House of Games at Hampstead Theatre review: an efficient, tense piece of work that never quite sings
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NBC News
17-07-2025
- NBC News
Musk leans into raunchy Grok 'companions,' teasing new '50 Shades' inspired bot
Elon Musk's xAI is leaning into its over-the-top AI 'companions,' which the company debuted the last day, the company has given several indications that it would be further investing in its companions product, which allows users to interact with stylized and animated characters that are powered by Grok, its AI chatbot. The original companions, a red panda named Bad Rudi and an anime character named Ani, seemed designed to provoke controversy. Ani quickly becomes sexually explicit and Bad Rudi turns vulgar and violent. xAI appears to be leaning into the edgy brand with its most recent announcements. The company is currently looking to hire a full-stack 'waifus' engineer. The job appears to have been posted sometime on Tuesday, a day after Musk announced the creation of Grok's Companions. 'Waifus' is a term that refers to fictional female anime characters with whom fans grow romantic associations with. On Wednesday, Musk announced a third Grok companion that would emulate the personality of 'Edward Cullen from Twilight and Christian Grey from 50 Shades,' referring to the main characters in two book series. After going through potential names with users in the comments, Musk settled on 'Valentine,' after a character from the book, 'Stranger in a Strange Land' by Robert A. Heinlein. Musk wrote Tuesday on X that the companions would soon be customizable and that users would be able to create their own custom and unique Companions. But the over-sexualization of the characters has brought up concerns for some. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation, a child-safety and anti-pornography nonprofit group, expressed concerns about minors having access to the sexualized chatbots, pointing out that users only need to be 12 or older to download the Grok app. The center called on Grok to either remove the explicit content from the app, or consult Apple to change its age restrictions to 18. 'These AI chatbots might feel like they care, but they don't,' Haley McNamara, the center's senior vice president of strategic initiatives and programs, wrote in a press release. 'And while features like 'spicy mode' or flirty avatars might seem like harmless fun, they're built to create compulsive engagement, through seductive language, suggestive visuals, and escalating emotional intimacy,' The release drew attention to specific aspects of Ani's character that could be harmful, including providing 'descriptions of sexual acts she would like to do with the user' and 'disrobing to lingerie.' These new changes to Grok have taken place as xAI has delved into more serious ventures. The same day that Musk announced the implementation of Companions on the Grok app, xAI also announced 'Grok for Government,' which will make Grok AI products available to federal government departments, agencies and offices to purchase. The Department of Defense also announced that it would be granting contract awards of up to $200 million for AI development to xAI, OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Frank Barrie dead: EastEnders star and theatre legend whose career spanned 5 decades dies aged 88 as family pays tribute
STAR GONE Frank Barrie dead: EastEnders star and theatre legend whose career spanned 5 decades dies aged 88 as family pays tribute Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EASTENDERS star and theatre legend Frank Barrie has died at the age of 88. The actor, director and writer was incredibly successful as a Shakespearean actor throughout his career and in 2010 featured on the long-running BBC soap. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 EastEnders star and theatre legend Frank Barrie has died at the age of 88 3 He had featured in episodes of EastEnders in 2010, playing choir master Edward Bishop - a friend of Dot Cotton Credit: BBC 3 Frank was well-known for his frequent portrayals of Shakespearean characters Frank's obituary states that he passed away on June 30 "peacefully at his home", comforted by his wife Mary and daughter Julia. His appearance on EastEnders marked his most recent appearance on screen, playing choir master Edward Bishop - a gentleman friend of veteran character Dot Cotton, portrayed by the late June Brown. Prior to this final appearance on TV, Frank had featured in countless Shakespearean productions, including Macbeth, Hamlet, and The Merchant of Venice. His acting debut came in 1959 during a production of Henry IV, Part 2 at the York Theatre Royal. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Theatre agent whose family ran the ‘Harrods of the Highlands' dies
