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Image Synthesis Midjourney introduces first new image generation model in over a year The new model is now in public alpha and has personalization enabled by default. Samuel Axon Apr 4, 2025 6:34 pm | 12 Midjourney V7 claims to be much more consistent at generating things like hands that don't look strange. Credit: Xeophon Midjourney V7 claims to be much more consistent at generating things like hands that don't look strange. Credit: Xeophon Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreAI image generator Midjourney released its first new model in quite some time today; dubbed V7, it's a ground-up rework that is available in alpha to users now.There are two areas of improvement in V7: the first is better images, and the second is new tools and workflows.Starting with the image improvements, V7 promises much higher coherence and consistency for hands, fingers, body parts, and "objects of all kinds." It also offers much more detailed and realistic textures and materials, like skin wrinkles or the subtleties of a ceramic pot.Those details are often among the most obvious telltale signs that an image has been AI-generated. To be clear, Midjourney isn't claiming to have made advancements that make AI images unrecognizable to a trained eye; it's just saying that some of the messiness we're accustomed to has been cleaned up to a significant degree. V7 can reproduce materials and lighting situations that V6.1 usually couldn't. Credit: Xeophon On the features side, the star of the show is the new "Draft Mode." On its various communication channels with users (a blog, Discord, X, and so on), Midjourney says that "Draft mode is half the cost and renders images at 10 times the speed."However, the images are of lower quality than what you get in the other modes, so this is not intended to be the way you produce final images. Rather, it's meant to be a way to iterate and explore to find the desired result before switching modes to make something ready for public consumption.V7 comes with two modes: turbo and relax. Turbo generates final images quickly but is twice as expensive in terms of credit use, while relax mode takes its time but is half as expensive. There is currently no standard mode for V7, strangely; Midjourney says that's coming later, as it needs some more time to be refined.V7 works with most parameters from previous versions (--ar, --seed, etc), including users' existing --sref codes from 6.1, as well as the recently introduced personalization feature. In fact, V7 is the first Midjourney model that has personalization enabled by default, meaning users will have to train it by picking at least 200 images to build their aesthetic profile.Personalization presents you with a choice between two images hundreds of times so it can learn what you find "beautiful" and tailor its generations to those tastes. You can disable personalization if you want in V7 just like prior models, though.Midjourney was one of the first AI image generation tools that found widespread use. Initially, it was available on Discord and usable via a somewhat arcane syntax, but it has since launched a more modern web interface.A significant portion of the AI art shared on social media has been made with Discord. It's also a key part of the workflow for many AI video creators, who often make the initial image in Midjourney before using the image-to-video feature of applications like Runway.However, as popular as it is, Midjourney has been the subject of multiple lawsuits, and is part of the ongoing debate about whether training AI models on copyrighted works found on the web constitutes fair use. (Anyone who's used Midjourney knows it was trained on copyrighted work; it even sometimes generates watermarks and artist signatures in its outputs.)Recently, the company announced it plans to launch hardware in the future, but it remains unclear what that will look like.Samuel AxonSenior EditorSamuel AxonSenior Editor Samuel Axon is a senior editor at Ars Technica, where he is the editorial director for tech and gaming coverage. He covers AI, software development, gaming, entertainment, and mixed reality. He has been writing about gaming and technology for nearly two decades at Engadget, PC World, Mashable, Vice, Polygon, Wired, and others. He previously ran a marketing and PR agency in the gaming industry, led editorial for the TV network CBS, and worked on social media marketing strategy for Samsung Mobile at the creative agency SPCSHP. He also is an independent software and game developer for iOS, Windows, and other platforms, and heis a graduate of DePaul University, where he studied interactive media and software development. 12 Comments

LifeLargest ever US honeybee die-off has destroyed 1.6 million coloniesBeekeepers often experience some seasonal losses, but this past winter, more than half of all US honeybee colonies died off, potentially the largest loss in US history 4 April 2025 Honeybees are vulnerable to seasonal die-offsNicholas Klein/AlamyHoneybees in the US may have just experienced their most severe die-off on record, and we dont know exactly why.As of right now, it does look like this is going to be the largest colony loss that weve experienced in at least the last 25 years and probably in US history, says Scott McArt at Cornell University, New York.Beekeepers in the US often experience some colony losses over the winter for instance, about 37 per cent of

