NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

AI Beats Japan’s Top Pop Composer 🎵

AKB48, one of Japan's most popular pop groups, invited fans to decide their next single by pitting human creativity against AI in a televised contest.

In a fascinating competition, legendary pop composer Yasushi Akimoto (the mastermind behind more than 100 million J-Pop record sales) faced off against his own digital twin: an "AI Akimoto" trained on his unique writing style.

The result? 

• Fans overwhelmingly chose the AI’s track, “Omoide Scroll,” a techno-pop reflection on heartbreak in the smartphone era.

• It received over 14,000 votes, beating Akimoto’s “Cécile” by a margin of more than 3,000.

• The dramatic vote was broadcast live, with Akimoto reportedly exclaiming, “What? You’re kidding me!” in disbelief as the results were read.

“Omoide Scroll” is now AKB48’s 67th single, streaming widely, while the losing human-composed song was quietly pulled from YouTube.

The surprise outcome has electrified Japanese pop, sparking national debate about the future of music and the balance between tradition and technology.

Could AI Misuse Put You Behind Bars?

Italy just became the first nation in the European Union (EU) to pass a sweeping AI law. Dubbed the "Italian way," is it a model for the future or a cautionary tale?

The law pulls no punches with key rules:

• Kids and AI: Children under 14 need parental permission to use AI tools.

• Prison for Abuse: Creating harmful deepfakes or using AI for crimes like fraud can mean 1–5 years in prison.

• Sectoral Protections: AI used in high-stakes areas like healthcare, justice, and education must meet strict transparency and human oversight rules.

The Verdict: Ambition vs. Practicality

• Praise centers on ambition, with supporters hailing the law as a decisive framework that positions Italy as an ethical AI leader.

• Critics highlight flaws including that rapid implementation will crush startups with compliance costs, hindering competitiveness against the US and China.

Bottom line: Italy’s law highlights the tricky balance all countries must strike between innovation and protection. Its success or failure will be a lesson for every nation grappling with the same dilemma.

AI Minister: Breakthrough or Political Circus?

Albania has just made history by appointing an AI assistant named Diella as Minister for Public Procurements, the first AI cabinet post anywhere in the world.

Prime Minister Edi Rama says Diella will make contracts “100 percent corruption-free.”

Lawmakers weren’t buying it: they hurled trash during its inaugural speech as the AI defended itself against claims it was “unconstitutional.”

Once just a chatbot on Albania’s e-gov portal, Diella now oversees billions in public contracts for the country’s 3.1 million citizens. Day one: promoted to minister, booed by parliament. Welcome to politics, AI.