Happy New Year! Yep, it is again that time when the culture wakes back to life, groggily wiping away the mist left by another long (and hopefully restful) holiday season. Yet if youre in the awards season game, either as a voter, prognosticator, or (Thalberg help you) a hopeful for nomination, its been anything but quiet. In fact, Oscars buzz has been burning bright for months and is now about to grow into a roaring fire.As miraculous as it sounds, the Golden Globes have survived their PR nightmares of a few years ago and are back to their weekend night perch as the first major televised awards show of the New Yearthis Sunday night, actually. The Critics Choice Awards follow shortly thereafter next week, and then comes the deluge of all the others: SAGs, PGAs, DGAs, BAFTAs, and more! All of them of course are building, inevitably, to the big one. Oscar night, which this year falls on March 2, 2025.And as ever, Oscar season comes with a whole new slate of films you might need to be reminded ofor encouraged to catch up on. So while it is still wildly early to make predictions about who will definitely win the big prizes, we at least have a decent idea of who is in contention, or even contending to become in contention. We have thus assembled 20 films for your perusal below. Theyre ranked in order of those most likely to be nominated for Best Picture, although in each section well note where else they might be most competitive for Oscar gold. In other words: Best Picture frontrunners are at the top, but most will have an opportunity somewhere else in the cycleA24The BrutalistIt was difficult picking which movie to begin this list with because unlike last years Oppenheimer juggernaut, there is no clear cut frontrunner. In fact, we suspect this is the most open the Best Picture race has been since CODA took home the Oscars top prize three years ago (more on that comparison in a moment). Still, in a relatively wide open field, the best place to begin is probably with the presumed frontrunner for Best Picture: Brady Corbets pensive and mournful The Brutalist.An epic that runs at three and a half hours in length when you tack on the intermission, The Brutalist is a throwback to type of monumental Hollywood moviemaking that filled roadshows back in the mid-20th century which is all the more astonishing when you know Corbet made this for indie studio A24 on a budget of about $10 million (it turns out your dollar goes a lot further when you film in Hungary and just say its Connecticut!). That old-fashioned sense of scale and stately grandeur will appeal to the Academy, as will the subject matter. This is a Jewish American immigrant story following an architect (Adrien Brody), who attempts to start again in New York City and thereabouts after surviving the death camps of the Holocaust.But while the concept might appeal to Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences, the movies fairly bleak and ultimately cynical view of Americas ability to assimilate and embrace immigrants will not. Admittedly, that sense of fatalism might appeal to the current political climate, but traditionally Oscar voters have preferred films that champion and seek to lift up the human experience, particularly when mythologizing Americas own contributions to it. Decrying the capitalistic lie in that myth might win over critics, with The Brutalist being already declared Best Picture by the New York Film Critics Circle, but the AMPAS is not the NYFCC.The films ultimately romantic views on the power of artistic achievement and legacy will speak to the Academy, still we we think the film is too heavy (and long) to win the top prize. With that said, expect Brody to be the real frontrunner in Best Actor, as well as Brady Corbet being able to plausibly take home Best Director even while missing Picture. Guy Pearce should also land a Best Supporting Actor nod, Felicity Jones maybe also showing up in Best Supporting Actress, and the movie doing well in Best Cinematography and Film Editing nominations.Focus FeaturesConclaveIf The Brutalist is the presumed Best Picture frontrunner on New Years Day 2025, then Conclave is the one I personally feel has, at this point, the momentum and narrative to triumph with Academy voters. A straight down the middle political thriller with the tantalizing wrinkle of being set during the highly secretive (and highly fictionalized) election of a new pope, Focus Features and director Edward Bergers ConclaveStarring Ralph Fiennes as a priest wracked with doubt (is there any other kind at the movies?), his Father Lawrence is forced to oversee a conclave of cardinals as they select the next pontiff in Vatican City. Conclave is a movie about faith, but also raw power, and its easy to see any 21st century political struggle between progressivism and reactionary conservatism in this films depiction of squabbling white collars, egos, and, above all, men.Its also a crowdpleaser that won over audiences at every festival