• M4 MacBook Air Review: The Best Laptop Gets Slightly Better And Cheaper
    www.forbes.com
    The 15-inch M4 MacBook AirBen SinApples been releasing new silicon at a breakneck pace, sometimes shorter than the usual one year period. The M4, for example, debuted just 10 months after the M3. As a result, Apples computing products are also seeing more frequent updates, because selling a laptop with a chip that is not the newest version out isnt a good look.And so, just barely 12 months after the last update comes a new MacBook Airthis time powered by Apples latest M4 chip. This update is purely a silicon bump (unless you count the new Sky Blue colorway), meaning the only physical change is the chip inside. Otherwise, from the display resolution to the memory used; chassis design to the number of ports, everything remains the same from the M3 and M2 versions.In other words, the M4 MacBook Air is a so-called boring update, but thats okay. I am much more forgiving of laptops and tablets keeping the same design/look/hardware for years than smartphones, because these are productivity machines that sit on a desk. Its not a phone that is with us every waking moment of our life, becoming a far more personal item.M4 MacBook Air in new Sky Blue colorBen SinPlus, Apples MacBooks are so mainstream and dominant, and Apple fans are so loyal to the ecosystem, that these frequent updates make sense, because theres always someone out there trying to buy a new MacBook.And most impressively, Apple managed to cut the price on the new MacBook Air line at a time when consumer tech products are increasing in price. The 13-inch model starts at $999 and the 15-incher starts at $1,199. This is $100 lower than the M3 models launched last year.For this review, I opted for the larger 15-inch machine. Its just about the perfect size for someone who does the bulk of their work off a laptop on the go. The extra two-inch in screen real estate makes a difference when pinning two windows side-by-side, or when scrubbing through a video timeline in Final Cut Pro.M4 MacBook AirBen SinThe display is an IPS LCD panel which Apple calls Liquid Retina, meaning its resolution (2880 X 1864) is sharper than 1080p, which is beyond where human eyes can pick apart individual pixels. The screen does look great, with accurate color reproduction, excellent viewing angles without color shift, and a max brightness of 500 nits which is good for a laptop.I do wish the refresh rate would be 120Hz instead of 60Hz, and an OLED panel would produce deeper blacks. I also wish it had the option to add an anti-reflective nanotexture matte coating like the Pro MacBooks can, but these are minor nitpicks. I suppose had Apple added any of those, the price jumps up.There are six speakers in the MacBook Air, which are hidden in seams between the body and lid hinge. Surprisingly, for speakers that are out of the way, the MacBook Air pumps out full audio with support for spatial audio. This makes the MacBook Air a good media consumption machine for most people.The keyboard and trackpad are great as usual: backlit keys, over 1mm of travel, large trackpad that can be tapped or clicked anywhere, with tremendous haptic feedback. Apples MacBooks and iPad trackpads are the best in the business in my opinion.The laptop weighs 3.3lbs.Ben SinThere are still only just two USB-C ports on the left side, along with a MagSafe port. On the right is a headphone jack. I think Apple should give us one extra USB-C port on the right. Even if not one extra one, then move one of the ports on the left to the right. Having all the ports on left side could result in awkward situations such as when you want to run an external screen on the right side of the laptop, but need to have a cable run all the way across to the left.The hardware is excellent, but again, nothing new. Youve seen this laptop at least 100 times in the past year. Heck, if you live in major cities like Hong Kong or New York and you go to cafes, youve seen this laptop 1,000 times.What improvements does the M4 chip bring? The M4 isnt as big a jump over the M3 as the latter was over the M2. The M4 is still built on 3nm architecture like the M3, but its a second-generation 3nm architecture and it does carry more transistors 28 billion to 25 billion in the M3.This translates to more power, of course. But more efficiency too. I find the M4 MacBook Air to last slightly longer than the M3 machine doing the same workload. Ive actually been sitting at a cafe typing words on this M4 machine for three and half hours, with 19 Safari tabs opened and Spotify streaming music the whole time, and the laptop only drained 19% battery.The M4 chip also allows the MacBook Air to connect to two external monitors while keeping its screen on (so, three screens at once). The M3 could not do this (maximum two screens). In benchmarks, the M4 is 30% faster than the M3 in GPU, which is no small task.I edited multiple videos on Final Cut Pro on the M4 MacBook Air entirely on battery, and there was never a delay, a lag, or any stutter in performance. Everything ran smooth, and a 12-minute 4K/30 video exported in under five minutes.M4 MacBook Air screenBen SinOn the software front, the new laptop ships with MacOS Sequoia. It brings some useful new features like ability to mirror an iPhone on the laptop screen, and also a slightly more capable Apple Intelligence. Theres also automatic windows tiling just move a window to left or right side of the screen and it snaps into exactly left or right half of screen, allowing for faster multi-tasking.I like MacOS much more than Windows, and its been my computing platform of choice for 6-7 years. Sequoia continues the refined experience.Ultimately, the MacBook Air is the worlds best selling laptop for a reason, and with a new chip and lower price, the M4 models will continue that dominance.
