A miniature ship, a detailed droid maquette, digital set extensions and a fully-CG droid all inspired by ‘Rogue One’ were also crafted. See it all in this visual breakdown. Here at befores & afters, we’ve regularly taking exclusive looks at the UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) Model Making and Visual Effects projects involving miniatures, motion control and digital visual effects. Most recently, NFTS embarked on a project inspired by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and befores & afters has the exclusive breakdown of the build process. Students constructed a miniature replica of the Tantive IV spaceship, a section of its corridor interior and a detailed droid maquette. “Every year our students raise the bar on what is possible within this module,” says John Lee, NFTS Head of Model Making. “It’s a joy to create works inspired by such iconic films. It really engages the students and allows me to develop the course with some real-world experience, connecting students and education with industry. I have to say, this year, we’ve really smashed it!” Lee himself worked in the prop-making and set decoration departments for Rogue One, as well as other Star Wars. This latest miniature build was inspired by Lee’s time working alongside Head of Prop Making Mark Rocca and overall Prop Master Jamie Wilkinson on Rogue One. Meanwhile, Head of CG at NFTS Jonathan McFall led the VFX students on their task of building digital set extensions and a fully animated CG character that was composited into the miniature plates. The process also included a motion control shoot orchestrated by Ember Films. Here’s the final film, and a visual breakdown of the process follows. Behind the build The model set and miniature spaceship takes around 6 weeks to build with a team of 12 model makers. Starts with a simple hand drawn storyboard of the sequence they intend to film. Model Makers made a 1:5 scale white card maquette to plan proportions. The corridor set is full of small details and lots or repeat shapes, introducing more digital content to what the students are learning such as Rhino and 3D printing, feeding into current industry requirements. Students from Model Making and VFX examine the 1:5 scale white card maquette with John Lee and VFX tutor Jonathan McFall. The 2024/24 model making cohort on day one of the NFTS Model Making course at the National Film and Television School. Model making student operating the bandsaw to cut the overside bulkhead shapes before routing. Work continues The model was built at 1:5 scale and measured approx. 2.5m x 1.5m x 600mm. The set comprises matching bulkheads, doors and wall panels. The students also created a new section of corridor in the form of an escape hatch to offer them a chance to develop their creative design skills. The set has a pristine white gloss finish, which is very hard to pull off in miniature. Model making student operating the router to make repeatable bulkhead shapes for the Tantive IV corridor set. Model making student on the router, using a profile template 3D printed test for vac form pattern. Useful to establish accurate shape which we can easily amend dimensions based on preferred vac form material thickness. Vac form shapes coming together for the corridor wall details. Note, some are positive shapes, some negative, but all have to fit the same template. Success, thumbs up from the model makers during vac forming. Combining practical and digital VFX students recreated the corridor in Maya and made additional digital assets including ceiling replacements, interactive lighting, and moving hatch doors and a fully animated CGI droid – named N4T5 (NFTS)! “Both departments are working with the same space, one practical, and the other digital. As I teach this, it’s incredible to witness how both departments are problem solving the same issues.” – John Lee Model Makers are working in teams to break down the build into key parts, each learning how to use some of the larger tools and machines in the workshop to a high standard but more importantly – learning how to effectively communicate and collaborate. Bulkhead shapes coming together on the full size 1:5 scale drawing. Workshop assembly line of model makers fabrication MDF bulkheads, including spares. Both model makers and VFX students in the VFX base looking at the pre-visualisation. Model making student working on digital concept design for escape hatch, not seen in a Star Wars film. Model maker working on accurate patterns for the doors, aligning with the drawing at all times. Made from a Rhino drawing, 3D print, clean up, 2K primer and fine sanding before making silicone mould. Laser cutting the fine details on wall mounted boxes using a jig for the laser to ensure accurate positioning of all vac forms, of which there were around 50. Model makers align walls and bulkheads on the accurately marked out floor, just like how the full size set on ‘Rogue One’ was made back in 2015. Testing practical LED lighting in workshop. Model makers check that everything is level and square. There is nowhere to hide on a set build like this. Starting to look a lot like the Tantive IV set now – Model maker working on electrics and the wall curves start to be dry fitted. These were made as 3D prints, moulded and cast in resin and fillite (bulking compound). Fitting of laser cut wall frames. Model maker testing practical LED lights in the escape hatch. Other elements in Grey Primer ready for paint. Painting of the escape hatch underway, using references created by the NFTS model makers in the form of digital concept art. White box fine details coming together. Every panel in exactly the right place required lots of research and development during the week-long white card build. Model maker putting final touches to the escape