W47: Weekend
We're into the rush of the holidays before the quiet stasis of winter, which has always felt like the perfect time for introspection and private reinvention. Here are a few things to think about.
OpenAI faces a transparency battle over erasing training data, based on a filing alleging it purged key evidence about how its AI models were trained. The New York Times and other news organizations had collected the now-deleted evidence supporting their ongoing case against OpenAI, alleging copyright infringement. As innovation accelerates, how do we protect intellectual property when evidence can be so easily wiped away?
Years ago, Matthew McConaughey made a pact to change his career, seeking to leave his typecast role on the rom-com stage to focus on more dramatic, impactful roles. The space between his comedies and his subsequent dramatic work was filled with offers he had to turn down, before finally resulting in a shift into films like Interstellar. The decision to make a change can be instantaneous, but the change itself may require patience while others adjust their understanding of your new direction. ⟾
Self-care has entered the realm of science fiction, as a Japanese company develops a "human washing machine" that offers a full-body cleanse. This futuristic automated pod blurs the line between utility and indulgence, and offers meaningful benefits to older adults and differently-abled people. It's important to understand how automation benefits people differently across a population. ⟾
Pamela Anderson gives her finest performance in Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl. Outside of the film, she explains the personal aspects of the role and her own long, troubled relationship with entertainment and all that surrounds it. There's always an opportunity to evolve and change.
Baz Bamigboye
For Jon Watts, cinema isn’t just a format—it’s a belief system. The director lost trust in Apple after they shifted the Wolfs debut from a promised theatrical release to a streaming-only launch. In an era where streaming increasingly powers studio decisions, filmmakers like Watts are pushing back harder and harder to preserve the big-screen experience. True creativity thrives when it’s allowed to honor its intended form. ⟾
Could the days of Google dominating web browsers be over? In a bold antitrust move, the Department of Justice has demanded Google sell Chrome, aiming to loosen its grip on internet access. The decision could reshape the web browser market and push back against Big Tech’s monopolistic tendencies. Making the internet less corporate is always a good thing, in our book. ⟾
As trust in traditional social media crumbles, Bluesky is stepping into the light. Built as a decentralized platform, Bluesky offers transparency and user control in contrast to its predecessors. But as it gains traction, questions remain: Is this the next evolution of Twitter, or something entirely different? Change often begins by imagining something better—and building it from the ground up. ⟾