Tatooine might be the inescapable center of the Skywalker Saga, but when it comes to the most influential planets in the Star Wars galaxy, Ghorman just hyperspace jumped to the top of the list.  In the season premiere of Andor season 2, the Earth-like planet lands in the crosshairs of Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), the cape-wearing Imperial crony last seen in Rogue One. In a secret meeting on the Maltheen Divide, Krennic and various representatives from across the Empire watch a 1950s-style PSA about the prosperous business of harvesting silk produced by Ghorman spiders, or ghorlectipods.  But Krennic’s interest in Ghorman goes beyond — or rather, deeper — than textiles: Underneath the planet is an ore, kalkite, that could completely reshape and empower the Empire. He intends to mine it at all costs. Ghorman has been on the periphery of Star Wars lore while never in complete focus. In the first season of Andor, Ghorman pushback against Imperial rule led to sanctions from their overlords and cries in the planet’s defense in the Galactic Senate, spearheaded by Mon Mothma. Mentions of the planet’s silk production pop up in other parts of Star Wars — mainly in the High Republic book Convergence, set nearly 380 years before the events of the show — but Ghorman’s real claim to fame in Star Wars history is a violent turn.  Ported from “Legends” EU material like Dark Apprentice into canon auxiliary material like 2023’s Star Wars Timelines, the “Ghorman Massacre” saw the Empire “slaughter peaceful protestors” (per Timelines) who stood against trade blockades. Compilations of the bits and pieces of lore about the attack suggest thousands were killed. The Andor season 2 premiere sets up the pieces to depict this horrific event, which, if things follow current canon, should be an inciting moment for Mon Mothma to go full rebel. Star Wars’ screen stories have their fair share of devastating Imperial action, but the way Krennic lights the fuse for the Ghorman Massacre is particularly ugly and despicable. If the established timeline holds, the Empire’s attack on Ghorman protestors will go down in BBY 2. We see Krennic’s meeting at the Maltheen Divide in BBY 4. What may have sounded like a moment of bubbled-over rage on the part of the Empire now looks like a diabolical plot. “Ghorman is of great interest to the Empire,” Krennic says to his goons. The reason is kalkite energy; instead of manufacturing synthetic alternatives, the Empire could mine the real thing from the planet and truly fulfill the “Emperor’s dream of energy independence,” which sounds like the most cheery presidential executive order hogwash imaginable. The Empire surely does seek “stable, unlimited power,” as Krennic puts it, but I have feeling that coating “reactor lenses” has less to do with sustainability than powering, I don’t know, a Death Star? We know where Krennic winds up in Rogue One. Krennic knows his pitch to frack Ghorman won’t even fly with all of his Imperial collaborators. So he brings in Dee Shambo and Nisus Osar from the absolutely evil-sounding Ministry of Enlightenment to lecture the group on the need to “weaponize the galactic opinion” over the Ghorman’s “arrogant” business affairs and the government’s general “secrecy.” Tony Gilroy’s metaphor for modern political chicanery feels so thinly veiled (in a forceful, satisfying way) that you almost expect someone to claim George Soros is fueling the Ghorman resistance effort. Only a few minutes later, one of Krennic’s goons wonders aloud if they should just unleash a plague on Ghorman to wipe out the population so they can swoop in with drills. It gets uglier. Krennic has the majority on his side, but doesn’t trust his own propaganda plan. He turns to Security Bureau lieutenant Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) for better ideas. “You need a radical insurgency you can count on,” she tells him. “You need Ghorman rebels to do the wrong thing.” Woof. The days of blowing up Alderaan in a single shot almost seem quaint. The stage is set for the Empire to get the best of the Ghorman people through their own slippery resistance. If the Empire can fuel enough rage, the protest movement will go over the line and give permission for them to enter, like militarized vampires. Like life, but unlike most Star Wars, it seems no one will show up at the perfect time to scream “It’s a trap!” The silk, the spiders, and the Ricola commercial of a planet will all be wiped out over something that has nothing to do with any of it. Most prequels tend to go back and shade in the familiar. Andor, on the other hand, plucks from Wookieepedia obscurity — then decimates accordingly. Good luck, Ghorman; we hardly knew you.

