Let the wonderful universe of Chinese artists enchantsRun Jia with this updated selection of artworks. RuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJiaRuanJia

Star More?New Star Wars trilogy helmed by X-Men writer reportedly in the works, because we don't already have enough vaguely lightsabery things lurking in the upcoming asteroid beltYep, more things set in a galaxy, far, far away that we might get to watch before our own implodes.Image credit: Fantasy Flight News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Nov. 8, 2024 We're drowning in Star Wars things that're in the works right now, and here's another one to add to the bacta tank. A new trilogy that Lucasfilm has reportedly agreed a deal for Simon Kinberg - known for his work on several X-Men movies - to write and produce.So yeah, make some space, the likes of The Mandalorian & Grogu, Dave Filoni's Star Wars thing, the thing with Daisy Ridley in it that looks like it could be called New Jedi Order, and Donald Glover's Lando thing - there's a new kid on the block of Star Wars movies that may come out sometime in the near future.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. A report from Deadline is the source on this Simon Kinberg Star Wars thing, with the publication reporting that it's a deal for three films driven by the writer, who has some Star Wars pedigree, having co-created Star Wars Rebels alongside the aforementioned Filoni and Carrie Beck.Deadline claims to have heard that this new trilogy could comprise "episodes 10-12 of The Skywalker Saga that began with George Lucass 1977 first film", making them a follow-up the the last trilogy of new movies that proved not very polarising at all reception-wise. Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter claims that the trilogy is "not meant to be a continuation of the Skywalker Saga", and will feature a bunch of new characters and a fresh story.What we do know at this stage is Kinberg's track record, which includes X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and X-Men: Apocalypse. He also wrote XXX: State of the Union, which is the one that stars Ice Cube instead of Vin Diesel as its lead, because 2005 was a weird time and some behind-the-scenes stuff involving scripts happened.How do you feel about the idea of this new Star Wars trilogy and what would you hope to see from it? Did you enjoy XXX: State of the Union? Let us know below.

Sweet Cowboy BluesWe've waited 14 years for this game The story of the Red Dead Redemption PC remaster mod looking to bring RDR2 to classic New AustinReality Redemptions developer says its the product of loving Red Deads final frontier vibes taking on a fresh challenge.Image credit: Rockstar Games Article by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Nov. 8, 2024 We've all waited 14 years for this game, modder Badass Baboon says of the original Red Dead Redemption, when it finally arrived on PC at the end of last month.My excitement was through the roof, even though with the datamined information from the Switch/PS4 version, we pretty much had confirmation that a PC version existed somewhere. Nothing could spoil my excitement when I finally got to play and mod the game on PC.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. For this modder, who tells me that the compelling story and character development of the modern Red Dead series, as well as the final frontier vibes both John Marston and Arthur Morgans adventures share are what draw them most to Rockstars westerns, RDR1 finally arriving was a chance to bring Reality Redemption to a fresh platform. Badass Baboon had started work on this overhaul mod back in 2023 for the Xbox 360 version of RDR, and has since created versions for both the Nintendo Switch and now PC versions as theyve been released.Their goal with the project is to remaster the game in their own way, bringing it closer to modern standards. Theyve been busy revamping the visuals by tweaking things like textures, models, and weather cycles, as well as fixing continuity errors, and seeking to provide a more fluid and realistic experience gameplay-wise. Its still a work in progress at current, but the modders already implemented enough substantial tweaks that the version of Reality Redemption on Nexus Mods is currently the most endorsed RDR PC mod on the platform. Its just over 10,000 total downloads as of writing arent far off top spot either, only trailing a couple of other popular works.I've previously modded Need for Speed and GTA games and was looking for a fresh challenge, Badass Baboon tells me when I ask what inspired them to start the project. I found the Red Dead Redemption 1 modding community rather niche and friendly. Modding this game was somewhat familiar since it's also on the Rage engine, which I have experience with, having previously modded [GTA 4 and 5], but at the same time very different since it's the San Diego branch of the engine, and not the Rockstar North one. It was certainly a fun challenge learning and understanding