The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decide that its official stance towards AI-use in films is to take no stance at all, according to a statement the organization shared outlining changes to voting for the 98th Oscars. The issue of award-nominated films using AI was first raised in 2024 when the productions behind Best Picture nominees The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez admitted to using the tech to alter performances. "With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination, " AMPAS writes. "The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award." While the organization at least reaffirms that human involvement is their primary concern, they also don't seem to believe that using AI — potentially trained on the ill-gotten work of their membership — is an existential problem. Hollywood labor unions have historically felt differently: One of several issues raised during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023 was that AI could be used to replace the work of real people. The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez used it to modify vocal performances, but you don't have to connect too many dots to see generative AI playing an even more substantial role in the future. The Academy is more flexible than it's been in years, expanding membership, adding new award categories and alongside this AI statement, improving awards voting for the better. But it still seems like most industries are waiting for a decisive legal victory against an AI company to set a new standard before they change their tune towards the tech.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/using-generative-ai-will-neither-help-nor-harm-the-chances-of-achieving-oscar-nominations-201719890.html?src=rss

Project Astra and Google DeepMind preview.

Amazon and Microsoft both appear to be slowing down or holding off on early data center projects.

Restaurant delivery in New York is not like restaurant delivery in any other part of the country. The city has a long history with food delivery thanks to its dense population and copious restaurants (roughly 25,000 at last count). It even had its own delivery brand, Seamless, launched over a quarter-century ago as SeamlessWeb in the city. Now, after a brief fall from public view, Seamless is back in New York. Seamless has operated under the thumb of a much larger brand for years. It merged with Grubhub in 2013, but retained its own branding in the biggest and arguably most important delivery market in the country. But when Grubhub got a new, foreign owner in 2020—Amsterdam-based Just Eat Takeaway (JET)—its new leaders moved to more or less erase Seamless’s branding. Grubhub would benefit from optimized marketing and streamline network effects, JET’s CEO said.  Just as pandemic shutdowns boosted the delivery business, Grubhub effectively ditched a brand that appealed to its largest market, opening the door to eager competition from national brands like Uber Eats and DoorDash. In hindsight, this was a mistake, one that Grubhub’s new, New York City-based owners want to correct. Wonder, the so-called mealtime superapp led by serial entrepreneur Marc Lore, bought Grubhub for $650 million in January. Lore hasn’t offered many details about Grubhub’s future, but it clearly sees value in the New York market.  “It’s interesting to think that there would be nostalgia around one of these digital-first delivery brands,” says Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. “I think people might be happy to hear that this brand is back and look at it as bringing back—and reconnecting with—an old friend.”  If that friend were a person, they’re old enough to order a cocktail. Seamless debuted in New York in 1999, well over a decade before upstart competitors would challenge its dominance. (At the time, two of DoorDash’s three founders were under age 10.) Back then, orders placed online often arrived at restaurants by fax, an almost quaint precursor to the high-tech networks that route these orders today.   Now, the stakes are even higher. Grubhub’s share of the restaurant delivery market has fallen to a distant third behind DoorDash and Uber Eats. Per recent reporting in Bloomberg, Grubhub controls just 5% of the delivery market nationwide, according to data from Bloomberg Second Measure. In New York, Bloomberg reports, numbers from YipitData suggest that Grubhub controls about a fifth of the delivery market. In an interview, Grubhub CEO Howard Migdal disputed this, saying Grubhub’s data shows it controls a “significantly higher” portion. Even with a slight tailwind, reviving the legacy brand will take work. The most important thing for Grubhub to do, Calkins says, is to highlight what makes Seamless different.  “There is something about being a local brand, a New York brand, that could be a differentiator,” he says.  That seems to be Grubhub’s plan. In a statement, the company praised Seamless for “consistently speaking to and delivering on the nuances of living in the city that only New Yorkers could appreciate”—a.k.a. the type of if-you-know-you-know nod that plays well in local ads plastered on bus shelters and inside subway cars.  Of course, getting New Yorkers’ attention is just part of the contest. “The challenge then,” Calkins says, “is you have to get people to care.”

