Meta on Friday provided a look at a generative artificial intelligence model it is working on that lets people create short videos, complete with audio, from text prompts and photos.

The tech titan touted “Meta Movie Gen” as a “breakthrough” when it comes to using an AI engine to crank out video and audio.

Meta said it will get feedback from filmmakers and creators as it eases toward making the video-generating AI engine publicly available.

No release plans for Movie Gen were disclosed.

“While there are many exciting use cases for these foundation models, it’s important to note that generative AI isn’t a replacement for the work of artists and animators,” Meta said in a post.

The model lets people use text prompts to create custom videos, including clips based on people’s photos, of up to 16 seconds long, according to Meta.

“Our model achieves state-of-the-art results when it comes to creating personalized videos that preserve human identity and motion,” Meta said.

“Imagine animating a ‘day in the life’ video to share on Reels and editing it using text prompts or creating a customized animated birthday greeting for a friend and sending it to them on WhatsApp.”

Movie Gen is the third wave of AI-powered video generation at Meta, according to the company.

The rise of AI-powered tools for creating realistic videos has prompted worries about “deepfakes” that pirate people’s likenesses.

Satellite internet provider Starlink has revealed an increase in its monthly subscription fees.

In a communication sent to customers on Tuesday, the company stated that the rate increase will impact both existing and prospective users.

The standard residential plan will now be priced at ₦75,000, while the mobile regional (roam unlimited) package will cost ₦167,000, and the mobile global (global roam) package will be priced at ₦717,000.

According to the announcement, the new rates will take effect immediately for new customers and will begin on October 31, 2024, for current users.

ICYMI: Meta bets big on celebrity AI voices and augmented reality glasses

The organization linked the increase to “excessive levels of inflation,” which has required modifying service charges to reflect current economic conditions.

“Your monthly service price will increase in one month, starting from 31 October 2024. For new customers, the price increase takes effect immediately,” the message read.

The company added that customers who no longer wish to continue with the service can cancel at any time without any penalties.

YouTube beefed up tools for creators on Wednesday as it competes with streaming rivals such as Netflix on the biggest screen in most homes: the television.

The Alphabet-owned video-sharing platform popular on computers, tablets and smartphones has been gaining audiences on televisions as “smart” TVs linked to the internet have become common.

YouTube’s subscription streaming service has also been gaining traction, offering live broadcasting on more than 100 channels, in partnership with existing networks.

“It’s the fastest-growing screen,” YouTube chief Neal Mohan said of televisions at a presentation to content creators in New York. “So, it is a very large surface for all of our creators.”

The new tools include ways to optimize content for display on large screens and offer the content in formats more akin to the TV norm of episodes and seasons.

People worldwide watch more than a billion hours of YouTube video daily on home televisions, Mohan added.

The number of creators who make their livings from YouTube has climbed about 30 percent during the past year, according to the company.

Streaming made “TV history” in July, accounting for 41.4 percent of total television viewing time in the United States, according to Nielsen.

YouTube became the first streaming platform to top a 10-percent share of that TV viewing time, with Netflix second at 8.4 percent, according to Nielsen.

To build on its momentum, YouTube will begin offering a “cinematic” version of creator videos, which will be optimized for viewing on TVs.

YouTube also announced it will enable creators to organize content into episodes or seasons, a move designed to be more familiar to TV audiences.

Televisions let YouTube take advantage of the “binge-watching” phenomenon born of the on-demand content era, allowing viewers to devour episodes in rapid succession for long periods.

TV is also a more traditional way of viewing than smartphones, especially for older audiences accustomed to settling in to watch in their living rooms.

“It’s clear that our living room presence is growing across multiple demographics and ages,” YouTube product management director Thomas Kim said at a roundtable discussion with journalists.

Kim noted that he had heard from creators eager to make more TV-style shows for their audiences.

“We have seen some really great examples of creators who have made episodic content and have been very successful,” Kim said.

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company is thrilled to unveil its inaugural electric vehicle made domestically.

Cornel Osigwe, the Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at IVM, took to Facebook to celebrate this landmark moment, emphasizing its importance for Nigeria’s automotive sector.

Isigwe stated that the electric vehicle was produced at IVM’s cutting-edge facility in Nnewi, Anambra State, representing a major milestone for the nation’s automotive industry.

He said, “I just test-drove the first Innoson vehicle Electric vehicle produced in Nnewi. We are just starting.”

Osigwe noted that this is IVM’s first venture into electric vehicle manufacturing, though specifics about pricing, production numbers, and the commercial release schedule were not provided.

Nevertheless, he asserted that the first batch of IVM electric vehicles has already been completely sold out.

Osigwe revealed that since posting the vídeo “We have received hundreds of calls and upfront payment from interested clients who want to be the first set to drive the Innoson Electric Vehicle. My inbox was filled with enquiries on the prices.

“The initial limited quantity is now entirely sold out.”

Electric vehicles are crucial for cutting down carbon emissions from road transportation, which contributes to more than 15% of global energy-related emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The electric vehicle market has seen significant expansion in recent years due to improvements in range, variety, and performance.

By 2023, electric passenger cars account for roughly 18% of new car sales, highlighting their growing appeal and the global move towards sustainable transportation solutions.

