Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Israeli Forces Intercepted an Aid Flotilla Bound for Gaza; Republicans, Democrats Blame on the Dysfunctionality as Government Shutdown Enters Day 2; Tilly Norwood, an A.I.-generated Actress Sparks Outrage Across Hollywood. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired October 02, 2025 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Lynda Kinkade, great to have you with us.

Just ahead, a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces, while in Gaza City, Palestinians forced to flee once again as the IDF escalates its attacks.

Republicans and Democrats in Washington are trading blame as the U.S. government shutdown enters its second day.

Plus, she is an up-and-coming actress, but she's also not a real person. We'll discuss the new A.I.-generated actress who has Hollywood up in arms.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Lynda Kinkade.

KINKADE: Organizers on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla are vowing to push on undeterred after more than a dozen vessels were intercepted by the Israeli military. Right now, more than 20 of their boats are still sailing towards the enclave.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirms some boats were stopped and passengers transferred to an Israeli port, among them, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. Live feeds provided by the group show the Israeli forces boarding one of the ships. Israel says the Navy had contacted the flotilla earlier and asked it to change course.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: This is the Israeli Navy. You are approaching a blockaded zone. If you wish to deliver aid to Gaza, you may do so through the established channels. Please change your course toward the port of Ashtor, where the aid will undergo a security inspection and then be transferred into the Gaza Strip.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: Inside Gaza, the Red Cross says it has been forced to suspend operations in Gaza City as Israel threatens to cut off the northern part of the enclave. The organization says its teams stayed as long as they could to help the most vulnerable.

All this happening as the U.S. and Israel wait for Hamas to respond to Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza. A source telling CNN the group is carefully reviewing the proposal and consulting with officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

Well CNN correspondents are covering all the developments, our Barbie Latza Nadeau is standing by in Rome with more on the aid flotilla and Paula Hancocks is in Abu Dhabi following the latest from Gaza. Good to have you both with us.

I want to go to you first, Barbie. This flotilla was intended to deliver desperately needed aid, some of the vessels are still on their way to Gaza. What can you tell us about those that were intercepted and the people that were detained?

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN REPORTER: You know, I mean, there have been flotillas in the past that have tried to reach Gaza. There was a deadly incident in 2010, and then there was an incident in June. What's different about this particular flotilla, of course, is the size and scale.

There are around 500 activists on these 40-some vessels that were -- that have been sailing for over 10 days now. And they very much anticipated that they would be intercepted. But these activists' main message really is to tell the world what they're trying to do.

And so despite being intercepted, despite what's going on right now with these boats being stopped, the message still is getting through, Lynda.

KINKADE: And so just take us through the reaction, how a key government, international organizations, and, of course, everyday people responding to Israel's actions against this flotilla.

LATZA NADEAU: Well, you know, we saw last night when the first of the boats were intercepted that there were demonstrations here in Italy, as far away as Argentina. And these are activists on the ground who were anticipating this interception, who were ready to just let their voices be heard.

We've got here in Italy a big protest scheduled for Friday in protest of the stopping of the flotilla. So you've got a lot of activists out there supporting the flotilla and just trying to get the message out about what's really going on inside the Gaza Strip. So despite this aid, you know, which was food and medicine, diapers, baby formula, not being able to reach the Gaza Strip, certainly the activists say they're not going to give up.

KINKADE: And what are the activists saying with regards to Israel's claim that the flotilla is breaching, you know, a blockade that they've established? LATZA NADEAU: You know, I mean, you've heard a lot of governments here

in Italy, especially the prime minister calling for the flotilla to stop, to leave the aid in Crete or in Cyprus, and that they would deliver it through the Catholic Church.

[03:05:06]

And the activists, you know, really are anticipating this. This isn't the first time they've tried to get through. And so, you know, they've heard this before, that this is some sort of a propaganda or some sort of a call to attention.

But at the end of the day, the whole idea is to call attention to it. And so whatever the Israeli military says and those heavily armed officials getting on those boats and the peaceful activists, you can see them sitting there with their life jackets, many of them holding their documents in their hands, not protesting against being detained, you know, they are sending a message, and that message. I do think, Lynda, is being heard.

