8 /10 SCORE Our Verdict Our Verdict Best for: Back sleeper Combo sleeper Side sleeper Stomach sleeper Score Breakdown Performance 7 /10 Policies 8.5 /10 Durability 8.5 /10 Features 9 /10 Pros and Cons Pros Responsive coils and latex foam provide plenty of bounce The latex-hybrid feel is accommodating to most Reinforced coils on perimeter and lumbar feature give great support Firmness is ideal for all sleeper types Cons Not the best option for side sleepers seeking tons of pressure relief People under 150 pounds might not need the added support Not ideal for fans of memory foam Table of Contents Bear is a popular mattress brand with a wide portfolio of foam and hybrid mattresses. You'll find a mattress from Bear that fits your needs, whether you want to lower motion transfer or increase pressure relief. With its latest natural latex model, the brand has taken a new direction, so we decided to put the Bear Natural Mattress to the test.Bear offers an affordable flagship bed for those who love their memory foam, all the way to a range-topping premium hybrid mattress for the more "health-conscious" sleeper. As such, making a latex hybrid mattress seems like a major deviation from Bear's usual offerings -- at least, to me, that is. That's why we were surprised to discover that Bear recently launched a natural hybrid.After testing it for several weeks, I can confidently say it's a quality bed with some accommodating features, but in this review, we'll go over everything you need to know before buying one online.First impressions Jonathan Gomez/CNETThis mattress showed up at our door like most others, inside a four-foot-tall box wrapped up in plastic. If you've never unboxed an online bed, take it from me; it's quite fun. It's a great activity for you and your partner to tackle on a lazy afternoon, and it shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes to complete altogether.Usually, when you rip off all the plastic, there's a bit of a factory smell. In the case of the Bear Natural, there's none of that. Instead you're greeted with more of an earthy scent, which can be a bit more pleasant than your average bed-in-a-box experience. Right out of the box, though, it felt quite soft and was slightly misshapen. This is a completely normal thing to experience with online beds that ship in a box. We just gave it some time to fully expand -- like us, they can get jet-lagged after a long journey and need a night to recover.The next morning, the bed was finally ready to be tested. Like other latex hybrids, the Bear Natural felt super springy and responsive. Since it has more responsive materials in its construction rather than memory foam, it's easy to see why it feels so bouncy and spongy.Unlike other latex hybrids, though, it's a little more pressure-relieving. These types of beds are usually on the firmer side for back and stomach sleepers, but right when I hopped on the bed, I immediately felt like the Bear Natural could work for all sleep styles.Video: Bear Natural mattress reviewWatch me review the Bear Natural mattress in this video review.Bear Natural mattress firmness and feel Jonathan Gomez/CNETWhat does Bear Natural feel like?Most beds in the "natural hybrid" category exhibit more of a latex foam feel, and I'd say that this mattress is pretty much in line with that. Its main comfort layer is a Talalay latex foam, which, compared to Dunlop, is the softer style of latex foam. This element gives the Bear Natural a latex foam feel that's plush and generally comfortable.Latex foam is essentially the opposite of memory foam. Instead of sinking in, you'll be laying more on top of the mattress, and when you switch between positions, the bed will adapt to your body's shape immediately. Memory foam beds can take a second to catch up to your body's new shape -- but not the Bear Natural, what a champ. How firm is the Bear Natural mattress?As I mentioned, this bed is a bit softer than your average latex hybrid bed online. Most range around a medium-firm, but we'd say the Bear is slightly softer between a medium and a medium-firm. This makes it a fine option for all sleeper types, with a slight support edge for back and stomach sleepers.If you're looking for a firmer mattress from Bear, you might like the Original or Pro Hybrid beds. Side sleepers searching for the most pressure-relieving option from the brand should consider the Elite Hybrid in the "soft" version. Considering its neutral firmness level, we think the Bear Natural should accommodate most preferences.Bear Natural mattress construction Jonathan Gomez/CNETBear Natural is a hybrid bed that has a combination of coils for support and various foams for comfort. It's comprised of the following layers:1. On the bottom, there's a layer of base foam. This is a thin, dense foam that acts as a foundation for everything else to rest on.2. Then you have the bed's main support system of pocketed coils, which feature reinforced edges and a lumbar support feature.3. Next is responsive comfort foam, this helps transition you up from the coils to the main comfort layers in the bed.4. Then you have the bed's main comfort layer of Talalay latex foam; this gives the bed its immediate response time with some cushion.5. Above that, you've got a layer of organic cotton that's quilted into the cover to provide some additional comfort to the mattress.6. And on top, you've got an organic cotton cover that gives the bed its natural aesthetic.Bear Natural mattress performance Jonathan Gomez/CNETMotion isolationIf your partner is an especially light sleeper, you'll want a bed that isolates cross-mattress movement well. We'd say the Bear Natural performs decently in this regard. It's not going to isolate motion as well as a dense memory foam mattress, but it's