Cisco is adding new features to its Webex collaboration tool as it expands its adoption ofagentic AI.The latest tools include an AI Agent and an updated AI Assistant for the companys Webex Contact Center, a collaborative tool that helps companies handle customer service calls. The AI tools are designed to bolster customer service experiences.The announcements came on the opening day of theEnterprise Connectshow in Orlando, FL.The Webex AI Agent, slated to be available at the end of this month, should make customer service calls smoother by using AI alongside human agents. The goal is to reduce wait times and use intelligent ways to resolve issues.According to Cisco, the Agent will allow companies to tackle complex real-time customer service queries by handling more dynamic conversations. The tool can also run scripted agents with preconfigured responses, Cisco said.One use case highlighted by Cisco, for example, could help airline customers change flights in real-time by querying timing preferences, providing a range of flight options, and completing the call by making the booking. The agent uses AI technology to connect corporate information systems to customer queries.The company also added new Cisco AI Assistant features to its Webex Contact Centers. That tool is an assistant for customer service agents that can make recommendations for answering customer queries.The agent, originally rolled out in February, uses a number of tools to understand customer intent and then provides appropriate recommendations. The goal is to help human agents provide better responses.For example, one new tool can allow accurate transcription of calls, making it easier to understand speakers with accents or unusual speech patterns. It can also provide context for complex discussions, along with real-time recommendations on actions or responses, Cisco said.Some of the previously added tools can provide summaries on dropped calls or interactions with virtual agents before calls are transferred to human agents. Still other tools can measure customer satisfaction or pull information from past calls and topics to improve customer service experiences.Cisco also announced it has integrated Apples AirPlay on Cisco Devices for Microsoft Teams Rooms, which enables instant wireless content sharing from iPhone, iPad or Mac to Cisco Devices.