Babcock University in Ilisan Remo, on Friday, introduced the first comprehensive and functional statistical data analysis software called VSP (ValueStats Statistical Package), developed by the university’s Professor of Accounting and programmer, Prof. Enyi Patrick Enyi.

The institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo, expressed his overwhelming excitement about this groundbreaking achievement, calling the unveiling of Africa’s first homegrown statistical package a source of immense pride and a significant milestone for the continent.

Tayo made these remarks during the historic event where the software was unveiled, alongside the launch of a book titled Financial Modeling, authored by the same Professor of Accounting. The ceremony took place at the Babcock Business School Auditorium.

Represented by former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sunday Owolabi, the Vice-Chancellor also mentioned that this locally-developed statistical package would help the country save an enormous $1 billion annually.

He said, “This is no doubt a historical event, a great moment of pride for Africans because this kind of product is the first on this continent.

“The VSP statistical package is special and peculiar in its own way. All the ones we had been using before Prof Enyi Patrick Enyi came up with this innovation are foreign, imported from China, Japan, and India among others but this VSP statistical package is produced in Nigeria and it’s far better.

“There are several modules that this statistical package contained which are not in those foreign ones. And using this accounting statistical package invented by this great scholar will save Nigerians at least $1bn because the users will be buying these packages in naira which is the equivalent of $40 and so it will help ease a lot of pressure on our forex.

“People should use this package, the students, lecturers, they can even go to the YouTube to learn more about the package and they should give us feedback to know what else to add in the next version.”

The Vice-Chancellor praised Enyi as an exceptional academic and respected educator, encouraging him to stay committed to his mission of making a positive impact on the world.

The President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Davidson Alaribe, who served as the special guest of honour at the event, praised Enyi for positioning both the institute and the accounting profession on another global stage for excellence and innovation.

Alaribe, represented by Prof. Godwin Oyedokun from Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, commended Enyi for his academic achievements, noting that the institute will not only offer its support but also continue collaborating with those advancing excellence in the accounting field.

During his speech at the event, Enyi explained that the drive to develop an accounting statistical package tailored to Nigeria’s unique environment and African practices was his main source of inspiration.

“This is the first time an African is producing a statistical package. Those we were using before like SPSS from America, EV from India, and Stata too from India, we have R among others but none ever developed in Africa.

“And we are doing this to make a difference, as an academic I have always been researching and most of my research is African but many times some of these foreign packages won’t give me the result that I want, so I began to think of that statistical package that will take our peculiarities into consideration
“In those other packages you have to learn how to code them to use them but this is our own, VSP has been made to be user-friendly. We have made it menu-driven such that the menu can suggest what you want to do and you pick it up and do whatever you want to do.

“For instance after doing your analysis in the VSP, it will automatically produce your graphs for you but in others like SPSS, EV or Stata, you will have to select the graph that you want.

“It took me two years to get the software developed…and talking about cost, an average SPSS which I was using before coming up with this innovation cost me about $280 then which must be renewed annually but this one is $40 which is about N60000 and you will continue to use this until maybe we develop another version. We shall be saving our country millions of dollars with this newly developed statistical package”, he mentioned.

Enyi stated that this achievement demonstrates that with sincere and united efforts, Africans possess the ability to address their socio-economic issues.

In a surprising turn of events, Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France today. The arrest took place in Paris, where Durov was reportedly attending a tech conference.

Details of the Arrest

According to sources close to the situation, French authorities detained Durov under suspicion of violating European Union data privacy regulations. The exact charges have not been disclosed, but it is believed they are related to Telegram’s alleged non-compliance with certain EU privacy laws. Durov, a staunch advocate for user privacy and free speech, has been vocal in his criticism of governmental overreach in digital communications.

The French police have yet to issue an official statement, but insiders suggest that the arrest may be linked to an ongoing investigation into Telegram’s operations in the European Union. The messaging platform, known for its end-to-end encryption and commitment to user privacy, has often been at odds with governments worldwide over its refusal to provide access to user data.

Background on Durov and Telegram

Pavel Durov, often referred to as the “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia,” founded Telegram in 2013 after being ousted from his previous social media company, VKontakte (VK). Telegram quickly gained popularity due to its strong encryption and user-friendly interface, boasting over 700 million active users globally as of 2024.

Durov, a Russian native, has been living in exile for several years due to his disagreements with the Russian government over issues of censorship and freedom of speech. His commitment to maintaining Telegram as a platform free from government surveillance has made him both a celebrated and controversial figure in the tech world.

International Reactions

The arrest has sparked immediate reactions across the globe, particularly within the tech community. Many have expressed concern over the implications this arrest could have on digital privacy rights and the future of encrypted communications.

“The arrest of Pavel Durov is a troubling development for anyone who values privacy and freedom of expression,” said Edward Snowden, a well-known whistleblower and advocate for digital rights. “This could set a dangerous precedent for the future of secure communications.”

What’s Next?

Durov’s legal team is expected to file for his release while preparing to contest any charges brought against him. It remains unclear how this situation will impact Telegram’s operations, especially within the European Union, where data privacy regulations are among the strictest in the world.

As this story develops, the international community will be closely watching how the situation unfolds, particularly in the context of ongoing debates about the balance between security, privacy, and government surveillance.