not going to reverberate enough motion to wake you or your partner up at night. Out of the entire Bear mattress lineup, we'd say the Bear Original has the best motion isolation.Edge-to-edge supportConsidering that the Bear Natural has reinforced coils that run along its edges, we'd say it has a pretty sturdy perimeter. If you or your partner happen to sleep close to the edges of the mattress, you shouldn't experience any roll-off sensation.If your partner tends to hog the entire sleeping surface of your current bed, this is an important factor to consider when searching for your next mattress. No one wants to tip over the edge of a bed while they sleep -- dreams of falling never felt so real. TemperatureWhen it comes to sleeping temperature, the Bear Natural should sleep around the temperature-neutral range. Most beds are pretty much neutral when it comes to how hot or cold they sleep unless, of course, you're looking into an active cooling option.The latex foam in the mattress is naturally moisture-wicking, which could benefit most hot sleepers who tend to sweat at night. There aren't really any active cooling advantages in this mattress, but that doesn't mean it will sleep hot by any means.DurabilityThis is a supportive hybrid mattress that's durable enough to last for several years. The average lifespan of a mattress usually ranges around 7-10 years, and since hybrid beds have steel coils for support, they can often last even longer. The long-term durability of a mattress can sometimes depend on your body type, but if you're of an average build, the Bear Natural should last you a pretty long time.Off-gassingSometimes, there's a bit of a smell when you unbox a new mattress, but in the case of more eco-friendly beds like this one, you get more of an earthy scent post-unboxing. There may be a factory scent to some other online options, but it's a completely normal part of the process. The smell should dissipate after a couple of days.Who is the Bear Natural mattress best for?The bed's medium firmness profile makes it a great option for just about any sleeper type. Its hybrid construction should be able to handle all body types as well, but it still might not be the most suitable option for certain sleep styles. Here's who I think will benefit the most from it. Jonathan Gomez/CNETSleeping positionCombination sleepers will probably be getting the most out of this mattress. Given that it sits right at a medium on our scale, the Bear Natural should be accommodating for those who like to rotate between different sleeping positions throughout the night. Being a combination sleeper myself, I find this mattress super comfortable.If you're a strict side sleeper, this mattress could work, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list of recommendations for you. Though it's soft enough for most side sleepers, strict side sleepers might crave having a bed with more pressure relief for their shoulders and hips.The Bear Elite in the "soft" versions should supply this level of cushion for side sleeping, while the "firm version" is best for strict back and stomach sleeping.Body typeAs I mentioned, the Bear Natural is supportive enough to handle all body types. We think you'll be plenty supported by the bed whether you're average-sized, petite, or even much heavier. This is mainly due to the bed's support system of pocketed coils, which are generally more supportive than all-foam constructions. In addition to being a great option for all sleeper types, it bodes well for all body types.Bear Natural mattress pricing Size Measurements (inches)PriceTwin 38x75 inches$1,893Twin XL 38x80 inches$1,960Full 54x75 inches$2,108Queen 60x80 inches$2,305King 76x80 inches$2,762Cal King 72x84 inches$2,762Split King 72x84 inches$3,920 Beds composed of natural and organic materials are usually on the more expensive side. Though the Bear Natural is up there in terms of price, we still think it's a reasonable value for a bed of its quality. After a discount is applied, you can usually pick up a queen size for right around $1,500.As a brand, Bear usually has great gift bundles with every mattress purchase. Right now, you get two pillows, a sheet set and a mattress protector thrown in for free. So, if you're looking for more of a sleep setup, this brand has you covered.Trial, shipping and warrantyAs a brand, Bear backs its beds with above-average policies. Its beds ship to you in a box for free, and once it's in your possession, you get a 120-night trial period to try it at home risk-free. If you happen not to like it within that time frame, you have a return option, but if you decide to keep it, you're backed by a lifetime warranty. Just be sure to use the right foundation for the bed. Otherwise, you could void your bed's warranty.The final verdict Jonathan Gomez/CNETI'd check out the Bear Natural if you're looking for a quality latex hybrid bed that's between a medium and a medium-firm. If you want a hybrid mattress that's made of more sustainable materials, I'd say it's worth checking out as well.Considering the bed is backed by pretty generous policies, you can rest assured knowing that there's plenty of time to try it out at home for yourself risk-free.You might like the Bear Natural mattress if:You want a more naturally sourced hybrid mattressYou prefer sleeping on something that's slightly firmerYou like the feel of beds with latex foam for comfortYou're an average to heavier-sized personYou might not like the Bear Natural bed if:You're looking for an all-foam mattressYou're a smaller-sized person who doesn't need extra supportYou want a soft or firm mattress for a particular preferenceYou're on a super strict budgetOther mattresses from BearThere are lots of other beds within the Bear mattress lineup to