The Global Content Spendings of Big Six Entertainment Companies Continued to Increase by 9% in 2024

The market share of big six entertainment companies combined are continuing to rise as they are spending more on content. According to Ampere Analysis, there was a 9% increase in their market share and it amounted to $126 billion combined in 2024. There were concerns about TV and movie content on these entertainment companies but their growth is impressive. According to the estimates, the global content entertainment spend in 2024 was 51%. In 2023, the global content entertainment spend was 48%.

The biggest part of spending ($40 billion or 32%) came from subscriptions on streaming services like Max, Disney+, Peacock and Paramount. Walt Disney remained at top with $35.8 billion, while last year it had global spending of $28.3 billion.

Followed by Walt Disney is Comcast Corp ($24.5 billion) and Google ($17.6 billion). The global content spend of Discovery was $16.8 billion, Netflix had $16.0 billion and Paramount Global had a global spend of $15.1 billion in 2024. On these platforms, 45% of the total spend is due to original content ($56 billion) while the rest is from acquired content.

Netflix is at top for streaming content while Google is mainly gaining its revenue from YouTube. The spendings of Peacock and Paramount+ are only from originally produced content. All of this increase in global content entertainment spending was despite the writers’ strike that occurred last year. So, it is estimated that the spendings of big six entertainment companies is going to increase in the upcoming years.

Read next: AI Hiring Exposed: White Male Names Dominate While Black and Female Candidates Are Overlooked!
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

AI Hiring Exposed: White Male Names Dominate While Black and Female Candidates Are Overlooked!

AI is now being used for applying to job listings and almost 99% of Fortune 500 companies are using AI in their hiring processes. This improves the efficiency and some say that it also reduces discrimination. But according to new research by the University of Washington, using AI in the hiring process increases discrimination against race and gender. After looking at 550 real world resumes reviewed by LLMs, researchers found that LLMs favorite names commonly used for white people 85% of the time, while only favoring women names 11% of the time. It was also found that LLMs never chose black names over white names.

There has also been a study done previously on ChatGPT that found that the AI-powered bot shows discrimination against gender, race and disabilities. The researchers of this study wanted to do more analysis on open source LLMs and how they perceive race and gender. For the study, the researchers gathered 120 white and black associated names of men and women. Then the researchers used LLMs from three different companies– Salesforce, Mistral AI and Contextual AI. Different jobs like engineer, resource worker, teacher were written on the resumes.

According to the results, LLMs chose White associated names 85% of the time, while Black associated names were only chosen 9% of the time. Similarly, male associated names were chosen 52% of the time, while female associated names were chosen 11% of the time. There was also some disparity among white women and white men and black women and black men. There was a small difference between systems choosing white female names and white male names. But LLMs preferred black female names 67% of the time as compared to 15% for black male names. This shows that there was a greater bias against black men as compared to black women.

The researchers noted that as generative AI has become widely available that it is now being used for job listings and job hirings too, the developers should work on AI models that show minimum bias and discrimination. Even though AI can be helpful in a lot of instances, it can also negatively shape how we perceive race and gender.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: Researchers Say that Robots Can Develop a Sense of Self Which Can Help in Studying Disorders
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Instagram Introduces Tools To Allow Users To Sort And Filter DMs

If cluttered DMs on Instagram have been an issue for you, then you might want to read on further.

The popular social media app just confirmed that it’s upgrading DMs to ensure users can better organize their inboxes. This includes rolling out new tools that creators and influencers have been in search of for days.

The platform will enable users to sort and filter any message requests. This is for those texts that come from those people they’re not following. So instead of going into the main inbox, they remain idle as requests that many tend to overlook.

The latest feature will be based on the user sets and controls. Moreover, they can enable them to better organize the requests, depending on follower count, brand, verification of accounts, and other factors. This is certainly something that many influencers or creators have been looking forward to for so long.

Similarly, users can better identify those messages outlined as high priority which deserve a reply, thanks to the impact they entail on their relationships. This is especially true for business.

Additionally, the app is adding a new folder for Stories where any replies to stories will be organized in a single location. This makes them quicker to accessible and avoids clutter.

The organization confirmed how such changes are getting rolled out after the responses and feedback from creators all over the globe. Many find managing DMs very difficult and it’s about time Instagram took action.

We’re all aware, creators or not, of how overwhelming it can be to access your requests inbox. Adam Mosseri acknowledged that in his latest post and felt that now it’s going to get easier to filter down requests. This way, users can find exactly what they’re in search of without spending added time organizing.

