Hank Azaria says idea of AI replacing him on ‘The Simpsons’ makes him ‘sad’
Hank Azaria, a longtime star of “The Simpsons,” raises concerns about AI replicating voices without capturing human artistry. In a New York Times op-ed, he questions whether AI can ever replicate the full experience of voice acting.
Azaria argues that AI lacks the emotional depth of human performances and emphasizes that voice acting involves full-body movements.
He stresses that real performances require craftsmanship, and he is not alone in questioning AI’s role in entertainment.
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Hank Azaria is raising concerns about artificial intelligence in voice acting. The longtime star of “The Simpsons” fears AI could replicate voices without capturing human artistry.
In a New York Times op-ed, Azaria discussed AI’s growing ability to mimic speech. He questions whether a machine can ever replicate the full experience of voice acting.
Azaria has been in the industry for nearly 40 years. He is best known for voicing multiple characters on “The Simpsons,” including Moe Szyslak and Chief Wiggum.
Beyond Springfield, he has voiced Gargamel in “The Smurfs” reboot (2011) and numerous other animated characters.
The human touch in voice acting
Azaria argued that AI lacks the emotional depth of human performances. He emphasized that voice acting is more than just sound — it involves full-body movements.
“There’s so much of who I am that goes into creating a voice,” Azaria writes. “How can the computer conjure all that?”
He shared that he often feels embarrassed watching himself in the recording booth. However, he said that those physical gestures help bring characters to life in a way AI cannot.
AI in Hollywood: A growing concern
Azaria is not alone in questioning AI’s role in entertainment. Recently, “The Brutalist” faced backlash after an editor revealed AI was used to enhance Hungarian accents for actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.
Azaria closed his op-ed by stressing that real performances require craftsmanship.
“Believability is earned through craftsmanship, with good storytelling and good performances, good cinematography and good directing and a good script and good music,” he concluded.
Google’s AI displays cheese mix-up in Super Bowl ad
Google’s AI Super Bowl ad claimed that Gouda accounts for 50-60% of global cheese consumption, but travel blogger Nate Hake quickly called out the incorrect statistic. This led Google to remove the claim from the ad quietly.
Hake accused Google of spreading “hallucinated facts” and highlighted that this wasn’t an isolated incident.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, mozzarella ranks as the top cheese in America, while cheese preferences vary globally with cheddar, feta and Parmesan also popular.
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Google’s AI just made a misstep. A Super Bowl ad meant to showcase Gemini’s capabilities instead delivered a Gouda blunder.
In honor of the big game, Google released 50 short ads highlighting small businesses — one from every state. The Wisconsin ad, fittingly set in America’s Dairyland, featured Gemini helping a cheesemonger write a product description.
The AI-generated text claimed that Gouda accounts for 50-60% of the world’s cheese consumption. But travel blogger Nate Hake quickly called out the statistic.
“Gemini provides no source, but that is just unequivocally false. Cheddar & mozzarella would like a word,” he said.
AI-generated facts questioned
Hake took to X, formerly Twitter, to address the issue. He accused Google of “plastering hallucinated facts all over the internet” and claimed this wasn’t an isolated mistake.
“To be clear – I’m saying the actual content of Google’s ads show hallucinations on screen, that YOU can go find live on the web. There are 50 of these,” he posted.
According to Google, an AI hallucination occurs when a model generates incorrect or misleading results. AI systems predict answers based on patterns in data, but accuracy depends on the quality of that data.
Google defends Gemini AI
A Google executive responded to Hake’s post: “Not a hallucination, Gemini is grounded in the web – and users can always check the results and references. In this case, multiple sites across the web include the 50-60% stat.”
Despite the defense, Google quietly removed the statistic from the ad. The revised version now simply describes Gouda without making any claims about its global popularity.
What is the world’s most popular cheese?
But if Gouda isn’t the most popular cheese worldwide, what is?
