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A doorbell camera recorded a rare video of the moment a meteorite fell outside a home.

Nature, Published online: 17 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00132-0The president-elect quickly nominated confidantes with a focus on AI, but their recommendations for the rest of science remain unclear.

NewsHealth & MedicineCigarettes with less nicotine may help some smokers quitA new proposal seeks to limit the amount of nicotine in certain combusted tobacco products The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a rule in January to drastically reduce the amount of nicotine in cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products in order to help people stop smoking.SimpleImages/Moment/Getty ImagesBy Aimee Cunningham9 minutes agoIf cigarettes contained very little of the chemical that keeps people smoking, it could help smokers move away from these deadly products.Thats the rationale behind a new rule proposed on January 15 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which seeks to limit the amount of the addictive chemical nicotine in cigarettes. The reduced-nicotine cigarettes would have less than 5 percent of the amount of nicotine thats generally found in regular cigarettes. The rule would also cap the nicotine in certain other products in which the tobacco leaves are burned.

Music sounds better when you play it loud. Your neighbors may disagree, but they wont have a choice once you buy this enormous onn speaker, which is $30 off and just $119 at Walmart right now. This party speaker is built like a rolling suitcase with built-in wheels and an extendable handle so you can roll it around. It pumps out absurd sound levels and comes with a surprising list of bells and whistles for its price. Go grab one before they sell out, and start making playlists while you wait for it to arrive. I recommend starting with a little Wu-Tang and going from there.onn. Large Party Speaker Gen 2 with LED Lighting $119 (was $149)onn.See ItThis 640-watt monster can connect to an audio device in just about any way youd want. It has built-in FM radio, as well as Bluetooth and a headphone jack for connecting to a mobile device. Plus, it has a 1/4-inch microphone/guitar port so you can use it as a makeshift amp in a pinch. The built-in battery provides up to 12 hours of play time on a single charge and built-in LED lights ensure this thing is as awesomely obnoxious as you could ever want.JBL Partybox 110 Portable party speaker with 160W powerful sound $289 (was $350)The JBL PartyBox 110 transports easily to move a crowd.See ItIf youre looking for something more high-end, Walmart also has the excellent JBL Partybox 110 on sale for $289. Its pricier but provides better overall sound quality and a sturdier build.More audio deals from WalmartULTIMEA Poseidon M4T 5.1 Dolby Atmos Sound Bar, 410W Peak Power Surround Sound Bar, Bluetooth $179 (was $329)SAMSUNG Q-series 3.1ch. Dolby ATMOS Soundbar with Q-Symphony HW-Q6CC $199 (was $378)VIZIO 5.1 Soundbar SE with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (NEW) SV510X-0806 $198 (was $228)Sonos Arc Black Soundbar with Dolby Atmos $799 (was $899)JBL CINEMA SB580 3.1 Channel Soundbar with Virtual Dolby Atmos and Wireless Subwoofer $199 (was $249)SAMSUNG Q-series 11.1.4 ch. Wireless Dolby ATMOS Soundbar + Rear Speakers with Q-Symphony HW-Q990D $1,597 (was $1,999)JBL Bar 1000 Surround Sound System with 7.1.4 Channel Soundbar, 10 Wireless Subwoofer, and Detachable Rear Speakers $849 (was $1,149)The post This party speaker is so big it needs wheels and a handle. Get it for just $119 right now. appeared first on Popular Science.

Before the ash of Mount Vesuvius buried the city of Pompeii in 79 C.E., some of the citys elites would host parties in their own private bathhouse.Researchers from the Archeological Park of Pompeii Parco Archeologico di Pompei announced the discovery of an elaborate bathhouse inside a private home (domus). According to the Archeological Park of Pompeii, this may be the largest bathhouse ever found at the site. The new finding sheds more light on the lives of Pompeiis citizens up until their final moments.Private Bathhouse in Ancient PompeiiArcheologists have been working on this site, which is part of Region IX, for around two years. So far, this region has yielded a bakery, a sacrarium, and a unique black-walled dining room with murals of mythological characters on them, which is believed to portray a Grecian experience. Archeologists also noted that the rooms throughout the house were all painted in elaborate styles, including Second and Third styles, which were popular in Ancient Rome.Connected to the dining room called the black room/hall was the bathhouse. It was likely designed that way so that after guests had been wined and dined, they could then relax in the private spa.As guests entered the bathhouse, it would have been a site to behold. It consisted of several smaller rooms, including a changing room and a hot, warm, and cold room.The pool in the cold room was impressive. It was large enough to accommodate about 30 people and was surrounded by a beautiful peristyle and a porticoed courtyard.This layout resembles the classic Satyricon, a notable Roman work from Gaius Petronius, in which, before a lavish dinner party, the characters bathe in a communal bath.A Grecian SpectacleFrom the style of the house, its clear that the owner was very wealthy; however, archeologists believe that they may have also been prominent members of society. They may have hosted friends and family in this place as a way to show off their status, or perhaps they were part of the local government and used this place for political meetings.Either way, after examining the artifacts left behind, archeologists believe that the owner was likely all about spectacle.Everything was functional to the staging of a 'spectacle,' at the center of which was the owner himself, said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the archeological director of the Archeological Park of Pompeii, in a press release. The paintings in the Third Style with subjects of the Trojan War, the athletes in the peristyle, everything was meant to give the spaces an atmosphere of Greekness that is, of culture, erudition as well as of idleness.More to DiscoverArcheologists have been excavating Pompeii since the 1700s and are discovering more and more each year. This recent announcement is part of a series of discoveries to come from this region. The BBC reports that within this house, two bodies were also uncovered. One was the body of a younger man, and the other was the body of a middle-aged woman.Archeologists found the man with a set of keys, while the woman was found holding gold coins and with gold and pearl earrings.Each discovery helps tell more of Pompeiis story, as tragic as it may have been. Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Archeological Park of Pompei. Pompeii excavations in Regio IX bring to light a sacrarium with blue wallsA graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine. Her current work also appears on her travel blog and Common State Magazine. Her love of science came from watching PBS shows as a kid with her mom and spending too much time binging Doctor Who.

SummaryThis podcast episode discusses the new features and workflow improvements for visual effects (VFX) artists in Unreal Engine 5. The discussion covers key changes, including Nanite virtualized geometry, Lumen global illumination, Niagara enhancements, and Chaos physics and destruction. The episode also explores how these new features streamline the VFX workflow, offering faster iteration, enhanced particle systems, real-time feedback, and seamless integration with gameplay. Finally, the discussion highlights practical examples of using these features in projects, such as explosions, destruction simulations, fluid effects, and procedural sounds. The podcast concludes with a look toward the future of VFX in Unreal Engine 5, discussing potential advancements in simulations, procedural workflows, and virtual production integration.

BEEAH Headquarters / Zaha Hadid ArchitectsSave this picture! Hufton+CrowOffice BuildingsSharjah, United Arab EmiratesArchitects: Zaha Hadid ArchitectsYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2022 PhotographsPhotographs:Hufton+CrowManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: KEIM, UniFor, Grohe Productstranslation missing: en-US.post.svg.material_descriptionMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. BEEAH Group's new headquarters in Sharjah, UAE, was opened on Wednesday, March 30 by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. Powered by its solar array and equipped with next-generation technologies for operations at LEED Platinum standards, the new headquarters has been designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) to achieve net-zero emissions and will be the group's management and administrative centre that sets a new benchmark for future workplaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!With their twin-pillared strategy of sustainability and digitalisation, BEEAH Group works across six key industries that include waste management and recycling, clean energy, environmental consulting, education and green mobility.Save this picture!Save this picture!The headquarters is the latest milestone for BEEAH Group as it continues to pioneer innovations for Sharjah and across the globe, establishing a base of operations for the group to diversify into new, future-critical industries. With their new headquarters, BEEAH demonstrates how technology can scale sustainable impact and ultimately serve as a blueprint for tomorrow's smart, sustainable cities.Save this picture!Embodying these principles, the headquarters' design responds to its environment as a series of interconnecting 'dunes' orientated and shaped to optimize local climatic conditions. Embedded within its context of Sharjah's Al Sajaa desert, the design echoes the surrounding landscape shaped by prevailing winds into concave sand dunes and ridges that become convex when they intersect.Save this picture!Ensuring all internal spaces are provided with ample daylight and views while limiting the quantity of glazing exposed to the harsh sun, the headquarters' two primary 'dunes' house the public and management departments together with the administrative zone that interconnect via a central courtyard, defining an oasis within the building which is integral to its natural ventilation strategy.Save this picture!Visitors enter beneath the 15-metre high dome which further enhances natural ventilation and allows passive daylight to enter the building. In addition to the central courtyard and open-plan office, the headquarters incorporates smart meeting rooms, an immersive visitors centre, and an auditorium.Save this picture!The 9,000 sq. m BEEAH Headquarters has sustainability at its core with a high percentage of locally procured materials and is equipped with future-ready technologies to enable operations at LEED Platinum standards with net-zero emissions and minimal energy consumption.Glass reinforced fibre panels reduce solar gain while slab and glass cooling regulate interior temperatures for optimum comfort. On-site water treatment filtrates waste water to minimise consumption and its solar farm charges Tesla battery packs to meet the building's energy demand throughout each day and night.Save this picture!The employee experience includes contactless pathways, a virtual concierge, smart meeting rooms and a companion app that automates day-to-day tasks. The building's smart management system automatically adjusts lighting and temperature depending on occupancy and time of day. The rooms are also equipped for remote and hybrid work scenarios with powerful collaboration tools.Save this picture!Manifesting BEEAH's twin pillars of sustainability and digitalisation, the new headquarters by ZHA is an important achievement for BEEAH Group, signalling its growth from a company founded to proactively tackle environmental issues in Sharjah, UAE, to an international group with businesses in industries that are critical to realising a sustainable future.Save this picture!Following the 2013 international design competition, Zaha Hadid and her team at Zaha Hadid Architects were commissioned by BEEAH to design their new headquarters that would realise net-zero emissions and be integrated with next generation technologies to achieve a new standard for employee convenience and collaboration.Save this picture!ZHA delivered the BEEAH Headquarters in collaboration with sustainability engineers and consultants Atelier Ten and Buro Happold, project managers Matthews Southwest, construction contractor Al Futtaim Construction, and MEP engineers Al Futtaim Engineering. Smart building technologies by Microsoft, Johnson Controls and EVOTEQ, a BEEAH Digital venture.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Sharjah - United Arab EmiratesLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on January 17, 2025Cite: "BEEAH Headquarters / Zaha Hadid Architects" 17 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/979479/beeha-headquarters-zaha-hadid-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save?BEEAH / You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

