Friday, 6 December 2024
Theatre Vandalised By Fans Demanding 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' Screening
Social Media Users Blast Spotify For Leaning Into AI For 2024 'Wrapped' https://ift.tt/czjyXLQ Spotify dropped its highly-anticipated, yearly 'Wrapped' on Wednesday (Dec 4) but the listeners have been left disappointed at what turned out to be a 'bland' and 'disappointing' effort from the streaming giant. This year's Spotify Wrapped did not provide listeners with their top music genres, or their top albums. Instead, an odd surprise, termed "wrapped AI podcast" was served which used Google's NotebookLM technology to verbally recap users' listening habits. The bizarre addition featured artificial intelligence (AI) voices elaborating on the data points mentioned in the Wrapped. The users have since taken to social media to lash out at Spotify for heavily leaning into AI and creating something that did not feel like Wrapped of the previous years. "Spotify wrapped is so underwhelming and reeks of AI…there seems to be real lack of effort this year from the boring visuals to the missing genres and quirks," said one user, while another added: "Hi I'm just here to remind you all that AI is going to ruin the world and spotify wrapped is the perfect dramatic example of that." A third added: "So apparently spotify fired a lot of workers and used AI to create this year's Wrapped, no wonder it suck." spotify wrapped is underwhelming and reeks of ai… there seems to be real lack of effort this year from the boring visuals to the missing genres and quirks — ali (@twigsalterego) December 4, 2024 spotify wrapped is underwhelming and reeks of ai… there seems to be real lack of effort this year from the boring visuals to the missing genres and quirks — ali (@twigsalterego) December 4, 2024 hi i'm just here to remind you all that AI is going to ruin the world and spotify wrapped is the perfect dramatic example of that. AI cannot replace creative individuals. — bre (@relaxitsbre) December 6, 2024 Last year, Spotify gave listeners their own custom “Sound Town,” matching their music tastes to real-world locations, which received widespread acclaim. However, this year, users were given a "music Evolution" list that details a selection of bizarrely titled musical micro-genres. From "Coastal Grandmother Fingerstyle Yacht Rock" to "Boujee Football Rap" to "Pink Pilates Princess Roller Skating Pop" - the listeners were left confused as to what the descriptions meant. What the hell is this pic.twitter.com/SAKOYVEhiH — j aubrey ? (@jaubreyYT) December 4, 2024 yeah no for sure pic.twitter.com/jgAXZXoKoQ — kurtis conner (@kurtisconner) December 4, 2024 While it is not clear if AI was involved in the use of Wrapped, Spotify in a statement said this year's year-ender was intended to make it "more about the users" with the "AI experiences". "Through the combination of Spotify's powerful personalization technology and generative AI, we've created hyper-personalized Wrapped experiences that connect millions of listeners worldwide with the music and audio they love," Spotify said. Also Read | 'Dead', 'Bye Bye Bye': Israel's Joke 'Spotify Wrapped' List Sparks Row What is Spotify Wrapped? Spotify Wrapped is a viral marketing campaign by the Swedish company, released annually since 2016 at the end of November or the start of December. It allows users to view a compilation of their listening activity that typically includes five top songs, singers they listened to the most and musical genres that resonated with them. A colourful pictorial representation of the data across various slides is presented which the users can later post on social media. https://ift.tt/CqyGF2j December 06, 2024 at 07:58AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com
Spotify dropped its highly-anticipated, yearly 'Wrapped' on Wednesday (Dec 4) but the listeners have been left disappointed at what turned out to be a 'bland' and 'disappointing' effort from the streaming giant. This year's Spotify Wrapped did not provide listeners with their top music genres, or their top albums. Instead, an odd surprise, termed "wrapped AI podcast" was served which used Google's NotebookLM technology to verbally recap users' listening habits. The bizarre addition featured artificial intelligence (AI) voices elaborating on the data points mentioned in the Wrapped.
The users have since taken to social media to lash out at Spotify for heavily leaning into AI and creating something that did not feel like Wrapped of the previous years.
"Spotify wrapped is so underwhelming and reeks of AI…there seems to be real lack of effort this year from the boring visuals to the missing genres and quirks," said one user, while another added: "Hi I'm just here to remind you all that AI is going to ruin the world and spotify wrapped is the perfect dramatic example of that."
A third added: "So apparently spotify fired a lot of workers and used AI to create this year's Wrapped, no wonder it suck."
spotify wrapped is underwhelming and reeks of ai… there seems to be real lack of effort this year from the boring visuals to the missing genres and quirks
— ali (@twigsalterego) December 4, 2024
spotify wrapped is underwhelming and reeks of ai… there seems to be real lack of effort this year from the boring visuals to the missing genres and quirks
— ali (@twigsalterego) December 4, 2024
hi i'm just here to remind you all that AI is going to ruin the world and spotify wrapped is the perfect dramatic example of that. AI cannot replace creative individuals.
