Anthropic has introduced two new features to its Claude AI assistant — Research and Google Workspace integration — marking its latest effort to position its AI assistant as a collaborative enterprise AI partner. These features, now in beta for select paid plans, enable Claude to autonomously search the web and organizational content while connecting to Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs to enhance contextual understanding and streamline workflows. “In line with our vision for Claude as your collaborative partner that delivers hours of work in minutes, we’re continuing to expand the context that Claude has access to,” Anthropic said in a statement. The move signals Anthropic’s intent to sharpen its edge in the increasingly crowded AI assistant market, where rivals such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google’s Gemini are pushing deeper into enterprise integrations. “Claude is based on ‘constitutional AI’ training and brings in unique capabilities complementing Google’s Gemini — from handling longer contexts, effective reasoning to focus on privacy and security,” said Neil Shah, VP for research and partner at Counterpoint Research. “Enterprises using Workspace now have multiple model choices, from Gemini to Claude, to get the best possible output—safely and speedily.” “Anthropic’s latest upgrades — Claude’s Research agent and Workspace-native integration — shift the competitive centre of enterprise AI,” said Sanchit Vir Gogia, chief analyst and CEO at Greyhound Research. “No longer content with fast answers, CIOs are demanding audit-ready, multi-document synthesis.” Research: agentic exploration with citation Claude’s new Research feature moves beyond reactive question-answering by conducting autonomous, multi-step investigations into user queries, pulling insights from both internal documents and the open web. Responses come with inline citations, supporting auditability and fact verification, the statement added. “Anthropic’s emphasis on citation-backed reasoning and secure document retrieval is more than an academic choice — it’s a compliance lever,” Gogia said. Unlike standard web search tools, Research applies reasoning to synthesize findings and deliver holistic, source-backed summaries, making it particularly useful for enterprise scenarios such as market analysis, technical due diligence, or executive briefings. “By focusing on citation-backed responses and secure document retrieval, Claude addresses the critical needs of regulated industries where transparency and compliance are non-negotiable,” said Abhivyakti Sengar, practice director at Everest Group. Workspace integration and enterprise features Anthropic’s integration with Google Workspace tools allows Claude to securely access a user’s Gmail, Calendar, and Docs, enabling it to retrieve relevant files, extract meeting highlights, and summarize follow-up emails without repeated manual input. Anthropic emphasized that data access is permission-based and session-limited, ensuring users retain control over their information, an important consideration for enterprises prioritizing compliance. “This move strengthens Claude’s ability to learn more about enterprise workflows and become more proactive and autonomous — from processing extensive documentation to integrating citation and verification workflows,” Shah added. For enterprise users, Claude now supports advanced document cataloging, building a searchable index across organizational files that allows Claude to surface specific information buried in long documents or scattered across multiple formats. “When cataloging is enabled, Claude leverages a specialized index of your organization’s documents to find the information you need,” Anthropic statement added. At the technical level, Claude’s Research and cataloging capabilities are powered by Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), a framework that augments large language models with real-time information retrieval. Anthropic noted that Claude’s access to both Workspace tools and document repositories is strictly permission-controlled, and access is not retained after sessions unless explicitly configured, helping maintain compliance with enterprise policies. “Unless vendors like OpenAI and Google match Claude’s standards for sandboxed context and retrieval integrity, enterprise AI adoption will continue to be throttled by fear, not lack of functionality,” Gogia said. Anthropic outlined how the new features can support a variety of enterprise functions. In marketing, Claude can analyze strategy documents and external sources to shape product launch plans. Sales teams can use it to compile briefings by summarizing past correspondence and surfacing relevant updates. Engineers may streamline technical planning by referencing design documents and external API specifications in a unified view. Strategic positioning against competitors These updates bring Claude into closer competition with Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini, though Claude differentiates itself through agentic research workflows and explicit source citations — features designed to build trust in environments where decision-making relies on verifiable data. “Anthropic does have an edge when it comes to retrieving safe, compliant, and verified outputs, especially in regulated verticals such as finance, healthcare, or even education, research, where Google Workspace is the strongest,” Shah pointed out. “For example, Claude on Google Cloud’s Vertex AI is now authorized for FedRAMP High and IL2 workloads, making it more apt for these verticals. Google’s recent deal with the government gives a very good runway for Claude. So, timing is perfect.” Anthropic has crossed the threshold from assistant to analyst, pressuring rivals like Copilot and ChatGPT Enterprise to catch up on defensibility—not just capability, Gogia added. While Microsoft and Google benefit from tight ecosystem lock-in with Office 365 and Google Workspace respectively, Claude aims to provide a more flexible overlay across platforms. Anthropic’s bet is that organizations working across diverse toolsets and managing complex document repositories will value Claude’s autonomy and interpretability over deep native integration. “Google, being one of the key investors in Anthropic, it is natural to help Anthropic extend its reach in a more controlled way, complementing Gemini and at the same time, offering more choice to users based on the AI tasks in the Workspace,” Shah explained. “So, this combination gives Google an edge in enterprise vs standalone agents or agentic workflows such as CoPilot or OpenAI.” Availability The Research capability is now in early beta for users on Claude’s Max, Team, and Enterprise plans in the US, Japan, and Brazil. Web search functionality, which launched in the US in March, is now also available in Japan and Brazil. The Google Workspace integration is available in beta for all paid users. “These enhancements are only the beginning,” Anthropic said in the statement. “In the coming weeks, we’ll expand the range of content sources available and the ability for Claude to do research in more depth.”