504 law firms signed onto a brief opposing Trump's war on Big Law. REUTERS/Carlos Barria 2025-04-04T22:25:52Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Donald Trump's attacks against Big Law firms have drawn three lawsuits. A few other firms settled.504 law firms asked the courts to put a stop to it.But from Kirkland & Ellis to Paul Hastings, the highest-earning firms in Big Law declined to join.More than 500 law firms including some of the country's most prominent signed onto a legal brief Friday to oppose Donald Trump's executive orders attacking law firms that hired his political enemies.Absent from the list, however, were America's 27 highest-grossing law firms.From Kirkland & Ellis, which reported $8.8 billion in revenue last year and has about 3,800 lawyers, to Paul Hastings, with more than $2 billion in revenue, corporate America's legal team was largely silent.The 27 firms that didn't sign collectively brought in over $74 billion in revenue last year."The largest law firms are extraordinarily powerful, and in this instance, that power actually cripples them. I'm disappointed that they didn't join," said Nathan Eimer, one of the lawyers who wrote the brief.The brief was filed in support of Perkins Coie, a law firm whose attorneys Trump effectively deemed a national security threat in an executive order that barred them from federal buildings, stripped them of security clearances, and required government contractors to disclose whether they used the firm.Several former partners at Perkins Coie represented some of Trump's political adversaries, but most of the firm's political lawyers have left.Some big firms did sign on to the brief, as did some top class-action lawyers and trial lawyers who often represent plaintiffs suing big corporations.The US arm of Freshfields, a UK-founded corporate law firm that last year was reported to do about 20% of its business in the United States, signed the brief. Arnold & Porter, a big DC-based firm that represented federal workers accused of being communists during the "Red Scare" of the 1950s, also included its name. Arnold & Porter was one of eight firms among the country's 100 highest-earning that signed, according to Law.com.Other firms targeted by Trump's orders rallied behind Perkins. Covington & Burling, which gave legal advice to a prosecutor who went after Trump, as well as WilmerHale and Jenner & Block, which have sued the Trump administration over executive orders that targeted them, all put their names on the brief.But the lack of America's largest firms was frustrating, said Eimer, who told Business Insider he didn't know whose names would be included until shortly before the legal papers were filed because the process was treated with extreme confidentiality."I understand, from the management side, why they feel that jeopardizing their business is their overriding concern. But in my view, at the end of the day, lawyers have an obligation to the courts," he said, "and the constitution that overrides our business interest."Law firms, including Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Milbank, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher, have cut deals with the Trump administration to collectively devote hundreds of millions of dollars worth of lawyers' time to causes that dovetail with the president's interests like veterans' rights and fighting antisemitism.Bloomberg reported the conservative group The Oversight Project wrote a letter to law firms asking them to donate up to $10 million of legal advice to it and other "center-right" groups to help satisfy their commitments.The first firm to cut a deal with the Trump administration was Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, whose chairman, Brad Karp, and senior lawyers are known for being political progressives. Karp defended the agreement with the Trump administration in an email sent to the firm late last month, saying that competing law firms immediately started trying to poach Paul Weiss clients and attorneys."The resolution we reached with the Administration will have no effect on our work and our shared culture and values," Karp wrote.Paul Weiss's name is not on the brief.Recommended video