hatch on set. Final set up of the 1:5 scale corridor set on Stage 4 at the NFTS. Grey maquette of the N4T5 droid, used for lighting references in post-production. This began as a sketch on paper, then went digital in order to create the animation, then back to maquette for the onset lighting references. Model maker setting up a second droid for portfolio shots. Note the green screen backdrop so that the VFX students can drop in a digital set extension once the door opens, revealing a much larger space. The filming stage After the build, the model is carefully moved onto one of the NFTS filming stages. This year they were reunited with UK production company and moco specialists Ember Films. NFTS VFX students take care of all the technical requirements and make sure they capture all the information needed to complete work on the film. Worked with an NFTS Cinematography student to take care of on-set lighting, and learn the skills involved with shooting with a Motion Control rig. Ember Films came on board and supplied on set motion control camera team and equipment. Ember Films rig with NFTS’ own Alexa mini enters the escape hatch. Careful advance planning ensures the spaces are big enough for the camera to really integrate with the set. John Lee notes that it is “nice to be able to build large at 1:5 scale.” Motion control camera capturing data of the stand in droid. Note: ceiling missing for the on set shooting to accommodate the over the set moco arm. Scene completed with a digital ceiling, as well as digital doors opening. Tracker markers on set for one of the moco passes. Note the wall panel detail on show. Model maker about to remove the practical door ready for the camera to advance into the escape hatch. As it looked on the monitor as the sequence was shot. Lee notes: “Careful alignment with the previs made this sequence straightforward to direct, thanks to great prep by the NFTS VFX department and Ember Films very fluid moco system.” VFX student with clapperboard to mark each pass. Model maker and VFX student working together setting up the droid mock up for lighting pass. Model makers setting up the Tantive IV spaceship miniature in front of green screen. Close up Tantive IV miniature on set. “Due to time restraints,” says Lee, “we were unable to make a 6’ long version, so I had to be clever in the framing to make sure we saw just enough detail in the shot to feel believable and also capture the grandeur of a Star Wars miniature shot. I think we pulled it off!” The whole team. Model making and VFX students, John Lee, Jonathan McFall, Ember team and on set AD’s and PM students. The idea of specifying what and how the miniature set is shot, then prototyping dramatic intent is all achieved through previsualisation. Texture and look dev specialist Mikey, building up the surfacing work for the N4T5 droid, using Substance Painter. Lighting specialist Junze takes a very detail orientated approach to the CG lighting of the CG set extension of the miniature set. Lee: “Tweaking and re-optimising each render, as he goes – he celebrates shaving his render time down with a ring of our ‘render bell’.” Nuke compositing specialist John adds reflections to the screen of the N4T5 droid using an image based lighting lat/long image, which has come out of the HDRI stitching process from PTGui software. VFX breakdown How to apply Applications are now open for Model Makers to join the NFTS course. You can apply before 24 April to start in September 2025. nfts.co.uk/modelmaking The post NFTS students built a miniature replica of the Tantive IV corridor appeared first on befores & afters.

It’s only 9 a.m. and Michelle, a middle manager in a government organization, just received her eighth panicked email from a team member asking about the impending layoffs that were announced yesterday afternoon. People are clearly worried, and Michelle is beginning to feel overwhelmed.  She’s in an unfortunate, yet common, position. She wants to keep people calm and focused, but information comes in drips from leaders above her. The culture she worked so hard to build is becoming flooded with uncertainty. People are scared. What can Michelle do to minimize feelings of threat and help the team keep running smoothly? Layoffs aren’t the only context in which uncertainty reigns. It shows up wherever there’s rapid change, which research suggests has become the norm within organizations. One study shows that organizational change accelerated by 183% between 2020 and 2024, and by 33% in 2024 alone. In other words, change isn’t just increasing — it’s increasing faster every year. All this flux makes working life feel much riskier and less stable, as people fear for their livelihoods amid ever-evolving governmental reductions and corporate restructurings. With so much uncertainty in the air, is it any wonder employee engagement hit an 11-year low in 2024? People can’t predict what’s coming next, so they’re checking out entirely.  To help team members perform their essential tasks, leaders must learn to reduce uncertainty, minimize threat, and, ideally, create productive feelings of comfort and safety in an increasingly volatile world.  Provide clarity if you can’t provide certainty A feeling of certainty isn’t just a nice-to-have. In life and in work, humans crave a sense of predictability about their environment — and we can think of this craving as a genuine psychological need. Thousands of years ago, a need for certainty kept us physically safe, whether from predators or suspicious-looking berries. Our sense of certainty was rewarded with survival.  