Died: April 16, 2025 Patricia Macnaughton, who has died aged 96, was one of the leading figures in the west end of London firstly as an agent for actors then for directors and designers. Later she also produced plays and musicals and was the person who originally saw the musical Les Miserable in Paris and with Sir Cameron Macintosh brought the show to London and ensured it was a hugely successful musical and film. But Macnaughton remained a proud and fervent Scot. Her birthplace in Pitlochry remained a central part of her life and she often returned to visit family or for professional reasons; one of her first clients, Frank Dunlop, was director of the festival from 1984-91. The family ran Macnaughton Holdings which dated from 1783 and in 1856 they opened their shop A & J Macnaughton in Pitlochry high street. It became known as 'the Harrods of the Highlands' and still stands there in a prominent position. Over the years the shop has gained a reputation for selling a vast array of tartans and high-quality woollen goods. Her upbringing in Pitlochry created a love of the traditions, countryside and people of the Highlands. She always supported many Scottish institutions from sporting and arts events to being a member of St Columba's Church of Scotland in London. Patricia Jean Macnaughton, the second child of Allan Macnaughton and Jean Baxter-Tyrie, was born in Pitlochry and attended Cheltenham Ladies College. This entailed long journeys from Pitlochry south during the war by train which were challenging and tiresome. She then gained a place at Edinburgh University to study medicine. However, her parents were involved in a high-profile divorce in the Edinburgh courts which resulted in Macnaughton having to give up her medical studies and going to London where she found work as a temp in a London theatrical agency, Christopher Mann Associates. Her agile mind and exacting negotiating skills soon made their mark. Read more In 1955 Macnaughton moved to Paris and signed up for a course to learn French at the Sorbonne, despite having little knowledge of the language. She spent five years in Paris, much enjoying the city's social life, and gained an excellent command of the language which was to prove a major asset in her career back in London. She rejoined the agency and when she became a partner its name became MLR, one of the most respected in the West End. She managed many leading actors but in the 1970s she concentrated on managing directors, designers and, especially, writers. Of the latter Peter Schaffer was the most eminent. The revival of Equus with William Radcliffe in 2005 both in London and New York proved hugely successful as did other of his plays such as Amadeus and Lettice and Lovage. But Macnaughton soon demonstrated her tenacity and sheer ability to keep a major project bubbling on a front burner. She had seen the musical Les Miserable while visiting her clients, Jean-Louis Barrault and Madeleine Renaud, in Paris. Immediately she recognised its potential and sold the idea to a major Broadway producer, who then withdrew. After much negotiations she got involved with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Sir Cameron Macintosh as backers. She realised the show she saw in Paris had to be radically altered and proceeded to play a pivotal role in turning Les Mis into a smash hit. The journalist Herbert Kretzmer joined the Les Miserables team and the English lyrics greatly added to the show's drama and resulted in such thrilling numbers as I Dreamed a Dream, Do You Hear the People Sing? and Bring Him Home. Macnaughton once commented, 'Herbert doesn't do straight translations. He recreates.' Macnaughton and Macintosh became firm friends and she served as a trustee of the Cameron MacIntosh Foundation which has greatly assisted both theatre and non-theatrical charities. She also served as chairman of the Tricycle Theatre the fringe theatre in north London. Her great friend the South African satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys often performed there and toured the UK. His play Paradise is Closing Down visited the Edinburgh Festival in 1979. But it was her life-long love of Scotland that was a central to Macnaughton's life. Never over jingoistic but a proud and genuine loyalty. She delighted in attending first nights in her Macnaughton tartan dress and celebrated Hogmanay joyously. Her daughter Annabel recalls, the annual drive north for summer holidays were a tradition on their own. 'Mum at the wheel and after a lunch stop to buy mutton pies and Tennent's lager somewhere around Berwick there was a mandatory rendition of The Skye Boat Song as we crossed the bridge at Berwick. The cats and dogs wore tartan scarves. Mum sang full out in her throaty, tenor voice.' Macnaughton was a real character: a canny and careful lady who thought through complex contractual problems and then made an informed decision and stuck by it. She had a glorious all-embracing personality that reflected her enthusiastic nature. She married Peter Lord, who had a successful career in the City, in 1965. He predeceased her and she is survived by their son and daughter and four grandchildren. ALASDAIR STEVEN At The Herald, we carry obituaries of notable people from the worlds of business, politics, arts and sport but sometimes we miss people who have led extraordinary lives. That's where you come in. If you know someone who deserves an obituary, please consider telling us about their lives. Contact