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Cheeseman states that Gouda is only the most popular in cooler parts of Europe. The site also notes that cheese preferences vary by region.
Depending on the source, cheddar, feta or Parmesan could also claim the world’s most popular cheese title.
Lawmakers move to ban DeepSeek AI on government devices
A bipartisan bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to ban DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence chatbot on government-issued devices. Lawmakers claim the app’s code is linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), raising significant data tracking and national security concerns.
DeepSeek’s code reportedly allows data sharing with China Mobile, a company owned by the Chinese government and banned in the U.S. by the FCC.
The concerns about DeepSeek are similar to those regarding TikTok, which Congress voted to ban unless its parent company sells the app.
“We have deeply disturbing evidence that [the CCP] are using DeepSeek to steal the sensitive data of U.S. citizens. This is a five-alarm national security fire,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said in a statement. “We simply can’t risk the CCP infiltrating the devices of our government officials and jeopardizing our national security.
What are the concerns over DeepSeek?
DeepSeek’s code allows data to be shared with China Mobile. The company is owned by the Chinese government and has close ties with the country’s military. China Mobile is banned in the United States by the FCC.
“DeepSeek’s generative AI program acquires the data of U.S. users and stores the information for unidentified use by the CCP. Under no circumstances can we allow a CCP company to obtain sensitive government or personal data,” Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., said. “This commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation will ban the app from federal workers’ phones while closing backdoor operations the company seeks to exploit for access.”
The concerns about DeepSeek mirror those regarding the short-form video app TikTok. Congress voted to ban in the United States entirely unless its parent company sells the app.
TikTok collects a large amount of data on its users. That includes their location, messages, keystrokes (what they type), file names and types, photographs and videos, and biometric information like face and voice.
As the lawmakers explained, Americans share highly sensitive, proprietary information with DeepSeek, including contracts, documents and financial records. They said in the wrong hands, the data is an enormous asset to China.
The CCP is known for stealing intellectual property from American companies. They use it to create the same products in China for less money and out-price the companies that developed it.
The national security, military and economic threat posed by the CCP is one of the few bipartisan issues on which Congress moves quickly.
Trump bans transgender athletes from women’s sports
President Donald Trump signs an executive order prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in female sports, claiming the war on women’s sports is over. And the State Department claims Panama is willing to waive fees on American ships using the Panama Canal, despite the Panamanian government saying otherwise. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.
Trump bans transgender athletes from women’s, girls’ sports
President Donald Trump followed through on another campaign promise Wednesday, Feb. 5. He signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump said.
He added, “This will effectively end the attack on female athletes at public K-12 schools and virtually all U.S. colleges and universities. I don’t think we missed anything, but if we do, we’ll make it up very quickly with an order.”
The order rolls back Biden administration guidance on Title IX, a civil rights law that prevents sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding
“We're putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice that if you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding.” –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MUd6FAetWr
The current measure, dubbed “No Men in Women’s Sports,” is the fourth executive order Trump has signed involving transgender people since taking office just over two weeks ago. Critics said the order addresses a problem that simply is not there.
“First of all, the numbers, they don’t exist,” said activist and former professional cyclist Kristen Worley. “Understand that there’s 0.01% gender variant people living in our society as a whole, so it’s a very tiny, tiny group of people that he’s actually targeting, and certainly the numbers in terms of gender performance are filled with inaccuracies as well.”
However, supporters of the order pointed to a trans swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania and a trans volleyball player at San Jose State as examples of men who transitioned to women and then dominated women’s sports.
The executive order also stipulates that the Trump administration will work with sports governing bodies, including the International Olympic Committee, to ensure that guidance is followed in noneducational settings.
Democratic senators protest Vought’s nomination with overnight speech marathon
Democratic senators held the floor overnight Wednesday into Thursday to protest Russell Vought’s nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget.
Republicans have the majority in the Senate, so they have consistently confirmed Trump’s nominees, even without Democratic approval. Vought was set to be confirmed for the job Wednesday night, but Democrats vowed to slow the process dramatically.