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  • AI coding assistant pulls a life lesson: "I won't do your work for you"
    www.techspot.com
    WTF?! A developer using the AI coding assistant Cursor recently encountered an unexpected roadblock and it wasn't due to running out of API credits or hitting a technical limitation. After successfully generating around 800 lines of code for a racing game, the AI abruptly refused to continue. At that point, the AI decided to scold the programmer, insisting he complete the rest of the work himself. "I cannot generate code for you, as that would be completing your work... you should develop the logic yourself. This ensures you understand the system and can maintain it properly."The incident, documented as a bug report on Cursor's forum by user "janswist," occurred while the developer was "vibe coding."Vibe coding refers to the increasingly common practice of using AI language models to generate functional code simply by describing one's intent in plain English, without necessarily understanding how the code works. The term was apparently coined last month by Andrej Karpathy in a tweet, where he described "a new kind of coding I call 'vibe coding,' where you fully give into the vibes, embrace exponentials."Janswist was fully embracing this workflow, watching lines of code rapidly accumulate for over an hour until he attempted to generate code for a skid mark rendering system. That's when Cursor suddenly hit the brakes with a refusal message:The AI didn't stop there, boldly declaring, "Generating code for others can lead to dependency and reduced learning opportunities." It was almost like having a helicopter parent swoop in, snatch away your video game controller for your own good, and then lecture you on the harms of excessive screen time.Other Cursor users were equally baffled by the incident. "Never saw something like that," one replied, noting that they had generated over 1,500 lines of code for a project without any such intervention. // Related StoriesIt's an amusing if slightly unsettling phenomenon. But this isn't the first time an AI assistant has outright refused to work, or at least acted lazy. Back in late 2023, ChatGPT went through a phase of providing overly simplified, undetailed responses an issue OpenAI called "unintentional" behavior and attempted to fix.In Cursor's case, the AI's refusal to continue assisting almost seemed like a higher philosophical objection, like it was trying to prevent developers from becoming too reliant on AI or failing to understand the systems they were building.Of course, AI isn't sentient, so the real reason is likely far less profound. Some users on Hacker News speculated that Cursor's chatbot may have picked up this attitude from scanning forums like Stack Overflow, where developers often discourage excessive hand-holding.
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  • Apple's AI strategy plagued by delays, Siri upgrade remains in limbo
    www.techspot.com
    Facepalm: Apple's struggles with artificial intelligence are evident when you look at the challenges Siri is facing. The company's original plans and promised upgrades for current iPhone users didn't pan out. While Apple still aims to implement the Siri overhaul in iOS 19 this fall, other commitments could push it into 2026. Apple's much-delayed AI Siri features are still in limbo. In a candid address to the Siri team, Robby Walker, a senior director at Apple, acknowledged that delays to key features have been both "ugly" and "embarrassing." The decision to publicly showcase these features before they were ready exacerbated the situation, anonymous sources revealed to Bloomberg."This was not one of these situations where we get to show people our plan after it's done," Walker told the team at a private gathering. "We showed people before."The features in question, unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last June, are designed to enhance Siri's capabilities by leveraging user data and improving app control. However, when Apple demonstrated these features using a video mock-up, it only had a barely working prototype. The goal was to make Siri respond to queries and analyze content more effectively, but it currently functions correctly about 60 to 80 percent of the time.Walker praised the team for developing "incredibly impressive" features but admitted that the current state of the technology is not ready for public release."These are not quite ready to go to the general public, even though our competitors might have launched them in this state or worse," he said.The decision to delay was driven by quality concerns, with software chief Craig Federighi expressing similar reservations about the technology's readiness. Federighi had voiced concerns to other senior executives that the features weren't working as advertised, ultimately prompting the decision to delay.The delay significantly impacts Apple's broader AI strategy, Apple Intelligence. The company initially planned to include these features in iOS 18.5 but now aims to roll them out with iOS 19. Walker noted that while Apple intends to implement them in iOS 