how differently San Diego tailored the engine for their games. Classic John's back in the saddle, and modders couldn't be happier that he is. | Image credit: Rockstar Games/Badass BaboonAnother challenge theyve faced is hopping from platform to platform, with the 360 proving the toughest customer. The file formats were hard to research and understand, let alone mod, a lot of workarounds and tricks had to be used to make a functioning mod on the scale of Reality Redemption on Xbox 360, they tell me. [The] majority of texture replacements would either break or crash the game, but editing configuration files worked fine.With the release of the Switch version, the file formats were almost identical to GTA IV, and with a lot more research and understanding behind that, modding that version became far easier and streamlined, a single tool could manage almost everything, every texture from character models to buildings became possible to edit. And the PC version turned out to be a 1:1 copy of the Switch version, as files that I have previously modded for the Switch version could be interchangeably used between PC and Switch.Like a lot of high-profile developers, Rockstar has an interesting and complex history when it comes to how its chosen to interact with those modding its games. Theres been some takedowns, some full-blown lawsuits, and then last year, the company electing to bring on board the team behind the popular FiveM and RedM roleplaying mods. Given Badass Baboon is also developing for the Switch, which has had multiple emulators cease operation following action from Nintendo this year, I asked the modder whether either of those had influenced how theyve approached or felt about their work on Reality Redemption. You can see why folks would want to try and make the old west's vistas look even more stunning. | Image credit: Rockstar Games/Badass BaboonI'd always planned to keep the mod under the radar until a PC version [of Red Dead Redemption] came out, they responded. I could only speculate what Rockstar and Take-Two would do, and knowing their litigious background to the point of DMCAing a save file, I assumed the worst. Always felt a shadowy presence, I didn't know if what I'm doing is taboo or not, but I never stopped working on the project. I avoided including any original game files and refused to backport assets from other Rockstar titles to avoid any potential issues. Thankfully, the mod is still up.Since thats the case, the modders busy working on their plans for the mod, which include making additions and alterations designed to help fill the gaps that exist lore-wise between the original Red Dead, which famously doesnt even mention Arthur Morgans name, and its prequel Red Dead Redemption 2.I plan to modify the game world and the audio to include more references to the world and events of RDR2, without taking anything out of the original game's feel/atmosphere, Badass Baboon says. It will be anything from small references such as paintings of RDR2's West Elizabeth, Grizzlies, and Lemoyne in the MacFarlanes house - which is in the latest version of the mod by the way - to something major with AI voice acting where characters will directly reference events and characters [from] RDR2.Since the latter would likely involve using the controversial tech to generate lines that mimic the voices of the games established voice actors, something lots of professional VAs have voiced strong opposition to or concerns about, I asked the modder for their take on the issue, as well as whether they plan to consider any alternatives. For example, remixing existing lines from the game to form new ones, a method a lot of extra dialogue mods for games like Skyrim - often from AI-averse or sceptical modders - have used. John was in RDR2 of course, but many of its characters don't have any kind of presence in his adventure. | Image credit: Rockstar GamesIf you've seen, many content creators have used AI tools to make their favourite characters sing a popular song or say certain things on YouTube, Tiktok, and other places, with very accurate results, they responded, Considering they've never gotten into hot water for any of that, I don't think people would complain for a few voice line edits. Of course, there is also the possibility to use voice assets from RDR2 and mix new lines, or just the lines from the original game, but to varying levels of success. While there are alternative methods like I mentioned, I still have to test and see if AI can even deliver the authentic tone that I'm looking for. If not, then I'll look into remixing existing recordings.Well have to see what the future ends up holding for Reality Redemption and the Red Dead Redemptions PC modding scene as a whole. After all, the port hasnt been here long at all, and no doubt plenty of cowboys are still either nostalgically making their way up its trails while deciding what they might want to try adding, or are downing their last rounds in another games saloon before hopping on the train to Armadillo.