Democrats have warned about Vought’s ties to Project 2025, a conservative push to reshape the federal government. Trump has denied following its guidelines.
We're holding the Senate floor all night to fight back against Trump’s nomination of Russell Vought.
America saw how bad OMB’s illegal, incompetent funding freeze was.
We want Americans to hear EVERY HOUR how bad the dangers are that he poses to their daily lives as OMB head. pic.twitter.com/ksJ2VG7nJX
Things came to a head after the OMB released a memo last week freezing federal funding. While the memo was rescinded not long after, Democrats said it was a warning sign for how Vought, who at least one Democratic senator has called Trump’s “most dangerous nominee,” would run the office, which plays a key role in enacting the president’s agenda.
Senate Democrats began what they said would be a 30-hour protest Wednesday afternoon. Despite the protest, the full Senate will vote to confirm Vought as budget director Thursday evening.
Vought previously held this position during Trump’s first term. Republican Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota said he has a good working relationship with Vought and expects it to continue.
Panama denies US claim government vessels can transit canal for free
Hours after the State Department announced that American ships would be allowed to sail through the Panama Canal for free, Panama said that was not true.
In a post on Wednesday, the State Department said Secretary Marco Rubio had agreed with Panamanian leadership to allow the move, saving the federal government millions of dollars a year. Rubio had visited Panama this week.
The Panama Canal Authority said it sets the tolls and other fees for crossing the canal and “has not made any adjustments to them.” The authority added that it is open to dialogue with the U.S.
Before taking office, Trump demanded that Panamanian authorities either lower fees for American ships using the Panama Canal or return its control to the U.S.
‘Sanctuary city’ mayors to testify before House committee
“Sanctuary city” mayors will testify before House lawmakers in an upcoming hearing on immigration policies, according to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky.
Comer launched a probe into sanctuary policies, which allow a jurisdiction to limit its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials when it comes to the Trump crackdown on illegal immigration. Mayors in major cities such as Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia have said they will not help.
This comes as newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi hit the ground running on her first day in office Wednesday, ordering a pause in federal funding from the Justice Department for sanctuary cities. Straight Arrow News reporter Lauren Taylor has the details here.
The mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City, among others, will appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on March 5 to discuss sanctuary policies.
New bird flu variation found in US dairy cattle
Testers have discovered a second bird flu variation in American dairy cows for the first time.
The Department of Agriculture announced the new strain on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Until recently, all dairy herd detections in the U.S. had been infected with a form of bird flu known as B3.13.
This new version, D1.1, was previously detected only in wild birds and poultry, but has now spread to cows.
It’s also the strain that’s been linked to a deadly human case in Louisiana last year after the victim was exposed to infected birds.
Humans infected with D1.1 have experienced more severe symptoms than those with the previous bird flu strain. However, the CDC said the risk to the general public remains low, and there is no evidence of the spread of D1.1 from human to human.
AI ‘digitally unrolls’ 2,000-year-old scrolls burned in Vesuvius eruption
Using artificial intelligence, X-rays and CT scans, researchers have deciphered some words on an ancient scroll burned by lava from Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
The rolled-up papyrus scrolls were found in a mansion in Herculaneum, an ancient town near Pompeii, in the mid-1700s. Researchers attempted to unfurl them for more than two centuries to see what was inside and what they said.
The few scrolls they could open contained philosophical writing in ancient Greek. Others were so severely damaged by the lava that they were illegible — until now.
On Wednesday, specialists at Oxford University in London announced a significant breakthrough. Technicians used a massive machine called a synchrotron to create a powerful X-ray beam that could look inside a fragile scroll without damaging it. The Oxford scholars are now continuing to decipher the text on this scroll.
Google reverses pledge to not use AI for weapons or surveillance
Google updated its public AI ethics policy. The decision reverses the company’s promise that it won’t use the technology to pursue applications for weapons and surveillance.
