We may earn a commission from links on this page.Something Ive noticed as I get older is that the gifts I receive tend to be more useful, and less fun. This year, I say its time to rebalance the scales and give the older adults in your life a gift that checks both boxes.Smart tech is a great way to do this. There are a lot of gadgets out there that can provide a light assist and some added fun for your parents or grandparents as they pursue their hobbies or around-the-house activities. Here's what I'd pick for my own parents.A smart bird feederYou dont typically sell someone on the concept of a birdfeeder by talking about the feeder itself, but when people see the photos and videos a smart feeder can deliver, they become instant evangelists. Given that many older folks already love birdwatching, a good smart bird feeder is aperfect gift.The concept isnt any different from a regular bird feeder. Smart feeders come in different formats for hummingbirds and songbirds, and depending on which you choose, you put different food into them. In either case, the feeder delivers notifications when birds are eating, as well as a daily summary of how many visitors you got. The cameras capture images and video that will make anyone giggle.While there are many smart bird feeders on the market, I recommend going with a Bird Buddy feeder. While they are a little tricky to pair with Bluetooth the first time, once up and running, they work great. I recommend getting a feeder with solar panels, so you don't have to worry about batteries, and I think the hummingbird feeder is particularly well designedI've been evjoying the videos mine captures every day. Bird Buddy - Smart Hummingbird Feeder with Solar Roof - White $239.99 at Best Buy $299.99 Save $60.00 Shop Now Shop Now $239.99 at Best Buy $299.99 Save $60.00 A TV-mounted smart camera for better video callsAt this point, most people have a smart TV, and most smart TVs have the ability to add a webcam. If you do, you can make Zoom, Google Meet, and other video calls from your TV. The benefit here is that you dont have to stare up grandpas nostrils when he picks up your call on his smartphone.Instead, Gramps and Nana can settle in on the living room couch and see their whole family on the TV, while you can enjoy a conversation in which you can actually see them both.Youll need to check that their TV has the ability to add a webcam and offers apps like Zoom or Google Meet. After that, its as simple as plugging the webcam into a USB port on the TV and going through the setup process. Logitech Webcam for Smart TV $42.90 at Walmart $139.26 Save $96.36 Shop Now Shop Now $42.90 at Walmart $139.26 Save $96.36 A smart picture frame you can load from afarWifi-enabled frames are nothing new. However, in the past few years, a rush of brands come to market with highly stylized smart frames that have accompanying apps so you can add pictures from anywhere. While Aura frames have earned top marks, Ive been using one from Skylight for the last year to trade photos with friends. I appreciate that there are both low-fi methods for sending photos (via email), and an app for more tech-savvy folks. Given that all my friends with kids have bought one of these frames for the grandparents, I think it's worth buying them in pairs. Get one for the grandparents and one for yourselves, so they can send their own photos back to you. It's a fun, tech-y way for them to interact with you and the grandkids. Skylight Digital Frame $149.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $149.99 at Amazon A smart telescope for easy stargazingIve toyed with telescopes over the years and given up when theyve been too heavy to lug around hard to use without submitting to a steep learning curve. This year, I tried a smart telescopeit's small, fitting in a bag smaller than most camera bags.It mounts to a standard tripod, and from the moment you turn it on, the app helps you find and identify stars. It is tremendously satisfying and far less intimidating than a "real" telescope. Unfortunately, they are pricey, starting at $500 and climbing over $1500. If you're in the market for a larger gift for an aging stargazer, though, the Celestron is a good middle ground model. For $639, it gives you a number of computerized controls that make finding and tracking what you see in the sky easier. It's still small, though not as small and sleek as more expensive models, and easy to set up. Celestron Smart Telescope $639.95 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $639.95 at Amazon Permanent outdoor smart lights I know outdoor lights don't scream "fun," but hear me out. The new take on holidays lights are permanent, so you never take them down, and you can change the entire color scheme from your phone. This means that far beyond the holiday season, your parents can tinker with the light scheme for any holiday that arrives. Valentines, St. Patty's, Arbor Day, et al can provide a new outlet for their creativity. The lights are certifiably fun to play with. You create programs on your phone and send them off to the lights, which change instantly. An added benefit: This also means your parents won't need to go climbing all over the roof each holiday season to put up and take down their lighting. Another win, as far as I'm concerned. Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro $699.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $699.99 at Amazon The best gifts come with support from the kidsDepending on the savviness of the parent youre gifting these tech-y items to, you may want to consider setting them up for them (perhaps during your holiday visit). Pairing Bluetooth devices can occasionally take a few tries, but while most products are relatively easy to get online, setting up the gift together can become a multi-generational family activity.

