Business News

Some video game actors are letting AI clone their voices. They just don’t want it to replace them

Video game studios pay professional actors to voice the soldiers, goblins, elves and aliens that populate virtual worlds. Some are also starting to use artificial intelligence to generate synthetic voice clones that can save money or bring more characters to life. The arrival of increasingly realistic AI-generated voices is forcing actors to navigate an emerging technology that could threaten their careers or bring new opportunities. Some actors — with cautious support from Hollywood’s actor union — have been willing to give it a try if they’re fairly compensated and their voices aren’t misused.

Dubai International Airport had 86.9 million passengers last year in a post-pandemic surge

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The number of passengers flying through Dubai International Airport has surged in the last year beyond its total for 2019 — just before the coronavirus pandemic grounded global aviation. The airport is the world’s busiest for international travel, and its passenger numbers are a barometer for the aviation industry. Monday’s figures show 2023 was still shy of the all-time high in 2018. But they show how much the airport has bounced back from the pandemic. The 2023 destinations for the airport’s 86.9 million passengers were India, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Pakistan. Russia was also a major market as Dubai is one of the few places open to Russians during its war on Ukraine.

Biden admin providing $1.5 billion to GlobalFoundries to make computer chips in New York and Vermont

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says that the government would provide $1.5 billion to the computer chip company GlobalFoundries to expand its domestic production in New York and Vermont. The announcement is the third award of financial support for a semiconductor company under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. The law enables the government to invest more than $52 billion to revitalize the manufacturing of computer chips in the United States as well as advance research and development. GlobalFoundries intends to use the funding to help pay for the construction of a new advanced chip factory in Malta, New York, increase production at its existing plant in Malta, and revitalize its plant in Burlington, Vermont.

US rivalry with China expands to biotech. Lawmakers see a failure to compete and want to act

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. lawmakers are raising alarms about what they see as America’s failure to compete with China in biotechnology. They’re warning of risks to U.S. national security and commercial interests. But as the two countries’ rivalry expands into the biotech industry, some say that shutting out Chinese companies would only hurt the United States. Biotechnology promises to revolutionize everyday life, with scientists and researchers using it to make rapid advances in medical treatment, genetic engineering in agriculture and novel biomaterials. Because of its potential, it has caught the attention of both the Chinese and U.S. governments.

‘Bob Marley: One Love’ stirs up $27.7M weekend, ‘Madame Web’ flops

NEW YORK (AP) — Paramount Pictures’ Bob Marley biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” outperformed expectations to debut at No. 1 at the box office with a $27.7 million opening weekend. But Sony’s “Madame Web” flopped with one of the lowest debuts for a movie centered on a Marvel character. Both films launched in theaters on Tuesday to rope in Valentine’s Day moviegoers. But on a weekend that was once expected to go to “Madame Web,” “One Love” emerged as the much-preferred option in theaters, despite largely poor reviews. Paramount is forecasting that “One Love” will gross $51 million over its first six days.

Students and parents are frustrated by delays in hearing about federal financial aid for college

NEW YORK (AP) — For many students, the excitement of being accepted into their first-choice college is being tempered this year by a troublesome uncertainty over whether they’ll get the financial aid they need to attend. The financial aid decisions that usually go out with acceptance letters are being delayed because of a later-than-expected rollout of a revised federal financial aid application, the form that schools use to compute financial aid. Schools won’t get the information they need to award financial aid until next month, forcing them to adapt. Some have moved away from the popular May 1 deadline for students to accept their offers of admission.

Former Bank of China chairman indicted for bribery in nation’s long-running anticorruption drive

BEIJING (AP) — The former chairman of the Bank of China has been indicted on bribery charges, adding to a long list of business and government officials who have been brought down by Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s yearslong anticorruption drive. Prosecutors said Monday that Liu Liange has been accused of taking advantage of his positions at the Bank of China and previously as president of the Export-Import Bank of China. The official Xinhua News Agency said he was charged with helping others with loans and personnel appointments in return for property and cash and with making loans in violation of regulations, causing significant losses.

Here’s a look inside Donald Trump’s $355 million civil fraud verdict as an appeals fight looms

NEW YORK (AP) — On the witness stand last year, Donald Trump proclaimed: “I have a lot of cash.” After Friday’s eye-popping penalty in his New York civil fraud trial, he’s going to need it — and maybe more. A judge ordered the former president to fork over $355 million, plus interest. The judge found he lied for years about his wealth on financial statements he used to secure loans and make deals as he built the real estate empire that vaulted him to fame and the presidency. The financial penalty could put the Republican presidential front-runner in a serious cash crunch. He has vowed to appeal.

Stock market today: World shares are mixed as Chinese markets reopen after the Lunar New Year

BANGKOK (AP) — European shares opened lower after a mixed session in Asia as Chinese markets reopened from a long Lunar New Year holiday. Hong Kong fell while Shanghai advanced. Tokyo edged lower. U.S. futures rose slightly while oil prices declined. On Friday, stocks slipped to send Wall Street to a rare losing week, just its second in the last 16. The S&P 500 fell 0.5% after a report on inflation at the wholesale level came in hotter than expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.8%. The inflation report was the latest reminder that the battle against rising prices isn’t over.

TikTok faces European Union scrutiny for possible breaches of strict new digital rulebook

LONDON (AP) — The European Union is looking into whether TikTok has broken the bloc’s strict new digital rules for cleaning up social media and keeping internet users safe. The EU said Monday that it has “opened formal proceedings to assess” whether TikTok has breached the Digital Services Act, which took effect last year. The commission is focusing on whether TikTok is doing enough to curb “systemic risks” stemming from its design. It said measures including age verification tools to stop minors from finding “inappopriate content” might not be enough. TikTok said it will work with experts and industry to keep young people on TikTok safe, and looks forward to explain this work to the Commission.”