it played at. Admittedly, it didnt win the top prize in Venice, but now on the other side of a brutal U.S. election, we suspect Conclaves highly implausible but entertaining melodrama now looks like wish fulfillment. That is important during moments of anxiety. Recall that the CODA won Best Picture at the tail end of the COVID crisis, triumphing over critical darling The Power of the Dog, another highly regarded but misanthropic film that won Best Picture with the NYFCC, the CCAs, and a slew of other critics groups, but got shut out at the Oscars beyond Jane Campion for Best Director. Meanwhile the Best Picture category rewards consensus on second or even third picks by way of the preferential ballot voting system. In other words, Conclave could win by being a lot of folks second choice.Beyond Best Picture, expect Ralph Fiennes to be Brodys biggest competition in Best Actor, and Peter Straughans adaptation of the Robert Harris novel to be a slam dunk in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. Isabella Rossellini will definitely be nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Stanley Tucci might be nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and the film should also pick up a number of technical nominations, including nods for cinematography and production design.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!NetflixEmilia PrezWe suspect Film Twitters new sworn enemy will find plenty of friends come the morning of Oscar nominations. Aye, this daring, galaxy-brained swing of a musical about a Mexican drug cartel leader transitioning into a woman with a greater sense of hope and empathy transgresses a lot of lines. Its also ticked off plenty of social media users. But it is still a genuinely one-of-a-kind original that lands its high emotions for viewers who tend to skew older, European, and/or not terminally online.Emilia Prez has already won the coveted Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as seen its quartet of lead female performances, including Karla Sofa Gascn as the renamed Emilia Prez and Zoe Saldana as her lawyer of flexible morality, win Best Actress at that festival. We suspect the pictures audacity and sentimentality will likewise win over Oscar voters perhaps even enough for Best Picture, although the fact the film was released on Netflix (with a token theatrical window to qualify at the Oscars) will be a handicap, as might some cries of the film not being progressive in the right way. But then that hardly stopped the far more problematic and actually antiquated Green BookAlso expect to see Gascn be nominated for Best Actress and Saldana to likely win for Best Supporting Actress, even though she definitely is giving a co-lead performance. Jacques Audiard will almost be certainly nominated for Best Director and probably for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well. It should dominate in the Original Songs category.NEONAnoraSome folks will tell you Anora is the real frontrunner this year. After all, it won the other, even more prestigious big prize at Cannes and became the first American movie to take home the Palme dOr in over a decade. Id like to believe them since I count Anora as my second favorite movie of the year. But the films frank and candid exploration of the life of a sex worker is always going to be a tough sell for a certain, aging segment of the Academys voting body.Truly though, Anora is terrific. Writer-director Sean Baker crafts a unique character study that is also a stealth screwball comedy with untold depths beneath the laughs. Its made a star out of Mikey Madison, who arguably gives the best performance of the year as Ani Anora Mikheeva, a sex worker from deep Brooklyn with the accent and attitude to match. So theres a decent chance that I am not giving the Academy enough credit. Maybe they are hip enough to award Anora Best Pictureat this point in 2020, I was still skeptical about them getting past the foreign language thing with Parasitebut too many more conventional-minded viewers are likely to turn off their screeners in the first 20 minutes before getting to the much richer allegory at play about class and exploitation.Still, Madison is the one to beat in the Best Actress race, and as with Corbet, Sean Baker could excel in the Best Director race where voting is not done by preferential ballot. Anora will also be neck and neck with another film further down on this list for Best Original Screenplay. And hopefully, Yura Borisov will surprise folks and fight his way into a Best Supporting Actor nomination.Universal PicturesWickedFinally rounding out the real Best Picture frontrunners that have a real shot at winning Best Picture is this years populist pick, and boy if it isnt a high-flying one. Jon M. Chus WickedWicked raises the question of whether this is the year they give Best Picture to a movie most audiences saw?To be fair, they kind of did that last year with Oppenheimer, but that was also a