News Companion

Day: May 21, 2024

‘The Smashing Machine’ First Look: Dwayne Johnson Transforms into MMA Icon Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s A24 Drama

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The Smashing Machine

Dwayne Johnson is nearly unrecognizable in the first look at his upcoming A24 drama, “The Smashing Machine,” directed by Benny Safdie. Johnson stars alongside his “Jungle Cruise” co-star Emily Blunt. In the film, Johnson plays legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who battled addiction and marital issues while becoming a sports icon. Blunt plays Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples. The film is currently in production.

In the first look, Johnson is typically muscular as Kerr but also appears to wear facial prosthetics to better resemble the MMA legend. Kerr was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and World Vale Tudo Championship winner, earning over two dozen MMA titles during his career.

“The Smashing Machine” is Safdie’s solo feature directorial debut. He previously collaborated with his brother Josh on A24 hits like “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems.” Safdie acted with Blunt in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Johnson and Safdie first connected on this project in 2019 but paused production due to the pandemic. Years later, Blunt, after watching the 2002 documentary “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr,” urged Johnson to revive the project.

Johnson previously told Variety that he was drawn to “The Smashing Machine” because of Safdie’s commitment to creating raw, real stories with authentic, sometimes uncomfortable characters. Johnson said, “I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself and make films that matter, exploring humanity, struggle, and pain.”

The film is produced by Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, Safdie’s Out for the Count banner, Eli Bush, and David Koplan.

A24 has not yet announced a release date for “The Smashing Machine.”

German Carmaker Audi to Launch Three New Electric Vehicles in China, Starting Next Year

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German Carmaker Audi to Launch Three New Electric Vehicles in China, Starting Next Year

Audi is set to release three new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in China, with the first arriving next year. Currently, Audi sells the MEB-based Q4 e-tron and Q5 e-tron in the country. By using a joint platform, Audi aims to reduce its time-to-market by over 30%.

Audi has partnered with SAIC to develop a new China-specific architecture called the ‘Advanced Digitized Platform’ for its next generation of electric vehicles. This collaboration, which began last year, is part of Audi’s strategy to grow in the world’s largest car market. The partnership will initially produce three new BEVs in the B and C segments, helping Audi speed up its time-to-market by more than 30%. The first BEV from this partnership will be launched next year.

“Audi CEO Gernot Döllner stated, ‘This deepened cooperation is a significant milestone in Audi’s China strategy and further strengthens our local partnership with SAIC. Our goal is clear: to merge the strengths of both companies to benefit our Chinese customers, offering Audi’s premium experience alongside SAIC’s rapid innovation in China.

‘Through this partnership, we will accelerate our local electrification strategy and deliver smart BEV products tailored to Chinese customers. Audi’s distinctive aesthetics and engineering, combined with SAIC’s innovation speed, will provide Chinese customers with intuitive and smart digital premium experiences, including automated driving features.’”

Audi will continue to sell its existing range of vehicles in China alongside those developed with SAIC.

Fermin Soneira from Audi has been appointed chief executive of the joint project. With over 25 years of experience within the Volkswagen Group, he previously served as the head of Product Line for Electric Models from the A to C Segment at Audi.

When the first models using the new Advanced Digitized Platform are launched, Audi will offer BEVs in China based on three distinct architectures. The current Q4 e-tron and Q5 e-tron are built on the MEB platform, and Audi will also introduce a BEV in China with FAW based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture.

imec Leads European Labs in Receiving $2.7 Billion Funding from Chips Act

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imec Leads European Labs in Receiving $2.7 Billion Funding from Chips Act

In Belgium, imec announced that leading European research labs will receive €2.5 billion ($2.72 billion) to establish a pilot line for developing and testing advanced computer chips. This funding is part of the European Chips Act, a €43 billion initiative aimed at supporting European chipmaking in response to global efforts by China, the U.S., and others to bolster their own industries after COVID-related shortages.

The pilot line, hosted by imec in Leuven, will focus on sub-2 nanometre chips, providing access to chip manufacturing technology for European industry, academics, and start-ups. This initiative aims to overcome the high costs associated with chip development and testing, which can reach up to €20 billion for commercial plants.

Key chipmakers like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung are already launching 2 nanometre chips, and the European R&D line seeks to develop even more advanced generations of chips. It will be equipped with technology from both European and global equipment and materials firms.

imec CEO Luc Van den Hove explained that the investment will lead to increased production and faster learning, speeding up our innovation efforts. This will not only strengthen Europe’s chip industry but also boost economic growth. The NanoIC pilot line will have positive impacts on industries like automotive, telecommunications, and healthcare.

