writers

Newly unsealed court briefs in the Authors Guild's copyright lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI indicate that top executives were aware the companies' use of pirated books to train AI models was legally questionable. The Authors Guild, representing writers whose works were allegedly used without permission, published highlights of the documents. The revelations could strengthen plaintiffs' claims of willful infringement.

Commentary drawing on the history of Black musical pioneers such as Ma Rainey, whose recordings were exploited by labels, argues that today's generative AI revives a century-old dispute over who owns and profits from an artist's voice and likeness. Writers say new technology amplifies old patterns of exploitation, and the piece is being shared amid ongoing debates over AI training on musicians' work and new rules on voice replication consent.

A quote from Polish science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem is being shared in connection with today's large language models. Lem, who wrote extensively about artificial intelligence and thinking machines decades before they existed, is being invoked as a prescient voice on machine-generated language and what it means for human thought.

A Slate advice column recounts a family visit to the in-laws, where barking from another room revealed the older couple had gotten a dog without mentioning it beforehand. The writer calls the decision foolish and seeks guidance on how to respond, touching on boundaries between adult children and their parents' household choices.

A writer shares the single task her professional gardener husband makes sure to complete every October, a piece of seasonal advice aimed at home gardeners preparing their yards for winter. The item is being read for practical tips as autumn garden maintenance season gets underway.

Food writer Tim Anderson, a past MasterChef champion known for his Japanese cooking, is at the centre of a light-hearted online exchange after a remark praising his deep knowledge of Japanese cuisine prompted replies asking who wants to weigh in first. Discussion touches on Japanese food culture and cuisine more broadly.

A writer who spent nearly a decade reviewing luxury hotels says becoming a mother changed her standards. In a first-person essay for Business Insider, she describes how parenthood shifted her priorities from design and fine dining to practicalities like space, safety and family-friendly service, offering a fresh take on what high-end travel means for parents.

Writer Ratchman has published Chapter 9 of their science fiction serial, titled 'Caduceus'. The chapter depicts the Cadir boarding the ship Liberator, with violence breaking out in multiple sections including the medical bay, where Doctor Akari Takuma struggles to keep her patients alive without taking lives herself. Readers of the ongoing serial are following the escalating conflict and the doctor's moral dilemma.

A tech writer argues that e-readers like the Kindle are not better than physical books, yet admits to using one every single day. The piece taps into a familiar debate among readers about the comfort and ritual of paper versus the convenience, storage and portability of digital reading, concluding that the practical advantages still make the device worthwhile.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon shot a film on location at a US high school, according to a New York Post first-person column. The writer recalls watching the production and argues the movie could not be made today, a claim likely tied to changing industry standards around content, production practices, or school access. The piece is fueling conversation about how Hollywood and its norms have shifted since the film was made.

Nicholas Frank, a writer and editor at the Texas-based art publication Glasstire, is scheduled to speak on a panel at Untitled Art in Houston this Saturday. The fair's programming brings together artists, writers and curators for public discussions alongside its exhibitor booths. The announcement was carried by Glasstire itself, and further details about the panel's topic and fellow participants were not provided.

A new opinion piece is pushing back against PC Gamer's game of the year pick for 2015, arguing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt deserves the title regardless of what the outlet chose. The piece frames the debate as a matter of personal conviction, insisting CD Projekt Red's open-world RPG will remain the writer's game of the year no matter the official verdict.

A personal essay titled 'The last time my family was replaced by technology' is drawing attention online. The piece, published by French writer Manuel Darcemont, recounts a moment when technology took over a role once held by his family, and readers are sharing and discussing it widely.

Sports writers have published predictions for all of the Week 4 NFL games, offering picks and score forecasts for each matchup on the schedule. With the season a few weeks old, fans are weighing in on which contenders are proving themselves and which early surprises might last.