Today, on International Day of the Girl this October, we are proud to highlight our partnership with the Girls Make Games Scholarship Fund (GMGSF). Founded in 2014 as a corporate initiative by LearnDistrict, Girls Make Games has been dedicated to empowering young women and nonbinary individuals in the gaming industry through workshops, summer camps, and educational resources.Recognizing the ongoing challenges faced by its alumni in accessing higher education, GMG evolved into a registered charity with the establishment of GMGSF in fall 2022. This new chapter allows GMG to provide essential financial support, including a scholarship program, and mentorship to ensure that underrepresented students can pursue their dreams in STEAM fields.We are excited to introduce Kathleen Castellanos, one of this years scholarship recipients. Kathleen will receive up to $10,000 in a tuition grant, industry mentorship, internship placement support, career readiness, and job placement assistance. Join us as we explore her inspiring journey, her passion for game development, and how this scholarship is shaping her future in the gaming world.Pursuing Dreams in Gaming: A Q&A with Kathleen CastellanosWhat sparked your interest in game development, and how did you first get involved with Girls Make Games?My love for Star Fox Adventures sparked my passion for game development. I remember being so captivated by how unique and modern it felt for its time, and that inspired me to think about creating my own games. As for Girls Make Games, I discovered the program while desperately searching for scholarships focused on women in gaming or game art. GMG stood out as one of the few opportunities that aligned with my goals.What area of study do you plan to pursue in college, and how does it relate to your passion for gaming?I plan to pursue art. It ties into my love for gaming because I want to be a concept artist in the future, and to do that I would imagine [studying] a lot of art mediums would help me.How has receiving the Girls Make Games scholarship impacted your plans for college and your future career?It strongly impacted me in a positive way because in addition to covering costs for school Im now also able to build strong connections with those in the gaming industry. I can say with confidence now and with pride that I have successfully worked with Sony PlayStation for an art piece!Can you share a project or game youve worked on that youre particularly proud of? What did you learn from it?While I havent worked on a game just yet, I would love to start with a graphic novel-style game. Its an area Im really passionate about, and I believe I can bring something fresh and creative to the space. Ive been absorbing so much from other forms of storytelling and art, and Im excited to apply that knowledge to game development in the future.What challenges have you faced while pursuing your passion for gaming, and how have you dealt with them?One of the biggest challenges has been finding accessible opportunities. Before GMG, I felt like there werent many options for someone like me, especially in game art which often gets overshadowed by more technical aspects like coding. It can be discouraging, but Ive been lucky to have a strong support networkfriends, family, and mentorswhove helped me chase after the right opportunities.What advice would you give to other students who are interested in exploring game development or joining programs like GMG?My advice is to take the shot, even if youre nervous or feel its out of your league. You miss 100% of the opportunities you dont go after. It can be intimidating, but trying is something to be proud of. Dont stop just because something seems difficultkeep pushing forward. Youll feel better knowing you gave it your best shot rather than wondering what mightve been.Looking ahead, what are you most excited about as you prepare for college and your future in gaming?Im most excited about creating something that can leave a lasting impactsomething memorable that people can look back on and associate with me. I want to make something positive and meaningful that can inspire future generations.Supporting Future InnovatorsReflecting on the insights Kathleen shared, its clear that initiatives like the GMGSF are crucial in fostering talent and creativity in the game industry. By empowering young women and nonbinary individuals, were not only enriching their lives but paving the way for a more diverse and innovative gaming landscape.We invite the Humble community to support GMGSF and other organizations that champion the next generation of game developers. And speaking of that, if you love games, or dinosaurs, or youve been waiting for the perfect time to completely immerse yourself in Jurassic World(!), you can do that now AND support GMGSF at the same time with the Jurassic World Evolution Completionist Bundle.Together, we can help ensure that every aspiring creator has the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality. Thank you for joining us in celebrating these remarkable journeys, and stay tuned for more inspiring stories from our community.

