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Major news publishers block Internet Archive to stop AI training
Over 241 news organisations across nine countries, including The New York Times, CNN, and USA Today, have restricted the Internet Archive's crawlers. The move aims to prevent AI companies from using archived content for model training without permission. While publishers argue this protects their intellectual property, the Internet Archive's director describes the action as collateral damage, warning it undermines the preservation of the public record and hinders the ability to track post-publication edits.
European Parliament calls for stronger Digital Markets Act enforcement
On 30 April, the European Parliament urged the European Commission to strengthen enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The resolution demands timely and consistent application of rules regarding gatekeepers, with specific focus on AI-driven search and cloud services. Parliament argues current penalties are insufficient and calls for rigorous supervision to ensure real-world market changes, following a Commission review that deemed the regulation fit for purpose but noted a short practical assessment period.
Kevin Roy explains how AI reshapes SEO strategy
Kevin Roy, founder of Green Banana SEO, discusses the impact of AI engines on search visibility. He notes that while AI answers reduce click-through rates, solid SEO fundamentals remain critical for 80% of AI rankings. Roy outlines a three-block blueprint for content (answer, proof, pathway) and emphasises the necessity of schema markup and author authority. He also advises on content pruning and using tools like Bing Webmaster Tools to track AI citations.
W3C members discuss strategies to protect the open web from AI threats
At a recent W3C Advisory Committee breakout session, members discussed potential threats to the open web posed by large language model crawlers and AI agents. Concerns were raised regarding server strain on publishers, content quality degradation, and unfair value extraction by AI companies. Participants suggested W3C could engage AI firms in standards work, bridge the gap between creators and AI developers, incorporate open principles into agentic web standards like WebMCP, and explore push models for content delivery. The session highlighted the need for responsible standards in journalism and payments, with ongoing discussions expected within the community.
Online scammers use AI deepfakes of Taylor Swift and Rihanna to trick TikTok users
Online scammers are exploiting AI-generated deepfakes of celebrities including Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian on TikTok to deceive users into signing up for fraudulent rewards programs and malicious services. These videos often feature uncanny facial movements and asynchronous audio but successfully bait users to third-party sites for personally identifiable information. The trend includes hyper-sexualized ads promoting nonconsensual face and body swapping. This surge occurs despite recent trademark filings by Taylor Swift to protect her likeness and ongoing legal actions against Meta regarding similar advertising scams.
Anthropic launches connectors to integrate Claude AI with Adobe Creative Cloud
Anthropic has introduced new connectors enabling Claude AI to integrate directly with Adobe Creative Cloud, Blender, and Autodesk Fusion. These integrations allow users to execute tasks such as image editing and script generation via natural language prompts within professional software. The update shifts Claude's role from a conversational assistant to an active execution layer, aiming to streamline creative workflows and reduce repetitive manual effort without replacing human creativity.
ZDF documentary examines impact of artificial intelligence on jobs
A new ZDF documentary titled 'Frisst die KI unsere Jobs?' explores how artificial intelligence threatens various professions, including law and illustration. The film features experiments comparing human professionals against AI tools, interviews with experts like Florian Neuhann and Astro Teller, and concerns from creatives about intellectual property theft. The programme highlights the rapid transformation of the labour market and advises workers to adapt to these technological changes.
Dr Eckart von Hirschhausen exposes deepfake fraud ring in Brazil
Dr Eckart von Hirschhausen investigates a deepfake fraud operation targeting German citizens with fake medical advertisements. The documentary reveals a Brazilian ring using AI to impersonate the doctor and sell unproven remedies. An insider, formerly a call centre agent, details the scheme's high payouts and lack of contracts. The report highlights Meta's alleged role in hosting fraudulent ads and questions EU regulatory enforcement against tech giants.
Brafton outlines strategies for using AI in video content creation without full automation
Brafton advises video marketers to adopt AI incrementally to improve efficiency while retaining human creative control. The article suggests using AI for ideation, scripting drafts, captioning, and distribution analytics rather than full automation. Key recommendations include identifying workflow friction points, maintaining human judgment for brand voice, and establishing review checkpoints to ensure quality and prevent generic messaging. This approach aims to balance speed with the protection of audience trust and creative excellence.
Brafton compares Copy.ai and ChatGPT for content creation workflows
Brafton compares Copy.ai and ChatGPT, highlighting their distinct approaches to AI content generation. Copy.ai focuses on go-to-market automation with templates and workflow builders for marketing teams, while ChatGPT offers general-purpose versatility. The article notes ChatGPT's recent introduction of ads on free tiers and platform stability concerns, contrasting this with Copy.ai's specialized focus on sales and marketing automation. Pricing structures and ideal use cases for both platforms are detailed.
Richard Herold discusses how AI will fundamentally change the publishing world
Richard Herold of Natur & Kultur outlines the dual impact of generative AI on publishing, noting both process efficiency and risks to human creativity. The publisher highlights the need for a Swedish language model to protect copyright and cultural nuances while advocating for legal action against companies using pirated material. Herold argues that publishers must evolve from mere quality guarantors to active defenders of human creativity and authenticity in an era of synthetic media.
Google AI overviews cause significant traffic loss for digital publishers
The introduction of AI overviews in search engines has led to a sharp decline in organic traffic for many digital publishers. These generative summaries provide immediate answers, increasing the zero-click rate and pushing traditional organic listings below the fold. Publishers relying on factual content face reduced click-through rates as users satisfy their intent without visiting websites. Experts recommend diversifying traffic sources, building strong brand recognition, and optimizing for complex queries to mitigate this impact.
Major labels and platforms deploy AI tools to combat infringement while legal battles over training data continue
Major record labels are adopting AI systems to detect copyright infringement and monitor synthetic content. Simultaneously, Live Nation forecasts a strong 2026 touring season. YouTube has expanded its likeness detection technology to identify unauthorized use of artists' identities. In the legal sector, Anthropic has filed a motion for summary judgment in a lawsuit regarding the fair use of copyrighted material for AI training. The industry faces ongoing challenges in establishing standardized AI licensing frameworks for music publishing.
Alvarez & Marsal report finds US consumers increasingly open to fully AI-created films
Alvarez & Marsal report indicates US consumers are shifting towards AI-enabled entertainment, expecting to increase consumption by 29% while reducing traditional broadcast by 11%. The study 'Lights, Camera, AI' reveals 64% of consumers believe human-AI collaboration yields premium content, and over half are willing to pay standard prices for fully AI-generated films. However, only 51% feel confident distinguishing human from AI content, highlighting a need for transparency in the media and entertainment sector.