Chinese AI models are already hugely popular and are keeping pace with and even surpassing some U.S. rivals, industry experts told CNBC.

Their video breakdown is here.The post The Yard breaks down its VFX for s2 of The Rings of Power appeared first on befores & afters.

The Yard VFX brings alive the breathtaking world of Season 2 of The Rings of Power by carefully crafting the fabled underground kingdom of the Dwarves in Khazad-dm. This French studio masterfully blends wonder with realism, bringing forth a light and shadow combination to present to the world the splendor of this vast subterranean realm.In fine detail, the VFX team brings to view such things as intricate architecture, glowing veins of mithril, and busy life in Khazad-dm, so bringing into life a truly resplendent environment. From glowing lanterns to massive rock-hewn structures, every frame tells the magic of J.R.R. Tolkiens universe.This breakdown showcases the artistry behind the epic visuals, setting a benchmark for fantasy storytelling. The Yard VFX has undoubtedly elevated the shows visual appeal, transporting viewers deeper into Middle-earths timeless legend.The post The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 VFX Breakdown by The Yard VFX appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts have frequently expressed frustration with the lack of respect digital currency gets from many traditional investors. But when the hottest crypto of the moment is called Fartcoin, its kind of hard for them to occupy the moral high ground.The joke crypto, which is even more useless than Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency started as a parody, is on a tear these days. Fartcoins market cap of nearly $800 million now exceeds that of several well-known brands, including Office Depot, Guess, Ethan Allen, and ZipRecruiter.Fartcoin has even surpassed Dogecoins all-time highs and blown fellow memecoin Shiba Inu completely out of the water. In midday trading Monday, the token was up another 39% to 83 cents. Dogecoin, on its best day, only reached 73 cents (in May of 2021, right before Elon Musk hosted Saturday Night Live, where he joked about the coin he had pumped on Twitter most of the year, tanking its value).In the past week, the value of Fartcoin has nearly tripled. What, in the name of financial sanity is going on?!?The rise of Fartcoin is, in many ways, the same story as any crypto gains that have been happening lately. Traders are riding a wave that started when Donald Trump was elected. With Trumps vow to be the crypto president, as well as staff appointments that are much more crypto friendlyincluding Paul Atkins, a pro-crypto enthusiast who will take over the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) following the upcoming resignation of SEC chair Gary Genslervirtually every cryptocurrency has soared, even memecoins.Its hard to tell whos sinking money into Fartcoin. Some Bitcoin investors may have some extra money in their digital wallets these days (Bitcoin is still rising, surpassing $100,000 on December 4), so embracing a joke coin could provide a chuckle. The thrill for many of those investors is in the gamble. They chase an adrenaline rush that comes from seeing a spike in an investment that defies logic.Unlike some memecoins, Fartcoin doesnt even pretend to have intrinsic value. It takes its value entirely from its community, which share gastrointestinal memes and jokes on X. It also has a feature called Gas Fees that produce a digital . . . well, fart sound . . . with every transaction. (Really.)Its a baby in the crypto world, having started trading in late October, which makes its rise all the more surprising.More impressive, Fartcoin has quickly shown these gains while other meme and altcoins are rallying, but still nowhere near their all-time highs. Dogecoin is currently trading at 41 cents and Shiba Inu is worth just $0.00002746, 65% off its all-time high.Of course, as with any crypto that sees dramatic run-ups in pricing, Fartcoin investors should be wary of a possible rug pull. Pumping and dumping in the world of cryptocurrency is an all-too-common occurrence. This was illustrated earlier this month when the Hawk Tuah coin debuted with huge gains, quickly hitting a market capitalization of $490 million. Three hours later, the price fell to Earth at a dizzying speed, as insiders and snipers sold their holdings. (The cryptos current market cap is less than $73,000.)Influencer Haliey Welch, who promoted that failed crypto, now faces the possibility of lawsuits. Her social media channels have gone silent since the debacle.

