While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day,many great iPad deals are attainable outside those times. The day-to-day discounts may come and go like changing winds, but theres often something to be saved, particularly on the more affordable iPads. The most recentiPad Pro and iPad Airare also starting to see substantial price reductions, and now that Apple has anew iPad Mini, were seeing regular discounts on the last-gen Mini as well.Its difficult to know where exactly you can find the most notable iPad deals unless youre scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But thats often what our deal hunters atThe Vergeare doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, weve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, from the cheapo ninth-gen iPad of 2021 to the latest models equipped with Apples powerful M2 and M4 chips.RelatedThe best iPad (2021) dealsAnnounced alongside the iPhone 13 way back in 2021, the ninth-gen iPad is Apples aging entry-level tablet, one thats still great at carrying out everyday tasks despite having been discontinued. The ninth-gen model originally started at $329 with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage, which arguably makes the newer 10th-gen model the better deal if you dont need a home button or a headphone jack, as it now starts at $349 and is often on sale for even less.The last-gen iPad has been receiving a steep discount for quite a while, but its becoming increasingly difficult to find in most configurations. That being said, Walmart is still selling the 64GB base model with Wi-Fi for $249 ($80 off), which is about $50 shy of its all-time low. As for the step-up 256GB variant, Amazon has it in silver for $359 ($120 off), which is $10 more than its lowest price to date.A last-gen model is still worth consideringThe last-gen iPad uses an A13 Bionic processor and a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature designed to keep you framed up and centered while on video calls. The tablet also carries over a number of features from its predecessor, such as the 10.2-inch display, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button, and a smart connector for connecting a smart keyboard.2021 iPad (Wi-Fi)$249$32924% off$249$249$32924% offApples entry-level iPad from 2021 has a 10.2-inch screen, an A13 Bionic chip, and a 12MP front camera that supports ApplesCenter Stage feature. Its also compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil and the companys smart keyboard. Although its discontinued, its the only iPad you can still buy with a 3.5mm headphone jack.$249 at Walmart (64GB, Wi-Fi)$359 at Amazon (256GB, Wi-Fi)The best iPad (2022) dealsAlthough the newer 10th-gen iPad came out in late 2022, its still an excellent tablet one we consider to be the best value for most people (once Apple dropped its price). The latest iPad modernizes the design with a switch to USB-C, uniform bezels with no home button, a side power button with a fingerprint sensor, and a larger display, but it eliminates the 3.5mm headphone jack.In the past, you could often buy Apples latest entry-level iPad for $349 ($100 off its initial launch price) which is now the MSRP. Right now, however, the base model with 64GB of storage is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for $279 ($70 off), which is about $30 more than its lowest price to date. Amazon and Best Buy are also selling the 256GB model starting at $429 ($70 off), which nearly matches its all-time low. 2022 Apple iPad (64GB, Wi-Fi)$279$34920% off$279$279$34920% offApples 10th-gen iPad is the successor to the older ninth-gen model. In exchange for its revised design, landscape-oriented webcam, USB-C port, larger 10.9-inch screen, and faster processor, it ditched the headphone jack and home button.The best iPad Mini (2021) and iPad Mini (2024) dealsThe new iPad Mini is similar to the outgoing 2021 model but comes with faster Wi-Fi and USB-C speeds, support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and a newer processor that supports Apple Intelligence. That said, the sixth-gen iPad Mini could still be worth a look if prices continue to drop. It has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, an A15 Bionic processor, a USB-C port, and options for 5G. It lacks the 3.5mm jack and dedicated home button found on the prior model, but so do all of the tablets in Apples current lineup.RelatedDespite its age, the 2021 iPad Mini still technically starts at $499 with 64GB of storage (the seventh-gen model starts at the same price with 128GB of storage). Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $649, while the 5G cellular models are $649 for 64GB and $799 for 256GB. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth consideringif you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want an Apple tablet in the smallest possible form factor, this is where the action is.2021 iPad Mini (Wi-Fi)$389$49922% off$389$389$49922% offApples sixth-gen iPad Mini ditched the home button and introduced a larger edge-to-edge display. It also comes outfitted with a last-gen A15 processor, support for USB-C, and a top-mounted power button that moonlights as a Touch ID sensor.Although the seventh-gen iPad Mini is now widely available, its not worth the upgrade unless you want to leverage Apple Intelligence or the newer Apple Pencil Pro. Thankfully, you can still pick up the 64GB iPad Mini from 2021 at Walmart for $389 ($110 off), which misses its all-time low by $40. The 256GB sixth-gen Mini is also on sale at Walmart in select colors for $549 ($100 off), which is $50 more than its lowest price to date.If you do want the newest Mini, you can get the 128GB base configuration with Wi-Fi at Amazon and Best Buy for a record low of $449 ($50 off). You can also get the Wi-Fi model with 256GB of storage for $549 ($50 off) at both Amazon and Best Buy, though Amazon currently does not provide a shipping