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Netflix true crime documentary may have used AI-generated images of a real person

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Netflix has been accused of using AI-manipulated imagery in the true crime documentary What Jennifer Did, Futurism has reported. Several photos show typical signs of AI trickery, including mangled hands, strange artifacts and more. If accurate, the report raises serious questions about the use of such images in documentaries, particularly since the person depicted is currently in prison awaiting retrial.

In one egregious image, the left hand of the documentary’s subject Jennifer Pan is particularly mangled, while another image shows a strange gap in her cheek. Netflix has yet to acknowledge the report, but the images show clear signs of manipulation and were never labeled as AI-generated.

Netflix true crime documentary may have used AI-generated images of a real personNetflix true crime documentary may have used AI-generated images of a real person

Netflix

The AI may be generating the imagery based on real photos of Pan, as PetaPixel suggested. However, the resulting output may be interpreted as being prejudicial instead of presenting the facts of the case without bias.

A Canadian court of appeal ordered Pan’s retrial because the trial judge didn’t present the jury with enough options, the CBC reported.

One critic, journalist Karen K. HO, said that the Netflix documentary is an example of the “true crime industrial complex” catering to an “all-consuming and endless” appetite for violent content. Netflix’s potential use of AI manipulated imagery as a storytelling tool may reinforce that argument.

Regulators in the US, Europe and elsewhere have enacted laws on the use of AI, but so far there appears to be no specific laws governing the use of AI images or video in documentaries or other content.

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Life Style

First pig liver transplanted into a person lasts for 10 days

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A shopkeeper holds a Bama miniature pig in a cafe offering customers relaxing access to the pet pigs in a shopping mall in Shanghai, China.

Organs from genetically modified pigs could help keep patients alive while they are awaiting a human donor.Credit: Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty

In a milestone for the transplantation of animal organs into people, a 50-year-old clinically dead man in China has become the first person to receive a liver from a pig. With consent from the man’s family, researchers stitched the organ, from a genetically engineered miniature pig, to the man’s blood vessels, where it remained for ten days. It has been surgically removed today, says Dou Kefeng, one of the surgeons who led the transplant at Xijing Hospital of the Air Force Medical University in Xi’an. “Our study has just been terminated, and the colour and texture of the pig liver [transplant] are generally normal.”

The procedure was intended to test whether genetically modified pig organs could one day be used to supply hospitals for transplants. In China alone, hundreds of thousands of people experience liver failure every year, but only around 6,000 received a liver transplant in 2022. In the past few years, surgeons in the United States have transplanted pig hearts into two living people, and transplanted hearts and kidneys to several people declared dead because they lack brain function.

The Xijing surgeons say the pig liver secreted more than 30 millilitres of bile every day, a sign that it was functioning.

Researchers who specialize in transplanting animal organs into people, known as xenotransplantation, are eager to see more details about the procedure’s safety and functional benefits, and to learn from the work.

“This is a really exciting study,” says Ping Li, a transplant researcher at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis.

Important insights

The surgery marks the first time a pig liver has been transplanted into a human. However, in January, a team led by transplant surgeon Abraham Shaked at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia connected a clinically dead person to a genetically modified pig’s liver located outside their body. The organ circulated the person’s blood for three days.

It is “heart-warming” to see researchers pursuing xenotransplantation all over the world, says Muhammad Mohiuddin, the surgeon and researcher who led the pig-heart transplants in living people. “It’s an expensive process, but it has a huge amount of potential,” says Mohiuddin, who is at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and is president of the International Xenotransplantation Association.

Luhan Yang, chief executive of Qihan Biotech in Hangzhou, China, which is developing gene-edited pigs as a source for organs, says she expects more xenotransplants in clinically dead people or — for compassionate reasons — in terminally ill people in the United States, China and Europe in the coming years.

The Chinese study will offer important insights into whether pig-liver transplants can keep people alive, even just for a few days, says David Cooper, a xenotransplant immunologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Ten days

On 10 March, the Xijing Hospital team, including Dou, Tao Kaishan and Wang Lin transplanted a pig liver weighing 700 grams into the donor, who lacked cognitive function. The surgery took roughly nine hours to perform. The donor received a daily regimen of immunosuppressive drugs, and his original liver was left in place.

The liver came from a Bama miniature pig (Sus scrofa domestica) bred by the company Clonorgan Biotechnology in Chengdu, China. It contained six genetic modifications, says Wang. These deactivated three genes for proteins found on the surface of pig cells and introduced three genes for human proteins, to prevent the donor from rejecting the pig organ.

Dou says the pig was bred in a specialized pathogen-free facility and tested negative for about a dozen pathogens, including Streptococcus suis, the type-2 strain of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and porcine cytomegalovirus. So far, he has not seen signs of an immediate form of organ rejection and the liver is producing bile. “This is encouraging,” says Cooper.

The researchers have also taken daily blood samples and liver biopsies and will assess immune response, infection risk and liver function in detail. “We’re having a pathologist evaluate if there’s acute rejection,” says Dou.

The surgery was approved by the recipient’s family and several university committees, says Wang. “It has been strictly carried out according to relevant national and international regulations.”

Temporary fix?

The researchers plan to repeat the procedure in another clinically dead person later this year — and next time they will remove the person’s existing liver.

