspace and experimenting with HTML
The US tech industry is on track for substantial growth, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a 13% increase in tech roles by 2030. Yet, despite this boom, Hispanic representation in tech remains disproportionally low. This discrepancy is particularly striking when compared to the Hispanic population’s growth, which has surged to around 19% of the total US population as of 2020. Examining Key Cities: Growth vs. Representation An analysis by Bureau of Labor Statistics of major cities reveals significant gaps between Hispanic population growth and tech job representation. Philadelphia,
Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer and multifaceted creative force whose career spanned over seven decades, passed away on November 3, at the age of 91 in his Bel Air home. A Pioneering Force in Music Known for producing Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, Jones’ work transcended genres and generations. Collaborating with icons like Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Ella Fitzgerald, he earned 28 Grammys and a record-breaking 79 nominations. “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), SoFi has launched the Give Her Credit campaign. The digital financial services platform has teamed up with tennis icon Venus Williams and Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink to spotlight progress in women’s financial rights and inspire ongoing change. The campaign will provide $500,000 in grants, distributing $10,000 each to 50 selected individuals or groups to boost projects promoting women’s financial independence. 50 years of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act Passed in 1974, the ECOA marked a
