Welcome to today’s edition of The Download, where we explore significant developments in technology. A recent analysis has brought to light the operations of Civitai, an online marketplace powered by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. This platform allows users to buy and sell custom instruction files for generating AI-created content, including deepfakes of celebrities. Alarmingly, the study conducted by researchers from Stanford and Indiana University revealed that a considerable number of these requests—referred to as bounties—specifically targeted women, with many aiming to create pornographic images that are prohibited on the site. The findings raise ethical concerns regarding the implications of such deepfake technology and its potential for misuse.
In another area of technology, the electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing unprecedented growth. Recent statistics show that EVs accounted for over a quarter of global new vehicle sales, a significant increase from previous years. In China, over 60% of new vehicle sales were attributed to battery electric or plug-in hybrid models last year, while Europe saw a surge in purely electric vehicle registrations surpassing those of gas-powered vehicles. However, the United States has seen a slight decline in EV sales, which contrasts with the global trend. As the demand for electric vehicles rises, advancements in battery technology are expected to follow suit, paving the way for a more sustainable transportation future.
Source: The Download: inside a deepfake marketplace, and EV batteries’ future via MIT Technology Review