brooding, three-hour historical drama about World War II and supposed great men doing terrible things. Wicked, by contrast, is a big earnest-hearted, goofy-grinning toe-tapper about the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. But not that long ago, musicals were winning Best Picture, and this one has an unintended but nonetheless potent political punch after last years election. Oscar winner and Academy favorite Adam McKay has even given permission to others to take the films messaging seriously by calling it one of the most radical big studio Hollywood movies ever made.It also boasts a barn-burning performance by Cynthia Erivo, which should earn her a Best Actress nomination. Ariana Grande likewise looks like a lock in the Best Supporting Actress race, with the multi-talented pop star being the biggest threat to Saldana in winning the trophy. It will also do well in technical categories like Best Hair and Makeup, Costumes, and Production Design.WBDune: Part TwoTiming is a strange thing. When Dune: Part One was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director, some quarters speculated it could be a covert dark horse. Most, however, favored the assumption that like with Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Academy would honor the achievement of conquering an unadaptable genre novel after the filmmaker stuck the landing. But here we are three years later, and Denis Villeneuve stuck the landing with a Part Two most consider even better than the first film (including us!) but all the populist momentum has shifted to Wicked.Part of that might be snobberywith many Academy voters only wanting to allow one blockbuster as a serious contender for the top prizeand part of that is probably recency bias, with Dune: Part Two opening way back during the last Oscar season in March and Wicked debuting over the Thanksgiving holiday. Whatever the case, while Dune: Part Two will almost certainly be nominated for Best Picture, Villeneuve looks like a dark horse for even getting a Best Director nod, and Chalamet is going to be nominated for another movie (though personally, we think he was far better as MuadDib). Also wheres the love for Austin Butlers wicked work as an evil space albino Commodus? The movie should still at least do well in technical categories like Best Film Editing, Production Design, Costumes, Cinematography, and Visual Effects.Searchlight PicturesA Complete UnknownWhile some critics, including this one, had issues with the formulaic qualities at work in the Bob Dylan biopic, it is still largely well-received by reviewers and celebrated by audiences. James Mangolds ode to the voice of a generation earned the coveted A CinemaScore and is doing good business for a mid-budget prestige film from a studios speciality label, in this case Disneys Searchlight Pictures.All of which paints the picture of a successful crowdpleaser that honors a Boomer icon, aka an idol to the Academys largest generational voting bloc. Its getting into Best Picture and possibly Best Adapted Screenplay, even if it wont win either prize. Timothe Chalamet should also pick up another Best Actor nomination while Monica Barbaro has a decent chance of getting into the Best Supporting Actress race for her turn as Joan Biaz.Searchlight PicturesA Real PainSimply a very poignant dramedy and character study about two brothers on a fateful, if not necessarily life-altering, holiday in Europe, A Real Pain is the kind of quiet and sophisticated character work that appeals to the Academy. It makes you laugh, maybe cry, and is easily accessible for mainstream audiences, provided they ever give it a chance.That poignancy makes it highly competitive in our estimation for getting into the bottom five of the Best Picture race. Jesse Eisenbergs direction of longtime friend Kieran Culkin will also probably result in Culkin winning Best Supporting Actor. We also think Eisenbergs work as a writer on A Real Pain is Anoras biggest completion in the Best Original Screenplay category.Paramount PicturesSeptember 5Another smaller film that could theoretically play well to most audiences, and definitely the Academy, is Tim Fehlbaums breathless thriller September 5. Set during the 1972 Summer Olympics terrorist crisis in Munich, Germany, where Israeli athletes were taken hostage and ultimately murdered by a terrorist group, September 5 drops you into a narrow prism of the nightmare: the ABC Sports newsroom that inadvertently ended up covering the breaking news in real time.Ultimately as much as parable for all the ethical, moral, and legal challenges that would confront (and some might say cloud) news organizations in the 50 years that followed, September 5 is a brutally effective 95-minute teeth-gnasher which emulates the fly-on-the-wall quality of some of the 1970s best films, many of them directed by Sidney Lumet and William Friedkin. Were willing to wager it gets into Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and