Tools for Humanity, the startup behind the World human verification project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, unveiled Wednesday a mobile device designed to help people determine the difference between a human and an AI agent. Rich Heley, Tools for Humanity’s Chief Device Officer and a former Apple director, debuted the Orb Mini device during its “At Last” event in San Francisco. The device looks like a smartphone, and has two large sensors on the front to scan users’ eyeballs.Image Credits:Screenshot World, a web3 project started by Altman and Alex Blania that was formerly known as Worldcoin, is based on the idea that it will eventually be impossible to distinguish humans from AI agents on the internet. To address this, World wants to create digital “proof of human” tools; these announcements are part of its effort to get millions of people to sign up. After scanning your eyeball with one of its silver metal Orbs — or now, one of its Orb Minis — World will give you a unique identifier on the blockchain to verify that you’re a human. The Orb Mini, a reference to the company’s larger Orb devices, has the familiar shape of a smartphone and is designed to be portable, a Tools for Humanity spokesperson told TechCrunch in a briefing. Thomas Meyerhoff, a former Apple designer, helped design the Orb Mini, according to people familiar with the new product. The main purpose of the Orb Mini is to verify more people, not necessarily to use apps, make calls, or send texts. However, the spokesperson said it’s unclear what the device’s ultimate functionality would be. After the event, Blania told TechCrunch it aims to eventually turn the Orb Mini into a mobile point-of-sale device, and perhaps even sell the sensor technology to device manufacturers. Tools for Humanity is also launching its World Network in the U.S. on Thursday, and will open storefronts in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and San Francisco. The stores, which World already has in other countries, are designed for people to come in and have their eyeballs scanned by one of the company’s Orbs. 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 The World project claims 26 million people have signed up, and 12 million people are verified, around the world. Today, the company has a larger presence in Latin America, South America, and Asia — but Wednesday’s announcement aims to grow the project in the U.S. While the company was light on details about its Orb Mini, the device seems to be an effort to distribute its verification devices more broadly. While World’s objectives have shifted over the years, the Orb seems core to its mission. A key question around swirling around World is whether it will one day partner with Sam Altman’s other venture, OpenAI. It’s unclear if the Orb Mini will have any AI features, or whether it’s related to the AI device OpenAI is reportedly working on.

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More David Silver and Richard Sutton, two renowned AI scientists, argue in a new paper that artificial intelligence is about to enter a new phase, the “Era of Experience.” This is where AI systems rely increasingly less on human-provided data and improve themselves by gathering data from and interacting with the world. While the paper is conceptual and forward-looking, it has direct implications for enterprises that aim to build with and for future AI agents and systems.  Both Silver and Sutton are seasoned scientists with a track record of making accurate predictions about the future of AI. The validity predictions can be directly seen in today’s most advanced AI systems. In 2019, Sutton, a pioneer in reinforcement learning, wrote the famous essay “The Bitter Lesson,” in which he argues that the greatest long-term progress in AI consistently arises from leveraging large-scale computation with general-purpose search and learning methods, rather than relying primarily on incorporating complex, human-derived domain knowledge.  David Silver, a senior scientist at DeepMind, was a key contributor to AlphaGo, AlphaZero and AlphaStar, all important achievements in deep reinforcement learning. He was also the co-author of a paper in 2021 that claimed that reinforcement learning and a well-designed reward signal would be enough to create very advanced AI systems. The most advanced large language models (LLMs) leverage those two concepts. The wave of new LLMs that have conquered the AI scene since GPT-3 have primarily relied on scaling compute and data to internalize vast amounts of knowledge. The most recent wave of reasoning models, such as DeepSeek-R1, has demonstrated that reinforcement learning and a simple reward signal are sufficient for learning complex reasoning skills. What is the era of experience? The “Era of Experience” builds on the same concepts that Sutton and Silver have been discussing in recent years, and adapts them to recent advances in AI. The authors argue that the “pace of progress driven solely by supervised learning from human data is demonstrably slowing, signalling the need for a new approach.” And that approach requires a new source of data, which must be generated in a way that continually improves as the agent becomes stronger. “This can be achieved by allowing agents to learn continually from their own experience, i.e., data that is generated by the agent interacting with its environment,” Sutton and Silver write. They argue that eventually, “experience will become the dominant medium of improvement and ultimately dwarf the scale of human data used in today’s systems.” According to the authors, in addition to learning from their own experiential data, future AI systems will “break through the limitations of human-centric AI systems” across four dimensions: Streams: Instead of working across disconnected episodes, AI agents will “have their own stream of experience that progresses, like humans, over a long time-scale.” This will allow agents to plan for long-term goals and adapt to new behavioral patterns over time. We can see glimmers of this in AI systems that have very long context windows and memory architectures that continuously update based on user interactions. Actions and observations: Instead of focusing on human-privileged actions and observations, agents in the era of experience will act autonomously in the real world. Examples of this are agentic systems that can interact with external applications and resources through tools such as computer use and Model Context Protocol (MCP). Rewards: Current reinforcement learning systems mostly rely on human-designed reward functions. In the future, AI agents should be able to design their own dynamic reward functions that adapt over time and match user preferences with real-world signals gathered from the agent’s actions and observations in the world. We’re seeing early versions of self-designing rewards with systems such as Nvidia’s DrEureka.  Planning and reasoning: Current reasoning models have been designed to imitate the human thought process. The authors argue that “More efficient mechanisms of thought surely exist, using non-human languages that may, for example, utilise symbolic, distributed, continuous, or differentiable computations.” AI agents should engage with the world, observe and use data to validate and update their reasoning process and develop a world model. The idea of AI agents that adapt themselves to their environment through reinforcement learning is not new. But previously, these agents were limited to very constrained environments such as board games. Today, agents that can interact with complex environments (e.g., AI computer use) and advances in reinforcement learning will overcome these limitations, bringing about the transition to the era of experience. What does it mean for the enterprise? Buried in Sutton and Silver’s paper is an observation that will have important implications for real-world applications: “The agent may use ‘human-friendly’ actions and observations such as user interfaces, that naturally facilitate communication and collaboration with the user. The agent may also take ‘machine-friendly’ actions that execute code and call APIs, allowing the agent to act autonomously in service of its goals.” The era of experience means that developers will have to build their applications not only for humans but also with AI agents in mind. Machine-friendly actions require building secure and accessible APIs that can easily be accessed directly or through interfaces such as MCP. It also means creating agents that can be made discoverable through protocols such as Google’s Agent2Agent. You will also need to design your APIs and agentic interfaces to provide access to both actions and observations. This will enable agents to gradually reason about and learn from their interactions with your applications. If the vision that Sutton and Silver present becomes reality, there will soon be billions of agents roaming around the web (and soon in the physical world) to accomplish tasks. Their behaviors and needs will be very different from human users and developers, and having an agent-friendly way to interact with your application will improve your ability to leverage future AI systems (and also prevent the harms they can cause). “By building upon the foundations of RL and adapting its core principles to the challenges of this new era, we can unlock the full potential of autonomous learning and pave the way to truly superhuman intelligence,” Sutton and Silver write. DeepMind declined to provide additional comments for the story. Daily insights on business use cases with VB Daily If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured.

