Austrian studio Delugan Meissl Associated Architects and global studio Gensler have been named as the architects for phase one of The Line megacity, which is being built as part of the controversial Neom project in Saudi Arabia.Neom announced that Delugan Meissl Associated Architects (DMAA) is the urban planner for phase one of the project, while Gensler will act as city planning consultant. UK engineering studio Mott MacDonald was also revealed as city infrastructure engineer.The announcement is the first official confirmation of the architecture studios designing The Line.The city is the most high-profile element of the controversial Neom development, which has been criticised widely on human rights and sustainability grounds. In an article earlier this year, we asked if it was time for architecture studios to walk away from the project in the face of mounting pressure from campaigners.First official announcement of The Line architectsIt is understood that US studio Morphosis designed the concept for the city, which is planned to stretch for 170 kilometres across northeastern Saudi Arabia and will made from two parallel 500-metre-high skyscrapers.Individual studios will be responsible for designing 700-metre-long sections of the megastructure, with phase one consisting of three of these sections starting at the Red Sea.Several studios have been attached to the project, with DMAA being one of 12 studios included in The Line Exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2022. Until now, the studio had not spoken publicly about the project."The Line is a pioneering, visionary project that really changes how we think about city planning," said DMAA founder Roman Delugan."We're putting sustainability and adaptability first," he continued. "It's the first time in the history of urban development that a city is being realized based on a parametric model. Due to its construction method, The Line is quickly adjustable to people's needs, which we desperately need for a sustainable future."Read: Is it time for architecture studios to walk away from Neom?Under DMAA's overall lead, Neom will appoint numerous studios to design neighbourhoods within the city in early 2025. Gensler will coordinate the city planning and act as "city asset design architect" responsible for designing infrastructure including transport hubs and the public spaces."The Line presents an extraordinary opportunity in the history of urban development to redesign and reimagine a new future for our cities," said Gensler's managing principal for Europe Duncan Swinhoe."At Gensler, we are working around the globe to design places for people and to shape the cities of tomorrow," added Swinhoe."We look forward to bringing our design values and expertise and collaborating with the greatest minds from across the world to develop one of the most transformative, resilient, and innovative architectural projects of our time."Neom criticised by human rights groupsNeom is one of14 giga projects being developed in Saudi Arabiaas part of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan to shift the country's economy from a reliance on oil. A recent ITV documentary titledKingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia stated that 21,000 migrant workers from Nepal, Bangladesh and India had died in Saudi Arabia since 2016, which was when the country launched its Vision 2030 plan.The Neom project has been criticised on human rights grounds, with human rights organisation ALQST reporting that three men were sentenced to deathafter being "forcibly evicted" from the Neom site.UN Human Rights Council laterexpressed "alarm" over the imminent executions. Saudi Arabiaresponded to the UN by denying abuses had taken place.The main image is courtesy of Neom.The post Neom names Delugan Meissl Associated Architects and Gensler as The Line architects appeared first on Dezeen.

French studio Cigu drew on Greek modernism when creating the interior of Ace Hotel and Swim Club Athens, which features vintage furniture and specially commissioned artworks by local artists.Located in the old Fenix Hotel, a brutalist building notable for its jagged facade composed of multiple small balconies, the latest Ace Hotelhas a pool and was intended to also function as a place where locals can come to swim and dine.The 120-room hotel sits outside central Athens near the Glyfada suburb and the Ellinikon an ongoing redevelopment of the former Athens airport into residential neighbourhoods with buildings planned by BIG and Foster + Partners.The Ace Hotel and Swim Club Athens is located on the Greek RivieraCigu focused on evoking the history of the area when creating the hotel's interior."The idea was to create a new urban destination around that swim club concept and the revival of the existing building, anchored in the spirit of the 1970s Athenian Riviera era: relaxed elegance, natural vibrancy, Mediterranean