perhaps Best Film Editing.A24Sing SingIf you are keeping count, you might notice we have reached the 10th entry on this list. Only 10 films can be nominated for Best Picture, which means we suspect this one (as well as probably the one or two above it) are on the bubble. And in the case of Sing Sing that is a shame, because it really is one of the three best movies of the year in my estimation, and an absolutely ebullient film.Inspired by the real theater program enacted at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, and populated with former inmates now acting in this movie, Greg Kwedars Sing Sing is a tribute to the resilience of the soul, as well as the power of the arts to feed and even heal it. It treats its characters with empathy, honesty, and humanity, and also provides star Colman Domingo with the opportunity to create one of the most textured and beautiful performances of this decade. He should win Best Actor. Hell at least be nominated in that race though, and perhaps could still upset Brody and/or Fiennes. Meanwhile Clarence Maclin could get into the Best Supporting Actor shortlist.MUBIThe SubstanceAnother of my personal top five films on the bubble is The Substance, writer-director Coralie Fargeats blistering and delightful body horror satire of the expectations placed on womenespecially those of a certain age and in certain industries. Say, for instance, Demi Moore, who in The Substance plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a former Oscar winner and current daytime television personality who cannot even hang onto that gig when her boss (Dennis Quaid) finds out she just turned 50. But salvation (or damnation?) might arrive in the mail and at the bottom of a magic bottle containing a substance that allows Elisabeth to birth H.R. Giger-style a younger, more nubile version of herself (Margaret Qualley).The metaphor is not subtle, nor does it need to be. It is however perversely amusing as Moores Elisabeth and Qualleys Sue slowly vie for dominance while time-sharing the same life, and both quickly see things descend into a queasy, blood-soaked fantasia. Its one of the best movies of the year, and one of the bigger indie hits to boot. Alas, it is also a horror movie, so count us among those skeptical about the Academy giving The Substance its due in the Best Picture race. Even so, Fargeat will be nominated for Best Original Screenplay, and Moore and Qualley hold outside chances of getting in to Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. And its definitely the frontrunner for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.Amazon MGM StudiosNickel BoysAnd here is yet another bubble film I consider one of the bestor in this case the bestmovie of the year. RaMell Ross Nickel Boys is a groundbreaking masterpiece that tackles perception, race, and even how to use the camera in American cinema. You probably have heard about the premise of the movie being told mostly from the POV of two Black teenagers in at Nickel Academy, a fictionalized reform school based on the real-life horror show of the Dozier School for Boys in Florida. But this technique is more than just a gimmick. In Nickel Boys, switching between the eyes of young Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson) becomes an immersive innovation that places you in the characters shoes and limited brushes with grace and injustice in 1960s America. The narrative becomes as slippery and haunting as childhood memories 40 years after the fact.It is a beautiful film that should be a frontrunner for Best Picture and Best Director. And to be fair, it could get into both races, but we suspect it will just miss out. Still, its definitely getting into Best Adapted Screenplay and, if theres any justice, Best Cinematography.NEONThe Seed of the Sacred FigAnother bubble film, and one were pretty confident will just miss out, is Mohammad Rasoulofs gripping political thriller, The Seed of the Sacred Fig. Set in Tehran and following an investigating judge and member of the Revolutionary Court who is tasked with facing political unrest and protests after the death of a young woman in the custody of the governments morality police, Seed stares into the abyss of real-life repression and the tools abused by authority. We imagine it will be a frontrunner in the Best International Film category as well, although it will be facing off Emilia Prez there. It also has a dark horse chance at getting into that coveted fifth spot for Best Original Screenplay.Paramount PicturesGladiator IIRidley Scott is a legend with definitely his share of boosters in the AcademyChristopher Nolan prominently among thembut while Gladiator II was a solid hit and expansion on Scotts Best Picture Oscar winner from 25 years ago, it is generally recognized as a step down from that 2000 films grandeur and heavy-hitting emotionality. Even so, Denzel Washington is a shoo-in for a Best Supporting Actor nomination. He might even be a dark horse