ChatGPT just received a major update to recommend specific products to users — but it's still suffering from the same old AI problem: answers that sound good at first, but make little sense when you examine them more critically.Unlike before, OpenAI's chatbot will now pull up helpful product cards that, once clicked, open a sidebar inside the chat window to show detailed information about your shopping options, including product pictures, prices at various retailers, summaries of user reviews, and a textbox describing "why you might like this." You can also hover over a product card to show an "ask about this button," which lets you ask ChatGPT specific questions about the item. And on the backend, ChatGPT will remember your preferences to show you more personalized results. Once you choose what you want, the chatbot will direct you to the retailer's website to finalize your order.When the Verge tested these new functionalities firsthand, however, there were instantly some issues. For one, ChatGPT had trouble accurately reporting information on products that weren't out yet — like the extremely-in-demand Nintendo Switch 2, which is currently only available for preorder."While ChatGPT acknowledged that retailers have experienced 'rapid sellouts,' it said that Nintendo's own My Nintendo Store was one of those retailers — even though it hasn't started sales yet," wrote the site's Jay Peters.More worryingly, the chatbot recommended some questionable vendors and seemingly invented other retailers out of thin air. "ChatGPT also pointed to some 'third-party sellers and specialized retailers' apparently offering preorders," Peters wrote, "including a $710 listing on eBay and a platform I've never heard of and can't find on Google called 'Store Collectibles.'"Bear in mind, we're talking about a product that won't start shipping until June. On eBay, you're forking over hundreds of dollars for some scalper's spot in the preorder line. Who knows what that "Store Collectibles" retailer could be."It was a reminder that, like with other generative AI tools," Peters concluded, "you should definitely double-check what ChatGPT's shopping results show you."It's a bold step forward for OpenAI in any case. Wired observes that ChatGPT's product feature will be a challenge to Google Shopping, but with a key difference: no ads, and no sponsored content.At least for now. Ads and sponsored content contribute to Google's mammoth search revenues, which raked in the company over $50 billion in the first quarter alone. Tapping into that trillion-dollar market could be immensely lucrative for OpenAI if it started taking a cut of what it recommends or offering ads and sponsorships. Finally, the AI startup could find a way to generate real revenue and maybe even turn a profit — because it's certainly not on track to do that with its sales of ChatGPT subscriptions when it still has hefty compute costs on its books.When Wired asked OpenAI search product lead Adam Fry about this possibility, he refused to rule it out. Fry, instead, emphasized that OpenAI is focused on the user experience first and will iterate on ChatGPT shopping as it learns more from its release.Share This Article

Apr 30, 2025Ravie LakshmananSecure Coding / Vulnerability Meta on Tuesday announced LlamaFirewall, an open-source framework designed to secure artificial intelligence (AI) systems against emerging cyber risks such as prompt injection, jailbreaks, and insecure code, among others. The framework, the company said, incorporates three guardrails, including PromptGuard 2, Agent Alignment Checks, and CodeShield. PromptGuard 2 is designed to detect direct jailbreak and prompt injection attempts in real-time, while Agent Alignment Checks is capable of inspecting agent reasoning for possible goal hijacking and indirect prompt injection scenarios. CodeShield refers to an online static analysis engine that seeks to prevent the generation of insecure or dangerous code by AI agents. "LlamaFirewall is built to serve as a flexible, real-time guardrail framework for securing LLM-powered applications," the company said in a GitHub description of the project. "Its architecture is modular, enabling security teams and developers to compose layered defenses that span from raw input ingestion to final output actions – across simple chat models and complex autonomous agents." Alongside LlamaFirewall, Meta has made available updated versions of LlamaGuard and CyberSecEval to better detect various common types of violating content and measure the defensive cybersecurity capabilities of AI systems, respectively. CyberSecEval 4 also includes a new benchmark called AutoPatchBench, which is engineered to evaluate the ability of a large language model (LLM) agent to automatically repair a wide range of C/C++ vulnerabilities identified through