This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.Is Google playing catchup on search with OpenAI?Mat HonanIve been mulling over something that Will Heaven, our senior editor for AI, pointed out not too long ago: all the big players in AI seem to be moving in the same directions and converging on the same things. Agents. Deep research. Lightweight versions of models. Etc.Google is no different. Its just announced its adding new AI features from Gemini to search, and adding search features to Gemini.What strikes me more than how well they work is that they are really just about catching up with OpenAIs ChatGPT. And their belated appearance in March of the year 2025 doesnt seem like a great sign for Google. Read the full story.This story originally appeared in The Debrief with Mat Honan, a weekly newsletter about the biggest stories in tech from our editor in chief. Sign up here to get the next one in your inbox on Friday.If youre interested in reading more about AI search, check out the following stories:+ Generative AI search was one of MIT Technology Reviews 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2025. Read more about why it made the cut for this years list. + AI means the end of internet search as weve known it. Despite fewer clicks, copyright fights, and sometimes iffy answers, AI could unlock new ways to summon all the worlds knowledge.+ AI search could break the web. Developers should act before governments fall back on blunt tools. Read the full story.+ Why Googles AI Overviews gets things wrong. The feature provides brief, AI-generated summaries highlighting key information and links on top of search results. Unfortunately, its also unreliable.+ Why you shouldnt trust AI search engines. Read the full story.AI chatbots have joined the chatChatbots are changing how we connect to each other and ourselves. But are these changes for the better, and how should they be monitored and regulated?To learn more, join me for a live Roundtable session this Thursday at 12pm ET. Ill be chatting with MIT Technology Review editor Rachel Courtland and senior reporter Eileen Guo, and well be unpacking the landscape around chatbots. Register to ensure you dont miss out!The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 How Trumps foreign aid cuts will hurt millions of peoples healthThe world is going to struggle to cope with the loss of US support. (Vox)+ Hundreds of thousands of people are likely to lose their lives as a result. (New Yorker $)+ The cuts could cause tuberculosis to become untreatable again. (The Atlantic $)+ Top scientific universities are being forced to slash jobs. (The Guardian)+ Pregnant women may die because of cuts to reproductive care. (MIT Technology Review)2 Left-leaning Americans are abandoning TeslaAnd conservatives face an uphill climb to plug the sales gap. (NYT $)+ The company is turning its back on the typically pro-EV buyers that made it a success. (WP $)3 VC firms are rushing to invest in Israeli startupsTheyre betting that the firms are likely to do future business with the US. (WSJ $)+ Heres the defense tech at the center of US aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. (MIT Technology Review)4 NASA is scheduled to return the two stranded astronauts on TuesdayA new crew arrived to relieve them of their duties over the weekend. (NPR)+ Lets see if they make it home this week or not. (Ars Technica)+ Space travel is seriously hard on the human body. (WP $)5 Baidus new reasoning AI model is designed to challenge DeepSeekIt claims Ernie X1 offers the same performance at half the price. (Insider $)+ DeepSeeks shock success is sparking a new wave of AI investment. (Bloomberg $)+ Four Chinese AI startups to watch beyond DeepSeek. (MIT Technology Review)6 Alphabet has big plans for its laser-based internet projectTaara has been spun out of its moonshot incubator and into the real world. (FT $)+ Its a rival to Musks Starlink network. (The Verge)7 What if Bitcoins mysterious creator is just a loser?As the trail grows older, all signs point towards the shadowy figure being a bit of a jerk. (NY Mag $)8 Drone shows are bringing 3D artists ideas to lifeThe only problem is, they come with a safety warning. (Rest of World)9 Googles new Gemini AI model can remove watermarks from imagesNaughty, naughty. (TechCrunch)+ Its easy to tamper with watermarks from AI-generated text. (MIT Technology Review)10 What is vibe coding, exactly?Developers are giving in and letting AI dictate its own path. (The Information $)Quote of the dayTo a lot of people, putting Elon Musk in charge of protecting the middle class is like putting Jeffrey Dahmer in charge of protecting a morgue.Jesse Ferguson, a Democratic strategist, explains why Elon Musks unpopular actions are likely to become a problem for the Trump administration, the Guardian reports.The big storyHow covid conspiracies led to an alarming resurgence in AIDS denialismAugust 2024Several million people were listening in February when Joe Rogan falsely declared that party drugs were an important factor in AIDS. His guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, the former evolutionary biology professor turned contrarian podcaster Bret Weinstein, agreed with him.Speaking to the biggest podcast audience in the world, the two men were promoting dangerous and false ideasideas that were in fact debunked and thoroughly disproved decades ago.These comments and others like them add up to a small but unmistakable resurgence in AIDS denialisma false collection of theories arguing either that HIV doesnt cause AIDS or that theres no such thing as HIV at all.These claims had largely fallen out of favor until the coronavirus arrived. But, following the pandemic, a renewed suspicion of public health figures and agencies is giving new life to ideas that had long ago been pushed to the margins. Read the full story.Anna MerlanWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ Happy St Patricks Day, if youre celebrating today!+ This newsreader losing it over the name of an inspirational pig is the most entertaining thing youll see today + These one-pot pasta dishes are exactly the kind of low-maintenance recipes you need for a weekday dinner.+ Do you snerdle? Me neither.

Cisco is expanding support for Apple users in the workplace with new integrations for AirPlay and Apple Vision Pro.Apple Vision ProAnnounced at Enterprise Connect 2025, the updates improve content sharing and virtual meetings within Cisco's Webex platform.AirPlay is now available on Cisco Devices for Microsoft Teams Rooms, allowing iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to share content without adapters. The integration makes it easier to collaborate across different platforms. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