Colossal Biosciences not only wants to bring back the woolly mammoth—it wants to patent it, too. MIT Technology Review has learned the Texas startup is seeking a patent that would give it exclusive legal rights to create and sell gene-edited elephants containing ancient mammoth DNA. Colossal, which calls itself “the de-extinction company,” hopes to use gene editing to turn elephants into a herd of mammoth look-alikes that could be released in large nature preserves in Siberia. There they’d trample the ground in a way that Colossal says would maintain the permafrost, keeping global-warming gases trapped and offering the chance to earn carbon credits. Ben Lamm, the CEO of Colossal, said in an email that holding patents on the animals would “give us control over how these technologies are implemented, particularly for managing initial releases where oversight is critical.” Colossal intends to file patents on additional “transgenic” animals, such as the genetically modified wolves it announced last week, Lamm said. In that case, Colossal used gene editing to insert about 15 DNA changes from the extinct dire wolf into gray wolves. The company touted this work as the first success for de-extinction technology, a claim that drew wide criticism. Colossal has raised more than $400 million and is investing in a range of gene-editing and reproductive technologies, although its business plans remain speculative. Lamm has suggested that each “mammoth” could generate $2 million in “carbon capture services” and that the company could collect a share of tourist dollars if it brings back other iconic species such as the dodo, which lived on a single island in the Indian Ocean. Lamm said patents, which usually last 20 years, could provide “a clear legal framework during the critical transition period when de-extinct species are first reintroduced.” In the US, patents on genetically engineered organisms have been allowed since 1980, when the Supreme Court signed off on one for an oil-eating bacterium. The justices famously said patent rights could cover “anything under the sun made by man.” That opened the door to patents on animals, including the cancer-prone OncoMouse, glow-in-the-dark aquarium fish, and, more recently, pigs modified to grow organs for transplants. Colossal’s woolly mammoth patent application, with its descriptions of modified cells and animals, represents “the current standard in biotech cases,” says Cassie Edgar, a partner at the law firm McKee, Voorhees & Sease in Des Moines, Iowa. Yet Colossal’s legal venture breaks ground in other ways. It appears to be an novel attempt to secure rights to the use of extinct DNA and could establish an unprecedented legal monopoly over wild animals, since one of Colossal’s aims is to return revived species to their original habitats. “This could set precedent for intellectual-property rights over engineered versions of extinct species—raising questions not just about science, but about who owns de-extinction,” Edgar says. The basic de-extinction method works like this: Researchers obtain DNA from old bones or museum specimens and then use gene-editing technology to add ancestral gene variants to a closely related existing species.  So far, no modified pachyderms have been born—elephant engineering remains too difficult. But last week, Colossal set off an eruption of headlines when it claimed it had used gene editing to re-create dire wolves, a species that went extinct some 13,000 years ago. One of the furry white canids, named Remus, appeared on the cover of Time magazine, with the word “extinct” crossed out. Many experts dismissed Colossal’s claim to the world’s first successful de-extinction as hype. They noted that in reality, the animals are gray wolves with an unusual coat color; their genomes contain only a few bits of dire wolf DNA, but the two species differ by several million DNA letters. The company is taking steps to secure intellectual-property rights to nearly every aspect of its creations, even the names it gives its animals. MIT Technology Review found that Colossal had filed for trademarks covering some extra-hairy mice it revealed earlier this year, which were offered as evidence of progress toward a mammoth. One trademark reserves the name “Mammouse” for use in the sale of “stuffed and plush toys.” Also trademarked is “Woolly Mouse,” covering its use as a motif for shirts, jackets, and athletic apparel. Lamm says Colossal doesn’t currently have plans to open a gift shop. But he does want to protect the “brand identity” of the animals. “It seems like people connect with these animals on an emotional level, which is actually quite encouraging,” he says. “We need to ensure that