Its gift-giving season, which means making long shopping lists, wondering if anyone will care about receiving scented candles two years in a row, and panicking about long lines at the post office.But this year, a new study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychologyhas some good news for procrastinators. While its unclear how recipients will feel about those scented candles, research shows that sending gifts follows the age-old expression: Better late than never.The researchers ran several different studies surveying hundreds of participants on different scenarios. In the first study, participants were asked to imagine their friend gave them a birthday gift on time or two weeks late, or to imagine that they had given their friend a gift on time or two weeks late. The researchers found people who imagined giving a gift late estimated it would cause more harm to the relationship than people who imagined receiving a gift late.In the second study, participants were asked to imagine giving or receiving a gift late, and how much that would influence their perception of care in the relationship. Researchers found that the gift givers overestimated the harm of giving a gift late because they believed it signals a lack of care about the relationship.In the third study, participants were asked to imagine giving or receiving a gift latehowever, in some conditions, the gift required significant effort to put together, and in others, it was low effort. Researchers found that gift givers who imagined putting in more effort expected there would be less of a negative reaction to a late gift. While this proved to be true for gift recipients, givers again overestimated how much harm a late gift would cause.In the fourth study, the researchers tested how much the degree of lateness matters by asking people to imagine giving and receiving a gift on time, two days late, two weeks late, or two months late. In general, recipients said harm to the relationship was roughly the same whether a gift was two days late or two weeks late, but it was slightly higher if it was two months late. However, gift givers estimated harm to be much higher in all the late conditions, and it increased substantially as the gift got later and later.In the last study, researchers tested whether it was best to send a gift late or not at all. Participants were asked to imagine either giving a gift on time, two months late, or not at all, or to imagine receiving a gift under one of those three conditions. Once again, gift givers overestimated the harm of being late or not sending a gift. However, recipients felt that it was more harmful to the relationship to not get a gift at all than to get one late.Our work . . . suggests that sending a gift late will result in fewer giver worries about the state of the relationship than not sending a gift simply because it is going to be late, the researchers wrote.

New York-based architect and educator Deborah Berke has won the 2025 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal for her architecture and educational work that "exemplifies innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability".Deborah Berke is the recipient of the 2025 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal, one of the most prestigious awards in the field and the organisation's highest honour.Architect and educator Deborah Berke has won the 2025 AIA Gold MedalFounder of architecture studio TenBerke (formerly Deborah Berke Partners) and dean of the Yale School of Architecture since 2016, Berke's work often integrates sustainable and context-sensitive strategies across a range of scales including residential projects and university buildings.The AIA cited Berke's commitment to sustainability, as well as her efforts at Yale, as the basis for this year's Gold Medal."Berke is a transformative figure in architecture whose career spans over four decades," said the AIA. "She has combined design excellence, academic leadership, and a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.""From founding her practice, Deborah Berke Partners in 1982 to becoming the first female dean of the Yale School of Architecture, her journey exemplifies innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability."The AIA referenced projects such as the Richardson Olmsted Complex as an example of her commitment to sustainability and adaptive reuseThe AIA referenced projects such as Dickinson College High Street Residence Hall in Pennsylvania and her award-winning Richardson Olmsted Complex in New York as examples of her commitment to sustainable design, in particular a specialization in adaptive reuse projects.Completed in 2017, the Richardson Olmsted Complex encompassed partially restoring and converting a 19th-century mental hospital into the hotel Hotel Henry. The project won several awards including the AIA National Architecture Award and the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award from the Preservation League of New York State.Read: "Now's the time to shelter all species" say 2024 AIA Gold Medal winnersCompleted a year later, the High Street Residence Hall was the first residential project on the Dickinson campus in decades. Berke used several cladding types to respond to different aspects of the campus, while the building was awarded LEED Platinum certification.More recently, TenBerke modified a 1950s law building on Harvard's campus, which included adding extensions and reconfiguring the interior to meet the more socially driven needs of modern law pedagogy.Projects such as the High Street Residence Hall in Pennsylvania showcase contextually sensitive architecture"Her practice has consistently prioritized adaptive reuse, transforming historic structures into vibrant, functional spaces," said the AIA.Berke's work as the dean of the Yale School of Architecture was previously awarded the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion in 2022 and has "profoundly influenced" wider architectural pedagogy."As an educator, Berke has profoundly influenced architectural pedagogy," said the organisation. "At Yale, she has advanced financial aid initiatives, increased accessibility, and championed interdisciplinary programs, making architecture education more inclusive."The architect also serves on multiple boards, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize and the Norman Foster Foundation and has won awards such as the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award.Much of her work, such as a law building on the Harvard campus, centres around converting historical buildings to meet modern needs"Throughout her career, Berke has exemplified the power of architecture to transform lives and communities," said the AIA. "Her work, teaching, and advocacy collectively underscore a profound belief in design as a tool for social good, leaving an indelible mark on the field and inspiring a more inclusive and sustainable architectural future."The AIA Gold Medal was established in 1907 and is awarded annually to an individual whose work has "a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture".In 2024, it was awarded to David Lake and Ted Flato of Texas-based Lake Flato Architects and Chicago architect Carol Ross Barney in 2023.Dezeen named Deborah Berke as one of the 50 most powerful women in architecture and design earlier this year.The post "Transformative figure" Deborah Berke wins AIA Gold Medal appeared first on Dezeen.