— bre (@relaxitsbre) December 6, 2024
Last year, Spotify gave listeners their own custom “Sound Town,” matching their music tastes to real-world locations, which received widespread acclaim. However, this year, users were given a "music Evolution" list that details a selection of bizarrely titled musical micro-genres. From "Coastal Grandmother Fingerstyle Yacht Rock" to "Boujee Football Rap" to "Pink Pilates Princess Roller Skating Pop" - the listeners were left confused as to what the descriptions meant.
What the hell is this pic.twitter.com/SAKOYVEhiH
— j aubrey ? (@jaubreyYT) December 4, 2024
yeah no for sure pic.twitter.com/jgAXZXoKoQ
— kurtis conner (@kurtisconner) December 4, 2024
While it is not clear if AI was involved in the use of Wrapped, Spotify in a statement said this year's year-ender was intended to make it "more about the users" with the "AI experiences".
"Through the combination of Spotify's powerful personalization technology and generative AI, we've created hyper-personalized Wrapped experiences that connect millions of listeners worldwide with the music and audio they love," Spotify said.
Also Read | 'Dead', 'Bye Bye Bye': Israel's Joke 'Spotify Wrapped' List Sparks Row
What is Spotify Wrapped?
Spotify Wrapped is a viral marketing campaign by the Swedish company, released annually since 2016 at the end of November or the start of December. It allows users to view a compilation of their listening activity that typically includes five top songs, singers they listened to the most and musical genres that resonated with them.
A colourful pictorial representation of the data across various slides is presented which the users can later post on social media.
https://ift.tt/CqyGF2j December 06, 2024 at 07:58AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.comThursday, 5 December 2024
Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule Takes North America By Storm, Over 2.5 Million Tickets Sold Pre-Release
Mumbai: Man Breaches High-Security Set Of Salman Khan, Reportedly Linked To Bishnoi Gang
Wednesday, 4 December 2024
Priyanka Chopra Wraps 'Citadel Season 2,' Shares Adorable BTS Glimpses And Holiday Cheer
Watch: 'Mirchi Ka Halwa' Steals The Show At Wedding, Leaves Guests Confused https://ift.tt/1hrZ63c Wedding season has arrived, and the internet is flooded with jaw-dropping celebrations worldwide. In India, where weddings are synonymous with lavish feasts, one wedding has taken the internet by storm with its audacious dessert: Mirchi ka halwa. This unconventional sweet dish has divided the internet. While some are intrigued by the bold flavour combination, others are outright baffled. The video of this dessert has gone viral, with viewers expressing shock, amusement, and even disbelief. In a viral video shared by Instagram user @bala.dagar__malik.7127, a woman expresses her astonishment at this unique dessert. "I've had plenty of sweets, but this is the first time I've heard of mirchi ka halwa," she says. The video zooms in on the dish, showing green chillies coated in silver foil, as a server continuously stirs the halwa. When the woman asks others nearby if they've ever encountered such a dish, they unanimously reply that they haven't. The post has amassed 10 lakh views and over 14,000 likes, sparking a wave of curiosity and debate. While some viewers applauded the creativity, others were baffled by the idea of turning chillies into a dessert. See the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bala Malik (@bala.dagar__malik.7127) A user commented, "If we wanted green chillies, we would have gone for pakoras." Another user wrote, "I have tried this halwa in 2020, it's unmatchable." Despite the initial surprise, mirchi ka halwa is a genuine dish with a rich history. It's made by combining grated green chilies with ghee, mawa, sugar, and dry fruits. https://ift.tt/EmutzTp December 04, 2024 at 08:26AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com
Wedding season has arrived, and the internet is flooded with jaw-dropping celebrations worldwide. In India, where weddings are synonymous with lavish feasts, one wedding has taken the internet by storm with its audacious dessert: Mirchi ka halwa.
This unconventional sweet dish has divided the internet. While some are intrigued by the bold flavour combination, others are outright baffled. The video of this dessert has gone viral, with viewers expressing shock, amusement, and even disbelief.
In a viral video shared by Instagram user @bala.dagar__malik.7127, a woman expresses her astonishment at this unique dessert. "I've had plenty of sweets, but this is the first time I've heard of mirchi ka halwa," she says. The video zooms in on the dish, showing green chillies coated in silver foil, as a server continuously stirs the halwa. When the woman asks others nearby if they've ever encountered such a dish, they unanimously reply that they haven't.
