Microsoft has disclosed a new AI framework named VASA-1, designed to animate highly realistic talking heads from a single photograph and an audio file. This technology is capable of synthesizing facial expressions, head movements, and synchronizing lip movements with the provided audio, allowing even for singing. While similar technologies have been released by Nvidia Corp. and Runway AI Inc., Microsoft's VASA-1 showcases a higher degree of realism with fewer artefacts around the mouth region. Currently a research initiative, VASA-1 has not been made publicly available, citing potential risks of misuse such as creating convincing deepfakes. Microsoft aims to explore positive applications, emphasizing virtual character animation for video games and other media, while ensuring responsible use of the technology.

Microsoft's new VASA-1 AI framework generates super-realistic talking heads that can even sing songs - SiliconANGLE SiliconANGLE

In the article "The Patient" by Katie A. Thure, published in JAMA on April 18, 2024, the author reflects on the dehumanizing way medical professionals can sometimes refer to patients. Through recounting the hospitalization and subsequent death of her mother due to pneumonia and septic shock, Thure highlights the impact of clinical detachment and the common medical practice of reducing patients to clinical summaries. She criticizes the impersonal term "the patient" used by a doctor when discussing her mother's imminent death, and argues for the importance of maintaining personal identity in medical settings by using patients' names. This personal narrative underlines the need for empathy and human connection in healthcare practices, advocating for a more compassionate approach to patient care.

“The Patient” Publication

In a recent podcast interview with the New York Times’ Ezra Klein, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei discussed the potential future capabilities of AI, including self-replication and survival in uncontrolled environments. Drawing on virology lab biosafety levels as an analogy, Amodei explained that AI is evolving towards greater autonomy and influence, potentially enhancing state-level military capabilities and posing significant geopolitical threats. He believes these developments could be realized as soon as between 2025 and 2028, emphasizing the urgent need for responsible scaling and governance in AI technology to prevent misuse and ensure it benefits society.

Anthropic CEO Says That by Next Year, AI Models Could Be Able to “Replicate and Survive in the Wild” publication

Cisco has issued a warning about an extensive brute-force attack campaign targeting VPN and SSH services across multiple device platforms including Cisco, CheckPoint, Fortinet, SonicWall, and Ubiquiti. Initiated on March 18, 2024, these attacks utilize a combination of legitimate and generic employee usernames, employing anonymization tools such as TOR and various proxies to avoid detection. The assailants attempt to crack device or network access credentials which may lead to unauthorized access, account lockouts, or denial-of-service scenarios. Cisco Talos has also shared indicators of compromise on GitHub, which includes attacker IP addresses and the usernames/passwords used, to help mitigate this threat.

Cisco warns of large-scale brute-force attacks against VPN services BleepingComputer