KINKADE: Yes, it certainly seems that way. Barbie Latza Nadeau, our thanks to you.

I want to go now to our Paula Hancocks, live from Abu Dhabi. Paula, so the Israeli military have escalated its operation in Gaza City, issuing a final warning to residents to evacuate as the humanitarian situation there certainly deteriorates. Just tell us what's happening on the ground, what's the latest?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Lynda, we've heard from the Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, that this is the last opportunity for those who wish to head south to do so.

Now, we have been seeing Israeli tanks, Israeli forces pushing deeper into the heart of Gaza City, most specifically around the al-Shifa hospital area. We have been speaking to doctors within that hospital, saying the situation is catastrophic. Now, there are some who are still trying to get out of the city.

Of course, there are others who simply cannot get out of the city if they are injured, if they are elderly. It is extremely expensive for people to try and find transport to take them, their families and their belongings down south. And it's money that many simply don't have.

So it is a desperate situation within the Gaza City area. We've heard from the International Red Cross that they have now had to suspend operations in Gaza City. They say that they held out as long as they possibly could, but they simply can't operate from there anymore.

They are saying, though, they're hoping that that suspension is temporary, but they are having to move, along with thousands of others, to an area further south, still called a humanitarian zone by Israel. But we know that it is an area that has been targeted by the military repeatedly in recent months. Lynda? KINKADE: And can you give us an update, Paula, on the U.S.-led

ceasefire proposal? Of course, we're waiting to hear from Hamas, which has expressed some reservations. Where are negotiations at?

HANCOCKS: Well, we know from one source who's familiar with what's going on, that on Tuesday night there was a meeting between Qatari, Turkish, and Egyptian officials with Hamas negotiators. Certainly, there is pressure being put on Hamas to agree to this framework, or at least for the pushback to be minimal, so that there is not this long, protracted negotiation process once again, which U.S. sources said that they're simply not open to. They are open to some kind of pushback from Hamas, there could be small adjustments made, but certainly they're not looking for this to be a long negotiation once again.

Now, we know that the U.S. President has given Hamas three to four days, this is what he said on Tuesday. So potentially by the end of the week, there will be an expectation that Hamas needs to give a response.

But we know that there are red lines from what Hamas has previously said in negotiations within this 20-point plan. Hamas does not want to disarm, and that is one of the key points of this plan, that there would be a demilitarization of Gaza, that Hamas would lay down its arms. We have heard repeatedly from Hamas officials telling CNN directly that that is a red line and they will not disarm, even if they agree that they don't have to be part of the governance of Gaza going forward.

Now, there might be some questions from Hamas about releasing the hostages within 72 hours and then waiting to see if the rest of the points and the rest of the plan can go ahead as it is pointed out, that it is vague, that there are not deadlines, that there are not specifics on when things will happen and Hamas would clearly be concerned that they would give up all their leverage very early on in this process.

So there are many things that Hamas will not like in this 20-point plan. But the fact is, there is pressure being put on them to say yes and then try and iron out the details at a later date.

[03:09:58]

And certainly for civilians in Gaza, there is a desperation that there is a ceasefire that is called, that there is an influx of humanitarian aid that is allowed into the Gaza Strip. Lynda.

KINKADE: All right, Paula Hancocks for us in Abu Dhabi. Thanks very much.

The U.S. government will remain shut down throughout the coming day as lawmakers point fingers and refuse to compromise over funding. The next Senate vote is expected to happen on Friday, but there's no indication a breakthrough will happen before then.

Republicans and Democrats are holding their ground as they wait to see who the public will blame for the dysfunction. The White House is heaping on the pressure by threatening the federal workforce with more layoffs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We believe that layoffs are imminent, they are unfortunately a consequence of this government shutdown.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), U.S. SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER: Democrats want to avert this crisis, but Republicans tried to bully us and it's clear they can't. They don't have the votes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: CNN's Arlette Saenz has a closer look at the standoff.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Efforts to end the government shutdown remain at a standstill as Republican and Democratic leaders are digging in on their positions. This shutdown will now last until at least Friday, possibly longer.

The Senate failed to advance a GOP stopgap funding bill that would fund the government for seven weeks on Wednesday and then Senate GOP leadership is allowing senators to go home for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. There will not be votes on the Thursday, meaning the next attempt to reopen the government will not come till Friday.