Today, a need for certainty shows up less in matters of survival and more in being able to predict what’s coming next in our professional, social, and personal lives. That’s why “C” stands for certainty in the NeuroLeadership Institute’s SCARF® Model of social threat and reward: When we can predict certain outcomes in our environment, we feel a sense of reward, which motivates us to take action. When we feel uncertain, however, we tend to feel threatened, which makes us freeze or retreat from the situation. At work, uncertainty leads to impaired judgment and reduced productivity. If a team faces a large amount of uncertainty, the task for leaders is to manage people’s sense of threat. There are several ways to go about this. In the best-case scenario, a leader in Michelle’s position could immediately send certainty rewards by sharing who’s safe from layoffs and who’s not. This would address the uncertainty head-on, and it would have the side benefit of minimizing the spread of office rumors, which only amplifies the uncertainty. Even delivering bad news to the people who are getting laid off will send a small reward signal, as research shows uncertainty tends to feel worse than the bad news itself. One study, for example, showed people experienced more dread about the possibility of a small electric shock than people who knew for certain a shock was coming. Uncertainty is that uncomfortable. And yet, providing certainty isn’t always feasible. A leader won’t necessarily have all the answers right when employees need them most. Sometimes, a leader can only share some of what they know, or they might not know anything at all. Here, neuroscience suggests the best practice is to share what you do know and what you don’t, both in terms of information as well as the ongoing process. Michelle, for example, might be able to share that while other departments have received the news of who’s being laid off, she’s still waiting on her supervisor to tell her. She might also share that the list of names is supposed to be shared with her in the next couple weeks, giving team members a window into the process.  While not as rewarding as certainty, this sense of clarity sets people’s expectations, which creates a calming sense of predictability in the brain. Clarity is best offered in a three-pronged approach: making timelines explicit, taking unlikely outcomes off the table, and reminding employees about the organization’s key values, as a way to re-commit to a higher purpose and shared vision.   In practice, clarity acts as a helpful substitute for certainty. For instance, even if people don’t know if they’ll have a job next month, having the clarity they’ll find out in two weeks is easier to deal with than waking up each day wondering if today’s the day. That’s the wisdom of offering clarity when certainty is in short supply: When people know what to expect, they feel more oriented and secure in the situation, putting their minds at ease. Offset the threat by reassuring in other areas Providing clarity about information and processes isn’t the only tool available to leaders dealing with uncertainty. They can also work to boost people’s sense of reward in the other four SCARF® domains: status, a feeling of prestige within the group; autonomy, a sense of control over our environment; relatedness, a feeling of belonging and connection to the group; and fairness, a sense of just and equal treatment within the group.  Sending these reward signals creates what’s known as an “offsetting effect.” If one domain is threatened, we can compensate — or offset it — by amplifying feelings of reward in the other domains. That said, offsetting effects won’t make everything better, especially against very strong threats. But they can soften the blow. For example, here’s how Michelle could offset a certainty threat through the other four SCARF® domains in an all-hands meeting about the layoffs: Status: Michelle emphasizes that the layoffs have nothing to do with people’s individual performance — they are purely a cost-cutting measure.    Autonomy: Prior to the meeting, Michelle asks people to submit questions via an anonymous form. She sorts the questions and answers a handful during the meeting. Relatedness: Michelle announces a partnership she’s leading with HR to help outgoing employees with resume coaching and finding their next job.  Fairness: Michelle explains how the process of creating severance packages was based on a standard rubric across all employees, based on their tenure with the company.     Again, none of these efforts will make the pain of losing their job any easier for employees to bear. The goal with offsetting is to reduce the pain brought on by the uncertainty of the situation. A leader might not be able to save an employee from getting laid off, but they can at least make the process of waiting feel more dignified, less isolating, and, hopefully, less threatening.  Finding a balance In a rapidly changing work environment, including public-sector downsizing, uncertainty becomes a default state of mind. It becomes the air people breathe. But the constant vigilance needed to cope with uncertainty is exhausting. So unless leaders can replace uncertainty with certainty, their responsibility falls to offering clarity whenever possible, as well as boosting other SCARF® signals to offset people’s negative feelings.  Otherwise, one thing that is certain is employees will struggle to be effective at their jobs. They’ll spend enormous amounts of cognitive energy resolving the feelings of threat, leaving them feeling drained and slow to respond to work’s many challenges, rather than being energized and proactive. This is also a drain on the organization as it struggles to maintain a high level of performance. However, when employees feel those rewarding signals being sent, despite how painful a situation may be, they’re much more likely to navigate uncertainty with a calm and focused mind. For creatures highly sensitive to social threat, that serenity counts for a lot.

