Videos used to be an almost universal way of verifying or treating something as authentic, but those days are now gone.
A new app available in the US and Canada, OpenAI's Sora 2, makes it possible with just a few lines of text for users to generate short videos of just about anything.
The results have been at once amazing, and also worrying on several levels.
We gave Sora 2 a try and spoke with experts about what it all means for society.
It's rare to see an app that brings up so many conflicting emotions - but probably just a taste of many more AI tools that will follow.
The big story
Jensen Huang's world
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang took to the stage in Washington for his company's GTC event
In brief | Ever since the passing of Steve Jobs in 2011, it has been a topic of debate as to whether there would be a figure in the technology world who would be able to exert the same amount of influence.
In this reporter's opinion, Nvidia's chief executive Jensen Huang proved this week why he is the closest thing to the late Apple co-founder.
Mr Huang addressed his company's much-anticipated GTC event in Washington, but in the grander scheme of things, he held the world's attention on a technical, geopolitical and, to some extent, philosophical level.
Why it matters | It would be easy to suggest that Nvidia, a design company founded in 1993, was luckily riding the AI boom in recent years, but if that were the case it would probably not have had the staying power that it's currently enjoying.
On Wednesday, Nvidia made history by achieving a market capitalisation of $5 trillion. That's more than just luck; it all comes back to the persistent vision of its founder, Mr Huang, who has been talking to just about anyone who would listen about accelerated computing, which boils down to the powerful GPUs and CPUs that make AI possible.
He's not without critics but Mr Huang has been one of the more transparent tech leaders in recent years, rarely if ever avoiding reporters' questions.
Whether or not his Utopian vision of AI comes to fruition, his push to put Nvidia front and centre of it all is paying off.
Quoted | "America needs to be the most aggressive in adopting AI technology of any country in the world, bar none. That's an imperative. We can't regulate our way out of this. We can't fear monger our way out of this. We can't doomer our way out of this. We have to encourage every single company and student to use AI"
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, speaking to reporters in Washington after his address at GTC
Future in focus
Are fears of an AI tech bubble ill-conceived?
• Cliched comparison |AI boom is different from dotcom bubble, says US Federal Reserve Chairman
Amazon's headquarters in the South Lake Union neighbourhood of Seattle
Amazon announced it plans to cut about 14,000 corporate roles as it reorganises its workforce to streamline operations and accelerate investment in artificial intelligence, according to an internal memo published this week. While unflinching proponents of AI maintain that the technology won't affect the labour market at all, others say the news from Amazon about redundancies, some of the largest in the company's history, indicate that AI will indeed be making a dent in the workforce.
This is a signal: First and foremost, Amazon to a degree acknowledges that it wants to use AI to make the company leaner and more efficient. Some unrelenting enthusiasts of the technology continue to claim that "AI won't take your job; someone who uses AI will take your job". But there's a precedent with the internet revolution to suggest that adage doesn't quite hold up. Also, if in fact AI can be as powerful as envisioned, it would only make sense that it would affect jobs. Those full-on proponents of AI who insist that it won't lead to at least some job losses are being extremely naive.
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Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346 Roger Hunt 285 Mohamed Salah 250 Gordon Hodgson 241 Billy Liddell 228
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors Power: 659hp Torque: 1075Nm On sale: Available for pre-order now Price: On request
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