After five years, Apple has dropped a $23 million lawsuit against recycling firm Geep Canada, with no explanation for how the alleged theft of 100,000 iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch was resolved.Daisy, Apple's own iPhone recycling robotWhile the lawsuit was not revealed until October 2020, it was in January that year that Apple filed its suit against Geep Canada. The company began recycling devices for Apple in 2014, but during an audit in 2017, Apple claimed to have discovered that Geep had failed to destroy almost 100,000 devices.The discovery was reportedly made after Apple's auditors visited Geep's facility and found Apple Watches being stored in a section without security cameras. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Resident Evil leaker Aesthetic Gamer (Dusk Golem) has taken to social media platform X to reveal that a new game in the franchise will likely be unveiled some time this year. In his post, Golem also wrote about why it was taking Capcom to unveil a new Resident Evil title, especially in the wake of the success of its own Resident Evil 4 remake, as well as Konamis horror game Silent Hill 2 remake.Ill be tweeting a lot more about Silent Hill as I love the series & super excited for f, but I know a lot of people are also antsy at the lack of Resident Evil news for a year & a half now, he posted.Aesthetic Gamer also stated that the next mainline entry in the Resident Evil franchise will be a complete reinvention of the series. He compares the level of changes to be on the same tier as what we saw back in the early 2000s between Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and Resident Evil 4, and even the more recent reinvention we saw from Resident Evil 6 to Resident Evil 7.The thing I think people will realize when RE9 is revealed is the reason this game is taking so long is because its going to be a big reinvention of the series, to the same level as RE4 & RE7. Its not going to play just like RE7/RE8 or the Remakes, its trying new things & very ambitious. It will almost definitely be revealed this year, so hold tight.It is worth noting that, as is the case with all leaks and rumours, it would be best to take these with a pinch of salt. However, a reinvention of the franchise would make some sense for Capcom, especially since Resident Evil 8 Village managed to bring a conclusive end to the story started back in 2017s Resident Evil 7 revolving around Ethan Winters and his family.In a post from back in January, Aesthetic Gamer also wrote about Resident Evil 9 featuring Leon Kennedy as its primary protagonist. He wrote about how he was 100 percent sure that Leon will be taking on the role of main character of the game. This comment was made to counter rumours circulating of the new game featuring Jill Valentine as the protagonist.Rumours surrounding Valentine as the protagonist of Resident Evil 9, as well as the game featuring an abandoned hospital as its main setting were called false by Aesthetic Gamer back in January.Since the release of Resident Evil 4 remake back in 2023, Capcom has been quiet about the future of the franchise. The release of Resident Evil 7 brought about something of a renaissance for the series, with just about every game released since then getting quite a bit of critical acclaim and seeing commercial success.Resident Evil 4s remake was incredibly successful for Capcom, selling more than 9 million copies as of December 2024. In the meantime, Capcom has also released Monster Hunter Wilds on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Check out our review for more details.(2/2) is taking so long is because its like a big reinvention of the series, to the same level as RE4 & RE7. Its not going to play just like RE7/RE8 or the Remakes, its trying new things & very ambitious. It will almost definitely be revealed this year, so just hold tight. AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) March 17, 2025

Q-Games has revealed that the previously-announced PixelJunk game, Dreams of Another, will also be coming to PC alongside its already-confirmed PS5 and PS VR2 versions. The announcement was made with a new trailer that you can check out below.Interestingly, the trailer doesnt really offer up any new gameplay or details aside from the PC release. In fact, except from the PlayStation logo at the beginning, the latest trailer is more or less identical to the one used to first announce Dreams of Another.Dreams of Another was originally announced during Sonys State of Play showcase back in February. The game, set to be a new entry in the PixelJunk franchise, is being helmed by Baiyon in the creative director position.More details about Dreams of Another were revealed thanks to Baiyon taking to the PlayStation Blog to talk about the philosophy behind the game. One of its core mechanics is creating things by shooting at them. The game is set in a world where new things are created with the destruction of older things.Rather than destroying objects by shootingas in traditional shooting gameshere, your shots materialize and create the world, explained Baiyon. This unconventional mechanic offers a gameplay experience that challenges the norms of the genre and invites players into a whole new dimension.Among the features of Dreams of Another will be a story described by developer Q-Games as poetic, and will revolve around The Man in Pajamas and The Wandering Soldier. The story will be told through players interactions with the world around them. The soundtrack for the game will also be made by Baiyon.Dreams of Another doesnt yet have a release date. It does, however, have a 2025 release window.