sensuality," Cigu founding partner Alphonse Sarthout told Dezeen."We could say this project is like a bridge between three cities, Athens, Glyfada and the future Ellinikon, and three eras and scenes: 1950s modernist architecture heritage, 70s Riviera pool and beach culture and the contemporary Athenian art scene."French studio Cigu designed its interior using vintage furnitureThe studio removed a number of 1980s and 90s interventions to showcase the bones of the building and made several changes to the layout, including turning the entire ground floor into one large public space and"[We've] entirely redesigned the pool and its deck, opened and enlarged indoor spaces, creating transparencies from street to pool, and a new axis along its main facade a wooden shaded walkway offering a new space between indoor and outdoor, where clients and locals can meet, giving the public access to the restaurant, the bar and the lobby," Sarthout said.Sandy-hued terrazzo was used for the flooringTo create a sense of continuity between the interior and exterior, the studio used a sandy-toned terrazzo in different finishes, structured by steps and travertine lines, for the flooring that extends onto the terrace.The facade was clad in white plaster with wooden accents and greenery on the balconies to soften the brutalist appearance. Cigu also added colourful accents in the form of artwork, furniture and deep-blue ceramic tiles in the hotel's Sebastian restaurant.The brutalist hotel exterior has multiple balconiesThe studio worked with local brand Back to the Future to find the 1960s and 70s furniture and accessories that decorate the main areas and the guest rooms."Like art pieces, vintage furniture is essential in every Ace Hotel," Sarthout said. "They show their love for design and designers, look for the richness of eclecticism, and trust the power of a well-curated selection to give personality and a spirit to a place."Read: Ace Hotel Brooklyn showcases the borough's artistic talent"Vintage pieces come with their own stories and personalities, like characters in a theatre piece," he added."They also bring this sense of ageing well, inviting to be used, transmitting a sense of welcoming, to feel more relaxed and comfortable."Fabrics in different textures add tactile interestWooden detailing and furniture and fabric in different textures, in the form of throws, rugs and wall hangings, add tactile interest to the interior."We like to keep material as 'raw' as possible," Sarthout said."We were looking for a general brightness and naturality everywhere in the hotel to echo this seaside situation but balanced with warmer tones, sandy floors and wooden accents, to darker moments like the bar, the landing in the staircase and elevators with black floors. "The guest rooms have custom-designed bed covers and artworksGreek-Egyptian designer Salma Barakat created custom bed covers for the guestrooms while the whole building was filled with artworks that were specially commissioned for the space.When entering, guests are met by facade murals from artists Claire Manent and Panos Profitis, and a silvery artwork by artist Bregje Sliepenbeek that adds a decorative touch to the lobby.A desk made from Dionysos marble decorates the receptionThe reception desk is formed of an art piece created by artist Ilias Lefas from Dionysos marble. Profitis also created aluminium wall lamps shaped like harpies for each guestroom in a nod to Greek mythology.Cigu aimed for the artists to represent young Athenian talent working in a variety of mediums and expressions."In the end, this presence of art everywhere in the hotel, with all the stories it contains, creates an inhabited place like an art collector's house that resonates with its context and its time," Sarthout concluded.Bregje Sliepenbeek designed an art piece in silver for Ace Hotel and Swim Club AthensAce Hotel and Swim Club Athens is set to be expanded next year to also include a rooftop restaurant, bar and lounge.Ace Hotel has a number of locations around the world. Dezeen has previously featured its location in Toronto, which has large fireplaces and a rooftop bar, and Ace Hotel Brooklyn, which aims to showcase the neighbourhood's creative talent.The photography is byDe Pasquale+Maffini.The post Cigu designs art-filled Ace Hotel in brutalist building on Athens Riviera appeared first on Dezeen.

Let the weird builds live.Patch notes are all fun and games, until they kill and bury a unique item build.

With recent CPU failings, it's an uphill climb back to relevance for Intel.But with recent CPU failings it's an uphill climb back to relevance for Intel.

3D printing is injecting much-needed innovation into sneaker design, but its small brands that are leading where big names are strugglingor hesitantto keep up.

The hydroponic plant-growing company is shutting down. Heres what to expect growing forward if you own any AeroGarden devices.