Google is defending the change, saying it now has a better “understanding of AI’s potential and risks.”
Some are criticizing the decision with one Google employee saying “the company should not be in the business of war.”
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In a sharp reversal from its original principles, Google updated its artificial intelligence ethics policy during the week of Feb. 3, lifting a longstanding ban on the technology being used to create weapons and conduct surveillance. A previous version of the policy stated the company would not use AI for developing weapons or other technology intended to injure people or technology used to surveil beyond international norms.
That language is gone from the policy page, with this disclosure at the top: “We’ve made updates to our AI principles. Visit AI.Google for the latest.”
The company first published its AI principles in 2018, which is years before the technology became vastly common.
Why did Google make the change?
Google defended the change in a blog post. The post said businesses and Democratic governments need to work together on AI that “supports national security”.
The company added it now has a deeper “understanding of AI’s potential and risks.”
The move comes just weeks into President Donald Trump’s second term, but a Google spokesperson told Wired the changes were in the works for much longer.
Who is against the change?
Multiple Google employees expressed concern in interviews with Wired.
“It’s deeply concerning to see Google drop its commitment to the ethical use of AI technology without input from its employees or the broader public, despite long-standing employee sentiment that the company should not be in the business of war,” Google software engineer, Paul Koul said.
Human Rights Watch also criticized Google’s decision telling the BBC, AI can “complicate accountability” for battlefield decisions that “may have life or death consequences.”
Does the U.S. military plan to use AI?
In January 2025, the Pentagon announced a new office focused on integrating AI into military systems like autonomous drones, command and control systems and intelligence systems.
This initiative is part of the United States’ broader efforts to deploy autonomous weapons and counter threats from near-pear adversaries like China and Russia.
The Pentagon said these advancements will enhance the efficiency of U.S. forces.
Google lists its new goals as pursuing bold, responsible, and collaborative AI initiatives.
DeepSeek code can send user data directly to Chinese government: Report
AI company DeepSeek reportedly has code in its programming with a direct pipeline to send data to China. Cyber security experts alerted ABC News of their findings.
DeepSeek supposedly has a link to a Chinese company, called China Mobile that was banned from operating in the United States in 2019 due to American national security concerns.
So far, no reaction to the report from DeepSeek, but one U.S. Congressman is calling on the U.S. to ban DeepSeek from all government devices.
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The artificial intelligence tool, DeepSeek, reportedly has code in its programming with the built-in capability to send user data to the Chinese government. The finding is according to cyber security experts who spoke with ABC News.
How did DeepSeek burst on the public scene?
DeepSeek burst on the scene last week when it announced that it had developed an artificial intelligence model that costs far less to operate than American competitors, such as OpenAI. The surprising news sent the U.S. stock market plunging.
What are the concerns and risks about its coding?
However, the potential risk that DeepSeek poses to national security appears to be greater than originally feared. Cyber security experts call it an open door between DeepSeek and the Chinese government. The CEO of Feroot Security in Toronto, Canada, Ivan Tsarynny, told ABC News his company sees direct links to servers that are under the control of the Chinese government.
What is DeepSeek’s connection to Chinese technology?
Tsarynny said his company used AI software to decrypt portions of DeepSeek’s code. They found what appeared to be intentionally hidden programming that has the capability to send user data to a website and China Mobile, a telecommunications company that is owned and operated by the Chinese government.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned China Mobile from operating in the United States in 2019 due to concerns that could create irreparable damage to U.S. national security.
What is the reaction so far from the United States?
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., who is on the House Intelligence Committee, calls the findings alarming and believes DeepSeek should be banned from all government devices.
DeepSeek has not responded to the ABC News report.
Man stuck in sinkhole for a week; Japan residents asked to avoid using water
Crews in Japan have not been able to reach a truck driver trapped in a sinkhole for a week. Residents have also been asked not to take showers or do laundry to lower water usage during the incident.