In just under a week, the nextStar Trek project arrives in the form ofSection 31, a streaming movie starring Michelle Yeoh diving into the titular black ops organizationone that, at least in all the footage weve seen so far, puts an emphasis on the glitz and glam of secret agent work. Theres action, theres dazzling costumes, theres even, perhaps most surprisingly in the context of it all, direct Federation oversight, like a co-worker with a stick up their ass whos here to stop you from having fun. Its no wonder then that some Star Trek fans are concerned about just whatSection 31 really thinks its namesake isand perhaps even a few of its stars are concerned about that. Im terrified of how its going to be received, because its not the Trekpeople want. TheTrekthat people want, theTrekthat we all want, is just 1,000 more episodes ofTNG, Rob Kazinsky, who plays the cybernetically enhanced Zeph in the film, recently told SFX Magazine. Everyones always furious that theyre not getting more TNG, whilst at the same time, whenTNGcame out, everybody hated it.So this is going to come along and its not going to feel like anyTrekthat theyve ever seen. Paramount But when it comes to theStar Trek that people wantespecially a Star Trek grappling with the idea of Section 31 as its primary focusperhaps The Next Generation shouldnt be the example we turn to. To get a real perspective on Section 31s role inStar Trek, and its paradoxical existence as the necessary evil that destroys its utopia, we need only look back at the show that gave it to us in the first place: Deep Space Nine. Crucially, in the set-up before that introduction, DS9 had whisked us and Dr. Julian Bashir, the character who takez on the thrust of its arc with Section 31, on another journey in Our Man Bashir. Its a James Bond pastiche that put Bashir at the center of a glitzy, glamorous, and all-together kitschy love letter to classic spy-fi. In Our Man Bashir, spycraft is sexy, elegant, and filled with action. Bashir gets to be the unabashed hero of his holosuite programtheres gorgeous retro costumes, casinos and glamour, clear-cut villains with comically dastardly plots to take over the world. Even with Garakan actual former spy, one that Bashir has always been obsessed with cracking the secrets oftagging along in Bashirs adventure to playfully remind him just how unlike actual spywork this all is, its an episode celebrating cinematic spycraft as we know and love it. Even with the dramatic quandaries that it plays with (its a classic Trek trope, the holodeck-gone-wrong scenario with a die in the game, die in real life element to boot), its an episode that almost vindicates Bashirs romanticized dream of what being a spy is entirely, even when hes forced to save the actual day by losing at his fantasy.Two seasons later, DS9 introduced Section 31 in its sixth season in Inquisition, when Bashir is targeted by the organization as a potential recruit at the height of its story arc thrusting the galaxy into chaos with the outbreak of the Dominion War. At this point, the show had already done much to penetrate the harsh reality of what Captain Sisko had once described early on in DS9s tenure of it being easy to be a saint in paradise, examining just how Starfleet and the Federation at large responded when confronted with interstellar conflict on an unprecedented scale. If Our Man Bashir had treated Garaks side-jabs about the reality of spywork as a joke for Bashir to ignore, Inquisition makes them the thrust of its text: from the get-go, Section 31 is presented as an antithesis of everything Bashir and the rest of DS9s crew hold dear. Paramount The work Agent Sloane does, even just to the extent of what he goes through just to try and recruit Bashir, is invasive and unglamorous. Sloane himself, the embodiment of Section 31 as we come to know it, is burdened with a sense of paranoia that cuts against anything wed expect of a Starfleet official, black ops or otherwise. Bashir is not excited to discover Section 31 exists, but is downright horrifiedand his immediate response, as is the rest of the crews, is to attempt to destroy it entirely, either through bringing it into the light or, as Sisko ultimately suggests to him at the end of the episode, to work on undermining it from within. Over the course of Section 31s remaining appearances across DS9the direct follow up to Inquisition, Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges, which sours Bashir and the show at large on Section 31 even further, and the trippier Extreme Measuresthe argument Sloane presents of the organization as a necessary evil is never considered as a viable conclusion by either the show or our protagonists. If anything, Section 31 becomes as much as an antagonist in its appearance as the Dominion themselves are, an existential threat to the very moral fiber of Star Trek. This is no more telling perhaps not in the follow up Section 31 episodes, but in the episode that aired directly after its introduction: the iconic In the Pale Moonlight, creating a killer one-two punch. If Inquisition introduced the idea of a formal apparatus to spycraft within the Federation, In the Pale Moonlight is about the very act of spycraft itselfthe wetworks, the conspiracy, the subterfuge that is inherent to its grim reality. Again, this is nothing like the romance DS9 had with the genre in Our Man Bashir, the road to hell Captain Sisko goes down with Garak in In the Pale Moonlight is one constantly shown to us as repugnant, not just for the acts taken along it, but for the moral decay that work acts upon Sisko and on Star Trek itself. The ultimate horror of In the Pale Moonlight isnt that Sisko is accessory to an assassination that brings the Romulans into the war against the Dominion, guaranteeing the deaths of millions more as it wages on in the name of saving billions more from the Federations potential defeat. Its that, as he grimly says to camera recording the personal log he knows hes about to delete, he can live with the cost that has on his soul. The episode ends with the Romulans formal declaration of war on the Dominion, which is what Sisko wanted, but it never considers that this is a victory within the narrative: there is no good ending to the actual reality of espionage outside of a holoprograms fantasy. Deep Space Nine might have thrown the bomb in the first place by giving us the existence of Section 31, but it understood the danger of wielding such a weapon in the first placebecause it already laid out to its audience and to its characters alike that the fantasy of a top-secret spy organization in Star Treks universe was nothing more than that, and that its reality was something far, far uglier to comprehend. If theSection 31 movie wants to avoid this fear of being seen as not being the Trek that people want, then it has to understand this too. Otherwise, unlike Sisko, it cannot learn to live with presenting an idle fantasy, and nothing more. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Nintendo has finally revealed the Switch 2, but one account claims to have the information on how powerful the system will be and the numbers may surprise youTech15:27, 17 Jan 2025The Switch 2 has been revealedYesterday afternoon, Nintendo finally revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 but left plenty of information for an upcoming Nintendo Direct on April 2.We know it'll be a hybrid system, and it'll be backward compatible while also playing Switch 2 exclusives like what appears to be a new Mario Kart. It'll also use magnetic Joy-Con, and come in a slick new black colour.One account posted on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week about the power on offer from the handheld, and you might be surprised to find out it has at least one key rival beat while also towering over its predecessor in terms of raw numbers.Content cannot be displayed without consentAs with anything on the Switch 2 until its full reveal, you should take everything with a fistful of salt. There's no telling where these numbers have come from, after all, but as NIB posted, the Switch 2 will vastly more power than its predecessor, and actually offer more Tflops (that's teraflops, a unit of measurement for compute power) than the Steam Deck both undocked and docked.The console doesn't have as much power as the ASUS ROG Ally though, apparently, but is closing in on a PS4's level of power while undocked, and blasts past it when docked.It's sure to please fans that have become accustomed to getting lesser versions of multiplatform games on Switch due to the console's much lower level of graphical grunt, and if it's true, could hopefully mean Switch 1 games will run much better (we're still not ready to go back to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet yet).Other leaks for the Switch 2's software lineup include one AAA third-party game making the jump, while other leaks have suggested the new console can run Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Assassin's Creed Mirage, and Metal Gear Solid Delta the latter of which still doesn't have a release date on any platform.We'll find out more on April 2, with the console getting a deeper dive. We're expecting Nintendo will showcase games, the hardware's capabilities, and give us that all-important price and release date.Don't forget, you can get hands on with it early here's how.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