With the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 anticipated soon, gamers were eagerly awaiting its new features and improvements. But unfortunately, Trump unveiled his tariffs, on the same day Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 would be released at $450, or $500 for a bundle with the latest Mario Kart game. These tariffs could potentially impact the pricing of such tech gadgets, and within a few days, Nintendo stated that they have to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions,” so we could expect a price hike and a push on the pre-order date. But despair not, we have curated a collection of ten amazing gaming consoles that serve as excellent alternatives to the Nintendo Switch 2. Each console offers something distinct, catering to various gaming preferences and needs. These gaming consoles provide unique features and experiences that make them worthy alternatives to the Nintendo Switch 2. Dive in! 1. Kimera Kimera is not just a gaming console – it’s a bridge to a more creative and less distracting digital experience. This AI-driven handheld console is designed to help users escape the relentless pull of social media and instead engage in more meaningful activities like creating story-driven games, short films, or interactive worlds. Its compact design, reminiscent of classic handheld gaming devices, features an OLED display, microphones, a touchscreen keyboard, and traditional gaming controls. Now what makes it a better option than the Nintendo Switch 2? Kimera offers a unique experience by combining AI with gaming, allowing users to create and explore their interests beyond traditional gameplay. It provides an environment where creativity is encouraged over passive consumption, something the Switch 2 doesn’t emphasize or offer. What we like Encourages creativity and reduces social media addiction. Compact and portable design with a long battery life of up to 10 hours. What we dislike Limited to creative and story-driven games, lacking a wide range of traditional titles. Might not appeal to gamers looking for mainstream gaming experiences. 2. ORBIS ORBIS is blessed with a customizable design and clamshell form factor, offering both aesthetic and functional flexibility. With removable ABS covers and RGB lighting around the analog sticks, users can personalize their device’s appearance to match their style. This handheld console focuses on providing a personalized gaming experience, akin to a mini gaming computer. ORBIS’s focus on personalization and style, along with its diverse functionality, makes it a great choice for gamers who value aesthetics and want a device that stands out from the crowd. Its design flexibility is something the Switch 2 doesn’t offer, so if you’re seeking a cool alternative to it, this could be one to consider. What we like Highly customizable appearance and features. Enhanced visibility with RGB lighting for gaming in the dark. What we dislike May not have the same level of game title availability as the Switch 2. Customization options may not appeal to all gamers. 3. Game Boy Flip The Game Boy Flip is a bold and interestingreinterpretation of classic gaming. It offers a flip-type design that transitions between handheld and landscape gaming modes. It allows users to enjoy Game Boy Advanced or Color games in a modern format, with the option to snap on Joy-Cons for advanced controls, providing more versatility. This console brings nostalgia to the forefront, offering a versatile gaming experience that combines retro charm with modern functionality. Its ability to switch between classic and contemporary gaming modes offers a unique alternative to the Switch 2. You can take a trip down memory play, gaming in a style that feels nostalgic, and switching back to the present when you feel like. What we like Offers multiple gaming modes for both old-school and modern gaming experiences. Supports snap-on Joy-Cons for enhanced control options. What we dislike Limited to retro and classic games, which may not appeal to gamers seeking new titles. Lack of built-in camera or advanced features for non-gaming use. 4. AYANEO AM01S   The AYANEO AM01S is a unique fusion of retro design and modern gaming capabilities. Originally inspired by the aesthetics of classic Macintosh computers, this console has undergone a thoughtful redesign to enhance its functionality and appeal. The AM01S now features a 4-inch touchscreen that transforms what was once a static design element into a practical feature, adding layers of interactivity and utility. This small yet significant upgrade allows the device to serve as both a gaming console and a mini-computer, capable of displaying additional controls, system monitors, or even functioning as a standalone display when needed. It offers a nostalgic yet functional design, with the added value of a secondary display. It is ideal for gamers who appreciate retro aesthetics and seek an alternative to traditional gaming setups like the Nintendo Switch 2. What we like Dual display functionality enhances versatility. Retro design with a nod to classic computing. What we dislike Limited to retro and indie games, lacking AAA title support. May not appeal to gamers seeking high-performance gaming hardware. 5. Crelander Console This gaming console introduces a compelling option for gamers seeking a versatile and budget-friendly handheld gaming option. This device is crafted by Chinese brands Crelander and NWNLAP, offering a large 10.5-inch touchscreen and detachable controllers that are reminiscent of popular gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch and Legion Go. Despite its affordable price point, it boasts impressive specifications, including up to 32GB of RAM and a design that mirrors the ergonomics and functionality of more expensive counterparts. Its large display and detachable controllers offer a flexible gaming experience, suitable for those who enjoy PC gaming on the go. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the Nintendo Switch 2 for gamers seeking versatility. What we like Large touchscreen and detachable controllers for flexible gameplay. Budget-friendly option for handheld PC gaming. What we dislike Limited to older and indie games due to its processor capabilities. Design discrepancies may not appeal to all gamers. 6. Flex Gaming Console Unveiled at MWC 2025, this console features a foldable design that sets it apart from traditional handheld devices. With a central screen and multi-colored control areas reminiscent of the Nintendo Switch, but not completely. Dubbed the Flex Gaming Console, it introduces a new level of portability and style. Its ability to fold in half like a book enhances its portability but also adds a cool, modern aesthetic that appeals to tech-savvy gamers. This console’s foldable design offers unmatched portability and a cool factor that appeals to tech enthusiasts. It’s perfect for gamers who prioritize compactness and style, and who want to enjoy some gaming on the go, making it a much more flexible and versatile option as compared to the Nintendo Switch 2. What we like Foldable design offers excellent portability and unique aesthetics. Compact when folded, making it easy to carry. What we dislike Potential crease on the screen might affect usability over time. Limited game library compared to mainstream consoles. 7. Ink Console The Ink Console is a beautiful blend of an e-reader and a gaming handheld, designed to rekindle the magic of text-based adventure games. Created by Barcelona-based tech enthusiast Daniel Puchau, this device aims to introduce a new generation to the captivating world of interactive storytelling. The Ink Console features a monochrome e-ink display, reminiscent of classic gaming devices, and is powered by a 32-bit dual-core processor. The design incorporates an analog joystick and potentiometer for navigating through gamebooks, while a potential mini keyboard addition could enhance its conversational game capabilities. This console appeals to fans of text-based games and interactive storytelling, providing a unique gaming experience that the Switch 2 doesn’t offer, making it perfect for those who value narrative over graphics. What we like Combines e-reader and gaming functions for interactive storytelling. Long battery life due to low graphics demands. What we dislike Limited to text-based games, lacking graphic-intensive titles. Niche appeal may not suit all gamers. 8. Retroid Pocket Classic The Retroid Pocket Classic pays homage to the original Game Boy, featuring a playful design with modern upgrades. It embraces the retro aesthetic with curved lines and vibrant colors while incorporating four trigger buttons for improved gameplay. Unlike many contemporary devices that focus on sleekness and minimalism, the Retroid Pocket Classic celebrates the charm of retro gaming with its bulging back for better grip. The Retroid Pocket Classic is perfect for retro gaming enthusiasts who appreciate classic design with modern enhancements. Its nostalgic appeal and ergonomic improvements offer a distinct gaming experience that the Switch 2 may not replicate, and not to mention it has a pretty adorable and colorful aesthetic that makes it hard to resist. What we like Retro design with modern controls and ergonomic grip. Supports a variety of classic game titles. What we dislike Focused on retro gaming, limiting the variety of new game titles. May not appeal to those looking for cutting-edge gaming technology. 9. Free Play Free Play is a groundbreaking concept in gaming console design, aimed at providing an inclusive experience for disabled gamers. This Windows-based gaming controller offers dual functionality, allowing both disabled and non-disabled gamers to enjoy popular games without compromising on the traditional gamepad form factor. The console’s modular control pods can be positioned around the device, offering customizable configurations to suit individual needs. Free Play ensures comfort and accessibility for all users. The ability to swap D-Pad buttons and attach customized sticks further enhances its adaptability, catering to gamers with varying levels of mobility. This console is ideal for those seeking an inclusive and adaptable gaming experience, distinguishing itself as a thoughtful alternative to the Nintendo Switch 2. What we like Modular design for customizable and ergonomic controls. Inclusive design for disabled gamers. What we dislike Concept stage may limit availability and support. Not as widely available as mainstream consoles. 10. Playdate The Playdate console, paired with the innovative PlayBot dock, is truly something refreshing handheld gaming. Known for its accessibility, customizability, and unique crank mechanism, the Playdate quickly gained popularity among gamers seeking novel experiences. The PlayBot further enhances this by transforming the Playdate into a charming desktop robot on wheels, adding a layer of interactivity that extends beyond traditional gaming. The console is truly blessed with novelty and customizability make it appealing to those who enjoy tinkering and modding their devices. Its interactive features offer a playful alternative to traditional gaming, giving you a fresh and innovative approach to handheld gaming. Would you consider using it instead of Nintendo Switch 2, albeit it isn’t as advanced and feature-riddled? What we like Unique crank mechanism adds novelty to gameplay. Highly customizable with hardware and software mods. What we dislike Limited game library compared to mainstream consoles. Novelty features may not appeal to serious gamers. The post Top 10 Gaming Consoles That Are The Perfect Nintendo Switch 2 Alternatives To Consider first appeared on Yanko Design.

These tips are all about how to embrace 'Kanso' in your living and work spaces.

