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CNBC
41 minutes ago
- CNBC
Astronomer hires Gwyneth Paltrow with a wink after 'kiss cam' viral video
Data company Astronomer may be making lemonade by hiring Gwyneth Paltrow as a "temporary spokesperson" to answer questions in the wake of a viral "kiss cam" video. The company made headlines after internet sleuths identified its CEO and chief people officer as the man and woman seen embracing and then hiding their faces on a "kiss cam" at a July 16 Coldplay concert. Both have since resigned. Paltrow appeared in a television-style spot on Astronomer's social media on Friday making a pitch for the company's everyday strengths. "Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones," said Paltrow, who split with Coldplay singer Chris Martin in 2014. Paltrow cut off a question that started with "OMG!" to emphatically say, "Yes, Astronomer is the best place to run Apache Airflow." "We've been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation," she added. She interrupted another question — "How is your social media team holding ..." — to make a pitch for an Astronomer conference in September. Paltrow concluded, "We will now be returning to what we do best — delivering game-changing results for our customers." CEO Andy Byron resigned on July 19, and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot followed on Thursday, according to statements from the company. Their body language after the camera captured them in an embrace led Martin to remark on stage, "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." Astronomer said afterward it was investigating the incident. "Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability," it said on July 18. The company confirmed Thursday that Cabot was the woman in the video. Neither she nor Byron have responded to requests for comment. Astronomer, a New York-based company, helps companies develop, grow, and analyze products using artificial intelligence.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
AI-fueled crypto scams are booming, up 456% — and no one is safe, expert warns
Crypto crooks are getting bolder — and now, they sound just like your mom. Global crypto scams soared 456% between May 2024 and April 2025 — becoming increasingly reliant on AI-generated voices, deepfake videos and phony credentials to fleece unsuspecting victims, blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs' Ari Redbord told The Post after testifying before Congress last Tuesday. 'These scams are highly effective, as the technology feels incredibly real and familiar to the victim,' Redbord said. Advertisement 4 TRM Labs' Ari Redbord, who testified before Congress last week, says scammers are now using AI-generated voices and deepfake credentials to mimic loved ones and steal crypto. Igor Faun – 'We've seen cases where scammers use AI to replicate the voice of a loved one, tricking the victim into transferring money under the guise of an urgent request.' And the threat is exploding — especially in high-density cities like New York, Miami and Los Angeles, he added. In June, New York officials froze $300,000 in stolen cryptocurrency and seized more than 100 scam websites linked to a Vietnam-based ring that targeted Russian-speaking Brooklynites with fake Facebook investment ads. Advertisement Meta shut down over 700 Facebook accounts tied to the scam. Investigators say the group used deepfake BitLicense certificates and moved victims onto encrypted apps like Telegram before draining their wallets. 4 Even crypto pros aren't safe — MoonPay's CEO and CFO were conned into wiring $250,000 to a scammer pretending to be a Trump inauguration insider. Igor Faun – Advertisement Some New Yorkers lost hundreds of thousands of dollars — and it's not just everyday joes getting targeted. Even crypto insiders are falling for it. Florida-based crypto firm MoonPay saw its CEO Ivan Soto-Wright and CFO Mouna Ammari Siala duped into wiring $250,000 in crypto to a scammer posing as Trump inauguration co-chair Steve Witkoff, according to a recent Department of Justice complaint. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Globally, fraudsters swiped more than $10.7 billion in 2024 through crypto cons — including romance scams, fake trading platforms and 'pig-butchering,' where scammers build fake relationships before draining victims' accounts, Redbord said. Advertisement In the US, Americans filed nearly 150,000 crypto-related fraud complaints in 2024, with losses topping $3.9 billion, according to the FBI. But the real number is likely much higher. 4 A Vietnam-based ring targeted Brooklyn's Russian-speaking community with fake BitLicenses and phony Facebook accounts before vanishing with hundreds of thousands. Igor Faun – 'Only around 15% of victims actually report these crimes,' Redbord said, citing shame, fear and distrust in law enforcement — particularly among older adults and immigrant communities. One of these scammers go-to tools? Crypto ATMs — especially those tucked inside New York delis and convenience stores. Illicit use at these kiosks is more than twice as high as in the broader crypto market, Redbord said. Victims are often directed to scan a QR code and deposit cash, instantly converting it to crypto before the funds disappear. As the scams rage on, Washington is starting to bring order to the Wild West of crypto. 4 Officials say the real number of crypto scam victims is far higher than reported, as shame and fear keep many from coming forward. Igor Faun – House lawmakers wrapped up 'Crypto Week' last Thursday by passing the first-ever comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation — a trio of bills focused on regulating stablecoins, trading platforms and digital asset infrastructure. Advertisement Even so, Redbord advised, common sense is the best defense. 'If something feels too good to be true — especially unsolicited investment advice — it almost always is,' he said. 'Verify the platform. Confirm identities. And when in doubt, report it — whether to IC3, Chainabuse or your local authorities.'