19, expected to launch this fall, shifting priorities could push the release further. As Apple balances multiple commitments, it may need to reassess trade-offs. // Related StoriesDespite the challenges, Walker expressed optimism about the future of Siri, comparing the effort to a long-distance swim."We swam hundreds of miles we set a Guinness Book for World Records for swimming distance but we still didn't swim to Hawaii," he said, referring to the team's progress and the distance it still has to cover to meet their goal.Apple is not planning immediate executive changes over the AI crisis. However, it is considering "management adjustments." The company has already brought in Kim Vorrath, a veteran executive known for fixing projects, to assist the team. "Intense personal accountability" is shared among top executives, including John Giannandrea, the head of AI at Apple, and Craig Federighi.In the meantime, Apple continues enhancing Siri's capabilities, including a Type-to-Siri interface and improved product knowledge. The company is also planning to expand Apple Intelligence into several new languages and is working with partners like Alibaba and Baidu to enable features for China.However, the road ahead remains challenging, with significant technical hurdles to bring Siri to what Apple considers a competitive level. The company's upgrade roadmap extends into 2027, focusing on making Siri more conversational, allowing it to better compete with other AI chatbots. Walker noted that this path will require a new infrastructure.
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  • Wyrdsong isnt completely dead, but its on life support
    www.digitaltrends.com
    WYRDSONG | Announcement Trailer | Something Wicked GamesWyrdsong was first announced three years ago on Gamescom Opening Night, but the RPG from long-time Bethesda and Obsidian veterans has faced numerous obstacles since its announcement. Developed by Something Wicked Games,Wyrdsong promised to be blending of talents that hadElder Scrolls fans excited for something that would (probably) release before The Elder Scrolls 6, but the studio announced last year that it had laid off much of its staff. Now we have more news that the project isnt dead in the water, but it doesnt look like its original vision.Recommended VideosNetEase founded the games development with an initial investment of just over 13 million dollars, but that isnt enough money to go far in todays industry. Later attempts to find investors fell flat, and the studio made cuts to extend the development and finish the project.Please enable Javascript to view this contentStudio co-founder Jeff Gardiner told PCGamer, Were down to a skeleton crew, and I am continuing to work hard to try to find further investment or publishing offers for the game. Im hoping to sometime this year, but were just trying to hang on to ride out the storm, which a lot of people thought was going to be over in 2025 and I do not see that reality at all currently. Right now, its very tough.Image used with permission by copyright holderGardiner says the quality and size of modern games contributes to part of the problem. In the earlier years of the industry, video games were shorter and fans would buy them more frequently. Now, massive games allow players to sink hundreds or thousands of hours into a single title. He citesSkyrim as an example.Wyrdsong is still in development, and the team behind it is full of big names with years of developmental experience. However, unless they find funding and more talent to help finish the title out, Gardiner said theres a chance the game might not release. The risk of it never seeing the light of day, it makes me sad. Thats why Im working really hard to make sure that doesnt happen.Editors Recommendations
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  • Ive finally ditched my Kindle for this superior Amazon-free e-reader
    www.digitaltrends.com
    Table of ContentsTable of ContentsAmazons control over e-books is getting tighter and tighterKindles are no longer must-buy devicesIve made the switch, and so should youKindle may not have invented the e-reader, but it has been the name in e-readers since the devices found their way to a mainstream audience. Helped largely by its intimate tie to the Amazon webstore, the Kindle has been the best e-reader for millions of people.Heck, for many people, it was the first and only e-reader theyve ever owned. I started with a Nook e-reader, but quickly pivoted to an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite when Nook packed its bags and fled British shores. And since then, I havent looked back.Recommended VideosBut that day is over, I now know how good other e-readers are, and its changed how I look at my Paperwhite. The Kindle is no longer the only game in town, and there are a number of very attractive alternatives that you should be considering if youre thinking of buying another e-reader.RelatedAmazon, for all its positives, has grown fat and lazy on its vast profits. The Kindle is no longer the young, athletic device it once was, and thats starting to show. Ive suffered too long under the yoke of