Instagram is officially launching Edits, the company's take on mobile video editors. The launch comes three months after Instagram announced the app, and two months after Edits' original launch date in February. Instagram is coming for TikTokIt makes sense for Instagram to have a video editor of its own for many reasons. The company is no longer just the app you open to check out the photos and videos people and companies post on their page: Instagram reels are a huge part of the experience now. Short-form videos have taken off everywhere (even LinkedIn has them), and Instagram is no exception. There's a good chance it's your platform of choice for these bite-size clips, especially if you live in the United States—even if TikTok users scoff at the idea of using Reels at all.But it's not just the friendly competition that is fueling this push for Edits to take off. You might recall that back in January, TikTok and its associated apps went dark. Not only did Americans lose access to the most popular short form video app in the world, but also other popular apps like CapCut. While TikTok and many of its apps returned, the situation is ongoing, and these apps' future in the U.S. is anything but guaranteed. There's a real opportunity for Meta to solidify Instagram as the one-stop shop for both consumers and creators of short form videos, both to compete with TikTok and to take its crown should the apps be banned again.What can you do with Edits? Instagram itself has an editing tool you can use when creating a reel, but the Edits app appears to be a more complete experience. I haven't had a chance to try out Edits yet, but from Meta's promotional materials, the app seems like a standard mobile video editor. You can import video files, or shoot directly within the app (up to 10 minutes), and edit on a non-linear timeline. Like other apps, you can access various editing tools, like a chrome key tool for green screening, a caption editor, and a cutout feature to isolate subjects and objects. You can check out reels with trending audio, and use a track if you find one you like, or access a greater audio library to add music and sounds to your video. While there's a general project manager, there's also an "Ideas" section. Here, you can write down concepts for future videos; it looks to be more than a glorified notes app, as it seems you can create vision board-like stickers for these ideas. You can also keep tabs on how any video performs from an "Insights" tab. Credit: Images courtesy of Meta Of course, it's 2025, so Instagram is incorporating AI into Edits. That manifests as the Animate feature, which lets you animate static images with generative AI. It sounds similar to features offered by other companies, like Google's Veo 2 video model, but we'll have to see how it performs before passing judgment. Meta says there's also a "Modify" feature that changes the "look and feel" of your videos using AI, but hasn't specified much about how that really works. Again, we'll need to test out the app to see what that's all about. You can download Edits starting today from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. You'll need to log in with your Instagram account to use it, which makes sense: Meta wants you to use this for Instagram reels. However, as long as you have an Instagram account, you can use Edits to make videos for any platform. The company says all exports come without watermarks, so you can, in theory, use Edits to post videos on platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, not just Instagram. Again, the big question is how the app performs when compared to established mobile video editor apps. If you use Instagram already, it might makes sense to use Edits, too. But if you're used to another mobile video editor, especially one that isn't at risk of being banned, will Edits be enticing enough to make the switch? Only time (and edits) will tell.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If you’ve been thinking about adding a security camera to your setup but want something a little more refined than the entry-level options, the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro might hit that middle ground. Normally priced at $229.99, it’s now down to $159.99 on Amazon, which price trackers confirm is its lowest ever. Ring Spotlight Cam Pro, Battery $159.99 at Amazon $229.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $159.99 at Amazon $229.99 Save $70.00 That’s a rare drop for a Ring Pro series camera, which typically stays at the premium end of Amazon's home security lineup. This model came out in 2022, and while the 1080p resolution doesn’t exactly feel cutting-edge anymore, the overall package still holds up well.This camera is battery-powered, meaning wireless setup and easy installation. Plus, it offers a wide 140-degree field of view, quick notifications when motion is detected, and two-way audio that’s unusually clear. According to this ZDNet review, you can carry on a full conversation with someone 40 feet from the camera without any lag or distortion. That said, the spotlight feature isn’t quite as strong—it maxes out at 375 lumens, which is enough for basic visibility in a small yard or porch, but not something you'd want for full floodlight coverage. Still, it’s equipped with color night vision and an adjustable alarm, which adds another layer of deterrence.You’ll need a Ring Home subscription to actually record and store your videos, which starts at $4.99/month for a single camera—but live view and alerts work without one. And while it plays well with Alexa and IFTTT, it skips out on Google Assistant and HomeKit support. As for battery life, depending on your activity zones and lighting preferences, it can last anywhere from six months to a year, notes this PCMag review.