Nvidia launched a new tool that lets developers generate AI images by first creating them in 3D. The awkwardly named Nvidia AI Blueprint for 3D-guided generative AI is available to download today for computers equipped with an Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU or higher, and works by bridging Blender’s 3D modelling software with Black Forest Lab’s FLUX.1 image generator.Users can draft a scene in Blender using 3D objects like buildings, plants, animals, and vehicles, which is then used as a reference to create a 2D image. The idea is that manually adjusting the viewing position or where certain objects should be placed will provide more control over finer details when generating 2D images compared to using text descriptions alone. For example, if you have a very specific image of a city in your mind — the shape and height of the buildings, how many trees or cars are displayed, and even the angle you’re viewing it at — you can use Nvidia’s workflow to manually create a rough version of that in Blender. The FLUX.1 image generator will then use that as a base for the images it creates, which could be less frustrating than repeatedly tweaking text-based descriptions until you get something vaguely similar to what you wanted. The 3D objects plotted out in Blender don’t even need to be highly detailed, as the tool is only using them as a layout guide.Nvidia describes its blueprints as “pre-defined, customizable AI workflows” that are designed to help developers build generative AI apps. In this case, Nvidia says its AI Blueprint for 3D-guided generative AI provides step-by-step documentation, sample assets, and a preconfigured environment to guide users through using the tool.The workflow isn’t entirely unique — Adobe teased a similar tool during its MAX event in October called “Project Concept” that also lets users map out 3D scenes that can be used to direct image generation. Adobe’s variant is still in its experimental stages, however, and may never be released to the wider public.See More:

Coding has been a part of my life since I was 10. From modifying HTML & CSS for my Friendster profile during the simple internet days to exploring SQL injections for the thrill, building a three-legged robot for fun, and lately diving into Python coding, my coding journey has been diverse and fun! Here’s what I’ve learned from various programming approaches. The way I learn coding is always similar; As people say, mostly it’s just copy-pasting. When it comes to building something in the coding world, here’s a breakdown of my method: Choose the Right Framework or Library Learn from Past Projects Break It Down into StepsSlice your project into actionable item steps, making development less overwhelming. Google Each ChunkFor every step, consult Google/Bing/DuckDuckGo/any search engine you prefer for insights, guidance, and potential solutions. Start CodingTry to implement each step systematically. However, even the most well-thought-out code can encounter bugs. Here’s my strategy for troubleshooting: 1. Check Framework Documentation: ALWAYS read the docs! 2. Google and Stack Overflow Search: search on Google and Stack Overflow. Example keyword would be: site:stackoverflow.com [coding language] [library] error [error message] site:stackoverflow.com python error ImportError: pandas module not found – Stack Overflow Solutions: If the issue is already on Stack Overflow, I look for the most upvoted comments and solutions, often finding a quick and reliable answer.– Trust My Intuition: When Stack Overflow doesn’t have the answer, I trust my intuition to search for trustworthy sources on Google; GeeksForGeeks, Kaggle, W3School, and Towards Data Science for DS stuff 3. Copy-Paste the Code Solution 4. Verify and Test: The final step includes checking the modified code thoroughly and testing it to ensure it runs as intended. And Voila you just solve the bug! Photo by Stephen Hocking on Unsplash Isn’t it beautiful? But in reality, are we still doing this?! Lately, I’ve noticed a shift in how new coders are tackling coding. I’ve been teaching how to code professionally for about three years now, bouncing around in coding boot camps and guest lecturing at universities and corporate training. The way coders are getting into code learning has changed a bit. I usually tell the fresh faces to stick with the old-school method of browsing and googling for answers, but people are still using ChatGPT eventually. And their alibi is “Having ChatGPT (for coding) is like having an extra study buddy -who chats with you like a regular person”. It comes in handy, especially when you’re still trying to wrap your head around things from search results and documentation — to develop what is so-called programmer intuition. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the basics. Browsing, reading docs, and throwing questions into the community pot — those are solid moves, in my book. Relying solely on ChatGPT might be a bit much. Sure, it can whip up a speedy summary of answers, but the traditional browsing methods give you the freedom to pick and choose, to experiment a bit, which is pretty crucial in the coding world. But, I’ve gotta give credit where it’s due — ChatGPT is lightning-fast at giving out answers, especially when you’re still trying to figure out the right from the wrong in search results and docs. I realize this shift of using ChatGPT as a study buddy is not only happening in the coding scene, Chatgpt has revolutionized the way people learn, I even use ChatGPT to fix my grammar for this post, sorry Grammarly. Saying no to ChatGPT is like saying no to search engines in the early 2000 era. While ChatGPT may come with biases and hallucinations, similar to search engines having unreliable information or hoaxes. When ChatGPT is used appropriately, it can expedite the learning process. Now, let’s imagine a real-life scenario where ChatGPT could help you by being your coding buddy to help with debugging. Scenario: Debugging a Python Script Imagine you’re working on a Python script for a project, and you encounter an unexpected error that you can’t solve. Here is how I used to be taught to do it — the era before ChatGPT. Browsing Approach: Check the Documentation: Start by checking the Python documentation for the module or function causing the error. For example:– visit https://scikit-learn.org/stable/modules/ for Scikit Learn Doc 2. Search on Google & Stack Overflow: If the documentation doesn’t provide a solution, you turn to Google and Stack Overflow. Scan through various forum