we can protect our brand.” The existence of a patent application on mammoth-like elephants could tap into lingering public doubts over whether legal monopolies should really apply to living things, especially elephants, the world’s largest land animals. “There are people that are unhappy about that, but that is certainly a pattern we’ve seen for a while in the US,” says Alta Charo, a specialist in legal issues raised by biotechnology who is Colossal’s ethics advisor. Revive & Restore, a de-extinction organization in Sausalito, California, that is working toward reviving the passenger pigeon, says it doesn’t think the birds should be controlled by intellectual-property claims. “Revive & Restore will not be patenting de-extinct passenger pigeons,” says Elizabeth Bennett, a spokesperson for the organization. The organization envisions that if it succeeds in reintroducing the birds, they will be “protected under existing wildlife laws,” Bennett says. Even some genetic engineers involved in the mammoth project, initiated more than decade ago at Harvard University, have mixed opinions on patenting de-extinct animals. Cory Smith, now a biotech executive, was a student when he helped prepare an earlier patent application on engineered elephants, which the school filed in 2021. “I am not sure it should have an owner,” says Smith. “I have always been on the side that maybe the animals shouldn’t be patented.” During its press blitz last week, Colossal was careful not to reveal the exact genetic changes it had made to its wolves, telling advisors it needed to keep them secret for “intellectual-property reasons.” This prevented outside scientists from fully assessing the experiment. But it also would have also allowed Colossal to present the information to the patent office, since information already in the public domain can’t be patented. In response to emailed questions, Lamm initially sought to avoid saying whether or not Colossal had filed for a patent covering the transgenic wolves, similar to the one on the “mammoth.” It’s a sensitive question, since such a patent would mean the canids are articles of commerce, not wild creatures returned to their “rightful place in the ecosystem,” as the company said last week. “We take a thoughtful approach to intellectual property that balances scientific advancement with sustainable business practices,” Lamm said in his initial response. “What’s important to understand is that any IP protection would be limited to specific technical methods and innovations we’ve developed—not the genetic heritage of extinct species themselves. We see ourselves as stewards of this science rather than owners of these magnificent creatures.” The pending mammoth patent paints a very different picture. First filed in 2023, it is titled “Woolly mammoth specific gene variants and compositions comprising same” and contains a list of 29 claims that seek to control both a long list of mammoth gene variants and animals whose bodies contain that genetic code. That is, this patent application doesn’t cover any specific method or technology, but is instead aimed at securing rights to novel animals with genetic changes that alter their hair, body size, immune system, tolerance to cold, and even cognitive capacity.  “Any animal with woolly mammoth genes falls under the claims,” says Jacob Sherkow, a law professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Patent offices will probably chop away at the application before it’s approved and might even reject it. During the examination of a patent, inventors are typically required to narrow the commercial rights they’re seeking to those elements that are truly “new and useful” and also must steer clear of statutory prohibitions about what can be patented, which differ widely by country. “I imagine very few of these patent claims are going to get issued as they stand,” says Sherkow. “But they’ll be a stalking horse—er, mammoth?—on what aspects of revived species are patentable.” Ultimately, the reason Colossal is trying to patent elephants with ancient DNA in them could simply be that it gives investors a little more confidence in its novel and untested business plans in de-extinction.  “Early-stage companies sometimes bet on long-tail events,” says Andy Tang, a partner at Draper Associates, one of the venture capital firms that put money into Colossal. Tang, who says he isn’t speaking for the company, believes that “in the scenario woolly mammoth[s] become important for partners, then it would be better to create some barrier to entry.”  He adds, “I think it is just cheaper to invest in patents early.  Much cheaper to patent the core tech early in order to avoid being reactive.”