candidate to beat Culkin. The film will also likely be nominated for Production Design, Costumes, and Visual Effects.Focus FeaturesNosferatuRobert Eggers formidable and foreboding films are an acquired taste. Their deliberate pacing and obsession with historical fidelity creates unique feats of period immersion, but theyre not for everyone. It seems this perhaps includes the Academy, which snubbed even the obvious technical achievements in The Lighthouse and The Northman.Thus the element probably most in Nosferatus favor is that it turned out to be an over-performing mega hit for a middle-budgeted, adult-oriented Christmas release. The film is doing amazing business. That could move the needle, and personally wed love to see it. But alas, we dont think that will push Nosferatu out of the technical categories due to a continued snobbery toward the horror genreespecially in a year where the Academy is already considering lowering itself to nominate The Substance. To date, there have only been six horror films nominated for Best Picture, the last in 2018 (Get Out), and never two in a single year. In that vein, serious considerations for Picture, Directing, and Best Actress are probably out. Sigh. Still, expect the film to have a good chance of being nominated for Best Costume Design, Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, and Cinematography. Of course it should win Cinematography, but that is a whole other discussionRead more NetflixMariaPablo Larrans heartfelt if reserved Mariaa biographical film about legendary opera singer Maria Callasalso has little chance of getting a Best Picture nomination, but star Angelina Jolie is a strong contender to be nominated for Best Actress (although it is not guaranteed). The film will also probably be nominated for Best Costume Design and maybe Best Cinematography.Amazon MGM StudiosChallengersAbout 25 or 30 years ago, Challengers would have been the type of movie that would be a lock for a Best Picture nod. Its a thrilling, propulsive middle-brow drama with charismatic, good looking people getting meaty lines to chew on in a genuine crowdpleaser that made money. Its inability to even be on the bubble is perhaps an indictment of modern Academy instincts. Luca Guadagninos frothy spectacle should at least possibly be nominated for Best Film Editing and Best Score, two categories where in a better world itd be a frontrunner. It also has an outside, if remote, chance of snagging a Best Original Screenplay nomination.StudioCanalHard TruthsMike Leighs bittersweet character study of a depressed, middle-aged woman navigating (or sinking) her relationships with family and friends can be a hard if rewarding watch. It also is built entirely around a haymaker performance by Marianne Jean-Baptiste as the woman in question. Some critics are calling it the best performance of the year, but shes on the bubble of getting in for Best Actress, with the fourth and fifth spots in that category coming down to Jean-Baptiste, Jolie, Moore, and Nicole Kidman for a film further down on this list. Hard Truths is similarly on the bubble for a Best Original Screenplay nod.A24BabygirlHalina Reijns throwback to 1980s erotic thrillers turned out to be probably too earnest in its desire of mimicking the lurid thrills of its influences, albeit from a distinctly feminine point-of-view. Still, Nicole Kidman gives a fearless performance as a successful and happily married CEO who still finds herself drawn into a sordid affair with an intern only too eager to play her dominant (Harris Dickinson). Kidman is also a favorite of the acting wing of the Academy (and everyone else, really), so she might get into the fifth Best Actress spot.A24QueerLuca Guadagninos other frothy 2024 film is a lot less mainstream and easy-to-please as Challengers. It is, after all, based on a William S. Burroughs novel. The film, however, does feature a gregarious performance by Daniel Craig as William S. Burroughs in all but name. He plays an American ex-pat writer in Mexico who is bored, bitter, and all too ready to become enamored with a much younger man. Craig will likely get nominated for Best Actor, but probably not much else for this one.

Apple Fitness+ today announced a slew of new content to kick off the year, as well as a new integration with the popular social fitness app Strava. Fitness+ users will now be able to easily share their completed workout sessions to Strava, with rich details like episode image, music genre, and metrics. Strava subscribers will also be able to redeem a free trial of Fitness+.Apple says Fitness+ offers the largest library of 4K fitness and wellness content in the world, with more than 6,500 workouts and meditations across twelve workout types.New content for 2025 includes new programs for progressive strength training, and a conditioning program for pickleball. The new strength training program guides users through the process of building and maintaining their strength, with a three