html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Pilgway has released 3DCoat 2024.30, the latest major version of its sculpting, retopology and 3D painting application.New features in the software include integration with photogrammetry app RealityCapture, new Array and Surface Array tools, and the option to convert normal maps to actual 3D geometry.Part of an ongoing series of smaller updates to the 3D sculpting and painting softwarePilgway releases new builds of 3DCoat every few weeks, so the latest release is actually 3DCoat 2024.31.However, 3DCoat 2024.30 is the more major update, and the first to get an entry in the official online changelog since the original 3DCoat 2024.Now integrates with photogrammetry software RealityCaptureNew features in 3DCoat include integration of RealityCapture, Epic Games photogrammetry software, which is now free to artists and studios with revenue under $1 million/year.After installing RealityCapture, users can access its functionality directly within 3DCoat, making it possible to generate 3D models from photos or videos of real-world objects.The raw 3D scans can then the cleaned up and retopologized using 3DCoats existing tools.Sculpt room: new Array and Surface Array tools3DCoats Sculpt toolset gets two new tools for creating arrays of 3D objects.The Array tool itself distributes geometry evenly along guide curves, while Surface Array (shown above) distributes it across a 3D surface.Potential use cases include creating repeating structures like tiles, fencing or chainmail.Paint room: convert normal maps to actual 3D geometryThe Paint toolset gets a new option to convert the normal map to actual geometry, making it possible to reconstruct the original high-resolution sculpt from a retopologized low-res asset.In addition, text, curves and images are now applied non-destructively, retaining their own layer settings when applied over a paint layer.Updates to Live Booleans, the Blender AppLink and voxel exportThe Live Booleans system added to the software last year gets a new option to perform volumetric Boolean operations with an additional shell.The feature is intended for use when preparing models for 3D printing.Pipline integration changes include support for PBR texture information when importing or exporting raw voxel data from the software.In addition, the Blender AppLink, 3DCoats live link to the open-source 3D software, now has its own GitHub repository.There are also a number of workflow and performance improvements, particularly when saving complex scenes. You can find a full list of changes via the link at the foot of the story.Price and system requirements3DCoat 2024 is available for Windows 7+, Ubuntu 20.04+ and macOS 10.15+.For individuals, perpetual node-locked licenses cost 379. Subscriptions cost 20.80/month or 169.85/year. Rent to own plans require 11 continuous monthly payments of 41.60.For studios, perpetual node-locked licenses cost 539; floating licences cost 579. Subscriptions cost 29.85/month or 299/year for node-locked licenses; 34.85/month or 319.85/year for floating licenses.Read an overview of the new features in 3DCoat 2024.30 in the online release notesRead a detailed list of new features in 3DCoat on the product forum(The changelog is in the third post; posts about 3DCoat 2024.x start on page 107)Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

The increasing complexity of cloud computing has brought both opportunities and challenges. Enterprises now depend heavily on intricate cloud-based infrastructures to ensure their operations run smoothly. Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) and DevOps teams are tasked with managing fault detection, diagnosis, and mitigationtasks that have become more demanding with the rise of microservices and serverless architectures. While these models enhance scalability, they also introduce numerous potential failure points. For instance, a single hour of downtime on platforms like Amazon AWS can result in substantial financial losses. Although efforts to automate IT operations with AIOps agents have progressed, they often fall short due to a lack of standardization, reproducibility, and realistic evaluation tools. Existing approaches tend to address specific aspects of operations, leaving a gap in comprehensive frameworks for testing and improving AIOps agents under practical conditions.To tackle these challenges, Microsoft researchers, along with a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Indian Institue of Science, and Agnes Scott College, have developed AIOpsLab, an evaluation framework designed to enable the systematic design, development, and enhancement of AIOps agents. AIOpsLab aims to address the need for reproducible, standardized, and scalable benchmarks. At its core, AIOpsLab integrates real-world workloads, fault injection capabilities, and interfaces between agents and cloud environments to simulate production-like scenarios. This open-source framework covers the entire lifecycle of cloud operations, from detecting faults to resolving them. By