Hulu’s Oscars Broadcast Cuts Off Early, Leaving Viewers Frustrated and Confused

Technical Issues Mar the Experience

Hulu subscribers watching the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night were outraged when the streaming service ended its broadcast before the show was actually over. Viewers saw a “thank you for watching” message that falsely claimed “the live event has now ended” — despite the fact that the Best Actress and Best Picture Oscars were still to come. Social media platforms and the Hulu subreddit immediately lit up with complaints and threats of cancellation.

The Error Was Due to Scheduling

It turned out to be a rough night for the Disney-owned service. A few hours earlier, Hulu acknowledged that some customers were having issues logging in: that problem was rectified slightly before 9PM ET. But shutting off the live stream ahead of the evening’s biggest prizes was an even more embarrassing blunder. The error came down to scheduling: Hulu gave the Oscars a set ending time of 10:32PM. That’s exactly when viewers started getting kicked out of the stream. But as usual, several acceptance speeches ran long on Sunday night, and Hulu’s chosen cutoff time didn’t allow enough wiggle room for an often-unpredictable broadcast.

A Statement from Disney

"This evening, we experienced technical and live stream issues on Hulu which impacted some Oscars viewers," Disney said in a statement provided by spokesperson Dorothy Ballowe. "We apologize for the experience and will make a full replay of the event available as soon as possible."

A Frustrating Experience

I don’t know how we’re still having these streaming mishaps in 2025 — especially from the company that owns the rights to the Oscars telecast, the network it was carried on, and the streaming service in question — but here we are. Cable viewers and those watching with a TV antenna were spared from the technical difficulties. Customers streaming through Hulu with Live TV were also unaffected since they were seeing the live, linear ABC feed.

Conclusion

The incident highlights the challenges of live streaming and the importance of flexibility in scheduling. While Hulu has made significant strides in recent years, this mistake shows that there is still room for improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Hulu shut off its live stream of the Oscars?
A: Hulu’s live stream was shut off due to a scheduling error, which did not account for the unpredictability of the Oscars broadcast.

Q: How did this affect viewers?
A: Viewers who were watching the Oscars on Hulu were cut off mid-broadcast, missing the rest of the ceremony, including the Best Actress and Best Picture awards.

Q: Has Disney apologized for the mistake?
A: Yes, Disney has apologized for the experience and has promised to make a full replay of the event available as soon as possible.

AI-Powered Creativity: Flora’s New Approach to Generative Art

The Limitations of Current AI Models

With just a few words, AI models can be prompted to create a story, an image, or even a short film. However, according to Weber Wong, these models are all "made by non-creatives for other non-creatives to feel creative." In other words, they’re not built for actual creative professionals. That’s something Wong is hoping to change with Flora, a new startup where he’s founder and CEO.

Introducing Flora

Flora launched this week, complete with a manifesto declaring that "AI creative tools should be more than toys for generating AI slop" and describing Wong and his team as "obsessed with building a power tool that will profoundly shape the future of creative work." The manifesto positions Flora as something different from existing AI tools, which "make it easy to create, but lack creative control," and from existing creative software, which gives users "control, but are unintuitive & time-consuming."

The Flora Workflow

Flora isn’t trying to build better generative AI models. Wong argued that one of the startup’s key insights is that "models are not creative tools." So instead, Flora offers an "infinite canvas" that integrates with existing models – it’s a visual interface where users can generate blocks of text, images, and video.

Designing a New Future for Creative Work

For example, a user could start by prompting Flora to create an image of a flower, then ask for details about the image, with those details leading to more prompts and varied images, with each step and variation mapped out on the aforementioned canvas, which can also be shared for collaborative work with clients.

Focusing on Visual Design Agencies

Wong told me he wants Flora to be useful to any and all artists and creatives, but the company is initially focused on working with visual design agencies. In fact, it’s iterating on the product with feedback from designers at famed agency Pentagram.

Empowering Creatives

The goal, Wong said, is to allow a designer at Pentagram to "just do 100X more creative work," say by creating a logo design and then quickly generating 100 variations. He compared it to the evolution of musical composition – where Mozart "needed an entire orchestra to play his music," a musician today can get it all done "from his garage in New Jersey with Ableton, making it himself and posting it on SoundCloud."

Background and Vision

Wong has a background in both art and technology himself, having worked as an investor at Menlo Ventures but leaving when he realized, "I was not the person I’d back." Determined to become the kind of founder worth investing in, he eventually joined New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, a graduate program focused on using technology to create art.

The Future of AI-Powered Creativity

When Flora launched an alpha version in August, Wong decided to "launch with an art project that showcased our real-time AI technology," with the Flora homepage showing a live feed from a GoPro camera on Wong’s head, and website visitors getting the opportunity to use AI to stylize the footage after signing up for the Flora waitlist.

Addressing Concerns and Controversies

Given his background, Wong knows there are artists and professionals who are skeptical or even vehemently opposed to the use of AI in art – in fact, Pentagram generated some controversy last year when it used Midjourney to create the illustration style for a project with the US government. Wong said that where existing models have been embraced by "AI natives," he’s hoping Flora can win over the "AI curious," and eventually even become useful enough that even "AI haters" feel they have to give it a try.

