Atour Lifestyle (NASDAQ:ATAT) Shares Down 5.4% – Time to Sell?Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter embraces his wife Rosalynn after receiving the final news of his victory in the national general election, November 2, 1976. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) New-elected President Jimmy Carter gives a press conference after being elected 39th President of the United States, on November 05, 1976 in Plains, Georgia. (Photo by GENE FORTE / CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES / AFP) (Photo by GENE FORTE/CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES/AFP via Getty Images) Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter hold up signs during a rally on may 15, 1976 in New York. – Carter was elected on December 21, 1976 39th President of the United States, 51% voice against 48% for incumbent Republican president Gerald Ford. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS / AFP) (Photo by -/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images) Chief Justice Warren Burger administers the oath of office to Jimmy Carter (R), flanked by his wife Rosalynn, as the 39th President of the United Sates on January 20, 1977. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS / AFP) (Photo by -/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images) Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter embraces his wife Rosalynn after receiving the final news of his victory in the national general election, November 2, 1976. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, Gallup
Many of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees don't have the gravitas or institutional experience in dealing with giant bureaucracies to serve eff ectively, critics say. That whining you hear is the sound of progress. Trump, who spent his business career in real estate taking a wrecking ball to what doesn't work and then building luxury in its place, staked his campaign message to American voters on the need to do the same with Washington. You're not going to get renewal and reform from Cabinet appointees who figure that the place looks good overall but just maybe needs a little bit of paint. You need human bulldozers. One of the few nominees that the establishment actually accepts proves the rule: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Even Democrats have said he's a viable candidate for the job because he knows the ropes. Which is really just another way of saying he's on board with the bipartisan neocon talking points that don't distinguish between Republican and Democrat positions much , underscoring the need for an anti-establishment force that's skeptical of both establishment parties and whatever systemic corruption underpins some head-scratching consensus. A tweet from October 2015 by Trump speaks volumes about why he may have chosen Rubio. "Sheldon Adelson is looking to give big dollars to Rubio because he feels he can mold him into his perfect little puppet," Trump wrote, referring to the late top Republican donor and passionate Israel advocate. Trump clearly doesn't see Rubio as a leash-biter. Perhaps Trump also imagines him being a go-between who can translate Trump's MAGA world view to all the swamp critters at the State Department. Same with Elise Stefanik, the New York congresswoman nominated to be Trump's United Nations ambassador, who already seems to be working on her MAGA fluency after many years of speaking only neocon. Fox News host and veteran Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense immediately triggered personal witch hunts related to everything from his tattoos to his personal life, with criticism suggesting he doesn't have the chops to lead one of the biggest bureaucracies in the country at the Pentagon. How much worse can the guy do, really? The Pentagon wargamed its chances against Russia and China, and it lost. It's also losing the war that it's piloting in Ukraine against Russia. What is the establishment worried that Hegseth would ruin, besides maybe the morale of a few paperclip Purple Hearts in the bureaucratic brigade? The main concern about Trump's director of national intelligence pick, Army reservist and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, would be that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be running the U.S. intelligence community. This is all because she hasn't swallowed the standard talking points and has been open to considering all sources and types of information and analysis, which is actually the definition of intelligence gathering. Perhaps under Gabbard the U.S. will spend less time setting fires in foreign countries as an excuse to rush in and put them out. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is Trump's choice for secretary of health and human services. Kennedy, whose environmental law career involved suing industrial polluters, would be the first Big Pharma and medical-industry skeptic to hold the position at a time when the U.S. has become synonymous with pharmaceutical profiteering and obesity. Trump's nominee for attorney general, former Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida, withdrew his name from consideration amid accusations of sexual misconduct. Much has been made of Gaetz not even practicing law despite having a law degree. I'm pretty sure he didn't need one to recognize and end witch hunts dressed up as justice. America's problems won't be solved by slight variations of the same sort of people who created them. Trump was elected as a giant middle finger to the system. This Cabinet is just the rest of the hand, winding up for some long-overdue spankings. Marsden writes for Tribune Content Agency: rachelmarsden.