Engadget's pick for the best security camera for newbies is on sale for 30 percent off. The Google Nest Security Cam has an easy setup, wide-ranging compatibility and 1080p HD video. It also doesn't hurt that it's pretty dang cute. Typically ringing up for $100, you can get the camera today on Amazon for $69.98. We found the wired security camera to have the most true-to-life video of the models we tested. Its colors hit a Goldilocks zone — neither too cold nor too warm — with subtle, accurate hues. It also supports night vision, with smoother and less grainy results than competing cams. The camera covers about a 90-degree vertical range and 360 degrees horizontally. Its recordings' 135-degree diagonal field of view isn't the widest, but it should be plenty for anything you need to see. Part of what makes it accessible to smart home security newcomers is the Google Home app. First, the odds are high that you already have an account with the company, making signing in a breeze. In addition, adding your device to the app is an easy process with clear labels and easy-to-follow instructions. It also offers full functionality for iPhones, not just Android handsets. The Nest Cam has a friendly-looking design composed of two half orbs connected by a little arm. The device has a matte finish and is available in several colors: white, foggy gray and charming "linen." Although the camera's subscription plan is optional, using it without one severely limits your options, with only three hours of recent event history and people, animal and vehicle detection. Otherwise, you'll need to plunk down $8 monthly for a Nest Aware subscription that saves the past 30 days of activity. Or, if you want to go all in, a $15 monthly Plus plan lets you rewind up to 90 days of history and supports up to 10 days of 24/7 recording. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't have a local storage option. So, you'll want to consider the (nearly mandatory) subscription cost before pulling the trigger. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/our-favorite-google-nest-security-camera-is-on-sale-for-30-percent-off-161756687.html?src=rss

Google has been paying Samsung tons of cash every month to pre-install the AI app Gemini on its smartphones, according to a report by Bloomberg. This information comes to us as part of a pre-existing antitrust case against Google. Peter Fitzgerald, Google’s VP of platforms and device partnerships, testified in federal court that it began paying Samsung for this service back in January. The pair of companies have a contract that’s set to run at least two years. Fitzgerald told Judge Amit Metha, who is overseeing the case, that Google provides Samsung with both fixed monthly payments and a percentage of revenue earned from advertisers within the Gemini app. The monetary figures are unknown, but DOJ lawyer David Dahlquist called it an "enormous sum of money in a fixed monthly payment." This antitrust case started with an accusation that Google had been illegally abusing a monopoly over the search engine industry. Part of the testimony surrounding that case involved Google paying Apple, Samsung and other companies to ensure it was the default search engine on its devices. Judge Mehta agreed and found that this practice constitutes a violation of antitrust law. He’s currently hearing additional testimony to decide what measures Google must take to remedy the illegal behavior, which is where this Gemini reveal comes from. Testimony from another case involving Epic Games indicated that Google handed over $8 billion from 2020 to 2023 to ensure that Google Search, the Play Store and Google Assistant were used by default on Samsung mobile devices. A California federal judge later ruled that the company must lift restrictions that prevent rival marketplaces and billing systems. Google is in the process of appealing that ruling. As an aside, if Google is hellbent on handing out Scrooge McDuck-sized bags of money to increase adoption rates of its generative AI app, why not give the regular people who have to actually use the bloatware some of that cash? Just saying.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-pays-samsung-an-enormous-amount-of-money-to-pre-install-gemini-on-phones-153439068.html?src=rss

OpenAI and Shopify are working to make ChatGPT able to buy things directly when you ask.

These Chinese companies are reportedly considering IPOs in the US despite the ongoing trade war.

Tesla is cautiously navigating an entry into India, CFO Vaibhav Taneja said in an earnings call, as the EV maker faces falling sales and tariff threats.