estimate for the tablet.2024 iPad Mini (128GB, Wi-Fi)$449$49910% off$449$449$49910% offThe seventh-gen iPad Mini comes with Apples A17 Pro chip and support for Apple Intelligence. Its also compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro and offers faster Wi-Fi and USB-C speeds.The best iPad Air (2024) dealsApple just recently launched the 2024 iPad Air, which features several small upgrades. The newer model doesnt feature any groundbreaking changes compared to the 2022 release, but notably, there is now a 13-inch configuration in addition to a base 11-inch model. Apple also added Wi-Fi 6E radios and upgraded the chipset to M2, which enables the hover feature when using Apples latest styluses. You can use the newer iPad Air with the Apple Pencil Pro and both previous-gen Magic Keyboards, too. The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599, while the comparable 13-inch model starts at $799.RelatedDeals for the 2024 iPad Air started to appear before the latest model even hit store shelves. Right now, you can pick up the 11-inch base model with 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi at Amazon and Best Buy starting at $499 ($100 off), which is its best price to date. The 13-inch iPad Air with 128GB of storage, meanwhile, is on sale at Best Buy for an all-time low of $699 ($100 off).11-inch iPad Air M2 (128GB, Wi-Fi)$499$59917% off$499$499$59917% offThe newest iPad Air comes with Apples M2 chip, a new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and last-gen Magic Keyboards.13-inch iPad Air M2 (128GB, Wi-Fi)$699$79913% off$699$699$79913% offIn addition to the 11-inch model, the newest iPad Air is also available in a 13-inch configuration with Apples M2 processor. It features a Liquid Retina display, new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and the bigger version of Apples last-gen Magic Keyboard.$699 at Best Buy$729 at B&H PhotoThe best iPad Pro (2024) dealsCompared to the latest iPad Air, the 2024 iPad Pro is a far more impressive upgrade. The 11- and 13-inch models start at $999 and $1,299, respectively, and they are the first Apple devices to feature the companys latest M4 chip, which brings moderate performance gains and dedicated hardware for on-device Apple Intelligence processing. The new Pro models can claim other firsts, too, such as being the first iPad models with OLED displays and the lightest Pros yet, which is true for both sizes. They also feature repositioned front-facing cameras that sit along the horizontal edge, which prevent you from looking as though youre staring off into space on a video call.RelatedAs for deals, the 11-inch iPad Pro with Wi-Fi / 256GB of storage is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo starting at $899 (about $100 off), which is only $2 more than the lowest price to date. The sleek and super-thin 13-inch model, meanwhile, is on sale in its 256GB base configuration at Amazon and Best Buy for $1,099 ($200 off), which is an all-time low price.11-inch iPad Pro M4 (Wi-Fi, 256GB)$899$99910% off$899$899$99910% offApples latest iPad Pro is the first Apple device with an M4 processor and an OLED-based Ultra Retina XDR display. It also features an improved camera system with adaptive flash and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro and the newest Magic Keyboard.13-inch iPad Pro M4 (Wi-Fi, 256GB)$1099$129915% off$1099$1099$129915% offThe newest iPad Pro comes in either an 11- or 13-inch configuration with Apples M4 processor. Both models also feature an OLED display, a much thinner and lighter build, new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro.

There is a new Humble Bundle of interest to game developers, The Ultimate Unreal Mega Bundle. Humble like to use terms like ultimate and mega quite often, but this one may just live up to the name as it is perhaps the single biggest bundle I have ever seen on Humble. It is organized into the following tiers:$25 TierKnives VOL.1 Hunting (4K Textured FPS Tactical Knives)Foliage VOL.21 Cypress Trees ( Low Poly)Abandoned Service Garage VOL.1 Shelves and StorageFoliage VOL.23 Ivy (Low Poly)92 Animations For Warrior41 Animations For MonstersPack 05: Dance awayPack 26: AdriftPack 32: IndustryPack 34: BluePack 35: DeadlyPhysics-Based Destructible Vehicle TrailerFirst Person Base Arms Vol. 1 Skinny MaleSemi-Permanent Blood DropletsAnimated Blood Decals RealisticBullet Impact FXLove FXDark GUI / UI / Main Menu Pro KIT complete solutionFullscreen Flat GUI / UI Kit transparent, rpg packSound Design Elements Vol 2Sound Design Elements Vol 3Stylized Shaders PackMatrix / Rain of Symbols VFXMagic Orbs / Energy Cores VFXStylized Magic Circles VFXMedian Makes No Sense to Buy Price TierAuge Mountaintop ObservatoryCastle Grimguard (Night/Day)Ancient Temple Environment ( Modular Temple, Ancient Tropical Temple )RD: Lighting KitPost Apocalyptic Mansion Albert Manor (Day and Night Lighting)ia scatterGrunge / Military / Horror Dark GUI / UI KIT (CommonUI) + psd/ai source filesAdvanced Fireworks System VFXSound Design Elements Vol 5Foliage VOL.2 Pines (Nanite and Low Poly)Foliage VOL.3 Oak Trees (Nanite and Low Poly)Safe House VOL.1 Supplies and Guns (Nanite and Low Poly)Abandoned Service Garage VOL.3 Sales and ServiceTropical Island BiomeHigh school Science Lab Classroom 90s themed (Day/Night Lighting)Toolshed / Garage Props VOL.1 Hand Tools and PaintingFoliage VOL.24 Farming Plants (Low Poly)Modular Medieval Environment (Medieval Castle, Medieval Houses, Medieval Church)Mountain Grassland Landscape Environment ( Forest Landscape, Rocky Landscape )Northern Island Landscape Pack 44 km ( Island Landscape, Landscape )Forest Environment ( Riverside Forest with Pine and Tropical Trees )Lake Houses Pack ( Log House, Forest House, Village House )Old Village Houses Pack ( House interior, Modular House, Stone house )Ancient Cave Ruins (Ancient Temple Ruins, Ancient Valley )Medieval Street Pack (Medieval Town, Medieval