The TikTok ban seems imminent. The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that would spell the end of TikTok as we know it in the United States, and now all parties involved are freaking out. Influencers are fleeing to rival platforms, including Xiaohongshu, a China-based app also known as RedNote. Politicians, even the ones who initially supported the ban, are trying to delay it. TikTok employees are surely wondering what theyll do at work next week.Others, however, are wondering if a future without TikTok could actually be a great thing for America. The complete demise of TikTok would mean one of the largest social media-slash-entertainment platforms is effectively out of the picture. That would leave billions of hours of attention free and millions of people craving new content, preferably short, viral videos that are microtargeted to each individual user and continuously update the cultural zeitgeist in weird unexpected ways. Thats what made TikTok so popular in the first place. If some other upstart platform has a better idea, though, the United States is open for business. And one app falling and being replaced by another would be nothing new.This kind of innovation has driven the social media industry, like a flywheel, since its inception in the early aughts. A platform, like MySpace, becomes popular and dominates attention spans for a few years, before falling out of fashion as newer platforms, like Facebook, show up with better features. Innovation spins the wheel, but boredom, cultural shifts, and enshittification how platforms start out serving users and end up serving their own purposes slows it down again. In TikToks case, there are obviously other forces at play: geopolitics and the fickle authority of the US government. Its still unclear if the government will enforce the ban or whether TikTok might find a way to maintain an American operation. Nevertheless, if it comes to pass, the end of TikTok would not necessarily mean that hundreds of millions of its users would return to the warm embrace of Instagram or YouTube, both of whom have comparable short-form video products. In fact, millions of soon-to-be former TikTok users are joining platforms like RedNote in order to protest the TikTok ban as well as the power of Big Tech.There are a lot of reasons why RedNote probably wont become the next TikTok. Chief among them is the fact that Chinese government censors arent thrilled by the influx of American users and whatever politically sensitive content they might bring with them. Its entirely possible that these TikTok refugees will find themselves kicked off RedNote in the coming weeks.That means the race to become the next TikTok starts now. Sure, plenty of TikTok users will retreat to familiar, aging platforms owned by Meta and Google. The TikTok ban also stands to inject the decentralized network of servers known as the fediverse that powers platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon with millions more users in search of their new favorite social media app, whatever it might be. Mark Cuban even said ahead of the Supreme Court decision that he would fund a TikTok alternative built on Blueskys AT Protocol, which is an open, decentralized network for social apps. If or how that happens remains to be seen.The media landscape hasnt shifted from one medium to another, said Rebecca Rinkevich, executive director of institutes at Harvard Law Schools Berkman Klein Center. Its broken into hundreds of fragmented channels unique to every individual making the attention economy more competitive than ever. The battle for eyeballs is won with novel features and algorithmic advantages.But before we get too deep into how the intriguing and often confusing fediverse works, it helps to understand why so many people dont want to go back to Instagram.The mechanics of the TikTok ban may be an outlier in the history of social media companies lifecycles, but the disappearance of a platform can lead to better platforms emerging.Take Napster, for instance. The file-sharing app lit up college campuses in the late 1990s and early 2000s by offering access to free digital music. This upset the recording artists, who eventually sued Napster out of existence. Within a decade, though, a Swedish startup called Spotify would take over the music industry, based in part on the Napster model of peer-to-peer file sharing. Spotify was a true revelation, offering essentially infinite music at a fairly low monthly cost, which is how it came to be worth nearly $100 billion. But now Spotify is plagued with complaints about how its platform just isnt as user friendly as it used to be. Some call this platform decay. Others call it enshittification.In the words of the Cory Doctorow, who coined the term, enshittification is how platforms die: first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves. In this 2023 essay, Doctorow goes on to argue that TikTok was well on its way to enshittification, as it couldnt resist the temptation to show you the things it wants you to see, rather than what you want to see a problem, given that TikToks whole reason for being was showing you what you wanted to see. (Theres a reason its pages are called For You.) Thats why, even without the actions of Congress, TikTok couldnt be the trending, avant-garde social media platform forever. It had already fallen into a cycle we saw with MySpace, then Facebook, Instagram, YouTube basically any platform that rose to prominence on the back of its utility and popularity with users and then decayed into something less useful but more profitable. In the past couple of years, TikToks decay has shown itself in the form of pushy ads and an inescapable shopping feature.Everyone got on this platform and Instagram and YouTube initially because it offered something exciting and free and added value to their interactions online, Rory Mir of the Electronic Frontier Foundation said. Over time, its been diluted by advertisements, manipulative content, and just has become a bad experience for the user.Of course, theres still a chance that TikTok will live to die another day in the United States. The law that the Congress passed last year requires the social media platforms parent company ByteDance to divest or shutter its US operations by Sunday. Apple and Google, by law, will have to stop offering TikTok in their app stores after that date. Although the app will continue to work, ByteDance wont be allowed to update it, so it will degrade over time. ByteDance, however, reportedly plans to shut down the app on the deadline, if it doesnt get a lifeline. But it might not have to. The Biden administration has said that it would not enforce the ban before Donald Trumps inauguration on Monday. Trump, who called for a TikTok ban back in 2020, is reportedly considering issuing an executive order to save TikTok soon after his inauguration, which TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will be attending. Legally, Trump probably cant do that with an executive order alone, since Congress passed the law and Biden signed it, but he could order his Department of Justice not to enforce the ban. Apple and Google could continue to let users download the app, ByteDance could keep updating it, and nobody would get fined up to $5,000 per user that can still access the app, if thats the case. And thats a big if.TikToks surprise survival, though, wouldnt halt that cycle of decay. Already millions of TikTok users were prepared to leave before the ban took effect, flooding alternative video apps like RedNote, Lemon8, and Flip. So not everyone is defaulting to watching Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, and it remains to be seen if they can or would return to TikTok. They may be ready for something new.A fediverse by any other nameIf the conversation around TikTok alternatives feels familiar, thats because we had a very similar one a couple years ago, when Elon Musk bought Twitter. Many predicted that Musk would transform that platform into a right-wing echo chamber, which he did, and wanted to move their attention elsewhere. That search for a new place to post is what introduced a lot of people to the idea of the fediverse, which is a good idea with a terrible name.The fediverse is a blanket term for a new approach to social media, one that relies on open-source software and decentralized networks of servers. Heres a useful definition from David Pearce at The Verge: Its an interconnected social platform ecosystem based on an open protocol called ActivityPub, which allows you to port your content, data, and follower graph between networks.In theory, your social media followers will follow you from network to network. You could also set up a single feed that would show you content from several platforms at once. So imagine if you didnt have to pick one TikTok alternative but instead you could see Reels, Shorts, and Snaps in one place. Thats not possible because Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat are closed ecosystems. There are signs that some legacy platforms are open to a new way of doing things, though. Meta turned heads last year, when it allowed Threads users to crosspost to fediverse platforms and follow fediverse accounts. There are also a growing number of developers building more open alternatives to major platforms using fediverse-friendly protocols.Bluesky emerged as the most promising Twitter alternative last year in part because it offered users a familiar, friendly front end experience without getting into the details of protocols, servers, or fediverse principles. (Freedom from Musks politics on X probably didnt hurt either.) Bluesky basically looks like Twitter used to look. And that success laid the groundwork for similar projects. Just days before the Supreme Courts TikTok decision, a startup called Pixelfed released mobile apps for its open, decentralized photo-sharing service. Its basically Instagram but for the fediverse. Theres also one called Flashes, which is built on top of Bluesky, that came out around the same time. The interconnected social platform ecosystem fun doesnt stop with photo-sharing. The developer behind Pixelfed, Daniel Supernaul, also built a decentralized TikTok alternative called Loops. While the app hasnt been released yet, you can see where things are going: When one major platform falls out of favor or shuts down, others rush to fill the void with a new approach, unique features, or even a completely different architecture. Its still hard to say which, if any, of these fediverse projects will become the next global sensation. After all, its notoriously difficult to create the next Facebook or Instagram or Snapchat or TikTok. Not only does the app have to work, but the right group of people have to come together to make it a sensation. And then you need something special.Catching a good point in time to be there when networks form is important, said Katrin Weller, a professor at GESIS Heinrich Heine University Dsseldorf. Sometimes very small changes in the technology can make a big difference.Theres so far little evidence that any of these fediverse projects have the novelty, momentum, or innovative touch to win a billion users in the next few years. Bluesky, for all its success, still has fewer than 30 million users, compared to 275 million Threads users. TikTok, by the way, says it has 170 million US users. Then again, who knows what tech will come up with next. TikTok started out as a lip-synching app for teens, only to evolve into an engine for internet culture and influence in the span of a few years. Facebook started out as a campus directory for college students and then evolved into a cesspool of misinformation that also sells VR headsets. Or maybe Elon Musk will buy TikTok, too, and fold it into X. That could really send people fleeing to the fediverse.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Democrats may need to help Republicans raise the debt ceiling this year.If that happens, Democrats aren't going to do it for free. They'll likely demand concessions.Rep. Ro Khanna, a Silicon Valley Democrat, says his party should demand a federal minimum wage hike.At some point in the next few months, Congress will have to raise the debt ceiling.For now, Republicans are planning to do it on their own. But if past is prologue, they'll probably need votes from across the aisle and Democrats are likely to demand something in return.Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat who represents Silicon Valley, told Business Insider this week that he believes the price should be an increase in the federal minimum wage."We should force Republicans to vote on it," the California Democrat told BI.Khanna did not specify a particular level at which he'd like to raise the wage, but Democrats generally support a $15 per hour federal minimum wage. Some, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, have proposed pushing it even higher, to $17 per hour.President-elect Donald Trump said in December that he would "consider" raising the minimum wage, but several Republican lawmakers later told BI that they opposed the idea.Scott Bessent, Trump's nominee for secretary of the treasury, said at a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday that he does not believe the current $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage should change.It's not clear if Democrats will follow Khanna's lead, though he told BI that he would "make the case to the caucus."Minimum wage increases tend to be popular among both Democratic and Republican voters in November, several Republican-leaning states passed minimum wage hikes via ballot measures.Democrats still have to figure out their price for helping RepublicansAs of now, Republicans want to avoid handing any leverage to Democrats in the first few months of Trump's presidency. They plan to include a debt ceiling hike in a broader party-line "reconciliation" bill containing a smattering of Trump's priorities on energy, immigration, border security, and taxes.But there's a good chance that won't work, given some hardline Republicans' deep reservations about raising the debt ceiling without dramatic spending cuts. Some Republicans have never voted to raise the debt ceiling before, and in December, dozens of them openly defied Trump's call to raise the debt ceiling after Elon Musk helped tank a government funding bill.If Republicans can't do it themselves, Democrats will have the chance to make demands, lest the country breach the debt ceiling and trigger a fiscal crisis."I'm not a cheap date," Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts told BI. "The idea that we're just going to help them out when they can't get their own members to cooperate, those days are gone."Of the several House Democrats that BI spoke to, only Khanna was willing to name a specific price. Others demurred, saying they were waiting to see what negotiations would look like in the coming months, and underscoring that Democrats would have to decide on their approach collectively."The sentiment from our caucus is: If you need our help on anything, you're going to have to help us," Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York told BI. "All of this, I think, is subject to many of our internal conversations."Democrats could also use their leverage to try to halt the deep cuts to federal government spending that Republicans may pursue in the coming months, rather than making an affirmative policy demand."There's clearly a whole host of things that I think the caucus would have as priorities," Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle of New York told BI.