fuzzing, an approach known as AI-powered patching. "AutoPatchBench provides a standardized evaluation framework for assessing the effectiveness of AI-assisted vulnerability repair tools," the company said. "This benchmark aims to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the capabilities and limitations of various AI-driven approaches to repairing fuzzing-found bugs." Lastly, Meta has launched a new program dubbed Llama for Defenders to help partner organizations and AI developers access open, early-access, and closed AI solutions to address specific security challenges, such as detecting AI-generated content used in scams, fraud, and phishing attacks. The announcements come as WhatsApp previewed a new technology called Private Processing to allow users to harness AI features without compromising their privacy by offloading the requests to a secure, confidential environment. "We're working with the security community to audit and improve our architecture and will continue to build and strengthen Private Processing in the open, in collaboration with researchers, before we launch it in product," Meta said. Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

As a Business Analyst, you will be responsible for overseeing the entire lifecycle of cases, ensuring compliance with service level agreements (SLAs) and driving continuous improvement within our Service Delivery department. This role is integral to real-time business performance management as well as compliance with established regulatory requirements, as you’ll partner with cross-functional teams to monitor, track, and resolve customer cases. You will provide insights from data analysis, develop actionable recommendations, and collaborate closely with key partners such as Vendor Management, Quality Assurance, Training, Process, and Planning teams.What You’ll Do:Operational & Case Management:Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of customer cases, ensuring resolution efficiency, accuracy, and quality.Monitor case queues, track aged cases, and ensure SLA compliance through proactive interventions.Collaborate with Workforce Management (WFM) and vendor teams to assign and track cases effectively.Perform root cause analysis (RCA) on escalations and drive corrective action.Data Analysis & Business Insights:Compile weekly executive summary and key performance indicator reportsUtilize quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, performance gaps, and areas for improvement.Create dashboards and custom reports to track KPIs related to customer operations, fraud, and business performance.Provide executive-level summaries on key performance metrics, operational trends, and process enhancements.Distill insights from case audits and trend analysis to recommend operational changes.Process Improvement & Compliance:Partner with key stakeholders to implement process enhancements aimed at improving customer and business outcomes.Support and/or create documentation of policies, workflows, and training materials to improve operational efficiency.Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements by identifying gaps and collaborating with risk and compliance teams.Lead initiatives to improve case handling, reduce resolution time, and enhance agent effectiveness.Support the development, documentation, and implementation of new policies and procedures.Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Operations, or a related field, or 4+ years of relevant experience in customer operations, business analysis, or compliance.Strong data analysis skills with experience using Excel, SQL, or BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Sigma).Experience working in customer service, fraud operations, or financial operations within a high-growth or fintech environment.Experience defining requirements and using data and metrics to draw business insights.Proficiency in CRM systems, case management tools, and reporting software.Ability to work effectively in fast-paced and evolving environmentAbility to synthesize large datasets and extract meaningful insights.Preferred Qualifications:Experience in the fintech, technology, or energy industry.Knowledge of regulatory compliance in customer operations (e.g., consumer protection laws, fraud prevention).Prior experience in process automation and operational strategy.Pay Grade - EEquity Grade - 2Employees new to Affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. Affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills.Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include equity rewards, monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidized medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents.)CAN base pay range per year: $63,000  -  $83,000    #LI-Remote

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 1.

