Latest Stories from Charlie
People living near new pylons in UK might receive £250 discount
The initiative is part of a scheme to build new infrastructure, grow the UK economy and move further away from fossil fuels while also minimising public backlash. Households living within half a kilometre of new or upgraded power infrastructure could receive up to £2,500 over 10 years as part of the Labour government’s new scheme. It aims to curb a potential backlash to the increased building of pylons and...
Christie’s ‘Augmented Intelligence’ auction surpasses expectations
The event at Christie’s was intended to demonstrate and test the legitimacy of AI artwork within the high-end auction world. It was met with fierce criticism and enthusiasm from different parties. An online sale of AI-generated artwork at London’s auction house Christie’s has surpassed its initial earnings estimates by 20%. The total revenue brought in currently sits at $792,000 USD, with a significant number of new collectors entering the art...
SpaceX Starship rocket explodes across Texas sky
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship spacecraft exploded on Thursday, minutes after take-off. It marks the second consecutive failure for the tech mogul’s Mars rocket program. SpaceX has faced its second consecutive mishap, as its Starship spacecraft exploded minutes after lifting off in Texas this week. The project was an attempt to deploy mock satellites as part of SpaceX’s Mars rocket program, and comes one month after the company’s seventh Starship flight...
Are young people really more vain than older generations?
Several older journalists have been making the argument this week that Gen Z are vainer than their parents were at a similar age, but can you blame them? In an era of constant external pressures and smartphone cameras, the demand to be appealing has never been more overwhelming. Another week, another attempt to discredit young people by older journalists working at publications intended for Gen X and millennial readers....
Gen Z still love music… despite everything
even if it costs an arm and a leg Well…it’s finally happened. The Glastonbury Festival lineup has (mostly) been announced this week, with The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo headlining across three days. Other big names are set to attend including Charli XCX, Doechii, Jorja Smith, Loyle Carner, Denzel Curry, and Blossoms, among many others. With the nearly-complete listing now publicly available, the inevitable barrage of criticism from middle-aged folks...
Offset gearing up for Russian show against UMG boycott
Next month, rapper and musician Offset will perform in Russia, despite his label Universal Music Group having boycotted the country since 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine. Offset is gearing up to perform in Russia next month. He is scheduled to appear on stage at MTC Live Hall in Moscow on April 18th 2025. The news was announced via his Instagram page, where he boasts 25 million followers....
Activision goes all in on AI despite consumer backlash
Games publisher Activision has faced renewed criticism for using AI generated images for its promotional campaigns for Guitar Hero, Crash Bandicoot and Call of Duty. The company had already faced a backlash for use of automated artwork last year. Well, it seems like the AI slop is here to stay, folks! Despite receiving an extensive amount of backlash for its use of auto-generated artwork within its intellectual properties last year,...
Sony launches Beta Program to allow testing of new titles
The new Beta Program for PlayStation will provide a hub to keep track of any and all pre-release tests for upcoming PS5 and PC games, Sony has announced. A new initiative by Sony will allow easier tracking and access to beta versions of new titles, according to the company’s latest blog post. Suitably titled the ‘Beta Program,’ this feature will work in a similar way to Microsoft’s Xbox Insider program,...
Latest figures suggest Gen Z are less interested in live music
New data from global research company GWI indicates that young people are reducing the number of festivals they attend or avoiding them completely in 2025. It looks like live music could be on the decline, at least in the UK. New research by GWI suggests that Gen Z are less interested in live music than they were six or so years ago before the pandemic began. 19% of Gen...
Millie Bobby Brown pushes back against overly-critical press
The Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has responded to media criticism of her appearance, rightfully likening her treatment to bullying. Millie Bobby Brown has clapped back at recent articles and stories discussing her appearance, describing it as not journalism but ‘bullying’ instead. She has been doing the rounds over the past few weeks to promote her new film The Electric State. Brown also appeared at the SAG and Brit...
