Five Top Tech Takeaways: Writer's Get Concessions on AI, FTX's Auditor Sued by the SEC, Windows 11 goes AI, and Dalhousie's Battery Discovery

The Pen Is Mightier than the Robot

The Pen is Mightier Than the Robot? Writers Draw the Line with AI

Hollywood writers, after one of the longest labor strikes in history, have secured a significant victory over the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the film and television industry. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) managed to strike a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, establishing strict guidelines on how AI can be used in the industry. The contract doesn't ban AI but imposes limitations to ensure that the technology remains under the control of the workers and doesn’t replace them.

The deal prohibits studios from using AI to write or edit scripts and from treating AI-generated content as "source material" that could be assigned to screenwriters for adaptation at lower fees and lesser credit. The contract allows AI to be used as a tool but ensures it doesn’t undermine writers' roles or reduce their wages. It maintains that AI is complementary to humans and should be under the control of the writers, not the studios. If writers adapt output from AI models, it will still be considered an original screenplay. Studios are also required to disclose any use of AI in providing material to the writers. While writers can choose to use AI as a research tool, they cannot be forced to use it. (Source: Guardian)

FTX Auditor Under Fire: SEC Sues Prager Metis for Independence Violations

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated a lawsuit against accounting firm Prager Metis for purported violations pertaining to auditor independence, citing the incorporation of indemnification provisions in engagement letters during December 2017 to October 2020. Prager Metis is contending the allegations, asserting that the contested provisions never influenced the quality of their audits nor were enforced. The firm was associated as an auditor for the FTX Group; however, the SEC clarifies that the accusations are not related to any FTX matters. The SEC aims to secure an injunction and penalties against Prager Metis, with the investigation currently in progress. (Source: Reuters)

Blockchain Meets AI-enabled Entertainment: A New Era of Content Creation with Story Protocol

Story Protocol, developed by entrepreneur Seung Yoon Lee, is a groundbreaking blockchain-based platform aspiring to reconfigure the $2.3 trillion entertainment and media industry. The integration of artificial intelligence in content creation acts as a catalyst for this initiative, allowing exponential growth in fan-generated content and posing challenges to traditional copyright frameworks, thereby making a system like Story Protocol essential. The platform allows creators to manage, collaborate, and set terms of licensing and remuneration through Ethereum-based smart contracts, optimizing interactions and transactions between creators and fans, and enabling fans to influence and monetize their contributions. With substantial backing, including a $54 million investment led by Andreessen Horowitz, Story Protocol heralds a shift in intellectual property management and content production in an era dominated by AI innovations and fan-driven content. (Source: Forbes)

A Leap in Battery Efficiency: Dalhousie University's Tape Discovery.

Researchers at Dalhousie University have discovered a new way to extend the battery life of most laptops and cellphones by identifying a power-drainage flaw. The standard lithium-ion batteries use polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tape to hold its components together, which can dissolve due to a chemical reaction in the battery, causing charge depletion without sending out an electrical current—a phenomenon called self-discharge. The researchers have found that replacing PET tape with chemically stable polypropylene (PP) tape can decrease self-discharge by up to 70% and increase battery life by up to 10%. Polypropylene tape, having stronger chemical bonds, is more stable and costs about the same as PET tape, offering a simple and cost-effective solution for manufacturers. (Source: CBC)

Windows 11 Update: Microsoft Goes Big on AI
Microsoft’s latest update to Windows 11 brings a suite of AI-powered enhancements and features aimed at creating a more intuitive and versatile user experience. Here's a condensed overview:

• Windows Copilot: Acts as an AI-powered digital assistant, integrating many parts of Windows, controlling settings, launching apps, and answering queries.
• AI-Enhanced Paint: Equipped with Photoshop-like features, it supports transparency, layers, and an AI image generator called “Paint Cocreator,” which creates images based on text prompts and selected styles.
• Upgraded Snipping Tool: AI allows for text extraction and redaction from images and sharing in other apps, with automatic redaction for sensitive information.
• AI-Powered Photos App: Offers a background blur option that auto-identifies the background, enabling customization of blur intensity and areas to be blurred.
• Improved Windows Backup App: Facilitates seamless migration to new devices by backing up existing settings to the cloud
• Windows 365 Integration: Incorporates Windows 365 Cloud PCs, enabling direct boot and switch between local desktop and Cloud PC within Windows 11.
• Dev Home for Developers: Offers an efficient setup for Windows dev machines, utilizing Windows Package Manager to install necessary tools and apps and configuring coding environments in the cloud.

These features are rolling out progressively, with availability to all users anticipated in the coming months, and further advancements are expected in the Windows 11 2023 update. (Source: TheVerge)

Author: Malik Datardina, CPA, CA, CISA. Malik works at Auvenir as a GRC Strategist who is working to transform the engagement experience for accounting firms and their clients. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent UWCISA, UW, Auvenir (or its affiliates), CPA Canada or anyone else. This post was written with the assistance of an AI language model. The model provided suggestions and completions to help me write, but the final content and opinions are my own