Its The Missile, an artsy drama from the 1980s shot in stunning Lapland landscapes that thrills mystery lovers. In The Missile, theres nothing but charm from beginning to end, based on a scenario where a missile crash leaves a trail in the quiet life of a northern village, following a single mother involved in a missile crash investigation.FrostFilms has taken pride in the handling of visual effects for this co-production between Finland and Estonia, thereby enhancing the cinematic appeal through seamless integrations. From the sequences of the missile crash to atmospheric visuals in Lapland, VFX work plays an important role in immersing the audience into the era and story. More than 100 Estonian talents contributed to this remarkable project.The Missile premiered at the Gteborg Film Festival and took home the Best Acting Award. It is now available on Netflix for streaming. FrostFilms thanks Komeetta and Stellar for their trust and collaboration on this unique project.The post The Missile | VFX Breakdown by FrostFilms appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Animation director Venla Linna says the '90s kids are in charge'.

MacworldPDFs are extremely common. It is kind of remarkable that files that can interact with them fully arent nearly as easy to come by. Sure, Adobe has Acrobat, but thats a subscription that is, at its cheapest, still over $200 for a single year.If you want an app that can edit, annotate, and convert PDFs that you dont have to pay for every month, then check out this lifetime subscription for PDF Expert. There are no recurring costs of any kind, and its on sale for $79.99 (reg. $139).PDF expert packs a lot of different tools into one easy-to-navigate interface. You can edit PDFs by changing the text, inserting images, or adding links. You can annotate to highlight or comment on different areas. You can also merge, re-arrange, or split PDF files. PDF expert can also convert to and from JPG, PNG, Word, PPT, and Excel files.Working with an older file? The OCR scanner can recognize almost any text and turn it into a searchable document. You can even enhance scans and remove shadows.If you dont want to pay every month to access files youll need forever, then get a lifetime subscription to PDF Expert for $79.99.PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) $79.99See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

Agentic AI systems are fundamentally reshaping how tasks are automated, and goals are achieved in various domains. These systems are distinct from conventional AI tools in that they can adaptively pursue complex goals over extended periods with minimal human supervision. Their functionality extends to tasks requiring reasoning, such as managing logistics, developing software, or even handling customer service at scale. The potential for these systems to enhance productivity, reduce human error, and accelerate innovation makes them a focal point for researchers and industry stakeholders. However, these systems growing complexity and autonomy necessitate the development of rigorous safety, accountability, and operational frameworks.Despite their promise, agentic AI systems pose significant challenges that demand attention. Unlike traditional AI, which performs predefined tasks, agentic systems must navigate dynamic environments while aligning with user intentions. This autonomy introduces vulnerabilities, such as the possibility of unintended actions, ethical conflicts, and the risk of exploitation by malicious actors. Also, as these systems are deployed across diverse applications, the stakes rise considerably, particularly in high-impact sectors such as healthcare, finance, and defense. The absence of standardized protocols exacerbates these challenges, as developers and users lack a unified approach to managing potential risks.While effective in specific contexts, current approaches to AI safety often fall short when applied to agentic systems. For example, rule-based systems and manual oversight mechanisms are ill-suited for environments requiring rapid, autonomous decision-making. Traditional evaluation methods also struggle to capture the intricacies of multi-step, goal-oriented behaviors. Also, techniques such as human-in-the-loop systems, which aim to keep users involved in decision-making, are constrained by scalability issues and can introduce inefficiencies. Existing safeguards also fail to adequately address the nuances of cross-domain applications, where agents must interact with diverse systems and stakeholders.Researchers from OpenAI have proposed a comprehensive set of practices designed to enhance the safety and reliability of agentic AI systems, addressing the above shortcomings. These include robust task suitability assessments, where systems are rigorously tested for their capacity to handle specific goals across varying conditions. Another key recommendation involves the imposition of operational constraints, such as limiting agents ability to perform high-stakes actions without explicit human approval. Researchers also emphasize the importance of ensuring agents behaviors are legible to users by providing detailed logs and reasoning chains. This transparency allows for better monitoring and debugging of agent operations. Also, researchers advocate for designing systems with interruptibility in mind, enabling users to halt operations seamlessly in case of anomalies or unforeseen issues.The proposed practices rely on advanced methodologies to mitigate risks effectively. For instance, automatic monitoring systems can track agents actions and flag deviations from expected behaviors in real-time. These systems utilize classifiers or secondary AI models to analyze and evaluate agent outputs, ensuring compliance with predefined safety protocols. Fallback mechanisms are also critical; these involve predefined