Microsoft announced today that it has acquired Semantic Machines, a Berkeley-based startup that wants to solve one of the biggest challenges in conversational AI: making chatbots sound more human and less like, well, bots. In a blog post, Microsoft AI & Research chief technology officer David Ku wrote that “with the acquisition of Semantic Machines, […]
View More Microsoft acquires conversational AI startup Semantic Machines to help bots sound more lifelikeCategory: Speech
Kelly Clarkson demands ‘moment of action’ on gun violence in moving speech
Kelly Clarkson has demanded not a moment of silence for victims of gun violence, but instead a “moment of action.”
Following the Santa Fe High School shooting in Texas that left ten victims dead on Friday, the Billboard Music Awards host opened Sunda…
The best gag at the Oscars was definitely the jet ski
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And the award (and jet ski) for the shortest speech at the Oscars goes to… The costume designer from Phantom Thread!
Mark Bridges won an Oscar for Costume Design at the Academy Awards Sunday night and gave a speech that came in at just 36 seconds, earning him a jet ski and a free stay at the Days Inn in beautiful Lake Havasu in Arizona.
SEE ALSO: Here’s the full Oscars 2018 winners list
In his opening monologue, Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel tempted nominees to keep their speeches short by promising to give them a jet ski, which legendary actress Helen Mirren showed off in perfect fashion.
Whoever gives the shortest speech at tonight’s #Oscars goes home with a brand new jet ski. Sam Rockwell has already given it a shothttps://t.co/exBwXiE7dz pic.twitter.com/2H3wzFXVbk
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018 Read more…
More about Academy Awards, Speech, Jet Ski, Oscars 2018, and Entertainment
Politician’s emotional speech about her cancer got a standing ovation in Parliament
There wasn’t a dry eye in the House of Lords yesterday afternoon when a former Cabinet minister delivered an emotional speech about her battle with cancer.
Her moving words got a standing ovation, and has since been hailed “one of the most emot…
Morgan Freeman had 1 very blunt comment about his SAG Award statue
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Just because you won an award doesn’t mean you can’t criticise it.
On Sunday, Morgan Freeman picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award at the SAGs.
He had some no-nonsense feedback about the statue, though:
Here’s a close-up of said statue. It does look pretty masculine, doesn’t it?
Morgan Freeman calls out #SAGAwards statue for being “gender-specific” from the frontpic.twitter.com/gVAKWylRnK
— Jillian Sederholm (@JillianSed) January 22, 2018
Freeman’s comments were well-received on Twitter.
When Morgan Freeman is out here dropping knowledge bombs that even award show statues are sexist #SAGAwards pic.twitter.com/Cqxpv5RU7R
— 🙅🏾♂️avier Harding (@iamxavier) January 22, 2018 Read more…
More about Gender, Sag Awards, Morgan Freeman, Sexism, and Speech
Guillermo Del Toro totally shut down the Golden Globes’ attempt to hurry up his speech
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When Guillermo Del Toro is making a speech, you had better damn well listen.
During Sunday’s Golden Globes ceremony, del Toro picked up the award for Best Director for his new film The Shape of Water.
Mid-way through his victory speech, though, someone working behind-the-scenes at the Globes decided to turn the music up — a not-so-subtle hint that he should hurry things along a bit.
The thing was, del Toro wasn’t having any of it.
You know you’ve made it when you’re getting applauded by a roomful of celebrities for casually telling an awards show to give you more time for your victory speech. Read more…
More about Funny, Speech, Guillermo Del Toro, Golden Globes 2018, and Culture
Why this New Zealand politician’s speech from 2013 has gone viral in Japan
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Words can wield power for a long time after they’ve been spoken.
A speech regarding same-sex marriage made by former New Zealand National MP Maurice Williamson has found popularity four years after it was delivered, as a rational rallying cry for marriage equality in Japan.
A clip of Williamson’s speech has now gone viral in Japan with over 170,000 retweets at the time of writing, picked up by BuzzFeed.
So, why now? The Twitter video was posted as a direct response to remarks made by the General Council Chairman of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, Wataru Takeshita. He was widely criticised for recently saying that he was “opposed” to the idea that state guests’ same-sex partners should be invited to events hosted by Empress Michiko and Emperor Akihito. Read more…
More about Japan, New Zealand, Marriage Equality, Same Sex Marriage, and Speech
Angelina Jolie addresses sexual assault in Hollywood during UN speech
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Angelina Jolie was one of the many women in October to come forward accusing producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, and she’s not slowing down anytime soon when it comes to discussing misconduct in Hollywood
On Wednesday, the actress and activist spoke in Vancouver at the U.N. Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial Conference and delivered stirring words about cracking down on sexual abuse in all industries.
SEE ALSO: Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone weigh in on Hollywood’s problem with women — and what to do next
“Sexual violence is everywhere – in the industry where I work, in business, in universities, in politics, in the military, and across the world,” she said during her speech. Read more…
More about United Nations, Sexual Assault, Angelina Jolie, Speech, and Culture