A tiny drone powered by soft muscle-like actuatorsKevin ChenAn insect-inspired robot that only weighs as much as a raisin can perform acrobatics and fly for much longer than any previous insect-sized drone without falling apart.For tiny flying robots to make nimble manoeuvres, they need to be lightweight and agile but also capable of withstanding large forces. Such forces mean that most tiny robots can only fly for around 20 seconds before breaking, which makes it difficult to collect enough data to properly calibrate and test the robots flying abilities. AdvertisementNow, Suhan Kim at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his colleagues have developed an insect-like flying robot about the size of a postage stamp that can execute acrobatic manoeuvres, such as double flips or tracing an infinity sign, and also hover in the air for up to 15 minutes without failing.Kim and his team adapted the design from a previous flying robot, but they made the joints more resilient by having them connect across a larger part of the robot than at just a single failure point. This reduced the force through the joints by a factor of around 100, says Kim. They also used muscle-like soft actuators to move the wings, rather than standard electric motors. The latest science news delivered to your inbox, every day.Sign up to newsletterIf you only have 20 seconds to fly the robot before it dies, then theres not so much we can tune when we control the robot, says Kim. By having a hugely increased lifetime, we were able to work on the controller parts so that the robot can achieve precise trajectory tracking, plus aggressive manoeuvres like somersaults.This tracking meant that the robot could follow complex flight paths, like tracing letters in the air. Such manoeuvrability could eventually be used for things like artificially pollinating plants or inspecting parts of aircraft that people cant get to, says Kim.However, the robot is currently unable to fly untethered, as the team have yet to miniaturise a power source and the electronics that control it though they hope to improve this with future designs, says Kim.One aspect that often doesnt get talked much about is how long the robot would last when you fly it, says Raphael Zufferey at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who wasnt involved in the work. People have focused a lot on battery life and how autonomous we could make it, but no one really focused too much on how long it would mechanically last, and this paper really goes into that in detail.Journal reference:Science Robotics DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adp4256 Topics:robots

Global IT spending continues to rise, and enterprises are increasingly moving budgets to services and software away from hardware investments. This shift in spending directly influences the strategic, operational, and investment decisions of high-tech providers. To stay competitive, they must prioritize customer-centric strategies and align business goals with operations. To facilitate this, embracing as-a-service (AaS) models is vital to meet current demands and drive future growth. Yet, most providers are not equipped to adequately address the demands associated with such an enterprise change.The AaS OpportunityIntegration of AaS offerings will be crucial for companies reinvention strategies and a well-executed AaS strategy benefits both tech providers and their customers. Recent Accenture research found that executives recognize the flexibility, stability and potential growth opportunities that come along with this. We found there is a shared optimism, with a measurable confidence in generative AIs (GenAI) applications to support business transformation. In fact, 97% of executives believe that gen AI can help their companies accelerate the shift towards models that focus on annual recurring revenue (ARR) and AaS offerings and 85% think that AaS offerings will add to their revenue stream but at the expense of their current products or services.Related:Worryingly, 75% agree that legacy technology hardware companies will no longer exist unless they begin acting more like software companies. That underpins the urgency for high tech companies to reinvent themselves immediately, not plan for it somewhere down the line. The benefits are twofold, for the customer this shift provides continued and superior value year over year. Additionally, providers have registered a positive impact on long-term revenue, customer retention and overall customer lifetime value.Addressing the Roadblocks to AaS AdoptionDespite the benefits of shifting to new models, which can bridge the gap between high-tech players and their customers, our findings point to a significant confidence split among respondents. Only 50% of executives believe they can meet theirpublicly statedARR goals. Although high-tech companies have the ideal products and services that could benefit from a cloud-hosted, subscription-based model via AaS to generate recurring revenue, manyfaceinternal challenges like grappling with legacy systems and tech debt.While theres positivity around the opportunity that AaS can bring, theres also hesitation in the industry to adopt it because many executives believe AaS models might cannibalize their existing offerings. They also believe that the success of implementing these models is heavily dependent on their sales force's readiness to adopt new ways of selling. This outlook questions the preparedness of high-tech companies to adapt to such a transformation.Related:However, to maintain a competitive advantage, high-tech companies need to implement a customer-centric strategy. This is especially critical given that enterprise customers are increasingly redirecting their IT budgets to prioritize services and software, with a notable focus on software as a service (SaaS).Embracing AaS to Navigate Customer Demand and RetentionThe primary benefits of shifting to an AaS model arm high-tech providers with the ability to address modern customer expectations and overcome the limitations of traditional product lifecycles, to build lastingvalue-driven relationships. Here are the keycustomer-centric strategiesthat executives need to focus on to establish themselves as leaders in the AaS era:Pivoting from transactional to relational customer engagement:With 98% of executives acknowledging that a companys products and services define their customer relationship, products need to serve more than just one transaction in their lifecycle and should be part of an ongoing relationship with the customer base. Therefore, they should move from product-focused to subscription-based organization to create long-term revenue growth and higher customer retention.Related:Replacing legacy systems with modern IT:Modernizing IT infrastructure is centered around creating a strong digital core, which consists of a cloud infrastructure,dataand AI. This will help companies stay ahead of competitors, expeditegrowthand guarantee operational security.Shifting focus from product features to customer outcomes:Customer needs have evolved and creating a dedicated customer success function will become a critical need for high-tech companies to enable AaS adoption. Gen AI is an essential technology that can provide a more detailed customer behavior analysis and will help identify new customer needs.Recalibrating the sales force:Although executive confidence in their sales forces ability to shift from transaction based to outcome-based compensation is in the majority, training talent to accelerate adoption and preparing them to sell under the new model is critical to enabling AaS across the organization.A rapidly changingdigital landscape and evolving market dynamics requires high-tech companies to assume more agility. To that end, meeting their ARR goals will also require adopting an AaS model that prioritizes customer-centricity. By leveraging these strategies, which rely on gen AI integration and Total Enterprise Reinvention, providers can make a decided effort to future-proof their companies and ensure sustainable growth.

csam meets ai Under new law, cops bust famous cartoonist for AI-generated child sex abuse images Darrin Bell won a major cartooning award in 2019. Nate Anderson Jan 17, 2025 4:08 pm | 44 Darrin Bell in happier times. Credit: Andri Tambunan | Getty Images Darrin Bell in happier times. Credit: Andri Tambunan | Getty Images Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreLate last year, California passed a law against the possession or distribution of child sex abuse material (CSAM) that has been generated by AI. The law went into effect on January 1, and Sacramento police announced yesterday that they have already arrested their first suspecta 49-year-old Pulitzer-prize-winning cartoonist named Darrin Bell.The new law, which you can read here, declares that AI-generated CSAM is harmful, even without an actual victim. In part, says the law, this is because all kinds of CSAM can be used to groom children into thinking sexual activity with adults is normal. But the law singles out AI-generated CSAM for special criticism due to the way that generative AI systems work."The creation of CSAM using AI is inherently harmful to children because the machine-learning models utilized by AI have been trained on datasets containing thousands of depictions of known CSAM victims," it says, "revictimizing these real children by using their likeness to generate AI CSAM images into perpetuity."The law defines "artificial intelligence" as "an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments."Acting on a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force recently opened an investigation into 18 CSAM files being shared online. Further investigation revealed that the sharer was actually offering 134 CSAM videos, and police claim they were able to trace those files to the account of local resident and well-known cartoonist Darrin Bell.On Wednesday, police executed a warrant on Bell's home; they claim to have recovered "evidence related to the case, as well as computer-generated/AI CSAM." Bell was arrested and is being held on $1 million bail. In a statement, police noted that "this case was the first arrest by Sacramento Valley ICAC where possession of computer-generated/AI CSAM was charged against a suspect."Bell has long been a cartoonist. In 2019, he won a Pulitzer prize "for beautiful and daring editorial cartoons that took on issues affecting disenfranchised communities, calling out lies, hypocrisy and fraud in the political turmoil surrounding the Trump administration."According to local coverage of the case from NBC, Bell "has said the goal of his work is for people to be more respectful of human dignity."Nate AndersonDeputy EditorNate AndersonDeputy Editor Nate is the deputy editor at Ars Technica. His most recent book is In Emergency, Break Glass: What Nietzsche Can Teach Us About Joyful Living in a Tech-Saturated World, which is much funnier than it sounds. 44 Comments

The landmark recordingwhich came from a concert in Cologne, West Germany, that almost didnt happenis a work of gorgeous, stream-of-consciousness pianism.