offering a modular and adaptable platform, AIOpsLab supports researchers and practitioners in advancing the reliability of cloud systems and reducing dependence on manual interventions.Technical Details and BenefitsThe AIOpsLab framework features several key components. The orchestrator, a central module, mediates interactions between agents and cloud environments by providing task descriptions, action APIs, and feedback. Fault and workload generators replicate real-world conditions to challenge the agents being tested. Observability, another cornerstone of the framework, provides comprehensive telemetry data, such as logs, metrics, and traces, to aid in fault diagnosis. This flexible design allows integration with diverse architectures, including Kubernetes and microservices. By standardizing the evaluation of AIOps tools, AIOpsLab ensures consistent and reproducible testing environments. It also offers researchers valuable insights into agent performance, enabling continuous improvements in fault localization and resolution capabilities.Results and InsightsIn one case study, AIOpsLabs capabilities were evaluated using the SocialNetwork application from DeathStarBench. Researchers introduced a realistic faulta microservice misconfigurationand tested an LLM-based agent employing the ReAct framework powered by GPT-4. The agent identified and resolved the issue within 36 seconds, demonstrating the frameworks effectiveness in simulating real-world conditions. Detailed telemetry data proved essential for diagnosing the root cause, while the orchestrators API design facilitated the agents balanced approach between exploratory and targeted actions. These findings underscore AIOpsLabs potential as a robust benchmark for assessing and improving AIOps agents.ConclusionAIOpsLab offers a thoughtful approach to advancing autonomous cloud operations. By addressing the gaps in existing tools and providing a reproducible and realistic evaluation framework, it supports the ongoing development of reliable and efficient AIOps agents. With its open-source nature, AIOpsLab encourages collaboration and innovation among researchers and practitioners. As cloud systems grow in scale and complexity, frameworks like AIOpsLab will become essential for ensuring operational reliability and advancing the role of AI in IT operations.Check out the Paper, GitHub Page, and Microsoft Details. 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. Asif RazzaqAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)

Were not afraid to say that TV is looking pretty hot in 2025. Any lull we may have experienced in the aftermath of the WGA and SAG strikes of 2023 seems to be nonexistent, with many long-awaited shows set to debut and make their triumphant return this year.The first few months of 2025 are starting off strong with shows like Severance and Invincible set to return, among others. The summer looks like it will be great for Marvel fans with the Ironheart miniseries finally set to premiere as well as the debut of the animated series Eyes of Wakanda. In addition, there are plenty of exciting TBDs projected to come out this year that we cant wait to see. Now before we get too ahead of ourselves, lets take a look at the TV shows were most excited to see in 2025!Severance Season 2January 17 on Apple TV+Good things come to those who wait and in early 2025 a very good thing will arrive for those who have been patiently waiting for Severance season 2. This mind-bending Apple TV+ sci-fi/drama about a very literal split between work life and home life wrapped its first season all the way back in April 2022. Now, after some production and strike delays, the story of Mark S. (Adam Scott) and his band of Innies struggle against the enigmatic Lumon Industries is set to continue once again. There are a lot of questions to be answered about the shows sprawling mythology early on. But hopefully the Macrodata Refinement team still finds the time for a dance party or two. Alec BojaladThe Night Agent Season 2January 23 on NetflixEasily one of Netflixs most popular series of the last few years, The Night Agent returns for a second season not long after the new year begins. FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) is back, only this time he finds himself on the other end of the Night Action hotline. Instead of answering calls from agents in the field, hes now one of them. Peter may have saved the president and stopped a terror attack from the inside, but does he have what it takes to be a secret agent full time? We may have to wait until January to find out, but we will absolutely be seated as the action unfolds. Brynna ArensYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-ManJanuary 29 on Disney+Originally thought to be the origin story of the MCUs Spider-Man, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man instead takes place in a similar, but slightly different universe where Norman Osborn (voiced by the incredible Colman Domingo) becomes Peter Parkers mentor instead of Tony Stark. Just like What If?, this animated