But for now, Republican leaders insist the only way for the government to reopen is for Democrats to get on board with that seven-week plan. But the majority of Democratic senators are holding firm in their position that Republicans need to come to the negotiating table on health care, specifically on extending Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire and reversing Medicaid cuts that were enacted by President Trump.

But there were some glimmers of hope that senators are at least starting to talk about the way out of this shutdown. There have been conversations taking place in private about potential ways to end a shutdown.

And that spilled into public view on Wednesday, when a group of bipartisan senators huddled on the Senate floor, engaging in a very animated conversation, were told one of the things that they talked about were those expiring Obamacare subsidies and the kind of impacts they might have for their constituents at home.

It still remains unclear whether these informal conversations will actually come to a realization of a resolution to this government shutdown fight. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that still the only time for negotiations is if the government were to remain open.

Now, House Republicans also got a major warning sign from the White House budget director on Wednesday. Russ Vought joined Republicans on a phone call where he outlined that mass layoffs of federal workforce will begin in the next day or two. He didn't specify how many people would be impacted or what areas would be impacted but this is a major concern for Democrats and for Republican senators and members over in the House.

So we will see how that dynamic plays out as many senators are starting to grapple with the real world consequences and impacts of what a long-term shutdown might look like.

Arlette Saenz, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Well, still to come, Indonesian officials say time is running out for trapped survivors of a boarding school collapse. We'll soon have to make some tough decisions as the search and rescue continues.

Plus Greenland is staging its largest ever combat exercise meant to deter aggression from Russia and China. Hear why some say the display is really a message for the U.S. President.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: Authorities in Indonesia are working to recover at least 59 people from under the rubble after their boarding school collapsed on Monday. At least five people have died, but several children have been found alive. The authorities have now told the families that they can't detect any further signs of life and they will soon shift from a rescue to a recovery operation.

CNN's Ivan Watson is following this for us from Hong Kong. Ivan, this is a huge tragedy. Of the 59 people still trapped beneath the rubble, can you confirm whether they're all students? What more can you tell us?

IVAN WATSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think we're still waiting to find out more, and there are some concerns that the number of 59 may not be exact because this was a large school, some 1500 estimated students, and attendance wasn't strictly enforced or documented.

But a reporter on the ground in Sidoarjo, right next to the disaster zone, overheard the authorities informing parents that they have not seen any more signs of life and that they're going to transition now to a recovery operation.

And he's spoken with the mother of a 17-year-old who was standing in line, she was standing in line to give a DNA sample to help with the identification of her son and she's now gone from praying for his rescue to now trying to recover his body for a proper burial.

[03:20:09]

So a terrible disaster for this community.

What happened was that on Monday, as the students at this Islamic boys' school, this boarding school, were gathered for afternoon prayers, suddenly the four-story building collapsed. And reportedly, construction workers were laying concrete on the roof of the building without a permit at the time when this did take place.

So for nearly three days now, 72 hours now, there have been frantic rescue efforts and some recoveries and rescues. Let's listen to one mother whose prayers were answered and her son was safely pulled from the debris. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN (through translator): I thought there was only a 20 percent chance he'd make it, but I kept saying, in the name of God, my child is strong, my child is strong, I kept reciting praises for the prophet. Just now he was found, my son made it out. Praise be to God, his injuries were only on his face and some bruises on his legs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: And that was a rescue believed to have been made Wednesday night, it's now Thursday afternoon. The search and rescue operation used thermal detectors but were not able to find any more signs of life. Now cranes are being brought in and ambulances as well.

And the Indonesian government minister has called this a wake-up call, saying that some of these types of schools are funded and constructed as community efforts and clearly there need to be more. There is investigation underway into the causes of this deadly disaster. Lynda.

KINKADE: Ivan Watson for us in Hong Kong. Thank you.

Ukraine is accusing Russia of intentionally risking a radiological incident after a power blackout in a second Ukrainian nuclear plant. Officials say the Chernobyl plant lost power for three hours Wednesday after Russian strikes on a nearby substation. President Zelenskyy says the blackout affected a structure that contains radioactive debris from the 1986 nuclear disaster.