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!Former President Jimmy Carter dies at 100Their ages vary. But a conspicuous handful of filmmaking lions in winter, or let’s say late autumn, have given us new reasons to be grateful for their work over the decades — even for the work that didn’t quite work. Which, yes, sounds like ingratitude. But do we even want more conventional or better-behaved work from talents such as Francis Ford Coppola? Even if we’re talking about “Megalopolis” ? If Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” gave audiences a less morally complicated courtroom drama, would that have mattered, given Warner Bros.’ butt-headed decision to plop it in less than three dozen movie theaters in the U.S.? Coppola is 85. Eastwood is 94. Paul Schrader, whose latest film “Oh, Canada” arrives this week and is well worth seeking out, is a mere 78. Based on the 2021 Russell Banks novel “Foregone,” “Oh, Canada” is the story of a documentary filmmaker, played by Richard Gere, being interviewed near the end of his cancer-shrouded final days. In the Montreal home he shares with his wife and creative partner, played by Uma Thurman, he consents to the interview by two former students of his. Gere’s character, Leonard Fife, has no little contempt for these two, whom he calls “Mr. and Mrs. Ken Burns of Canada” with subtle disdain. As we learn over the artful dodges and layers of past and present, events imagined and/or real, Fife treats the interview as a final confession from a guarded and deceptive soul. He’s also a hero to everyone in the room, famous for his anti-Vietnam war political activism, and for the Frederick Wiseman-like inflection of his own films’ interview techniques. The real-life filmmaker name-checked in “Oh, Canada” is documentarian Errol Morris, whose straight-to-the-lens framing of interview subjects was made possible by his Interrotron device. In Schrader’s adaptation, Fife doesn’t want the nominal director (Michael Imperioli, a nicely finessed embodiment of a second-rate talent with first-rate airs) in his eyeline. Rather, as he struggles with hazy, self-incriminating memories of affairs, marriages, one-offs with a friend’s wife and a tense, brief reunion with the son he never knew, Fife wants only his wife, Emma — his former Goddard College student — in this metaphoric confessional. Schrader and his editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. treat the memories as on-screen flashbacks spanning from 1968 to 2023. At times, Gere and Thurman appear as their decades-young selves, without any attempt to de-age them, digitally or otherwise. (Thank god, I kind of hate that stuff in any circumstance.) In other sequences from Fife’s past, Jacob Elordi portrays Fife, with sly and convincing behavioral details linking his performance to Gere’s persona. We hear frequent voiceovers spoken by Gere about having ruined his life by age 24, at least spiritually or morally. Banks’ novel is no less devoted to a dying man’s addled but ardent attempt to come clean and own up to what has terrified him the most in the mess and joy of living: Honesty. Love. Commitment. There are elements of “Oh, Canada” that soften Banks’ conception of Fife, from the parentage of Fife’s abandoned son to the specific qualities of Gere’s performance. It has been 44 years since Gere teamed with Schrader on “American Gigolo,” a movie made by a very different filmmaker with very different preoccupations of hetero male hollowness. It’s also clearly the same director at work, I think. And Gere remains a unique camera object, with a stunning mastery of filling a close-up with an unblinking stillness conveying feelings easier left behind. The musical score is pretty watery, and with Schrader you always get a few lines of tortured rhetoric interrupting the good stuff. In the end, “Oh, Canada” has an extraordinarily simple idea at its core: That of a man with a movie camera, most of his life, now on the other side of the lens. Not easy. “I can’t tell the truth unless that camera’s on!” he barks at one point. I don’t think the line from the novel made it into Schrader’s script, but it too sums up this lion-in-winter feeling of truth without triumphal Hollywood catharsis. The interview, Banks wrote, is one’s man’s “last chance to stop lying.” It’s also a “final prayer,” dramatized by the Calvinist-to-the-bone filmmaker who made sure to include that phrase in his latest devotion to final prayers and missions of redemption. “Oh, Canada” — 3 stars (out of 4) No MPA rating (some language and sexual material) Running time: 1:34 How to watch: Opens in theaters Dec. 13, running 1in Chicago Dec. 13-19 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; siskelfilmcenter.org Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.