Image credit: ArcadisArcadis, as part of the Plenary PCL Health consortium, is advancing its role as lead designer for the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project, the largest healthcare infrastructure project ever undertaken in Atlantic Canada.The project represents an important component of Nova Scotia, Canadas QEII Health Sciences Centres redevelopment, with the upcoming work set to guide the project through its complete design, construction, and occupancy over the course of six years.Delivering a modern and sustainable healthcare facility inside an active hospital campus is a complex endeavor requiring collaboration, attention to detail, and creativity. Arcadis is proud of the progress made to date and excited about designing a facility that addresses the needs of current patients and staff while building the hospital of the future, said David Wood, healthcare principal, and project director at Arcadis.The 1.2m sq. ft. acute care facility aims to usher in a new era of healthcare delivery in the province and will feature 216 inpatient beds, 16 operating theatres, a new intensive care unit, and a larger emergency department.Designed and built on the existing site, the new facility will integrate with the current hospitals facilities. The project will also minimize disruptions to ongoing hospital operations while addressing the provinces healthcare needs by replacing aging infrastructure and enhancing access to care.Designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, this project reflects a commitment to the values of the QEII Health Sciences Centre.Optimizing site utilization, creating a rational growth pattern, and increasing urban connectivity with the surrounding community are all features focused on strengthening the health and wellness attributes of the project. The emphasis on these ideals, sustainability features, and high-performance design will aim to create a welcoming and contemporary workplace for healthcare professionals while simultaneously enhancing the experience for patients.Arcadis serves as the lead architect and consultant, overseeing all design deliverables, including architecture, clinical planning, interior design, BIM services, and landscape architecture.The QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project symbolizes Nova Scotias dedication to the improvement and expansion of local healthcare access and infrastructure through high sustainability and design standards.The post Arcadis awarded lead design role for QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project appeared first on Canadian Architect.

Image credit: RAICThe Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has announced the five Honorary Fellows being inducted into the RAIC College.An Honorary Fellow of the RAIC College is an Honorary Member of the RAIC who has achieved international professional eminence or has rendered service to the profession or to the community, whether nationally or internationally.Nomination and advancement to Honorary Fellowship is administered by the RAIC College. Honorary Fellowship is bestowed for life and is one of the highest honours the RAIC can confer upon a non-Member.This years Honorary Fellows are Kimberly N. Dowdell, from Chicago, IL, Emily Grandstaff-Rice, from Boston, MA, Michelangelo Sabatino, from Chicago, IL, Martin Segger, from Victoria, BC, and His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.Kimberly N. Dowdell is HOKs director of strategic relationships, as well as the 2024 president-elect of the AIA and past president of NOMA.Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA, is an architect with experience on a broad range of academic, hospitality, institutional, and commercial projects and the 2023 President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).Michelangelo Sabatino, PhD, is a professor of architectural history and heritage in the College of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology where he currently directs the PhD program in architecture and is the inaugural John Vinci Distinguished Research Fellow.Martin Seggers administrative and academic career has included the positions of Director of Art Galleries and Collections at the University of Victoria. He has served as president of the Society of Architectural Historian, Pacific North West Chapter and president of the Commonwealth Association of Museums.His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was the winner of the RAIC Gold Medal in 2013 and an important patron of architecture globally, including in Canada. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV passed away on February 4, 2025, at the age of 88.Fellows and Honorary Fellows will be officially inducted to the RAIC College on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at a convocation ceremony during theRAIC Conference in Montral.For more information, click here.The post RAIC College Welcomes Five New Honorary Fellows appeared first on Canadian Architect.

Digital Bandidos formed last year as an indie game publishing company just as many publishers were going out of business.Read More

Roblox introduced its Roblox Cube AI tools, the core generative AI system for building 3D objects and scenes.Read More