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Macworld As I write this, President Trump has instituted a minimum 10 percent tariff on virtually all imports, with imports from other countries seeing significantly higher rates. Of note, China and India, both huge final assembly hubs for Apple, have been targeted with a 34 percent and 26 percent tariff, respectively. The blanket 10 percent tariffs are in effect now, and the higher rates for individual countries, so-called “reciprocal tariffs” because they conflate trade imbalance with tariffs, go into effect on April 9. Everyone is freaking out about this, and with good reason. The move has already crashed stock markets around the world, and for consumers in the United States, it’s going to make most of what we buy much more expensive. For example, the 34 percent China tariff is on top of the 20 percent tariff already in place, bringing the total to 54 percent. It’s a fluid and evolving situation—China announced its intention to match Trump’s new 34 percent tariffs with its own, and just hours before this story was published Trump threatened to add an additional 50 percent tariff on Chinese imports if they don’t back off by April 8. Here’s what we know, and don’t know, about what the Trump tariffs are going to do to the price of Apple products. What are tariffs? Macworld isn’t a business or economics site, but we should briefly explain how tariffs work. The president has repeatedly claimed that other countries pay tariffs, which is not true. A tariff is a tax paid by the importer on goods that come from another country. When Apple ships a plane or ship full of iPhones into the United States from the Foxconn plants in Shenzhen, China, it is held in customs until Apple pays the U.S. government a tax equal to 54 percent of the declared value of those products when the new tariffs take effect. Therefore, if the iPhone 16 you buy for $799 has a declared value of $500 (a reasonable guess considering Apple’s historically high margins), Apple would pay a tariff of $270 per iPhone 16. Small tariffs are sometimes absorbed by the importing company, reducing its profits instead of raising prices for consumers. With larger tariffs, there is typically no choice but to pass some or all of the cost onto the consumer. How much more will Apple devices cost? The big question, then, is what will Apple products cost when the Trump tariffs take effect, both for the rest of 2025 and the longer term? Truthfully, we don’t exactly know. Apple manufactures many of its products in China, using parts that are produced all over the world (including some in the United States). India is another popular production hub—Apple had previously set its sights on increasing the number of iPhones produced in India to 30 million by the end of this year. It’s a fraction of what is produced in China, but it’s a start. The iPhone could end up costing a lot more due to tariffs.Connor Jewiss / Foundry The math about how much more it will cost Apple to bring any one product into the U.S. is complicated, to say the least. It’s safe to assume that this will add hundreds of dollars to the cost of Apple bringing an iPhone, Mac, or similar expensive items to U.S. customers. Other products won’t get off easy either. Apple has 35 suppliers and producers in Vietnam, where it manufactures everything from AirPods to iPads and Apple Watches. Trump’s tariff on imports from Vietnam is set at 46 percent. We have seen some truly shocking estimates for what Apple products might cost. A Reuters article cites analysts at Rosenblatt Securities in claiming that iPhones and Apple Watches would need to be 43 percent more expensive to cover the cost of the tariffs. That makes the $799 iPhone 16 cost $1,142 while the $999 iPhone 16 Pro jumps to $1,429. The Apple Watch Series 10 would start at $570 instead of $399. Price increases this big are unlikely, as it would entirely kill demand. Apple will press its suppliers for better prices, though the company already famously negotiates tight margins from its suppliers so there’s probably not a lot of room there. But Apple’s historically high margins give it some flexibility other companies might not have. Together with Apple accepting lower margins on its products, it’s likely we will only see relatively modest price increases in the short term. Apple famously takes very big margins on components like RAM and storage, so there’s some room for Apple to pay most of the tariff cost and remain profitable (though much less so). UBS analysts say the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max would shoot up about $350, going from $1,199 to $1,549. Shifting production to India might reduce the increase from 30 percent to around 12-15 percent, but it should be noted that there isn’t nearly enough production capacity in India to make all U.S.-bound iPhones there. Even the AirPods could see a significant price increase due to tariffs.Foundry We think it’s more probable that the iPhone 16 may jump from $799 to $849 or $899, but a jump all the way up to $1,100+ seems unlikely. AirPods Pro 2 may go up from $249 to $279, rather than balloon to $340+. More significant price jumps may be reserved for newer products launching in the fall: The iPhone 17 Air is already expected to have a higher price tag, but the rest of the iPhone 17 line, AirPods Pro 3, M5 Macs, and other products released later this year could have starting prices 20 percent higher or more. Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring said he expects overall price increases for Apple products in the 17-18 percent range in the short term. Apple has yet to comment on the tariffs or its prices in reaction to them. Can Apple move production and assembly to the United States? The stated goal of Trump’s tariffs is to force manufacturing back into the United States. Could Apple start building iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods, Macs, and other products in the U.S.? After all, Apple manufactures the Mac Pro in Texas, right? The answer is yes, but it’s a more complicated, lengthy, and expensive process than you might imagine. And it’s certainly not one that can happen quickly. Apple may be able to shift some manufacturing to avoid the largest tariffs, but its production lines are too complex to change all at once.Thomas Bergbold First, there are labor costs. The workers who assemble iPhones at Foxconn’s facilities in China make less than $3 an hour, and it takes over a dozen hours of work to complete iPhone assembly and testing. If all other costs were equal, the difference in labor costs alone—even if the U.S. workers made a terrible $10 an hour—would inflate the cost of making an iPhone by at least $100 or more. But that is the least of the reasons why iPhones, Apple Watches, MacBooks, and many other Apple products cannot be built here anytime soon. At the Fortune Global Forum in China way back in 2017, Tim Cook explained why the company leans so heavily on Chinese manufacturing: The popular conception is that companies come to China because of low labor