Mohiuddin points out that although clinically dead people are a useful model for assessing the viability of xenotransplantation in living people, that usefulness is limited, because once a person’s brain ceases activity, they undergo hormonal changes. And it isn’t yet clear how long someone with no cognitive function can be maintained on a ventilator and with a donated pig organ, he says. The longest documented case was two months, which involved a pig-kidney transplant.

Shaked also questions whether surgery is necessary for pig livers to be useful to humans. Unlike the heart, which essentially functions as a pump, the liver performs many complex tasks, which makes it particularly difficult to transplant. A pig liver can carry out the liver’s detoxifying and waste-disposal role, but Shaked does not anticipate that it will be able to produce the broad array of proteins required for the human liver’s other functions.

This means that whereas heart and kidney xenotransplants have been touted as possible long-term organ replacements, liver xenotransplants are seen mainly as a short-term fix for people with liver failure. They could enable a person’s existing liver to regenerate, for example after damage caused by alcohol or drug consumption, or could buy time while waiting for a human liver donor.

As a result, Shaked and his team chose to avoid operating: they hooked up an external pig liver to the recipient using blood-carrying tubes. But Dou says his team’s goal is organ replacement. He adds that working in a person allows the researchers to collect a lot more data, including information on immunology and physiological changes.

Yang says she hopes the team will publish detailed insights about the transplantation in peer-reviewed publications, to help determine which approach is more feasible.

In the meantime, Shaked hopes to exchange notes with the Chinese team. “I’d love to hear more about what they did. It’s fantastic.”

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Blink’s new Mini 2 offers a built-in spotlight and person detection for $40

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Blink is once again attempting to challenge conventional wisdom about how good a $40 security camera can be. The Amazon-owned company is today announcing the Blink Mini 2, which crams in plenty more smart features into that relatively tiny body. Headline features include better image quality day and night, as well as a built-in LED spotlight for color night vision.

Image of a Blink Mini 2 that's comically small compared to the wooden table and vase it's on and next to.

Blink

Paired with Blink’s custom system-on-chip, the Mini 2 will also offer smart notifications and person detection. Those features will require a Blink subscription which, for $3 a month, will get you cloud recording, 60 days of video history and live streaming. You’ll also need to pony up some more to use the Mini 2 outside — $49.98 will get you the camera and the necessary weather proof power adapter.

The Blink Mini 2 is available today in the US and Canada.

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Learn how to fly drones in first person using tiny FPV drones

how to fly drones in first person

Diving into the realm of drone flying can be an exhilarating experience, especially for those just starting out. For beginners, tiny FPV drones offer an accessible and affordable way to get a taste of this hobby. These diminutive devices are not only easy on the wallet but also provide a safe and enjoyable way to fly indoors, with some even capable of capturing 4K video. They are designed to withstand the inevitable bumps and crashes that come with learning to pilot, making them a resilient choice for novices.

The appeal of these drones extends beyond their durability. They are also incredibly user-friendly, with starter kits that include everything needed to begin flying right away. As you become more comfortable and your skills develop, you can explore drones with additional features, such as GPS and LED lights, which can further enrich your flying experience. These advanced features not only improve the functionality of the drones but also add an element of visual appeal to your flights.

I remember my own first experience with an FPV drone. It was during a period of quarantine in Bali, and the drone provided a thrilling way to explore my surroundings from a new perspective. It was like experiencing flight from a bird’s eye view, all within the safety and comfort of my home. This personal encounter highlighted the benefits of miniature drones, particularly their safety due to their small size and lightweight construction. This makes them ideal for indoor use where space is limited and the potential for damage or injury needs to be minimized.

How to fly drones in first person

Check out the fantastic overview and tutorial below to learn more about how to fly drones in first person also check out the description of the video links to already available tiny FPV drones thanks to the Man From Earth team.

Here are some other articles you may find of interest on the subject of drones :

When it comes to selecting the right FPV drone, it’s important to consider your personal goals. Whether you’re interested in capturing high-quality video or you’re more excited about agility and racing, there’s a drone out there for you. For example, the Pavo P is a great choice for those looking to shoot in 4K, while the Meteor 65 Pro and Meteor 75 are excellent for indoor flying and performing aerial tricks.

For those ready to take their piloting to the next level, drones with more sophisticated features become appealing. Models like the CCK 20 and Flywoo CineRace 20 offer GPS capabilities and LED lighting, which can enhance both the functionality and the look of your drone. Adding an action camera like the Insta360 GO3 can also be a game-changer, providing stabilization and a range of recording options to document your flights with professional quality.

Another aspect to consider is the range and noise level of the drone. The Flywoo Explorer, for instance, is a long-range drone that operates quietly, making it an ideal choice for those who wish to fly without disturbing the peace. This feature is particularly attractive for pilots who appreciate serene environments or want to capture natural sounds without the interference of a noisy drone.

When you’re ready to make a purchase, it’s crucial to buy from reputable sources. Official stores offer competitive prices, authentic products, and reliable delivery services. By choosing a trustworthy retailer, you can ensure that you’re getting a high-quality drone that will serve you well as you embark on your FPV flying adventure.

Overall, tiny FPV drones present a welcoming opportunity for beginners to delve into the world of drone flying. They cater to a range of users, from those seeking a secure learning environment to more experienced pilots in search of new challenges. With a variety of models available to suit different preferences and budgets, the world of FPV drone flying is ripe for exploration. Whether you’re looking to capture stunning video or simply enjoy the thrill of flight, these compact drones are a fantastic starting point.

Image Credit : Man From Earth

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