MGMTable of ContentsTable of ContentsShowing Up (2023)Pathology (2008)Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)Are you in the mood to be scared? January may seem like an odd time to watch a horror movie, but for the last few years, the genre has thrived in the first month of the year with such recent hits as M3GAN and Night Swim. 2025 brings us Wolf Man, a modern retelling of the classic werewolf tale, and all signs point to another winter horror hit.But those movie fans who want something more mellow this weekend arent out of luck. Streaming has plenty of options, with Max being one of the best out there. In addition to such current popular movies like Juror #2 and Furiosa, the streamer has the following three movies that, for one reason or another, have been overlooked and underrated.Recommended VideosWe also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max,andthe best movies on Disney+.RelatedShowing Up | Official Trailer HD | A24When we first meet Lizzy (Venom: The Last Dances Michelle Williams), her life is a bit of a mess. A sculptor who works part-time at a local art school, shes preparing for an upcoming art show. Well, shes supposed to be preparing, but life always gets in the way. Her water heater is broken, and her landlord, Jo (The Whales Hong Chau), wont fix it. It doesnt help that Jo is also showing her art at the same show Lizzy needs to get ready for. To make matters worse, her father has surrounded herself with a bunch of untrustworthy hippies and her brother is showing early signs of mental illness.In anyone elses hands, Showing Up could be a comedy or a drama, but Kelly Reichardt, director of such modern classics as Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy, and First Cow, manages to make it a bit of both. Slice of life is a phrase commonly used to describe the directors films, and while accurate, it fails to capture the strange beauty each one of her films has. Showing Up doesnt have a lot going on, but in its depiction of the day-to-day joys and disappointments of everyday life, it captures something elusive and essential.Showing Up is streaming on Max.MGMThey cant all be winners, but movies like Pathology are the reason why guilty pleasure was invented as an excuse to enjoy less-than-stellar movies. In this medical thriller, Milo Ventimiglia, fresh off his multi-year sentence in Stars Hollow on Gilmore Girls, is Dr. Teddy Grey, a recent Harvard School of Medicine graduate who joins a sort of Skull and Bones-type secret organization for medical interns with a taste for committing the perfect murder. Teddy thinks these perfect murders are theoretical until he discovers, nope, they are real deaths.Led by Jake Gallo (Michael Weston), the group sets its sights on Juliette, who happens to be Gallos unfaithful fiance. As Teddy struggles to keep his horror concealed so he can expose the group and stop Jake, he may be putting himself, and his fiance, Gwen (Alyssa Milano), in danger. Whats a hunky, somewhat dim-witted doctor-to-be to do?Pathology TrailerPathology is silly and stupid, but its oddly watchable in an are-they-really-doing-this? kind of way. To his credit, Ventimiglia plays this straight, which only highlights all the absurdity around him. The ending is ridiculous, but also perfect, with karma as a medicine best served with a cold, sharp scalpel.Pathology is streaming on Max.Being Mary Tyler Moore | Official Trailer | HBOI never watched The Dick Van Dyke Show or The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but I knew how beloved our Mary was to her fans. But she was always that bright, distant TV icon with the million-dollar smile, and the woman behind that image was always an enigma to me.Being Mary Tyler Moore changed that, and for the better. The 2023 documentary by James Aldophus chronicles the entire life of the actress, from her childhood in New York City to her early work as a TV actress in such programs as 77 Sunset Strip and, later, The Dick Van Dyke Show. But its when she branched out on her own, forming her own production company with then-husband Grant Tinker, that Moore emerged as an icon, making The Mary Tyler Moore Show one of the defining programs of the 70s and a key moment in the womens movement during that time.HBOTheres more to her life than just that show, and the documentary is particularly fascinating when it focuses on after her marriage to Tinker ends and she navigates life as a single, older woman working in both Hollywood and the New York theater industry. Being Mary Tyler Moore is an in-depth look at someone you think you knew, but didnt; it also will make you want to watch Ordinary People again, so make sure you have tissues ready to soak up those tears.Being Mary Tyler Moore is streaming on Max.Editors Recommendations

In context: TSMC is facing significant challenges in its efforts to establish advanced chip production facilities in the United States. Despite a $65 billion investment in three massive factories in Arizona, TSMC's CEO, C.C. Wei, has reiterated that the company's most advanced chip technology is likely to remain in Taiwan for the foreseeable future. Speaking at a National Taiwan University event, Wei outlined a series of obstacles that have slowed progress and increased costs for TSMC's U.S. expansion. These challenges include complex compliance issues, local construction regulations, and various permitting requirements that have significantly extended the project timeline."Every step requires a permit, and after the permit is approved, it takes at least twice as long as in Taiwan," Wei said, highlighting the stark contrast between the regulatory environments in the two countries. Other challenges include a shortage of skilled workers, gaps in the supply chain, and a lack of established regulations specific to chip plant construction.To address these issues, TSMC has taken extraordinary measures. Wei revealed that the company invested $35 million to establish 18,000 rules in collaboration with local governments, hiring a team of experts to navigate the complex regulatory landscape. Additionally, TSMC has faced significantly higher costs for essential supplies, such as chemicals, which are five times more expensive in the U.S. than in Taiwan.To mitigate the labor shortage, TSMC has resorted to relocating half of its construction workers from Texas to Arizona, incurring additional costs for relocation and accommodation.Despite this, Wei remains optimistic about the quality of chips that will be produced at the Arizona facility. At a recent earnings conference, he expressed confidence in achieving the same level of quality as in Taiwan and anticipated a smooth ramp-up process. // Related StoriesDuring the call, Wei noted that TSMC had accelerated the production schedule for its first fab in Arizona, which began high-volume production in the fourth quarter of 2024. The fab utilizes N4 process technology with yields comparable to TSMC's facilities in Taiwan. "With our strong manufacturing capability and execution, we are confident we can deliver the same level of manufacturing quality and reliability from our fab in Arizona as we do from our fabs in Taiwan," he said.Plans for a second and third fab in Arizona are also on track, Wei confirmed during the earnings call. "This is where we will utilize even more advanced technologies, such as our N3, N2, and A16 nodes, based on our customers' needs," he added.The U.S. government has thrown its full support behind TSMC's investment, offering a $6.6 billion grant as part of its strategy to diversify the geographic distribution of chip manufacturing, which is currently heavily concentrated in Asia, particularly Taiwan.However, at the event, Wei noted that the most cutting-edge chip technology might not reach American shores as quickly as some in the U.S. had hoped. This is not new information: TSMC has consistently maintained that the majority of its chip manufacturing, especially for the most advanced chips, will remain in Taiwan.

A smartphone displaying an image of the Chinese social network TikTok which is used extensively by teenagers and a ban sign in Paris in France on January 16, 2025.Hans LucasAFP/Getty ImagesBy Solcyr BurgaJanuary 17, 2025 4:24 PM ESTThe fate of Tiktok is now in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump after the Supreme Court upheld the ban on the viral video app Friday. The Biden Administration announced it would not enforce the ban, which was set to go into effect on Sunday, Jan. 19, the day before Trumps inauguration.The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it, Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation.Trump previously asked the Supreme Court to pause the ban from going into effect so his Administration could look for a political resolution. But the President-elects current position on TikTok is a reverse from his 2020 stance, when Trump sought to ban TikTok. A federal judge blocked the act in December 2020. You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points and there are those that say that TikTok has something to do with it, Trump said in a post-election news conference in December. The U.S. first began investigating TikTok in 2019, two years after the Chinese company ByteDance acquired Musical.ly, which was then merged into TikTok. The ban comes after President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan law last April forcing TikToks parent company ByteDance to divest from the app or be banned in the U.S. citing national security concerns given the apps connections to China. During Supreme Court arguments, Department of Justice Solicitor General Elizaveth Prelogar claimed China could harvest the data of U.S. users which could then be used to harass, rescruit, and spy on the United States. ByteDance has said that it will not sell TikTok and claimed that the law infringes on the First Amendment rights of the company and the 170 million American users. "There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community," the court said in its decision. "But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikToks data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.In a statement Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that given the timing of the ban, actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday.Earlier on Friday, Trump announced that he had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the two talked about TikTok, along with other topics. President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe, he said.Negotiations regarding the future of the social media platform appear to be in motion. In December, Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. While the Supreme Court result did not fall in favor with the desires of TikTok executives, Chew still thanked Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States, in a video posted after the Supreme Court decision Friday, in which he shared that there had been more than 60 billion views of Trumps content on the app. Chew also shared that the company was still working hard to ensure the app would still be available to its users in the U.S. "TikTok itself is a fantastic platform," Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for a national security adviser, told Fox News Special Report with Bret Baier on Wednesday. "We're going to find a way to preserve it but protect people's data."More Must-Reads from TIMEL.A. Fires Show Reality of 1.5C of WarmingHome Losses From L.A. Fires Hasten An Uninsurable FutureThe Women Refusing to Participate in Trumps EconomyBad Bunny On Heartbreak and New AlbumHow to Dress Warmly for Cold WeatherWere Lucky to Have Been Alive in the Age of David LynchThe Motivational Trick That Makes You Exercise HarderColumn: No One Won The War in GazaContact us at letters@time.com