series is part of the MCUs multiverse, and is set to feature appearances from a variety of other familiar characters. So far, the only actor set to reprise their role from the MCU is Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil, but that doesnt mean that the show wont have other surprises up its sleeve. Even though this series might not be connected to the sacred timeline of the MCU, its bound to be a fun watch for Spider-Man fans of all ages. BAInvincible Season 3February 6 on Prime VideoIts hard being a superhero and its even harder being a teenager. On Prime Videos Invincible, poor Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) has to be both. Mark a.k.a. Invincible has been put through the wringer through two seasons of this colorful adaptation of Robert Kirkmans comic, enduring major daddy issues, gaining an unexpected alien brother, and receiving all manner of super-powered beatdowns. Following the multiverse hopping chaos of season 2, however, season 3 looks to be a time of transition and growth for our young supe. Hopefully Mark takes in a lesson or two because, if the length of the comic inspiration is any indication, he has a ways to go yet. ABYellowjackets Season 3February 14 on ShowtimeJoin our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Showtimes buzziest show returns for a third season this year, and boy are we excited. Yellowjackets follows the journey of young plane crash survivors as they contend with the trauma of their experience, both in 1996 when the crash occurred and in the present as they try to live their adult lives. Whether driven by a supernatural force weve yet to fully witness, or these women are simply unable to process the sheer trauma of what they went through to survive, the wilderness comes to collect, one way or another. Last season saw these survivors, both past and present, give in to the will of the wilderness through cannibalism, ritualistic killing, and crowning the first Antler Queen, so theres no telling what they may be driven to this season in the name of survival. BAThe White Lotus Season 3February 16 on HBO and MaxWith a cast that includes Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, and the return of Natasha Rothwell as Belinda, season 3 of The White Lotus is already off to a strong start. This season is set to take us to the Thailand branch of this wealthy hotel resort chain while the location may be gorgeous, if the last two seasons of this show have taught us anything, this vacation will be anything but idyllic. Relationships and family bonds will likely be put to the test, and theres a pretty decent chance at least one body will be found before the season is done. BADaredevil: Born AgainMarch 4 on Disney+After a soft launch into the MCU proper through Spider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk, and Echo, Charlie Cox is officially back as Daredevil in his own show set to premiere on Disney+ this March. With Vincent DOnofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Hensen, Jon Bernthal, and Wilson Bethel also set to reprise their roles from the Netflix Daredevil series, Daredevil: Born Again is poised to pick up not too far from where we last left Hells Kitchen, and it will be interesting to see how their stories weave further into the MCU. Fingers crossed we get at least one kickass hallway fight this season. BAThe StudioMarch 26 on Apple TV+Comedy mastermind Seth Rogen has already made a home at Apple TV+ thanks to breezy friendship comedy Platonic, in which he co-stars alongside Rose Byrne. For his next Apple project, however, Rogen is thinking a little bigger. Created by Rogen and his longtime writing partner Evan Goldberg, The Studio casts Rogen as the newly-appointed head of Continental Studios who has to balance the creative needs of his artists with the dismal realities of his business. Who better to step into this role than one of the 21st centurys most prolific actor/writer/producer/stoners? ABAndor Season 2April 22 on Disney+The return of Andor could honestly not come at a better time than spring 2025. A show about finding hope and the will to fight against oppression and the systems that support it is needed now more than ever. When the odds are stacked against us, will we have the same courage as Cassian, or even Kino Loy? As the rebellion continues to build against the Empire in Andor, its up to the people to fight for the future they want to see, even if they may not live to see it. This season is set to bridge the gap between the Cassian we saw last season and the Cassian we meet in Rogue One, and I cannot wait to see what this season has in store. BAIronheartJune 24 on Disney+Riri Williams (Dominque Thorne) had a somewhat traumatic introduction into the MCU in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She was forced into hiding, kidnapped by Namor (Tenoch Huerta), and had her warehouse stormed by the feds. However, she also proved herself as a highly intelligent scientist and a capable hero. In her own series, Ironheart, it seems like well get to see Riri