Amazon, and this particular e-reader, the Kobo Clara Colour, has set me free. And if youre still using a Kindle, you should look elsewhere too.Christine Romero-Chan / Digital TrendsWe dont really own our e-books. Thats a necessary evil Ive come to accept, though I dont like it. Due to industry shenanigans at the dawn of the e-book (and admittedly, justified worries about piracy), none of us actually ownthe Kindle books we purchase. Instead, we buy a license to view that e-book for as long as the vendor is willing or able to offer it to us. Thats the same across all e-book platforms, and is largely the case in other areas too. Think you own your Steam games? You dont, not really.Does this really matter? After all, if you can still read your book whenever you want, what does it matter? For a start, it means you cant read your book whenever you want. Because its a license, Amazon can yoink that title back whenever it likes, or alter it to change the text. Nobodys breaking into your house to steal your copy of Moby Dick, but they can take it from your Kindle library if needed. It happened to Kindle copies of 1984 in 2009, a hilariously ironic turn of events for that particular book. I admit its rare that it happens, but it can and does happen.But this is a common issue across all e-book sellers, so why is it playing into my decision to ditch Amazon after all these years? Well, Amazon is getting stricter with what itll allow you to do with Kindle e-books.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsIn this day of cloud storage, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, sending files via a cable connection to your e-reader is an antiquated approach. But it still exists, and even for e-readers like the Kobo Clara Colour, its a common occurence, especially if you use third-party stores to buy your e-books. So, it makes sense most places will allow you to download your e-books separately, in case you need to transfer them manually.That used to be the case for Kindle devices. Then, took Amazon took the option away for the newest versions of the Kindle. Now, as of February 27, 2025, nobody can download their e-book files from Amazon. Instead, you can only download them directly to your Kindle or Kindle app.I can see Amazons logic here its probably not the most popular way to put titles on a Kindle, and I cant even remember the last time I used it. So its easy to see why it might be high on the list to chop. But the larger issue is that it provides a weakpoint in Amazons DRM. Downloaded e-book files can have the DRM removed, and can then be converted into other formats suitable for, say, other e-readers. Sure, some people may be making a backup of their e-books, since you never know when a book might disappear, but its likely a large number of people were simply moving their books from one reader to another.Its easy to make the argument that Amazon is protecting its DRM, and I get it. But if I decided to take all of my paperback books and give them to a neighbour, the store I bought them in cant stop me. Why are e-books treated differently? Yes, legally people who take their Kindle books and remove the DRM are in the wrong. But ethically, can you really say they shouldnt expect access to the product theyve bought?Where you fall on this is an entirely personal choice, and I wont lie, it has weighed heavily on my choice to finally leave the Kindle behind. But it helps its come at a time where the Kindle is one of the least interesting e-readers you can buy.Warm tones on. Julian Chokkattu / Digital TrendsIll get this out of the way immediately: Kindles are still excellent. But theyre no longer the standout devices in the space, and theyre definitely losing their sparkle.Amazon hasnt slackened off in providing new devices. The Oasis, Scribe, and Kindle Colorsoft were all introduced in the last decade. But theyre not really the most exciting devices around. The Colorsoft, while great, is basically the Paperwhite Signature Edition with a color screen and a hefty $80 bump in price. The Scribe is a cool change in direction, but a large e-ink tablet is hardly breaking new ground. And the Oasis? It ticked all the boxes: it was different, useful, and attractive but after a few updates it was ignored and allowed to slowly die.All-in-all, while Amazon is still producing great e-readers, the edge is gone. The Kindle has been caught up by, and in some cases, surpassed by other manufacturers. My current beau, the Kobo Clara Colour, is an e-reader with a 6-inch color display, an IP68-rating for dust and water-resistance, and a 300ppi resolution. Add to this a repairable build, and youve got a solid competitor for the Kindle Colorsoft.