The post has amassed 10 lakh views and over 14,000 likes, sparking a wave of curiosity and debate. While some viewers applauded the creativity, others were baffled by the idea of turning chillies into a dessert.
See the video here:
A user commented, "If we wanted green chillies, we would have gone for pakoras."
Another user wrote, "I have tried this halwa in 2020, it's unmatchable."
Despite the initial surprise, mirchi ka halwa is a genuine dish with a rich history. It's made by combining grated green chilies with ghee, mawa, sugar, and dry fruits.
Tuesday, 3 December 2024
Babil Khan Expresses Heartfelt Gratitude On 2nd Anniversary Of Debut Film Qala
Brain Rot Is Oxford's 2024 Word Of The Year. Here's What It Means https://ift.tt/PrWhaJT Oxford University Press has declared 'brain rot' as the word of the year for 2024, summing up widespread concerns over mindless social media habits and the consumption of low-value content. More than 37,000 people participated in the public vote, choosing from a shortlist of six contenders shared by the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary. What is 'brain rot'? 'Brain rot' is defined as "the supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging." According to a report in The Guardian, Oxford University Press noted that the term gained traction throughout 2024 and became synonymous with worries about the impact of excessive engagement with low-quality online content, especially on social media platforms. Though it has gained new relevance in recent years, the phrase can be traced back to Henry David Thoreau's 1854 book, Walden. The expression has now come to represent a cultural critique, highlighting how today's society uses its free time in an age dominated by digital spaces. "Brain rot speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time. It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology. It's not surprising that so many voters embraced the term, endorsing it as our choice this year," Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. Grathwohl also observed an interesting demographic shift. He said, "I also find it fascinating that the word brain rot has been adopted by gen Z and gen Alpha, those communities largely responsible for the use and creation of the digital content the term refers to." The shortlist included other contenders, such as 'demure,' popularised by a social media movement that celebrated reserved behaviour during the summer, 'dynamic pricing,' which refers to the fluctuation of prices based on demand, 'lore,' signifying background information associated with people or topics, 'romantasy,' a genre that blends romance and fantasy, and 'slop,' a term for low-quality, AI-generated online content. Oxford University Press factored in public input, social commentary, and analysis before the announcement was made on December 1. Meanwhile, Cambridge Dictionary named 'manifest' as its word of the year for 2024. The term relates to a wellness practice where individuals imagine achieving their goals to make them more attainable. This word has been searched over 130,000 times on the Cambridge Dictionary website. Social media-driven trends were also reflected in other dictionary awards. Dictionary.com chose 'demure,' tied to a TikTok trend that encouraged people to act with more reservation, while Collins Dictionary selected 'brat' after Charli XCX's album of the same name gained popularity over the summer. https://ift.tt/ObPFZ10 December 02, 2024 at 10:22AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com
Oxford University Press has declared 'brain rot' as the word of the year for 2024, summing up widespread concerns over mindless social media habits and the consumption of low-value content. More than 37,000 people participated in the public vote, choosing from a shortlist of six contenders shared by the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary.
What is 'brain rot'?
'Brain rot' is defined as "the supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging."
According to a report in The Guardian, Oxford University Press noted that the term gained traction throughout 2024 and became synonymous with worries about the impact of excessive engagement with low-quality online content, especially on social media platforms.
Though it has gained new relevance in recent years, the phrase can be traced back to Henry David Thoreau's 1854 book, Walden. The expression has now come to represent a cultural critique, highlighting how today's society uses its free time in an age dominated by digital spaces.
"Brain rot speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time. It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology. It's not surprising that so many voters embraced the term, endorsing it as our choice this year," Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
Grathwohl also observed an interesting demographic shift. He said, "I also find it fascinating that the word brain rot has been adopted by gen Z and gen Alpha, those communities largely responsible for the use and creation of the digital content the term refers to."
The shortlist included other contenders, such as 'demure,' popularised by a social media movement that celebrated reserved behaviour during the summer, 'dynamic pricing,' which refers to the fluctuation of prices based on demand, 'lore,' signifying background information associated with people or topics, 'romantasy,' a genre that blends romance and fantasy, and 'slop,' a term for low-quality, AI-generated online content.
Oxford University Press factored in public input, social commentary, and analysis before the announcement was made on December 1.
Meanwhile, Cambridge Dictionary named 'manifest' as its word of the year for 2024. The term relates to a wellness practice where individuals imagine achieving their goals to make them more attainable. This word has been searched over 130,000 times on the Cambridge Dictionary website.