both as a student at MIT and in her hometown of Chicago as she works to recreate the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man, according to Marvel. This show has been moved around Marvels schedule so much the last few years, Im just glad Marvel didnt decide to give it the Batgirl treatment. Riri deserves her chance in the spotlight, and it will be exciting to watch her adventures unfold in Ironheart. BAEyes of WakandaAugust 6 on Disney+Even following the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, his characters home nation of Wakanda remains one of Marvels richest assets both literally and figuratively. Wakanda is home to as many potential stories as its people and with the upcoming Disney+ effort, Eyes of Wakanda, the massive comic book media franchise is going to let some of those stories be told. Little was known about this project initially but the latest synopses that promise history-spanning tales of vibranium artifact reclamations sound quite intriguing. ABWonder ManDecember 2025 on Disney+Every now and then, Marvel likes to get a little goofy with it. If the early looks are any indication, Disney+ series Wonder Man might be the goofiest MCU effort in some time. Comic book movie regular Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars, not as Wonder Man, but as Simon Williams, a superpowered actor who is trying out for the role of Wonder Man. Helping him in this task will be Ben Kingsley returning as Marvels court jester Trevor Slattery. Beyond that, little else is known about this Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest-created series. But that logline alone makes it one of our most anticipated Marvel titles of the year. ABThe Handmaids Tale Season 6TBD on HuluThe sixth and final season of The Handmaids Tale is set to come to Hulu in 2025, and theres no doubt that this gripping drama will go out swinging. This dystopian series based on Margaret Atwoods novel of the same name has become almost synonymous with the policies of a certain American administration, so it seems only fitting that the series is set to end as the same administration regains power. The Handmaids Tale is as compelling as it is terrifying at times as weve gone on this journey with these characters. With everything theyve gone through, its hard to imagine a world where June, Luke, Nichole, and Hannah can have their happy ending together, away from the oppression of Gilead and its sympathizers, but well just have to wait and see what the series has in store for its final chapter. BAA Knight of the Seven KingdomsSummer 2025 on HBOThe first two seasons of Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon have confirmed what A Song of Ice and Fire fans have long expected. The fantasy world of Westeros just works better when George R.R. Martin has already laid down a roadmap for the stories told in it. Thankfully, HBO seems to have come to that realization as well and for Thrones second-ever spinoff they are once again turning to Martins source material from a collection of novellas known as Tales of Dunk and Egg. Set after Dragon but well before Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set to bring a more playful and energetic (yet still plenty bloody) vibe to the franchise. ABIt: Welcome to DerryTBD on HBOPerhaps youve heard, but horror icon Stephen King tends to write fairly long books. One of his longest (and arguably one of his best) novels, It, was so epic it had to be adapted into two films: 2017s It and 2019s It: Chapter Two. Even then, however, filmmakers Andy and Brbara Muschietti had to leave many vignettes from the story on the cutting room floor. Thankfully, Warner Bros. Discovery has a network (HBO) and a streaming service (Max) for that. With It: Welcome to Derry, the Muschiettis return alongside Jason Fuchs to fill in the missing gaps of Derry, Maine history and Pennywises (Bill Skarsgrd) longtime torment of its citizens. ABStar Trek: Starfleet AcademyTBD on Paramount+Since they first began with Star Trek: Discovery in 2017, CBS Star Trek streaming efforts under czar Alex Kurtzman have been hit or miss. Some titles (Strange New Worlds) have been massive creative successes while others (the aforementioned Discovery) have been kind of all over the place. Regardless of their relative quality, however, each new spinoff has something special that other TV shows just dont have: the awe-inspiring sci-fi continuity of one of televisions best-ever franchises. The latest attempt to put that continuity to good use will come with Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Set in the 32nd century, the Paramount+ series will follow the first new class of Starfleet cadets in over a century as they train to be officers. After all, todays Starfleet cadet is tomorrows Jean-Luc Picard. ABAlien: EarthTBD on FXFans of the Alien franchise who are unfamiliar with TV auteur Noah Hawleys game are about to be in for a real treat with Alien: Earth, the long-running sci-fi franchises first proper TV effort. Set two years before the events of Alien (1979), this