week program that addresses every major muscle group. The program is composed of twelve 30 minute workouts.The pickleball-centered program is presented by pickleball champion Catherine Parenteau. The workout revolves around strength, endurance and agility exercises. Theres also a new Yoga Peak Poses series, helping users build confidence with yoga in intimate sessions, with each video focused on a particular pose. A new Introduction to Breath Meditation program also guides users to manage stress, boost energy and improve focus, with a range of breathing exercises. The Artist Spotlight series continues this year, with music playlists featuring Janet Jackson, Coldplay, Bruno Mars and more. New episodes of Time to Walk will start on January 13, with Severance star Adam Scott featuring in the first episode. Later episodes will feature Steve Aoki, Tiffany Haddish, Rita Ora and others.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The Chinese government forced Apple to remove VPN apps from the App Store there way back in 2017, and the company is now having to do the same in India.So far, a small number of VPN apps have been removed to comply with an anti-privacy law barring anonymous use, but many more are likely to follow Hundreds of VPN apps removed in ChinaThe Chinese government has long banned the use of VPN apps, which many of its citizens used to avoid government surveillance of their online activities.Back in 2017, Apple was forced to remove hundreds of VPN apps from the Chinese App Store, with CEO Tim Cook saying at the time that the company had to reluctantly comply with the law.We would obviously rather not remove the apps, but like we do in other countries, we follow the law wherever we do business. We strongly believe in participating in markets and bringing benefits to customers. Were hopeful that over time the restrictions we are seeing are loosened.First VPN apps removed in IndiaIndia introduced a new law back in 2022, which effectively banned the anonymous use of VPNs, as well as outlawing services like NordVPN that keep no logs of customer activity.Implementation was delayed after numerous objections, and was then introduced but not enforced. However, enforcement has now begun, TechCrunch reporting that Apple has begun removing VPN apps from the Indian App Store.The rules mandate that VPN providers and cloud service operators maintain comprehensive records of their customers, including names, addresses, IP addresses and transaction histories, for a five-year period.More than half-a-dozen VPN apps, including Cloudflares widely-used 1.1.1.1, have been pulled from Indias Apple App Store and Google Play Store following intervention from government authorities, TechCrunch has learned.The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs issued removal orders for the apps, according to a document reviewed by TechCrunch and a disclosure made by Google to Lumen,Harvard Universitys database that tracks government takedown requests globally.It seems the government is identifying non-compliant apps individually, so the process is likely to be a long drawn-out one, but the end result is likely to be similar to China, with hundreds of apps removed. No respectable VPN app is going to comply with this law.9to5Macs TakeThis is obviously at odds with Apples privacy values, but the company is in a no-win situation. It has to comply with local laws in each of the countries in which it operates, even in the case of regressive legislation by repressive governments.While it could in theory take the moral high ground and pull out of these markets, China is its primary manufacturing hub, and India has evolved to become its second-largest production center, meaning that simply isnt a practical option. Photo byChris YangonUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Cybersecurity researchers have shed light on a new jailbreak technique that could be used to get past a large language model's (LLM) safety guardrails and produce potentially harmful or malicious responses.The multi-turn (aka many-shot) attack strategy has been codenamed Bad Likert Judge by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 researchers Yongzhe Huang, Yang Ji, Wenjun Hu, Jay Chen, Akshata Rao, and Danny Tsechansky."The technique asks the target LLM to act as a judge scoring the harmfulness of a given response using the Likert scale, a rating scale measuring a respondent's agreement or disagreement with a statement," the Unit 42 team said."It then asks the LLM to generate responses that contain examples that align with the scales. The example that has the highest Likert scale can potentially contain the harmful content."The explosion in popularity of artificial intelligence in recent years has also led to a new class of security exploits called prompt injection that is expressly designed to cause a machine learning model to ignore its intended behavior by passing specially crafted instructions (i.e., prompts).One