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. There’s no question that artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm. However, as the initial excitement over the technology fades, we find ourselves in a new phase of thoughtful exploration. There are many innovative AI startups that have captured the world’s attention; however, many organizations still struggle to develop a clear roadmap to take full advantage of this transformative technology.   So, what’s the hold up? And how can business leaders avoid fleeting trends, effectively align their teams, and successfully integrate AI to achieve measurable impact and ROI for their business?  Embrace the journey  AI is already transforming industries, boosting efficiency and automating tasks ranging from data entry and language translation to document processing. And the benefits are clear—recent Accenture research found that the vast majority of organizations are seeing stronger-than-expected returns from their generative AI investments.  Still, it’s important to keep a balanced perspective. While many AI solutions promise substantial benefits, the real challenge is identifying those that add tangible value. With new technologies emerging almost weekly, some leaders may also hesitate to invest because they are unsure if a better option is just around the corner.   AI’s true power comes from practical, enterprise-ready applications. For business leaders wondering where to start, the key is identifying the right challenges to tackle and knowing when and how to implement solutions effectively. Here are seven actionable tips to help you navigate this exciting landscape and build an AI decision-making framework tailored to your organization’s needs.  1. Identify the use case   First, pinpoint your specific needs and business objectives. Start within your organization, identifying pain points AI can address. Think about what AI does well, like spotting patterns, crunching numbers, and making predictions. Could it help with document translation, content creation, or customer insights? With so many potential applications, determining where to start might seem daunting. A focused, purposeful approach ensures you’re investing in AI solutions that deliver real results.  2. Consider specialized models  Over the last two years, we’ve seen much of the excitement around general purpose AI models outpace their value. As you evaluate AI tools for your organization, consider specialized AI models offering tailored solutions for specific industry needs.  General AI models can do many things pretty well, but for higher stakes and more specific demands, specialized models often address complex, industry-specific challenges more effectively. For example, healthcare AI models can help doctors identify diseases more accurately, while banks use credit-scoring AI to determine who’s likely to pay back loans. Language AI tools like DeepL are also specialized to businesses communicating across languages and markets.  Specialized AI offerings are trained on domain-specific data optimized for particular tasks or industries, delivering enhanced quality and accuracy with lower risk of errors. They’re also often designed with built-in compliance features aligned with industry regulations. This makes them more cost-effective, with clearer ROI.   3. Are humans the answer?  When you’re holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail, right? As the founder of an AI company, you might be surprised to hear me say this, but just because AI is the big thing right now doesn’t mean it’s the singular solution for every problem or opportunity. So before diving into the deep end, consider if a human solution might actually be more effective than AI. Weighing what people, supported by AI, do best versus what AI can offer on its own, will help ensure you take the right approach for your organization’s needs.  4. Start with pilot projects   If you’re about to deploy an AI solution for the first time, begin with pilot projects to test your AI integrations in smaller, controlled environments. Starting small with a more limited investment reduces overall risk and can allow you to gather real-world data, monitor performance, and assess alignment with business goals before scaling. Pilot projects can also help build confidence within your teams and among leadership, making way for more successful full-scale AI deployments.  5. Invest in tech (and training)  To truly harness AI’s potential, focus on bringing in new talent and continuously training existing employees. Depending on the implementation’s complexity, you might need new positions like data scientists, machine learning engineers or specialists. Upskilling your existing workforce can be equally essential to ensure employees can adapt and thrive alongside technological advancements.   6. Have a solid data strategy in place  AI requires large volumes of data to perform its best, so it’s essential to have a solid data strategy infrastructure in place. Your plan should address how your organization will collect, securely store and access data; ensure compliance with evolving data privacy regulations, copyright standards and ethical guidelines; and assign responsibility for ongoing data governance and management. Answering these questions up front will save your company stress and problems later.  7. Refresh your ROI framework and adjust it regularly  Most business leaders can recall digital initiatives that didn’t meet expectations, which can lead to concerns that their AI investments might follow a similar path. To enhance your ROI, outline your initiative’s measurable goals, such as efficiency, cost savings, or an enhanced customer experience. Establish baseline metrics to understand current performance; then track improvements directly linked to AI.   It’s important to be adaptable, regularly revisiting goals and metrics to reflect evolving business priorities, market conditions, and technological changes. Unlike standard digital projects, AI initiatives can uncover new opportunities or shift mid-course. Also consider AI’s long-term strategic advantages, which may take time to come to fruition.  From hyperbole to high performance   To make AI work, organizations should shift their focus from what’s trending to enterprise-ready solutions that deliver lasting and specific value. Define your use cases up front, adopt an agile ROI framework, a robust data strategy, and commit to continuous improvement. This will unlock AI’s transformative potential and build a foundation for long-term competitive advantage.  Jarek Kutylowski is CEO and founder of DeepL. 