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.Welcome to The Logoff: Donald Trumps tariffs, and the economic havoc theyre wreaking, are still dominating the headlines. But today I want to focus on a story I worry is going under the radar: the president outsourcing national security staffing decisions to a far-right conspiracy theorist.Whats the latest? Trump fired Gen. Timothy Haugh, the head of the National Security Agency and US Cyber Command, on Thursday. Haugh and several other high-ranking national security officials were booted after Trump met with Laura Loomer, who urged him to purge disloyal figures from his national security team. Loomer took credit for the firings, while Trump denied she was involved.Who is Laura Loomer? Shes a far-right activist and social media personality known for her embrace of conspiracy theories, her self-described Islamophobia, and her loyalty to Trump. She has claimed 9/11 was an inside job, that Joe Biden was behind the July attempt to assassinate Trump, and that multiple school shootings were staged.Who is Haugh? Hes a four-star general whom Joe Biden nominated to lead NSA. The Senate confirmed him in 2023 with overwhelming bipartisan support. Before that, he co-led a 2018 effort to prevent Russian interference in the midterms.Why does it matter who directs the NSA? The agency has extraordinary power to wiretap Americans and engage in cyber espionage, and its leader has great influence over whether that power is abused.Is this legal? Yes. The NSA director serves at the pleasure of the president.So whats the big picture? Trump says Loomer was not involved in the firings, but thats not credible, given their timing and his track record with the truth. So it appears that a conspiracy theorist was given significant influence over leadership of agencies that have the power to infringe on civil liberties.And with that, its time to log offI hate being bored. Im not great at sitting still, and I get anxious when I have to do so. At even a hint of boredom, I reflexively reach for my phone, which too often ends in time wasted on games or passive scrolling, and that somehow only makes me more bored. So I was really grateful for this article about how boredom isnt a punishment its a tool. Boredom, my colleague Allie Volpe writes, can help you know when youve gone off track from what you value and what you care about and what you can give to the world. Take good care this weekend, and Ill see you back here on Monday.See More:

Switch 2 game prices are the fault of gamers not Nintendo Readers FeatureGameCentralPublished April 5, 2025 1:00am Mario Kart World is not a cheap game (Nintendo)A reader argues that complaints about the price of Mario Kart World are misplaced, given how Call Of Duty and EA Sports FC are the same price.In the lead up to this week, there were a lot of people talking about how its hard to predict Nintendo, but in the end I think it went pretty much as expected except in a few specific areas. In many ways you could say the Nintendo Direct was a success: the console was reasonably priced, its coming out soon, and most of the games looked great.But the subject thats been dominating discussion ever since is the cost of said games, particularly Mario Kart World. In the UK its 74.99 for the physical version and 66.99 for digital, which is unexpected.As has been pointed out, the digital price is still lower than EA Sports FC and Call Of Duty, and other yearly sports games like NBA 2K, but because Nintendo games are usually cheaper than the norm there has been outrage over the prices as if Mario Kart isnt going to be infinitely better value for money.Given these yearly sequels only have a shelf life of 12 months, before theyre immediately replaced with another game that also costs 70, it seems madness that anyone would resent Nintendo charging the same for Mario Kart, which youll only have one of per generation.Dont get me wrong, I wish it wasnt that expensive. I wish all games were cheaper. But then I also wish I was a millionaire and better at football, but thats life.If you accept that Call Of Duty and co. are worth 70 (and millions of people do because, as usual, it was the best-selling game of last year) then why is Mario Kart not? Its undoubtedly a better game and there wont be another one along for the best part of the decade, so Nintendo will be putting everything into it especially as its a console launch game.Sadly, I think half the problem is that it has cartoon graphics and is dismissed as a kids game, even though its actually the best-selling traditional video game of all time, behind GTA 5. If Mario Kart World had photorealistic graphics, and grimdark main characters, I suspect most of the complaints would never happen.Unfortunately though, gamers have allowed themselves to be manipulated over the years, so its only the serious games that are worth full price and anything thats just meant to be fun is looked down on. You see a similar thing where many casual gamers dismiss indie games or scoff at the idea of them being sold at anything but the very lowest prices.Anything thats not just a bland, photorealistic game is considered something approaching worthless and gamers have become more and more entitled about what they think should be given to them for free. I looked it up and a cinema ticket in 1992 cost around 3. Guess how much a new SNES game cost at the same time? Anything up to 50 and sometimes more.Video game prices have barely increased at all in over three decades and yet apparently charging the same for EA Sports FC and Mario Kart World is outrageous. And before you argue that these other games see a reduction in price over time, but