consider. If you're in the market for an affordable all-foam option with a dense memory foam feel, you can always check out the Bear Original. The Bear Pro Hybrid is essentially this mattress with a hybrid design. Both of these beds are on the firm side, around a medium-firm, so they'll probably work best for primary back and stomach sleepers.If you've got a bit more money to spend, you can consider getting a more premium Bear mattress. The Star Hybrid is one of my personal favorite pillow top beds that's around a true medium. It's a super cozy option with a neutral feel that's also around a medium. The top-tier offering is the Bear Elite, which I actually just did a full review on -- check that out to learn more.Bear also has a kids' bed called the Bear Cub and even a trundle mattress that's a bit thinner to outfit something like a camper. The more premium beds are even available with optional celliant covers, which could move the needle for most athletes out there. How does the Bear Natural compare to other mattresses?Bear Natural vs. Natural Escape by MyGreen MattressThese are two hybrid mattresses with more of a natural and organic aesthetic. The main differences between the two have to do with firmness and policies. The Natural Escape is on the firm side, sitting at a proper medium-firm on our scale, while the Bear Natural is at a flat medium. This makes it more appropriate for supporting back and stomach sleepers.MyGreen Mattress as a brand also backs the Natural Escape with a 365-night trial period, so you get eight more months than the Bear Natural to test it out at home before you're stuck with it. The Natural Escape mattress contains more organically certified materials as well. Bear Natural vs. Leesa Natural HybridThis comparison is much more difficult to do since these beds are so similar. They're both naturally sourced latex hybrid beds that are around a medium firmness. The Leesa Natural Hybrid is actually a collaboration with the brand West Elm, whereas the Bear Natural is a stand-alone Bear bed.The feel of the Leesa Natural Hybrid is also a bit more dense and pressure-relieving since it has memory foam near the top. Compared to the Leesa Natural Hybrid, I'd say Bear Natural is slightly more responsive, but that's honestly splitting hairs.One noticeable difference between the two has to do with pricing. The Leesa Natural Hybrid is slightly more expensive than the Bear Natural after a discount. In addition to being more affordable, you also get more free sleep accessories lumped into your purchase with Bear Natural. Bear Natural mattress FAQs What certifications does Bear Natural come with? As the name implies, this is a natural mattress that is backed by some quality eco-certifications. The mattress itself is Greenguard Gold certified, which basically means the bed was made in a completely non-toxic fashion, and the mattress is also fiberglass-free.The bed also has certified organic cotton that's found within the mattress cover and quilting on top. By going the route of the Bear Natural, you're getting a more sustainably sourced product with the papers to prove it. Show more What is Zoned Support? Zoned support is basically a support system within a mattress to help keep your back in a neutral alignment while you sleep. In this case, Zoned support is found within the coils on the Bear Natural. They're divided into three sections, where the middle is firmer than the outer two. This gives you support under your lower back where you need it and pressure relief to the other areas of your body. If you have chronic back pain, this isn't a bad feature to have in your next bed. Show more

Greedfall 2's improvements will come "gradually" with Update 0.2 "only the first step""We wish we could provide a release date, but we would rather wait until we're certain." News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Dec. 14, 2024 Greedfall 2 developer Spiders is taking the end of the year as an opportunity to "reflect on our journey so far" and said it is "committed to building a great game alongside [the community] and listening to your invaluable feedback".In an update posted to Steam, Spiders said "a lot has happened since the start of Early Access", but the team is "thrilled" about progress to date, despite it being a challenging experience that has seen Update 0.2 delayed with still no firm release date.An overview of the early access release of GreedFall 2.Watch on YouTube"[The decision to delay Update 0.2] allows us to focus on implementing significant improvements and fixes based on your feedback," the team said. "These include the combat system - which is as important to you as it is to us - the UI, character customisation, optimisation, and many other aspects."This means Update 0.2 will not introduce a slew of changes, but instead the improvements will be "implemented gradually" over time."We wish we could provide a release date, but we would rather wait until we're certain," the team added. "What we can promise is that our priority remains delivering a game that meets your expectations and takes your feedback into account."The update also explained that Spiders was working behind the scenes to address issues with Alivda's voice lines, and whilst the original voice actor was unable to reprise the role, it was working with a new artist to get the lines re-recorded and switched in "the next update"."Ensuring your voices shape this journey has always been the goal of Early Access," the update concluded.Shortly after Greedfall 2 released in early access on Steam, the Greedfall team said the early access launch had been "exciting", but acknowledged improvements were needed, including improving the drop rate, adjusting AI behaviours, and making dialogue scenes "less blurry".