MacworldThirty years ago, if you asked a member of the public about the future of technology, theres a fair chance youd hear the word miniaturization. Thats the way things seemed to be headed in the 90s, and you could hardly move for observational comedians doing tight fives about funny little camcorders and funny little music players and funny slightly less massive mobile phones. By 2024, we all assumed, a households entire collection of tech products would fit into a matchbox.In any event, it didnt quite work out that way, which is often the case when you assume current trends will carry on endlessly in the same direction. An iPod nano is an appreciably more portable and convenient product than an iPod mini, but that doesnt mean wed get the same benefits from an iPod pico the size of a kidney bean or an iPod femto the size of a grain of rice. Theres a point where getting smaller stops being helpful.The iPhone is a case in point. Our 90s friend would be baffled to discover that the iPhone 16 is taller, wider, and more than an ounce heavier than the original iPhone that came out 17 years earlierbut this is more than compensated for by the much larger screen and battery, and the arsenal of vastly upgraded tech components. Apples smartphones have got slimmer, but in other respects, it makes functional sense for them to stay the same size or grow. A 6.1-inch screen is just demonstrably more useful than a 3.5-inch one.Of course, it hasnt been a simple march upward in size, and Apple has experimented with smaller handsets from time to time. For a couple of generations, the iPhone SE was popular among folk who didnt especially want or need a phablet. (Now theres an ugly neologism you dont hear anymore, mainly because big smartphones are no longer a novelty.) But was it really the small size that was the attraction, or was it the low price and the Home button? The evidence suggests the latter, because the small but mighty iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini, as popular as they were with reviewers, were so commercially unsuccessful that Apple killed off the line in favor of something bigger.I loved (and mourned) the iPhone 12 mini because it seemed miraculous that something so small could contain such a formidable set of specs and features. I loved how unobtrusively it slipped into a pocket, and the lack of compromises its petite form factor appeared to entail. But the problem comes when a user goes from a 5.4-inch screen to a 6.1-inch one, or vice versa. I switched from the iPhone 14 Pro to the 15 Plus last fall and can confirm from personal experience that once you try a bigger screen, its very difficult to go back.Perhaps this explains the situation of the iPad mini, which once seemed like the future of the line (following that same 90s logic, I suppose) but quickly became its pariah instead. Apple eventually updated the iPad mini last month, but this came after an astonishing three years in the wilderness and involved precious few worthwhile upgrades: one imagines that Apple spent a lot of that time giving serious thought to mercy-killing the iPad mini like the iPhone mini before it. The device is apparently popular in some professional applications, but Im not sure there are enough doctors and airline pilots in the world to make it commercially viable when everyone else wants to watch movies on a screen at least the size of the 10th-gen iPad.Does shrinking tech products ever make sense? Of course. Apples own Mac mini, now smaller than ever, is the most recent poster child for the mini concept and has proven a great and enduring success. Mainly, I suspect, because the Mac being mini doesnt require the display to follow suit. Its one of the few products in Apples ecosystem where the screen is unbundled from the rest of the device and it helps that its plugged in rather than battery-powered, so being smaller doesnt necessitate a reduction in functional life. The two big downsides of smallness dont affect the Mac mini. (Another such example is the HomePod mini.)What, then, would it look like if Apple tried to mini-fy one of its other products? What would a MacBook mini, for example, look like? Well, we dont really have to guess because Apple actually used to sell a smaller MacBook Air with an 11-inch display and the fact that it doesnt anymore suggests this isnt the optimal laptop form factor. Even in 2015, we concluded that the screen was too small, although in fairness this was more a function of the extremely thick bezels than the limitations of the chassis.A 2025 MacBook mini would fix that issue, at any rate. And if were committing to the miniature concept then we can assume that the chassis would shrink inwards to meet the screen, rather than the screen expanding to meet the edge of the chassis. That would give us an unprecedentedly slim and portable laptop that would fit in Steve Jobs manilla envelope with room to spare for a packed lunch, which isnt an unappealing thought. Chuck in an M3 processor and support for Apple Intelligence, and the MacBook mini would deliver high-class performance in an ultraportable package.Unfortunately, some problems are fundamental to a devices size. No matter how much we slim down those bezels, the screen cant get any bigger than the chassis allows. More importantly, neither can the keyboard, which is bad news for people with human-sized hands and a desire to type. And if youre one of the few people willing to stomach a laptop with a small screen and a small keyboard, theres already the option to buy an 11-inch iPad Air with a Magic Keyboard and get two products in one. But Id recommend you steer clear of the iPad mini.FoundryWelcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.Trending: Top storiesHow Apple learned to stop worrying and laugh at the Microsoft Zune.Complaints about the Magic Mouse are missing the point, because theres a logic to Apples laziness.How Apple Intelligence can take over the world (or just the Apple ecosystem).Im skipping the Apple Watch Series 10 this year, says Mahmoud Itani, and so should you.How small is the M4 Mac mini really? This small.Podcast of the weekThe internet didnt become a widely accessible resource for years after the Mac was born, So where did people go to get Mac support? In this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we explore the history of Mac User Groups and their influence on the Mac community.You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast onSpotify,Soundcloud, thePodcasts app, orour own site.Reviews cornerM4 iMac review: This might be the best iMac ever.M4 Pro Mac mini review: Remarkably small and incredibly powerful.14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review: From meh to marvelous.16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review: Locked in and loaded.iPad mini (A17 Pro) review: A little faster, a little smarter.The rumor millThe M4 Ultra will reportedly get a massive core upgrade for Apples highest-end Macs.Major changes are coming to the MacBook Probut not until 2026.Left-field report claims Apple is working on a 90Hz display for iPad Air, iMac.And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up forour newsletters. You can also follow uson Facebook, Threads, or Twitter for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

In a significant escalation of US efforts to limit Chinas access to advanced technology, the Department of Commerce has reportedly mandated Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to cease shipments of high-performance AI chips to Chinese customers.The directive, effective Monday, restricts the export of TSMCs 7-nanometer and more advanced processors, which are widely used in AI applications, Reuters reported.The US Commerce Departments latest move specifically targets chips that can power AI accelerators and GPUs, with a particular focus on halting indirect access to restricted technology by Chinese companies like Huawei, which the US considers a national security threat.This directive, marking a new chapter in US-China tech tensions, applies to several key players in Chinas AI ecosystem, potentially impacting companies beyond Huawei.TSMC declined to comment on the said matter citing market rumor.TSMC is a law-abiding company and we are committed to complying with all applicable rules and regulations, including applicable export controls, the chip maker said.A query to the US Commerce Department did not elicit any response.In another distantly related development, the Taiwanese government has said that the countrys law prevents TSMC from producing its 2nm chips TSMCs hitherto most advanced chip abroad.Since Taiwan has related regulations to protect its own technologies, TSMC cannot produce 2-nanometer chips overseas currently, Taipei Times said quoting Minister of Economic Affairs J W Kuo.Kuo made the remarks while addressing concerns that TSMC may have to accelerate 2-nm chip production in its Arizona fabs following Donald Trumps re-election as US president.TSMC is the main supplier of chips, including its most advanced one, for Nvidia and Apple and the US largely depends on the Taiwanese firm to further its technological advancements in the AI space.TSMCs involvement: The Huawei incidentThis stringent order follows a recent finding that a TSMC-manufactured chip had been integrated into Huaweis Ascend 910B, an advanced AI processor released in 2022.A teardown analysis by research firm, Tech Insights, revealed the presence of TSMC technology within Huaweis product, hinting at an export control violation and triggering the US crackdown.The revelation prompted TSMC to inform the Commerce Department, shedding light on Huaweis use of intermediaries to potentially bypass US trade restrictions.The US directive mandates that any advanced product containing over 25% American technology require an export license a requirement Huawei circumvented by procuring chips indirectly through third parties.Impact on Chinese tech giants and the semiconductor marketThe directive impacts numerous other entities in Chinas technology landscape. In addition to Huawei, major AI-driven companies such as Alibaba and Baidu, which design and use similar processors, will face increased scrutiny.Although the US regards them as competitors to Huawei, the move aims to curb any potential diversion of restricted technology for unauthorized AI applications in China.Moreover, the order raises questions about TSMCs ability to navigate US-imposed restrictions while continuing to serve clients in one of its largest markets.Reports initially suggested that TSMCs decision to halt chip shipments was voluntary, but it has since become clear that it was a response to direct US government orders.However, the restriction on AI chips excludes automotive and consumer-grade chips, signaling that Chinas AI and defense-related developments are the primary targets.Growing tensions and US commitment to export controlThe US has steadily intensified its stance against the use of American technology by companies that the government deems a security threat. By tightening export controls, the US aims to prevent China from leveraging AI and semiconductor advancements in ways that could counter US interests.This latest directive follows broader efforts to restrict Chinas technological capabilities, underscoring the US commitment to export control enforcement amidst ongoing geopolitical friction.As the implications of the US directive continue to unfold, TSMC and other semiconductor producers may face a complex path ahead in balancing regulatory compliance with business needs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Using theMonarch personal finance program, I went through my finances recently and found that I pay $510 every month on various subscriptions. (Thats not counting things such as my Internet bill, $120 a month for AT&T 2Gbps fiber.) Im talking about Netflix, Google One,The Wall Street Journal, and other services and publications I actually want.But there were also over $100 worth of subscriptions that, frankly, Id forgotten aboutand no longer wanted or needed. Thats real money.So, how do I get rid of them? Today, I have to dig into every last lousy one of them and jump through numerous hoops to cancel but that may not be the case for much longer.The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last month announced aclick-to-cancel ruleaimed at making it easier for you and me to end recurring subscriptions and memberships. The new regulation requires sellers to make canceling services as simple as when you initially signed up for them.As FTC Commission Chair Lina M. Khan explained: Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription. The FTCs rule will end these tricks and traps, saving Americans time and money. Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want.Amen, sister!The new regulations arent going to affect just Disney+ subscribers and the like. Businesses that rely on Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) as either users or providers are going to be affected as well.The new rule, which goes into effect six months after being published in the Federal Register, will have significant implications, for example, for providers like Google One and Microsoft 365.Heres how its likely to affect these services.For example, practices like requiring phone calls or in-person visits to cancel will no longer be allowed. If you think thats an exaggeration, by the way, you clearly havent had aPlanet Fitness subscription, which required snail-mail or an in-person visit to close out your membership.Additionally, SaaS providers must provide clear and conspicuous disclosures about subscription terms: For example, automatic renewal information must be clearly stated and cancellation deadlines by which customers must cancel to avoid charges must also be spelled out.Under these regulations, you can no longer automatically resubscribe customers. They must consent before automatic renewals take place. Clearly, businesses that use automatic renewals will have to change how theyll handle subscription renewals.If your business gets customers by offering free trials that convert to paid subscriptions, youll also need to clearly disclose the trials terms, including when the trial ends and what charges will occur. And, of course, canceling after a free trial must be as simple as signing up for the trial.All of this means, of course, that your company will have to update its terms and conditions. Youre going to have to pay your lawyers (as well as your programmers) to address these new rules.On the plus side, while none of this will be cheap, the FTC argues that customers will be happier and more likely resubscribe. And new transparent practices could even lead tostronger customer relationships.Not everyone is happy about the new regulations. Business organizations such as the Internet & Television Association (NCTA), the Interactive Advertising Bureau, and the US Chamber of Commerce oppose them. They have three major arguments: that the FTC doesnt have the legal authority to implement the rules; the change will cost companies money; and theyll force industries to change current cancellation processes that protect consumers or offer better deals.In other words, its exactly what youd expect them to say.Given the click-to-cancel rule is part of the Biden administrations efforts to combat junk fees, you might think its dead as a doornail. Usually, Id agree. But while Kahn has been alightning rod for both Democrats and Republicans, she has one ally you probably didnt expect; Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who said: I look atLina Khan as one of the few people in the Biden administration that I think is doing a pretty good job,In addition,overall, the rule appears to be quite popular among consumers and consumer advocates. Lets get real. People are sick of perpetual subscriptions. Their budgets are tight. Even if the FTC regulation costs companies some coin, itll be worth it in the long run.

Rather than analyzing the news this week, I thought Id lift the hood a bit on how we make it.Ive spent most of this year being pretty convinced that Donald Trump would be the 47th president of the United States. Even so, like most people, I was completely surprised by the scope of his victory. By taking the lions share not just in the Electoral College but also the popular vote, coupled with the wins in the Senate (and, as I write this, seemingly the House) and ongoing control of the courts, Trump has done far more than simply eke out a win. This level of victory will certainly provide the political capital to usher in a broad sweep of policy changes.Some of these changes will be well outside our lane as a publication. But very many of President-elect Trumps stated policy goals will have direct impacts on science and technology. Some of the proposed changes would have profound effects on the industries and innovations weve covered regularly, and for years. When he talks about his intention toend EV subsidies, hit the brakes on FTC enforcement actions on Big Tech, ease the rules on crypto, or impose a 60 percent tariff on goods from China, these are squarely in our strike zone and we would be remiss not to explore the policies and their impact in detail.And so I thought I would share some of my remarks from our edit meeting on Wednesday morning, when we woke up to find out that the world had indeed changed. I think its helpful for our audience if we are transparent and upfront about how we intend to operate, especially over the next several months that will likely be, well, chaotic.This is a moment when our jobs are more important than ever. There will be so much noise and heat out there in the coming weeks and months, and maybe even years. The next six months in particular will be a confusing time