Snow Leopard review – enigmatic tale of man v beast is late Tibetan film-maker’s final word

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Tibetan film-maker Pema Tseden died of heart failure last year at the age of 53, just months after completing this movie; his health was almost certainly weakened by rough treatment from Chinese police in a notorious 2016 incident at an airport where he was prevented from retrieving his luggage, and the ensuing row escalated when police officers became involved and Tseden ended up in hospital. This ugly and possibly tragic event must surely have influenced Tseden’s final film, which mixes satirical comedy and social commentary and an enigmatic Zen reverie of innocence and experience. The fact that Tseden did die also alters the film’s meaning.A TV crew is seen making its way in a four-wheel drive across the vast Tibetan plateau to where a monk has told them a furious farmer is keeping a snow leopard – a nationally protected animal – illegally penned up, and intending to kill it in revenge for killing nine of his lambs. The monk is riding along with the crew; he is nicknamed “Snow Leopard” because he himself was radicalised into his vocation as a young man by rescuing another snow leopard – or, who knows, perhaps this very same one – from his farming family who had strung the animal up, intending to whip it to death.The leopard is shown with digital effects which are a little obvious; there would perhaps have been an argument for not showing the leopard on screen at all. The farmer himself is in a permanent rage, tormented beyond endurance by bland assurances from a government official that he will receive cash compensation at some unspecified time, as well as by the breezily unconcerned attitude of the TV crew, who patronise the farming family and chivvy them out of the way to get their shots, concerned only with their story and certainly not with the destruction of the farmer’s livelihood.While everyone waits for the police to arrive, the snow leopard has to be imprisoned in the same pen as the dead lambs and the surviving sheep, the vigilant farmer shouting and prodding the leopard to make sure it doesn’t kill anything else. And when the officers arrive, the confrontation turns into painful, angry, upsetting chaos, with Tseden clearly showing us what it means to challenge uniformed authority. Perhaps he identified with both the snow leopard – a brutal predator which cares nothing for the exotic or sentimental connotations which humanity has created for it – and its captor, who cares nothing for these things either.Tseden was not an overtly political film-maker and this is not an overtly political film; nor was the incident that might well have led ultimately to his death an overtly political incident. And yet the political implications of power are everywhere; the meanings are transformed and displaced into these characters and incidents. It’s a strange, sad swan song for this director.

AI Evolution And The Transformation Of Business Operations

Business News

Ron Cameron is the CEO of KnowledgeLake and has more than 20 years of experience in the information management industry.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is arguably the most transformative technology of our time. From its early beginnings as rudimentary productivity tools, AI has evolved into sophisticated systems that enhance human capabilities and drive business innovation. Integrating AI into business operations can help enhance efficiency, accuracy and strategic decision-making.

As we go through different stages of AI development, it’s crucial for tech leaders to know how to use AI to its fullest potential. From basic tools to advanced AI co-pilots, the journey of AI transformation offers big opportunities for those who take a strategic approach.

AI Evolution In Stages
Just as cars evolved from being simple modes of transportation to today’s tech-driven machines offering autonomous driving capabilities, AI has moved from basic tools to advanced systems. Early cars were just for getting from point A to point B. Over time, they evolved to include complex navigation systems, enhanced safety features and, ultimately, autonomous driving capabilities. Similarly, AI started as a set of simple tools aiding in discrete tasks and has now evolved into intelligent co-pilots that can understand context, automate complex processes and augment human capabilities.

Let’s look at these stages in AI evolution.
Stage 1: Tool Generation

At first, AI was just about tools for tasks like content creation and basic data analysis. Technologies like ChatGPT emerged, providing valuable assistance in creative and operational tasks. But these tools didn’t get the full picture and were more like functional aids than strategic assets.

Stage 2: Co-Pilot Generation
We are currently in what can be termed “the co-pilot generation.” Here, AI operates not just as a tool but as a capable intelligent assistant. This stage is about improving efficiency in how repetitive tasks get done by humans and automate without needing a proportional increase in human labor. It is about finding the right balance between human capital and automation while allowing employees to upskill their potential.