Elder Scrolls Online developer votes to unionise"Unions work to benefit us all."Image credit: Zenimax Online Studios News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Dec. 13, 2024 Workers at ZeniMax Online Studios have voted to unionise.The ZOS United-CWA union, as part of the Communications Workers of America, has been recognised by parent company, Microsoft, "signalling a significant victory for workers' rights in the industry".To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Is Sony buying FromSoftware's parent company the next big games industry acquisition?Watch on YouTubeThe union said that together, workers will be able to collectively push for "real improvements to the workplace", including "job security amid record layoffs, protections against AI, better pay, and benefits".461 members have joined, including web developers, designers, engineers, and graphic artists.The decision to unionise comes after hundreds of staff at ZeniMax went on strike last month in protest at parent company Microsoft outsourcing work without bargaining with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union.Today we, a majority of video game workers at ZeniMax Online Studios and the workers behind ESO, are proud to announce the launch of our union with@cwaunion.bsky.social! [image or embed] ZOS United-CWA (@zosunited.bsky.social) December 13, 2024 at 12:24 AMTo see this content please enable targeting cookies."I'm excited to finally see workers have a say in the workplace. Other employers have made a choice to undermine and attack workers who want to collectively improve their working conditions," said ZOS United-CWA member Billy Eichner."However, with a union at ZeniMax, we can build a community where we have each other's backs. We already work together to make great games. Why not work together to make a great workplace?""Today, I'm intensely proud of my coworkers at ZeniMax Online Studios who are joining thousands of video game workers exercising their power to bring more stability to the industry," added member John Hartzell. "Regardless of your studio, your title, or where you're from, unions work to benefit us all."After months of industrial action, SAG-AFTRA - the US actors' union - recently signed an agreement with AI service Ethovox in a continued bid to safeguard performers.

Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher who backed claims of copyright infringement by the technology, was found dead on Nov. 26 in his San Francisco apartment by police making a wellness check. The news of his demise was not known until now, the Mercury News of San Jose, California, and other outlets reported. The San Francisco medical examiner has ruled that Balajis death was self-inflicted and there was no evidence of foul play, the Mercury News reported. Balaji publicly accused OpenAI of violating U.S. copyright law with its ChatGPT app. Balaji was the subject of an OctoberNew York Times profilethat unveiled his claims of fair use violations regularly committed by ChatGPT. The Times filed a letter on Nov. 18 in federal court that named Balaji as a person with unique and relevant documents that would be used in litigation against OpenAI. The lawsuit claims OpenAI and its partner, Microsoft, are using the work of reporters and editors without authorization.Balaji was a researcher for OpenAI for four years after joining in 2020.We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news today and our hearts go out to Suchirs loved ones during this difficult time, OpenAI said in astatement to CNBC.Balaji made a lengthy post to X in October detailing his concerns.