threads and discussions to find a similar issue and its resolution. StackOverflow Thread 3. Trust Your Intuition: If the issue is unique or not well-documented, trust your intuition! You might explore articles and sources on Google that you’ve found trustworthy in the past, and try to adapt similar solutions to your problem. Google Search Result You can see that on the search result above, the results are from W3school – (trusted coding tutorial site, great for cheatsheet) and the other 2 results are official Pandas documentation. You can see that search engines do suggest users look at the official documentation. And this is how you can use ChatGPT to help you debug an issue. New Approach with ChatGPT: Engage ChatGPT in Conversations: Instead of only navigating through documentation and forums, you can engage ChatGPT in a conversation. Provide a concise description of the error and ask. For example, “I’m encountering an issue in my [programming language] script where [describe the error]. Can you help me understand what might be causing this and suggest a possible solution?” Engage ChatGPT in Conversations 2. Clarify Concepts with ChatGPT: If the error is related to a concept you are struggling to grasp, you can ask ChatGPT to explain that concept. For example, “Explain how [specific concept] works in [programming language]? I think it might be related to the error I’m facing. The error is: [the error]” Clarify Concepts with ChatGPT 3. Seek Recommendations for Troubleshooting: You ask ChatGPT for general tips on troubleshooting Python scripts. For instance, “What are some common strategies for dealing with [issue]? Any recommendations on tools or techniques?” Using ChatGPT as coding buddy Potential Advantages: Personalized Guidance: ChatGPT can provide personalized guidance based on the specific details you provide about the error and your understanding of the problem. Concept Clarification: You can seek explanations and clarifications on concepts directly from ChatGPT leveraging their LLM capability. Efficient Troubleshooting: ChatGPT might offer concise and relevant tips for troubleshooting, potentially streamlining the debugging process. Possible Limitations: Now let’s talk about the cons of relying on ChatGPT 100%. I saw these issues a lot in my student’s journey on using ChatGPT. Post ChatGPT era, my students just copied and pasted the 1-line error message from their Command Line Interface despite the error being 100 lines and linked to some modules and dependencies. Asking ChatGPT to explain the workaround by providing a 1 line error code might work sometimes, or worse — it might add 1–2 hour manhour of debugging. ChatGPT comes with a limitation of not being able to see the context of your code. For sure, you can always give a context of your code. On a more complex code, you might not be able to give every line of code to ChatGPT. The fact that Chat GPT only sees the small portion of your code, ChatGPT will either assume the rest of the code based on its knowledge base or hallucinate. These are the possible limitations of using ChatGPT: Lack of Real-Time Dynamic Interaction: While ChatGPT provides valuable insights, it lacks the real-time interaction and dynamic back-and-forth that forums or discussion threads might offer. On StackOverflow, you might have 10 different people who would suggest 3 different solutions which you can compare either by DIY ( do it yourself, try it out) or see the number of upvotes. Dependence on Past Knowledge: The quality of ChatGPT’s response depends on the information it has been trained on, and it may not be aware of the latest framework updates or specific details of your project. Might add extra Debugging Time: ChatGPT does not have a context of your full code, so it might lead you to more debugging time. Limited Understanding of Concept: The traditional browsing methods give you the freedom to pick and choose, to experiment a bit, which is pretty crucial in the coding world. If you know how to handpick the right source, you probably learn more from browsing on your own than relying on the ChatGPT general model.Unless you ask a language model that is trained and specialized in coding and tech concepts, research papers on coding materials, or famous deep learning lectures from Andrew Ng, Yann Le Cunn’s tweet on X (formerly Twitter), pretty much ChatGPT would just give a general answer. This scenario showcases how ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in your coding toolkit, especially for obtaining personalized guidance and clarifying concepts. Remember to balance ChatGPT’s assistance with the methods of browsing and ask the community, keeping in mind its strengths and limitations. Final Thoughts Things I would recommend for a coder If you really want to leverage the autocompletion model; instead of solely using ChatGPT, try using VScode extensions for auto code-completion tasks such as CodeGPT — GPT4 extension on VScode, GitHub Copilot, or Google Colab Autocomplete AI tools in Google Colab. Auto code completion on Google Colab As you can see in the screenshot above, Google Colab automatically gives the user suggestions on what code comes next. Another alternative is Github Copilot. With GitHub Copilot, you can get an AI-based suggestion in real-time. GitHub Copilot suggests code completions as developers type and turn prompts into coding suggestions based on the project’s context and style conventions. As per this release from Github, Copilot Chat is now powered by OpenAI GPT-4 (a similiar model that ChatGPT is using). Github Copilot Example — image by Github I have been actively using CodeGPT as a VSCode Extension before I knew that Github Copilot is accessible for free if you are in education program. CodeGPT Co has 1M download to this date on the VSCode Extension Marketplace. CodeGPT allows seamless integration with the ChatGPT API, Google PaLM 2, and Meta Llama.You can get code suggestions through comments, here is how: Write a comment asking for a specific code Press cmd + shift + i Use the code You can also initiate a chat via the extension in the menu and jump into coding conversations As I reflect on my coding journey, the invaluable lesson learned is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to learning. It’s essential to embrace a diverse array of learning methods, seamlessly blending traditional practices like browsing and community interaction with the innovative capabilities of tools like ChatGPT and auto code-completion tools. What to Do: Utilize Tailored Learning Resources: Make the most of