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Would you ever swap human artists for AI in your playlist
Psychedelic rock band The Velvet Sundown has over a million monthly listeners on Spotify and earns thousands of dollars every month. However, the catch is that it's not a traditional band at all. It's mostly made by artificial intelligence. Their Spotify bio confirms that the group is a synthetic music project, guided by human creative direction but composed, voiced, and visualized using AI. This is a sign of where music may be headed. This revelation has sparked heated debate within the music industry. Some people see it as an exciting new frontier for creativity. Others see it as a threat to everything music has traditionally stood for: originality, emotion, and human expression. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Platforms like Suno and Udio now allow users to generate original songs with just a few prompts. These tools handle everything, vocals, instruments, structure, with startling sophistication. The Velvet Sundown reportedly earned more than $34,000 in a single month from streaming platforms. And it's not alone. Other acts, such as Aventhis, a "dark country" musician with over 600,000 monthly listeners, are also believed to be powered by AI-generated content. This isn't happening in a studio with a team of producers. It's often just one person inputting text and outputting tracks. The barrier to entry is nearly gone. With a laptop and internet connection, anyone can create and distribute AI-generated songs on a massive scale. Major record labels are pushing back. Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Records have filed lawsuits against AI music platforms, accusing them of using copyrighted material without permission during the training process. At the same time, music creators and advocacy groups are demanding regulation. They want AI-generated tracks to be clearly labeled. They're also calling for updated copyright protections to prevent the misuse of human-created work during AI training. Streaming platforms are starting to acknowledge the issue. Deezer revealed that nearly one in five new uploads are entirely AI-generated. This trend is growing and reshaping the very idea of what it means to be a musician today. For emerging musicians, the rise of AI is deeply frustrating. Tilly Louise, an alternative pop artist based in the UK, has amassed millions of streams but still works a full-time job because her music doesn't generate enough income. Watching an AI-generated band pull in massive streaming numbers feels like being pushed aside by something that isn't even real. She's not alone in this sentiment. Many artists feel overwhelmed by an industry that increasingly rewards volume and virality over authenticity and hard work. Some critics warn that AI-generated art dilutes genuine human expression, believing it floods the internet with hollow content, making it harder for listeners to form a genuine connection through music. Not everyone sees AI as the enemy. Grammy-winning producer Timbaland recently launched a venture called Stage Zero, which plans to spotlight AI-generated pop stars. Music schools are also adapting. Educators are now teaching students how to utilize AI tools to enhance their creative process, rather than avoiding them. Still, even those who are optimistic about the technology admit that it could completely upend the music business. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly easy to produce, the competition for listener attention and streaming dollars will intensify. Nobody knows exactly what the future will look like, but the direction is clear: AI is no longer on the fringes. It's already in the mainstream. AI is no longer just supporting music creation; it is actively creating music that listeners are streaming and enjoying. Whether it's rock, country, or pop, AI-generated songs are showing up in more playlists every day. The real question is not whether AI music is good enough. It's whether listeners will care that it wasn't made by a human. As technology improves and the lines between human and machine blur, that question will only get harder to answer. Does it matter who made the music, as long as it sounds good? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
