“’It’s such an illustrative word,’ said Greg Barlow, Merriam-Webster’s president. ... ‘It’s part of a transformative technology, AI, and it’s something that people have found fascinating, annoying and a little bit ridiculous.’” - AP
“The world's most-visited museum was closed on Monday after workers walked out on strike in protest against working conditions and other complaints, dealing another blow to the landmark after an embarrassing jewellery heist in October.” - Euronews
A Céline Dion jukebox musical dressed up as a spoof of James Cameron’s blockbuster movie retold from the pop diva’s point of view, Titanique ran for three years Off-Broadway and has since been staged on four continents. The show can head to Broadway thanks to the early closing of The Queen of Versailles. - Variety
Attendees hear thought-provoking talks from experts on wide-ranging topics such as Taylor Swift’s use of storytelling in her music, how AI technology is being used to detect cardiovascular diseases — all in a fun, low-stakes environment. And rest assured: No grades are given. It’s a formula that’s been working. - Los Angeles Times
The world is now witnessing a renewed investment in large-scale cultural venues that aim to restore music’s physical and communal dimensions. These projects attempt to reframe the basic act of listening, not through screens, but in a space shared by hundreds or thousands of people. - YNet News
Across the country, a small but growing number of educators are experimenting with oral exams to circumvent the temptations presented by powerful artificial intelligence platforms such as ChatGPT. - Washington Post
It’s become genuinely hard to understand what Tate’s priorities are when it chooses artists for the annual Turbine Hall commission. And the Turner prize is even more mystifying. Once the stage of shocking, provocative art that engaged – whether they were for or against – a massive public, it has retreated into wilful obscurity. - The Guardian
In large and small shows under-the-radar artists surfaced and were hot. At the same time, the arrival of a new political order firing off anti-diversity mandates cast a pall over both the year and the cultural future. - The New York Times
Around 15 percent of all the reference questions received by her staff are written by generative AI, some of which include imaginary citations and sources. This increased burden placed on librarians and institutions is so bad that even organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross are putting people on notice about the problem.
Nettrice Gaskins’ artwork sparked a passionate discussion about AI Thursday when a video of the exhibit posted to the Bay Area subreddit drew hundreds of comments and thousands of interactions from people questioning the airport’s decision to feature AI-generated art. - KRON4
The humanities, which value rigorous inquiry for its own sake, will always be at odds with a world that thinks this way; that’s why relevance is a futile goal. For humanities departments to continue to matter, they must challenge the modern world rather than accommodate it. - The Atlantic
Spotify observes “the first big jump” in holiday-song streaming on Sept. 1, she noted. Activity ticks up again the next month; holiday playlist creation in the U.S. rose 60% from October 2024 to October 2025. Come November, for many listeners, it’s “all Christmas music all the time.” - The Wall Street Journal
One way is by, let’s say, not being intense with their audiences. “My first covenant is with the audience, and I care about what they think. … People don’t want to spend money on a show they don’t think they’re going to like.” - The New York Times
“I embarked on this endeavor, partly fueled by a desire to bring to life onstage a sense of lives caught between the certainties of the past and the unknowable future. I wanted theatergoers to ponder the possibilities of each present moment.” - The New York Times