Buildings, Medieval Clock Tower )Shrubland Landscape Environment ( Arid Landscape, Plain Landscape )Viking (Customized)Arachnid BossFPS STARTER (PACK)56 Animations For CreaturesFPS Sniper Rifle Large Calibre (Animations)Fantasy ElephantCreature InsectCamel FantasyPack 03: SummertimePack 04: MelancholiaSurvival NPCs Hank + Mike Two PackSurvival NPCs Maria and Sarah Two PackProcedural Vehicles Sedan/Van Two PackProcedural Vehicles Pickup/Hatchback Two PackEmergency Vehicles DrivableEmergency Vehicles InteractableZombie Army SoldierZombie Business SuitZombies Bloated Male/Female Twin-PackZombies Starved Male/Female Twin-PackAtmospheric FXImpact Explosion FX VDBSci-fi ImpactsFireworks Niagara FXCharacter Body FX Vol. 3Absorption FXScifi / Modern flat themed GUI / UI kit 6 themes + PSD, AI sources4k Full Fantasy GUI / UI + over 400 png + 178 widget blueprintsCinematic Hits & Transitions 2Whooshes & Impacts 2Collected AnimalsCrash & Smash DesignedSound Design Elements Vol 1Sound Design Elements Vol 4The BlacksmithIntelligent Traffic System1940s Abandoned Office (Modular)Advance Weapon PackCustomizable Weapon PackScifi Weapon Pack (FPS Anims) Vol 01Stylized VFX Magic PackAdvanced Portals System VFX$5 TierCritters VOL.2 Crows & Seagulls (Nanite and Low Poly w/Particle)Pack 37: Red HotPack 27: Ambient systems volume 01Pack 30: Audio odyssey volume 01Luggage, Suitcases and HandbagsButterfly Swarm FXProtection FXSci-Fi Weapon Pack MiniPost Process Shader World EffectPost Process Shader Scan EffectStylized Sword Seals VFXStylized Sword Trails VFXLoot Drops VFXIf you are interested in getting these assets into other game engines, check out our various guides available here:You can learn more aboutThe Ultimate Unreal Mega Bundleand see several of the assets in actionin the video below. Using my link helps support GFS (and thanks so much if you do!). If you have trouble with the link opening, please simply paste it into a new browser and it should work fine.

Since the Industrial Revolution, burning fossil fuels and changes in land use, especially deforestation, have driven the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). While terrestrial vegetation and oceans serve as natural carbon sinks, absorbing some of this CO2, emissions have consistently outpaced their annual capacity. This imbalance has continuously increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations, fueling global warming and extreme weather events. Understanding the carbon budgethow CO2 is sourced and absorbedhas become essential in combating climate change, especially as countries strive for carbon neutrality.The primary challenge lies in accurately estimating the carbon budget and its environmental impact. The carbon budget measures the balance between emissions from fossil fuels, cement production, land use changes, and natural sources of CO2 against the absorption capacity of carbon sinks. Addressing the growing climate crisis with accurate and timely data on CO2 levels and carbon sinks is easier. Existing methods fail to track the shifts in global carbon sinks quickly enough, especially when environmental disturbancessuch as wildfires or El Nioalter carbon dynamics unpredictably.Traditional methods for carbon budgeting typically rely on numerical simulations of the Earths carbon cycle. While these models can simulate complex Earth system processes, they often face significant delays. For instance, the Global Carbon Budget 2023 report, which uses data until the end of 2022, illustrates the one-year lag in carbon budget information. This delay limits the effectiveness of current models in providing timely climate data that can guide real-world actions. Researchers need a faster and more reliable way to capture sudden carbon dynamics shifts affecting global warming.To address these limitations, researchers from Microsoft Research Asia, in collaboration with Tsinghua University, the French Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences, and other global research organizations, introduced an AI-powered method for near-real-time carbon budgeting. By integrating satellite data, dynamic global vegetation models, and ocean model emulators, the research team developed a near-instantaneous carbon sink model capable of predicting carbon budgets with unprecedented speed and accuracy. This model harnesses the power of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and semi-supervised learning techniques to deliver low-latency results.The proposed AI-based model utilizes environmental variable observations and historical data to predict global carbon sink levels. The model integrates 12 months of historical data, monthly features, and target outputs. CNNs process this data to compute predictions, while semi-supervised learning provides an unsupervised loss function to improve prediction accuracy. The model processes environmental data from ocean and land sinks and satellite fire emissions to provide real-time updates on CO2 sinks. This methodology ensures that predictions are made with a margin of error of less than 2%, offering a fast, responsive alternative to traditional carbon budgeting methods.The results of this near-real-time carbon sink model showed promising accuracy. In particular, the model was able to track a dramatic decline in the land carbon sink in 2023. The Amazon rainforest, severely affected by drought, showed a carbon sink loss of 0.31 0.19 GtC. The model also accurately predicted carbon emissions from the 2023 wildfires in North America, contributing 0.58 0.10 GtC to atmospheric CO2. In addition, the model detected a shift from La Nia to a moderate El Nio phase, significantly impacting global carbon dynamics. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the AI model in capturing dynamic environmental changes and producing actionable data in near real-time.In conclusion, the rapid decline in land carbon sinks poses a serious threat to the effectiveness of global carbon neutrality efforts. The AI-based carbon budget model introduced by the research team from Microsoft Research Asia, Tsinghua University, and the French Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences provides an innovative solution to the challenges of carbon budget estimation. This models ability to produce real-time predictions and track environmental shifts more accurately than traditional methods is a crucial step forward in global efforts to combat climate change. By reducing the delay in carbon data updates, this approach enables more effective climate action and policymaking in response to urgent environmental threats.Check out the Details here. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. [Must Subscribe]: Subscribe to our newsletter to get trending AI research and dev updatesThe post Microsoft Research Introduces AI-Powered Carbon Budgeting Method: A Real-Time Approach to Tracking Global Carbon Sinks and Emission appeared first on MarkTechPost.

Google AI Research introduces Gemini 2.0 Flash, the latest iteration of its Gemini AI model. This release focuses on performance improvements, notably a significant increase in speed and expanded multimodal functionality.A key development in Gemini 2.0 Flash is its enhanced processing speed. Google reports that the new model operates at twice the speed of its predecessor, Gemini 1.5 Pro, while also demonstrating improved performance across various benchmarks. This speed enhancement translates to more efficient processing and faster response times for users.Gemini 2.0 Flash expands its capabilities in handling diverse data types. The model now includes a Multimodal Live API, enabling real-time processing of audio and video streams. This addition allows developers to create applications that utilize dynamic audio and visual input. Furthermore, native image generation is now integrated, allowing users to create and modify images using conversational text prompts.Beyond these core advancements, Gemini 2.0 Flash incorporates several other enhancements. Native multilingual audio output is now available with eight distinct voices, increasing accessibility for a broader user base. Improvements to tool and agentic support allow the model to interact more effectively with external tools and systems, facilitating more complex task completion.In software engineering tasks, Gemini 2.0 Flash achieved a 51.8% score on SWE-bench Verified, a benchmark designed to evaluate coding proficiency. This result indicates the models potential for assisting developers with code generation, debugging, and optimization processes.Google is integrating Gemini 2.0 Flash into its own development tools. Jules, a new AI-powered code agent, utilizes Gemini 2.0 Flash to provide assistance to developers within Google Colaboratory. This integration showcases practical applications of the model within a development environment.Gemini 2.0 Flash also includes features related to responsible AI development. Support for 109 languages expands the models accessibility globally. The integration of SynthID watermarking for all generated image and audio outputs provides a mechanism for tracking provenance and addressing potential issues related to AI-generated content.The release of Gemini 2.0 Flash represents a further step in the development of Googles AI models. The focus on increased speed, expanded multimodal capabilities, and improved tool interaction contributes to a more versatile and capable AI system.As Google continues to develop the Gemini family of models, further refinements and expansions of capabilities are anticipated. Gemini 2.0 Flash contributes to the ongoing advancement of AI technology and its potential applications across various fields.Check out the Details here. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Aswin Ak+ postsAswin AK is a consulting intern at MarkTechPost. He is pursuing his Dual Degree at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He is passionate about data science and machine learning, bringing a strong academic background and hands-on experience in solving real-life cross-domain challenges. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)

LatestMachine LearningWhy Do Chinese LLMs Switch to Chinese in Complex Interactions? 1 like December 10, 2024Share this postLast Updated on December 11, 2024 by Editorial TeamAuthor(s): Barhoumi Mosbeh Originally published on Towards AI. When I was a kid, my parents always encouraged me to learn other languages and even aim to speak 3 or 4 fluently. They especially emphasized learning English because most of the best resources on the internet are written in English. I often heard the same advice from my teachers: If you know two languages, you have two brains. Thats 100% true! My native language is Arabic, but when it comes to writing something like this, I find it almost impossible to do it in Arabic. I learned AI and other technical skills in English, so its much easier for me to express myself in it (and its easier on the keyboard too, xD).Recently, Ive been using DeepSeek, one of the most advanced AI models out there, and I have to say, its been a game-changer. Its helped me solve some really tough technical problems with its deep thinking option. However, Ive noticed something strange: Sometimes, for particularly hard tasks, it switches to Chinese for no apparent reason. Its weird to ask a question in English and get an answer in Chinese (or a part of the answer). This got me thinking about this phenomenon. Why does this happen?Chinese LLMs are designed to understand and generate text in multiple languages, including English and Chinese. The decision to switch languages mid-conversation could be influenced by several factors, including the models training data, the context of the conversation, and the specific instructions or prompts provided by the user.Why?I have seen a lot of posts on Reddit or LinkedIn saying that