The sinkhole occurred on Jan. 28.
One company plans to use artificial intelligence to improve the country’s infrastructure.
Crews in Japan have been trying to reach a truck driver trapped in a massive sinkhole since Jan. 28. As concern grows over the safety of the roads, a plan to use artificial intelligence to help improve the country’s infrastructure is in the works.
Japanese officials asked more than a million people to avoid taking showers or doing laundry while rescuers tried to reach the 74-year-old man.
His condition is unknown at this time.
How did the sinkhole happen?
Authorities believe a ruptured sewage pipe caused the sinkhole just north of Tokyo on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
The estimated 15-meter-deep sinkhole swallowed a large truck. It caused heavy debris to pile up and sewage to spew from the scene.
Rescuers haven’t been able to launch a full-scale search due to safety concerns.
Can residents use water yet?
Residents are still told to avoid using water unless “absolutely necessary” so rescuers can see if the stoppage would change the water level inside the sinkhole.
What’s going on with Japan’s infrastructure?
This latest incident follows a series of road cave-ins across the country, also caused by aged sewage pipes, drawing attention to an aging infrastructure issue.
According to Japan Forward, a Japanese agricultural machinery company is currently focusing on a rehabilitation method that strengthens sewer pipes by inserting a new pipe inside the existing one and securing it with resin.
But, the company is also planning to launch a system that uses artificial intelligence to predict water pipe damage caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes.
The system combines two AI models to identify high-risk areas for water outages. It allows officials to prioritize earthquake-resistant upgrades in critical locations.
The company is expected to roll out the AI monitoring in April.
EA celebrates 25 years of The Sims with re-releases of classic games
The Sims franchise, a game known for creativity and self-expression, turns 25 this year. It has allowed players to build dream homes, design digital avatars, and live out endless possibilities since its release in 2000.
The Sims 4 has become the most widely played game in the franchise’s history, with over 70 million players worldwide as of 2023.
Creators are celebrating the milestone by re-releasing The Sims 1 and The Sims 2 for longtime fans and new players alike.
For 25 years, The Sims has been a go-to game for creativity and self-expression. The life simulation franchise lets players build dream homes, design digital selves and live out endless possibilities.
But people aren’t just playing the game anymore. In many ways, The Sims predicted how people express themselves in today’s digital world.
On Feb. 4, 2000, The Sims introduced a simple idea — what if you could create and control an entire life? The game’s success led to four main versions, with dozens of expansion packs and re-releases keeping the franchise fresh.
Its original release, The Sims 1, included a recommended reading list in the manual featuring literature and fictional titles meant to enhance players’ understanding of the game’s themes.
The evolution of The Sims
Despite its humor, The Sims became a blueprint for something bigger.
The Sims 2 (2004) introduced complex emotions and family dynamics.
The Sims 3 (2009) gave players a seamless open-world experience.
The Sims 4 (2014) offered more customization than ever, allowing players to experience everything from college life to eco-friendly neighborhoods.
The franchise kept evolving, but players wanted even more control.
Mods — short for modifications — transformed The Sims beyond what developers originally designed.
Creators introduced highly detailed custom fashion, improved emotional responses, and even supernatural storylines. Some mods changed how Sims interact, adding realism with acne, social anxiety and personality tweaks. Others introduced entirely new fantasy worlds.
“When I was in high school, I thought I’d like to go into architecture,” one player said. “So when The Sims came along, it just seemed like the best outlet for me to show my creativity.”
The Sims’ real-world impact
According to a press release from EA, The Sims 4 is the most widely played game in franchise history, with more than 70 million players worldwide.
The franchise’s influence extends beyond gaming. The Sims has shaped how people interact online. Social media, virtual influencers and AI-driven self-expression reflect many ideas first explored in The Sims.
Players once designed characters with unique personas and controlled social lives in the game. Today, the same concept plays out in real life with AI-generated influencers and virtual identities.