Bali. The name alone conjures images of verdant rice paddies, ancient temples, and a spiritual calm that feels almost mythical, perhaps even a touch overplayed in travel brochures. Yet, capturing that elusive essence in architecture, particularly for hotels, remains a profound challenge. Too often, concrete structures land like disconnected objects, disrupting the very tranquility visitors chase. It forces us to ask: how do you build in Bali, harmonizing with its spirit, rather than just building on its land? Archigods, an Indonesian firm deeply familiar with this context, offers a compelling response. Their concept for a boutique hotel isn’t about imposing scale but fostering a gentle embrace of the landscape. Named the “Blooming Ring,” the design envisions a circular structure cradling a central oasis – a literal sanctuary within a sanctuary. It feels less like an imposing building and more like an organic landform emerging naturally from the earth, whispering integration rather than shouting arrival. Designer: Archigods The circular layout is pivotal – Think ancient enclosures or communal gathering spaces; the form inherently turns inward, focusing energy and attention on the lush courtyard. This central space, planned with local flora and calming water features, becomes the hotel’s vibrant, green heart. Guest rooms radiate outwards, offering privacy, yet the core experience constantly pulls you back to this shared, protected haven, fostering a subtle sense of community amidst personal retreat. Forget predictable smooth render or ubiquitous timber cladding. Archigods proposes embedding crushed pistachio shells within the facade’s plaster. Yes, actual pistachio shells. It’s a wonderfully quirky bit of material alchemy, turning food waste into architectural texture. Imagine the subtle, variegated surface catching the tropical light – tactile, unexpected, and deeply earthy, a far cry from sterile perfection. This textural innovation sits alongside locally sourced bamboo and timber, materials intrinsically linked to Balinese building traditions. The pistachio shell facade provides a fascinating counterpoint – familiar natural materials meet clever, sustainable upcycling. It’s a statement about resourcefulness, minimizing environmental impact, and creating a building that truly feels rooted, right down to its unique, shell-flecked skin telling a quiet story of reuse. The design intent clearly targets wellness and sensory rejuvenation. Movement through the space would likely follow the ring’s gentle curve, revealing constant glimpses of the central garden, reinforcing that connection to nature. Natural light is choreographed to flood interiors, while views are carefully framed towards tranquility. The material palette – those intriguing shells, the warm wood, cool stone – aims to create a tactile journey, contributing to a sense of grounded calm. This project aligns beautifully with the principles of biophilic design, striving to weave nature seamlessly into the built environment. The Blooming Ring feels like a mature, sensitive application, specifically tuned to the Balinese context. It sidesteps flashy architectural gymnastics, prioritizing experiential richness derived from its embracing form, its careful manipulation of light, and that standout sustainable material choice. Although conceptual, Archigods’ Blooming Ring presents a potent vision for hospitality design in places demanding deep respect for nature and culture. It champions architecture that doesn’t merely occupy space but actively collaborates with the landscape, using innovative, sustainable materials to enhance the restorative escape Bali promises.The post Sustainably Luxurious Bali Hotel Uses Crushed Pistachio Shells Instead of Concrete first appeared on Yanko Design.

It's a balancing act, shares game director Frederick Schreiber.

An Oscar-winning movie about how Catholics elect a new pope could not be more relevant—but it’s not on any streaming subscription service.

The suit is an indication that the commission’s close scrutiny of the tech industry will continue in the Trump administration.

Apple could be severely affected as Trump reportedly pressures countries to limit their business dealings with China, which will result in more retaliations against US companies.Tim Cook and Donal Trump in 2019 — image credit: White HouseChina previously called Trump's trade war a joke and said it would not retaliate further than matching what was then said to be a 125% tariff imposed by the US. That tariff was then revealed to actually be 145%, and China did not escalate its own tariffs — although it did halt rare earth mineral exports.Now, however, CNBC reports that China has responded to what appears to be Trump's next move. While not announced by Trump or any other country involved, it is believed that isolating China is a key part of the White House's tariff negotiations worldwide. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The opening of the 2025 SCI-Arc Spring Show is just around the corner in Los Angeles. Beginning April 26th, the school will present its 19th annual exhibition of student work responsive to the theme of Jungle, which "reimagines SCI-Arc as a hypnotic rainforest of raw potential." This promises to be a "fervent crucible where new species of form and thought collide," infused with both the spirit of techno music and inter-species collaboration (think EDM meets Ant Farm). SCI-Arc hopes for a "cross-pollination of ideas" to come with it. You may join the school at 960 East 3rd Street in Los Angeles for the opening reception on Saturday, April 26th at 7PM. The exhibition will run through May 7th. A look back at our coverage of SCI-Arc's groundbreaking digital 2020 Spring Show at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic may be found here.