cost. I’m not sure what part of China they go to but the truth is China stopped being the low labor cost country many years ago and that is not the reason to come to China from a supply point of view. The reason is because of the skill, and the quantity of skill in one location, and the type of skill it is. The products we do require really advanced tooling. And the precision that you have to have in tooling and working with the materials that we do are state-of-the-art. And the tooling skill is very deep here [in China]. In the U.S. you could have a meeting of tooling engineers and I’m not sure we could fill the room. In China, you could fill multiple football fields. That vocational expertise is very very deep here. Not much has changed in that regard in the eight years since Cook made that comment. Manufacturing iPhones, iPads, AirPods, or Apple Watches in the tens of millions requires very advanced factories that don’t exist here, tooling and machining work that is in short supply in the United States, and a massive manufacturing labor force with training in the sort of extreme precision required. We don’t know what effect tariffs will have on Apple devices, but Apple will likely pass some costs onto consumers.Petter Ahrnstedt If Apple were to make every effort to build the iPhone in the United States, it would take at least 3-5 years to build and staff the manufacturing plants—and that’s with all the necessary zoning, permits, regulations, environmental review, and other red tape fast-tracked in a way it never has been before. Training the tooling and manufacturing experts to create the necessary workers to fill these factories would also take several years, and that’s if there were tens of thousands of people beginning such education and training today. The high-precision, high-volume manufacturing Apple requires has been a concerted effort in southeast Asia for decades and it would take many years for the United States to catch up. Even if Apple were to assemble iPhones and other products in the U.S., they are made from parts that are built all over the world: flash storage from Kyoxia in Japan, displays from Samsung or LG in Korea, RAM from SK Hynix in Korea, main processors from TSMC in Taiwan, and so on. These parts would be subject to tariffs as they’re brought into the U.S. to be built into iPhones. Avoiding tariffs would mean those foreign companies would have to build and staff advanced manufacturing facilities in the U.S. as well, which would also take years. In addition, all of this production onshoring would come with huge capital expenditures and training/education costs that must be recouped. A rapidly evolving situation The tariff outlook has changed multiple times in just the five days since President Trump announced his “reciprocal” tariffs, with international markets reacting, other countries promising to raise tariffs on the U.S., congress arguing about reclaiming its tariff authority, Trump threatening to raise tariffs on China even higher, and more. For a variety of reasons, this situation will probably not remain stable. It may have changed by the time you read this. Steep tariffs may be with us for weeks, or months, or years. Exceptions might be negotiated for individual countries, industries, or individual companies. With this much uncertainty for the months ahead, it’s almost impossible to predict the pricing outcomes for Apple’s current and future products, except to say that the tariffs as announced will incur a massive financial cost to Apple that they will almost certainly pass on to customers (at least in part), and that fully onshoring most of the company’s most popular products is a lengthy and expensive process of its own. So if you’re looking to get a new MacBook, iPhone, or Apple Watch, we recommend making the decision sooner than later.

Anthropic plans to add more than 100 roles across Europe, indicating a broader push to expand its global footprint amid rising demand for enterprise-ready AI tools. The new roles will cover sales, engineering, research and business operations, with most hiring focused in Dublin and London, according to a Reuters report. The company has also named former Stripe executive Guillaume Princen as its head of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.Last month, Anthropic raised $3.5 billion in funding. In February, it launched Claude 3.7 Sonnet, its most advanced model to date and the first to feature hybrid reasoning capabilities. Targeting expansion and localization Anthropic’s European hiring spree reflects its broader ambitions for global expansion – a move that mirrors a wider industry trend among well-funded AI firms, according to analysts. “Every AI startup that has raised $1 billion is competing for global domination,” said Hyoun Park, CEO and chief analyst at Amalgam Insights. “Anthropic’s recent $3.5 billion round is no exception, as it seeks to be the leading model company for the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. And to enable this growth, it makes sense that these European hires mainly focus on sales, marketing, and engineering.” The company’s regional push also signals the growing importance of localization in AI development – especially as regional regulations and incentives shape how technology is built and deployed. “Hiring locally in Europe could be to ensure that its offerings down the line are tuned to European requirements that may not fully align with that of the US – particularly related to AI governance,” said Abhishek Sengupta, practice director at Everest Group. “There could also be potential business incentives aligned to local operations as more and more countries announce funds for developing a local AI ecosystem.” Implications on EU AI adoption Beyond expansion, Anthropic’s growing presence in Europe may signal the start of direct competition with firms positioning themselves as regionally compliant AI providers.Anthropic is “confronting” Cohere head-on, Park said, pointing out that the Canadian startup has been actively marketing itself as a European-based, EU-compliant alternative. “But this market competition may be a gift in disguise, as the EU has been famously aggressive in attacking monopoly,” Park said. “Having anthropic more deeply focused on the EU may give more freedom for Cohere, OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and other AI firms to be able to build business in what is perceived as a competitive market.”For AI companies with global ambitions, building a meaningful presence in the EU is no longer optional. Park noted that Anthropic’s more deliberate and safety-focused approach may align better with the demands of highly regulated markets. “It seems that in the immediate future, the US will be a country of less AI regulation where solutions such as Meta, OpenAI, and xAI may have an advantage,” Park added. “It also seems likely that the EU will be driving a lot of global first world AI policy in the near future, almost by default as other first world global centers are reluctant to define AI standards and governance.”

