AI Fails to Recreate Marilyn Monroe; Physical Media and Craft Revival

A commissioned AI attempt to transform Dakota Johnson into Marilyn Monroe failed, and Maggie Gyllenhaal expressed no regret over the failure. The Anthropic settlement, initially hailed as a victory for authors, has sparked disputes among publishers, authors, and third parties over distribution of payments. The Atlantic questions whether the internet is effectively dead, with bots interacting with bots. Meanwhile, CD sales are rising alongside vinyl and cassettes, reflecting a market for tangible objects rather than a revolt against streaming. In Lansing, North Carolina, a new center teaches fiber arts and clay as survival skills in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The Boston Globe criticizes Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' for failing to capture the poem's essence of waiting. Across Europe, empty churches are being repurposed as concert halls and even pickleball courts.