ChatGPT’s recommendations for learning materials. Collaborate for Problem-Solving: Utilize ChatGPT as a collaborative partner as if you are coding with your friends. What Not to Do: Over-Dependence on ChatGPT: Avoid relying solely on ChatGPT and ensure a balanced approach to foster independent problem-solving skills. Neglect Real-Time Interaction with Coding Community: While ChatGPT offers valuable insights, don’t neglect the benefits of real-time interaction and feedback from coding communities. That also helps build a reputation in the community Disregard Practical Coding Practice: Balance ChatGPT guidance with hands-on coding practice to reinforce theoretical knowledge with practical application. Let me know in the comments how you use ChatGPT to help you code!Happy coding!Ellen Let’s Connect Follow me on LinkedIn Check out my portfolio: liviaellen.com/portfolio My Previous AR Works: liviaellen.com/ar-profile or just buy me a real coffee  — Yes I love coffee. About the Author I’m Ellen, a Machine Learning engineer with 6 years of experience, currently working at a fintech startup in San Francisco. My background spans data science roles in oil & gas consulting, as well as leading AI and data training programs across APAC, the Middle East, and Europe. I’m currently completing my Master’s in Data Science (graduating May 2025) and actively looking for my next opportunity as a machine learning engineer. If you’re open to referring or connecting, I’d truly appreciate it! I love creating real-world impact through AI and I’m always open to project-based collaborations as well. The post How Would I Learn to Code with ChatGPT if I Had to Start Again appeared first on Towards Data Science.

Imaginez un monde du travail où le salarié apporterait lui-même son outil de travail : l’ouvrier installerait sa propre machine dans l’atelier, l’employé brancherait son propre PC et fournirait son papier et ses stylos. Mieux encore, imaginez maintenant que ces mêmes salariés fassent venir sur leur lieu de travail de nouveaux collègues, travaillant pour eux ou avec eux sans même que ceux-ci aient signé un contrat de travail et que l’employeur soit vraiment au courant. Lire aussi | Article réservé à nos abonnés 53 % des actifs utilisent l’IA dans leur vie professionnelle Dystopie ? C’est pourtant ce qui se passe aujourd’hui avec l’introduction de l’intelligence artificielle (IA) dans nos vies professionnelles. Loin des fantasmes ou du vertige que provoquent les débats sur les perspectives d’utilisation massive des IA, de plus en plus de salariés utilisent chaque jour, concrètement, une IA générative pour les assister dans leur travail. Ici pour peaufiner une présentation, là pour créer une tâche à accomplir dans un tableur Excel, là encore pour rédiger une réponse à un client mécontent, ou trouver des informations sur un thème encore mal maîtrisé. Nous imaginions jusque-là souvent nous faire imposer les IA, tel Elon Musk prenant le contrôle de nos vies ; la réalité est différente : les salariés maîtrisent bien plus la machine que nous le pensions. Certains y verront les travailleurs façonner eux-mêmes les chaînes qui les asserviront à la machine, j’y vois plutôt l’occasion pour eux d’améliorer leur environnement de travail. Les directions ont souvent – et pour une fois – un train de retard sur l’IA : beaucoup d’entreprises l’ont placée au cœur de leurs priorités pour 2025, sans savoir encore précisément quels sont les besoins et les cas d’usage. Elles misent sur « l’innovation spontanée », et attendent que leurs salariés remontent leurs besoins et les applications possibles de l’IA. Lire aussi | Article réservé à nos abonnés L’impact ambivalent des technologies numériques sur le travail Au-delà des premiers usages basiques décrits plus haut, la tendance aujourd’hui est de permettre aux IA d’exercer davantage de tâches expertes en exploitant les données des entreprises et sans les faire fuiter. En somme, que le collègue utile mais un peu trop généraliste qu’est l’IA générative aujourd’hui devienne un assistant expert de l’activité d’une entreprise ou d’un métier. En ce sens, l’IA n’est donc pas juste un sujet technique, mais bien davantage une problématique du travail. Il vous reste 50.36% de cet article à lire. La suite est réservée aux abonnés.

Credit: Mashable Photo Composite/Hisense Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Learn more about how we select deals. SAVE $40: As of May 1, the Hisense 75-inch Class U6HF Series TV is on sale for $529.99 at Amazon. That's a 7% saving on the list price. Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-Inch Class U6HF Series $529.99 at Amazon $569.99 Save $40 Deals on TVs are always a good excuse to upgrade, and when we're talking about a TV like the Hisense 75-inch Class U6HF Series, saying no is near impossible. The Hisense 75-inch Class U6HF Series is down to its lowest-ever price on Amazon. As of May 1, this impressive Tmodel is priced at $529.99.For this price, you're getting a seriously impressive TV. It's equipped with ULED technology, which improves color, contrast, brightness, and motion handling compared to standard LED TVs. It uses Quantum Dot for better color accuracy and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10 Plus for high dynamic range content. The TV has up to 600 nits of peak brightness and 220 local dimming zones for more precise lighting control. It runs on Fire TV, so you can stream from apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video without needing a separate device, like a Fire TV Stick. It has a 60Hz native refresh rate, a 240 motion rate, and HDMI 2.1 with eARC. Mashable Deals Want more hand-picked deals from our shopping experts? Sign up for the Mashable Deals newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! It even comes with Alexa built in, controlled from a voice remote. It also includes Bluetooth for wireless audio connections. Considering an upgrade yet? Head to Amazon to secure this record-low price. Topics Amazon Streaming Lois Mackenzie Lois Mackenzie is a freelance reporter at Mashable. Over the years she has written for many publications, covering everything from the local news to the best pair of running shoes. You can find bylines in publications including Fit&Well, Metro, and Coach magazine, usually covering deals on everything from earbuds to TVs, or guides on how to beat your half marathon time.Lois also holds a Master's degree in Digital Journalism from Strathclyde University and obtained a Master of Arts in English Literature at the University of Aberdeen.