At the other Zaporizhzhia plant, it has also been without power for more than a week following Russian shelling. That facility is in shutdown mode, but it still needs electricity to cool its reactors and prevent a possible meltdown.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will address a European meeting that gets underway at the top of the hour. Leaders from the European political community are gathering in Copenhagen as we speak to discuss both Ukrainian and European security.

It comes on the heels of a separate meeting Wednesday that focused on Russia's drone incursions in Europe. Among other things, European leaders discussed what's been dubbed the drone wall, a future network designed to detect and intercept incoming drones. It's still unclear when or how that will be built.

Greenland is staging its largest ever military drills with the publicly stated aim of deterring Russia and China. But many are wondering if the war games are really a message for Donald Trump.

CNN's Matthew Chance is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a vast landscape, remote and virtually untamed. But Greenland has emerged as a key Arctic battleground as Russia and China vie with NATO allies for Arctic influence.

CNN was invited here by the Danish military to observe their biggest ever combat exercise dubbed Arctic Light.

Much of Greenland, ruled by Denmark for three centuries, is a moonscape of jagged ice. A frozen desert rich in resources the size of Alaska and California combined.

Danish military officials say this unforgiving terrain is virtually unconquerable. But they're still training hard to repulse any would-be attackers.

COMMANDER SOREN ANDERSEN, DANISH JOINT ARCTIC COMMAND: We are here to protect Greenland. And in order to protect Greenland, we have to train. And because if you're not up here and conduct training, you're not able to defend Greenland. So that's what we're doing.

CHANCE: What are the security threats to Greenland? Who are you protecting it from?

ANDERSEN: Against Russia. That is the main threat for Greenland. There's not a threat now, but there's a future threat. So we are looking into a threat when the war in Ukraine is over.

[03:25:02]

CHANCE (voice-over): But such a remote danger begs the question why Denmark is ramping up military spending right now to the tune of billions of dollars and pouring its limited resources into the Arctic.

CHANCE: Well, Greenland has become a highly contested territory, seen as strategically important. And Denmark has deployed its air force, its navy and its land assets here to show that it is in charge very much and is increasing its presence. Now, the purpose of this exercise is to deter countries like Russia and China, we're told by Danish military officials, which are increasingly active in the Arctic region but the real message, the real target audience for all of this is in Washington and President Trump.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We need Greenland for national security and even international security and we're working with everybody involved to try and get it.

CHANCE (voice-over): That ambition appears to have dropped off the White House agenda, at least for now.

TRUMP: One way or the other we're going to get it.

CHANCE (voice-over): But in the icy fjords of Greenland, with naval exercises underway too, it's still seen as the most pressing diplomatic challenge. Although Denmark's top general, who CNN met on board a Danish frigate, was careful not to admit it in public.

CHANCE: Is the real reason for these maneuvers, the remarks by President Trump about the sovereignty of Greenland, is it intended to send a message to Washington?

MICHAEL HYLDGAARD, DANISH CHIEF OF DEFENSE: This is a military exercise. It is to demonstrate our ability to protect Greenland and that's the military side of it.

CHANCE: And it's not meant as a message to Washington, that Greenland can protect this, that Denmark can protect Greenland?

HYLDGAARD: I'm not a politician, so I have a military task.

CHANCE (voice-over): But as we flew out of Greenland, it was clear that military task carries a key Danish political goal. Not just to deter Moscow and Beijing from ever invading this vast Arctic expanse, but also to convince Washington there's no need to take Greenland as its own.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Greenland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Intercepted at sea, more boats in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla are being stopped by the Israeli military. Ahead we'll hear from a doctor who had recently been part of that voyage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom," I'm Lynda Kinkade. Let's check today's top stories.

Conservationist Jane Goodall has died at the age of 91. Dr. Goodall's studies with chimpanzees helped to broaden the world's understanding of animal behavior and emotions. World leaders, activists, celebrities and colleagues are remembering the conservationist.

Donald Trump is warning that programs popular with Democrats could be cut and more federal workers could lose their jobs because of the U.S. government shutdown. It will last until at least Friday when lawmakers return for more funding votes. But some say the President's threats don't mean much since he's already made massive cuts regardless of congressional action. The aid flotilla bound for Gaza is still pushing on with its voyage

even after more than a dozen vessels were intercepted by the Israeli military. IDF personnel boarded the boats and the Israeli foreign ministry says the passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Interception has sparked global outcry and protests in several countries.