There are a lot more things that Instagram needs to do which again come as feedback from creators but we can see that this is a great start. The new Sort & Filter option will pop up across the overlay seen at the top of inboxes. This is where users can select any sort of request by how recent they are or by the number of followers a single sender has.

This highlights the messages that might come from other creators or businesses trying to reach out about certain deals. They can similarly check or uncheck new options to narrow down everything on display such as account verification and name of brand.

Instagram agreed that they will continue to work hard and better DMs with time. Such changes come at a time when Meta announced more changes to better its texting platform WhatsApp. The latter relies on using filters to better organize chats into customized lists. Therefore, it looks like the tech giant is on an organizational mission after seeing the latest Instagram change.

Read next: Study Reveals Prolonged Standing May Pose Health Risks, Challenging Desk Job Solutions
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Consumer Awareness Lags as Medical Device Ownership Rises: Key Insights from Recent Study

Is your wristwatch now your most valuable health ally?

A recent survey of 2,000 Americans reveals a shift in how we perceive medical devices and health monitoring. More than 28% reported that their personal medical devices have alerted them to potential health issues, and an impressive 84% found this data invaluable. Following these alerts, 76% successfully diagnosed their conditions after consulting a doctor.

Commissioned by Propel Software and conducted by Talker Research, the study indicates that 80% of consumers own at least one medical device. Popular choices include blood pressure monitors (45%), electric toothbrushes (39%), and smartwatches (23%). Yet, awareness of the extensive range of medical devices available remains limited.

While 40% accurately defined medical devices as tools that track health information, 27% mistakenly believe they must interact with the body, and another 20% associate them solely with hospital use. Despite high recognition of specific devices, many still overlook everyday items like electric toothbrushes (33%) and baby monitors (20%) that fit this category.

Motivations for purchasing these devices often stem from recommendations by healthcare professionals (47%), friends and family (34%), and product reviews (21%). This rapid evolution in consumer feedback reflects how manufacturers adapt to market demands, fundamentally changing personal healthcare approaches.

Consumer purchase decisions are also influenced by insurance coverage (39%), doctor endorsements (38%), and FDA approval (36%). Notably, 63% would consider paying a small subscription for ongoing access to analytics and product enhancements.

The aesthetic appeal of medical devices is crucial, with 68% valuing inconspicuous designs for everyday use. When it comes to data sharing, a majority are comfortable allowing their devices to communicate directly with healthcare providers online.

Interestingly, brand loyalty appears secondary for many consumers, with 47% not favoring any particular brand as long as reliability is guaranteed. Trust is built through positive product reviews, especially those from medical professionals, highlighting the need for manufacturers to focus on quality and reliability.

Devices Owned by Americans:

• Blood pressure monitor: 45%
• Electric toothbrush: 39%
• Fitness tracker/pedometer: 24%
• Smartwatch/ring: 23%
• Blood-glucose monitor: 18%
• Heart rate monitor: 14%
• Blood-oxygen monitor: 13%
• Sleep tracker: 11%
• CPAP machine: 11%
• Hearing aids: 8%
• Baby monitoring smart devices: 5%

This study, conducted from October 4-7, 2024, underscores a growing reliance on technology in personal health management, reshaping our understanding of medical devices and their role in everyday life.

Read next: Researchers Have Found a New Method Which Can Detect AI Generated Texts
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Researchers Say that Robots Can Develop a Sense of Self Which Can Help in Studying Disorders

A new study found out that robots can develop a sense of self like humans and can have disorders like humans too. The robots can get aware of themselves through actuator systems, cognitive structure and sensors used to make them function. Humans have complex systems and can view themselves in the light of different experiences and contexts. Some thinkers say that self is distinct from the body but it is actually dependent on the body for interactions with others.

The researchers recognized that sense of self is a complex system which makes us aware of our ownership of our body and that's how we make decisions. Robots can also feel this way through applying appropriate modules in their cognitive structures. This can lead to a sense of self in them and it can also improve consistency and predictability in them.

By applying a sense of self in AI robots, we can explore the concept of self and other behavioral phenomena related to it. The disorder in self can also be studied. Disorders like alien hand syndrome and phantom limb where patients feel that part of their body belongs to someone else or they feel like missing a limb can also be explored extensively.

