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  • Wednesday, Apr. 24, 2024
John Lithgow takes on the role of the new kid in school for a PBS special celebrating arts education
This image released by PBS shows actor John Lithgow, right, with Yoli, as they work on a screen print drawing during the filming of "Art Happens Here with John Lithgow," premiering April 26. (Antonio Diaz/PBS SoCal via AP)
By Alicia Rancilio

At 78, John Lithgow's acting career is not slowing down. He appeared in the best picture nominee "Killers of the Flower Moon" and starred with Jeff Bridges in the FX series "The Old Man." Recently, the two-time Academy Award nominee and multiple Emmy, Tony and Golden Globes-winning actor played the new kid in school. He learned dance, ceramics, silk-screen printing and vocal jazz ensemble with Los Angeles-area high school students. It was filmed for "Art Happens Here with John Lithgow," airing Friday on PBS with the goal of promoting arts education.

Lithgow, who has an undergraduate degree from Harvard and was a Fulbright Scholar at the London School of the Arts, spoke with The Associated Press about going back to school.

Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Q: One argument about education is students need to prioritize math and science and learn to code. Arts education is a bonus but not a priority. What do More

  • Wednesday, Apr. 24, 2024
Microsoft and Amazon face scrutiny from U.K. competition watchdog over recent AI deals
Arthur Mensch, cofounder and CEO of Mistral AI, attends the UK Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit in Bletchley, England on Nov. 2, 2023. The Competition and Markets Authority said it's looking into Microsoft's partnership with France's Mistral AI and the company's hiring of key staff from another startup, Inflection AI. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP, File)
By Kelvin Chan, Business Writer
LONDON (AP) -- 

British competition regulators said Wednesday they'll scrutinize recent artificial intelligence deals by Microsoft and Amazon over concerns that the moves could thwart competition in the AI industry.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it's looking into Microsoft's partnership with France's Mistral AI and the company's hiring of key staff from another startup, Inflection AI. The watchdog also separately announced that it's investigating Amazon's $4 billion investment in San Francisco-based Anthropic.

Big Tech companies have been pouring money into generative AI startups amid growing public and business interest in the technology, but the investments have also drawn attention from antitrust authorities.

The U.K. watchdog said it was seeking comments from "interested third parties," before deciding whether to carry out an in-depth antitrust investigation.

"We will assess, objectively and impartially, whether each of More

  • Wednesday, Apr. 24, 2024
Cisco Systems joins Microsoft, IBM in Vatican pledge to ensure ethical use and development of AI
Pope Francis holds his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
ROME (AP) -- 

Tech giant Cisco Systems on Wednesday joined Microsoft and IBM in signing onto a Vatican-sponsored pledge to ensure artificial intelligence is developed and used ethically and to benefit the common good.

Cisco Systems chief executive Chuck Robbins signed the document, known as the Rome Call, and met privately with Pope Francis, the Vatican said.

The pledge outlines key pillars of ethical and responsible use of AI. It emphasizes that AI systems must be designed, used and regulated to serve and protect the dignity of all human beings, without discrimination, and their environments. It highlights principles of transparency, inclusion, responsibility, impartiality and security as necessary to guide all AI developments.

The document was unveiled and signed at a Vatican conference on Feb. 28, 2020 — just before Italy locked down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — by Microsoft's Brad Smith and IBM's John Kelly III. Universities, U.N. More

  • Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2024
ArtClass Content promotes Gilmore, Keegan to exec producers
Brian Keegan (l) and Logan Gilmore
LOS ANGELES -- 

Production and post studio ArtClass Content has tapped Logan Gilmore and Brian Keegan as its newest executive producers. Keegan, previously head of post at ArtClass for two years, has stepped up to helm the department as an EP. Gilmore has been formally established as an EP at ArtClass after working with the studio as a freelance bidding producer.

Keegan is set to build and expand the postproduction department at ArtClass. In his previous roles at the studio, Keegan has brought many projects to life for high-profile brands like ESPN, GoFundMe, Broadway’s “The Lion King,” PlayStation, Carvana, Anheuser Busch, General Mills, and the SoundCloud-branded narrative film “The Day Ones,” to name a few. Keegan also produced the film “Life’s Good” for LG Electronics, which won Best Short Documentary at the Indie Short Fest and screened at multiple international film festivals. His previous experience in postproduction saw him working with companies like More

  • Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2024
Caitlin Clark is set to sign a new Nike deal valued at $28 million over 8 years, reports say
Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark holds her jersey following a WNBA basketball news conference, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Caitlin Clark appears to be on the cusp of setting another record.

The most prolific scorer in NCAA Division I history and the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft will continue her association with Nike by signing a $28 million contract that spans eight years and includes a signature shoe.

The Wall Street Journal and The Athletic reported the pending deal, citing unnamed people familiar with the negotiations between the sportswear giant and Clark's agents.

Excel Sports Management, which represents Clark, and Nike did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

Clark's initial name, image and likeness deal, signed in 2022, expired at the end of the 2023-24 season.

The new deal would be the richest sponsorship contract for a women's basketball player.