In a bold move that has captured the attention of gamers and tech enthusiasts worldwide, Intel has unveiled a groundbreaking concept that will redefine how we perceive gaming. On the brink of this technological revelation, Intel is poised to introduce its “Premarket” initiative, which promises to revolutionize the gaming landscape with never-before-seen innovations. What is Intel Premarket? This intriguing project is Intel’s response to the rapidly evolving demands of the gaming industry. The “Premarket” initiative primarily focuses on developing infrastructure that ensures seamless integration of next-gen gaming hardware with cloud-based technologies. This innovative platform is set to optimize gameplay performance while also reducing latency significantly. It aims to create an immersive experience by leveraging real-time data analytics processed by powerful, AI-driven chipsets. Impact on the Gaming World For the gaming community, Intel’s move translates into more than just enhanced performance. Premarket’s technology could potentially lead to a future where gamers can access ultra-high-definition games without requiring expensive, high-end PCs or consoles. This means a larger, more accessible gaming environment for players worldwide, leveling the playing field and inviting more participants into the virtual arena. The Future of Gaming With Intel pushing the boundaries of gaming technology, the future looks both exciting and inclusive. This initiative lays the groundwork for a transformative era in gaming, where high-quality experiences are within reach of every player. As the tech world awaits further announcements, gamers everywhere are eager to see how Intel’s Premarket will shape the next generation of gaming experiences. How Intel’s Premarket is Poised to Transform Gaming: Revolutionary Features and Insights Introduction to Intel Premarket’s Innovative Vision In a strategic gamble that has captured industry attention, Intel’s unveiling of the Premarket concept signifies a major shift in gaming technology. The initiative aspires to seamlessly integrate next-gen gaming hardware with sophisticated cloud systems, promising enhancements such as reduced latency and improved performance metrics through powerful AI-driven chipsets. Key Features of Intel Premarket 1. Real-Time Data Analytics Powered by AI: One of the standout features of Intel’s Premarket is its commitment to leveraging AI for real-time data analytics. This enables adaptive gameplay experiences, where systems learn and respond to player behaviors, potentially reshaping what we know about interactive gaming narratives. 2. Seamless Hardware-Cloud Integration: By marrying cutting-edge hardware with advanced cloud technologies, Premarket aims to minimize lag and maximize the speed of interactions. This meticulous integration helps create an uninterrupted, immersive experience, redefining how gameplay is perceived by users worldwide. Pros and Cons of Intel Premarket Pros: – Accessibility: Expands access to high-quality gaming experiences without the necessity for expensive, advanced hardware. – Performance Optimization: Aims to significantly elevate game performance and reduce latency issues with AI-enhancements. – Inclusive Gaming Environment: Opens the arena for more players by lowering barriers to entry with high-definition, cloud-enabled gaming. Cons: – Reliance on Stable Internet Connections: The experience hinges on robust internet access, which could limit usability in regions with inconsistent connectivity. – Potential Security Concerns: As reliance grows on cloud-based infrastructure, so too does the risk associated with cybersecurity threats. Predictions and Future Trends Intel’s Premarket is setting the stage for what could be a transformative era in gaming technology. Industry experts speculate that this move may lead to new trends, such as: – Adoption of Subscription Models: Players might witness a shift towards cloud-based subscription services offering access to high-definition gaming libraries. – Sustainability Efforts: By optimizing resource usage through cloud technology, there could be a reduction in the energy demands traditionally associated with high-end gaming hardware. Security Aspects of Gaming Integration With increased reliance on cloud infrastructure comes a pertinent need for robust security measures. Intel is expected to implement state-of-the-art encryption and multi-factor authentication to protect user data and ensure safe gaming environments. Conclusion: Intel Premarket’s Role in the Future of Gaming As Intel’s Premarket initiative prepares to break new ground, it represents a bold step towards an inclusive and technologically advanced future for gaming. The industry watches with anticipation as this initiative unfolds, potentially shaping a new era where premium gaming is universally accessible without the need for expensive equipment. For more information about Intel and its initiatives, visit Intel’s website .