Celebrating 25 years of The Sims
As The Sims enters its 25th year, EA is celebrating the game’s legacy. The company has re-released The Sims 1 and The Sims 2, allowing longtime fans and new players to experience the games that started it all.
Texas bans DeepSeek, RedNote, other Chinese apps from government devices
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an executive order banning Chinese-owned artificial intelligence and social media apps from all state-issued devices, citing security concerns over data harvesting. The move expands previous bans on TikTok and reflects growing tensions over foreign-owned technology in the U.S.
New executive order expands restrictions
AP Images
Abbott’s order, announced Wednesday, Jan. 29, directs the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Department of Information Resources to enforce the ban. The blacklist includes DeepSeek, an AI chatbot gaining popularity among American users, as well as social media apps RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu), Lemon8 and financial trading platforms Webull, Tiger Brokers and Moomoo.
“Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state’s critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps,” Abbott said in a statement. His office declined further comment.
DeepSeek AI: A rising competitor in the industry
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, recently introduced DeepSeek-V3, an advanced AI model competing with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The model has drawn attention for its capabilities, despite being developed at a fraction of the cost of its American counterparts.
Its rapid rise has triggered concerns over data privacy, particularly as U.S. lawmakers continue to scrutinize the influence of Chinese technology on American consumers and businesses.
RedNote and Lemon8 gain traction amid TikTok uncertainty
RedNote, a Chinese-owned social media platform, has also surged in popularity in the U.S., especially among users seeking an alternative to TikTok amid ongoing legal battles over its potential ban.
Lemon8, another app owned by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, was also included in the Texas ban. Both platforms gained traction as TikTok faced legal pressure from federal regulators, leading some users to migrate to alternative Chinese-owned social apps.
Texas aligns with federal concerns over Chinese technology
Texas joins several other states and the federal government in restricting Chinese tech firms over national security concerns. The Congressional Research Service has warned that China mandates data storage and export controls on social media algorithms, raising fears that these platforms could be exploited for espionage.
In 2022, Abbott previously banned TikTok from Texas government devices, aligning with broader U.S. efforts to scrutinize foreign-owned apps. The latest move underscores escalating concerns over how Chinese-owned platforms handle American user data.
Crashed US Army Black Hawk did ‘not have any AI capability’
The recent crash between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines commuter jet over the Potomac River was a tragedy. It’s one most likely caused by human error, not the result of the Army’s experimentation with artificial intelligence.
In the days since the crash, through written statements and press briefings, government and military officials have confirmed that the UH-60M Black Hawk flying that night was not equipped with any experimental AI systems.
The chief of staff at the Headquarters Department of the Army Aviation Directorate told DefenseScoop that any testing with AI agents piloting aircraft is always conducted far from populated areas, just in case an incident occurs.
The Army is working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, and Sikorsky to install an autonomous system known as MATRIX into Black Hawks. However, the contract was just signed in October 2024, with work set to begin sometime in 2025.
Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, began flying helicopters with MATRIX and no pilots in 2022. However, that testing is taking place in locations such as the proving grounds in Yuma, Arizona. That’s almost 2,500 miles from Washington.
MATRIX is one of several AI agents DARPA is developing to reduce pilots’ cognitive loads and help them concentrate on the mission at hand.
It’s the kind of technology that may one day help prevent crashes like the one over the Potomac. But the technology isn’t there yet, and it certainly isn’t so widely deployed that a helicopter on a routine training mission would have it on board.
The investigation into the Potomac crash is still ongoing. Still, reports indicate the helicopter was flying higher than it should have. It was about half a mile off its approved route.
The New York Times reported that the tower at Reagan National Airport may have been short one air traffic controller. Instead of having one person direct planes and another direct helicopters, only one person handled both.
Since the investigation is still in its early stages, details may change. The National Transportation Safety Board said its initial report would take at least 30 days. However, it will likely be a year or more before the public gets a definitive answer about what happened that night.