April 30, 20256 min readWhere Does Consciousness Come From? Two Neuroscience Theories Go Head-to-HeadTwo leading theories of consciousness went head-to-head—and the results may change how neuroscientists study one of the oldest questions about existenceBy Allison Parshall edited by Jeanna Bryner fergregory/Getty ImagesWhere in the brain does consciousness originate? Theories abound, but neuroscientists still haven’t coalesced around one explanation, largely because it’s such a hard question to probe with the scientific method. Unlike other phenomena studied by science, consciousness cannot be observed externally. “I observe your behavior. I observe your brain, if I do an intracranial EEG [electroencephalography] study. But I don’t ever observe your experience,” says Robert Chis-Ciure, a postdoctoral researcher studying consciousness at the University of Sussex in England.Scientists have landed on two leading theories to explain how consciousness emerges: integrated information theory, or IIT, and global neuronal workspace theory, or GNWT. These frameworks couldn’t be more different—they rest on different assumptions, draw from different fields of science and may even define consciousness in different ways, explains Anil K. Seth, a consciousness researcher at the University of Sussex.To compare them directly, researchers organized a group of 12 laboratories called the Cogitate Consortium to test the theories’ predictions against each other in a large brain-imaging study. The result, published in full on Wednesday in Nature, was effectively a draw and raised far more questions than it answered. The preliminary findings were posted to the preprint server bioRxiv in 2023. And only a few months later, a group of scholars publicly called IIT “pseudoscience” and attempted to excise it from the field. As the dust settles, leading consciousness researchers say that the Cogitate results point to a way forward for understanding how consciousness arises—no matter what theory eventually comes out on top.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.“We all are very good at constructing castles in the sky” with abstract ideas, says Chis-Ciure, who was not involved in the new study. “But with data, you make those more grounded.”What Are the Two Consciousness Theories?The contenders in this face-off are, in some ways, direct inverses of each other. “The two theories are very different creatures,” says Christof Koch, a cognitive scientist at the Allen Institute in Seattle and a co-author of the Cogitate results. Global neuronal workspace theory takes what psychologists have learned about the brain and cognition to suggest that consciousness is a sort of stage. When a particular stimulus enters our conscious awareness, such as an annoying buzzing sound or a bright color, it gets thrust onto the stage and spotlighted.Integrated information theory, Koch’s preferred framework, instead starts by defining what consciousness is more abstractly and then imagines what properties a system would need to have in order to experience it. Consciousness, IIT argues, arises from processing information—the more information, the more conscious a system can be, roughly speaking.While these explanations are both quite abstract, the theories can be used to make testable predictions about what happens in the brain when someone consciously perceives something. For example, GNWT says that frontal regions of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex turn the “spotlight” on information when one first becomes conscious of it, a phenomenon called ignition that should be detectable in an imaging study when an individual has a conscious experience. And IIT says that conscious experience would emerge more toward the back of the brain, where nearby networks of neurons are more closely connected, Koch explains.The Cogitate Consortium project, which began in 2018, set out to pit the predictions against each other at multiple labs run by theory-neutral teams. “These were people that did not have skin in the game,” explains Chis-Ciure. They used three different brain-imaging techniques to observe the brains of 256 participants—a very large sample size for a neuroscience study—while those participants completed the same visual tasks, which involved rotating faces and letters. These types of tasks require conscious experience.The results challenge both theories because neither’s predictions were fully borne out by the data. For instance, GNWT predicted that electrodes in the prefrontal cortex would detect a signal when a stimulus disappeared and was removed from the mental stage of consciousness, but that was largely absent in the findings.* “The fact that you didn’t see that ... is something that I think is a significant challenge,” says Seth, who wasn’t involved in the new study. IIT, on the other hand, predicted that a sustained synchrony of networks of neurons would occur at the back of the brain, which also wasn’t observed.The researchers expected that the findings would be nuanced. “It was always understood ... that a single experiment [wasn’t] going to refute a specific theory,” Seth says. That’s extremely rare in science, where knowledge builds incrementally. “You’re probably not going to change the minds of the proponents of each theory, but it’s more allowing the community as a whole to sort of alter their consensus about what’s going on.”Will Scientists Ever Find the Source of Consciousness?The results were first presented at a conference in June 2023. Koch and philosopher