Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, your quick dose of the latest in digital innovation, tech industry developments, and AI breakthroughs. Hosted by Adam Nagus and Carly Wilson, each episode distills complex stories—from Cloudflare’s new AI content marketplace and Google’s rising carbon footprint to the pitfalls of AI-generated subtitles in anime and revolutionary AI-designed paints. We also explore bold legal missteps involving AI, like fake court cases that could change how courts handle emerging tech. Tune in for sharp insights, expert analysis, and a look at how AI and digital transformation are shaping our world—fast, focused, and always fascinating.
Don't forget to checkout our larger sister podcast - The Digimasters Podcast here. Which has many expert guests discussing AI, Career Mentoring, Fractional Careers, Digital and much much more.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Adam N2 (00:05):
Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam
Nagus
Carly W (00:09):
and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from
the digital realm.
Cloudflare, serving 20% of theweb, has launched a private beta
of its new marketplace calledPay per Crawl, aimed at giving
publishers control over AIcrawlers accessing their
content.
This platform allows websiteowners to set micropayments for
AI companies to scrape theirsites or block them entirely.
(00:30):
The move comes amid growingconcerns over AI models training
on news content withoutcompensation, with Cloudflare
positioning itself as amediator.
New Cloudflare websites will nowblock AI crawlers by default,
requiring explicit permissionfor access.
Major publishers like CondeNast, TIME, and The Atlantic
have joined to support thispermission-based approach.
(00:51):
Recent data reveals AI crawlersscrape websites far more
aggressively than Google’scrawler, often without
generating equivalent referraltraffic.
Cloudflare envisions a futurewhere AI agents can pay directly
for content access, enabling newbusiness models for publishers.
Both publishers and AI companiesmust have Cloudflare accounts to
participate, with Cloudflarehandling payments and
(01:14):
distribution.
While cryptocurrency is notcurrently used in transactions,
Cloudflare is exploringstablecoin options to streamline
payments.
This initiative signals apotential shift in how digital
content is monetized in the AIera but faces challenges in
broad adoption and industrycooperation.
Adam N2 (01:32):
New research from the Kairos Fellowship reveals that
Google's carbon emissionsincreased by 65% between 2019
and 2024, higher than the 51%the company reported.
Since 2010, Google’s greenhousegas emissions have surged by
over 1,500%, with the biggestjump of 26% occurring from 2023
(01:52):
to 2024.
The discrepancy arises fromGoogle's use of market-based
metrics that account forrenewable energy purchases,
while Kairos uses location-baseddata reflecting actual grid
emissions.
Google's data center energy usealone has increased by 820%
since 2010, expected to risefurther with AI expansion.
(02:12):
The company’s water withdrawalgrew 27% between 2023 and 2024,
equating to the annual waterneeds of 2.5 million people in
Boston.
Kairos warns Google is unlikelyto meet its 2030 net-zero goal
without significant change,noting the majority of emissions
come from Scope 2 and Scope 3categories.
Google refutes the report,stating its emissions
(02:34):
calculations follow acceptedprotocols and undergo
third-party verification.
Experts stress that the rapidgrowth of AI is driving energy
demand beyond planet-friendlylimits.
Environmental groups urge techgiants to halt new fossil
fuel-powered data centers amidincreasing electricity
consumption rivaling that ofmid-sized states.
The Kairos report alsocriticizes Google's reliance on
(02:57):
speculative clean energytechnologies like nuclear power
to meet emissions goals.
Crunchyroll’s latest animeseries, Necronomico and the
Cosmic Horror Show, has drawnattention for subtitles riddled
with typos, grammatical errors,and explicit references to Chat
G.P.T.
Viewers noticed lines like"Isgameorver.
if you fall, you are out,"alongside subtitles beginning
(03:18):
with"Chat G.P.T said,"suggesting the text was
generated by AI without properreview.
This raises concerns aboutCrunchyroll’s increasing use of
AI, despite previous statementsfrom president Rahul Purini
denying plans to use AI in thecreative process.
Purini emphasized the company'scommitment to authenticity and
said AI wouldn’t impact voiceactors.
(03:40):
However, Crunchyroll hasindicated interest in leveraging
AI for improving discoverabilityand personalization.
The company has not responded toinquiries about the subtitle
errors or its quality controlmeasures.
This incident underscores thevital role of human translators
and localization teams inpreserving quality and accuracy.
It also highlights risksassociated with the
(04:01):
entertainment industry's rapidadoption of generative AI.
While AI might help speed upsubtitle production for quick
streaming releases, such poorlywritten subtitles harm the
viewing experience.
Ultimately, this situationchallenges notions of
authenticity and quality inanime localization.
Carly W (04:19):
Scientists have developed AI-engineered paint
that can cool buildings by 5 to20 degrees Celsius under midday
sun, potentially reducing urbanheat and cutting
air-conditioning costs.