Furniture brand Paulin, Paulin, Paulin and American football player Stefon Diggs have displayed the athlete's personal furniture collection and a hybrid speaker/sofa prototype by the brand at a Miami residence during the city's art week.The Stefon Diggs is in the House show took place at the M Building in Wynwood, a former warehouse turned residence and event space by Chad Oppenheim and interior designer Chahan Minassian.Paulin, Paulin, Paulin and Stefon Diggs displayed an orange Video Barnum couch for an installation during Miami art weekThe installation showcased a variety of Paulin, Paulin, Paulin (Paulin) pieces, the majority of which were from Houston Texan wide receiver and Liem founder Stefon Diggs' personal collection as an exploration of the intersection of sports, design and the home according to the team.The first set displayed a bright-orange couch that was designed by Paulin founder Pierre Paulin in the 1980s but was only prototyped recently by the brand with slight adjustments and debuted in collaboration with Nike at the 2024 Olympic Games earlier this year.Pieces such as red Elyse Floor Lamps and a moss-green Tapis-Sige couch were also displayedThe orange Video Barnum couch comprises five, thin geometric seating units that lay close to the ground, with upturned triangular corners that act as backrests.Speakers were embedded within each backrest to create an immersive sound system, reflecting the multi-sensory experience Paulin intended in his original design.Read: Exclusive photos reveal Jaguar Type 00 concept car at Miami art week"Like many innovations, the world was not ready for the Tapis-Sige (Carpet Seat) when [Peirre] conceived the idea over 50 years ago," said the furniture brand."The idea came when he started to believe that the future of furniture was in its disappearance instead, creating 'programs', modular furniture systems that could fluidly facilitate experimental communal experiences of space."Diggs' personal Paulin collection was showcased throughout two galleries and outdoors, including the rectangular Angular Moon Table and a scalloped, white Alpha Club ChairDuring the installation, the seating was hooked up to an AUX cord, which generated music throughout the piece.In an adjoining room, Digg's collection was displayed in a tight cluster, rendered in custom colours. The collection included pieces such as red Elyse Floor Lamps, a moss-green Tapis-Sige couch and a light blue Dune Ensemble couch, a seating unit with geometric padding and hump-like dividers that emerge from its surface.A Miami Table unit was set up outdoorsOther pieces showcased include the rectangular Angular Moon Table, a scalloped, white Alpha Club Chair and a black leather Declive recliner.A Miami Table with multi-coloured cushions was also displayed outside a singular unit that encompasses four benches and a central table.The collaboration explored the intersection of sports, design and the home"By juxtaposing Pierre Paulin's iconic designs with objects reflecting Diggs's life and values, this temporary house becomes a space of exploration where design and sport intersect to challenge our understanding of space, identity, and performance," said the team."This project demonstrates how furniture and personal artefacts can transform architecture into a home imbued with meaning and individuality."Other events that took place during this year's Miami art week included the second installment of Alcova Miami and the unveiling of the Jaguar electric concept car Type OO.The photography is by Pierrick RocherStefon Diggs is in the House took place from 4 to 8 December at the M Building in Miami. For more global events in architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide.The post Paulin, Paulin, Paulin and Stefon Diggs deck out Miami's M Building appeared first on Dezeen.