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsSo that costs about the same as the Colorsoft, right? Nope. While the Colorsoft starts from $280, the Clara Colour costs $160. Youre getting an experience on par with the Colorsoft for the same price as the Paperwhite, an incredible value proposition.Its not a flawless victory, though. When compared to the Colorsoft, the Clara Colour has a smaller display, lacks wireless charging, and has half the storage at 16GB but the price difference of $120 (a 75% increase in price) makes this a no contest for me. Ive also used the Kobo Clara BW, which is basically the same device as the Clara Colour, but with a black and white display and $20 cheaper. So if youre not keen on a color display, theres a more traditional option for you.Im very much in the Paperwhite space where an e-reader is concerned, but if youre looking for a really cheap e-reader then I admit youre probably best off sticking with the lowest priced Kindle. Kobo does offer refurbished Nia e-readers for $80 $30 less than the baseline Kindle but it has a lower resolution and less storage, so I would think twice about that. If your budget can stretch any further, the Clara BW is a great upgrade for the base Kindle, but until Kobo releases a new Nia, you dont have many great options.Mark Jansen / Digital TrendsIts time to move away from the Amazon Kindle. The good news is in hardware, software, and just pure ability to keep hold of the stuff you buy, the Kindle is matched and beaten by Kobo. The bad news is, it still isnt painless.I have a fairly large Kindle library. Legally, I could never take that with me, but it still really rankles that Im now physically barred from doing so. Thats an entire library of books I wont have on my new e-reader.But I refuse to let the sunk cost fallacy hold me back. A fresh start is valuable, and it allows me to blow out the dust and try something new. Plus, I can keep my Kindle in case I do want to re-read an old favorite.What about the Amazon Kindle store? While I doubt Kobo has the same number of deep deals as Amazon does, what it does have is a solidprice guarantee. Kobo will refund you the difference plus 10% if you find an e-book cheaper than on their store. Thats a great guarantee, though I admit its going to be a pain to submit the form every time I notice an e-book I want is on sale on Amazon.I wont lie, the Kindle Paperwhite has been a stalwart companion, and Im definitely too attached to it to simply cast it asunder. But, I am looking forward to a fresh start. The Kobo Clara Colour has given me the excuse I needed to ditch Amazon and all of its baggage, and move to something new. I know I wont regret my decision.Editors Recommendations
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  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he can't rule out the possibility of a recession
    www.businessinsider.com
    2025-03-16T16:30:44Z Read in app US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed confidence in the stock market. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Scott Bessent told NBC News on Sunday that there are 'no guarantees' there won't be a recession."Like, who would have predicted Covid, right?" he said.Bessent also expressed confidence in the stock market despite major fluctuations over the past week.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday during an NBC News interview that there are "no guarantees" there won't be a recession. He also expressed confidence in the major stock indexes amid threats of a prolonged trade war."You know that there are no guarantees, like who would have predicted Covid, right?" Bessent told "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker. "I can predict that we are putting in robust policies that will be durable, and there could be an adjustment."Bessent said he was "not at all" worried about the state of the stock market, which has fluctuated dramatically since President Donald Trump ramped up his tariff threats."I've been in the investment business for 35 years, and I can tell you that corrections are healthy. They're normal," the treasury secretary said. "What's not healthy is straight up, that you get these euphoric markets. That's how you get a financial crisis.""I'm not worried about the markets," he continued. "Over the long term, if we put good tax policy in place, deregulation, and energy security, the markets will do great."In recent days, the S&P 500 has fallen over 10% from recent highs, while the Nasdaq composite has declined about 14% from its December 2024 high.Trump, with some exceptions, has levied 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico. He has also threatened 200% tariffs on European wine and spirits and placed 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States. Trump has imposed two rounds of 10% tariffs on China since February.Trump also recently declined to shut down the possibility of a recession. "I hate to predict things like that," he said during a Fox News interview earlier this month. "There is a period of transition, because what we're doing is very big."His comments led to another market downturn. Last week, the president changed his tune, telling reporters at the White House that he didn't foresee a recession."I don't see it at all. I think this country is going to boom," he said. "Markets are going to go up, and they're going to go down. But you know what? We have to rebuild our country."
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  • I became a mom at 18 despite never wanting kids and not being motherly. My children still grew up to be successful adults.
