At the "Let Me Explain" panel during the Israel Hayom conference in New York, three influencers – comedian and journalist Eitan Levine, sports media personality Emily Austin, and Living Lchaim founder Yaakov Langer – shared how they inadvertently became the spearhead of Israeli and Jewish advocacy on social media. Between threats, contract cancellations, floods of hatred, and antisemitic responses, they insisted on remaining visible, Jewish, and proud – fighting lies not only with facts but also with humor, sports, and deep human conversations.

Levine explained that once you become an openly Jewish figure online, there is no escape. "They called me a 'kike' even before October 7. My sister lives in Israel, I lived there, and I visit often. The day everything exploded, I had no choice but to stand behind Judaism and the connection to Israel. If this is part of me – then I will also be stubborn about it."

Langer, who came from the ultra-Orthodox world, admitted that October 7 was a moment of sobering realization for him. "I always knew there was antisemitism, but something in me said – well, they do not really hate us like that. And then you saw the depth of the hatred, without any logic. From that was born the place to be a proud, open Jew, and to say – if there is a problem, it is their problem."

Austin came from the most American dream there is – sports. "I was negotiating with ESPN, working with NBA teams, I was riding the wave," she said. "And then October 7 happened. Almost at the same moment, Puma parted ways with me, Sports Illustrated dropped me, the negotiations with ESPN stopped, even Miss Universe. I found myself at 22, without work, after being at my peak."

But instead of disappearing, she pressed on the gas. "I said to myself – if I have to lose everything, even my life, to say what is right – I will do it. Sports is a language that unites people; through it, I reach players, coaches, and an audience that would not encounter Zionism in any other way."

She did not hide the personal cost. Exposure of personal details, threats, a flood of hatred – to the point of constant contact with the FBI. "I was sure that those threatening me were sitting in Iran. The answer was, 'They are from Staten Island,'" she said with a half smile.

Levine used stand-up comedy as a weapon. "If you are funnier than the other side – you won the argument, even if you are not 100% right. Comedy is an insane way to convey information. The moment you make someone laugh, they are suddenly open to hearing about Israel too."

He insisted on reminding people that Israel is not just war. "When I think about Israel, I think about the food, about the hot people in Tel Aviv. We must invest not only in videos of horror, but in music, art, and culture – to turn Tel Aviv into a global cultural hub. For every dollar invested in explaining October 7 – the next dollar must go to culture."

Langer, on the other hand, chose the most un-TikTok format – in-depth conversations on YouTube. "We have over 1.6 million subscribers, because people are thirsty to understand. It is easy to hate 'Jews' as a group, but it is much harder to hate a person after you hear an hour of their life story – of a hostage survivor, a soldier, a rabbi, or a mother."

According to him, there are three groups: proud Jews, declared haters, and "a lot in the middle – who do not know. Muslims who grew up on hatred of Jews wrote to me and said, 'Only now do I understand that you are normal human beings.' This happens when you let them get to know us truly."

The three speakers agreed that the real battle is over "the influenceable center" – people who are not sure, or who were dragged along by trends. Austin emphasized, "People know what happened on October 7. They are not ignorant – some of them just are not sad about it. So just flooding more and more facts is not enough. You must also talk about American interests – about how Israel contributes to security, technology, and the economy. Today, the narrative is that Israel is a 'leech' on the US. This is simply not true, and no one is explaining it seriously."

Levine warned against automatic labeling. "The question is not whether Tlaib or others are jihadists – but whether calling them that works. The answer is no. We lose when the whole world is defined as 'antisemitic.' We need a restart. Get out of the comfort zone, sit with those who seem like enemies to us – and discover that at least 90% of them do not hate us like we imagine."

Austin gave a personal example. "There is one person on Twitter who turned 'Jewess' into a derogatory nickname for me. I liked every response of his. In the end, he wrote to me privately, 'Aside from Israel, I agree with you on everything and respect you.' And suddenly – all the tweets were deleted. Sometimes it is not that deep; it is habit, it is herd mentality. You need courage to talk to them."