Earlier I spoke with Dr. James Smith who was part of the aid flotilla for more than two weeks and also worked at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza. I asked him what motivated him to join the flotilla knowing the risks involved.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. JAMES SMITH, BRITISH DOCTOR WHO WORKED AT AL-AQSA HOSPITAL IN GAZA: I think we have to be very clear, particularly in relation to what's happening in Gaza, that humanitarianism is no solution. In fact, the humanitarianization, if we can call it that, of the genocide in Gaza has served to obscure from, the political actions and the political solutions that are required, such that we can see and realize a free Palestine. And what I realized when I worked in Gaza for about two and a half months was that humanitarianism is impossible under such violence under the conditions of genocidal violence and occupation.

And what we've seen over the course of the last two years are states that have refused to uphold their obligations.

[03:35:04]

And therefore, of course, it's incumbent upon all of us. It's a collective responsibility for citizens of the world, if I can call us that, to act. And that's, of course, why I felt it was important to join the flotilla as a form of direct action against Israel's illegal siege and blockade of Gaza.

KINKADE: So you were part of the flotilla for two weeks. When did you leave and what are you hearing about those still part of it, especially those whose vessels were intercepted and were detained?

SMITH: What we're hearing thus far over the course of the last several hours, many of the 40-plus boats in the flotilla have been illegally boarded and the participants effectively kidnapped in international waters by heavily armed Israeli soldiers. There are live streams from most of the boats because the flotilla had anticipated that these illegal interceptions might occur. So, of course, anyone can watch the remaining boats that are on the water.

We believe that at least 10 boats are still on the move towards Gaza as we speak and the first boats last night were intercepted, all of them have been intercepted in international waters from about 70 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

KINKADE: So what medical supplies or aid is on board that flotilla? What are you hoping to deliver? And can you give us your response to Israel's claim that you should go through approved channels to deliver this aid?

SMITH: The amount of material humanitarian aid that's on these boats is extremely small when we consider the overwhelming needs of 2.1 million people who are being subjected to genocide and progressive ethnic cleansing by the Israeli state and its military. The boats were carrying food, water, medicine, baby formula, as have many previous flotillas, all of which have been intercepted of late again by the Israeli military.

The Israeli state's suggestion that the flotilla should have diverted its aid such that it could be delivered by Israel assumes that Israel is a competent entity able to deliver aid to the Palestinian people ethically and effectively.

Let's be absolutely clear here. Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. No credible individual should be suggesting that the very state, the very entity committing genocide should be the one then providing medicine, medical care, food and water to the genocided population.

It is incumbent upon all states to ensure effective and independent humanitarian access to Gaza and that is of course one of the conditions of the ICJ ruling back as early as January of 2024.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Well don't expect an autograph from the newest actress to hit Hollywood. She's created entirely by A.I. and causing an uproar in the film and T.V. industry. We'll discuss next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: Welcome back to CNN, I'm Lynda Kinkade. This is your Business Breakout and tech stocks are driving a rally in the Asia-Pacific markets. You can see there the Nikkei up almost 1 percent, the Hang Seng up 1.7 percent and Seoul's KOSPI up over 2.5 percent.

These are the business headlines.

The U.S. economy lost 32,000 private sector jobs in September, according to the ADP. The payroll company's estimates often don't match the government's monthly jobs reports, but can be a good indicator of the labor market's trajectory. ADP data may be especially useful right now since we're unlikely to get an official jobs report on Friday due to the shutdown.

Tech company Matter will soon start using what people tell its artificial intelligence chatbot to target them with even more personalized ads, the company will also use data from Matter.ai to help decide what kinds of content users see on its site. The change will begin Dec 16 on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and the Meta.ai app. Peloton is launching a major revamp of its portfolio. It is releasing

five new products, including more expensive versions of its bike and treadmill, along with a new rowing machine. Several models include a new feature called Peloton I.Q., it's an A.I. feature that acts like a personal trainer, offering suggestions on form, weights and workout plans, and hopefully motivation.

