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[Open Thread] Google may have changed the face of visual media forever, but is it for the good?

[Open Thread] Google may have changed the face of visual media forever, but is it for the good?

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
🗣️ This is an open thread.
We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup.
I'm going to be real with you: Google Veo 3 is by far the most disturbing product launched by the company this year, perhaps ever. With a simple prompt, anyone can create a short movie, commercial, or some other dystopian brand of visual story that blurs the lines of reality and simulation.
My colleague Adamya Sharma collated some of the creepiest and, indeed, coolest examples from people using Veo 3. The results are remarkable, and the characters disturbingly uncanny. Even dogs and cats look lifelike. It's incredible how far we've come with this technology in a few short years.
But this begs the question: who needs a video camera, directors, sound designers, animators, editors, set designers, marketing professionals, or even film stars when this tech exists? Hell, you could pay for Google AI Ultra right now and make a documentary about Will Smith's love for pasta.
I'm interested to hear how you think developments like Veo 3 will change the face of visual media for better, worse, or some awkward niche in between.
So here are the questions: What are your impressions of Veo 3? Impressed? Creeped out?
Can you tell the difference between a human-made production or one made by AI?
Should there be stricter laws governing the creation of AI media?
How would you use a tool like Veo 3 if it was made freely available?
Have you used AI to generate videos?
0 votes
Yes, I use it often
NaN %
Yes, I've tried it once or twice
NaN %
No, but I'm interested in it
NaN %
No, and I have no plans to do this
NaN %
👇Sound off in the comments: What do you think of the future of AI video creation — terrific or terrifying?

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‘People Are Going To See Something They've Never Seen Before': How Pixar's Next Hit Film Was Made
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Fans of laughing out loud one moment and crying into your popcorn bucket the next are in for a treat with Pixar's latest release. Elio is the newest offering from the award-winning animation studio, centring around a lonely boy who becomes obsessed with the idea of being abducted by aliens – and gets more than he bargained for when his dream comes true. As has come to be expected from the studio that gave us the likes of Inside Out, Coco and Toy Story 3, Elio dives into some pretty hefty themes, exploring everything from loneliness and grief to toxic masculinity, all with Pixar's signature sense of humour and adventure to keep younger viewers as gripped as everyone else in the cinema. In the lead-up to the film's release, we spoke to directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi about how sci-fi horror had a surprising influence on Elio, creating something people have 'never seen before' with their unique take on space and releasing an original film in the current sea of sequels and live-action remakes at Walt Disney Studios… Right at the beginning of the film, there's a key scene soundtracked by Talking Heads' Once In A Lifetime. Why was that song chosen, and how easy was it to get? Madeline Sharafian: That scene and that song were in the film from the beginning that Domee and I started. That montage of Elio going out to the beach every day, desperately trying to be abducted, was almost the way that we explored his character as we changed his motivations to wanting to be abducted by aliens. And I think the song was [Domee's] idea of just a way to showcase that he's stuck in this cycle, and he wants to get out. It was a great idea. Domee Shi: Yeah, I always loved that song, I always felt like David Byrne kind of gave off alien boy vibes as well. And the way that the song starts always sounded kind of synthy and celestial and spacey in some way. I felt like there was a connection between Byrne and Elio, and it felt like a cool needle drop choice to put in this montage where we're introduced to Elio's obsession with getting abducted, but being unable to, every single day that went by. MS: It helped a lot that Pete Docter and Jim Morris, our company leadership, really like that song. So I do think that kind of helped us hang onto it and get it for the final, and we're very grateful that we got to keep it. It adds so much to the scene. DS: There was one moment where we did try another song… MS: Oh god, yeah… DS: I was like, 'what about Beastie Boys' Intergalactic?'. And then we tried that for a minute and we were like, 'no, I think we miss Talking Heads', and we went back to that. 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DS: And you know… we'll fine-tune the execution of it, just to make sure that the music isn't too crazy and the sound effects don't give you too much of a heart attack and we release the tension immediately with a joke or a gag or something. But I don't know – I remember being a kid and loving movies like A Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline, where there is like a fun scare. I feel like the original Monsters Inc. taps into that a little bit, too. Elio is coming out at an interesting time for Walt Disney Studios, where there area lot of films coming up that are either sequels, live-action remakes and other ideas based on existing IP, so it's great to see an original story coming from the studio, too. Is that something that's important to you both as filmmakers? MS: Yeah! DS: Definitely. MS: And it's important to Pixar, too, I think. 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Prosus Accelerates Growth and Profitability, with 12X Improvement in Ecommerce Adjusted EBIT and 100% Increase in Dividend
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Business Wire

time32 minutes ago

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Prosus Accelerates Growth and Profitability, with 12X Improvement in Ecommerce Adjusted EBIT and 100% Increase in Dividend

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This past year, we announced two significant deals to strengthen our regional ecosystems. We completed the acquisition of Despegar in May 2025 and are already integrating its products into iFood's Clube membership. We are making good progress with the purchase of Just Eat which will create a new AI-powered tech champion in Europe. 'I believe that truly great companies are shaped by their culture. Through 'The Prosus Way', we've implemented a cultural model that empowers our teams to deliver exceptional customer experiences through discipline, innovation and adopting an AI-first mindset. In the face of unprecedented technological disruption, we are now more connected and innovative than ever before. I'm confident that our enhanced culture and ecosystem approach, powered by Prosus, will fuel our journey to create the next US$100bn in value.' 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From January to December 2024, Swiggy grew Gross Order Value (GOV) by 29%, while adjusted EBITDA losses reduced to US$182m, from US$261m in the prior year. In Q125, Swiggy delivered GOV growth of 40% year-on-year, and quick commerce GOV growth of 101% year-on-year, with 316 new dark stores added in the quarter. Classifieds – OLX Group: Strong performance, with a significant jump in profitability and expanding margins OLX consolidated revenue grew 18%, with standout performances by motors and real estate verticals. Motors and real estate grew revenue 24% and 23% respectively, through improved monetisation, innovative product development and new trust-building initiatives within motors, and product enhancements within real estate. aEBIT accelerated by 61% to US$270m, with aEBIT margin up 10pp, to 35%. Payments & Fintech – PayU: Strong topline growth and improving profitability, despite challenging market conditions India payments TPV 5 increased by 17%, and revenues by 14%; aEBIT loss of US$12m reflects increased competition, resulting in lower take rates. India payments achieved breakeven in H2. India credit grew its loan book by 19% and revenues by 63%; aEBIT loss of US$32m impacted by higher costs and increased consumer loan book losses. Iyzico grew revenues 87% to US$288m, while aEBIT of US$18m at a margin of 6% reflected rising interest rates and investments in strategic growth initiatives. Overall, PayU's aEBIT losses improved by >100% to US$11m. Etail: eMAG achieved target of overall profitability for FY25 Strong growth with GMV up 9%, and revenue up 12% to US$2.5bn. aEBIT improved by US$40m to US$14m; includes one-off costs in Hungary in H1. Improved performance due to good growth in Romanian etail, and emerging logistics and grocery businesses Please note: Group results are shown on a consolidated basis from continuing operations, which reflect all majority owned and managed businesses. All OLX Autos business units are classified as discontinued operations, in line with IFRS disclosures. All growth percentages shown here are in local currency terms, excluding the impact of acquisitions and disposals (M&A), unless otherwise stated. Growth percentages shown here for all non-financial key performance indicators compare FY25 to FY24. Expand For full details of the Group's results, please visit

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