The research, conducted by teamsin the U.S, China, Singapore,
and Sweden, used machinelearning to design coatings that
better reflect sunlight and emitheat.
(04:39):
Published in the journal Nature,the study showed that applying
this paint to apartment rooftopscould save significant
electricity, equivalent topowering over 10,000 air
conditioners annually if used on1,000 buildings in hot climates.
This innovation exemplifies howAI accelerates materials science
by moving beyond traditionaltrial-and-error methods.
AI has also been instrumental indeveloping new permanent magnets
(05:03):
for electric vehicles anddesigning inorganic materials
for solar panels and medicalimplants.
According to Professor YuebingZheng of the University of
Texas, AI reduced the materialdesign process from a month to
days while creating previouslyunimaginable materials.
Researchers follow AI-generateddesigns without extensive
fabrication testing, speeding upexperimentation cycles.
(05:25):
Dr.
Alex Ganose from ImperialCollege London noted the rapid
growth of startups usinggenerative AI for materials
development.
AI enables scientists to exploremillions of molecular
combinations and specify desiredproperties upfront, largely
overcoming past computationallimits.
This breakthrough promisesenergy savings and advances the
(05:46):
broader application of AI inclean technology innovation.
A Georgia Court of Appeals panelhas fined Atlanta lawyer Diana
Lynch$2,500 for citing fakelegal cases in a divorce
proceeding.
The May 2024 order, prepared byLynch and signed by a DeKalb
County judge, referenced twocourt cases that do not exist.
When confronted, Lynch respondedwith filings citing 11 cases
(06:09):
that were either fabricated orirrelevant.
The judges suggested Lynch’sfilings were likely generated
using artificial intelligence,marking a potential first for a
Georgia appellate court.
Chief Justice John Robertspreviously warned about AI
"hallucinations" leading tofabricated legal citations.
Lynch’s use of these fictitiouscases prevented the ex-wife from
(06:30):
properly responding to herdivorce filing.
The appeals court also penalizedLynch for a frivolous request
for attorney fees supported byanother fake case.
The case has been sent back tothe DeKalb County judge to
reconsider voiding the divorcedecree.
This incident underscoresgrowing judicial concerns about
A.I's impact on legalproceedings.
A Georgia Supreme Courtcommittee is currently examining
(06:53):
A.I's role to protect publictrust in the justice system.
Don (06:57):
Thank you for listening to today's AI and Tech News podcast
summary...
Please do leave us a comment andfor additional feedback, please
email us atpodcast@digimasters.co.uk You
can now follow us on Instagramand Threads by searching for
@DigimastersShorts or Search forDigimasters on Linkedin.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow anddon't forget to follow or
subscribe!
Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam
Nagus
Carly W (00:09):
and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from
the digital realm.
Cloudflare, serving 20% of theweb, has launched a private beta
of its new marketplace calledPay per Crawl, aimed at giving
publishers control over AIcrawlers accessing their
content.
This platform allows websiteowners to set micropayments for
AI companies to scrape theirsites or block them entirely.
(00:30):
The move comes amid growingconcerns over AI models training
on news content withoutcompensation, with Cloudflare
positioning itself as amediator.
New Cloudflare websites will nowblock AI crawlers by default,
requiring explicit permissionfor access.
Major publishers like CondeNast, TIME, and The Atlantic
have joined to support thispermission-based approach.
(00:51):
Recent data reveals AI crawlersscrape websites far more
aggressively than Google’scrawler, often without
generating equivalent referraltraffic.
Cloudflare envisions a futurewhere AI agents can pay directly
for content access, enabling newbusiness models for publishers.
Both publishers and AI companiesmust have Cloudflare accounts to
participate, with Cloudflarehandling payments and
(01:14):
distribution.
While cryptocurrency is notcurrently used in transactions,
Cloudflare is exploringstablecoin options to streamline
payments.
This initiative signals apotential shift in how digital
content is monetized in the AIera but faces challenges in
broad adoption and industrycooperation.
Adam N2 (01:32):
New research from the Kairos Fellowship reveals that
Google's carbon emissionsincreased by 65% between 2019
and 2024, higher than the 51%the company reported.
Since 2010, Google’s greenhousegas emissions have surged by
over 1,500%, with the biggestjump of 26% occurring from 2023
(01:52):
to 2024.
The discrepancy arises fromGoogle's use of market-based
metrics that account forrenewable energy purchases,
while Kairos uses location-baseddata reflecting actual grid
emissions.
Google's data center energy usealone has increased by 820%
since 2010, expected to risefurther with AI expansion.
(02:12):
The company’s water withdrawalgrew 27% between 2023 and 2024,
equating to the annual waterneeds of 2.5 million people in
Boston.