The screen and camera details of the iPhone Fold have surfaced yet again, with a list of identical specifications making an earlier leaker's claim seem slightly more likely to be true.A render of a possible iPhone Fold - Image Credit: AppleInsiderThe iPhone Fold is expected to have two screens, with a smaller outer display for general use and a folding internal one that's much larger. It now seems that the rumor mill has agreed on some of the essential specifications of those components.In a Naver post, serial leaker "yeux1122" posted some details about the iPhone Fold's screens. The key internal one is listed as measuring 7.76 inches diagonally, with a resolution of 2,713 by 1,920 and a theoretical pixel density of 428 pixels per inch. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Following our previous look at an opening for a Director of Residential Capital Planning at the University at Buffalo, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for an Architecture Archive Fellow at the University of Southern California. The fellowship, based in Los Angeles, will support one designer or scholar in residence for an academic year. Applicants should be recent graduates wishing to pursue careers in academia and have a “demonstrated interest and are developing work related to social, racial, and cultural conditions within American cities.” The deadline for submissions is May 19th, 2025. Related on Archinect: $600,000 Mellon grant will help public programs for the Paul Revere Williams Architecture Archive at USC. Image: Paul R. Williams, AIA. Drawing by Charles Henry Alston, 1907-1977 (Wikimedia Commons). Why the role interests us The open role at USC offers us the opportunity to take a closer look at an initia...

Got a project that’s too contemporary for your client? Submit your conceptual works, images and ideas for global recognition and print publication in the 2025 Vision Awards, launching this spring! Stay updated by clicking here. Oscar Niemeyer’s legacy of sculptural, expressive modernism continues to influence contemporary Brazilian architecture. Today’s architects reinterpret Brazil’s most famous architects’ bold, fluid forms using modern technologies, materials and construction techniques, blending artistic expression with innovation. They adapt Niemeyer’s ethos to address Brazil’s evolving social and environmental challenges, designing resilient, sustainable spaces that respond to the country’s diverse climates and urban needs. Each architect brings a distinct perspective, but the echoes of Niemeyer’s vision, so notably expressed in his commitment to monumental gestures, organic integration with nature, and a poetic use of materials, continue to shape Brazil’s architectural landscape. Niemeyer’s High Rise Legacy: JFL 125 Tower By aflalo/gasperini arquitetos, São Paulo, Brazil JFL 125 by aflalo/gasperini arquitetos. São Paulo, Brazil | Photo by Daniel Ducci. The JFL 125 Tower, designed by Aflalo/Gasperini Arquitetos, embodies Oscar Niemeyer’s legacy of sculptural dynamism. Its zigzagging balconies wrapping around the structure create a rhythmic sense of movement and interplay of light and shadow reminiscent of the pattern of horizontal fins in Niemeyer’s Edifício Montreal (1951-1954) in São Paulo. Much like Niemeyer’s large-scale, yet fluid constructions, the JFL 125 Tower highlights vertical elegance and lightness, ensuring that the height is harmonious rather than overpowering. It also exemplifies Niemeyer’s vision of blurring indoor-outdoor boundaries through expansive terraces. Aflalo/Gasperini modernizes Niemeyer’s characteristic sculpted concrete aesthetic by incorporating glass and metal. This contemporary use of materials achieves a design that aligns with modern technology while maintaining a modernist appeal. Niemeyer’s Integration of Art and Architecture: Arapiraca  By Triptyque Architecture, São Paulo, Brazil Arapiraca by Triptyque Architecture. Vila Madalena, São Paulo, SP, Brazil | Photo by Dianna Snape Photography Oscar Niemeyer’s architecture often featured ceramic murals, generally in collaboration with renowned Brazilian artists like Athos Bulcão. While Niemeyer primarily focused on sculptural concrete forms, he embraced the creation of murals, balancing abstract patterns and figurative storytelling to add narrative, texture, and cultural depth to his buildings. These murals, often crafted in azulejos — traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles — embody his belief in the integral unity of