Nintendo games dont, bear in mind that most people still buy the next one within 12 months and Call Of Duty games rarely do go down in price, actually.I have not heard one single reason for why Mario Kart World is not worth 70-ish. If youre happy to pay that for NBA 2K25 but not the sequel to Mario Kart 8 one of the best and most successful games of all time I dont know what to say.But ah, say the haters, that price isnt even all of it, because theyre bound to have DLC on top as well. Well a) predicting Nintendo never works, b) you dont have to buy the DLC, and c) the DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is widely regarded as amongst the best value ever made. So what exactly is the problem?More TrendingIf games cost more to make then it stands to reason that publishers are going to charge more for them. If you want to campaign against that Im with you, especially when its a provably bad game, but thats not the case here. It just feels that the wrong example is being made and I dont feel its Nintendos fault at all.By reader Onibee Is Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 worth 70? (Activision)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Spring break continues at theme parks and fandom experiences around the country. This past week saw the opening of Star Wars Season of the Force at the Disneyland Resort. io9 was on hand to experience the food and fun there. Here we catch up with the rest of the galactic goods with a look at Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga, the nighttime spectacular over the skies of the Black Spire Outpost at Disneyland (sorry, none for you, Galaxys Edge East Coast). Then theres the latest in fandom merch and accessorizing at the parks with Pop Mart and Hello Kitty. Movie fans are eating well figuratively and literally at AREA15s John Wick Experience and a series of curated cinematic cuisine at Las Vegas immersive hub with Fork n Film. Read on for all this and more in this weeks theme park news. Padm and Anakins forbidden love shines in new Galaxys Edge show @livelikethemovies Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidalas love story takes center stage during Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga at Galaxys Edge #Disneyland #StarWars #Anidala #DarthVader #Padme #HaydenChristensen #NataliePortman #FYP #attackoftheclones #revengeofthesith #johnwilliams original sound livelikethemovies This sweeping moment of Padm and Anakins forbidden love stood out the most because its their romance which leads to the Skywalker lineage of heroes and villains. Its rare to see their romance given its proper due and felt like the heart of the new Galaxys Edge iteration of the fireworks and projections on the spires and Millennium Falcon in Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga. Mouse Droid coming to Galaxys Edge Droid Depot This is not a popcorn bucket version youre familiar with, its the latest droid release coming to Disneylands Galaxys Edge. The 1:1 mouse droid replica will be a featured merch drop during Season of the Force at the Disneyland Resort. We got a look at it during the media preview but did not receive confirmation on price or date it will be released from reps at the demonstration.A Goofy Movies Powerline popcorn bucket gets a park-wide drop The voice of Goofy, Bill Farmer, was on hand to celebrate the news that the Powerline popcorn bucket will now be available park-wide at the Disneyland resort. Pop Marts Disney drops are theme park must-haves Pop Mart Pop Marts Mickey Cute family keychains are a hot commodity; theyre the latest theme park trend that Disney fans are lining up to buy and accessorize with on Disney trips. We saw so many at Disneyland only this past week. The blind box brand has featured a number of gorgeously designed art figures with expressive and exciting features for Disney properties which are available at retailers and online, such as the Star Warsseries and the Disney Princess Ride collection.Park-goers are clamoring for more drops of the coveted Mickey Cute Family blind box keychains which are priming up to be their Disney version of their global Labubu craze done in a similar style. They sell out very quickly online and create queues at Pop Mart brick and mortars around the world. At least for Disney fansIve never seen a line they werent willing to stand in. Opening dates for new Walt Disney World shows revealed Starting on May 27 you will be able to watch The Little Mermaid A Musical Adventure and Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After at Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. It will be a fun and musical way to stay out of the Florida summer heat and humidity as youre chillin like a villain. Blaster updates coming to Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin The Magic Kingdoms Toy Story attraction is getting a much needed refresh. The original blasters on this laser point and shoot ride used to be fused to the ride vehicles, which was such a surprise for me as a Disneyland local when I visited for the first time. The West Coast version of the ride