At the end of the panel, Langer used his son and candy as a metaphor. "Candy is the easiest to love. It is sweet, it is available, it is not nutritious. To hate Israel and Jews – it is like an instant candy, it is 'cool,' it goes with the flow. But it does not hold over time. What we are trying to do is turn the healthy thing – Jewish identity, the connection to Israel, the human story – into something cooler, deeper, and more accurate. Not to focus on the losers shouting in the street, but on building a strong, proud, and attractive community."

As Levine summarized with a smile, "The best thing you can do for advocacy – is simply to follow me on Instagram."

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Pandemonium erupted among the remaining pupils, who replicated the hand gesture en masse, while Phillipson remained seated with a smile, declining to participate, Daily Mail reported.

Anderson addressed the departing leader: "Thanks Prime Minister for that lovely six-seven. You know children get into trouble for saying that in our school?" Daily Mail reported. Starmer responded with visible embarrassment: "Oh, do they?" before adding: "Sorry about that." Anderson replied: "No, no, it's absolutely fine." The Prime Minister then quipped: "I didn't start it, Miss," Daily Mail noted. The chaos later appeared on Starmer's Instagram account via video upload, captioned: "I think I just got myself put in detention..." Daily Mail reported.

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Video: Video: Social media

The user then visited the same Starbucks herself, according to the video, and ordered the same beverage, providing Kirk's name. When the barista requested the name, the user said, "Charlie Kirk." "We can't do political names," the barista replied, before stating that the order's total was $3.75. The user then asked whether the name could be handwritten on the cup.

"The sticker won't print," the barista responded. When the user continued asking why the name couldn't be written, the barista offered to write "Charlie." After the user kept asking, the barista then said, "Because it's political," before starting the order. The user ultimately refused the drink.

According to Fox News Digital, Starbucks has confirmed there is no policy against using Kirk's name, and a company spokesperson said that they are "working to understand what took place in this store." Fox News Digital also contacted the TikToker for comment. At a Turning Point conference about a month ago, Kirk had shared that he drinks the tea because "I lose my voice very easily. … I drink like nine of them a day, otherwise I lose my voice." Following this, supporters have been sharing photos of their Starbucks drinks on TikTok, X, and Instagram. Starbucks released a statement on social media stating, "There are no restrictions on customers using Charlie Kirk's name on their order, and we are following up with our team."

Following the incident, a significant uproar on social media ensued, with many people urging a boycott of the coffee chain. The now-viral video received a variety of reactions, including one X user commenting, "That's it!! Boycott Starbucks! The line has been drawn! There is no going back." Another response on X read, "I spend $200 a month at Starbucks! No more, I'm done with a company that dishonors a good man". Another individual noted, "They shouldn't consider it political unless he held a government office/position/seat. If they are only basing it on him being a republican, then all Republicans need to boycott Starbucks".

Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on a Wednesday while speaking at a university event in Utah. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested for allegedly killing Kirk, a conservative activist and an ally of President Donald Trump.

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ByteDance-owned TikTok will cease operations in the United States on Sunday when a federal ban takes effect, barring last-minute court intervention, Reuters reported Thursday.

The social media platform, used by 170 million Americans, faces a complete shutdown under legislation requiring its Chinese parent company to divest US assets by January 19. According to The Washington Post, President-elect Donald Trump is considering an executive order to suspend the ban's enforcement for 60–90 days after taking office Monday.

"TikTok itself is a fantastic platform," incoming National Security Adviser Mike Flynn said, according to Fox News. "We're going to find a way to preserve it but protect people's data."

A White House official said President Joe Biden would not intervene if the Supreme Court upholds the ban. However, NBC later disclosed that the Biden administration has been exploring options to maintain the platform's availability beyond Sunday. "Americans shouldn't expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday," an administration official told NBC.

The company has already begun preparing for a potential shutdown. "We go dark. Essentially, the platform shuts down," TikTok attorney Noel Francisco told the Supreme Court, Reuters reported.

US Senator Ed Markey sought unanimous consent Wednesday to extend ByteDance's divestment deadline by 270 days, but Senator Tom Cotton blocked the proposal.