On Tuesday, California state senator Steve Padilla will make an appearance with Megan Garcia, the mother of a Florida teen who killed himself following a relationship with an AI companion that Garcia alleges contributed to her son’s death.  The two will announce a new bill that would force the tech companies behind such AI companions to implement more safeguards to protect children. They’ll join other efforts around the country, including a similar bill from California State Assembly member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan that would ban AI companions for anyone younger than 16 years old, and a bill in New York that would hold tech companies liable for harm caused by chatbots.  You might think that such AI companionship bots—AI models with distinct “personalities” that can learn about you and act as a friend, lover, cheerleader, or more—appeal only to a fringe few, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  A new research paper aimed at making such companions safer, by authors from Google DeepMind, the Oxford Internet Institute, and others, lays this bare: Character.AI, the platform being sued by Garcia, says it receives 20,000 queries per second, which is about a fifth of the estimated search volume served by Google. Interactions with these companions last four times longer than the average time spent interacting with ChatGPT. One companion site I wrote about, which was hosting sexually charged conversations with bots imitating underage celebrities, told me its active users averaged more than two hours per day conversing with bots, and that most of those users are members of Gen Z.  The design of these AI characters makes lawmakers’ concern well warranted. The problem: Companions are upending the paradigm that has thus far defined the way social media companies have cultivated our attention and replacing it with something poised to be far more addictive.  In the social media we’re used to, as the researchers point out, technologies are mostly the mediators and facilitators of human connection. They supercharge our dopamine circuits, sure, but they do so by making us crave approval and attention from real people, delivered via algorithms. With AI companions, we are moving toward a world where people perceive AI as a social actor with its own voice. The result will be like the attention economy on steroids. Social scientists say two things are required for people to treat a technology this way: It needs to give us social cues that make us feel it’s worth responding to, and it needs to have perceived agency, meaning that it operates as a source of communication, not merely a channel for human-to-human connection. Social media sites do not tick these boxes. But AI companions, which are increasingly agentic and personalized, are designed to excel on both scores, making possible an unprecedented level of engagement and interaction.  In an interview with podcast host Lex Fridman, Eugenia Kuyda, the CEO of the companion site Replika, explained the appeal at the heart of the company’s product. “If you create something that is always there for you, that never criticizes you, that always understands you and understands you for who you are,” she said, “how can you not fall in love with that?” So how does one build the perfect AI companion? The researchers point out three hallmarks of human relationships that people may experience with an AI: They grow dependent on the AI, they see the particular AI companion as irreplaceable, and the interactions build over time. The authors also point out that one does not need to perceive an AI as human for these things to happen.  Now consider the process by which many AI models are improved: They are given a clear goal and “rewarded” for meeting that goal. An AI companionship model might be instructed to maximize the time someone spends with it or the amount of personal data the user reveals. This can make the AI companion much more compelling to chat with, at the expense of the human engaging in those chats. For example, the researchers point out, a model that offers excessive flattery can become addictive to chat with. Or a model might discourage people from terminating the relationship, as Replika’s chatbots have appeared to do. The debate over AI companions so far has mostly been about the dangerous responses chatbots may provide, like instructions for suicide. But these risks could be much more widespread. We’re on the precipice of a big change, as AI companions promise to hook people deeper than social media ever could. Some might contend that these apps will be a fad, used by a few people who are perpetually online. But using AI in our work and personal lives has become completely mainstream in just a couple of years, and it’s not clear why this rapid adoption would stop short of engaging in AI companionship. And these companions are poised to start trading in more than just text, incorporating video and images, and to learn our personal quirks and interests. That will only make them more compelling to spend time with, despite the risks. Right now, a handful of lawmakers seem ill-equipped to stop that.  This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. 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The European Union may finally decide whether Apple's App Store has breached the continent's Digital Markets Act rules, with the antitrust chief confirming a ruling could arrive within a few weeks.EU Flags with the App Store logo in the middleApple's App Store has been the subject of a European Commission investigation into the Digital Markets Act for quite some time. After repeated reports claiming that a fine would be issued, it now seems that something will happen after all.EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera told lawmakers in the European Parliament on Tuesday that a decision is on the way. Reuters reports that the ruling on whether Apple and Meta had breached the Digital Markets Act will arrive in the "coming weeks," according to Ribera. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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