Pros Fastest external SSD we have ever tested (based on Blackmagic benchmark)Highly resilient exteriorFive-year warranty, plus subscription to data recovery serviceIncludes LaCie Toolkit backup software Cons PriceyRequires computer with Thunderbolt 5 support for best results LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 Specs Capacity (Tested) 4 Interface (Computer Side) Thunderbolt 5 Internal Form Factor Not Applicable Internal or External External NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 6700 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 5300 Warranty Length 5 All Specs Table of ContentsDesign and Build Quality: The Classic LaCie Rubberized FrameConnectivity: Thunderbolt 5 Is a Rare BirdDurability: Rugged to the MaxPrice and Capacity: Living LargePerformance Testing: Blazing Fast at Serving Up Video Files The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 (starts at $399.99 for 2TB; $599.99 for 4TB as tested) is a beast of a creator-centric external SSD. It is highly rugged, available in capacities up to 4TB, and is a great fit for Mac and Windows computers with Thunderbolt 5 ports. (You can use it on systems with earlier Thunderbolt versions, but at their ports' lower speeds.) The Pro5 is easily the fastest external SSD we have reviewed, based on its Blackmagic read/write benchmark scores. To be sure, it's expensive, but you get a top-notch product for the money. With blazing speed, impact resistance, and high capacity, it earns our Editors' Choice award for high-performance external SSDs.Design and Build Quality: The Classic LaCie Rubberized FrameWith a rectangular form, rounded corners, and a rubberized full-body coat, the Pro5 hews to the classic LaCie rugged-drive look. (With one exception: It's blue, while most of its brethren are decked out in orange, save for the black LaCie Rugged SSD Pro.) Measuring 0.7 by 2.6 by 3.9 inches (HWD) and weighing 0.3 pound, it is small and light enough to fit into a pocket. The top bears the LaCie name and logo; on the bottom is product info in tiny type along with certifications. A nice touch is that it also includes the designer's name.In the middle of one of the long sides is a USB-C port that supports Thunderbolt 5, the latest iteration of that standard. Also included is a Thunderbolt 5 cable.(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Connectivity: Thunderbolt 5 Is a Rare BirdThe LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 is designed to take advantage of the latest iteration of the Thunderbolt connectivity standard when paired with compatible Mac and Windows computers, which started hitting the market in mid-2024. With throughput speeds of up to 80Gbps, it effectively doubles the maximum throughput over the previous generation, Thunderbolt 4.Only recent Macs with either M4 Pro or M4 Max CPUs support Thunderbolt 5; Macs with plain M4 chips will not. In addition to the Thunderbolt 4 MacBook Pro that we typically use for testing external SSDs, we enlisted a 14-inch MacBook Pro model A3503, which has an M4 Pro CPU, for testing the Pro5 over a Thunderbolt 5 connection. Only a handful of Windows machines have hit the streets with Thunderbolt 5 support yet.One thing to note is that although the Pro5 is compatible with pre-Thunderbolt 5 Macs, they must be running the latest version of the operating system, macOS 15 Sequoia, which was released last September. Before I became aware of this requirement, I connected the Pro5 to the Thunderbolt 4 port of a 2023 MacBook Pro laptop that we use as an external storage testbed to measure its speed over that connection, only to discover that neither Finder nor Disk Utility would even recognize that the LaCie drive was attached. (Credit: Joseph Maldonado)After I upgraded our testbed's OS to Sequoia, the MacBook identified the Pro5 immediately. So if you plan to use the drive with any older Macs, be sure that they're upgraded to Sequoia. Also note that the LaCie may not work at all with some really old Macs (from 2017 and earlier). Durability: Rugged to the MaxThe Pro5 is one of the few SSDs we've reviewed to have received an ingress protection rating of IP68, the highest possible rating for imperviousness to water and dirt that a product can get. It's certified to be both dustproof (with complete protection against sand, dirt, and dust) and waterproof to a depth of 3 feet for up to 30 minutes. Only a few external drives we've reviewed, including the ADATA SD800 and SD810, can match this IP rating. The Pro5 has also been shown to survive drops of up to 3 meters (about 10 feet).Price and Capacity: Living LargeThe Pro5 is available in 2TB and 4TB capacities. The lack of a 1TB option makes sense, since videography and photography work can consume massive amounts of space. List prices are given below. Recommended by Our EditorsSeagate covers the Pro5 with a five-year warranty, which for an external SSD is as good as you can get. You also get access to Seagate's Rescue Data Recovery Services and LaCie Toolkit backup software.Describing the Pro5 as the industry's fastest scratch disk, LaCie gears the Pro5 to creative professionals such as photographers, videographers, and audio specialists, and notes that it enables real-time editing of 8K and 6K RAW footage. Although you can use the Pro5 at a workstation in a studio, the SSD's superior ruggedization lets you take it wherever you need to shoot without worrying about it taking a tumble or getting muddied.Performance Testing: Blazing Fast at Serving Up Video FilesWe put the LaCie Pro5 through our usual external solid-state drive benchmarks suite, including Crystal DiskMark 6.0, PCMark 10 Storage Overall, 3DMark Storage, Blackmagic's Disk Speed Test, and our folder transfer test. The first two are run on a PC with the drive formatted in NTFS, and the last two on a MacBook Pro using the Pro5's native exFAT format. (We used two different Macs for these tests, as described above.) Crystal DiskMark's sequential speed tests provide a traditional measure of drive throughput, simulating best-case, straight-line transfers of large files. Meanwhile, the PCMark 10 Storage test measures an SSD's readiness for various everyday tasks.The Pro5 is the first Thunderbolt 5 SSD we have tested; for comparison, we have included other Thunderbolt drives and models with USB4 and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 connectivity.The Pro5's sequential read and write speeds in Crystal DiskMark—run with the drive attached to our Windows testbed's USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port—were typical of a Gen 2x2 drive. However, that connection does not permit anything like the full throughput of the Thunderbolt 5 standard, so the results are not indicative of its true capability. The Blackmagic benchmark—which tests a drive's speed in reading and writing video files in different formats—is ideal for evaluating a creator-centric SSD such as the Pro5, and in that test its scores were easily the highest of any external SSD we have tested. The Pro5 completed our other Mac-based test—the folder transfer—in under a second, the same as all but one of the SSDs in our comparison group.The Pro5 scored very well on the PCMark 10 Overall storage test, with only the two USB4 drives—the Oyen U34 Bolt and OWC Express 1M2—turning in better results. In the gaming-centric 3DMark Storage benchmark, the Pro5's results were middling.