If banned, users opening the app will see a message directing them to a website explaining the shutdown. The company also plans to offer users the option to download their personal data.

In a court filing, the company stated the shutdown could have global implications, as hundreds of US service providers supporting TikTok's worldwide operations would be barred from continuing their services.

The company estimates that one-third of its 170 million American users would stop accessing the platform if the ban persists for a month, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters.

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In recent days, an alarming trend has emerged on TikTok, where seemingly innocent videos featuring the beloved Minion characters are being uploaded to the platform – concealing violent and deeply disturbing content beneath their cheerful exterior.

The "Jumpers Jump Podcast" TikTok account brought attention to this phenomenon, revealing that content containing violence, abuse, and assault is being masked behind the familiar yellow Minion characters from the movie "Despicable Me."

The podcast explained that content creators are utilizing sophisticated artificial intelligence technology to disguise disturbing dark web videos containing violent and abusive content, transforming them into what appear to be harmless Minion animations. The alleged purpose, according to the podcast, is to deliberately expose children to this harmful material.

This disturbing manipulation is made possible through AI technology developed by artificial intelligence company Runway, which created an innovative tool that can transform any video character into a Minion, including voice conversion capabilities. While the technology was intended for entertainment and creative purposes, certain individuals have allegedly exploited it to process disturbing dark web content.

"When you notice your nieces and nephews or cousins watching these types of videos, exercise caution and take steps to protect them – this is malicious content that infiltrates their subconscious. Individuals are transforming dark web content into children's entertainment; this material is completely inappropriate for them," one of the podcast hosts warned.

It's crucial to note that these allegations remain unverified at present, and there is uncertainty whether this represents a genuine threat or a conspiracy theory. Regardless, the situation raises serious concerns, as TikTok's algorithm currently lacks the sophistication to differentiate between legitimate children's animation and content containing extreme violence and abuse.

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Carrying an aura of cuteness like no other baby pigmy hippopotamus, two-month-old Moo-Deng is drawing in more traffic to Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo than ever before.

I would kill and die to protect Moo Deng, KILL AND DIE. pic.twitter.com/eANH6EW9QD

— aaron (@aaronoleary) September 13, 2024

Moo Deng, Thai for "bouncing pig," catapulted to fame when videos of the bouncy bovine went viral on social media just around two weeks ago. Many of the videos were filmed by her keeper, Atthapon Nundee, who captured some of their interactions, particularly when Moo Deng's rubbery hippo body bounces when reacting to the keepers' touch.

"I've been filming her from day one till day 15 and I pushed out that clip that got over 20 million views. "I expected that she would gain some fame but I didn't expect she'd be this famous," Atthapon told Reuters on Monday.

Moo Deng's TikTok account now has 2.6 million followers, and her fame has grown way beyond the walls of her enclosure, where she has inspired artwork and confectionary creations by die-hard fans. Recently, cosmetics retailer Sephora Thailand started featuring Moo Deng in promotions for blush products with the tagline "Wear your blush like a baby hippo."

According to the zoo's director, Narungwit Chodchoy, the zoo currently sees 3-4,000 visitors per weekday, in contrast to the usually modest number of around 800 at this time of year. And for weekends, they're getting around 10,000 per day, as opposed to the usual 4-5,000.

Moo Deng in Movie #หมูเด้ง #khaokheowzoo

Cr. เพจ Thai Poster : parody pic.twitter.com/zgqJWNOp2t

— สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว Khao Kheow Open Zoo (@kkopzoo) September 16, 2024

On Monday, dozens of fans were crowding around Moo Deng's enclosure to glimpse the baby hippo celebrity. "I left home in Bangkok from 6:30 AM this morning to see Moo Deng. I'm here just to see her," said Ekaphak Mahasawad, a tourist from Bangkok.

The pink-cheeked baby hippo was born with two other siblings, the Thai names of which translate to "Pork Stew" and "Sweet Pork." She is also the granddaughter of 59-year-old female hippo "Malee" who just celebrated her birthday at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo and is Thailand's oldest hippo in captivity.

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Actress Alicia Silverstone, 47, posted a video of herself eating a potentially poisonous Jerusalem cherry fruit, which can cause gastrointestinal and central nervous system symptoms if ingested, leading to concerns from fans.