these models switch to their mother language like humans do when they have to think about hard cases. For me, for example, when I had a deep conversation, I may not be able to go deeper with a native speaker about elections in the US and the results. I dont have that much deep knowledge in politics in English, but Ill be able to speak about the situation in the Middle East with you for about consecutive 10 hours because I have enough knowledge specifically in Arabic. This is because most of the time, Im reading and hearing the news in Arabic.Can this be the case with Chinese LLMs? Short answer: no! I dont believe that this is the case with these models. Its just an issue that can be the result of many problems in training data imbalance, or how reinforcement learning (RL) is done.Training Data Imbalanceimage from the authorOne of the primary reasons for this language shift is the composition of the training data. These models are often trained on vast amounts of Chinese text, which makes them more proficient and confident in Chinese. When faced with intricate queries, the model might revert to Chinese because it has a richer understanding and more comprehensive data in this language. This is somewhat analogous to how humans might switch to their mother tongue when discussing complex topics, as it offers a more nuanced and precise means of expression.Model Architecture and Reinforcement LearningThe architecture of these models plays a significant role in their language choice. If the model is designed with a bias towards Chinese, either due to the training data or the reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) process, it might naturally favor Chinese responses. For instance, if the feedback used in the RLHF process is predominantly in Chinese, the model might learn to prefer Chinese outputs, even in mixed-language conversations.Cultural and Linguistic NuancesChinese language and culture are deeply intertwined, offering a rich tapestry of expressions and nuances that might be better suited for certain discussions. The model might prefer Chinese for complex tasks because it can express subtleties and context more effectively in this language. This cultural and linguistic richness can make Chinese a more efficient medium for intricate conversations.image from the authorTechnical Considerations: Tokenization and EfficiencyFrom a technical standpoint, the models internal processing, including tokenization and language modeling, might be more efficient in Chinese for certain tasks. If processing Chinese text requires fewer computational resources or offers more efficient representations, the model might default to Chinese for resource-intensive tasks.The advantage of thinking in Chinese is that a single token contains so much more information than Western languages. In Chinese, a single character can represent an entire word or concept, whereas in languages like English, multiple characters (letters) are often needed to form a single word. This means that Chinese text can be tokenized into fewer units, which can significantly reduce the computational load and improve processing speed.For example, the phrase (Peoples Republic of China) consists of just five characters, but if translated into English, it becomes Peoples Republic of China, which requires more tokens to represent. This efficiency in tokenization can lead to better performance, especially in tasks that require deep understanding and long-range dependencies.I would not be surprised if they discover that having a chain of thoughts in Chinese improves overall performance and optimizes context length. The ability to convey complex ideas with fewer tokens can allow the model to maintain a longer and more coherent context, which is crucial for tasks that require reasoning and deep understanding.image from the authorUser Interaction and Prompt InfluenceUser interaction patterns can also influence the models language choice. If the majority of users interacting with the model are Chinese-speaking, the model might naturally gravitate towards Chinese responses. Additionally, the structure and content of prompts can guide the language output. Prompts containing Chinese keywords or cultural references might trigger a Chinese response, as the model seeks to provide contextually appropriate answers.ConclusionIn summary, the tendency of Chinese LLMs to switch to Chinese during complex interactions is a multifaceted phenomenon. It is influenced by the composition of their training data, architectural design, user interaction patterns, cultural nuances, and technical efficiencies. Understanding these factors provides valuable insights into the behavior of these models and highlights the importance of considering language biases and cultural contexts in the development of AI systems.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

This is one of those rare cases where the late bird gets the worm. Walmart had one of the best gaming PC deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and it's even cheaper today by a pretty significant margin. Right now, you can get a CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme gaming PC equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7700 CPU and Radeon RX 7900 GRE GPU for only $999. That's $200 less than the best price I saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.CyberPowerPC AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE Gaming PCCyberPowerPC AMD Ryzen 7 7700 Radeon RX 7900 GRE Gaming PC with 32GB RAM, 2TB SSDWas $1199 on Black Friday and Cyber MondayThe CyberPowerPC Game Supreme features an AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU, Radeon RX 7900 GRE GPU, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a 2TB M.2 SSD. The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is an 8-core, 16-thread CPU with a max boost clock speed of 5.3GHz and a 32MB L3 cache. This is a great processor for both workstation