The internet loves a good neologism, especially if it can capture a purported vibe shift or explain a new trend. In 2013, the columnist Adrian Wooldridge coined a word that eventually did both. Writing for the Economist, he warned of the coming techlash, a revolt against Silicon Valleys rich and powerful fueled by the publics growing realization that these sovereigns of cyberspace werent the benevolent bright-future bringers they claimed to be. While Wooldridge didnt say precisely when this techlash would arrive, its clear today that a dramatic shift in public opinion toward Big Tech and its leaders did in fact happenand is arguably still happening. Say what you will about the legions of Elon Musk acolytes on X, but if an industry and its executives can bring together the likes of Elizabeth Warren and Lindsey Graham in shared condemnation, its definitely not winning many popularity contests. To be clear, there have always been critics of Silicon Valleys very real excesses and abuses. But for the better part of the last two decades, many of those voices of dissent were either written off as hopeless Luddites and haters of progress or drowned out by a louder and far more numerous group of techno-optimists. Today, those same critics (along with many new ones) have entered the fray once more, rearmed with popular Substacks, media columns, andincreasinglybook deals. Two of the more recent additions to the flourishing techlash genreRob Lalkas The Venture Alchemists: How Big Tech Turned Profits into Power and Marietje Schaakes The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valleyserve as excellent reminders of why it started in the first place. Together, the books chronicle the rise of an industry that is increasingly using its unprecedented wealth and power to undermine democracy, and they outline what we can do to start taking some of that power back. Lalka is a business professor at Tulane University, and The Venture Alchemists focuses on how a small group of entrepreneurs managed to transmute a handful of novel ideas and big bets into unprecedented wealth and influence. While the names of these demigods of disruption will likely be familiar to anyone with an internet connection and a passing interest in Silicon Valley, Lalka also begins his book with a page featuring their nine (mostly) young, (mostly) smiling faces. There are photos of the famous founders Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin; the VC funders Keith Rabois, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks; and a more motley trio made up of the disgraced former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, the ardent eugenicist and reputed father of Silicon Valley Bill Shockley (who, it should be noted, died in 1989), and a former VC and the future vice president of the United States, JD Vance. To his credit, Lalka takes this medley of tech titans and uses their origin stories and interrelationships to explain how the so-called Silicon Valley mindset (mind virus?) became not just a fixture in Californias Santa Clara County but also the preeminent way of thinking about success and innovation across America. This approach to doing business, usually cloaked in a barrage of cringey innovation-speakdisrupt or be disrupted, move fast and break things, better to ask for forgiveness than permissioncan often mask a darker, more authoritarian ethos, according to Lalka. One of the nine entrepreneurs in the book, Peter Thiel, has written that I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible and that competition [in business] is for losers. Many of the others think that all technological progress is inherently good and should be pursued at any cost and for its own sake. A few also believe that privacy is an antiquated concepteven an illusionand that their companies should be free to hoard and profit off our personal data. Most of all, though, Lalka argues, these men believe that their newfound power should be unconstrained by governments, regulators, or anyone else who might have the gall to impose some limitations. Where exactly did these beliefs come from? Lalka points to people like the late free-market economist Milton Friedman, who famously asserted that a companys only social responsibility is to increase profits, as well as to Ayn Rand, the author, philosopher, and hero to misunderstood teenage boys everywhere who tried to turn selfishness into a virtue. The Venture Alchemists: How Big Tech Turned Profits into PowerRob LalkaCOLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL PUBLISHING, 2024 Its a somewhat reductive and not altogether original explanation of Silicon Valleys libertarian inclinations. What ultimately matters, though, is that many of these values were subsequently encoded into the DNA of the companies these men founded and fundedcompanies that today shape how we communicate with one another, how we share and consume news, and even how we think about our place in the world. The Venture Alchemists is strongest when its describing the early-stage antics and on-campus controversies that shaped these young entrepreneurs or, in many cases, simply reveal who theyve always been. Lalka is a thorough and tenacious researcher, as the books 135 pages of endnotes suggest. And while nearly all these stories have been told before in other books and articles, he still manages to provide new perspectives and insights from sources like college newspapers and leaked documents. One thing the book is particularly effective at is deflating the myth that these entrepreneurs were somehow gifted seers of (and investors in) a future the rest of us simply couldnt comprehend or predict. Sure, someone like Thiel made what turned out to be a savvy investment in Facebook early on, but he also made some very costly mistakes with that stake. As Lalka points out, Thiels Founders Fund dumped tens of millions of shares shortly after Facebook went public, and Thiel himself went from owning 2.5% of the company in 2012 to 0.000004% less than a decade later (around the same time Facebook hit its trillion-dollar