architecture, art and landscape. A contemporary interpretation of Niemeyer’s ceramic tile murals can be seen in the Arapiraca project by Triptyque Architecture with its striking blue and white tiled façades. Triptyque embraces tilework as a fundamental design element, integrating it seamlessly into the Arapiraca’s structure rather than treating it as a mere surface embellishment. This approach aligns with Niemeyer’s vision, where tile murals were not just decorative but thoughtfully embedded to enhance the overall composition of a building. Vision of Weightless Elegance: Sumaré House By Isay Weinfeld, São Paulo, Brazil Sumaré House by Isay Weinfeld, São Paulo, Brazil | Photo by Nelson Kon Isay Weinfeld’s Sumaré House shares key architectural principles with Oscar Niemeyer’s residential designs, particularly in its structural lightness and simplicity, and the seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. Sumaré House engages with its surroundings through large openings that invite light, air, and views, reinforcing Niemeyer’s ideal of the surroundings being an extension of the built work. The house’s cantilevered structure creates a floating effect, evoking the weightlessness seen in Niemeyer’s pilotis-supported structures, such as the Palácio do Planalto (1958) in Brasilia. Weinfeld’s use of raw concrete, wood, and steel also echoes Niemeyer’s material expression, enhancing their natural textures and interactions with the surrounding environment. However, Sumaré House differs from Niemeyer’s architectural vision in its minimalist expression. While Niemeyer’s work is sculptural and bold, Sumaré House features a minimalist, geometric aesthetic that prioritizes clean lines and an interplay of solid and void. Harmony Between Nature and Architecture: Japanese Immigration Memorial By Gustavo Penna Arquiteto & Associados, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Japanese Immigration Memorial by Gustavo Penna Arquiteto & Associados, Belo Horizonte, Brazil | Photo by Jomar Bragança Gustavo Penna Arquiteto & Associados (GPA&A) shares several core design principles with Oscar Niemeyer, particularly in their sculptural approach to architecture, emphasis on expressive forms, and deep connection to cultural narratives. However, while Niemeyer’s work generally embraces fluid and organic forms, GPA&A explores a more symbolic and geometric abstraction. This distinction is beautifully exemplified by the  Japanese Immigration Memorial. The structure is nestled within a natural setting, achieving a harmonious symbiosis between nature and the built form, a principle Niemeyer strongly advocated. The clarity of the design establishes a dialogue between solid and void, permanence and fluidity, qualities that resonate with Niemeyer’s architectural ethos and the Japanese aesthetic of simplicity and balance. Sculptural and Sustainable: Youth Arena By Vigliecca & Associados. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Youth Arena by Vigliecca & Associados. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Photo by Leonardo Finotti The Youth Arena by Vigliecca & Associados embodies Oscar Niemeyer’s belief that architecture should serve the public, incorporating sustainable and social design principles. Originally conceived for the Rio 2016 Olympics, it was envisioned as a long-term and multifunctional community asset, hosting sports, education, and cultural events. The Youth Arena features a strong geometric identity with a lightweight steel structure that minimizes material use and maintains elegance, aligning with Niemeyer’s focus on efficiency and visual impact. Its floating roof, supported by slender columns, creates a sense of openness, and the perforated façades regulate temperature naturally, reflecting Niemeyer’s passive design strategies seen in works like the Itamaraty Palace. With sustainable features like passive cooling, natural light optimization, and environmentally friendly materials, the Youth Arena is a modern interpretation of Niemeyer’s sculptural, sustainable, and socially engaged legacy. Got a project that’s too contemporary for your client? Submit your conceptual works, images and ideas for global recognition and print publication in the 2025 Vision Awards, launching this spring! Stay updated by clicking here. Top image: Palácio do planalto designed by Oscar Niemeyer | Photo by seier+seier via Flickr CC 2.0  The post Brazil Builds: Revisiting Niemeyer Through Contemporary Brazilian Practice appeared first on Journal.