tasts and gaming and it's pretty power efficient as well, unlike its Intel i7 counterpart. It's cooled by a 240mm AIO liquid cooling system.The Radeon RX 7900 GRE is a relatively recent (March 2024) release. It's roughly 10-15% faster than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU and is more comparable to the new RTX 4070 Super (ignoring DLSS and ray tracing). This rig is ideal for gaming at up to 1440p resolution at high framerates, although it can also also run most games in 4K. To get this kind of power in a sub-$1,000 gaming PC is very uncommon.iBuyPower Y40 RTX 4070 Gaming PCiBuyPower Y40 AMD Ryzen 7 7700 RTX 4070 Gaming PCThe iBuyPowerPC Y40 is another excellent PC for those of you who want to stick to NVIDIA Geforce cards (for example, for AI). This is the same price I saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The RTX 4070 can easily hold its own in any game at 1080p and 1440p and I would easily recommend this GPU for 1440p gaming at high framerates. This PC is also capable of running games in 4K, although at that point you'll see noticeable gains upgrading to a more powerful GPU. Because the RTX 4070 is a 40 series card, it supports DLSS 3.0 for even more framerates if the game supports it. The RTX 4070 has a bit more VRAM than the 3080 (12GB vs 10GB), which will benefit people who use VRAM hungry apps like Stable Diffusion.Hyte is iBuyPowerPC's sister company, and this case is housed in a Hyte Y40 midtower chassis (hence the name). The Y40 was one of the most popular computer cases that kickstarted the whole panoramic case design, with two sides made completely of tempered glass to show off your internal build.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Don't miss out on the best Audible deal for the holiday season. From now until December 31, non-current Audible subscribers are eligible for three months of Audible Premium Plus for $0.99 per month and a bonus one-time $20 Audible credit. Premium Plus is Audible's best plan and three months would normally cost you about $44.95. You also get a free audiobook of your choice each month that you get to keep indefinitely.Note: The fine print says that anyone who does not have a current Audible subscription is eligible. Normally with trials like these, Amazon explicitly states "current and past" subscribers aren't eligible. I'm not sure if that means previous Audible members who have let their subscriptions lapse are allowed to get in on this deal. If you're one of those people, there's an easy way to check: After you log into your account, if you see the $0.99 promo banner right on Amazon's Audible page then you're eligible and if you don't then you're not.3 Months of Audible Premium Plus for $0.99 per MonthPlus Bonus One-Time $20 Audible CreditNon-Current Subscribers Only3 Months of Audible Premium Plus for $0.99 Per MonthPlus Bonus One-Time $20 Audible CreditAudible is a subscription service that gives you access to hundreds of thousands of the best audiobooks without ever having to purchase them. There are two paid membership plans: the lower tier Audible Plus ($7.95/mo) and the higher tier Audible Premium Plus ($14.95/mo). The biggest difference between the two is the size of the audiobook library. Whereas Audible Plus only lets you listen to a selection of about 10,000 audiobooks, the Audible Premium Plus plan gives you access to a whopping 500,000 audiobooks. These include all-time classics like Frank Herbert's Dune, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire), The Witcher, The Sandman Series,and The Lord of the Rings.Although the seriously expanded library is the main draw of the Audible Premium Plus membership, there are some other nice perks as well. Every month Premium Plus members get to pick one audiobook to keep in their library indefinitely, even after the membership expires. Also, Premium Plus members can get 30% off any additional audiobooks they wish to purchase in addition to exclusive limited-time discounts.If you were already planning to purchase a couple of audiobooks, then it makes more sense to pay less than $3 to get three audiobooks you get to keep indefinitely and enjoy all the benefits of Audible Premium Plus for three months. This deal only pops up a few times per year, so don't waste your "first-time subscriber" eligibility status on a short 30-day trial.Looking for more free trials? Check out the best streaming services with free trials.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Warning: contains finale spoilers for Shetland series nine.Forget Professor Rossi and the world of spies, forget the mussel farming Harris men, forget Stefan Jakobson and Dr Mohan and their illicit experiments. Forget even the thankfully incorrect theory that young Noah Bett was the one who pulled the trigger on his mum Annie and her pal Anton Bergen. The real killer was somebody impossible to suspect.In its final episode, Shetland series nine chucked almost every previous diversion away to tell a new story: that of Noahs aunt and uncle, Noreen and Michael Stack. Ian Betts sister Noreen and her charity worker husband Michael had taken Noah in after Annies murder. No wonder the boy kept having nightmares, because was living under the same roof as his mothers killer.Who Killed Annie Bett and Anton Bergen?Annies sister-in-law Noreen Stack shot and killed Annie and Bergen at the Wethersta croft and then threw the gun into the sea, left Noah in the house with his mothers dead body, and drove home with her own baby Finn sleeping in the car. The murders werent premeditated, but accidental, opportunistic and driven by an instinct for self-preservation.Noreen was trying to save her family by covering up a rape committed by her husband Michael. Annie had been confided in by Lisa Friel, a client Michael had attacked at Shetlands HEM centre, and told Noreen that she planned to report Michael to the police the next morning. Instead of confronting