Funding for this initiative comes from several EU programs, Belgium’s Flanders government, and industry players like ASML. Additionally, other research laboratories from across Europe, including CEA-Leti, Fraunhofer, VTT, CSSNT, and the Tyndall Institute, are participating in the project.

While the EU plan provides substantial aid, most of it comes from member states. So far, only STMicroelectronics has received approval for €2.9 billion in aid from France for a plant in Crolles. Intel and TSMC are awaiting EU approval for funding from the German state to build plants in Magdeburg and Dresden later this year.

Temasek Invests in Alpha Intelligence Capital’s New $250 Million AI Tech Fund

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Temasek Invests in Alpha Intelligence Capital’s New $250 Million AI Tech Fund

Alpha Intelligence Capital (AIC), an investor in AI companies like OpenAI, is raising a $250 million fund, with backing from government entities in France and Singapore.

AIC has already secured $160 million for its second fund and aims to complete fundraising by September, according to partners Arnaud Barthelemy and Terry Chou. France’s Bpifrance, Taiwan’s CDIB Capital Group, and a Singapore state-run fund are among the contributors.

The new fund is operational and has made early investments in ChatGPT creator OpenAI and computing architecture startup FlexAI. Based in Luxembourg, AIC is betting on the continued rapid adoption of AI globally, driven by popular services like ChatGPT.

Temasek Holdings, Singapore’s state-owned fund, is reportedly an investor, although AIC’s partners did not confirm this, and Temasek declined to comment. AIC is also in talks with two other sovereign investors and a global backer to finalize the fund.

AIC’s previous investments include Chinese AI developer SenseTime Group, which it has mostly exited. The first fund also backed AI startups that were later acquired by Apple, IBM, and BioNTech, Chou said, who is based in AIC’s Asia headquarters in Singapore.

Venture capital firms are raising billions globally to support technologies like generative AI, which powers chatbots such as ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot. These investors anticipate that AI tools will revolutionize traditional business practices and address technology challenges.

However, Barthelemy noted that rising interest in AI can lead to inflated valuations for startups without clear monetization strategies.

“Our investors are confident that AI will greatly influence their businesses across all sectors, and this is only the beginning,” Barthelemy said. “They rely on our expertise to navigate the AI hype.”

Chou added that the fund will target companies across the AI value chain, including hardware startups, with a focus on applications in cybersecurity and gaming, and will invest globally, excluding China.

Microsoft’s New AI-Powered Copilot+PCs: Faster Than Apple’s MacBook Air M3 and Packed with Innovative Features

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Microsofts Microsoft's New AI-Powered Copilot+PCs: Faster Than Apple’s MacBook Air M3 and Packed with Innovative Features

Microsoft’s new Copilot+PC line helps users find files or emails using text prompts and generate live English captions for foreign language videos. These computers, powered by Qualcomm chips, are 58% faster than Apple’s top MacBook Air M3, according to Microsoft.

At an event in Redmond, Washington, CEO Satya Nadella unveiled new AI-infused software and computers, aiming to outpace Google’s and Apple’s AI advancements. The Copilot+PCs, from Microsoft’s Surface line and partners, feature dedicated AI processing chips and start at $1,000.

Microsoft also announced that an updated version of OpenAI’s GPT-4, called GPT-4o, which excels at handling text, audio, and images in real time, will soon enhance the Copilot AI assistant.

A new Recall feature helps users locate browser tabs, files, emails, or chats using conversational prompts. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s consumer chief marketing officer, likened it to “photographic memory.”

Microsoft is showcasing how generative AI can revolutionize computing for everyday users, not just corporate customers. Despite early AI integration in Bing, Nadella has been eager to launch more compelling consumer products, leading to the hiring of DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to head consumer AI efforts.

Nadella stated, “The pursuit has always been about how to build computers that understand us, instead of us having to understand computers. I feel like we really are close to that real breakthrough.”

Windows’ live captions feature can translate video content into English from 40 languages in real-time, working with any conferencing or entertainment apps. Additionally, a new AI co-creator program uses machine learning to transform basic sketches into complex images.

The Recall feature uses multiple language models in Windows and allows users to set certain content as private. These features are part of the Windows Copilot Runtime, comprising over 40 AI models for text, visual, audio, and analysis tasks.

Microsoft also announced support for a new PC initiative with Intel and AMD, though the new computers feature Qualcomm chips, aligning with Qualcomm’s belief that their mobile phone technology is well-suited for the next generation of AI-driven machines.