Machine Music: With Eurovision Canceled, The Netherlands Prepares to Host First AI Song Contest - by Richard Smirke

The inaugual AI Song Contest, which could show how artificial intelligence can help create pop songs, wraps up in the Netherlands on May 12.

Could artificial intelligence be used to help create the ultimate pop song?

That’s one of the questions that organizers of the first-ever AI Song Contest hope to gain insights into when their competition wraps up in the Netherlands on May 12.

“What we hope to show is the creative possibilities of artificial intelligence,” says Karen van Dijk, a senior editor at VPRO, the Dutch public broadcaster behind the event. “What it can do? But also, what are its limits and where does the human element come in?”

Originally envisioned as a precursor to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, the AI competition, which is online, is moving forward while the famed pan-European song extravaganza, which was due to be held in Rotterdam later this month, was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. The final round of the AI Song Contest, which is also being held in conjunction with Dutch public broadcasting administrator NPO, will be live streamed on YouTube at 8:30 p.m. Central European Time (3:30 p.m. EST). 

For additional information go to 
https://pressfrom.info/ca/news/entertainment/-242069-machine-music-with-eurovision-canceled-the-netherlands-prepares-to-host-first-ai-song-contest.html

Could artificial intelligence be used to help create the ultimate pop song?

That’s
one of the questions that organizers of the first-ever AI Song Contest
hope to gain insights into when their competition wraps up in the
Netherlands on May 12.

“What we hope to show is the creative
possibilities of artificial intelligence,” says Karen van Dijk, a senior
editor at VPRO, the Dutch public broadcaster behind the event. “What it
can do? But also, what are its limits and where does the human element
come in?”

Originally envisioned as a precursor to this year’s
Eurovision Song Contest, the AI competition, which is online, is moving
forward while the famed pan-European song extravaganza, which was due to
be held in Rotterdam later this month, was cancelled due to the
coronavirus outbreak. The final round of the AI Song Contest, which is
also being held in conjunction with Dutch public broadcasting
administrator NPO, will be live streamed on YouTube at 8:30 p.m. Central European Time (3:30 p.m. EST).

Source: https://pressfrom.info/ca/news/entertainment/-242069-machine-music-with-eurovision-canceled-the-netherlands-prepares-to-host-first-ai-song-contest.html

Could artificial intelligence be used to help create the ultimate pop song?

That’s
one of the questions that organizers of the first-ever AI Song Contest
hope to gain insights into when their competition wraps up in the
Netherlands on May 12.

“What we hope to show is the creative
possibilities of artificial intelligence,” says Karen van Dijk, a senior
editor at VPRO, the Dutch public broadcaster behind the event. “What it
can do? But also, what are its limits and where does the human element
come in?”

Originally envisioned as a precursor to this year’s
Eurovision Song Contest, the AI competition, which is online, is moving
forward while the famed pan-European song extravaganza, which was due to
be held in Rotterdam later this month, was cancelled due to the
coronavirus outbreak. The final round of the AI Song Contest, which is
also being held in conjunction with Dutch public broadcasting
administrator NPO, will be live streamed on YouTube at 8:30 p.m. Central European Time (3:30 p.m. EST).

Source: https://pressfrom.info/ca/news/entertainment/-242069-machine-music-with-eurovision-canceled-the-netherlands-prepares-to-host-first-ai-song-contest.htm

EU: Netherlands schools will have plastic screens fitted on desks as they begin to reopen next week

Students are going back to school in the Netherlands as staff prepare measures including putting plastic shields around desks to prevent coronavirus spreading. Staff have installed disinfectant gel dispensers at the doorways at the Springplank school in Den Bosch and many others.

Infections in the Netherlands have been declining for weeks and the government announced a schedule to relax some of its lockdown measures on Wednesday, with elementary schools to reopen on May 11. 'Our teachers are not worried,' said Rascha van der Sluijs, the school's technical coordinator..

 While schools have been closed since March 14, many including the Springplank have remained open with skeleton staff for a handful of students whose parents work in essential sectors.

 Most of these pupils whose parents work in sectors such as healthcare have been taking classes online. Each district is setting its own policies for reopening, with many planning to accept students only on alternate days and some teachers wearing medical masks.

 There have been 42,093 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the Netherlands, with 5,359 deaths, according to data from the National Institute for Health.

Of those, 1.3 per cent of infections and one death were registered among people under 20 years old.

High schools are not due to open until June.

 At the Springplank, younger students will use one entrance and older students a different one. Parents will have to drop their children at the gate.

 Ms Van der Sluijs said: 'What we're worried about is the adults. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: 'To start, children in primary schools will attend school half of the time. example, one day one half of the pupils, the other day the other half. The starting date for all schools and day cares is 11 May.'

 Read More: Netherlands schools will have plastic screens fitted on desks as they begin to reopen next week | Daily Mail Online

The Netherlands: 'COVID-Proof’ Vegan Vending Machines Are Launching In the Netherlands

Amsterdam-based food delivery service Vegan Masters is set to launch COVID-proof, contactless vegan vending machines in the Netherlands.

The company’s founder, Danny Galiart, announced the new product launch on LinkedIn. He wrote, “Soon we will launch our smart vending cooler. Contact-free, plant-based, daily fresh, to-go food!”

The vegan vending machine will work like a traditional machine. “You open the door by using your bank card or telephone which is in use as a bank card. Then you select your products, as soon as you close the door, the transaction is confirmed and the payment is done,” Nikki Kramers of Vegan Masters told LIVEKINDLY.

Although the new concept was already in production, Kramers says she expects the current pandemic will increase the demand for similar “COVID-proof” products.

“There was already a growing demand for smart solutions for to-go concepts before COVID-19. But now we expect a massive demand for fresh vending solutions. We expect that non-contact food concepts will be the future,” she said.

Read more at: The Netherlands: 'COVID-Proof’ Vegan Vending Machines Are Launching In the Netherlands 

Dutch start easing coronavirus restrictions, face masks a must on public transport

Dutch start easing coronavirus restrictions, face masks a must on public transport

Read more at:
https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/05/dutch-start-easing-coronavirus-restrictions-face-masks-a-must-on-public-transport/

The Netherlands: Amid COVID-Related Cyber Threats, the Netherlands Leads UN Efforts

In light of growing concern about malicious cyber disruption during the COVID-19 outbreak, the United Nations’ Open-Ended Working Group should play a leading role in further developing a global framework to ensure responsible behavior in cyberspace.

Read more at:
https://www.cfr.org/blog/amid-covid-related-cyber-threats-netherlands-leads-un-efforts

Netherlands lands in crossfire in US-China trade war

A Dutch semiconductor company has become the focus of international attention after the United States put pressure on The Hague to halt exports of machines to China. Like many European countries, the…

Read more at:
http://www.rfi.fr/en/science-and-technology/20200504-the-netherlands-lands-in-crossfire-in-us-china-trade-war-coronavirus-asml-superconductor

France and Netherlands call for tougher EU trade conditions

Bloc urged to enforce environmental and labour standards through tariffs

Read more at:
https://www.ft.com/content/e14f082c-42e1-4bd8-ad68-54714b995dff