valuation). Throw in his objectively terrible wagers in 2008, 2009, and beyond, when he effectively shorted what turned out to be one of the longest bull markets in world history, and you get the impression hes less oracle and more ideologue who happened to take some big risks that paid off. One of Lalkas favorite mantras throughout The Venture Alchemists is that words matter. Indeed, he uses a lot of these entrepreneurs own words to expose their hypocrisy, bullying, juvenile contrarianism, casual racism, andyesoutright greed and self-interest. It is not a flattering picture, to say the least. Unfortunately, instead of simply letting those words and deeds speak for themselves, Lalka often feels the need to interject with his own, frequently enjoining readers against finger-pointing or judging these men too harshly even after hes chronicled their many transgressions. Whether this is done to try to convey some sense of objectivity or simply to remind readers that these entrepreneurs are complex and complicated men making difficult decisions, it doesnt work. At all. For one thing, Lalka clearly has his own strong opinions about the behavior of these entrepreneursopinions he doesnt try to disguise. At one point in the book he suggests that Kalanicks alpha-male, dominance-at-any-cost approach to running Uber is almost, but not quite like rape, which is maybe not the comparison youd make if you wanted to seem like an arbiter of impartiality. And if he truly wants readers to come to a different conclusion about these men, he certainly doesnt provide many reasons for doing so. Simply telling us to judge less, and discern more seems worse than a cop-out. It comes across as almost, but not quite like victim-blamingas if were somehow just as culpable as they are for using their platforms and buying into their self-mythologizing. In many ways, Silicon Valley has become the antithesis of what its early pioneers set out to be. Marietje Schaake Equally frustrating is the crescendo of empty platitudes that ends the book. The technologies of the future must be pursued thoughtfully, ethically, and cautiously, Lalka says after spending 313 pages showing readers how these entrepreneurs have willfully ignored all three adverbs. What theyve built instead are massive wealth-creation machines that divide, distract, and spy on us. Maybe its just me, but that kind of behavior seems ripe not only for judgment, but also for action. So what exactly do you do with a group of men seemingly incapable of serious self-reflectionmen who believe unequivocally in their own greatness and who are comfortable making decisions on behalf of hundreds of millions of people who did not elect them, and who do not necessarily share their values? You regulate them, of course. Or at least you regulate the companies they run and fund. In Marietje Schaakes The Tech Coup, readers are presented with a road map for how such regulation might take shape, along with an eye-opening account of just how much power has already been ceded to these corporations over the past 20 years. There are companies like NSO Group, whose powerful Pegasus spyware tool has been sold to autocrats, who have in turn used it to crack down on dissent and monitor their critics. Billionaires are now effectively making national security decisions on behalf of the United States and using their social media companies to push right-wing agitprop and conspiracy theories, as Musk does with his Starlink satellites and X. Ride-sharing companies use their own apps as propaganda tools and funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into ballot initiatives to undo laws they dont like. The list goes on and on. According to Schaake, this outsize and largely unaccountable power is changing the fundamental ways that democracy works in the United States. In many ways, Silicon Valley has become the antithesis of what its early pioneers set out to be: from dismissing government to literally taking on equivalent functions; from lauding freedom of speech to becoming curators and speech regulators; and from criticizing government overreach and abuse to accelerating it through spyware tools and opaque algorithms, she writes. Schaake, whos a former member of the European Parliament and the current international policy director at Stanford Universitys Cyber Policy Center, is in many ways the perfect chronicler of Big Techs power grab. Beyond her clear expertise in the realms of governance and technology, shes also Dutch, which makes her immune to the distinctly American disease that seems to equate extreme wealth, and the power that comes with it, with virtue and intelligence. This resistance to the various reality-distortion fields emanating from Silicon Valley plays a pivotal role in her ability to see through the many justifications and self-serving solutions that come from tech leaders themselves. Schaake understands, for instance, that when someone like OpenAIs Sam Altman gets in front of Congress and begs for AI regulation, what hes really doing is asking Congress to create a kind of regulatory moat between his company and any other startups that might threaten it, not acting out of some genuine desire for accountability or governmental guardrails. The Tech Coup:How to Save Democracyfrom Silicon ValleyMarietje SchaakePRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2024 Like Shoshana Zuboff, the author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, Schaake believes that the digital should live within democracys housethat is, technologies should be developed within the framework of democracy, not the other way around. To accomplish this realignment, she offers a range of solutions, from banning what she sees as clearly antidemocratic technologies (like face-recognition software and other spyware tools) to creating independent teams of expert advisors to members of Congress (who are often clearly out of their depth when attempting to understand technologies and business models). Predictably, all this renewed interest in regulation has inspired its own backlash in recent yearsa