Although they may have had their big moment in the sun in the mid-2010s, the best idle games are still as enjoyable as ever thanks to their satisfying, low-commitment gameplay style.Brought into the mainstream by the success of Cookie Clicker in 2013, idle games are characterized by incredibly simple gameplay, and they're often also called "clickers" due to the mechanic of clicking to earn currency. With upgrades that add the ability to passively earn currency, many of these games will effectively play themselves, hence the genre's name.Idle games are usually designed to be played in the background, with players checking in occasionally to purchase upgrades and make strategic decisions. As such, many were initially designed as browser games, though several of the most-popular idle games have since made the jump to platforms like Steam, iOS, and Android.Due to the simplicity of their mechanics, idle games can feature a huge variety of themes and settings, as well as cross over with various game genres including RPGs and strategy games. There is substantial crossover with strategy games, as well as simulation games, including a recent trend of farming and management-themed idlers inspired by the cozy-gaming trend.A recent trend in the idle genre has seen a proliferation of bottom-of-your-screen gameplay, where games are designed to sit along your taskbar, allowing you to monitor what's happening while you complete other tasks. This style of game is especially suited to management sims, with farming, fishing, and cat cafes among the partial-screen options on offer.While idle games are relatively easy to develop, they're hard to perfect, and it can be difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. We've picked 24 of the best idle games you can play right now, in no particular order, including everything from classic idle games to more innovative takes on the genre. For more, check out our picks for some of the best casual games like Animal Crossing, Wordle, and Stardew Valley. Milky Way Idle Platforms: Web, PCDeveloper: ChezeRelease date: March 7, 2025 (Early Access)A new idle RPG with a bovine twist, Milky Way Idle distinguishes itself by offering multiplayer features, with in-game chat, trading, guilds, and the possibility to party up to take on harder dungeons. Milky Way Idle, like other idle RPGs, automates the grinding process, letting you queue up tasks so you can easily grind levels, craft equipment, and take on dungeons even while offline. The game's title doesn't just refer to its space setting--you'll also unlock a barn full of magical cows, and your first and most important skill is milking, which then enables the ancient art of cheesesmithing. Milky Way Idle is a newer game in the genre, launching in early access in March 2025. The game's first major content update arrived in April, and the developer has promised regular updates every 1-2 months. See on Steam CornerpondPlatforms: PCDeveloper: FoolsroomRelease date: April 22, 2025Cornerpond is a tiny fishing game designed to sit in the corner of your screen, enabling multitasking with important work--or just other games. Click into the game when you get a bite and reel in a fish, with many different varieties of fish to be caught. Fish can then be sold to buy upgrades that will help you catch more and better fish, or you can invest your in-game currency to customize your avatar. The game currently features five different biomes, each with different fish to be caught and a journal to be completed. See on Steam What Lurks Below Platforms: PCDeveloper: JamesKellyRelease date: April 7, 2025Short and sweet, What Lurks Below is an eerie, semi-active incremental game that asks players to discover what lurks below. Collect the mysterious substance that rises from the dark depths, make poor mortal souls toil to collect it, and delve ever deeper into the chasm that used to be the town of Gloomhaven. Relatively short for an incremental game, What Lurks Below sets up its premise with an interestingly eldritch mystery to be solved, with simple but effective pixel graphics adding to the creepy aura. See on Itch.io Bongo Cat Platforms: PCDeveloper: Marcel ZurawkaRelease date: March 5, 2025Simple and sweet, Bongo Cat is an adorable take on the idle game that will see you flying through your day's work. The free Steam game puts a miniature cartoon cat on your desktop taskbar, who will tap his little paws like a bongo every time you press a key or click the mouse--in any application. The game counts up points like any clicker game, and periodically awards items with various rarities based on RNG. It may be light on gameplay, but Bongo Cat is the perfect companion to inspire you to get through your workday--or double up with another clicker game. Bongo Cat is a free Steam game, but various items and cosmetics can be bought through microtransactions. See on Steam The Farmer Was ReplacedPlatforms: PCDeveloper: Timon HerzogRelease date: February 11, 2023 (Early Access)One of the highest-rated idle games on Steam despite still being in early access, The Farmer Was Replaced is a farming simulator that tasks you with automating a farm, but with one major twist: You have to write the programs for the drones yourself. The Farmer Was Replaced uses a simple Python-like programming language, and teaches players basic programming concepts at the beginning of the game, making it a surprisingly educational idle game. The game slowly progresses to more-complex tasks and has a much shorter end point than some idle games, but with no limitations on time, players can be as active or idle as they want in their approach to The Farmer Was Replaced. See on Steam Rusty's RetirementPlatforms: PCDeveloper: Mister Morris GamesRelease date: April 26, 2024A new take on the idle farming simulator, Rusty's Retirement is an idle cozy game designed to sit at the bottom or side of your screen, allowing you to keep an eye on the state of your farm while you work on other tasks. The mechanics are similar to other idle farming games--plant out plots, unlock new types of crops, sell your produce, and use the return to invest in automating or upgrading your farm--but the form is novel, resulting in a low-stress, cozy game that's perfect for multitasking. See on Steam Pokemon SleepPlatforms: iOS, AndroidDeveloper: Select ButtonRelease date: July 17, 2023As the Pokemon franchise's answer to a sleep tracker, Pokemon Sleep has more going on than just sleep