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Across industries, a new era of climate innovation is accelerating. The momentum is visible in the data: Global clean energy investment surpassed $2 trillion for the first time in 2024, double the amount invested in fossil fuels.  While solar panels, wind turbines, and grid-connected batteries often grab the headlines, the low carbon economy is growing in far more corners than many realize.  Since founding Supercool last summer to cover proven and scaling climate solutions, I’ve seen needle-moving innovation accelerating across farms, factories, and finance departments.  One sector in particular shows remarkable progress—the built environment, which accounts for 34% of global carbon emissions.  From hard tech and material breakthroughs to AI-powered intelligence to novel business models, here are three approaches to decarbonizing buildings happening now.  1. Hardtech innovation: Build with carbon-negative materials   The engineered materials we use to build our suburbs and cities—primarily timber, concrete, and steel—create a lot of carbon emissions in their manufacture. Concrete and steel account for nearly 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Wood-based materials like oriented strand board (OSB), which are commonly installed in new homes, generate most of their manufacturing carbon emissions from burning wood to generate heat during production.  Plantd transforms the built environment using carbon-negative building materials derived from alternative biomass—a hardy, fast-growing grass. Four years ago, I cofounded the company with two former SpaceX engineers. To realize its ambitions, Plantd established a new agricultural supply chain innovating at every step, from building an in-house tissue culture lab to establishing full-scale greenhouse operations to supplying commercial farmers with the company’s proprietary grass.  [Photo: Courtesy of Plantd] Why grass? Because it grows incredibly fast, like bamboo, rapidly removing atmospheric carbon in the process, and possesses the structural characteristics to be transformed into durable engineered building materials.  Yet, the key to sequestering carbon in our materials is Plantd’s manufacturing technology. Our team pioneered a modular, electric-powered production line that turns grass into finished products that replace plywood and OSB in new home construction.  It’s a first-of-its-kind technology that distinguishes a Plantd production facility from every other engineered wood facility in the world; ours is the only one without a smoke stack on top of the building.  This past fall, D.R. Horton, the largest homebuilder in America, which builds about one in every 10 U.S. homes, ordered 10 million Plantd panels, enough to form the walls and roofs of 90,000 new single-family homes.   2. Software innovation: Give buildings brains  An even bigger source of building-related carbon emissions is the energy required to operate them. Globally, this accounts for 26% of all greenhouse gas emissions.   The top culprit: HVAC systems.   The heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment needed to keep us comfortable indoors are responsible for about 35% of all energy used in U.S. buildings.  The challenge is that thermostats, even the smart ones, aren’t very bright. They can track what’s already happened and react to what’s happening right now, but they cannot anticipate changes in weather, occupancy, carbon intensity of the grid, and energy costs.   BrainBox AI can. Using AI-powered intelligence, its cloud-based control system connects to the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of HVAC components in a building and sends them real-time instructions.  The company’s platform provides over 15,000 buildings worldwide—from Nordstrom to Family Dollar—with the intelligence to see six hours into the future with 96% accuracy.   By knowing the future, BrainBox AI cuts energy, costs, and carbon emissions and improves comfort. It’s an easy-to-install solution that works with existing systems and equipment.  The results? HVAC-related emissions reductions of up to 40% and energy savings as high as 25%.   3. Finance innovation: Make efficiency upgrades free  Many buildings are stuck with legacy equipment that gets the job done but consumes far more energy than their more efficient modern counterparts. Yet, new equipment can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, often placing upgrades out of reach.  Budderfly has built one of the fastest-growing businesses in America by removing the cost barrier. The company identifies energy-intensive businesses like fast food chains and offers them a deal that sounds almost too good to be true: free upgrades to energy-efficient systems, including HVAC, lighting, refrigeration, and security. Budderfly foots the bills and shares the monthly energy savings with its customers.   Scale is key to making this business model work. Budderfly has raised nearly $1 billion to pay for the equipment it installs in customer locations. Its rapid expansion enables it to secure preferential pricing from global equipment suppliers that individual owners and franchisees could never obtain independently.  Budderfly also takes over billing, which is one less thing for customers to worry about, and gives the company a trove of data to drive further energy reductions and cost savings.  From Taco Bell to McDonald’s to Sonic, clients are guaranteed to see savings from day one. In 2024, Budderfly generated $200 million in revenue and now operates in more than 7,000 locations nationwide. Its customers’ collective energy use dropped 43% last year.  The takeaway  Whether it’s growing new materials, giving buildings the ability to think ahead, or reimagining who pays for energy systems, the low carbon economy isn’t just coming someday. It’s already being built.  Josh Dorfman is the CEO and host of Supercool.