for a lot of people. We should strive to be the signal in that noise.We have extremely important stories to write about the role of science and technology in the new administration. There are obvious stories for us to take on in regards to climate, energy, vaccines, womens health, IVF, food safety, chips, China, and Im sure a lot more, that people are going to have all sorts of questions about. Lets start by making a list of questions we have ourselves. Some of the people and technologies we cover will be ascendant in all sorts of ways. We should interrogate that power. Its important that we take care in those stories not to be speculative or presumptive. To always have the facts buttoned up. To speak the truth and be unassailable in doing so.Do we drop everything and only cover this? No. But it will certainly be a massive story that affects nearly all others.This election will be a transformative moment for society and the world. Trump didnt just win, he won a mandate. And hes going to change the country and the global order as a result. The next few weeks will see so much speculation as to what it all means. So much fear, uncertainty, and doubt. There is an enormous amount of bullshit headed down the line. People will be hungry for sources they can trust. We should be there for that. Lets leverage our credibility, not squander it.We are not the resistance. We just want to tell the truth. So lets take a breath, and then go out there and do our jobs.I like to tell our reporters and editors that our coverage should be free from either hype or cynicism. I think thats especially true now.Im also very interested to hear from our readers: What questions do you have? What are the policy changes or staffing decisions you are curious about? Please drop me a line atmat.honan@technologyreview.comIm eager to hear from you.If someone forwarded you this edition of The Debrief, you cansubscribe here.Now read the rest of The DebriefThe NewsPalmer Luckey, who was ousted from Facebook over his support for the last Trump administration and went into defense contracting, is poised to grow in influence under a second administration. He recently talked to MIT Technology Review about how the Pentagon is using mixed reality. What does Donald Trumps relationship with Elon Musk mean for the global EV industry? The Biden administration was perceived as hostile to crypto. The industry can likely expect friendlier waters under Trump Some counter-programming: Life seeking robots could punch through Europas icy surface And for one more big take thats not related to the election: AI vs quantum. AI could solve some of the most interesting scientific problems before big quantum computers become a realityThe ChatEvery week Ill talk to one of MIT Technology Reviews reporters or editors to find out more about what theyve been working on. This week, I chatted with Melissa Heikkil about her story on how ChatGPT search paves the way for AI agents.Mat: Melissa, OpenAI rolled out web search for ChatGPT last week. It seems pretty cool. But you got at a really interesting bigger picture point about it paving the way for agents. What does that mean?Melissa: Microsoft tried to chip away at Googles search monopoly with Bing, and that didnt really work. Its unlikely OpenAI will be able to make much difference either. Their best bet is try to get users used to a new way of finding information and browsing the web through virtual assistants that can do complex tasks. Tech companies call these agents. ChatGPTs usefulness is limited by the fact that it cant access the internet and doesnt have the most up to date information. By integrating a really powerful search engine into the chatbot, suddenly you have a tool that can help you plan things and find information in a far more comprehensive and immersive way than traditional search, and this is a key feature of the next generation of AI assistants.Mat: What will agents be able to do?Melissa: AI agents can complete complex tasks autonomously and the vision is that they will work as a human assistant would book your flights, reschedule your meetings, help with research, you name it. But I wouldnt get too excited yet. The cutting-edge of AI tech can retrieve information and generate stuff, but it still lacks the reasoning and long-term planning skills to be really useful. AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude also cant interact with computer interfaces, like clicking at stuff, very well. They also need to become a lot more reliable and stop making stuff up, which is still a massive problem with AI. So were still a long way away from the vision becoming reality! I wrote anexplainer on agentsa little while ago with more details.Mat: Is search as we know it going away? Are we just moving to a world of agents that not only answer questions but also accomplish tasks?Melissa: Its really hard to say. We are so used to using online search, and its surprisingly hard to change peoples behaviors. Unless agents become super reliable and powerful, I dont think search is going to go away.Mat: By the way, I know you are in the UK. Did you hear we had an election over here in the US?Melissa: LOLThe RecommendationIm just back from a family vacation in New York City, where I was in town to run the marathon. (I get to point this out for like one or two more weeks before the bragging gets tedious, I think.) While there, we went to see The Outsiders. Chat, it was incredible. (Which maybe should go without saying given that it won the Tony for best musical.) But wow. I loved the book and the movie as a kid. But this hit me on an entirely other level. Im not really a cries-at-movies (or especially at musicals) kind of person but I was wiping my eyes for much of the second act. So were very many people sitting around me. Anyway. If youre in New York, or if it comes to your city, go see it. And until then, the soundtrack is pretty amazing on its own. (Heres a great example.)