The Wire: Local Berkeley News and Updates
Berkeley Rep Uses AI Art for Marketing
Berkeley Repertory Theatre employed AI-generated art to promote its January production of The Thing About Jellyfish. The theater described this approach as an experiment intended to complement — not replace — their internal creative design team. This move reflects a growing trend among performing arts venues in the Bay Area to use AI tools to reduce costs, a development that has sparked debate within the theater community. (SF Chronicle)
Berkeley High Custodian Authors Children's Books
Kris Tan, a custodian at Berkeley High School, has authored two children’s books and has a third slated for release soon. (Berkeley High Jacket)
Berkeley Lab Awarded $125 Million for Quantum Research
Berkeley Lab has secured $125 million in funding to advance quantum research initiatives. (Daily Cal)
UC Berkeley College Access Program Threatened
A college access program at UC Berkeley serving 1,500 students faces uncertainty after losing an $836,000 annual federal grant. The cancellation followed controversy over a reference to “equity and inclusion” in the grant application. (Berkeley News)
Safety and Crime Incidents in Berkeley
- A man suspected of spending hours inside a UC Berkeley sorority, watching women sleep and possibly stealing their underwear, has been arrested. (Berkeley Scanner)
- A 14-year-old boy from Pinole was arrested for stealing cars over several days in Berkeley. (Berkeley Scanner)
- On Tuesday morning, a woman in her 60s was hit by a driver at University and Curtis Street and was hospitalized.
"Berkeley Rep used AI art as part of an experiment to complement — not replace — the work of our internal creative design team."
Author's summary: Berkeley’s arts, education, and safety sectors see changing dynamics with AI adoption, funding challenges, creative local authors, and ongoing community safety issues.