David Chalmers used the inconclusiveness of the findings to settle a long-running bet: in 1998 Koch bet Chalmers that neuroscientists could determine how consciousness arises in the brain within the next 25 years. Koch graciously conceded his loss at the 2023 conference.In September of that year, an open letter that called IIT’s status into question first circulated online. The letter publicly raised the label of “pseudoscience,” saying that IIT was unscientific because its core tenets were not falsifiable, meaning they couldn’t be disproven with current technology. More than 100 authors ultimately signed on. Indeed, critics have linked IIT with panpsychism, the philosophy that consciousness perfuses everything, even nonliving entities. If consciousness arises from complex systems processing information, could a computer chip or even the whole universe be conscious?The attempted “scientific excommunication,” to quote Seth, was ultimately hashed out in the pages of Nature Neuroscience last month. IIT is a bold theory, and “when it comes to consciousness, we have the right to be wrong and perhaps even the duty to be bold,” Seth wrote in a commentary in the journal.Seth doesn’t think, as Koch does, that the results of the Cogitate study inspired the open letter. He sees it more as the result of a field at a crossroads. “Everyone has their own theory. And that’s not a great state of affairs. So I think there’s this feeling that, indeed, the theories need to become a bit more precise.”What’s Next?During the total solar eclipse of May 1919, two competing theories of gravity faced off against each other: Isaac Newton’s classical explanation versus Albert Einstein’s then new general theory of relativity. Scientists aimed their telescopes at the eclipsed sun to test Einstein’s prediction that our home star’s gravity would bend the light of distant stars. It did, vindicating Einstein.Nearly 100 years later, Koch and others involved in the Cogitate Consortium wanted to test consciousness theories in a similar way. This kind of adversarial collaboration, as it’s called, can be productive and instructive because it requires both camps to meet and test predictions on neutral ground, with carefully controlled and reproducible findings. Other adversarial studies on consciousness are ongoing. Seth, for example, is on the steering committee of another adversarial collaboration between IIT and two other theories of consciousness.This type of research “will encourage a new way of doing studies, which is to design experiments that have the best chance of distinguishing between theories rather than finding evidence for or against one specific theory,” Seth says.For a field with such a lofty goal as explaining the phenomenon of consciousness, “it’s often easy to get lost in the existential fog,” Seth notes. But “even if we don’t have an adequate theory, we’re making progress in really important, practical applications,” such as understanding consciousness in cases of brain damage and coma or during general anesthesia.“There are people that are taken away from life-support intervention because they are deemed as not being ‘there,’” Chis-Ciure says. “The stakes are too high to not tackle the problem head-on.”*Editor’s Note (4/30/25): This sentence was edited after posting to correct the description of the GNWT prediction that was largely absent in the findings.

EA says it's "pausing development" on future rally games as WRC partnership ends "Every great journey eventually finds its finish line". Image credit: EA News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on April 30, 2025 EA has announced the end of its partnership with the World Rally Championship, saying it's "pausing development" on all future rally games. EA's inherited the World Rally Championship license as part of its acquisition of UK racing game specialist Codemasters in 2021, and its first WRC title - EA Sports WRC - released two years later in 2023. But that, EA has now confirmed, is as far as the partnership will go. "Every great journey eventually finds its finish line, and today, we announced that we've reached the end of the road working on WRC", the company wrote in a message signed by The Codemasters WRC Team and shared on social media. EA Sports WRC launched in November 2023.Watch on YouTube Despite the end of the partnership, EA Sports WRC will continue to be available; however, its previously released 2024 season will be its last expansion. Additionally, EA has announced that "for now", it's "pausing development plans on future rally titles". "Our WRC partnership was a culmination of sorts for our Codemasters journey with off-road racing, spanning decades through titles like Colin McRae Rally, and DIRT," it continued. "We've provided a home for every rally enthusiast... We've brought together incredibly talented racing developers, worked with some of the sport's icons, and had the opportunity to share our love of rallying. Thank you to all the fans who have and continue to be part of our rally journey." EA's decision to end its WRC partnership follows its announcement last year - made as it laid off 670 employees - that it would be moving away from "future licensed IP" toward its "owned IP, sports, and massive online communities". Today's WRC news follows yet more layoffs at EA, reportedly affecting "between 300 and 400" employees. It's unclear if the Codemasters team has been impacted as a result of EA's decision to 'pause' rally development, but we've reached out for clarity on the situation.