Silverstone reassured fans that she is "alive and well" after the incident, expressed confusion about the fruit, and asked for help identifying it, which was later confirmed to be a potentially toxic Jerusalem cherry.

Fans warned Silverstone not to eat unidentified berries and referenced her role in "Clueless."

Despite being a vegan, Silverstone admitted that she could not recognize the fruit and was uncertain if it was edible.

Silverstone previously prompted anti-vaccine and anti-tampon views.

Silverstone has a line of organic supplements. She is set to star in the upcoming movie "Y2K" alongside Rachel Zegler, filmed in New Jersey.

Sources: Newsweek, CNN, USA Today, Fox News, New York Post, HuffPost, Nine, NME, NJ.com, East Bay Times, Hugo Gloss, Daily Caller, AOL, Newcastle Herald, PerthNow, Shropshire Star.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has launched Jimeng AI, a text-to-video application that generates short videos and images from text prompts using generative AI technology, similar to OpenAI's Sora model and Google's Veo.

Developed by ByteDance's subsidiary Faceu Technology (known for CapCut), Jimeng AI is available on app stores for Chinese users, with subscription plans ranging from $9.65 per month to $659 per year.

Several Chinese tech companies, including Kuaishou (Kling AI), Zhipu AI (Ying), and Shengshu (Vidu), have developed similar text-to-video models.

Kuaishou made its Kling AI text-to-video model globally accessible via email registration.

Sources: Reuters, South China Morning Post, Times of India, Economic Times, FoneArena, TMTPost, VOI, Social Media Today, Business Times, CryptoRank, Cryptopolitan, WION, Mobile World Live, Wired Italia, Puls Biznesu, Jagran English, Finimize, MarketScreener, Investing.com, US News & World Report.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

The post TikTok parent company launches AI video app Jimeng AI to Rival OpenAI's Sora appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly working with U.S. chip designer Broadcom and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to develop an advanced 5-nanometer application-specific integrated chip (ASIC) for artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

The customized AI chip aims to enhance ByteDance's AI capabilities across apps like TikTok and Douyin, focusing on speed, and energy efficiency. It also aims to reduce dependence on Nvidia's GPUs amidst supply shortages and export controls, and cutting procurement costs.

The collaboration is expected to comply with U.S. export restrictions and help ByteDance establish Broadcom in the AI technology market while securing a stable supply of higher-end chips.

However, some U.S. regulators have expressed concerns about ByteDance's national security threat as a China-based company.

The customized AI chip is expected to provide ByteDance with a competitive advantage in terms of speed, energy efficiency, and cost savings.

The development of the AI chip is part of ByteDance's broader strategy to strengthen its AI capabilities and position itself as a leader in the AI technology market.

Sources: PCMag, Reuters, Times of India, Benzinga, Basic Tutorials, Cryptorank, Cryptopolitan, DatacenterDynamics, Conservative Angle, Dexerto, ZeroHedge, Fortune, Techzine, MarketScreener.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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TikTok is reportedly testing a new feature called "Streaks," similar to Snapchat's streak mechanism, which encourages user engagement by displaying an emoji or badge next to a friend's name if users exchange direct messages for consecutive days.

To start a streak, users must exchange messages for more than three consecutive days, after which a streak badge with a count of consecutive days will appear in the chat. If users fail to message for 24 hours, the streak is broken, and TikTok will send reminders to users close to losing their streaks to promote ongoing interaction.

The feature is being selectively tested with a limited group of users in specific markets, and users can disable the streak system in the app's privacy settings. Parents can also use the Family Pairing feature to restrict children's inboxes, addressing concerns about potential harm to children's mental health and online predators targeting children on the platform.

TikTok is also testing longer video formats, such as 60-minute-long video uploads, to captivate users for longer periods and potentially increase income for content creators, aiming to become a major player in online entertainment.

Sources: ReadWrite, Mashable, TechCrunch, dunyanews.tv, fanpage.it, htxt.co.za, itechpost.com, socialbarrel.com

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq. 

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