In a world where mental health crises are on the rise, its essential to remember that behind every statistic is a personsomeone who might be struggling silently. As we approach World Mental Health Day on October 10, we want to shine a light on the incredible work being done by Crisis Text Line, an organization dedicated to providing free, confidential, 24/7 mental health support in English and Spanish via text message.Since 2013, Crisis Text Line has supported over 14 million text message conversations globally with affiliates Kids Help Phone in Canada, Shout in the UK, and spunout in Ireland. In 2023 alone, the nonprofit organization supported 1.3 million+ conversations, which is 3,500+ conversations daily. This underscores the urgent need for accessible mental health resources, especially as nearly 50% of US adults report experiencing significant loneliness, a concern highlighted by the US Surgeon General. Last year, nearly 1 in 5 individuals who reached out for support mentioned feeling isolated or lonely, emphasizing the importance of our partnership with Crisis Text Line to foster connections and support.Why Were Partnering with Crisis Text LineOur commitment to Crisis Text Line goes beyond just donations; its about fostering a community where everyone feels heard and supported. This October, funds raised by the Humble community will support two key areas: Crisis Text Lines international expansion and a joint initiative to provide tailored mental health resources for gamers.Supporting Crisis Text Lines International Expansion: Crisis Text Line is expanding its reach to provide mental health support to more people around the world. A key part of this effort is adapting their training for volunteer Crisis Counselors to fit different cultures and communities.Contributions from the Humble community this month will help fund this training for the Latin American audience, ensuring that local affiliates can effectively support their populations. This initiative will enhance the quality and accessibility of mental health services globally.Creating Safe Spaces for Gamers Seeking Support: Together with Crisis Text Line, we are launching a new program to support gamers in need. As a company rooted in the gaming industry, we recognize that gamers face unique challenges, and we are excited to collaborate with Crisis Text Line on this important initiative.A portion of funds raised will go toward their efforts to address loneliness and mental health concerns within the gaming community. In addition, to help bolster the campaign, Crisis Text Line will provide a dedicated text line for Humble community members and all gamers in crisis (see below) to be shared in all relevant touchpoints in English and Spanish.Back the CauseAt Humble, we believe that everyone can play a role in supporting mental health initiatives. Backing this cause means standing up for mental health awareness and support. Heres how you can get involved:Watch and Learn: Start by watching the video below to gain insight into Crisis Text Lines mission and the impact of their services. Your engagement helps raise awareness and support for their critical service. Text HUMBLE to 741741 if You Need Support: If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or having thoughts of self-harm, text HUMBLE to 741741 to connect with a live trained Crisis Counselor who will provide free, confidential support 24/7. This service is available in English and Spanish for anyone in the US.Make a Difference With Your Purchases: For every Humble Choice subscription sign up in October a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support Crisis Text Lines work.Spread Awareness: Educate yourself and others about the importance of mental health support, critical loneliness resources, and the impact of Crisis Text Lines services. Sharing this knowledge can help break the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage others to seek help when needed.Become a Volunteer: Crisis Text Line is always in need of volunteers to provide support to those in crisis. Consider becoming a trained Crisis Counselor and dedicating your time to making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.By taking these actions, you can help Crisis Text Line continue their vital work and ensure that everyone has access to the mental health support they deserve. Together, we can create a culture of openness and understanding around mental health and a world where no one feels alone in their struggles. Lets work to break the stigma and remind each other that its okay to ask for help.

Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo LifeA couple of months ago we reached out to Nintendo Life readers with our Switch Summer Survey, a chunky questionnaire designed (with your help) to assess the state of all things Nintendo and Switch as the console cruises through its eighth year - and as our thoughts inevitably turn to its successor.This 70-question blowout covered everything from the Switch eShop to Joy-Con drift, your past Nintendo consoles to your hopes for the future, not to mention a selection of posers about your favourite Nintendo-focused website. Since summer ended, our data monkeys have been crunching the numbers and it's time for the results!On this page: The Results Of Our 2024 Switch Summer Survey Are InSubscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube784kWatch on YouTube All questions were optional and not everyone who participated answered every single one - responses ranged between approximately 6,000 to 10,000 unique people, so a big thank you to everyone who took the time to answer.Let's dive into the data, shall we? Starting with you.You & Your Gaming HabitsImage: fauxels / PexelsIn terms of location, just under 50% of you are in the US with 20% of you residing in the UK which leaves around a third of you living outside the US/UK. There were 52% of you having at least one child in the household of which 25% of you said you play Switch games together co-op, nice.When it comes to weekly gaming time, roughly 33% of respondees play up to five hours of games a week, slightly more play between six and ten hours, with the remainder going well into double figures.Action, Adventure, Platformer, and RPG are the preferred genres, with 61% saying they play mostly single-player Switch games. Breath of the Wild (18%), Animal Crossing (15%), and Tears of the Kingdom (12%) take the podium for Switch game with the most hours logged.17% of respondees are rocking a gaming PC, while 15% supplement their Switch with a PS5 versus 12% with an Xbox (Xbox Series X: 7%, Series S: 5%). Only 0.3% have never owned a previous Nintendo system (the most popular were Wii and 3DS).Switch - Games, Online, HardwareImage: Damien McFerran / Nintendo LifeFocusing on the Switch experience, of all the Switches you own, 56% are 'Standard Switch', compared to 16% 'Switch Lite' and 27% were 'Switch OLED's.Which Nintendo Switch(s) does your household own? (11,463 votes)Standard Switch56%Switch Lite16%Switch OLED27%None 0.4%The most popular micro SD Card was a measly 128GB with 256GB coming a very close second. Only 18% of you have a card with 1TB or more capacity. Time to upgrade when Switch 2 comes along?Looking at the eShop, 'Adequate' is the most common description of the eShop browsing experience, followed by 'Poor', so there's definite room for improvement there, Nintendo. 99% of respondees have a Nintendo Account, with 17% having them in multiple regions.A quarter of respondees make their own lists or spreadsheets to keep track of upcoming games, with 19% turning to good ol' Deku Deals and 16% making use of Nintendo Life's Games Collection functionality.Turning to Nintendo Switch Online, one in five respondees don't currently subscribe to NSO. Of those who do, 23% don't play retro games via the apps at all, with just 20% playing once a week or more. People generally agree that Nintendo Switch online represents good value, though.How strongly do you agree that Nintendo Switch Online represents good value? (6,585 votes)Strongly agree14%Agree35%Neutral34%Disagree13%Strongly disagree5%Moving on to the hardware and controllers specifically a whopping 53% have had Joy-Con drift troubles, with loose Joy-Con rails affecting 16%. Just 20% said they'd had no Switch hardware issues whatsoever. Regarding pad preferences, 64% prefer the Pro Controller over Joy-Con (22%), with the remainder liking third-party alternatives better.Over half, 51% of you, said that Switch's battery life was 'Good' with 16% saying it was 'Excellent' and only 5% rating it 'Poor'. Additionally, 55% of you play Switch mostly 'Docked' and 44% in 'Handheld'. Nintendo really did get the balance right with this one didn't they?Apparently, between all of you lovely readers, you own a staggering 93,196 loose amiibo and 22,714 boxed amiibo. Won't somebody set them free?!Of the 600,000+ games that you own, 58% were purchased digitally via the eShop and 42% were purchased as physical games. When asked about their preference over physical games, the highest factor was having a hard copy of a game that can't be removed from the eShop.Which factors determine if you buy physical or not? (16,407 votes)Design/Artwork9%Favourite Series or Character18%Price20%Hard copy of the game (that can't be removed from the eShop)24%Resale Ability9%Special Editions13%Other6%1 in 20 respondees say that they have experimented with modding their system's firmware in some way. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the survey is that only a paltry 0.6% have ever taken their Switch to a rooftop party. Scandalous!You & Nintendo (Life)Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo LifeGetting the latest news, reviews, and previews in that order are the three top reasons you lovely people frequent nintendolife.com for all your lovely Nintendo-related content needs, with our features just behind them. 54% of you use Nintendo Life as your primary source of Nintendo info, with YouTube taking up another 25%.Which of the following do you consider your primary source of Nintendo info? (6,284 votes)Nintendo Life54%Official Nintendo Website/Social9%Other Gaming Website(s)4%Twitter/X5%YouTube25%Twitch 0.1%Other3%With regards to the effect of our reviews, 30% of you said that our reviews 'Often' influence your buying decisions and a further 47% said 'Sometimes'. Only 8% of you said our reviews 'Never' influence you.When it comes to your favourite Nintendo series, The Legend of Zelda (39%) won by a mile. Super Mario (14%) took silver, with Pokmon (9%) in third place and Metroid (6%) and Xenoblade (5%) which is also people's favourite series they've been introduced to on Switch bringing up the rear. Of course, the correct answer was F-Zero, which just 0.8% of you picked.Star Fox, Kid Icarus, and Wario Land are the series without a Switch entry that you most want to see return, and as expected, a brand new Mario or Zelda would be most likely to make you pick up a Switch 2 on day one. Speaking of which, let's look to the future...Switch 2 & The FutureImage: Nintendo Life31% would like to see Game Pass come to Switch. The same percentage of people (though not necessarily the same people, of course!) said they wouldn't be interested in having streaming apps on Switch, although Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video were the top picks for everyone else.What is your most desired feature for Switch 2? (6,146 votes)Bigger screen3%Better battery life6%A new unique feature11%Better performance in handheld mode16%Better performance when docked (eg. 4K/DLSS)34%Better ports of multi-platform games15%StreetPass7%Other7%Asked about your most desired feature for Switch 2, better performance in docked and handheld modes were the most common responses, with the closely related 'Better ports of multiplatform games' coming in third. 7% are hoping for the return of the glorious StreetPass, while 11% want a totally new unique feature thrown into the mix. Everything about the "Switch successor"And Finally...Our thanks to all who responded, especially those who answered the tough questions. Things like 'Do you play your Switch on the toilet?' to which 55% responded "Never!"... although we're not sure we believe them. A shockingly untrustworthy 71% of respondees said they hadn't ever licked a Switch game cartridge, either. How could anyone resist that delicious, bitter twang!And there we go - an intriguing glimpse at the Switch lover's gaming history and habits as we stand on the cusp of the next generation!See AlsoShare:1317 Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 before joining the site full-time the following year, rising through the ranks to become Editor. He can currently be found squashed beneath a Switch backlog the size of Normandy. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesRound Up: The Reviews Are In For Mario & Luigi: BrothershipHere's what the critics thoughtIt's Official, 'Switch 2' Will Be Backwards CompatibleSwitch Online will also be available on the "successor"Review: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (Switch) - Easily The Best Mario & Luigi RPG YetGonna get yourself connectedFeature: "I Dont Want To See It Fizzle Out - Stardew Valley Creator On Why He Can't Give It Up"I feel like I could work on it for the rest of my life"Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch GamesXenoblade X! Brothership! Donkey Kong Country!