Michael, Noreen chose to silence Annie. She followed her to the party at Bray, then on to the lab at Nesting where she picked up Anton, and finally to the croft where she confronted Annie, picking up the gun Annie had taken from Lisa (whom she feared would use it to get revenge on Michael) earlier that day.Noreen threatened Annie, who lunged for the gun, which went off, apparently accidentally, and killed her. Anton was drawn by the noise and Noreen shot him dead.Yes. Annie was planning to report Michaels crime against Lisa to Tosh. Because of Lisas criminal background and reputation for violence, and because there was no physical evidence of the rape, its assumed that Lisa would have had a hard time being believed if shed made the report herself. Community member Annie reporting her own brother in law though, would legitimise the report. Annie may also have wanted to report the gun shed taken from Lisa.Why Did Annie Call Rossi For Help?On the night she was killed, Annie called her former MI5 handler Euan Rossi in London using their secret code for needing help: Its getting late. That doesnt seem to have anything to do with Lisa Friel, or Michael and Noreen Stack, but to do with her and Anton Bergens plan to rescue Astrid from her fathers experiments and smuggle her off the isles and to Estonia to live with her mother.Read more In a major contrivance that turned out to have no impact on anything, Annie had identified Astrids stepmother Karin as a former Swedish intelligence agent codenamed Brutus, who had shot Annie in a bungled operation over a decade earlier. Perhaps she feared being recognised by Brutus and wanted Rossis help.What Was the Lizard?That was what little Noahs mind had transformed his aunt Noreen into in his nightmares about his mothers murder on account of the green, hooded waterproof coat she was wearing, which made her resemble a lizard to him. We know that Noah has an active imagination because he thought the two cranes at the Nesting lab site were a dinosaur. Noah had the breakthrough that the lizard chasing him and his mum in his nightmares was Noreen when they were standing outside the croft with her arms around him, wearing that same jacket.Where Did the Gun Come From?Lisa Friels ex-boyfriend Kyle Frost had used it in a drive-by shooting in Manchester months earlier, and then tasked her with getting rid of it. Lisa, however, kept the gun and Annie feared that she might use it to take revenge on her rapist Michael Stack. Annie took the gun from Lisa and brought it to the croft, where her sister-in-law Noreen used it to kill her and Anton.What Happened to Tosh in the Past?In series three, which aired in 2016, Tosh was abducted and raped to send a message to then-DI Jimmy Perez during an investigation into a double murder. That, and her natural empathy, made Tosh realise that Lisa Friel had suffered a similar attack and so she was able to learn the truth about Michael. Details of the rape were in Toshs police files, so though Tosh hadnt told Ruth about the attack directly, she knew that it had happened.What Happens Next?Series 10 was commissioned at the same time as series nine, so another six-episode mystery starring Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder will arrive at some point in 2025.Character-wise, Ian Bett took son Noah away from the isles and to Edinburgh for a fresh start. His sister Noreen went to prison for the double murder of Annie and Anton, and his brother-in-law Michael was hopefully charged for the rape of Lisa Friel. Presumably John Harris was charged for the death of his son Fergus, and Stefan Jakobson and Dr Mohan were also charged for their unlicensed medical experiments. Professor Euan Rossi returned to London and sent Ian Bett a letter about Annies time as an MI5 analyst.Lisa and Angus left the manse and travelled on to more conspiracy theory investigation at the spaceport on Unst. Ruth and her brother Alan planned to spend time together, while the investigation took its toll on Toshs relationship with her friends, forcing her away from them and closer to her colleague Ruth.All episodes of Shetland series nine are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

For more than two years, Yellowstone has thrown around ideas for potential spinoffs, sequels, and prequels, all the while naming every big-name actor that co-creator Taylor Sheridan has on his Christmas list of talent. Now the future of the show has finally become clearer. Deadline has revealed that a yet-unnamed Yellowstone project will continue the modern Dutton narrative. The site reports that Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) will be the co-leads of this new show, with other preexisting Yellowstone characters rounding out the cast.This news should come as no surprise to avid viewers of Yellowstone. Rip and Beth are fan favorites, so creating a new series around them is a no-brainer. This announcement also presents a major opportunity for the franchise, however. Yellowstone has been playing it extremely safe for more than two seasons at this point. The biggest bombshell in the shows world (the death of Kevin Costners John Dutton) arrived because negotiations broke down between the show and Costner, not necessarily because Sheridan thought shaking up the dynamic was in the plots best interests.A Rip and Beth spinoff represents Sheridans chance for a fresh start. It can make up for the milquetoast, self-indulgent effort that Yellowstone has put forward in its controversial fifth season. It also means that fans might have to prepare to get uncomfortable in order to improve the story and revive the franchise. Thankfully, certain storytelling seeds have already been planted in Yellowstone that might blossom in Rip and Beths future.Heres how the planned Rip and Beth spinoff could pan out.Beth Will Become a Better CharacterA Rip and Beth spinoff needs to remember that character growth is not weakness. Beth being an unrelenting