stats. The game sees you earn rewards while you're offline--or rather, asleep--which can then be used to invest in upgrades as you try to study as many sleeping Pokemon as possible. While most progress happens when you sleep, the game still has plenty to do once you wake up, allowing you to cook new meals, befriend visiting Pokemon, invest in upgrades, and move around to different Pokemon habitats. The game is regularly updated, with many, many Pokemon still yet to be added to the game. See on the App Store Cookie ClickerPlatforms: Web, PC, AndroidDeveloper: OrteilRelease Date: August 8, 2013Cookie Clicker skyrocketed idle games to popularity for a reason, and it still holds up after more than a decade. The core concept is simple--click a giant cookie to generate as many cookies as you can--but after years of updates and added content, this clicker game gets more complex the longer you keep playing. You can buy buildings, auto-cursors, and grandmas, which all auto-generate cookies, and can unlock various upgrades ranging from multiplicative boosts to self-contained minigames. Cookie Clicker also allows players to ascend after a certain time, forfeiting all current progress and currency in exchange for permanent buffs, a feature that makes Cookie Clicker's gameplay loop potentially infinite for long-term play. See on Steam Melvor IdlePlatforms: Web, PC, iOS, AndroidDeveloper: MalcsRelease Date: November 23, 2018One of the most-enduring idle RPGs, Melvor Idle is a feature-rich but graphics-light idler inspired by OG Runescape. This idle game reduces the feeling of the classic RPG into a game that can be played in the background with just a few clicks. Melvor is played through a number of menus, allowing players to max over 20 different skills, take on dungeons, and collect an inventory full of loot and resources. Having had its full public release in 2021, Melvor Idle has since gotten three major expansions: Throne of the Herald, Atlas of Discovery, and Into the Abyss.Fanatical is owned by GameSpot parent company Fandom. See on Fanatical 10 Billion WivesPlatforms: iOS, AndroidDeveloper: Masukachi Inc.Release Date: May 29, 2015A mobile idler from the golden era of idle games, 10 Billion Wives is a simple and sweet idle clicker game with a hint of humor, as you generate love to marry as many wives as possible. Tap to generate love, then use love to marry wives who will auto-generate even more love. As the game progresses, you can unlock different types of wives, which start mundane and slowly become more fantastical. Each wife has secret artwork that can be unlocked, but for those who want a short and sweet idle game, 10 Billion Wives can easily be maxed out within a few days of play. See on the App Store AdVenture CapitalistPlatforms: Web, PC, iOS, Android, PS4Developer: Hyper Hippo ProductionsRelease Date: May 30, 2014Another classic idle game, AdVenture Capitalist is an economics-based idle game that tasks players with building a business empire from a single lemonade stand. Hire managers to automate your income, buy more businesses, and eventually expand beyond the Earth to open businesses on the Moon and even Mars. Like other idle games designed to be played for an extended time, AdVenture Capitalist includes the option to sacrifice all your progress to unlock permanent buffs, and then sacrifice those buffs for even better ones. See on Steam Idle Champions of the Forgotten RealmsPlatforms: Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch.Developer: Codename EntertainmentRelease Date: September 7, 2017As the name might suggest, Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms is the official idle game of Dungeons and Dragons, and as such, it features a number of familiar characters and settings from official D&D adventures, novels, and even popular actual-play shows like Critical Role. The auto-battler sees you managing a formation of iconic Forgotten Realms heroes as they battle through waves of enemies and collect loot that can be used for upgrades. Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms is a long-form idler, with plenty of champions to be unlocked, and more being regularly added to the game. See on Steam Egg, Inc.Platforms: iOS, AndroidDeveloper: Auxbrain IncRelease date: July 14, 2016While there are a lot of farming-themed clicker games on mobile, Egg Inc is one of the best-executed of the lot. Tasking you with managing a booming farm full of laying hens, Egg Inc features cheerful graphics and satisfying audio as you fill your hen house full of chickens, and even allows for customizing your farm with a huge range of visual themes. The game has a faster gameplay loop than other idle clickers, having you sell your farm and start over semi-regularly in order to unlock new, more-valuable types of eggs. With many layers to its gameplay, Egg Inc is a mobile idler that will keep you busy for a long time. See on the App Store DodecaDragonsPlatforms: WebDeveloper: DemoninRelease date: August 25, 2022Despite being light on graphics, this browser-based idle game is easy to get sucked into, with a fantasy theme that sees you building incredible wealth as you nurture your partnership with your dragon. Even partway into the game, you'll encounter some truly huge numbers, with DodecaDragons making use of mathematical notation as your wealth increases by orders of magnitude. DodecaDragons is an incredibly layered incremental idle game that was slowly updated over its first year of release, and now finally has an endgame state that can be reached by dedicated players. Along the way, you'll unlock upgrades and new alchemical materials, take on challenges, and reset your progress many times in the pursuit of further wealth. See the official site Unnamed Space IdlePlatforms: PC, MobileDeveloper: SylvRelease date: July 28, 2023An idle game for players who are serious about the genre, Unnamed Space Idle is an in-depth sci-fi war game that requires strategy and perseverance to progress through its levels. Players have the option to play more actively or more idly, but Unnamed Space Idle will encourage you to think strategically and experiment with builds as you progress through the game. Unnamed Space Idle is currently in early access, with developer Sylv still regularly adding new content to the game, making it ideal for those who want to get stuck into a long-form, unfolding idle strategy game. See on Steam Microcivilization Platforms: PCDeveloper: Ondrej HomolaRelease date: November 13, 2023An idle game in the 4X strategy genre, Microcivilization is a pixel-art clicker game that tasks you with building a civilization to greatness. Unlike other idle games, there's no one path to success in Microcivilization; instead, it tasks you to experiment with different builds and strategies to find the one that works best for you. Progress isn't strictly upwards in this genre mash-up, and sometimes your budding civilization will have to deal with war and disaster, but as a game with no fail state, things will always get better eventually. Microcivilization also includes the option to ascend multiple times, extending its play time and allowing you to try a new approach on your next run. See on Steam Cell to SingularityPlatforms: Web, PC, iOS, AndroidDeveloper: Computer LunchRelease date: September 10, 2018Cell to Singularity is a science-inspired idle game that puts you in charge of life on Earth, and eventually the solar system beyond. You'll generate "entropy" to fuel evolution, unlock important geological developments, and even oversee humankind's development of civilization through the ages. Cell to Singularity is broad in scope, with plenty of content to delight science nerds and teach a thing or two to the curious. The subject matter meshes perfectly with the idle-clicker genre, and results in a progression tree that is fascinating to explore, and holds a few surprises of its own. See on Steam Leaf Blower RevolutionPlatforms: PC, iOS, AndroidDeveloper: Humble NorthRelease date: December 4, 2020A popular idle game with a unique take on the concept, Leaf Blower Revolution tasks you with cleaning up as many leaves as possible with a succession of increasingly powerful tools. Instead of clicking to progress through the game, Leaf Blower Revolution lets you control the main character with your cursor, swiping around the screen to clear away leaves. The game has been expanded and updated multiple times since it was released in 2020, and continues to receive regular updates, meaning you'll find far more than just leaves if you choose to explore the depths of Leaf Blower Revolution. See on Steam Clicker HeroesPlatforms: Web, PC, iOS, Android, Xbox One, PS4Developer: PlaysaurusRelease date: 2014Once one of the most popular clicker games on Steam, Clicker Heroes still holds up as an idle RPG that’s easy to get lost in. The game has you face off against increasingly difficult enemies, first manually clicking to deal damage, and later hiring heroes to automatically battle your foes. Clicker Heroes' gameplay goes deep, with the game's Steam description challenging players to reach 1 quadrillion damage per second--though doing so will require playing through multiple ascensions and new gameplay loops. See on Steam Fallout ShelterPlatforms: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox OneDeveloper: Bethesda Game Studios, Behavior InteractiveRelease date: June 14, 2015This Fallout spin-off tasks players with managing their own Vault as its Overseer, recruiting new dwellers who can then be assigned to the tasks necessary for keeping a Vault running happily. As Overseer, you can build new rooms for your Vault, manage important resources, and equip dwellers with items and weapons to help with their tasks. While Fallout Shelter isn't designed to be left to idle for long periods unsupervised--in fact, do so at your own risk--it still can be played relatively passively if players check in every so often to manage their population of dwellers. Despite the casual gameplay style, Fallout Shelter was one of our top ranked games in the Fallout franchise. See on Steam Clickpocalypse 2Platforms: Web, iOS, AndroidDeveloper: MinmaxiaRelease date: 2017Despite its name, there's not as much clicking in Clickpocalypse 2 as you might expect. Create a party from a number of classic fantasy-RPG classes and watch them go to work exploring the map, clearing dungeons, and collecting and selling loot. Help out your heroes by using spell scrolls, directing the characters to loot, and leveling them and their equipment up. While the cute retro-style RPG may seem simple at first, there are levels to Clickpocalypse 2 that are sure to draw you in. See on the App Store Exponential IdlePlatforms: iOS, AndroidDeveloper: Conic GamesRelease date: April 28, 2020While most idle games are math-based in some way, Exponential Idle is entirely themed around mathematics. The game tasks you with stacking up money through exponential growth--initially tapping on an algorithm to earn currency--and later allowing you to change variables in order to optimize your progress, while you earn and purchase upgrades. Exponential Idle will give your brain a workout, while still allowing for low-commitment idle play if that's more your speed. See on the App Store Dungeon, Inc.Platforms: iOSDeveloper: PikPokRelease date: May 10, 2017While there are many idle games that challenge you to crawl dungeons, Dungeon, Inc. instead places you as the manager of a dungeon, with your goal being to maximize the dungeon's gold output. Expand your dungeon deeper and hire new monsters to fill out its ranks, but make sure profit is always going up. Dungeon, Inc. also includes PvP elements, with the potential to raid other players' dungeons, and protect your own from incoming attacks. Dungeon, Inc. is designed for long-term play, with competitive elements keeping things fresh--and the option to burn it all down to commit insurance fraud when your dungeon gets too valuable. See on the App Store Antimatter DimensionsPlatforms: Web, PC, AndroidDeveloper: Hevipelle, Omsi, Razenpok, Spectralflame, WaitingIdlyRelease date: 2016One of the more complex in the genre, Antimatter Dimensions has players manipulating antimatter to ascend through higher dimensions until they eventually reach infinity. This mind-bending idler boasts multiple layers of unlocks, prestige, and achievements to be attained, with a number of challenges also fundamentally changing the way the game is played along the way. Antimatter Dimensions does have an end point that can be reached, but be prepared to sink in many, many hours if you want to get there. See on Steam

There are 15 Daedric Artifacts that players can obtain in Oblivion Remastered, and while some of them can be useful, others are great as relics to show how the hero is a champion of all Daedric Princes. Players will eventually have to give one up in the main questline.