For every schlocky consumerist invention spammed into our inboxes this year, we did see some true innovations. Objects and systems intended to improve society and businesses, created by clever designers, engineers and inventors. Here's what jumped out at us in 2024:Vertical farm pioneer Plenty says "We can grow an entire soccer field worth of produce in the size of a goal." For pop-up event spaces and exhibitions, this Expandable Touchdown Trailer can move its own wheels out of the way, then lower itself to the ground. Pipe Lighting's inflatable, lightweight LED lights provide better UX for production crews. This CruiseUp, a new type of flying vehicle, uses innovative "CycloRotors" to move the vehicle in all directions. The Aerocart is a goose-inspired towed cargo glider that aims to slash shipping costs. This PlugVan system offers modular, hot-swappable van interiors for camping and work. Maxim de Jong, a pioneer of "soft system space architecture," designed this revolutionary inflatable space station. It's a more economical way to get a space habitat into orbit.Design researcher Sasha McKinlay, of MIT's Self-Assembly Lab, has developed a revolutionary clothes production method using an industrial knitting machine and a heat-blasting robotic arm. UK company RapidRoot has developed a lightweight, concrete-free building foundation system that allows for building in remote locations. Japanese researchers have developed a flying fire hose that can reach through windows. In Washington State, a frustrated DOT official worked out a way to use drones to erase difficult-to-reach graffiti. Bounce Imaging created a throwable panoramic thermal camera and two-way speaker for the military and police. It provides better tactical awareness and aids with hostage negotiations. The Spacetop, now coming to market, is a no-screen laptop. AR glasses provide the screens. Swiss company Zippsafe has designed a space-saving locker room that utilizes textile lockers. This brilliant hardhat design blows an air curtain in front of your face, serving as a safe and less cumbersome alternative to wearing facemasks.These cleverly-designed anti-flooding barriers by AquaFence keep structures safe during hurricanes. The Spider X1S is a large-format laser cutter with a compact form factor.Airback's backpacks and luggage can shrink their contents with a vacuum, allowing you to carry 50% more stuff. Former architect Hoxxoh, now a mural artist, hacks sprinklers to spray paint.

Compact tiny homes are all the craze nowadays, and theyre ready to purchase in different shapes and sizes. These homes are practical, functional, and sustainable, with the ability to support an off-the-grid lifestyle. European tiny homes tend to focus on minimalism and sustainability, and this tiny home by Madeiguincho is one such example. Called Concha, this home is easy to tow, allowing residents to adopt a true off-the-grid and free-spirited life. Concha is an eco-friendly home that will let you set up house anywhere in nature.Designer: MadeiguinchoIt is based on a dual-axle trailer and allows residents to live a truly mobile life. It merges traditional wooden homes with modern features to create a living space that feels comfortable and warm. The interior and exterior are made using locally sourced wood to create an inviting and organic atmosphere. Multiple windows allow daylight to stream into the home. The exterior also features dark burnt wood siding which is complemented by lighter wood trim on the windows and the door. The interior features durable materials likemodified wood, birch plywood panels, and pine floors.The interior is open-plan, and it occupies around 130 square feet. As you enter the home through a double glass door, you are invited into a comfortable living area. This space includes a two-tier raised platform. The lower section functions as a bench/sofa, while the upper section serves as a day bed. This clever design offers multiple functionalities, and the bench section also includes three storage compartments. The opposite section of the home includes the kitchen and the bathroom. The kitchen is quite simple and is amped with plywood cabinets and hardwood countertops.A staircase offers access to the sleeping loft. This is connected to the lounge, and it includes a built-in sofa. Drawers and cabinets have been integrated under the stairs to provide storage. The bathroom is also under the stairs, and it is equipped with simple and basic bathroom amenities. The loft has sufficient space to hold a double mattress. It also includes a window for ventilation, and it does have a low ceiling. The home also has solar panels on the roof to successfully support an off-the-grid lifestyle.Explore purposeful living with our curated Tiny Homes Collectioncrafted to maximize style and functionality in every small space.The post Embrace A Minimalist & Free-Spirited Lifestyle With This Wooden Off-Grid Tiny Home first appeared on Yanko Design.