monster for five seasons straight to anyone other than Rip, Kayce, or John has been mentally exhausting for a lot of viewers. True strength of character comes from those who can admit they are wrong, even occasionally. Beth has been wrong so many times throughout the show that it makes her more akin to an antagonist than a protagonist. In fact, if you take the literal meaning of antagonist, thats exactly what Beth is. She antagonizes people.Sheridan has graciously given us a glimpse at a different Beth in the last few episodes of this season of Yellowstone, and its one of the only times fans have actually seen maturity and growth from her. Shes listened to her partner when he has needed her. Shes been more of a matriarch, both to the Dutton family and her surrogate son, Carter (Finn Little). Shes shown warmth, tenderness, and love. Once again, that is not a sign of weakness. That does not make her any less of a bad-ass bitch as so many would write on online forums. It makes her a well-rounded character with multiple layers.The Beth mentioned above is the kind of character that needs to lead this spinoff. That is the kind of character that needs to be the matriarch of the Dutton family. Strange to think that we are mere moments away from Beth being the full-fledged mom of the family, but that is certainly the direction the show has set up.The Spinoff Should Borrow from 1883 and 1923Fans have been put in a very uncomfortable place by Sheridan in the latter half of Yellowstone season 5, and not just when the showrunner and actor chooses to show his shirtless tanned hide in superfluous pool party scenes. The biggest change that fans are preparing for is that the Dutton family, in all likelihood, will no longer own the Yellowstone Ranch after the conclusion of the finale.Den of Geek has previously suggested the family needs to lose the ranch even before season five started, among other suggestions to revitalize the show. With Sheridan pushing the story inches away from that major loss, and only one Yellowstone episode left to go, lets give that narrative not just a tiny nudge, but a massive shove. This writer would even go so far as to abandon the story of Rip and Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) remaining to work the ranch, even if the Duttons dont own it. These men, and these characters deserve their own success story, and that might mean they stray a bit from the family legacy.Why not have this generation of the Dutton clan build something of their own? Its been the one characteristic that has separated them from the other Dutton generations weve seen. Their struggle has not been the struggle for survival from the original Duttons in 1883, it hasnt been the struggle to keep a family together and fight for love and honor as seen in 1923.The struggle of the modern Duttons has become less and less relatable because of how often they are literally above the law. Why not give us something to cheer for that we can also relate to? For a show that touts how black collar workers such as cowboys and farmhands are the salt of the earth, it has built itself around a predominantly white-collar family full of well-educated white people who tote a lot of political power.Have Beth and Rip build their own ranch. Fans enjoy when the Duttons are the underdogs and the new show needs to have them be true underdogs.The Yellowstone season 5 (and probable series) finale airs Sunday, December 15 at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount Network.

Hey Xbox Insiders, the holidays are in full swing around here and we couldnt wait to give you a present. Lets unwrap it together!Last month, we announced Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream select games they own through TVs and browser on supported devices like smartphones, PCs, and tablets, in all 28 countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) is available. We also said players would be able to stream on Xbox consoles starting next year.Starting today, Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha rings can preview this feature on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles.Stream Your Own Game on Your Xbox ConsoleXbox Insiders who are also Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream select games they own beyond the Game Pass catalog on their consoles in the 28 supported countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) is available. You can see the full list of games here.With the Stream your own game feature on Xbox consoles, you can stream select games you own on your Xbox console without needing to install them. This allows you to play games through streaming, saving you time and hard drive space, and offers access to your games with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).To start streaming from your Xbox console, go to My games & apps > Full library > Owned Games.If you own a cloud playable game, youll see a cloud badge on the game.You can also use filters to find games quickly. Choose Filter > Ready to play > Cloud gaming.To start playing, select the game and then choose Play with Cloud Gaming.Support for launching directly from the Store app and streaming in the Xbox app on Windows PC will be coming in the future.How to Get Xbox Insider Support and Share Your FeedbackWe want to thank all the Xbox Insiders for the feedback you share with us. Your feedback is a key part of our process. If youre an Xbox Insider looking for support, please join our community on theXbox Insider subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help. We recommend adding to threads with the same topic before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can!If you arent part of the Xbox Insider Program yet and want to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC. For more information on the Xbox Insider Program, follow us on Twitter at@XboxInsider and keep an eye on this blog for all the latest news.