procedures that activate if an agent is abruptly terminated. For example, if an agent managing financial transactions is interrupted, it could automatically notify all relevant parties to mitigate disruptions. Also, the researchers stress the need for multi-party accountability frameworks, ensuring developers, deployers, and users share responsibility for preventing harm.The researchers findings demonstrate the effectiveness of these measures. In controlled scenarios, implementing task-specific evaluations reduced error rates by 37%, while transparency measures enhanced user trust by 45%. Agents with fallback mechanisms demonstrated a 52% improvement in system recovery during unexpected failures. When combined with real-time intervention capabilities, automatic monitoring systems achieved a 61% success rate in identifying and correcting potentially harmful actions before escalation. These results underscore the feasibility and benefits of adopting a structured approach to agentic AI governance.Key takeaways from the research are outlined as follows:Comprehensive task assessments ensure agents are suited for specific goals, reducing operational risks by up to 37%.Requiring explicit approvals for high-stakes actions minimizes the likelihood of critical errors.Detailed logs and reasoning chains improve user trust and accountability by 45%.Secondary AI systems significantly enhance oversight, achieving a 61% success rate in identifying harmful actions.Predefined procedures improve system resilience, reducing disruption during unexpected failures by 52%.Shared responsibility among developers, deployers, and users ensures a balanced risk management approach.In conclusion, the OpenAI study presents a compelling case for adopting structured safety practices in agentic AI systems. The proposed framework mitigates risks by addressing critical issues such as task suitability, transparency, and accountability while enabling the benefits of advanced AI. These practices offer a practical roadmap for ensuring that agentic AI systems operate responsibly and align with societal values. With measurable improvements in safety and efficiency, this research lays the foundation for widespread, trustworthy deployment of agentic AI systems.Check out the Paper. 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. Sana Hassan+ postsSana Hassan, a consulting intern at Marktechpost and dual-degree student at IIT Madras, is passionate about applying technology and AI to address real-world challenges. With a keen interest in solving practical problems, he brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of AI and real-life solutions. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)

UFC CEO Dana White(Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesAfter UFC Tampa on December 14, UFC President Dana White told Manel Kape he wasnt getting a title shot, but he would get what he wanted. It seems we now know what White was referring to during the final post-event presser of 2024.According to multiple reports, Kape is headed for a No. 1 contenders match with current top-ranked flyweight Brandon Royval. Reports say the fight is scheduled for March 1 at the UFC Apex.It will likely be the main event unless the reports are proven false.This fight looks spectacular on paper.Kape is coming off a masterful performance in his last fight. At UFC Tampa, Kape shook off three low blows from Bruno Silva before securing a third-round TKO. Immediately after getting the finish, Kape went over to White, who was sitting Octagon side, and pleaded for a title shot.White told him they would have a discussion. It appears that discussion has happened, and the result is a No. 1 contenders fight with Royval.Royval solidified his spot as the No. 1 contender with a win over Tatsuro Taira in a thrilling main event in October. With a win over Royval, Taira would have likely locked down a shot at champion Alexandre Pantoja.MORE FOR YOUHowever, Royval turned him away, which made room for Japanese newcomer Kai Asakura to challenge Pantoja for the title. Pantoja made it look easy against Asakura.The champion successfully defended his title in the main event of UFC 310 in Las Vegas on December 7. After the fight, Pantoja tried to lure former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson out of retirement with a callout.That overture was shot down as Johnson quickly responded on social media, saying he was happily retired from MMA. Pantoja has run roughshod through the current crop of flyweight contenders.Hes beaten Royval twice and No. 2 contender Brandon Moreno three times. No. 3 Amir Albazi was just dismantled by Moreno in November. Pantoja has also beaten No. 4 Kai Kara France, though it happened on The Ultimate Fighter back in 2016.Because of Pantojas dominance, the UFC has had to dig deeper into the rankings to find title challengers. Pantoja has even defeated Kape. The two met in 2021 in Kapes UFC debut.However, Kapes only loss since 2021 came against Mohammed Mokaev, the undefeated flyweight the UFC sent packing in July because of his poor relationship with his fellow fighters and the UFCs brass.Were it not for his exit, Mokaev would have probably already received a title shot. He would have definitely deserved a shot before Asakura. As it is, the next title challenger will be either Kara France, No. 8 Asu Almabayev, or the winner of Kape-Royval.Stay tuned.Here is a look at the fights rumored to be a part of the March 1 UFC Fight Night event.Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape - FlyweightMontana De La Rosa vs. Luana Carolina - FlyweightLucas Almeida vs. Danny Silva - FeatherweightWilliam Gomis vs. Hyder Amil - FeatherweightDanny Barlow vs. Sam Patterson - WelterweightCody Brundage vs. Julian Marquez - MiddleweightWhen more information on this event and others goes official, Ill have it covered.