Well shockwaves rippling through Hollywood after a tech firm introduced actress who was generated completely by artificial intelligence. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TILLY NORWOOD, A.I.-GENERATED ACTRESS: Let's get to know each other and thanks for watching.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Tilly Norwood appears to be a young British woman, but the character is actually an amalgamation of data, artwork and expressions used to train the A.I. Tilly's so-called acting debut came at a film festival last weekend.

[03:45:02]

Real-life Hollywood stars are condemning the project with the actors' union SAG-AFTRA saying creativity is and should remain human-centered. Tilly's creator, the A.I. startup Particle6, says the character is not intended to replace humans, insisting that the project is a form of creative expression.

We're joined now by Seth Shachner, Managing Director at Strat Americas, a Los Angeles-based business development enterprise. Great to have you with us, Seth.

SETH SHACHNER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, STRAT AMERICAS: Great to be here.

KINKADE: So, Tilly Norwood, the A.I.-generated actress, is grabbing headlines and backlash. Is this just noise or is this the beginning of a much bigger shift?

SHACHNER: You know, I think there is sort of a making a mountain out of a molehill aspect to kind of the current noise around this. I think there's been a lot of fear tripped off, she looks incredibly real and these technologies are getting better and better. But I also think there could be something more serious long-term in terms of the tech development and how younger audiences interact with A.I., it's a little bit of both right now.

KINKADE: And we have seen reaction from actors and actresses. Emily Blunt called the rise of A.I. actors terrifying, urging agents not to sign them and Whoopi Goldberg questioned whether A.I. can ever move like us, feel like us. Do you think A.I. actors like Tilly pose a real threat to working actors or is this potentially just a P.R. moment?

SHACHNER: I mean, I think in the short term, the major talent agencies and the biggest part of the ecosystem out here in L.A., where I'm based, isn't really going to move on this too much. So, I don't think there's a big danger of whether it's, you know, the actor Emily Blunt you just mentioned or Carl Johansson getting displaced by a robot. And I also think there's big roles for, you know, producers, writers, all the folks that are in below the line production out here as well.

But, you know, A.I. has been, you know, an increasing if quiet part of the ecosystem out here in L.A. and in music, by the way, that, you know, serves pretty productive needs. It helps with costs, it helps the user experience, it helps create a lot of products that aren't getting into the radar right now.

I just think that this specific, you know, A.I.-generated talent is setting off some alarm bells with human talent. I don't think it's going to replace it completely in the near term. I think this is kind of an incremental development.

KINKADE: Yes, certainly won't replace those A-listers that are talking about this, but potentially some of the emerging actors and actresses won't get this sort of experience they might otherwise with the emergence of A.I. We do hear from SAG-AFTRA who said, "Tilly Norwood is a character-generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers without permission or compensation."

How do you see the ethical and legal implications, Seth, of using real artists to train A.I.? Is this innovation or exploitation?

SHACHNER: Well, look, that's a great question. And, you know, there's a lot of things, including stuff from our government that would help kind of define that. I mean, right now, I think the issue of training, it's certainly controversial if you're having your works trained on by large language models and there's no licensing deal in place.

But I think what's happening right now isn't so much about the training. I think the talent agencies and the kind of figure out ways to perhaps build a moat around some of this stuff, but at the same time, create entities that will allow the talent to license their name, their likeness or participate, you know, in A.I.

Creative Artists, which is one of the biggest talent agencies here, has something called The Vault that has been set up quietly over a year ago, you know, for this precise purpose. And so, you know, I do think over time there will be talent strategies on the part of the agents to bring talent into A.I.

It'll probably just a separate piece of the deal in the way that things like, you know, licenses or if you think about CGI or animations will work. So I tend to look at it long term. It'll kind of fit into the ecosystem rather than, you know, wholesale sets of layoffs and job losses.

KINKADE: It feels like we might be playing catch up to some extent. I'm wondering to get a bit more of an understanding about the vault and how creators, performers, even news anchors should protect our work, our voice, our likeness in the age of A.I. SHACHNER: Well, look, I think that type of representation or entity

will help, you know, one license into it is probably the way that it will evolve. And, you know, I hope I come from the music industry and we've seen two giant things called Suno and Udio that are out there that in some ways do pose threats.