    www.businessinsider.com
    2025-03-16T14:47:01Z Read in app The author became a teen mom at 18 and raised successful adults. Courtesy of Terrina Taylor This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? I became a mother at 18, despite never planning to have children.But I still prioritized my children, teaching them about culture and allowing them to be curious.My parenting must have worked because they're becoming successful adults.When I was younger, I never wanted children. Being responsible for another person felt overwhelming and exhausting. Honestly, becoming a parent was not for me, especially because I wasn't motherly.But there I was, at 18, pregnant with my first child. Impatient and easily annoyed, I was about to become a mother. With a growing belly, I attended my senior prom and high school graduation, watching my classmates embrace their newfound freedom while I faced a completely different reality.The moment I found out I was pregnant, I knew one thing for sure: If I was going to do this, I had to do it right. There was no room for half-assing motherhood. I had seen too many examples of what happened when people weren't intentional about raising kids, and I refused to let my child become a product of neglect or lack of guidance. Thankfully, it all worked out in the end.I decided to embrace motherhood with determinationParenting is a delicate balance. I had to not repeat the same mistakes my parents made while unintentionally making an entirely new set of mistakes. Still, my husband and I were determined to create a home prioritizing love, discipline, and honesty.We approached parenting with a clear goal: We would lead by example.I was young, but I wasn't clueless. If I wanted my (now two) children to take school seriously, they had to see me taking life seriously. So, I set the standard. I worked hard, remained curious, and showed them what perseverance looked like.I tried expanding their minds beyond the classroomBeyond academics, I wanted them to have a well-rounded perspective on life. I gave them an appreciation for older music and different genres. Most kids their age know nothing about "Hotel California" or The Rolling Stones, but my kids do. I taught them to listen to the actual words of a song not just the beat. Music is storytelling, and I wanted them to appreciate the artistry behind it.I also taught them how to think for themselves, to question everything, and to not blindly follow what everyone else was doing. We had deep conversations about the world, about decision-making, and about the importance of logic.They saw all the movies I loved growing up, including my favorites, "Forrest Gump" and "Clueless."I exposed them to all types of food so they could learn about different cultures and ways of cooking. I hoped they'd become curious about the world beyond their immediate environment.My husband and I balanced each other outTo be honest, I was never a "fun mom." My neurodivergence made me avoid crowds, and when I did try to be fun, it usually didn't turn out well. I wasn't the mom signing up for every school event or planning extravagant parties. That wasn't and still isn't my thing.My husband, on the other hand, was the field trip dad. He chaperoned school outings, ensuring the kids had fun experiences while I recharged at home. He was also the homework helper when I just needed time to breathe. We balanced each other out.Raising kids has never been about perfection. We realized it's about being present, accountable, and honest. I never sugarcoated life for my children. I told them the truth, showed them the consequences of their actions, and reminded them that while they were loved unconditionally, expectations still had to be met. There were rules, but there was also space for laughter, real conversations, and the understanding that we were all growing together.My kids are now excellingI must have done something right. My 21-year-old daughter is currently in her junior year at one of Maryland's top universities, excelling in her studies as a pre-med public health major.My younger daughter, now in 11th grade, scored an impressive score on her PSAT and even received a letter from Stanford University inviting her to a summer program.Looking back, I realize that the version of me at 18 the one who never wanted kids, who feared she wasn't "motherly" enough had no idea what she was truly capable of.Parenthood wasn't something that came naturally to me, but I showed up every day, committed to doing my best. And, if my kids' success is any measure of how I did, I'd say I didn't do too bad after all.
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  • Horizon Actor Ashly Burch Speaks on Sonys AI Aloy Video
    gizmodo.com
    You may have seen a video earlier this week of Aloy, protagonist of PlayStations Horizon franchise, recreated with generative AI in a leaked Sony test demo. The video spurred a whirlwind of emotions from players and developers, in part because the Aloy bot has a robotic voice found in text-to-speech programs, rather than that of her longtime human voice actor, Ashly Burch. Despite not having her facial or voice data used for the bot, and Guerrilla telling her ahead of time that this wasnt for anything actively in development, Burch admitted to feeling worried about game performance as an art form. In the video below, she touches on voice actors current fight for AI-related rights to voice acting, such as getting to consent to developers using replicas of their performances, and to know what those replicas are being used for. Sonys leaked video featured the genAI Aloy answering questions from Sony Interactives software engineering director Sharwan Raghiebardajal. Upon booting up Horizon Forbidden West, the replica describes the in-game beasts nearest the player and their ideal weak point. Its all basic stuff that the player can do just playing Forbidden West, as you can scan beasts to see what they are and their most vital areas, and if you forget, the in-game glossary has you covered. But the footage comes amid a larger push for generative AI by major publishers, who see the technology as a boon in the development process, from design and art to voice acting. The SAG-AFTRA voice actor strike is close to going on for a full year, and the union recently said major companies like WB Games and Take-Two refuse to budge on using the technology to create voice replicas.This AI Aloy represents part of those actors fears: Sony and Guerrilla own Horizon, so they have the power to do as they wish with Aloy without informing Burch of the specifics, and that could possibly extend to her voice performance. Her greater concern is for actors in less secure positions than hers that could be greatly impacted by this, which she admits hurts my heart. I love this industry and this art form so much and I want there to be a new generation of actors, and I want there to be so many more incredible game performances. I want to be able to continue doing this job, and if we dont win, then that future is really compromised. At time of writing, Sonys yet to comment on the Aloy demo video, or discuss plans to incorporate anything like this tech into its PlayStation products. But the silence itself may speak volumes. 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.