show will deal with a discovery from the heavens that will change humanity and Earth forever. Just what will this series be like? Due to Hawleys eclectic filmography and style, its nigh impossible to say. But if its anything like fellow movie adaptation Fargo or comic book headscratcher Legion, then it should be a hell of a fun ride. ABThe Last of Us Season 2TBD on HBO and MaxThe first season of The Last of Us was a near perfect season of TV and an impeccable video game adaptation, and luckily theres even more of this drama coming to our screens in 2025. After adapting the first game and its DLC from start to finish, The Last of Us is moving on to the second game in the series. As fans of the games know, this next chapter is even more emotionally devastating than the last (in the best possible way), and we cant wait to see how the show translates this story and balances the games two protagonists, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), as their journey intertwines and they both discover what it means to deal with love and loss during the apocalypse. Humanity may have fallen victim to a fungal parasite that turns people into zombies, but the real danger to our survival might just be each other and how far were willing to go for the ones we love. BA

Dec 23, 2024Ravie LakshmananGDPR / Data PrivacyItaly's data protection authority has fined ChatGPT maker OpenAI a fine of 15 million ($15.66 million) over how the generative artificial intelligence application handles personal data.The fine comes nearly a year after the Garante found that ChatGPT processed users' information to train its service in violation of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).The authority said OpenAI did not notify it of a security breach that took place in March 2023, and that it processed the personal information of users to train ChatGPT without having an adequate legal basis to do so. It also accused the company of going against the principle of transparency and related information obligations toward users."Furthermore, OpenAI has not provided for mechanisms for age verification, which could lead to the risk of exposing children under 13 to inappropriate responses with respect to their degree of development and self-awareness," the Garante said.Besides levying a 15 million fine, the company has been ordered to carry out a six-month-long communication campaign on radio, television, newspapers, and the internet to promote public understanding of how ChatGPT works.This specifically includes the nature of data collected, both user and non-user information, for the purpose of training its models, and the rights that users can exercise to object, rectify, or delete that data."Through this communication campaign, users and non-users of ChatGPT will have to be made aware of how to oppose generative artificial intelligence being trained with their personal data and thus be effectively enabled to exercise their rights under the GDPR," the Garante added.Italy was the first country to impose a temporary ban on ChatGPT in late March 2023, citing data protection concerns. Nearly a month later, access to ChatGPT was reinstated after the company addressed the issues raised by the Garante.In a statement shared with the Associated Press, OpenAI called the decision disproportionate and that it intends to appeal, stating the fine is nearly 20 times the revenue it made in Italy during the time period. It further said it's committed to offering beneficial artificial intelligence that abides by users' privacy rights.The ruling also follows an opinion from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) that an AI model that unlawfully processes personal data but is subsequently anonymized prior to deployment does not constitute a violation of GDPR."If it can be demonstrated that the subsequent operation of the AI model does not entail the processing of personal data, the EDPB considers that the GDPR would not apply," the Board said. "Hence, the unlawfulness of the initial processing should not impact the subsequent operation of the model.""Further, the EDPB considers that, when controllers subsequently process personal data collected during the deployment phase, after the model has been anonymised, the GDPR would apply in relation to these processing operations."Earlier this month, the Board also published guidelines on handling data transfers outside non-European countries in a manner that complies with GDPR. The guidelines are subject to public consultation until January 27, 2025."Judgements or decisions from third countries authorities cannot automatically be recognised or enforced in Europe," it said. "If an organisation replies to a request for personal data from a third country authority, this data flow constitutes a transfer and the GDPR applies."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Looking for the most recent Strands answer?Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Connections puzzles.Today'sStrandspuzzle might make you hungry. There's a tasty batch of holiday flavors that all kind of sound like Starbucks offerings. Today's Strands puzzle wasn't too tough, but if you need more hints and answers, read on. Also, I go into depth about therules for Strands in this story.If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more:NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So FarHint for today's Strands puzzleToday's Strands theme is:Pass the eggnog.If that doesn't help you, here's a clue: Timely tastes.Clue words to unlock in-game hintsYour goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:HOLIDAY, BINE, CANE, ROOM, MOOR, READ, BERRY, GINGER, BREAD, COOT, MINT, PEPPERAnswers for today's Strands puzzleThese are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you've got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:COCOA, CRANBERRY, GINGERBREAD, PEPPERMINTToday's Strands spangramToday's Strands spangram isHOLIDAYFLAVOR.To find it, start with the H that's the first letter in the top row, and wind down and over, staying close to the top of the letter grid. The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Dec. 23, 2024. NYT/Screenshot by CNET

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer?Click here for today's Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections and Strands puzzles.Today's New York TimesWordleanswer describes a place where some people like to go, especially in winter, to warm up. It is not e place I would ever choose to go, but to each their own. (I'll take a hot tub any day.) The word itself has three vowels, and one is repeated, so it could be a stumper. If you need hints and answers, read on. Today's Wordle hints Before we show you today'sWordleanswer, we'll give you some hints. If you don't want a spoiler, look away now.Wordle hint No. 1: RepeatsToday's Wordle answer has one repeated letter.Wordle hint No. 2: VowelsThere are two different vowels in today's Wordle answer, but one of them is repeated, so you'll see three vowels total.Wordle hint No. 3: EndingToday's Wordle answer ends with a vowel.Wordle hint No. 4: First letterToday's Wordle answer begins with the letter S.Wordle hint No. 5: MeaningToday's Wordle answer can refer to a small room used as a hot-air or steam bath.TODAY'S WORDLE ANSWERToday's Wordle answer is SAUNA.Yesterday's Wordle answerYesterday's Wordle answer, Dec. 22, No. 1282, was BRAWN.Recent Wordle answersDec. 18, No. 1278: HEFTYDec. 19, No. 1279: STRAYDec. 20, No. 1280: FLASHDec. 21, No. 1281: BLADE

Days after furloughing dozens of its employees without pay, EV startup Canoo told the remainder of its staff they will be on a mandatory unpaid break through at least the end of the year, TechCrunch reported Friday. A company email seen by the outlet said employees would be locked out of Canoos systems by the end of Friday, with their benefits continuing through the end of this month.The report follows Canoos announcement last week that it was idling its Oklahoma factories and furloughing employees while it worked to finalize securing the capital necessary to move forward with its operations. As TechCrunch notes, the company reported that it had only about $700,000 left in the bank last month.Also on Friday, the company announced a 1-for-20 reverse stock split, effective December 24th. Canoo says the consolidation aims to keep its stock listed on the Nasdaq exchange and attract a broader group of institutional and retail investors.Canoo was founded in 2017 to sell electric vans and trucks to adventure-seeking customers but has mostly only ever made vehicles for the US government. As The Verges Andrew Hawkins wrote last year, analysts have warned of its risk of insolvency as its teetered on the edge of running out of cash since 2022. Canoo has lost a steady stream of executives since then, including all of its founders and, more recently, its CFO and general counsel.

Elon Musks AI company, xAI, is testing out a standalone iOS app for its chatbot, Grok, which was available only to X users until now.The app, currently live in Australia and a few countries in beta, can access real-time data from the web and X, and offers generative AI features like rewriting text, summarizing long paragraphs, a little bit of Q&A, and can generate images from text prompts, too. Grok is an AI-powered assistant designed to be maximally truthful, useful, and curious. Get answers to any question, generate striking images, and upload pictures to gain a deeper understanding of your world, the listing reads.xAI is also preparing a dedicated site, Grok.com, to make the chatbot accessible on the web. Currently, the site says coming soon when you log in with an xAI account.Grok was available only to Xs paying subscribers until recently. In November, the company started testing a free version of the chatbot, and rolled it out to all users earlier this month.The company says its chatbots image generator model excels at photorealistic rendering, and doesnt apply major restrictions on its image-generation capabilities, allowing users to create images using pictures of public figures and copyrighted material.