allows for more mobility by using a cord. Now, fans of the attraction at Walt Disney World will get a better redesign on the game aspect of the ride to rack up those points. Dont forget targets are worth more when theyre lit.Hello Kitty and Tile collaborate for this travel essential Theme park stress be gone when it comes to adding these cute Hello Kitty tracker Tiles to your bags or strollers. This limited edition drop from the Tile brand, which Ive used myself, help park goers breathe a sigh of relief when parking their belongings outside attractions or while meeting Hello Kitty during meet and greets. The fear of forgetting your bag when putting it down for a photo gets lessened with this extra added sense of security. For more info on the collab visit Tile online. Sanrio Hello Kitty x Universal Movies at Universal Studios Hello Kitty crosses over into more Universal Studios properties with expanded releases that put the iconic character in the worlds of Back to the Future, Jaws, Psycho, and more. Find them at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando.Focus Features hosts Pride & Prejudice Ball Focus Features is hosting an official ball in honor of the 2005 Pride & Prejudice movies 20th anniversary. The film starring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen unleashed ship culture as we know it, at least online because we all know that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have been that It Couple since Jane Austen published that book in 1813. Dress to impress and to yearn longingily. For more info on tickets visit here. AREA15 John Wick and Fork n Film Immersive Cinema The John Wick Experience, an ARG mission into the assassin world of the films starring Keanu Reeves, is now open. Here you can live out a roleplay immersion as you enter the iconic Continental Hotel in Las Vegas AREA15. For more info visit here. For more family-friendly fare in Vegas, you and your loved ones can partake in immersive dining experiences inspired by Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Monsters Inc with Fork n Film bookings. 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.

Tanatap Heritage Garden / RAD+ar (Research Artistic Design + architecture)Save this picture! Ernest TheofilusRestaurantBraga, Bandung, IndonesiaArchitects: RAD+ar (Research Artistic Design + architecture)AreaArea of this architecture projectArea:300 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Ernest Theofilus, Liandro SiringoringoManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Gree, Toto, YKK aluminium Lead Architects: Junovan Muhammad, Antonius Richard Rusli More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Tanatap Heritage Garden is a small architectural intervention that transformed a once-mediocre vertical building, which stood as a barrier in Braga's heritage shophouse, into a creative melting pot that celebrates its historical significance. The project's main challenge from the outset was to apply primary methods for the adaptive reuse of an existing Dutch heritage shophouse structure, converting it into a restaurant and coffee shop situated in the middle of a block on Braga Street, Bandung. The shed, originally a warehouse, provided us with the opportunity to work with many original elements inherited from its previous uses, such as existing frames, walls, and facades.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Braga Street is located in the center of Bandung, Indonesia, and is known for its 100-year-old Dutch shophouses, which became famous in the 1920s as a promenade street during the colonial era. The European ambiance of cafes, boutiques, and restaurants along the street helped Bandung earn the Dutch nickname "Parijs van Java" ("Paris of Java"). Therefore, the project emphasizes humility, tradition, and site awareness while fostering a quiet integration that responds to existing needs.Save this picture!Save this picture!An aged Haya tree ironwood sculpture, created by artist Wisnu Ajitama, serves as a contrasting focal point against the preserved facade on the exterior while introducing multiple compress and release spaces on the interior through the use of various corten artistic spatial frames. The design prioritizes allowing the environment, history, and culture to shape the project. It serves as a small proactive prototype of architectural practice focused on reusing and refurbishing as the primary consideration when designing and reshaping our already overbuilt cities. This approach, which prioritizes reuse over demolition, can reduce costs, enhance environmental efficiency, and preserve functional structures that can continue to serve their purpose for years to come.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Braga, Bandung, IndonesiaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on April 04, 2025Cite: "Tanatap Heritage Garden / RAD+ar (Research Artistic Design + architecture)" 04 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028678/tanatap-heritage-garden-rad-plus-ar-research-artistic-design-plus-architecture&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