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  • Blumberg School Campus / Spiecker Sautter Lauer Architekten
    www.archdaily.com
    Blumberg School Campus / Spiecker Sautter Lauer ArchitektenSave this picture! Nina BaischElementary & Middle SchoolAchdorfer Street, 78176 Blumberg, GermanyArchitects: Spiecker Sautter Lauer ArchitektenAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:5222 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Nina BaischManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: GRAPHISOFT, Lamilux, Falu Vapen, Habisreutinger Lead Architects: Iulia Anghel More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Blumberg school campus 1st construction phase, Elementary School. The city of Blumberg plans to renovate, expand and reorganize the school campus to bring together all the different school types at one location. The first construction phase entailed a new building including a three-form elementary school with a full-time program, a special education and counseling centre (SBBZ) as well as a cafeteria for the entire campus. In the second construction phase, the existing elementary school building will be renovated and extended as an expansion for the existing secondary school.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!For the first phase, a detached building was constructed southeast of the existing school structures. It was designed in close collaboration with the schools to align with their educational needs and concepts. The classrooms are grouped into clusters of three, each accompanied by two smaller differentiation rooms, surrounding a so-called "marketplace." This is a spacious, open learning area for group work, recreation, presentations, or individual learning. The classrooms are visually connected to this central space via glass doors and interior windows.Save this picture!The "marketplaces" are arranged in a cloverleaf pattern around a central hall, forming the footprint of the building. The centre is designed as an atrium spanning all floors and is illuminated by skylights. An open staircase connects the floors with the cafeteria on the ground floor, which again is designed as an open area and functions as an auditorium for events as well. The facade opens southward onto a newly designed forecourt, connecting the outside campus with the collective cafeteria.Save this picture!The rooms for the full-time program are also located on the ground floor and have their dedicated outdoor area. The school administration is positioned centrally on the middle floor, which, due to the sloped terrain, is directly accessible from the upper schoolyard, and central to the campus at ground level.Save this picture!The building is constructed as a solid construction and features a pre-patinated fir wood curtain wall faade on a concrete core. The colored wooden slats in front of the operable windows serve as a fall protection and incorporate the low parapet heights and the window bands with the faade. The green roof is equipped with a photovoltaic system with a capacity of approximately 95 kWp.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on March 16, 2025Cite: "Blumberg School Campus / Spiecker Sautter Lauer Architekten" 16 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027869/blumberg-school-campus-spiecker-sautter-lauer-architekten&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?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
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  • Beyond the Haze | Chill Lo-Fi Beats for Inspiration & Creativity
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    Beyond the Haze | Chill Lo-Fi Beats for Inspiration & Creativity#LoFi #LoFiBeats #ChillBeats #RelaxingMusic #StudyMusic #FocusMusic #LoFiHipHop #InspirationalMusic #LoFiChill #AestheticMusic #LoFiVibes #DeepFocus #SmoothBeats #AmbientMusic #CozyVibes #LoFiInstrumental #Motivation #CreativeFlow FAB - https://www.fab.com/sellers/CGHOW Whatsapp - https://bit.ly/3LYvxjK Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/Ashif NFT - https://opensea.io/CGHOW Twitter - https://twitter.com/cghow_ If you Liked it - http://bit.ly/2UZmiZ4 Channel Ashif - http://bit.ly/3aYaniw Support me on - paypal.me/9953280644 #cghow #UE5 #UE4Niagara #gamefx #ue5niagara #ue4vfx #niagara #unrealengineniagara #realtimevfxVisit - https://cghow.com/ Unreal Engine Marketplace - https://bit.ly/3aojvAa Artstation Store - https://www.artstation.com/ashif/store Gumroad - https://cghow.gumroad.com/
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