It should be 'B' for the Bro, right?Mario & Luigi: Brothership set sail on Nintendo Switch yesterday and, on the whole, people seem to be rather impressed with this new nautical adventure. That's not to say there aren't a few tiny annoyances, mind you, as we swiftly learned after taking a glance at our socials this morning.Looking past the new visuals, the delightful weirdness and the cooky characters, more than a handful of people seem to be taking issue with the game's Bro-specific button battles. Namely, how Luigi's 'Press B to attack' isn't as straightforward as it always has been.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Another one of OpenAIs lead safety researchers, Lilian Weng, announced on Friday she is departing the startup. Weng served as VP of research and safety since August, and before that, was the head of the OpenAIs safety systems team.In a post on X, Weng said that after 7 years at OpenAI, I feel ready to reset and explore something new. Weng said her last day will be November 15th, but did not specify where she will go next.I made the extremely difficult decision to leave OpenAI, said Weng in the post. Looking at what we have achieved, Im so proud of everyone on the Safety Systems team and I have extremely high confidence that the team will continue thriving.Wengs departure marks the latest in a long string of AI safety researchers, policy researchers, and other executives who have exited the company in the last year, and several have accused OpenAI of prioritizing commercial products over AI safety. Weng joins Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike the leaders of OpenAIs now dissolved Superalignment team, which tried to develop methods to steer superintelligent AI systems who also left the startup this year to work on AI safety elsewhere.Weng first joined OpenAI in 2018, according to her LinkedIn, working on the startups robotics team that ended up building a robot hand that could solve a Rubiks cube a task that took two years to achieve, according to her post. As OpenAI started focusing more on the GPT paradigm, so did Weng. The researcher transitioned to help build the startups applied AI research team in 2021. Following the launch of GPT-4, Weng was tasked with creating a dedicated team to build safety systems for the startup in 2023. Today, OpenAIs safety systems unit has more than 80 scientists, researchers, and policy experts, according to Wengs post.Thats a lot of AI safety folks, but many have raised concerns around OpenAIs focus on safety as it tries to build increasingly powerful AI systems. Miles Brundage, a longtime policy researcher, left the startup in October and announced that OpenAI was dissolving its AGI readiness team, which he had advised. On the same day, the New York Times profiled a former OpenAI researcher, Suchir Balaji, who said he left OpenAI because he thought the startups technology would bring more harm than benefit to society.OpenAI tells TechCrunch that executives and safety researchers are working on a transition to replace Weng.We deeply appreciate Lilians contributions to breakthrough safety research and building rigorous technical safeguards, said an OpenAI spokesperson in an emailed statement. We are confident the Safety Systems team will continue playing a key role in ensuring our systems are safe and reliable, serving hundreds of millions of people globally.Other executives who have left OpenAI in recent months include CTO Mira Murati, chief research officer Bob McGrew, and research VP Barret Zoph. In August, the prominent researcher Andrej Karpathy and co-founder John Schulman also announced theyd be leaving the startup. Some of these folks, including Leike and Schulman, left to join an OpenAI competitor, Anthropic, while others have gone on to start their own ventures.

Cybersecurity continues to command a lot of attention from enterprises looking for better protection from malicious hackers, and VCs want in on the action. In the latest example, TechCrunch has learned and confirmed that Upwind a specialist in assessing and securing cloud infrastructure is closing in on a $100 million round at a valuation of between $850-$900 million, post-money.The round includes a mix of new and existing investors such as Craft Ventures, Greylock, CyberStarts, Leaders Fund, Omri Casspis Sheva Fund, and basketball star Steph Currys investment fund Penny Jar. The round is in its final stages of getting closed this could come in a matter of days and could include further investors. The round, a Series B, comes on the heels of the company picking up dozens of Fortune 500 companies and growing its staff to about 160 people, a source said. Its a significant leap for Upwind, which had previously raised just over $77 million, including a $50 million round in September 2023. Upwinds last valuation, from that most recent round, was $300 million. It will be using some of the funding for R&D, and some for hiring, with plans to add around 100 people across Israel, San Francisco and Iceland.Upwind was founded by Amiram Shachar, who sold his previous company, the cloud spend management startup Spot.io, to NetApp for $450 million. It is part of the guard of cybersecurity startups founded in Israel by teams that cut their teeth originally working in areas like military intelligence. In its case, it is also one of the many companies in the space focusing on vulnerabilities in the cloud through a platform approach. Specifically, Upwind aims to tackle the blizzard of alerts that are typically raised by threat detection tools. It claims to reduce these alerts by 90% to focus security operations teams more closely on understanding and responding faster to actual threats. The companys tech covers cloud services (covering areas like vulnerability management and identity security), workloads (which includes container security and detection and response) and apps (including areas like API vulnerability management). To some extent, these are all interrelated, one reason a platform approach makes sense.Well update this post as we learn more.

Barry Jenkins all-new film takes audiences back in time with a host of fan-favorite characters like Mufasa,Scar, Sarabi, Rafiki and Zazu before they called Pride Rock home; movie blends live-action filmmaking techniques with the latest photoreal CGI; coming to theaters December 20.