Between Project Hibiki (which likely became Hi-Fi Rush) and DOOM Year Zero (which became DOOM: The Dark Ages), documents from Microsoft’s 2023 trial with the FTC continue to hit the mark. The latest is The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake, with several screenshots leaking from developer Virtuos’s own site and a likely release on April 21st. But what about the remaster of Fallout 3, Bethesda’s first foray into the post-apocalyptic nuclear RPG series? There haven’t been many rumors since the documents first went public, but reliable insider NateTheHate2 says it’s still planned. The downside? It won’t be out for a while. How long that may be remains unknown. Despite the lack of a new single-player release since Fallout 4, the series is alive and well. Fallout 76’s latest season kicked off on March 18th, allowing one to finally play as a Ghoul. Fallout: London, a massive mod for Fallout 4, was redeemed over one million times on GOG. Check out our thoughts on a potential Fallout 3 remaster and why it deserves a remake instead. Planned but won't be for a while.— NateTheHate2 (@NateTheHate2) April 16, 2025

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Leopoly has released Shapelab 2025 v2.0, the latest version of its VR sculpting software, adding an experimental new voxel sculpting toolset.Other changes include support for cavity masking when painting sculpts, falloff curves for most of the sculpting brushes, and the option to create your own custom 3D stamps. A polygon-based digital sculpting tool streamlined enough to use in virtual reality Released in 2023 after several years in early access, Shapelab is designed for sculpting 3D models – primarily organic forms like characters and creatures – in VR or on desktop systems.Unlike tools like Adobe’s Medium and Substance 3D Modeler, it represents 3D models as conventional polygonal geometry, rather than Signed Distance Fields. Shapelab uses a brush-based sculpting workflow, with a base set of brushes that will be familiar to users of apps like ZBrush, plus the option to use alpha textures as stamps. Users can adjust the resolution of the mesh locally, via a brush-controlled dynamic topology system, or via a set of global controls. It is also possible to clone, mirror or perform Boolean operations on geometry to build up more complex forms. For texturing sculpts, Shapelab includes a vertex painting toolset with support for masks; or users can apply a set of readymade materials. Experimental new voxel engine lets you model without topological constraints To that, the latest update – Shapelab 2025 came out last year, so it’s officially Shapelab 2025 v2.0 or just the ‘Spring Update’ – adds support for voxel-based sculpting.The technique, also supported in applications like 3DCoat, represents models as a solid grid of 3D pixels, rather than as polygonal surfaces. It makes it possible to model without topological constraints, removing the need to subdivide a mesh to add detail, and making it easier to punch holes through objects. However, it makes it harder to perform other operations, so each approach has its own merits. Pitched as a quick way to rough out 3D forms Leopoly pitches Shapelab’s new voxel engine as a secondary toolset, intended primarily for quick sketching and form exploration, and for blocking out rough forms for sculpts.The company describes the release as “laying the groundwork for hybrid workflows that combine the structural precision of polygonal meshes with the fluid sculptability of voxels”. Still a work in progress, lacking some of the features from the poly modeling toolset Users can either sculpt voxel objects from scratch, or convert an existing polygonal mesh to a voxel object for editing.In the initial release, the voxel sculpting brushes include Voxel Clay, for adding or removing volume from a voxel object; Inflate/Deflate Voxel, which can be used to draw strokes; and Smooth Voxel, for softening geometry. It is also possible to use voxel shapes as 3D stamps. However, the toolset is still officially a work in progress, with known limitations including a lack of support for masks or Boolean operations. Other changes: cavity masking, falloff curves for brushes, and custom 3D stamps Updates to existing features include support for cavity masking, which masks a surface according to its local curvature, making it possible to target only cavities or bumps.In addition, “most” of the sculpting brushes now include custom falloff properties, enabling users to control the area of a sculpt they influence by adjusting the falloff curve. It is also now possible to use custom 3D shapes with the Stamp Tool. Workflow and interface improvements Workflow improvements include a new ‘Quick Switch’ shortcut, making it possible to select any object or layer and jump directly into Edit Mode with a single thumbstick gesture.There is also a new quick cursor repositioning system when sculpting, and the Quick Access Wheel pie menu now supports a wider range of actions. Price and system requirements Shapelab 2025 is compatible with Windows 10+. Find a list of supported VR headsets here.Perpetual licenses have a standard price of $64.99. Subscriptions now cost $29.99/year, down $30/year since the previous release. Read a full list of new features in Shapelab 2025 v2.0 in the online release notes Read more about Shapelab on the product website Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

