Hong Kong star Lawrence Ng sells image rights for AI film, gets paid without having to act

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See the contrast with the post HERE

See HERE too.

Note rebuttal regarding AI taking away vs preserving jobs for actors/ fashion models.....

artificial intelligence was used to digitally recreate his appearance as a 20-year-old for an upcoming movie. They used what I looked like at 20 to make a movie. I didn’t have to film anything

the project not only allowed him to experience being a leading man again, but also came with a handsome payout.

In the future, I can sit down without filming anything and still get the job done. Even if I break my legs, I won’t have to worry

has no concerns about his likeness being misused by the production company, as the agreement is supported by a comprehensive contract

Qn: To what extent is artificial intelligence replacing the role of humans? (Cam. 2019)

Chinese actor Xu Peng now sells vegetables at market after AI dries up acting jobs

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Qn: To what extent is artificial intelligence replacing the role of humans? (Cam. 2019)

Gen Zs less hardy than their parents, regional survey finds

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No wonder older folks often describe this group of youngsters as the strawberry generation because they are emotionally sensitive and “bruise easily” when faced with stress or pressure.

Gen Zs place less importance on money matters, especially when it comes to traditions and social norms.

For instance, 63 per cent of older folks would frown upon adults who do not support their elderly parents and would describe such people as “ungrateful”. But almost the same proportion of Gen Zs (61 per cent) would think that it is not compulsory for children to support their parents since they have their own financial obligations to bear.

Gen Zs think that success in life need not be related to money, but about half of those in the older age groups still believe that wealth is important in determining a person’s worth.

some young people in Asian communities have the unhealthy habit of not working because they prefer to live off their parents......these kids think this way because their parents plan for them, including buying properties for them.

it is definitely not fair to pan the whole group of Gen Zs as “strawberries”, because those who are less resilient are probably so due to their overcaring parents.

For issues related to youth.....

Comparison may be the thief of joy, but you can steal it back

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Is AI an exoskeleton for the mind?

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Qn: To what extent has technology had a negative impact on the skill levels of people? (Cam. 2010)

This doctor can change the colour of your eyes. Should he?

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For issues on the ethical limits of science and technology.....consider the use of science/tech for curing cancer vs for satisfying our vanity. Does it warrant the costs and risks involved?

A 10-minute walk from the MRT. But for whom?

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Qn: Does your society have what it takes to care for the elderly? (HC Prelim 2024)

2 websites linked to digital news portal The Online Citizen required to comply with POFMA sanctions

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Members of the public are strongly advised to be mindful of TOC’s history of communicating falsehoods, including on its affiliated sites, and to fact-check information published on the DOLs affiliated with TOC against official sources.

both TOC-linked sites had two correction directions imposed on them.

One was linked to a report on the reappointment of Attorney-General Lucien Wong. The other was over a report about the Government’s response to two Singaporeans who allegedly served in the Israel Defence Forces in the Gaza conflict.

Qn: 'The news can no longer be trusted today.' Do you agree?

The Craziest Reactions to Early World Cup Exits

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Qn: ' Winning is everything.' Discuss.

More South Korean men than ever are full-time homemakers

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Many older South Koreans have held rigid views about the different roles of men and women, as reflected in the significant gender gap in employment.

South Korea has historically held negative views towards men doing housework, reflected in sayings such as “men should not set foot in the kitchen”

Traditional South Korean homes until the early 20th century also commonly had separate spaces based on gender roles, with men welcoming guests and preparing for work in the “sarangbang” or guest room, while women took care of housework in the “anbang” or inner room.

For tradition and gender equality issues....

A mayor is taking maternity leave in Japan. Some men are furious

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For gender issues....

LC Nursing Home licence to be revoked following ‘serious and systemic lapses’: MOH

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inadequate clinical and nursing care, failure to provide adequate basic care to residents, inadequate infection prevention and control practices, and failure to ensure a safe environment

Qn: Should children look after their aged parents or send them to an old folks’ home? 

Pentagon sees broader role for AI in setting military targets

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envision “systems where AI initiates actions with human monitoring”, evolving from what it describes as the current practice of having “‘human in the loop’ systems, in which a human initiates actions”

the Pentagon announced it would field advanced, AI-enabled tools to “compress the time it takes to turn intelligence into informed options for commanders around the world”

requires autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems to undergo reviews to ensure they are designed to allow commanders and operators to exercise “appropriate levels of human judgment over the use of force”

Anthropic, which provides its AI tools to the Pentagon’s classified networks, including for use in Iran operations, fell out with the agency over the company’s insistence that the technology is not yet reliable enough for what chief executive Dario Amodei described as “fully autonomous weapons” and that humans should make the final decision to use force.

Qn: To what extent is technological advancement in warfare a cause for concern today? (HCI Prelim 2025)

AI can speed up defence decisions, but humans must be in control: Chan Chun Sing

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Cautioning against an overreliance on the technology, he said keeping people involved is necessary to prevent a “dereliction of duty... to an algorithm that you do not understand”.

Women are also playing a larger role in national defence, and now form more than 10 per cent of regulars in the armed forces.

the SAF was also among the first militaries to operate drones that did not need complicated controls, having been adapted from a PlayStation gaming controller. The idea to do so came from polytechnic pre-enlistees.

Qn: To what extent is technological advancement in warfare a cause for concern today? (HCI Prelim 2025)

Japan’s creative fight to keep bookstores from turning their last page

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Note the very interesting -- albeit a bit vulgar -- anecdote in the opening BANG!

The demise of bookstores in Japan is a familiar tragedy driven by e-commerce, lower demand for print publications and a sharp decline in reading habits.

An Agency for Cultural Affairs survey in 2024 found that 62.6 per cent of Japanese citizens do not read a single book a month.

Qns:

1. The book has no place in modern society. Discuss. (Cam. 2010)

2. 'We are what we read.' Do you agree?