Participants hold signs in support of TikTok outside the U.S. Capitol Building on March 13, 2024 in Washington, DC.Getty ImagesTikToks social media rivals are set to pounce but exactly which one will win remains an open question.Domestic tech firms now stand to greatly benefit following Fridays Supreme Court decision declining to overturn the federal law that will see TikTok removed from app stores on Sunday over national security concerns.Industry analysts like EMarketer determined earlier this month that Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, along with Alphabet, which owns YouTube, could capture around half of the ad dollars that might flee TikTok once the app goes dark. (The entire American annual social media ad spend in 2024 was around $80 to $90 billion, according to EMarketer.)Still, its not a done deal: Once inaugurated, President Trump could grant TikTok a reprieve while it looks for a buyer, fulfilling his promise to save the app for a short while. If and when TikTok is fully banned, it will be hard for any rival to completely capture the apps userbase."Its not that these companies havent been trying to pick up TikTok users there is something about how the service works that makes it hard to duplicate, Jim Lewis, the senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Forbes.TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023 in Washington, DC.Getty ImagesImplementation of the federal law now forbids American companies from doing business with TikTok starting on Sunday. A ban would last until the Chinese-owned ByteDance, TikToks parent company, sells its U.S. division to an American firm. So far, numerous buyers ranging from Elon Musk to Mr. Beast, the popular YouTuber, have been floated but none have materialized.The Biden administration has said that it would not enforce the law in the waning hours of its tenure. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday at noon Eastern Time.ByteDance, TikToks parent company, did not respond to Forbes repeated request for comment.In a TikTok video released Friday, CEO Shou Zi Chew called the law arbitrary censorship, and added his thanks to President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States.If you had a dollar, where would you see the most upside? If you invested it in Meta or Snap, all else equal, the Snap dollar should appreciate more.TikTok has captivated the attention of millions of Americans in recent years. Pew Research found in December 2024 that approximately one-third of U.S. adults use the app. Nineteen percent of American teen girls say they use it almost constantly. Analysts have found that the average 18- to 24-year-old TikTok user spends nearly 80 minutes per day on the app.The question is: where will they go?The hypothesis is that people will go somewhere else to scratch the same itch, said Evan Horowitz, the CEO of online ad agency Movers+Shakers, who has been preparing its clients to translate their TikTok videos to other platforms. Its not like the traffic will go to Twitter as thats a different form. YouTube Shorts skews younger, while a millennial is more likely to prefer Instagram and Reels.Benjamin Black, the co-head of internet equity research at Deutsche Bank, told Forbes that one rival is poised to see the most relative benefit: Snap.Because Meta is a significantly larger company (around $1.55 trillion market capitalization) relative to Snap (around $20 billion market capitalization), even a small bump for the Santa Monica-based app would translate into a much greater relative revenue.Most people assume that Meta is going to get the lions share, but given the size of Snap, even if it gets 10% or so of TikToks minutes, and they monetize it at traditional Snap rates, that would have huge ramifications for the business in a positive way, Black said.If you had a dollar, where would you see the most upside? If you invested it in Meta or Snap, all else equal, the Snap dollar should appreciate more.Snap has been preparing for TikTok to go offline for months. In September, the company announced Simple Snapchat, an app redesign debuting later this quarter thats clearly meant to mimic TikTok. Simple Snapchat would have what the company called its first-ever unified recommendation system, which eliminates some the Snap Map and Stories tabs, making it much closer to a TikTok-like design where short-format videos immediately load.Snapchat on the App Store displayed on a phone screen and a laptop keyboard are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on August 10, 2022.NurPhoto via Getty ImagesOther ad firms are also looking at redistributing their spending to other kinds of social media apps, and not just ones that mimic TikToks style and format.Were also considering platforms like Pinterest and Reddit who have a strong social search presence and search targeting functionality, enabling us to stay agile in capturing real-time conversations and demand, Toni Box, the executive vice president of brand experience at Assembly Global, a media agency, emailed Forbes.Also in the mix are Chinese apps like Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, which has a similar short-form video format and saw an influx of so-called TikTok refugees this week as it shot to the top of the app store downloads. . But if it grows quickly enough, it could ultimately face a similar ban.Unlike TikTok, RedNote does not have a separate U.S. app, which poses similar, if not more serious, issues for lawmakers concerned about user privacy and national security, Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at EMarketer, emailed Forbes.Whats clear is that the law doesnt solve the problems that lawmakers have said it is aimed to fix. Its narrow scope (ie. singling out ByteDance and TikTok) doesnt address the larger privacy and security risks on social media, posed by both U.S. and foreign-owned apps.MORE FROM FORBES

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Video-sharing platform TikTok will go dark in the United States at midnight on Sunday 19 January after the Supreme Court upheld a nationwide ban on the Chinese-owned social media on national security and data privacy and protection grounds.In a unanimous decision, the conservative majority court sided with the lower courts, outgoing president Joe Biden, and both houses of Congress, which passed the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act last year with broad support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.The law requires TikToks parent ByteDance to either divest the service altogether or be cut off from US app stores and hosting services this weekend, with the likes of Apple and Google facing significant fines if they do not comply.In its unsigned opinion, the Supreme Court said: There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community.But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well reported national security concerns regarding TikToks data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary. For the foregoing Per Curiam reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners First Amendment rights.Craig Singleton, senior China fellow and senior director of the China programme at Washington DC-based thinktank the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said the nine-nil decision upholding the laws constitutionality validated the security risks posed by Chinese-owned social media apps.ByteDance was afforded due process in our courts something Chinese companies would never extend to US firms. This is about reciprocity, fairness, and protecting American interests, he said.China is adapting in real-time to the ruling. Prior to today's verdict, Beijing began urging TikTok users to migrate to other Chinese-owned apps, like Lemon8 and Little Red Book. This underscores the risks of a whack-a-mole approach and highlights the need for constant vigilance. Beijing isnt just building apps; its building a discourse power ecosystem to shape global narratives and influence societies.Although TikTok has been banned in other countries, most jurisdictions, including the UK, have confined their restrictions to government-owned devices. The US ban marks the first time that a service as widely used as TikTok which boasts 170 million users in the country and many times that number globally has been banned outright in such a significant market.From a business perspective, the TikTok ban will be most keenly felt by smaller businesses, creators and influencers in the US, but organisations located in the UK, Europe, and other countries will also be affected by the sudden loss of thousands, if not millions, of potential customers.However, TikToks goose may not yet be cooked. Following the publication of the Supreme Courts decision on the matter, the Biden administration signalled it would not immediately enforce the ban on 19 January, leaving the matter up to the incoming president-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on Monday 20 January.Trump, who towards the end of his first term in 2020, attempted to ban TikTok himself, has since changed his position on the issue and now credits it with activating younger voters in his favour.Trump has previously hinted that he would move to save TikTok, which could mean he might delay enforcement of the law in order to give ByteDance time to find a buyer for the service.Posting on his Truth Social network earlier today, the president-elect said: The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!In a video message, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said: I want to thank president Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States. This is a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform one who has used TikTok to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process.Singleton said: A Trump-brokered divestiture that secures US control over TikToks algorithm and ensures US user data is safeguarded from Beijing would not only save the app but also send a clear message: Washington can negotiate deals that advance US security and economic interests.This would reflect Reagans principles: firm on protecting American values while engaging thoughtfully with adversaries on our terms. Its about advancing security without sacrificing strength, he added.Read more about TikTokThe Supreme Court upheld the US TikTok ban, which means businesses that have used the app to reach and grow audiences will no longer be able to do so.A TikTok ban in the US won't crush recruiting efforts. While the platform has reach, employers still prefer LinkedIn, Instagram and niche tools to find top talent.