In today’s highly competitive marketplace, company success is dependent on the capacity of management to respond to corporate challenges which require strategic thinking. This entails not just imagining long-term goals that are consistent with an organisation’s mission, but also spotting market possibilities and risks. Strategic thinking necessitates a thorough knowledge of market trends, competitive dynamics, and internal strengths and limitations (Goldman, 2012). Nevertheless, many leaders pursue strategic thinking with an idealistic perspective, developing unrealistic approaches to company difficulties. As a result, solutions may be impractical and fail to successfully address real-world problems. Realistic thinking prioritises fact-based decision-making, concentrating on current restrictions, resources that are accessible, and market dynamics. Realistic leaders employ data, industry insights, and evaluations of risk to develop flexible strategies that can assist avoid future setbacks. Although realism is sometimes confused with pessimism, this practical attitude promotes resilience, allowing firms to handle hurdles and remain stable throughout economic downturns (Steiner, 2009). Idealistic thinking, on the other hand, focuses on values, aspiration, and opportunities without taking into account constraints. While this viewpoint can foster creativity, it frequently overlooks crucial restrictions, resulting in a tendency to set excessively ambitious goals without taking into account probable obstacles (Mintzberg, 1994). Given the complex nature and uncertainties of today’s corporate world, leaders must take a realistic approach to addressing challenges, managing resources, and making informed decisions. Here are a few arguments why realism is important: Realistic thinking enables leaders to examine challenges by examining facts, finding trends, and evaluating risks. This technique prevents overconfidence and allows leaders to foresee challenges while building contingency measures. For example, during times of recession, organisations that apply accurate cash flow estimates and budgeting assessments can make critical cost-cutting decisions, allowing them to thrive while competitors struggle (Liedtka, 1998). With scarce resources, leaders with a realistic perspective deploy cash, labour, and other resources to places where they are most needed, avoiding the wasteful practices that come with overly ambitious goals. A technological startup, for example, may choose to launch a minimum-viable offering rather than a full-scale launch, so preserving resources while meeting market demand. Idealistic leaders, on the other hand, may overcommit resources to large undertakings, risking exhaustion without obtaining the desired results (Steiner, 2009). Realistic decision-makers base their choices on facts and strategic alignment with the company’s aims. They avoid being too optimistic, instead focusing on making gradual advancement toward sustainable growth. For example, a retail chain that is facing increased competition may contemplate overseas growth. While idealism may drive for quick entrance into various markets, a pragmatic approach would be to test a few key sites first, reducing risk and optimising the plan (Goldman, 2012). Realism does not exclude creativity; rather, it allows innovation to be explored within reasonable constraints. Companies may produce sustainable innovations by establishing clear, attainable goals, identifying risks, and allocating resources effectively. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, firms that adapted to remote work thrived by realistically assessing operational and technological requirements, resulting in long-term solutions that benefited both the organisation and its personnel (Christensen et al., 2006). Blockbuster failed to respond to initial developments toward digital streaming, eventually declaring insolvency in 2010 when it was too late to change. Nokia: Once a mobile phone market leader, Nokia’s reliance on an old operating system hindered it from moving to smartphone technology, resulting in a downfall and purchase by Microsoft. Sears: Sears’ idealistic belief in its brand strength caused it to ignore e-commerce, resulting in collapse as competitors apprised (Christensen et al., 2006). These instances demonstrate how idealism, when not tempered with realism, may lead to poor strategic planning and, eventually, failure. Effective management maintains a balance between reality and idealism. While idealism allows people to establish lofty goals, realism anchors their ambitions in attainable strategies. Setting reasonable goals, continually monitoring progress, and reacting to environmental adjustments all improve resilience, allowing businesses to grab opportunities without taking on too much risk (Mintzberg, 1994). Realism not only influences decision-making, but it also promotes a culture of transparency, responsibility, and openness to new challenges. The management that model realistic thinking foster an environment in which workers are encouraged to establish attainable objectives and confront problems, building resilience and a proactive attitude to issue resolution (Liedtka, 1998). Both realism and idealism assume crucial roles in corporate planning, but realism is required for overcoming obstacles and establishing long-term success. Leaders that base their strategy on a thorough grasp of market dynamics, resource limits, and dangers are better positioned to handle today’s complicated environment. Integrating realism with idealism allows organisations to avoid typical errors and pursue development in ways that are both visionary and practical. Learning from mistakes is crucial for long-term success, but it needs leaders to embrace openness and thoroughly review both triumphs and setbacks in order to drive future initiatives and promote resilience throughout the organisation. Christensen, C. M., Anthony, S. D., & Roth, E. A. (2006). Seeing what’s next: Using the theories of innovation to predict industry change. Harvard Business Review Press. Goldman, E. F. (2012). Strategic thinking at the top. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 31(5), 29-38. Liedtka, J. (1998). Strategic thinking: Can it be taught? Long Range Planning, 31(1), 120-129. Mintzberg, H. (1994). The rise and fall of strategic planning. Pearson Education. Steiner, G. A. (2009). Strategic planning: What every manager must know. Simon and Schuster.The King is scheduled to attend the show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday which will see Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish present a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada – based on the 2006 Oscar-nominated film. Cast members Vanessa Williams, who plays Miranda Priestly, and Matt Henry, who stars as art director Nigel, were among those posing on the red carpet ahead of the performance which showcases an original score by Sir Elton. The variety show will also see debuts from British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor with her hit track Murder On The Dancefloor while Eurovision winner Nemo is also featured on the bill. Also posing on the carpet were US magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller, whose performance marks their 50th anniversary. Comedy will come from Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, writer and comic Scott Bennett, Scottish comedian Larry Dean and political comic Matt Forde – who posed on the red carpet with a crutch after undergoing surgery for cancer on his spine. Among the arrivals was TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who will make an appearance in this year’s show with her Change And Check Choir led by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow. The choir, made up of women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Kelly’s campaign, will perform Love Is All Around, which is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection. It comes hours after Camilla insisted the “show must go on” after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. “With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.” A royal source said the Queen was “naturally disappointed to miss the evening’s entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that ‘the show must go on'”. “She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon,” the source added. The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December. Money raised from the show will go to help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance, with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year.