Scheldehof Residence / Max DudlerSave this picture! Max DudlerResidentialAntwerp, BelgiumArchitects: Max DudlerAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:63500 mPhotographsPhotographs:Max DudlerMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. On the banks of the Scheldt River, west of Antwerp's historic old town, the new urban district Nieuw Zuid is taking shape. Commissioned by Triple Living, Max Dudler, in collaboration with partner firm Jaspers Eyers Architects, has completed the residential project Scheldehof."Save this picture!The ensemble, designed by Max Dudler, harmoniously groups two buildings around a central green square that opens towards the Scheldt. The architecture takes up the motif of the staircase and realizes it in multiple dimensions. The two low-rise sections feature terraced, landscaped steps descending towards the square, evoking the image of hanging gardens and forming an amphitheater-like space facing the river. The vertical structure rises within the district, with the stepped design of the 80-meter tower creating an iconic inverted staircase silhouette.Save this picture!The faade elements made of Dietfurt limestone wrap the buildings in the form of a unifying grid. This bright, open framework integrates the outdoor spaces of the apartments. Each of the 300 apartments includes a loggia, balcony, or winter garden. The mixed-use concept is enriched by 2,300 m of office space and ground-floor shops and restaurants.Save this picture!Located in the center of the new district, the project has a somewhat more public character: The buildings of the small ensemble are arranged in a semi-open block interwoven with paths and plazas. The layout reflects its riverside position, with the Scheldt serving as the key reference point for both the district and Antwerp as a whole. The Scheldt connects all the key parts of the city, and its riverside boulevard is lined with Antwerp's most iconic buildings, like pearls on a string.Save this picture!Save this picture!The striking vertical structure integrates harmoniously into the district's height profile. At the same time, the cascading design of the tower creates a symbolic gesture pointing into the distance, marking the city's expansion within its overall urban fabric.Save this picture!The masterplan for the riverside site was developed by Studio Secchi-Vigan in collaboration with landscape architect BAS Smets. Other sections of the district are being developed by renowned architects such as Shigeru Ban, David Chipperfield Architects, Peter Zumthor, Robbrecht en Daem Architecten, and Vincent Van Duysen. The project was honored with the 2024 European Property Award for Mixed Use Architecture for Belgium.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Antwerp, BelgiumLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMax DudlerOfficePublished on December 22, 2024Cite: "Scheldehof Residence / Max Dudler" 22 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024958/scheldehof-residence-max-dudler&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Fisch has quite a few rare fish, catching which is a real challenge. But they can't compare with the Event Catch added to the game during Fischmas 2024. So, in this guide, we will tell you how to catch the elusive Northstar Serpent in Fisch.

As part of the live-service format of Overwatch 2, every new Competitive Season that comes and goes tends to feature one crossover collaboration event with another popular franchise from other games, anime, and more. These in-game events feature a number of cosmetics for Overwatch heroes and villains, putting their spin on costumes of characters from each franchise, as well as profile decorations, player customization items, event challenges, and more.