close New high-tech tools can help purchase a home A new platform leverages AI to help potential buyers find an affordable home and earn bonus points on the purchase. Do you know the difference between 550 and 780? Yes, theyre 230 digits apart, but theyre also examples of bad and good credit scores, respectively.Win a pair of $329 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.Enter here, no purchase necessary!If you dont check yours regularly, nows the time to start. Small mistakes are a lot more common than you think, and they can do some serious damage to your credit score. Ill let you in on some of the most common credit report mistakes and what you can do to fix them.5-MINUTE CLEANUP FOR YOUR PHONE AND COMPUTERStep 1: Get your free credit reportThe three credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) are required by law to provide you with one free credit report a year. Sweet. There are a few ways you can request a copy from each agency.Online is the fastest route. If you submit a request via phone or mail, expect to wait two weeks after the paperwork is received.Online:www.AnnualCreditReport.comPhone: 877-FACTACT (877-322-8228)Mail: Download and complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form. Send it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281Pro tip: Grab your report from thefourth credit bureau, Innovis, too. Close up of a man with a smartphone and laptop computer on January 31, 2019. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)Step 2: Look for the most common mistakesTypos or wrong info: Anything from your name spelled incorrectly to your address or your birthdate off by one number. Tiny mistakes can mix up your credit with someone elses.Accounts you dont recognize: If you see something you dont recognize, dont ignore it! This includes credit cards you never applied for, loans in your name or purchases you didnt make.Duplicates: Its not normal to see a debt twice on a credit report. This includes things like the same collection account, transferred debts showing as separate accounts or paid-off debts still sitting there.Incorrect account info: Sometimes, payments can mistakenly show up as late, or closed accounts may still show as active. Other times, reports may show the wrong credit limit or mess up your payment history.AI ISNT GOING ANYWHERE: PROMPTS TO MAKE LIFE EASIEROutdated info: Bankruptcies older than 10 years, late payments older than seven years and outdated collections accounts should not be showing on your credit report.Make sure websites are following your rules: How to check permissionsStep 3: Report anything strangeDont panic! Write down and make copies of anything that looks off, then file a dispute with the credit reporting company by mail, phone or online.If youre filing online or by mail, explain in writing exactly whats wrong and why, and include copies of documents with proof. Make sure to include your contact info, credit report confirmation numbers and a copy of your version of your credit report.Equifax:Here online or call 866-349-5191Experian:Here online or call 888-397-3742TransUnion:Here online or call 800-916-8800Innovis:Here online or call 800-540-2505 Close-up of the upper corner of a consumer credit report from the credit bureau Equifax, with text reading Credit File and Personal Identification, on a light wooden surface, September 11, 2017. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)And always follow up! Bureaus are required to look into your disputes within 30 days. Track its progress until you have a resolution in writing. If your dispute is valid, the bureau has to fix it and tell the other bureaus as well.A lot of these issues boil down to good old-fashioned human error. It happens, but dont let that stop you from taking charge.Related:How to run a 5-minute privacy check on your phoneWhile youre at it, find your job numberEquifax also runs a database of 716 million income and employment records, including, potentially, yours. Its called The Work Number, and employers use it to make sure you are who you say you are.Your Employment Data Report (EDR) includes things like where youve worked, when you worked there and your exact past salary numbers.TECH TIP: SAVE YOUR MEMORIES BEFORE ITS TOO LATETrying to get a new job? An employer could use your EDR to find your past salary range and lowball you in negotiations. And, of course, Equifax will sell your EDR to anyone whos buying, including debt collectors.Money smarts:Its not just bogus calls and emails putting your bank info at riskHow to stop itYou canfreeze your EDR just like a credit report. You can also see whos tried to access it within the past two years. Youll need to make an account with The Work Number to do it.Search for your current or former employer(s) using their name or employer code (the nine-digit number on your W-2).Click their name, followed by Register Now. Heads-up: Itll ask for your Social Security number.Once you register, look over your report and make sure its accurate. Fill out thisdata dispute form if you find anything fishy. A credit card is pictured alongside a restaurant bill. (iStock)Then, head back to the dashboard and click Freeze Your Data.Fill out the Data Freeze Placement Formand submit it.The Work Number will send you a freeze confirmation letter, along with a PIN. Save your PIN in your password manager. Youll need it if you ever want to unfreeze your report.You can always log into The Work Number or call them to unfreeze your report.If you cant find your employer: They may not be registered with The Work Number. Call the freeze helpline at 1-800-367-2884 to double-check.Unless youre actively applying for a loan or government benefits, or unless an employer actively requests your EDR, its a no-brainer to freeze it. And if a potential employer insists on checking your EDR to hire you, maybe its not the right fit after all.Get tech-smarter on your scheduleAward-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.National radio:Airing on 500+ stations across the US -Find yours or get the free podcast.Daily newsletter:Join 600,000 people who read the Current (free!)Watch: OnKims YouTube channelPodcast: "Kim Komando Today" - Listen wherever you get podcastsCopyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved. Related Topics

Late Capitalism. All images Michael Kerbow, shared with permissionDinosaurs Overrun a World Post Climate Disaster in Michael Kerbows PaintingsJanuary 17, 2025Jackie AndresAfter ending another year of record-breaking climate statistics, we stand at the precipice of 2025, which has already revealed its own devastating challenges. As the window for meaningful change continues to narrow during the next several years, were left to wonder what the world might look like if we stay on this path. Through the lens of hyper-consumerism, San Francisco-based artist Michael Kerbow (previously) envisions the future in his wry and imaginative landscape paintings.Swarming decayed gas station roofs, perching atop abandoned vehicles in forests, and sauntering past crumbling highways and fast food joints, the dinosaurs in Kerbows paintings govern a world overrun by the effects of late-stage capitalism. Hints of climate devastation reveal themselves through small details in the background, such as volcano eruptions, dense, hazy skies, and pools of floodwater.BypassKerbow scatters familiar signage and advertisements from recognizable chains within his scenes to introduce humor and make his work more approachable. However, the artist emphasizes the gravity of the issue at hand:We like to believe everything we currently have will always be there for us, but I suspect it could just as easily fall apart and slip away. I try to stay optimistic about the future, but the truth is I am troubled by where I see things appear to be headed, specifically with the health of our ecosystem. Each passing year seems to bring more alarming statistics, and this comfortable place we call home seems to grow more precarious. It is sobering to consider my artwork as foreshadowing a future reality.As Kerbow continues to make new paintings, you can follow along on Instagram and see his website for more.Adaptive ReuseVestige (Golden Arches)Black MondayHighwaterGladeEconomic DeclineSiren SongShadowplayOasisNext article

Now thatfires in Southern California have ravaged a land area equivalent of three Manhattans, at least 27 people have been killed. Several homes by Richard Neutra, Gregory Ain, Eric Owen Moss, and other prolific architects in Los Angeles are gone. Rent prices in Los Angeleshavesurged by up to 12 percent, as landlords cash in on the disaster. California Governor Gavin Newsom has tried to stop rent gouging. He also waived two environmental review lawstheCalifornia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Actto spur quick construction, which drew criticism from legal experts. Hundreds of firefighters in the line of duty are incarcerated individuals, many of them teenagers, making less than $5 an hour. Architects have been actively involved in the relief effort. Zeina Koreitem, of MILLINS, is coordinating a volunteer fire patrol in Topanga, and Office of Office, an architecture, urban planning, and policy non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, is offering its services pro-bono to residents of color who have been impacted by the fires in Southern California.Design for LA quickly organized as a free and public directory of architects, designers, landscape architects, contractors, engineers and other experts related to the building process, particularly in Southern California. It is based on a shared Google spreadsheet for built-environment professionals who are willing to provide services.The list is spearheaded by Joanna Grant, who partnered with Meara Daly of NelsonDaly, a public relations firm. Grant, who lives in Altadena, has offered her architectural services to neighbors.Im a resident of Altadena. Last week, I nearly lost my home. We have been evacuated ever since, Grant told AN. My neighbor, a firefighter, his brother, and son got a truck and saved about eleven houses on our block. But everything else on our block is completely destroyed.Shane Reiner-Roth, who previously lived in Altadena, described his experience with the fires for AN.Palisades Fire (CAL FIRE OFFICIAL/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)Dori Tunstall has helped put together a new group of volunteers, Design for Disaster Response. Jobi Blachy at Roger Thomas has started a Go Fund Me to support architects and designers in distress.The team at Hello Human encouraged people to donate to Tristan Louis Marshs Los Angeles Fire Charity Art Auction, or consider partnering withLA Wildfire Relief Free Market.Lost HeritageKatie Horak, Docomomo US President, issued a statement of solidarity with the people of Los Angeles on January 14. Collectively, we mourn the loss of countless heritage sites, many of them icons of the modern movement, that tell the stories of our great city: stories of its people, its optimism, its creativity, and its ingenuity. The very things that drew modern architects to these parts of the city during the postwar periodhilly terrain, breathtaking views, the beauty of the natural environment, and temperate climateare also what made them vulnerable. As a result, these fires have claimed the largest concentration of modern heritage sites of any disaster in Los Angeles history, Horak continued. Kevin Keim, executive director of the Charles Moore Foundation, has been diligently protecting Moores Burns House. Keim also said firefighters from Idaho are in his neighborhood, helping with disaster relief. There is no more wind, which is the best thing ever, because that was half of the ingredient in this cataclysm, Keim said. Peter Harper of Breland Harper lamented whats been lost, but emphasized the need to move forward. So many people we know are displaced and several have lost everything. We feel incredibly, incredibly luckynow it is time to help, Harper told AN.The Palisades has been one of the hardest hit communities so far. (CAL FIRE OFFICIAL/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)Clients houses and several commercial buildings we did in the Palisades burned to the ground, all truly, truly devastating. Questions of preservation, community, rebuilding, fire preparednessthe futurebeauty, are of course occupying us, Harper elaborated. In the space of a single week we have seen people go from total loss and devastation to planning the rebuilding. I can only attribute this to a strength of characterfull of resolve and imagination, one that is distinctly Californian.Coming TogetherThe heartache is palpable and the devastation is beyond anyones ability to calculate, Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz of AAHA Studio told AN. So many are hurting, so many lives, and livelihoods, lost. At the end of the day, the only way forward is through and, as architects, we are uniquely positioned to be on the front lines.Leshtz and Halprin continued, We will never be able to replace or recapture what we have lost, but we must rebuild. Our outreach has painted a picture of resiliency and love for our city and for our neighbors that we had forgotten. The road to recovery is going to be challenging, but we are ready for the uphill battle.There will be endless metaphors about the city being reborn and rebuilt from the ashes, and the architecture community is ready to help lead the charge.The disaster has touched students and academics as well. SCI-Arc faculty member Erik Ghenoiu and his family lost their home. Theyve since started a Go Fund Mefor support.The recent events have deeply impacted our community: two of our faculty members lost their homes, and one student lost their parents home, SCI-Arcs communications director Stephanie Atlan told AN. Additionally, projects created by our faculty and founders were tragically destroyed. Atlan added that SCI-Arc faculty are regrouping and rewriting curricula to better equip our students to confront these evolving realities.Folks at RIOS have opened their office doors for members of the design community affected by the fires to come work, access Wi-Fi, and find community, a spokesperson noted.On February 8, the Asian American Pacific Island Design Alliance (AAPIDA) Los Angeles Chapter will host a working session at RIOSs office to discuss rebuilding after the fire.