Under Armour and Adidas also participated in contract discussions with Clark's team in February, according to the WSJ and Athletic. More

  • Monday, Apr. 22, 2024
The EU ratchets up pressure on TikTok's new rewards app over risks to kids, warns of suspension
The TikTok logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen which displays the TikTok home screen, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Boston. European Union regulators said Wednesday, April 17, 2024, they're seeking details from TikTok on a new app from the video sharing platform that pays users to watch videos. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
By Kelvin Chan, Business Writer
LONDON (AP) -- 

The European Union on Monday demanded TikTok provide more information about a new app that pays users to watch videos and warned that it could order the video sharing platform to suspend addictive features that pose a risk to kids.

The 27-nation EU's executive Commission said it was opening formal proceedings to determine whether TikTok Lite breached the bloc's new digital rules when the app was rolled out in France and Spain.

Brussels was ratcheting up the pressure on TikTok after the company failed to respond to a request last week for information on whether the new app complies with the Digital Services Act, a sweeping law that took effect last year intending to clean up social media platforms.

TikTok Lite is a slimmed-down version of the main TikTok app that lets users earn rewards. Points earned by watching videos, liking content and following content creators can then be exchanged for rewards including Amazon vouchers and gift More

  • Sunday, Apr. 21, 2024
Netflix now has nearly 270 million subscribers after another strong showing to begin 2024
The Netflix logo is shown in this photo from the company's website, in New York, Feb. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
By Michael Liedtke

Netflix gained another 9.3 million subscribers to start the year while its profit soared with the help of a still-emerging expansion into advertising, but caught investors off guard with a change that will make it more difficult to track the video streaming service's future growth.

The performance announced Thursday (4/18) demonstrated that Netflix is still building on its momentum of last year, when a crackdown on free-loading viewers relying on shared passwords and the rollout of a low-priced option including commercials revived its growth following a post-pandemic lull.

The strategy resulted in Netflix adding 30 million subscribers last year — the second largest annual increase the service's history.

Netflix's gains during the January-March period more than quadrupled the 1.8 million subscribers that the video streaming service added at the same time last year, and was nearly three times more than analysts had projected. The Los More

  • Friday, Apr. 19, 2024
Dick Van Dyke earns historic Daytime Emmy nomination at age 98
2020 Kennedy Center honoree, actor Dick Van Dyke attends the 43nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on Friday, May 21, 2021, in Washington. Van Dyke was nominated Friday, April 19, 2024, as guest performer in a daytime drama series for his part as amnesiac Timothy Robicheaux on Peacock's “Days of Our Lives.” (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

Dick Van Dyke is vying for a historic Daytime Emmy at age 98.

The actor was nominated Friday as guest performer in a daytime drama series for his part as amnesiac Timothy Robicheaux on Peacock's "Days of Our Lives."

Van Dyke is the oldest Daytime Emmy nominee. Producer Norman Lear was 100 when he received his final Primetime Emmy nomination in 2022 and died the next year.

Among those Van Dyke is up against is Australian actor Guy Pearce of Amazon Freevee's "Neighbours."

Van Dyke has won four Primetime Emmys, including three in the 1960s for his classic comedy series "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

Actor-singer Selena Gomez is nominated in the culinary series category for her Food Network special "Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays." Also nominated in that category is Food Network's "Valerie's Home Cooking," the show hosted by actor Valerie Bertinelli that ended last year.

CBS is ending "The Talk" after its 15th More

  • Friday, Apr. 19, 2024
Google is combining its Android software and Pixel hardware divisions to more broadly integrate AI
Google logos are displayed when searched for Google in New York, Sept. 11, 2023. Google said it will combine the software division responsible for Android mobile software and the Chrome browser with the hardware division known for Pixel smartphones and Fitbit wearables. It is part of a broader push to integrate artificial intelligence more broadly throughout the company. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
By David Hamilton, Technology Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- 

Google will combine the software division responsible for Android mobile software and the Chrome browser with the hardware division known for Pixel smartphones and Fitbit wearables, the company said Thursday. It's part of a broader plan to integrate artificial intelligence more widely throughout the company.

In a letter to employees, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the changes will "turbocharge the Android and Chrome ecosystems" while helping to spur innovation.

The decision will place both operations under the oversight of Rick Osterloh, a Google executive who previously oversaw the company's hardware group. Not long ago, Google insulated Android development from the hardware division, saying it wanted to avoid giving its phone designers an unfair advantage over the other major smartphone makers who used Android — including Samsung and Motorola, as well as Chinese companies such as Oppo and Xiaomi.

Then a few years ago, Google More

  • Thursday, Apr. 18, 2024
Post-strike production rebound slow to materialize for L.A. in early 2024
Paul Audley, president of FilmLA
LOS ANGELES -- 

FilmLA--partner film office for the City and County of Los Angeles and other local jurisdictions-–has issued an update regarding regional filming activity.

The film industry’s highly-anticipated return to production in 2024 took eight to ten weeks to materialize, according to FilmLA. The end of labor work actions late in 2023 pushed many project starts into the New Year.

At the same time, runaway production, series cancelations and planned reductions in content spend were seen to limit industry output and work opportunities. Local on-location filming declined 8.7 percent from January through March, attaining only 6,823
Shoot Days (SD) in the first quarter.

Reviewing the data, researchers identified a double-digit loss of television production as the main contributor to the decline. Television production was down 16.2 percent year-over-year in the first quarter (2,402 SD in 2024 vs. 2,868 in 2023). Present filming levels look More

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