In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary visual effects of Universal Pictures Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu. As a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the film not only tells the origin story of Elphaba and Glindatwo witches whose lives take drastically different pathsbut also transports audiences to a vividly reimagined Oz.Join us as we discuss the VFX that brings Ozs animals, spellbinding magic, and the stunning world of Shiz University to life. We break down the challenges of creating the films effects for pivotal scenes, such as the gravity-defying flight sequences and the Wizards grand, mechanical illusions. Plus, we discuss how the visual effects team balanced fantastical elements with the emotional core of the story, ensuring the magic of Oz feels both epic and personal.In this VFXShow, we discuss and review the film, but later this week, we will also post our interview with Wickeds VFX supervisor, Pablo Helman.Dont forget to subscribe to both the VFXShow and the fxpodcast to get both of our most popular podcasts.This week in OZ:Matt Lion Wallin * @mattwallin www.mattwallin.com.Follow Matt on Mastodon: @[emailprotected]Jason Scarecrow Diamond @jasondiamond www.thediamondbros.comMike Tin Man Seymour @mikeseymour. www.fxguide.com. + @mikeseymourSpecial thanks to Matt Wallin for the editing & production of the show with help from Jim Shen.

Conor McGregor (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesConor McGregor sent a stern message to DAZN on social media during the networks stream of BKFC: Hollywood.According to McGregor, DAZN, the streaming partner for BKFC, wasnt giving the winner of the events fights an interview opportunity.An angry McGregor took to X and posted this ultimatum or threat.He doubled down after the initial post and tagged several official DAZN accounts.McGregor is part-owner, but he may not have the power to pull BKFC from its contract with DAZN. BKFC was founded and is still owned by David Feldman, and if the promotion is under contract with DAZN, its probable that no one could simply make the decision to pull the product from the service.MORE FOR YOUMcGregor infamously fired Platinum Mike Perry in July after he lost to Jake Paul in a boxing match. That decision doesnt appear to have stuck considering Perry was in the BKFC ring on Saturday night calling out former UFC champion Robbie Lawler.Surprisingly, Feldman wasnt asked about McGregors comments during the post-event presser.However, McGregors complaints may still draw some negative attention to the broadcast. BKFC is making some noteworthy moves in combat sports. A massive $25 million tournament is in the works and Feldman mentioned a huge acquisition that he will be announcing shortly.According to Feldman, its going to change combat sports.The distribution that DAZN provides is key to BKFCs continued advancement. While most have become accustomed and perhaps even oblivious to McGregors online rants, openly criticizing a business partner is a little dicey.McGregor knows the importance of mic time for combat sports athletes. He has accomplished just as much to help establish his personas with the mic as he did in the Octagon.McGregor wants to give the fighters under the BKFC umbrella an opportunity to make themselves household names. They need interview time to accomplish that goal. Perhaps the broadcast will be restructured moving forward to allow at least some of the winners an opportunity to connect with the combat sports universe following a win,Here are the result of BKFC: Hollywood along with the performance bonuses that were awarded.BKFC on DAZN: Hollywood ResultsMike Richman def. Jared Warren via KO in Round 1 (0:44) - KO of the NightWins BKFC World Light-Heavyweight TitleChristine Ferea def. Christine Vicens via TKO in Round 4 (1:22) - Fight of the NightDefends BKFC World Womens Flyweight TitleLeonardo Perdomo def. Levi Costa via KO in Round 1 (0:47) - Performance BonusBryan Duran - def. Kasim Ruffin via TKO in Round 1 (1:59) - Performance BonusGee Perez def. Cary Caprio via TKO in Round 1 (0:44)Justin Ibarrola def. Derek Perez via TKO in Round 2 (1:04)Edgard Plazaola def. Alex Castro via KO in Round 4 (1:25)Sabah Homasi def. Eduardo Peralta via KO in Round 2 (1:02)Tyler Randall def. Austin Lewis via KO in Round 1 (1:46)Francesco Ricchi def. Blake LaCaze via Unanimous Decision (50-43x2, 48-45)Brock Walker def. Chino Bloom via KO in Round 4 (1:04)