Styrene Butadiene (SB) Latex Market , 52% of Growth to Originate from APAC, TechnavioJust eight months since Suno, the AI music generator launched to the public with a bang, the company is back with v4 of its powerful song generator. Suno v4 is designed to be a step up from the original version, with vastly improved sound and some cool new functionality thrown in. I put on my music mogul hat this week to give it a run-through, and see whether the enthusiastic marketing blurb matches the reality . There are a number of things that have apparently come together in this new release to improve the product. To be honest it needed the upgrade since Suno had a bit of a reputation of providing subpar audio quality, and pretty weak lyrics. The good news is Suno v4.0 is a solid improvement over the previous version. The sound quality of the instruments and vocals is now at least as good as that of Udio, the main rival for the AI music crown, and the new ReMi (pronounced ‘ray me’) lyric writer is a little treasure in many ways. Improvements in lyric generation The company bills ReMi as an edgier lyric creator, and in my testing I found it was definitely a refreshing change from some of the banal AI-generated slop that both Udio and Suno have produced in the past. No neon, whispers or echoes in the mix at all. Cue a huge sigh of relief. As well as the lack of lyrical drivel, the real uplift comes from the more natural language that’s used in the tracks. AI music platforms have to date suffered from bland, cheesy word structures, which at times become almost laughable. This new lyric generator produces punchier, less obvious lyrical phrasing. And it makes a lot of difference to the final product. Be aware though, it can stray into offensive territory at times, so definitely keep watch on younger users. In practice I found it stupidly easy to enter short five word prompts, let the lyric generator do its work, and sit back while the platform produced something which was remarkably decent. Alas, Suno still has a tiny problem knowing how to end a song, and several of the test tracks I created stopped abruptly mid phrase for no reason, very annoying. Some issues remain with edits I also have to nitpick a little over the lingering clunkiness in song editing. Unlike Udio which provides a rich tapestry of editing functions, Suno still struggles with even basic things like extensions. If you extend a song you get a new generation, rather than something tacked onto the end of the original track. This means you have to use an external editor like Audacity to compile the final song, which is a shame. The crop and replace section editing is also a bit more complicated than necessary, and definitely more so than the equivalent functions in Udio. However on the positive side, the song cover function is really good. In my tests updating old tracks I had created in Version 3, the vocals and the instrumentation improved significantly with a new cover generation. I found it much better than the remastering function, which didn’t really seem to deliver a huge uplift in the sound quality as far as I could tell. Personas are improved By far the feature I had the most fun with was Personas. Selecting a stored genre and vibe, and then just triggering some interesting lyrics with a simple prompt, is about as effortless as you can get in terms of song-making. Especially when you remember that Suno generally produces full or nearly full 3 minute songs from a single prompt most of the time. And even though the sound is not 100% consistent track to track, it's still close enough to let you produce music that sounds like it comes from a single artist. If you close your eyes and squint a bit. An addictive distraction In the end, I got into a groove and started to one-shot prompt songs for hours, and in fact ended up with an album of ten tracks from one Persona, produced in a mere five hours. I wanted to test what the overall quality would be like, so I did zero editing after generation. As you’d expect some of the tracks were a little dicey, to say the least, but considering the lack of effort I put into managing the process, the results were remarkable. This technology is moving so fast, it’s mind-blowing. Verdict? It’s a great upgrade. The Personas are a total hit with this new audio and lyrical quality. I generated more interesting and likeable tracks in my testing than I’ve ever done before on either platform. I can now see a future where a huge amount of genuinely good, if not great, music is going to be produced by these tools. Especially if Udio’s upcoming Version 2.0 matches or exceeds this quality. Are we ready for a world awash with amateur productions? Who knows. Now excuse me, I’ve got a red hot K-Pop, acid jazz combo which needs some prompting from my brain. Look, I may be a rubbish songsmith, but at least I’m a happy one. And that’s the point, isn’t it? More from Tom's GuideAndrew Prokop: Are progressive groups sinking Democrats' electoral chances?