Stage 3: Conductor Generation
Looking ahead, the future of AI lies in the conductor generation, where AI agents will collaborate with humans at an even deeper level. These AI systems will coordinate and optimize workflows, making real-time decisions and adjustments to maintain efficiency and productivity at unprecedented levels.
Intuitive AI: The On-Ramp To Accessible AI
Incorporating AI into business processes can act as a force multiplier for driving efficiency, making AI accessible and beneficial to all businesses. In this “intuitive AI” stage, AI enhances operational efficiency and decision-making with existing systems. Ultimately, AI should become easier to use and more accessible.
Examples include having AI-driven solutions that streamline document classification, data extraction and workflow automation, reducing manual efforts and accelerating business processes. This approach helps improve accuracy and productivity while empowering organizations to unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation.
These enhanced AI capabilities include providing precise and contextual responses to document and data queries, helping to ensure high availability and enabling businesses to operate efficiently from anywhere. It also offers ease of use and integration into existing workflow operations, reducing manual effort while enhancing overall productivity. Importantly, AI is led and driven by the business, not the IT department, making advanced technology accessible while fostering a more collaborative and innovative work environment.
Considerations For A Practical AI Rollout
For AI to be effectively integrated into business operations, a strategic, well-thought-out approach is necessary. Here are some key considerations:
Automation And Efficiency
To maximize the benefits of AI in automating routine tasks, organizations should first identify which processes are most suited for automation, such as document categorization and data extraction. It’s essential to map out the current workflows and determine where AI can replace or assist manual efforts most effectively.
Implementing AI to handle tasks like handwriting recognition and processing image-only PDFs, for example, can help streamline operations. However, before deploying AI, ensure that the data being used is accurate and well-organized to avoid inefficiencies down the line.
Enhanced Decision-Making
For AI to truly enhance decision-making, organizations should focus on establishing a robust framework for data management and integration. This involves ensuring that the AI system has access to high-quality, up-to-date information that is structured to meet the specific needs of compliance, customer service and strategic planning.
Companies should also define clear guidelines for how AI-generated insights are utilized in decision-making processes. By doing so, AI can improve response times and the overall quality of customer interactions, but only when human oversight is in place to guide its application.
Human-Machine Collaboration
It is important to understand that AI is not a replacement for human workers but a complement to them; a way to do more with less. In this regard, AI should be viewed as a co-pilot that enhances human effort, providing recommendations and performing repetitive tasks with greater speed and accuracy. This collaboration allows employees to focus on areas that require creativity, critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
Human Oversight And Exception Handling
Ensure that human oversight is part of your AI deployment strategy. While AI can automate many tasks, human intervention is crucial for governance, handling exceptions and making final decisions on critical matters.
Taking Care Of Data Quality
Before implementing AI solutions, assess your organization’s specific needs and the quality of your data. Understanding where AI can add the most value will guide your technology investments and deployment strategies.
Real-World Applications
Lastly, what are the use cases? Where can you get the early wins? Here are a few examples from different industries that I’m familiar with:
•Higher Education: At Washington University (a KnowledgeLake customer), over 16 departments utilize AI to streamline admissions, significantly reducing manual processing times.
•Energy Management: Schneider Electric uses OpenAI and Azure to lower carbon emissions and improve sustainability.
•Manufacturing: Invoicing at New Belgium Brewing (a KnowledgeLake customer) has been automated with AI, significantly reducing processing time and achieving increased accuracy.
Conclusion
The journey from AI tools to intelligent co-pilots and eventually to AI conductors represents a paradigm shift in not only how businesses operate but the future of work itself. Embracing these advancements thoughtfully can unlock efficiencies and drive your organization toward a more innovative and competitive future.
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Travel warning for country loved by backpackers as fourth tourist dies in mass poisoning

Travel

A teenager has become the fourth person to die in a suspected methanol poisoning Laos.19-year-old Australian Bianca Jones died just hours after the US State Department confirmed the death of an American in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.The deaths follow the passing of two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, last week in the holiday destination, which saw 2.6 million international visitors between January and August this year.Authorities confirmed that Ms Jones’ friend, Holly Bowles, and a British woman are currently on life support in the hospital.Ms Jones’ parents paid tribute to their daughter and her “incredible spirit.”They told the Herald Sun: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the news that our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones, has passed away.“She was surrounded by love, and we are comforted by the knowledge that her incredible spirit touched so many lives during her time with us.”The father of Ms Bowles told reporters outside the Bangkok Hospital that his daughter is being treated and that his daughter remains in critical condition.He said: “Right now our daughter remains in an intensive care unit, in critical condition, she’s on life support.”A police investigation is ongoing into the cause of the deaths. Still, news reports and testimonies of fellow tourists suggest that the dead may have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a substance common in bootleg alcohol.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “Our first thoughts in this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss.“This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure.”Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “Drink spiking and methanol poisoning are far too common in too many parts of the world, so at this time, I would say to parents, to young people, please have a conversation about risks.A recent traveller to Vang Vieng has taken to Facebook to urge caution to those offered free drinks after her friend fell ill after drinking local spirits.Bethany Clarke took to a Facebook group for backpackers in Laos to warn: “Urgent – please avoid all local spirits,” she wrote. “Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.“Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”The hostel’s owner in which the two Australian women stayed has confirmed that it is closed for a police investigation.The hostel’s manager told the Associated Press that they had served over 100 drinks on the night in question, including free shots, arguing that nobody else had shown signs of illness. He said that he hoped an investigation would clear the hostel’s name.He told ABC: “Right now the police (are telling) every hostel and hotel and bar to stop selling drinks in Vang Vieng…not only our hostel, other hostel and hotel customers have the same problem.”

‘Panic’ in Spain as beautiful city overrun by rats with British tourists warned

Travel

Rats have been seen swarming a beautiful Spanish city popular with British tourists, prompting fears of a potential illness outbreak as the rodents spread their germs. The southeastern city of Alicante has seen an influx of rats around the Plaza de San Blas area, prompting swift action from the council. Last week, locals complained of multiple rodent sightings around the areas green spaces that are currently under construction. Local government officials have been trying to get rid of them as they crowd around sewers and areas with grass and other vegetation. One resident posted a shocking video to social media showing rats appearing out of newly constructed walls and benches in the Plaza de San Blas development before jumping into the street.Another person posted to videos to social media platform X showing rats climbing on trees, joking that the city should change its slogan to “Alicante: city, beach and RATS”. A third local, Glorida Valor, warned of the “proliferation” of rats, adding that they are being caught by pets. She said “Areas next to the sports courts are attracting rats and my dog has found some.”More than 5.5 millions Brits visit the Costa Blanca each year, many of them specifically heading to Alicante. It also had a significant expat population.The Plaza de San Blas development project started in April 2022 and has plagued the area with noisy construction, and now rats. It shiould have been completed in March 2023 but the original constructor announced they woud not be continuing with it, putting it on pause until April 2024. It’s now set to be completed in 2025.The area will be completely remodelled, including new trees, pavements, benches, lighting, and a playground. Resident Felicidad Campillo expressed frustrations with the project that “is full of mistakes”.She said: “Nothing makes sense as it is more than two years late and it is full of mistakes. They have removed a lot of parking spaces and widened the pavements in an absurd way.”