Social media-driven trends were also reflected in other dictionary awards. Dictionary.com chose 'demure,' tied to a TikTok trend that encouraged people to act with more reservation, while Collins Dictionary selected 'brat' after Charli XCX's album of the same name gained popularity over the summer.
https://ift.tt/ObPFZ10 December 02, 2024 at 10:22AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.comMonday, 2 December 2024
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Mentor Jigar Saraiya Calls Ujwal's Performance A Divine Connection
Sunday, 1 December 2024
Giorgia Andriani Redefines Glamour At GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2024
UK Man Wins Rs 215 Compensation After Finding 'Smooth' Mars Chocolate Bar https://ift.tt/95XwWnu A UK man has received £2 (Rs 215) compensation and an apology after he found a Mars chocolate bar without its signature swirl and took to social media to post about the incident. 34-year-old Harry Seager's picture of the rather peculiar-looking chocolate bar instantly went viral when he posted it on the Dull Men's Club Facebook page, generating interest from thousands of members. Mr Seager from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, was on the way to a classic car show in Birmingham with friends when he stopped at a service station in Oxfordshire and bought the chocolate bar. As it turned out, the Mars bar was completely smooth and devoid of ripples that usually give the confectionery item its unique look. Mr Seager promptly contacted Mars Wrigley UK to ask whether the smooth chocolate bar was a new addition to the popular product that has been made in Slough since 1932. "We're sorry to hear about your experience Well make sure that your feedback is shared with our Quality Team. Please accept the enclosed £2 voucher that you can use towards a future purchase," read a statement by the Mars team, addressed to Mr Seager. Asked about the compensation money, Mr Seager said it was not his priority and all he wanted to know was what caused the chocolate bar to be produced in such a manner. "The only reason I emailed [Mars] was because I was interested in what might have caused it to happen. That is all I wanted to know and they kept side-lining that question," he was quoted as saying by BBC. "I think £2 is great, it will be two free Mars bars. Maybe they could have sent me more but I'm not being ungrateful. I think it's amazing after everything that's happened that I got the £2 voucher." Also Read | Watch: Man Eats Banana Artwork He Bought For Rs 52 Crore In Auction Internet reacts After Mr Seager posted the message about receiving the payout from Mars, social media users slammed the chocolate company for being dry in its response and offering a measly sum. "You only got paid £2 for all the advertising you did across multiple media for Mars Wrigley?!" said one user, while another added: "That's the most "we didn't read your complaint and certainly won't do anything about it, but have some money anyway" response I've ever seen from a business." A third commented: "The most dull thing about this was Mars's response. Thank you for respecting our group requirements Mr Corporation." https://ift.tt/6pDVah4 December 01, 2024 at 06:49AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com
A UK man has received £2 (Rs 215) compensation and an apology after he found a Mars chocolate bar without its signature swirl and took to social media to post about the incident. 34-year-old Harry Seager's picture of the rather peculiar-looking chocolate bar instantly went viral when he posted it on the Dull Men's Club Facebook page, generating interest from thousands of members. Mr Seager from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, was on the way to a classic car show in Birmingham with friends when he stopped at a service station in Oxfordshire and bought the chocolate bar.
As it turned out, the Mars bar was completely smooth and devoid of ripples that usually give the confectionery item its unique look. Mr Seager promptly contacted Mars Wrigley UK to ask whether the smooth chocolate bar was a new addition to the popular product that has been made in Slough since 1932.
"We're sorry to hear about your experience Well make sure that your feedback is shared with our Quality Team. Please accept the enclosed £2 voucher that you can use towards a future purchase," read a statement by the Mars team, addressed to Mr Seager.
Asked about the compensation money, Mr Seager said it was not his priority and all he wanted to know was what caused the chocolate bar to be produced in such a manner.
"The only reason I emailed [Mars] was because I was interested in what might have caused it to happen. That is all I wanted to know and they kept side-lining that question," he was quoted as saying by BBC.
"I think £2 is great, it will be two free Mars bars. Maybe they could have sent me more but I'm not being ungrateful. I think it's amazing after everything that's happened that I got the £2 voucher."
Also Read | Watch: Man Eats Banana Artwork He Bought For Rs 52 Crore In Auction
Internet reacts
After Mr Seager posted the message about receiving the payout from Mars, social media users slammed the chocolate company for being dry in its response and offering a measly sum.
"You only got paid £2 for all the advertising you did across multiple media for Mars Wrigley?!" said one user, while another added: "That's the most "we didn't read your complaint and certainly won't do anything about it, but have some money anyway" response I've ever seen from a business."
A third commented: "The most dull thing about this was Mars's response. Thank you for respecting our group requirements Mr Corporation."
https://ift.tt/6pDVah4 December 01, 2024 at 06:49AM NDTV News-Offbeat https://www.ndtv.com