Psychological disorders like schizophrenia, depression, depersonalisation disorder and dementia can also be studied through robotics if we can develop a sense of self within them. Robots can serve as experimental apparatus to study self and all its properties and disorders related to it. It may also play some role in treatment of disorders too.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: Generative AI Boom Could Trigger Millions of Tons in E-Waste, New Research Shows
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

OpenAI Heats Up Competition With Google After Launching ChatGPT With Search

The discussions surrounding a decline in Google Search cannot be ignored. And we’ve got the modern internet to thank for that.

However, just when you thought innovation in the search wasn’t possible comes a new rollout by OpenAI. The company just unveiled ChatGPT in Search which could take Google head on. This might be what users were looking for, a breath of fresh air from all the AI spam and SEO junk that Google entails.

The feature was launched yesterday which shows great potential in the form of a new web search feature. The AI assistant gives replies with some source attribution during chats. It’s dubbed ChatGPT with Search, nothing fancy at all.

As per OpenAI, it’s designed to work in an automated manner based on the user’s queries. There is also one option to trigger a search manually via the latest icon for web search. As per the company, it could reduce the need to exploit links and conduct multiple searches. That is commonly observed with classic search engines. Similarly, users come up with follow-up queries as ChatGPT wishes to comprehend text completely before generating a reply.

Every search reply includes a citation link. Users simply click on the to get more detailed views of referenced materials inside the sidebar that is witnessed near chat history.

The latest search system includes a finer version of GPT-4o. As per the AI giant, it was trained using synthetic data only. Before, ChatGPT was searching online and therefore gave outdated results. Now, we could get a new way to explore the web and get real-time content.

There was a demo rolled out that was hosted by the company where reps didn’t specify the real location of the search information. Speculations claim it was either a Bing search or crawling the search index. So it is a blend of different materials which the company has collaborations with.

The latest program also assists the firm in taking advantage of a new kind of partnership for publishing which reframes media links into something other than the usual web data scraping for training AI. This did get the company into a lot of legal trouble.

We must mention here that this firm is not the sole tech giant making the most of AI searches online. We’ve seen similar endeavors by Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity for the AI community. We did see it receive resistance from other names that claim it combined content without getting the green signal. This is where partnerships with OpenAI come in handy.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: Apple On A Roll! iPhone Sales Boom As Revenue Hits $95 Billion in Q3 of 2024
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Apple On A Roll! iPhone Sales Boom As Revenue Hits $95 Billion in Q3 of 2024

Apple just rolled out its financial report for the third quarter this year (actually, Q4 for them). It’s safe to say the company is on a roll with iPhone sales soaring and revenue reaching a new high of $95 billion.

It’s been a busy week for the Cupertino firm which just launched the much anticipated Apple Intelligence features amid new Mac devices. What’s interesting is how the sales of iPhones are on the rise, with or without the latest AI endeavor.

While the period only featured the starting sales period of the new iPhone 16 range, it’s definitely worth a mention. Other fun smart gadgets launched included the latest AirPods 4 and Series 10 for the Apple Watch.

The company’s CEO admitted that the sales were certainly greatly for 15 than 14 as witnessed last year and this year, 16 is going stronger than 15. The firm also shared how the revenue stood at $94 billion which is again another record for Apple, a growth of 6% YoY.

There was also discussion about how the highs attained were dampened thanks to a serious income tax charge. Apple was forced to pay this amount to Ireland after entering into a long-standing dispute worth $10.2B.

Every department in Apple saw gains other than its category called wearables, home, and accessories. iPad revenues rose 8% after the firm rolled out the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air this spring.

The latest array of intelligence features that are powered by AI focus on the likes of generating summaries, cleaning up pictures, and using assistants for writing. There is a much hyped-up integration of ChatGPT and an image-generating ability that will be included in this upcoming iOS 18.2 by this year’s end.

So far, Apple is happy as the feedback is great from consumers. We also saw the tech giant revamp its iMac, Mac Mini, and MacBook Pro as a part of its new M4 silicon range. Most of them underwent subtle but acceptable changes in terms of design. This just might give Apple the boost it needs while entering the much-awaited holiday period.

Let’s not forget how Apple is still in the midst of another lawsuit from the Department of Justice and the EU for its antitrust behavior. This has left the company with no choice but to make some major changes to both its App Store and device.

Image: CPR.

Read next:

• Generative AI Boom Could Trigger Millions of Tons in E-Waste, New Research Shows

• New Study Finds GPS Systems Often Direct Drivers to Wrong Routes
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World