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.Even though people often stash outerwear and gear on a hall tree near the living room or in the entryway, brainstorming mudroom ideas that focus on creating a designated space for essentials—including backpacks, sports equipment, and more—is certainly worthwhile. “Having a space for organization, to start or end your day, is invaluable,” says Laura Britt of Britt Design Group in Austin. The mudroom may be the hardest-working part of the house, as it tackles dirty shoes, snow-covered coats, and dripping umbrellas, so that the rest of the home can remain pristine. That’s why this less-formal entrance and high-traffic area needs plenty of shoe storage, accessories for organization, and durable materials that can withstand the elements that get tracked in by guests, kids, and pets.Below are 33 mudroom ideas from interior designers that will have you feeling inspired and ready to transform your home to maximize mudroom storage potential.Photo: Kirsten Francis1/43Go bold with blueJennifer Hunter, of Jennifer Hunter Design in New York City, went bold when working on this city apartment mudroom, coating the walls with Benjamin Moore Dark Harbor (CSP-720). “I wanted to make a statement in the entry and loved this color, as it has a lot of dimension and depth to it,” she says of the hue. Chicken wire cabinet fronts allow for openness, and circular hardware adds a playful touch, the designer explains.Photo: Stephen Karlisch2/43Bring in whimsySarah Eilers, of Lucas Eilers Design Associates in Houston, painted the walls of this mudroom in Sherwin Williams Stolen Kiss (SW7586) and then created an accent wall using hot air balloon themed wallpaper from Cole & Son. “Incorporating a whimsical touch into a utility room is a fun way to add character and elevate the overall experience,” Eilers says. “Adding a playful nature to a room invites you to bask in its charm, making your time spent there more enjoyable.”Photo: Gieves Anderson3/43Optimize utilityNew York City designer David Frazier designed this mudroom for a “ski-in ski-out home,” installing a bench for putting on ski gear, complete with boot dryers underneath. Picture lights and a pendant from Urban Electric brighten up the space, which boasts oak cabinetry.Photo: Sean Litchfield4/43Lean into millworkMillwork and cubbies, painted in Benjamin Moore Midnight Blue (1638), enhance this mudroom by New York City–based Becky Shea, of Becky Shea Design. “I wanted something that was warm and rich that paired back to other elements in the home,” the designer says. The walls are coated in Benjamin Moore Light Pewter (1464). The walnut coat hooks from Etsy complement the walnut bench stain.Photo: Greg Premru5/43Create cubbiesWinchester, Massachusetts, designer Kristen Rivoli revamped a back hallway so that the space would better suit each family member thanks to cubbies—which now house sports gear, school backpacks, and grocery bags. Rivoli jazzed up the space with Benjamin Moore Avalon (CC-756). The color for the built-ins is the same as in the kitchen, since the two spaces are adjacent. “I wanted it to feel like an extension of that room and not a forgotten space,” she says.Photo: Stoffer Photography Interiors6/43Back it up with shiplapAmy Storm—of Amy Storm & Company in Glen Ellyn, Illinois—designed this mudroom for a busy couple who is “always on the go.” Storm prioritized ultra durability when selecting materials for the space, like the shiplap backing for the built-ins. “This mudroom can take a beating and still look beautiful,” she says. “Durable white oak, with a natural stain, was used for the base shoe drawer cabinets and bench seat, assuming they would take some abuse.” She added brass hardware pulls and coat hooks, a nod to the hardware in the nearby kitchen.Photo: Grey Crawford7/43Think localLocated in a Lake Tahoe vacation home, this mudroom by Los Angeles–based Jeff Andrews, of Jeff Andrews Design, features custom built-in cubbies made from reclaimed barn siding sourced in Northern California’s Marin County. The custom bench in the center is also made from reclaimed wood.Photo: Lisa Romerein8/43Choose cheery paintDespite being very vibrant, this Napa, California, mudroom actually doesn’t contain any windows. “It was quite dark, so I painted it this cheery yellow in high gloss, calling to mind the yellows of southern France,” explains designer Benjamin Dhong, of Benjamin Dhong Interiors in the San Francisco Bay area. He also added antiqued mirrors to the doors to reflect the light from the vineyards.Photo: Thomas Kuoh9/43Try geometric patternsThis mudroom by Emilie Munroe, of Studio Munroe in San Francisco, features a fun geometric floor tile. “The statement floor pattern elevates a utilitarian space by providing unexpected and elegant visual interest,” Munroe explains. This mudroom design keeps functionality top of mind. “The integrated upholstered bench provides a cozy spot for shoe removal, and the multiple banks of covered storage allow