Business of Media
Microsoft shares hit record high after snapping up ex-OpenAI boss Sam Altman
Microsoft has announced Sam Altman will lead the software developer’s new in-house artificial intelligence team after the OpenAI co-founder was ousted from his startup last week, a bid to shore up Microsoft’s AI plans and reassure investors, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s Dina Bass.
Greg Brockman, an OpenAI board member and co-founder who also left the company last week, will join Altman and Microsoft will “move quickly to provide them with the resources needed for their success,” the company’s CEO Satya Nadella said in a post on LinkedIn early on Monday (US time). In another post on X, formerly Twitter, Nadella said Altman will serve as CEO of the new in-house group.
X’s CEO tells staff data will show efforts to fight hate, as advertisers flee
Social media company X CEO Linda Yaccarino told employees that “data will tell the real story” about its efforts to battle antisemitism, according to a note to employees, amid growing outrage over the issue, reports Reuters’ Sheila Dang.
X, formerly Twitter, lost several major advertisers including IBM and Comcast, and owner Elon Musk was blasted by the White House after he agreed with a post on the platform Wednesday.
‘Inevitable’: AFR editor discusses Optus CEO’s resignation
Australian Financial Review’s BOSS deputy editor, Patrick Durkin has commented on the Optus CEO’s resignation and the factors leading up to it, reports Nine Radio’s Michael McLarin.
See Also: Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin resigns following network outage
Durkin explained that Rosemarin took too long to respond, and when she did, her apology appeared insincere.
News Brands
ABC apologises over Gaza conflict reporting
ABC News bulletins around the country last week issued apologies over the network’s reporting on the Gaza conflict, reports The Australian’s Jenna Clarke.
A “production error” saw the network illustrate a story about the ongoing war in Gaza in 2023 with overlay shot in Egypt a decade ago.
There was an immediate on-air apology, followed by another the next day.
Podcasts
Brittany Hockley will face rival Abbie Chatfield for same podcast award after ‘slut-shaming’ feud
What happens when a longstanding internet feud plays out in real life (IRL)?, reports News Corp’s Mikaela Wilkes.
Sydneysiders will find out tonight, when Bachelor alums turned podcast darlings Abbie Chatfield and Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley come face-to-face at the Australian Podcast Awards.
Entertainment
Man of the moment Jacob Elordi lands major new streaming role
Heartthrob and man-of-the-moment Jacob Elordi will star in the mini-series adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s Booker prize-winning novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North, reports The Sydney Morning Herald’s Karl Quinn.
The 26-year-old Brisbane-born actor, whose screen career began when he landed a small part as an extra on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, was the male lead in the teen romance Kissing Booth movie series for Netflix, but it was as the abusive Nate Jacobs in the high-school drama Euphoria that he truly made his mark.
Review: Squid Game: The Challenge
If you’re still waiting in endless frustration for Squid Game 2 to drop, relax. Squid Game: The Challenge has got you covered, reports TV Tonight’s David Knox.
The world went gaga for the South Korean drama back when we were all in lockdown. Turning children’s games into a cold, sadistic drama with captivating performances proved to be a winning combination.
Johnny Ruffo’s partner Tahnee Sims breaks silence after Home and Away star’s death
The partner of Johnny Ruffo has shared an emotional social media post paying tribute to the late Home and Away actor, reports the ABC.
See Also: “One in a million”: Home and Away’s Johnny Ruffo passes away aged 35
The world went gaga for the South Korean drama back when we were all in lockdown. Turning children’s games into a cold, sadistic drama with captivating performances proved to be a winning combination.
Opinion: ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ nears $100 million globally. Is it enough to justify more ‘Hunger Games’?
“The Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is nearing the $100 million mark worldwide after three days of release, reports Variety Australia‘s Rebecca Rubon.
Those ticket sales, including $44 million in North America and $54.5 million internationally, were enough to top the box office. But they didn’t come close to recapturing the glory of the original “Hunger Games” franchise, which launched Jennifer Lawerence to stardom and collectively grossed $3 billion globally.
–
Top Image: Sam Altman