kind of tech revanchism, to borrow a phrase from the journalist James Hennessy. In addition to familiar attacks, such as trying to paint supporters of the techlash as somehow being antitechnology (theyre not), companies are also spending massive amounts of money to bolster their lobbying efforts. Some venture capitalists, like LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, who made big donations to the Kamala Harris presidential campaign, wanted to evict Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan, claiming that regulation is killing innovation (it isnt) and removing the incentives to start a company (its not). And then of course theres Musk, who now seems to be in a league of his own when it comes to how much influence he may exert over Donald Trump and the government that his companies have valuable contracts with. What all these claims of victimization and subsequent efforts to buy their way out of regulatory oversight miss is that theres actually a vast and fertile middle ground between simple techno-optimism and techno-skepticism. As the New Yorker contributor Cal Newport and others have noted, its entirely possible to support innovations that can significantly improve our lives without accepting that every popular invention is good or inevitable. Regulating Big Tech will be a crucial part of leveling the playing field and ensuring that the basic duties of a democracy can be fulfilled. But as both Lalka and Schaake suggest, another battle may prove even more difficult and contentious. This one involves undoing the flawed logic and cynical, self-serving philosophies that have led us to the point where we are now. What if we admitted that constant bacchanals of disruption are in fact not all that good for our planet or our brains? What if, instead of creative destruction, we started fetishizing stability, and in lieu of putting dents in the universe, we refocused our efforts on fixing whats already broken? What ifand hear me outwe admitted that technology might not be the solution to every problem we face as a society, and that while innovation and technological change can undoubtedly yield societal benefits, they dont have to be the only measures of economic success and quality of life? When ideas like these start to sound less like radical concepts and more like common sense, well know the techlash has finally achieved something truly revolutionary. Bryan Gardiner is a writer based in Oakland, California.

Update: It's bigger overall, but not much thicker.Canadian accessory manufacturer Dbrand known for its controversial social media stunts has shared images of what it claims is a case for the upcoming successor to the Nintendo Switch.As VGC reports, the company shared a teaser for the case on Thursday on X (formerly Twitter) along with the statement "We will not be answering any questions at this time."Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Bandai Namco shared a major surprise yesterday during The Game Awards - revealing a new 2D action platformer Pac-Man game called Shadow Labyrinth.Tekken's Katsuhiro Harada is the executive producer and the title has creators, directors and game designers from series like Samurai Shodown, King of Fighters, Pac-Man and even Kirby and the Amazing Mirror working on it.If you were hoping for a physical Switch edition, you're in luck - with a standard and "secret edition" by Bandai Namco already confirmed for 2025. Here's a look, courtesy of Physic Releases on 'X':Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube788kWatch on YouTube The secret edition includes the base game, a pin set, a double-sided poster, stickers and a key chain. You'll also score some digital goodies including "original arcade sound FX" and a digital art book and soundtrack.Social media and fan account 'Daily Pac-Man' has also highlighted how this game has apparently been in development since 2020, and the Amazon's 'Secret Level' episode is apparently intended to be a prequel to this game. You can find out more about it in the original announcement post: What the...?Would you be interested in a physical copy of this upcoming release? Let us know in the comments.[source gonintendo.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesRate Your Favourite Switch Games Of The Year 2024Bring out your GOTYs!3D Print Of Rumoured 'Switch 2' Design Gives Us A Closer Look At OLED Size ComparisonWhere do you want this truck-load of salt?Eagle-Eyed Fans Think They've Spotted The First 'Switch 2' Image In New Satisfye TrailerHmm, we're not sure about that

State officials said hundreds of thousands of Rhode Island residents could be affected by a cyberattack on the states online portal for social services, with a high probability that personally identifiable information was breached.According to an update from Governor Dan McKees office, the attack targeted RIBridges, which Rhode Island residents use to apply for and access programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).The attack also targeted the Healthsource RI insurance marketplace. McKees office said any individual who has received or applied for health coverage and/or health and human services programs or benefits could be impacted by this leak.The information accessed by the cyberattackers could include names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and banking information.The RIBridges system is operated by Deloitte, which first notified the state of a potential cyberattack on December 5 but McKees office said it wasnt clear then that sensitive information had been breached. On Friday, December 13, Deloitte confirmed that there was malicious code in the system and worked with the state to proactively take the system down to address the threat.In the meantime, the state said Rhode Island residents can still use paper applications to apply for benefits.The New York Times reports that at a press conference Friday, states chief digital officer Brian Tardiff said cybercriminals claiming responsibility for the attack have threatened to release the data unless they receive a payment.

Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, were looking at GMs decision to pull out of the robotaxi business, Google alluding to the existence of multiple universes, and how you can make some serious cash by getting an AI bot to fall in love with you. Lets get into it.General Motors will no longer fund the development of its commercial robotaxi business and will instead absorb Cruise, its self-driving car subsidiary, and combine it with the automakers own efforts to develop driver-assistance features and eventually fully autonomous personal vehicles. Several Cruise employees told TechCrunch they were blindsided by the decision. GM acquired Cruise in 2016 for $1 billion and has since spent more than $10 billion on the companys efforts.OpenAI has finally released the real-time video capabilities for ChatGPT that it demoed nearly seven months ago. ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers can use the app to point their phones at objects and have ChatGPT respond in near real time. The feature can also understand whats on a devices screen through screen sharing. There are still a few more reveals planned for 12 Days of OpenAI, so stay up to date with our live blog.Google this week unveiled its first-ever AI agent that can take actions on the web. Called Project Mariner, the Gemini-powered agent takes control of your Chrome browser, moves the cursor on your screen, clicks buttons, and fills out forms, allowing it to use and navigate websites much like a human would. While still a prototype from its DeepMind division, it represents Googles shift to move users away from interacting with websites directly.If youd like to receive Week in Review in your inbox every Saturday, sign up here!NewsImage Credits:DuolingoDuolingo joins Squid Game: Ahead of the release of the next season of Squid Game, Netflix has teamed up with Duolingo to help viewers learn Korean. The companies also released an exclusive TikTok filter inspired by the shows Red Light, Green Light game. Read moreGoogle soft launches the multiverse: Google announced Willow, its latest quantum computing chip. But tucked into the blog post about the chip is a claim that the chip is so mind-bogglingly fast that it must have borrowed computational power from other universes. Read moreWhat did you Google this year? Google released its annual list of top trending searches for 2024, including the CrowdStrike outage, the late One Direction member Liam Payne, and Dubai chocolate bars. Read moreRIP, Car Thing: Spotify has officially discontinued Car Thing, its in-car streaming device. If you bought one, you have a little more than a month to provide proof of purchase and receive a refund. Read moreBluesky teases a paid subscription: Bluesky has published mock-ups teasing an upcoming subscription tier on its GitHub. It appears that Bluesky is considering paid features for the tier, like custom app icons, post analytics, and bookmark folders. Read moreIs Sora trained on video games? Through our tests of OpenAIs video generator Sora, it appears that at least some of the data it was trained on mightve come from Twitch streams and walkthroughs of games. Legal experts say that could be a problem. Read moreGrok has a new image generator: Grok released its latest image generator, code-named Aurora, that is very unrestricted when it comes to reproducing public figures. This is certainly indicative of my timeline, as Im seeing a ton of AI images of Real Housewives cast members. Read moreKrispy Kreme gets hit with a cyberattack: Doughnut chain Krispy Kreme disclosed a security incident that has caused certain operational disruptions. The company said that its shops are open and there is no interruption to deliveries to retail and restaurant partners. Read moreCan you get an AI bot to fall in love with you? Freysa.ai is creating challenges designed to influence how humans think about AI safety. If youre the first person to successfully trick its AI character Freysa to say I love you, you could win tens of thousands of dollars. Read moreFirefox gets rid of a useless feature: Mozillas Firefox browser has removed its Do Not Track feature. Since websites have no real reason to respect the signal, the setting is effectively useless (and misleading). Read moreYou can now buy a car on Amazon: Amazon is expanding into the online car sales market with the launch of Amazon Autos, an e-commerce business that lets customers find, order, and buy new cars, trucks, and SUVs from dealerships. Read more

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