coats, shoes, and home supplies to be close at hand without becoming clutter,” Munroe notes.Photo: Gina Rogers10/43Maximize storage optionsCabinets galore allow for maximum mudroom storage in this space designed by Susan Yeley, of Susan Yeley Homes. “A high contrast but neutral space, this mudroom was designed to conceal the messes of everyday life and then some,” the designer explains. “This mudroom also aids in entertaining, serving as a prep zone for caterers.”Photo: Pär Bengtsson11/43Embrace green paint colorThis Texas ranch mudroom is equipped with plenty of storage options for boots, umbrellas, and other gear. Erin Sander, of Erin Sander Design in Dallas, filled the space with custom cabinetry in Benjamin Moore Galápagos Green (475).Photo: Tim Lenz12/43Embrace historyLocated in a town house, this mudroom honors the homeowner’s European roots due to its “fresh palette, natural wood elements, and a heavy dose of vintage and antiques,” says Joan Enger, of J. Patryce Design & Company in Hoboken, New Jersey. Given that the town house is over 100 years old, Enger wanted to preserve its original details when possible, while ensuring the space could accommodate modern life. “The original garden level entry did not include a functional landing spot for coats and shoes, so I decided to tuck in something tasteful and well designed for a clutter-free entry,” she explains.Photo: Jane Beiles13/43Customize for each family memberDesigned for a busy family of five, this mudroom space by Kristina Phillips—of Kristina Phillips Interior Design in Ridgewood, New Jersey—includes cubbies for each little family member. Phillips styled a combo of vintage and contemporary pieces in the space, placing a Gustavian bench passed down from her client’s grandmother alongside an eye-catching artichoke chandelier.Photo: Brian Bieder14/43Layer rugsPattern mixing is the name of the game in this mudroom by Maggie Griffin, of Maggie Griffin Design in Gainesville, Georgia. Schumacher wallpaper and pillows pair with a pink rug by Looms and Lighting, which is layered on top of a simple jute.Photo: Scott Frances15/43Design for double dutyIn the mudroom in this home in upstate New York, designers Stephen Sills and James Huniford incorporated large American school lights, French pottery and country tables, stone flooring, and an 18th-century American silo cap made of paper. This mudroom serves double duty—a zinc sink is the perfect spot for one of the homeowners to cut flowers from the garden.Photo: Chad Mellon16/43Seek storage solutionsThis entryway mudroom by Jen Samson—of Jen Samson Design in Laguna Beach, California—doubles as a drop zone for an active family with three sons. It’s full of storage solutions, which include a built-in bench that has a hidden shelf underneath for shoes, as well as vintage baskets that house backpacks, toys, and more.Photo: Thomas Kuoh17/43Keep it classicRooted in neutrals, this Danville, California, mudroom “maintains the original charm of the family’s long time home, while offering the clients an updated design to support their changing lifestyle,” explains designer Kriste Michelini. The mudroom design involved “keeping the home classic yet fresh.”Photo: Ingalls Photography18/43Add depthThis neutral mudroom by Blackberry Farm Design—based in Walland, Tennessee—features custom colored light fixtures by Urban Electric and a steel-lined umbrella bin which comes in handy on rainy days. An antique dough bowl adds personality to the marble countertop. Think of it as a functional mudroom at its best—there’s not a hall tree in sight.Photo: Amy Bartlam19/43Design with work in mindA desk in the mudroom? Why not! This Los Angeles mudroom by Jenn Feldman, of Jenn Feldman Designs, features a work station, a shoe closet, and several drop zones for bags and backpacks. Benjamin Moore white graces the walls, and Schumacher fabric shines on the bench.Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg20/43Optimize organization ideasFormerly a home office, this space is now a functional mudroom and accommodates plenty of organization ideas with clever storage solutions. Allie Mann—of Case Architects & Remodelers in the Washington, DC, area—papered the ceiling in a navy pattern from York Wallcoverings and installed semi-custom cabinetry in a light grey finish with chocolate-stained bench tops.Photo: Robert Radifera21/43See to small spacesEven small spaces can pack a punch with clever interior design additions. Nadia Subaran and Kelly Emerson—of Aidan Design in Silver Spring, Maryland—installed cabinets, a refrigerator for wine, and implemented clever organization ideas, including a message center with slots for mail and file drawers.Photo: Noah Webb22/43Work in styled hardwareBelieve it or not, this entryway mudroom space by Lucie Ayres, of 22 Interiors in Los Angeles, was formerly an outdoor patio. Ayres painted the interior door Benjamin Moore Buckland Blue (AC-151), and custom walnut cabinetry with Rejuvenation pulls warms up the space that showcases beautiful decor ideas, like colorful artwork and bench cushions.Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg23/43Wow with wallpaperPeppy Jane Churchill wallpaper adds pizzazz to this pet-friendly mudroom by Washington, DC–based Annie Elliott, of Annie Elliott Design. “There’s no reason a mudroom can’t be fun as well as utilitarian,” the designer says. “The wow factor is important! If this is the first room your family sees when they enter the house, it should make them happy to be home.”Photo: Keyanna Bowen24/43Consider open shelvingOpen shelving adds character to the functional mudroom that doubles as a laundry room. Located in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where designer Jess Weeth (of Weeth Home) is based, the mudroom is enhanced with cabinetry from Unique Kitchens & Baths and plays into the nautical theme with lighting and other decor.Photo: Vivian Johnson25/43Transform existing spacesThis mudroom had a prior life as a sunroom, notes Caitlin Jones Ghajar, of Caitlin Jones Design in San Rafael, California. Now it easily accommodates the homeowners’ daughters’ sports equipment and gear. “It was important that everything be hidden, so I created oversized lockers built out of the casework, with inset brass panels to provide a chic enclosure that was also super functional, allowing for proper ventilation of all their gear,” Ghajar explains.Photo: Angela Newton Roy26/43Plan for messesThis mudroom-laundry room combo also features a cat door and litter box, cubbies, and tons of storage space. “We are seeing an increase in the popularity of mud and laundry room combinations,” says architect Tom Reineberg at InSite Builders & Remodeling in Bethesda, Maryland, who designed the space. “When children come home from sporting events, muddy sneakers aren’t tracked through the house, dirty clothes can be tossed in the washer, and sporting equipment and backpacks are neatly stored in cubbies.”Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg27/43Look to the ceilingJim Rill—of Rill Architects in Bethesda, Maryland—brought natural materials into this Maryland mudroom, installing stained fir wood on the ceiling along with flagstone flooring. Farrow & Ball Down Pipe adds a moody touch to the cabinetry.

A research facility within the US National Institutes of Health that is tasked with studying Ebola and other deadly infectious diseases has been instructed by the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to stop research activities.According to an email viewed by WIRED, the Integrated Research Facility in Frederick, Maryland, was told to stop all experimental work by April 29 at 5 pm. The facility is part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and is located at the US Army base Fort Detrick. It conducts research on the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases that are deemed “high consequence”—those that pose significant risks to public health. It has 168 employees, including federal workers and contractors.The email, sent by Michael Holbrook, associate director for high containment at the Integrated Research Facility, says the lab is terminating studies on Lassa fever, SARS-Cov-2, and Eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, a rare but lethal mosquito-borne disease that has been reported in several northern US states. “We are collecting as many samples as is reasonable to ensure these studies are of value,” he says in the email. “We have not been asked to euthanize any animals so these animals will continue to be managed.” Holbrook did not respond to an inquiry from WIRED.The email says representatives from the Department of Homeland Security were padlocking freezers in biosafety-level-4 labs, those with the highest level of biosafety containment used for studying highly dangerous microbes. Only about a dozen BSL-4 labs exist in North America. These labs work with the viruses that cause Ebola, Lassa fever, and Marburg, types of hemorrhagic fevers. The Integrated Research Facility is one of only a few places in the world that is able to perform medical imaging on animals infected with BSL-4 agents.“The sacrifice to research is immense,” says Gigi Kwik Gronvall, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, on the closure. “If things are unused for a period of time, it will cost more money to get them ready to be used again.”The facility’s director, Connie Schmaljohn, has also been placed on administrative leave, according to the email. Previously, Schmaljohn served as a senior research scientist at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. She has more than 200 research publications, and her work has led to several clinical trials of first-of-their-kind vaccines. Schmaljohn also did not respond to an inquiry from WIRED.In an emailed statement provided to WIRED, Bradley Moss, communication director for the office of research services at NIH, confirmed the halt in research activity. “NIH has implemented a research pause—referred to as a safety stand-down—at the Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick. This decision follows identification and documentation of personnel issues involving contract staff that compromised the facility’s safety culture, prompting this research pause. During the stand-down, no research will be conducted, and access will be limited to essential personnel only, to safeguard the facility and its resources.”Moss did not elaborate on the nature of the personnel issues and said he did not know how long the research pause would last. Staff have not received an anticipated reopening date.The research pause is the latest disruption to federal science agencies after HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced at the end of March that 10,000 people across the vast federal health agency would lose their jobs, including those at the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mass layoffs are part of a restructuring plan being carried out by President Donald Trump’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

Image: LEGO, NintendoNintendo's partnership with LEGO continues to grow and it looks like we've now got the first details of the next batch of sets. This includes sets for the Super Mario, Mario Kart and the Animal Crossing line. Some of the highlights include a Mario Kart set with the Mario figure included as well as a new set for Captain Toad. More animals will be joining the Animal Crossing LEGO series as well. Here's the rundown of what's on the way, including the amount of pieces each set will contain (via GoNintendo): Super Mario: Prince Florian & Castle Bowser (1,251 pieces) Super Mario: Captain Toad’s Camp (159 pieces) Super Mario: Party at Toad’s House (276 pieces) Mario Kart: Wario & King Boo (512 pieces) Mario Kart: Bowser’s Castle (1,068 pieces) Mario Kart: Interactive LEGO Mario & Standard Kart (278 pieces) Animal Crossing: Creative Houses: Seasons of Fun (814 pieces) Animal Crossing: Blathers’s Museum Collection (543 pieces) Animal Crossing: Goldie’s Cozy House (149 pieces) When we hear more about the prices of these sets, and get more official photos, we'll let you know. These sets are scheduled to arrive in August 2025. LEGO also announced earlier this year it would be teaming up with Pokémon to release sets in 2026. Can we play? Update: LEGO confirms Pole position on our wishlists Would you be interested in any of these new Nintendo-themed LEGO sets? Let us know in the comments. [source thebrickfan.com, via gonintendo.com] Share:0 0 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Opinion: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Best Gameplay Feature Is Straight Out Of Mario's Playbook QTE in the place to be Yes, You Can Adjust The Camera In Mario Kart World Get a good look?

Microsoft launched several new “open” AI models on Wednesday, the most capable of which is competitive with OpenAI’s o3-mini on at least one benchmark. All of the new pemissively licensed models — Phi 4 mini reasoning, Phi 4 reasoning, and Phi 4 reasoning plus — are “reasoning” models, meaning they’re able to spend more time fact-checking solutions to complex problems. They expand Microsoft’s Phi “small model” family, which the company launched a year ago to offer a foundation for AI developers building apps at the edge. Phi 4 mini reasoning was trained on roughly 1 million synthetic math problems generated by Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s R1 reasoning model. Around 3.8 billion parameters in size, Phi 4 mini reasoning is designed for educational applications, Microsoft says, like “embedded tutoring” on lightweight devices. Parameters roughly correspond to a model’s problem-solving skills, and models with more parameters generally perform better than those with fewer parameters. Phi 4 reasoning, a 14-billion-parameter model, was trained using “high-quality” web data as well as “curated demonstrations” from OpenAI’s aforementioned o3-mini. It’s best for math, science, and coding applications, according to Microsoft. As for Phi 4 reasoning plus, it’s Microsoft’s previously-released Phi-4 model adapted into a reasoning model to achieve better accuracy on particular tasks. Microsoft claims that Phi 4 reasoning plus approaches the performance levels of R1, a model with significantly more parameters (671 billion). The company’s internal benchmarking also has Phi 4 reasoning plus matching o3-mini on OmniMath, a math skills test. Phi 4 mini reasoning, Phi 4 reasoning, and Phi 4 reasoning plus are available on the AI dev platform Hugging Face accompanied by detailed technical reports. Techcrunch event Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 BOOK NOW “Using distillation, reinforcement learning, and high-quality data, these [new] models balance size and performance,” wrote Microsoft in a blog post. “They are small enough for low-latency environments yet maintain strong reasoning capabilities that rival much bigger models. This blend allows even resource-limited devices to perform complex reasoning tasks efficiently.”