Pixar

• SALEM, Ore., May 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Willamette University announced today the creation of a new School of Computing and Information Sciences to support the expansion of its rapidly growing computing and data science programs.
• The School of Computing and Information Sciences becomes the university's fifth school, joining the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Law, the Atkinson Graduate School of Management and the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland.
• The formal creation of the new school will help enhance Willamette's current offerings in computing and information science and create pathways for even more of the interdisciplinary opportunities that Willamette is known for.
• "Computing and information science are among the most in-demand degree programs and courses at Willamette," said President Stephen E. Thorsett.

• And the image of Pope Francis sporting a Balenciaga jacket that appeared in March 2023?
• How will voters know whether a video of a political candidate saying something offensive was real or generated by AI?
• Will people be willing to pay artists for their work when AI can create something visually stunning?

The many faces of authenticity

• Authenticity also matters because it is a social glue that reinforces trust.
• In short, authenticity matters, for both individuals and society as a whole.
• One of those is historical authenticity, or whether an object is truly from the time, place and person someone claims it to be.
• A second dimension of authenticity is the kind that plays out when, say, a restaurant in Japan offers exceptional and authentic Neapolitan pizza.
• In my own research, I’ve also seen that authenticity can relate to our expectations about what tools and activities are involved in creating things.

How to deal with the looming authenticity crisis

• Generative AI thrives on exploiting people’s reliance on categorical authenticity by producing material that looks like “the real thing.” So it’ll be important to disentangle historical and categorical authenticity in your own thinking.
• Also, it’ll be important for everyone to get up to speed on what these new generative AI tools really can and can’t do.
• Finally, in a world where AI operates as a tool, society is going to have to consider how to establish guardrails.
• What if Pixar films were deemed ineligible for the Academy Awards because people thought computer animation tools undermined their authenticity?

• The preschool show features Boro the Yeti™, one of the breakout characters first introduced at the original Katmandu™ theme park in Mallorca, Spain, and a group of fun-loving, mischievous young yetis.
• In this mission-oriented show, the young yetis go on adventures across Katmandu.
• Helping them are Kilgore Goode™ and Busby the Robot™, also from the Katmandu franchise, who provide the young yetis with all the tech they need to complete their missions.
• Additional details, including the series’ distribution partner, creative team and title will be unveiled in the coming months.

• The Ascend Foundation celebrated the success of 30 inspiring and amazing leaders at Ascend's A-List Award Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
• The awards spotlighted exceptional leaders who have embraced resiliency and success during times of economic uncertainty.
• This is how we're going to raise the next generation of Americans, citizens, and humans."
• More than Half of the Ascend A-List Honorees Women for the First Time.