Assets from construction 3D printing company Diamond Age have been put up for sale in an online auction.The extensive listing features 353 lots ranging from office chairs, desks, air conditioning units, TVs, and filing cabinets, to cranes, custom assembly lines, Fanuc robotic arms with controllers, and an AXYZ 4010 CNC Router Machine.The breadth of the auction has raised questions over the Arizona-based companys future after it successfully raised $58 million in two funding rounds between 2021 and 2022.The online-only auction, delivered by Silicon Valley Disposition, will run from January 28-30. All items are being sold as is, with no option for returns, exchanges, buybacks, or refunds. Full listing details can be viewed hereDiamond Ages Machine Guardian Cage is up for sale in the asset auction. Photo via Silicon Valley Disposition.Diamond Age to execute major asset saleDiamond Age was founded in 2018 to address the US housing markets single-family home shortage. It sought to build a suite of 26 end-of-arm robotic tools that integrated 3D printing, mechatronics, and robotics capabilities.This Robotic-as-a-Service (RaaS) system was designed to automate construction processes, reportedly offsetting more than half of the manual labor needed to build new homes. The construction 3D printing technology seeks to cut cycle time from nine months to just 30 days. Ultimately, the aim was to turn home building into an on-demand product, unlocking greater customization when designing homes.This value proposition has attracted interest from investors. In 2021, Diamond Age raised $8 million in a seed funding round. This capital was used to advance its robotic 3D printing capabilities and build a 1,100-square-foot demonstration house.Prime Movers Lab and Alpaca VC led the funding round, which also drew participation from Dolby Family Ventures, Calm Ventures, Gaingels, Towerview Ventures, GFA Venture Partners, and Suffolk Construction. At the time Suzanne Fletcher, General Partner at Prime Movers, stated that Diamond Age is building a truly transformative system that will change the buying and building of new production homes forever.Diamond Ages robotic 3D printing gantry system. Photo via Diamond Age.Following this investment, the construction 3D printing firm continued to gain momentum. Diamond Age scaled up the build envelope of its robotic technology, allowing it to 3D print a 2,000-square-foot single-story home.Soon after, the first full-scale system was successfully delivered to a customer, and a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was constructed four months ahead of schedule. In 2022, this success saw the company secure $50 million in a Series A funding round led again by Prime Movers Lab. It also secured its first-ever contract with a national homebuilder.Another significant update from Diamond Age came in December 2023, when the company announced an agreement to 3D print military bunkers to aid Ukraines war efforts. Under the partnership with Ukraines Ministry of Strategic Industries (MSI), the construction firm aimed to complete the bunkers within six to nine months.At the time, Diamond Age claimed that the agreement would allow the company to seek funding for additional 3D printed bunkers. However, just over a year later, the company appears to be conducting drastic cost-cutting efforts at its Phoenix facility.Amid the comprehensive array of office equipment, furniture, tools, and other amenities, the auction listing features several items of industrial equipment. Notably, five Fanuc M-710iC/70 Robots with R-30iB Plus controllers and a Fanuc M-900iB Robot with R-309B Plus controller feature in the listing. Several Keyence SZ-VH1X scanner heads, used for industrial health and safety, are also included alongside machine guardian cages, conveyors, assembly lines, and CNC machinery.Diamond Ages Fanuc M-900iB 90 Robot with R-309B Plus Controller. Photo via Silicon Valley Disposition.3D printing asset auctionsDiamond Age is the latest additive manufacturing company to auction off assets. A 3D printing trends survey conducted in early 2024 revealed a common consensus among industry experts: business consolidation and asset reductions are being driven by ongoing challenges within the sector.This was reflected at the end of last year when industrial manufacturing service provider Zeda, Inc. put $20 million worth of its assets up for sale in a 3D printing asset auction. The sale, running until January 22, features industrial 3D printers from the companys 75,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Springdale, Ohio. These include four Velo3D Sapphire metal 3D printers, four AddUp FormUp 350 LPBF machines, and a GE Additive Arcam EBM Q10plus Electron Beam Melting System.The auction came as a surprise. Zeda appeared to have been performing well, having raised $52 million in Series B funding in March 2023. Following this, the firm invested $20 million in new equipment for its Springdale facility. However, the listing describes the assets as Very Low Hour Equipment, indicating the machinery has seen minimal use and remains in excellent condition.Elsewhere, February 2024 saw 3D printing service provider Shapeways auction off $5 million of Desktop Metal 3D printing hardware. This included P1 Production System 3D printers, Shop System binder jet 3D printers, BMD 3D printers, powder stations, powder blenders, sintering furnaces, and drying ovens.This auction followed Shapeways poor financial performance since its $605 million SPAC deal with Galileo Acquisition Corp (GLEO) in 2021. At the time, the company was valued at $410 million, generating $195 million in net proceeds. However, the company soon began to underperform, generating just $8.4 million in revenue and $3.4 million in gross profit by Q3 2023. Cost-cutting measures followed, including a 5% workforce reduction. By July 2024, Shapeways bankruptcy was confirmed. However, Shapeways re-launched as Manuevo BV, which purchased the companys additive manufacturing assets soon after.Diamond Age has been contacted for comment, this article will be updated if a reply is received.Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards?All the news from Formnext 2024.Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on X, like our Facebook page, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows Diamond Ages Fanuc M-900iB 90 Robot with R-309B Plus Controller. Photo via Silicon Valley Disposition.

The U.S. government wants to prove that Googles competitors face overwhelming barriers to entry as part of its antitrust case against the tech giant. So its turning to ChaptGPTs head of product, Nick Turley, to testify as a witness in hopes he will help fortify its case.In a landmark ruling last August, a court determined that Google holds a monopoly in search. While Google appeals this decision, the Department of Justice is now asking the court to decide what penalties it should face, such as spinning off Chrome or a 10-year ban on releasing any browser product.To bolster its case, the DOJ has pulled in various Google competitors like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Perplexity. It wants specific executives, like Perplexitys Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, to testify. (Its not clear yet whether Shevelenko will do so. Perplexity didnt respond immediately to a request for comment.)Recent legal filings confirm that a top executive from OpenAI, Nick Turley, head of product for ChatGPT, will testify as a witness for the U.S. governments case.Mr. Turley is a witness handpicked by Plaintiffs [the DOJ] to testify on OpenAIs behalf, Googles lawyers wrote in a January 16 legal filing.Mr. Turley is the OpenAI witness who will testify on behalf of the government at the Evidentiary Hearing, another filing from January 16 reads.None of the filings specify exactly when Turley will testify. Turley is expected to be asked by the U.S. about generative AIs relationship with Search Access Points, distribution, barriers to entry and expansion, and data sharing, per the filing. The DOJ hasnt provided details about what it wants to ask Turley. (These are the exact same topics it wants to ask Perplexitys CBO about.)The DOJ uses the term search access points to refer to products like Google Chrome that people use to search the web. Notably, in October 2024 ChatGPT launched its own AI search browser.To prepare itself for Turleys testimony, Google has subpoenaed OpenAI for documents related to the case. But the two companies are now in heated a dispute over the extent of evidence OpenAI should provide.In a legal filing on January 16, Google criticized OpenAI for producing stunningly few documents. OpenAIs lawyers fired back, noting that Googles demands for documents from top executives like CEO Sam Altman appear to be a Trojan horse intended to harass OpenAI executives.OpenAI has agreed to share some documents from Turleys work files about OpenAIs strategy on AI products, its integration of AI into search-related products, and its Microsoft partnership, a letter from OpenAIs lawyers shows.Google says it needs more documents from more executives, as relying mostly on Turley would prejudice Google since Turley is a witness handpicked by the U.S. government, according to the filing.Google also wants documents from OpenAI that predate the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, claiming these may undermine Mr. Turleys testimony regarding barriers to entry in a way that post-launch documents would not. But OpenAI says documents that old cannot meaningfully represent the current AI landscape.Both sides appear at an impasse and OpenAI has requested the court reject the full scope of Googles requested evidence.OpenAI and Google did not respond to requests for comment. The DOJ declined to comment.

Just download it from the eShop.Before Sonic X Shadow Generations launched on 25th October 2024, Sega ran a promotion in which it gave away a free Sonic Jam character skin to those who signed up to the company's emails.Well, that promotion is long gone now, and Sega has decided to offer the skin to all owners of Sonic X Shadow Generations, regardless of platform (thanks, Sonic Stadium).Read the full article on nintendolife.com