[03:50:06]

But I think more and more big rights holders, whether they're news or publishers or film studios, are going to figure out ways to kind of accommodate these new A.I. technologies. They already have with things like CGI and if you look what happened, you know, with animation, two biggest pictures this year, "K-pop Demon Hunters" and Minecraft have tons of tech in them, including A.I., including animation. So I do think there'll be ways for it to be kind of licensed to be put in part of the landscape.

KINKADE: Seth Shachner, great to have you on the program. Thanks so much.

SHACHNER: Great being here.

KINKADE: Well, years of frustration give way to hope for a group of young Afghan women. Still ahead, their inspiring journey from defying the Taliban to realizing their dream.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: A group of young athletes from Afghanistan is celebrating victory before they even take the pitch. FIFA is backing their bid to compete as the first Afghan refugee women's football team. CNN's "World Sport" anchor Amanda Davis has their inspirational story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR (voice-over): 7 a.m. on a Friday morning in the northwest of England, a milestone moment after a sleepless night, awake with nerves.

Sozan, Seven, Najma, Elaha and Zainab, all named as part of the squad for the first FIFA-backed Afghan women's refugee team said to be reunited with fellow Afghan players scattered in exile around the world to represent their country at last.

ELAHA SAFDARI, AFGHAN SOCCER PLAYER: Obviously, just an amazing moment for all of us. I can't wait to share with my family. They're probably going to see me on the T.V. but the thing is, it's how sad it is that I don't have them by my side to celebrate them like other my teammates who are going to share with their family.

DAVIES (voice-over): In 2021, Elaha was 17 and had earned her first call up for the Afghan women's national team as a goalkeeper. She never got to play.

For her and her teammates, their role as footballers. And what that meant in the eyes of the Taliban meant they were forced to flee their homes and country.

Elaha's father was ill, so her parents were unable to travel. She and her brother had to leave without them.

[03:55:06]

DAVIES: I feel very honored being your passenger after you just passed your test.

SAFDARI: Thanks.

DAVIES: Am I safe?

SAFDARI: You are. I feel like you guys should trust in me.

DAVIES (voice-over): For everything they've lost, there are so many ways this group live in defiance of the rules the Taliban have imposed on women in Afghanistan. Learning to drive, gaining an education, securing jobs and playing football.

DAVIES: The only thing they've not been able to do is go from playing their football here in Doncaster to representing their country, wearing the shirt of Afghanistan on the international stage.

NARGES MAYELI, AFGHAN SOCCER PLAYER: FIFA has said that Afghanistan's women national team title should come from the Afghanistan's football federation, which we do not accept and it is running by Taliban now and we do not recognize Taliban.

ZAINAB MOZZAFARI, AFGHAN SOCCER PLAYER: We want the FIFA to recognize us as an international woman Afghan and we are tired of calling get called refugee. We've been called refugee for four years now.

DAVIES (voice-over): Because the Taliban believe women playing sport is against Sharia law and have refused to acknowledge the women's team, their ability to play internationally has depended on the intervention of world football's governing body FIFA. It has taken until now for them to create the Afghan women's refugee team set to take part in a four-team tournament in Dubai in October. None of this would have been possible without Khalida Popal, the first ever captain of the original Afghan women's side founded in 2007.

KHALIDA POPAL, FORMER AFGHAN SOCCER CAPTAIN: We have been screaming out loud, we have been knocking every closed door to listen to get FIFA's attention, to listen to our voices and we have really faced silence for four years. These girls lost their time.

DAVIES (voice-over): FIFA did not respond to our questions about the desire of some of the players to be referred to as the national team. It did however stress in a statement that it's financing facilities and personnel in what it called a significant and landmark step forward in giving Afghan players the international platform and recognition to which they aspire.

Amanda Davies, CNN, Doncaster. (END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: FIFA also told CNN that it has worked to improve the situation of Afghan women's football in the country and for players in exile since their evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021.

Well that does it for this edition of CNN Newsroom. Thanks so much for your company, I'm Lynda Kinkade. "Amanpour" is up next, then stay tuned for "Early Start" with Brian Abel starting at 5:00 a.m. in New York, that's 10:00 a.m. in London.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)