Kairos warns Google is unlikelyto meet its 2030 net-zero goal
without significant change,noting the majority of emissions
come from Scope 2 and Scope 3categories.
Google refutes the report,stating its emissions
(02:34):
calculations follow acceptedprotocols and undergo
third-party verification.
Experts stress that the rapidgrowth of AI is driving energy
demand beyond planet-friendlylimits.
Environmental groups urge techgiants to halt new fossil
fuel-powered data centers amidincreasing electricity
consumption rivaling that ofmid-sized states.
The Kairos report alsocriticizes Google's reliance on
(02:57):
speculative clean energytechnologies like nuclear power
to meet emissions goals.
Crunchyroll’s latest animeseries, Necronomico and the
Cosmic Horror Show, has drawnattention for subtitles riddled
with typos, grammatical errors,and explicit references to Chat
G.P.T.
Viewers noticed lines like"Isgameorver.
if you fall, you are out,"alongside subtitles beginning
(03:18):
with"Chat G.P.T said,"suggesting the text was
generated by AI without properreview.
This raises concerns aboutCrunchyroll’s increasing use of
AI, despite previous statementsfrom president Rahul Purini
denying plans to use AI in thecreative process.
Purini emphasized the company'scommitment to authenticity and
said AI wouldn’t impact voiceactors.
(03:40):
However, Crunchyroll hasindicated interest in leveraging
AI for improving discoverabilityand personalization.
The company has not responded toinquiries about the subtitle
errors or its quality controlmeasures.
This incident underscores thevital role of human translators
and localization teams inpreserving quality and accuracy.
It also highlights risksassociated with the
(04:01):
entertainment industry's rapidadoption of generative AI.
While AI might help speed upsubtitle production for quick
streaming releases, such poorlywritten subtitles harm the
viewing experience.
Ultimately, this situationchallenges notions of
authenticity and quality inanime localization.
Carly W (04:19):
Scientists have developed AI-engineered paint
that can cool buildings by 5 to20 degrees Celsius under midday
sun, potentially reducing urbanheat and cutting
air-conditioning costs.
The research, conducted by teamsin the U.S, China, Singapore,
and Sweden, used machinelearning to design coatings that
better reflect sunlight and emitheat.
(04:39):
Published in the journal Nature,the study showed that applying
this paint to apartment rooftopscould save significant
electricity, equivalent topowering over 10,000 air
conditioners annually if used on1,000 buildings in hot climates.
This innovation exemplifies howAI accelerates materials science
by moving beyond traditionaltrial-and-error methods.
AI has also been instrumental indeveloping new permanent magnets
(05:03):
for electric vehicles anddesigning inorganic materials
for solar panels and medicalimplants.
According to Professor YuebingZheng of the University of
Texas, AI reduced the materialdesign process from a month to
days while creating previouslyunimaginable materials.
Researchers follow AI-generateddesigns without extensive
fabrication testing, speeding upexperimentation cycles.
(05:25):
Dr.
Alex Ganose from ImperialCollege London noted the rapid
growth of startups usinggenerative AI for materials
development.
AI enables scientists to exploremillions of molecular
combinations and specify desiredproperties upfront, largely
overcoming past computationallimits.
This breakthrough promisesenergy savings and advances the
(05:46):
broader application of AI inclean technology innovation.
A Georgia Court of Appeals panelhas fined Atlanta lawyer Diana
Lynch$2,500 for citing fakelegal cases in a divorce
proceeding.
The May 2024 order, prepared byLynch and signed by a DeKalb
County judge, referenced twocourt cases that do not exist.
When confronted, Lynch respondedwith filings citing 11 cases
(06:09):
that were either fabricated orirrelevant.
The judges suggested Lynch’sfilings were likely generated
using artificial intelligence,marking a potential first for a
Georgia appellate court.
Chief Justice John Robertspreviously warned about AI
"hallucinations" leading tofabricated legal citations.
Lynch’s use of these fictitiouscases prevented the ex-wife from
(06:30):
properly responding to herdivorce filing.
The appeals court also penalizedLynch for a frivolous request
for attorney fees supported byanother fake case.
The case has been sent back tothe DeKalb County judge to
reconsider voiding the divorcedecree.
This incident underscoresgrowing judicial concerns about
A.I's impact on legalproceedings.
A Georgia Supreme Courtcommittee is currently examining
(06:53):
A.I's role to protect publictrust in the justice system.
Don (06:57):
Thank you for listening to today's AI and Tech News podcast
summary...
Please do leave us a comment andfor additional feedback, please
email us atpodcast@digimasters.co.uk You
can now follow us on Instagramand Threads by searching for
@DigimastersShorts or Search forDigimasters on Linkedin.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow anddon't forget to follow or
subscribe!
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