Conclusion

Flora is poised to revolutionize the creative industry by empowering artists and professionals to unlock new aesthetic and creative possibilities. With its focus on visual design agencies and its emphasis on creative control, Flora is well-positioned to become a game-changer in the world of AI-powered creativity.

FAQs

Q: What is Flora and how does it work?
A: Flora is a new AI-powered creative tool that integrates with existing models to provide a visual interface for generating blocks of text, images, and video.

Q: Who is behind Flora?
A: Flora is founded and CEO’d by Weber Wong, who has a background in both art and technology.

Q: What is the goal of Flora?
A: The goal of Flora is to empower artists and professionals to unlock new aesthetic and creative possibilities, and to make it easier for them to do 100X more creative work.

Q: How does Flora address concerns about AI in art?
A: Flora is designed to be a tool that is accessible to all artists and creatives, not just those who are already familiar with AI. Wong hopes that Flora can win over the "AI curious" and even the "AI haters" by providing a user-friendly interface and a focus on creative control.

Infinix Unveils Innovative Solar-Powered Phone Concept at MWC

Solar-Powered Phones: A Glimpse into the Future?

Infinix, a Chinese phone brand known for its flashy concepts, has taken the stage at this year’s MWC with a revolutionary idea – a phone with an integrated solar panel on the back, as well as a solar charging phone case. The concept is still in its early stages, but the demo units showcased at MWC were functional, and the idea is certainly intriguing.

SolarEnergy-Reserving Technology

Infinix’s SolarEnergy-Reserving technology utilizes perovskite solar cells, similar to those used in Anker’s beach umbrella and cloak concept. These cells are thinner and cheaper to produce than traditional silicon solar cells. The system also includes Maximum Power Point Tracking, which helps regulate voltage to maximize power while managing heat. The technology can charge a phone at up to 2W, primarily intended to supplement a phone’s reserve charge when it’s not in use.

Built-In Solar Panel and Solar Charging Case

The phone with a built-in solar panel on the back is self-explanatory, but the solar charging case is more fascinating. Paired with a prototype phone featuring small contacts on the side to deliver power from the case, this technology offers flexibility. Users can swap the case for a regular one at night or during a power outage, making it a practical and convenient option.

Color-Changing E Ink Phone

Infinix is also showcasing its second-generation color-changing E Ink phone, which has undergone significant improvements. The back panel, which previously only changed color when plugged in, can now run on the phone’s internal battery power. The technology is more customizable, offering a range of patterns and palettes.

Conclusion

Infinix’s innovative concepts at MWC have sparked excitement, showcasing the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of mobile technology. While these ideas are still in development, they have the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with our devices.

FAQs

Q: What is Infinix’s SolarEnergy-Reserving technology?

A: Infinix’s SolarEnergy-Reserving technology uses perovskite solar cells and Maximum Power Point Tracking to maximize power while managing heat, enabling up to 2W charging.

Q: How does the built-in solar panel work?

A: The built-in solar panel is integrated into the phone’s design, allowing users to charge their device using solar power.

Q: Can I use the solar charging case with any phone?

A: No, the solar charging case is designed specifically for the prototype phone and is not compatible with other devices.

Q: Can I customize the color-changing E Ink phone?

A: Yes, the second-generation color-changing E Ink phone features increased customization options, including the ability to choose from various patterns and palettes, as well as the option to change the color based on the weather.

Apple Struggles to Rebuild Siri for the Era of Generative AI

Delayed Release of Modernized Siri

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is facing challenges in rebuilding Siri for the era of generative AI. The company might not release a true modernized, conversational version of Siri until iOS 20 comes out in 2027.

Big Updates Ahead, But Not a Complete Overhaul

While there won’t be a complete overhaul of Siri, there will be significant updates before 2027. A new version of Siri will debut in May, incorporating all the Apple Intelligence features announced nearly a year earlier.

Two-Brain Approach

Gurman describes this version of Siri as having "two brains," one for older commands like setting timers and making calls, and the other for more advanced queries that can leverage user data. This system, known internally as "LLM Siri," will be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June ahead of launching in spring 2026.

Future Development

Only after the release of this new version of Siri will Apple be able to fully pursue the development of advanced capabilities, which might roll out the following year.

Conclusion

Apple’s struggles to rebuild Siri for the era of generative AI are a testament to the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality, user-friendly technology. While the updates ahead may not be as significant as expected, they will still bring significant improvements to the virtual assistant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When can we expect a modernized, conversational version of Siri?
A: According to Mark Gurman, we may not see a true modernized, conversational version of Siri until iOS 20 comes out in 2027.

Q: What changes can we expect in the upcoming update to Siri?
A: A new version of Siri will debut in May, incorporating all the Apple Intelligence features announced nearly a year earlier. This version will have "two brains," one for older commands and one for more advanced queries.

Q: What is LLM Siri?
A: LLM Siri is the internal name for the system that merges the "two brains" of the new version of Siri. It will be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June ahead of launching in spring 2026.