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Bad actors have created deepfakes to imitate celebrity endorsements, President Biden and employers. But, one of the most heinous uses is making sexually explicit deepfakes of real people. Now, the UK government is taking additional steps to deter their creation, introducing new criminal offenses for producing or sharing sexually explicit deepfakes. Only sharing deepfakes is currently an offense under UK law. "With these new measures, were sending an unequivocal message: creating or sharing these vile images is not only unacceptable but criminal," said Baroness Margaret Beryl Jones, minister for the future digital economy and online safety. "Tech companies need to step up too platforms hosting this content will face tougher scrutiny and significant penalties." The new offenses will be proposed in parliament under the Governments Crime and Policing Bill. A similar measure was proposed in April 2024 by the previous UK government under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. However, it only covered cases in which a person created the deepfake to "cause alarm, humiliation or distress to the victim," creating a loophole for perpetrators to argue their case. The law never progressed as Sunak called a general election just one month later. Notably, the new measure covers only adults, as it is already illegal to create or share any sexually explicit images of children. The UK government has also announced its intention to make it a criminal offense if a person takes intimate photos or video without consent. Additional offenses would look at whether it was created without consent and to cause alarm, distress, humiliation or sexual gratification for themselves or another. A person charged with one of these actions can face up to two years in custody. The US has attempted to create helpful measures or individuals impacted by deepfakes. In 2024, the Senate passed the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act (DEFIANCE Act), which would allow victims of sexually explicit deepfakes to sue the perpetrators. It would give the individual 10 years to sue for up to $150,000 or $250,000 if it relates to attempted sexual assault, stalking or harassment. However, it's fate is unclear, having sat in limbo in the House of Representatives since last July. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-uk-law-would-criminalize-creating-sexually-explicit-deepfakes-132155132.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
If there's one certainty of 2025, it's that there will be a plethora of new AI products. One of the first out of the gate comes from Philips Hue, which has announced AI-powered smart lighting for creating just the right mood for every setting. Philips Hue is bringing an AI assistant to its Hue app that will create "personalized lighting scenes." You can instruct the assistant through text or voice commands. For instance, you might say something like, "Create a scene for a dinner party" or write "Give me a scene for a quiet night in." Philips Hue will also have a feedback feature so you can share if the ambience isn't what you requested. Philips Hue As of now, there's not an exact release date for the AI assistant, but Philips Hue states it will become available this year. It should be compatible with all of its lights. Other companies have created similar products, such as iConnectHue, which added AI-powered "magic scenes" in early 2023. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/philips-hue-adds-ai-powered-lighting-options-to-its-app-131538165.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
In 2023, Shokz strayed from its bone conduction roots with a pair of air conduction open-ear wireless earbuds. While the Shokz OpenFit delivered better audio than bone conduction models, that wasnt saying much. Their sound was still hit-or-miss, and some users had problems with their finicky touch controls. At CES 2025, the company is back with the $180 OpenFit 2, which apparently has solutions for both issues, as well as a new bone-conduction headset for office calls. The Shokz OpenFit 2 has a woofer and tweeter in each earpiece for more dynamic sound. (The first-gen model only had a single driver for each ear.) The company also improved its bass algorithm, which enhances dynamic low-frequency vibrations directly to your ear. Shokz The open-ear buds design hasnt changed dramatically from the original OpenFit: a hook still wraps around each ear with a bud resting just outside. But Shokz engineered the new models ear hook with a softer silicone (for greater comfort) and a tighter curve (for improved stability). The company says it molds to the contours of your ear for a personalized, comfortable fit. Each earpiece weighs 9.4g (0.33 oz). You can order it in black or beige. The 2023 model used touch controls, which arent always the best input solution for earbuds small surfaces. So, the new model has physical multifunction buttons in addition to touch controls, which should help prevent or minimize accidental touches. The OpenFit 2 is rated for up to 11 hours per charge (up from seven in the first-gen model) or 48 hours when factoring in the bundled charging case. They also have a better water resistance rating (IP55 vs. IP54 in the original) and Bluetooth 5.4. Shokz Shokz also has a new office headset, the OpenMeet, which seems like a redesigned spiritual successor to its OpenComm series. Like other workplace headsets, it looks a bit goofy, with its long mic stem jutting out toward the mouth area. Similar to the OpenComm, the earpiece sits in front of the ear instead of on, in or around it. But a key difference is that OpenMeets band extends over the top of the head, not behind it. The company says OpenMeet is designed to feel weightless, thanks to a five-point design that distributes its 78 g for minimal pressure. Its audio merges bone and air conduction, and the company says its (hilariously named) LeakSlayer 3.0 tech helps minimize sound leakage to help keep your calls private. OpenMeet uses a dual-mic system using Qualcomms cVc noise reduction, which Shokz claims reduces background noise by up to 98.6 percent. It has a dedicated mute button, Bluetooth 5.4 and up to 15 hours of battery life. The Shokz OpenFit 2 is available today for $180 on the company website, Amazon and retail partners (including Best Buy and Target). Meanwhile, the OpenMeet headset is sold through the companys business website. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/the-shokz-openfit-2-promises-better-sound-and-longer-battery-life-130016786.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
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