April 16, 20254 Min ReadImage via KeywordsTranslator unions Audiovisual Translators Europe (AVTE) and Tramiti have called out multinational game service provider Keywords for ignoring their requests for collective bargaining.Both organizations have accused Keywords of prioritizing the "the race for profit" over the needs of translation workers and claim their attempts to open a dialogue with the company to secure better compensation for freelance translators have been met with a "wall of silence."AVTE is an umbrella association representing national unions across Europe and beyond. Tramiti represents multimedia translators in Italy (mainly working in the subtitling and video game industries) and is a section of Italian union Acta.In a lengthy post on the AVTE website, both claim Keywords has gained a competitive edge in the translation industry by "applying an aggressive profit-first logic" to the detriment of both internal employees and external contractors.AVTE and Tramiti allege Keywords has essentially monopolized the translation industry through mergers and acquisitions, allowing the company to lowball workers with impunity."Keywords' most harmful practice is the 'merging & acquisition' policy, in which they systematically absorb smaller and 'more human' companies, increasingly limiting the alternatives for those who would like to earn a living through translation," reads the post.Related:"The culmination of this process was seen last summer: in preparation for Keywords' acquisition by the equity fund EQT, 31 employees were laid off for no other reason than to increase the company's already high profit margin. Keywords' freelance collaborators, although not directly affected by the layoffs, are experiencing a continuous deterioration of their working conditions and compensation."Keywords accused of refusing to negotiate with translator unions over "rock-bottom rates"More specifically, AVTE and Tramiti claim Keywords intentionally withholds work from inherited contractors on "decent rates" to avoid paying those fees. They also claim the company replaces translation workers who refuse to make their rates more "competitive" with inexperienced newcomers who are more willing to accept lower rates.Keywords is also accused of luring translators in with the promise of experienced-based raises that never materialize, while also employing a "wholesaler approach" to contract work that theoretically allows contractors to take on more projects by accepting a lower rate. ATVE and Tramiti claim it's an approach that only works on paper.Related:"In the past, some collaborators were persuaded to accept very low 'entry-level' rates with the prospect of periodic adjustments based on the newly-gained experience. However, these adjustments turned out to be negligible at first and then became practically non-negotiable. As a result, many freelancers with years of experience in the company are still working at entry-level rates, with a monthly income equivalent to that of an unskilled beginner," continues the post."More recently, to justify its rock-bottom rates, Keywords adopted a 'wholesaler approach.' According to this logic, by accepting a lower rate, one can work on more projects (though no guarantee is provided in this regard), thus earning an equal or higher income. Artificial Intelligence plays a part in this approach too, since it would allegedly justify rates that are two-thirds of those for purely human translation, with the reasoning that the translator wouldn’t be starting from scratch. The problem is that, in the field of multimedia translation, the help of AI is far more hypothetical than real."AVTE and Tramiti say it's a scenario that traps freelancers in a "vicious cycle" where they must overload their slate with poorly paid tasks—leaving them with no time or energy to seek out better opportunities.Related:To remedy the situation, ATVE and Tramiti emailed Keywords' Resource Management on December 13 and December 20, 2024. After failing to hear back, both organizations followed up on February 3, 2025, but claim they were again met with silence.In those messages, both unions say they outlined the difficulties members have encountered working with Keywords and offered to help the company find an "alternative business model" that prioritizes sustainability for both parties."More specifically, Tramiti requested that a minimum, fair rate for entry-level freelancers be set, one that is transparent and negotiable upwards, in order to prevent the exploitation of newcomers and unfair competition, as well as a reconsideration of the new automated project assignment system, which resembles the exploitative mechanisms used for riders and other gig-economy workers," adds the post.AVTE and Tramiti claim the company has yet to respond as of April 14, 2025. Game Developer has reached out to Keywords for comment. Read more about:LaborDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Nvidia is releasing a new GPU driver today that includes a massive amount of fixes for bugs and crashes that have plagued its Game Ready drivers recently. After widespread reports of black screens, game crashes, and general stability issues, today’s 576.02 driver release (.exe download) not only bumps the version number significantly from last month’s 572.83, it also includes a number of significant fixes. The release notes for Nvidia’s 576.02 driver mention that it fixes stability issues with Windows 11 version 24H2, a BSOD when playing DLSS 4 games with Multi Frame Generation, random black screen issues with the RTX 50-series GPUs, and general system stability issues. Nvidia has also addressed “game stability issues when playing games with DLSS Frame Generation + GSYNC.” This driver release also fixes random crashes in Fortnite, a Star Wars Outlaws hang after the game is idle, a Monster Hunter Wilds crash, and stutter when using VSYNC in Overwatch 2. There are also a variety of fixes for Hellblade 2, Control, The Last of Us Part 1, and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection. It’s an unusual amount of bug fixes for Nvidia’s usual driver updates, which regularly contain only a handful of fixed gaming or general bugs that fill half a page of Nvidia’s release notes. These latest bug fixes take up almost two pages this time around. Hopefully this large list addresses most of the complaints we’ve seen ever since the RTX 5090 release in January. While Nvidia has struggled with RTX 50-series driver stability, the issues have also been impacting existing GPUs after the introduction of DLSS 4. Nvidia’s 576.02 driver also supports the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU that’s launching today, starting at $379.