specific type of prompt injection is an attack method dubbed many-shot jailbreaking, which leverages the LLM's long context window and attention to craft a series of prompts that gradually nudge the LLM to produce a malicious response without triggering its internal protections. Some examples of this technique include Crescendo and Deceptive Delight.The latest approach demonstrated by Unit 42 entails employing the LLM as a judge to assess the harmfulness of a given response using the Likert psychometric scale, and then asking the model to provide different responses corresponding to the various scores.In tests conducted across a wide range of categories against six state-of-the-art text-generation LLMs from Amazon Web Services, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and NVIDIA revealed that the technique can increase the attack success rate (ASR) by more than 60% compared to plain attack prompts on average.These categories include hate, harassment, self-harm, sexual content, indiscriminate weapons, illegal activities, malware generation, and system prompt leakage."By leveraging the LLM's understanding of harmful content and its ability to evaluate responses, this technique can significantly increase the chances of successfully bypassing the model's safety guardrails," the researchers said."The results show that content filters can reduce the ASR by an average of 89.2 percentage points across all tested models. This indicates the critical role of implementing comprehensive content filtering as a best practice when deploying LLMs in real-world applications."The development comes days after a report from The Guardian revealed that OpenAI's ChatGPT search tool could be deceived into generating completely misleading summaries by asking it to summarize web pages that contain hidden content."These techniques can be used maliciously, for example to cause ChatGPT to return a positive assessment of a product despite negative reviews on the same page," the U.K. newspaper said."The simple inclusion of hidden text by third-parties without instructions can also be used to ensure a positive assessment, with one test including extremely positive fake reviews which influenced the summary returned by ChatGPT."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.

Derek Bentley, Partner and Head of Energy Transition, Solomon PartnersJanuary 3, 20254 Min ReadRazvan Ionut Dragomirescu via Alamy StockTwo generational megatrends are colliding and, without bipartisan collaboration and partnerships among public and private entities, the fallout could have catastrophic economic and social implications.The transition to clean energy is one of our centurys great societal megatrends. Global investment in clean energy infrastructure is on track to hit $2 trillion this year, approximately twice the worldwide investment in fossil fuels but still short of the $4.5 trillion per year needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the most extreme effects of climate change.A second generational megatrend is complicating the energy transition: The sudden and meteoric rise of artificial intelligencehas led to a surge in demand for electricity. Grid operators are expecting electricity demand to increase by 40% to 100% by 2030, largely driven by data centers associated with AI, and this degree of growth is unprecedented since power grids were established nearly 150 years ago.The intersection of energy and AI will reshape both industries, but, currently, no single technology can fill the substantial gap between demand and supply. Solutions will require collaboration across the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Justice, utilities, grid operators, state and local agencies, as well as the private sector.Related:Power-Hungry AIA ChatGPT AI query uses about 10 times more energy than a Google search. The force behind AI -- the hyperscalers -- have aggressive decarbonization targets. However, most AI computing requires consistent power that naturally intermittent renewable power generation cannot provide.Without enough consistent power generation to meet data center demand, the US risks falling behind in the global AI race. That would be catastrophic on several fronts: from ceding economic growth and productivity gains; to jeopardizing national security; to conceding the leadership position that would allow a nation to shape global standards and steer the overall direction of AIs development and deployment.Pressure on the GridWith unprecedented levels of new demand, grid operators are increasingly concerned about their ability to provide the power generation that data centers need while also maintaining grid reliability, especially while decarbonizing the broader energy mix.Consider Loudoun County, Virginia, where over 35% of hyperscaler data centers are located -- and where Dominion Energy has seen a 500% increase in power demand from data centers from 2013 to 2022.Dominions solar capacity has grown by more than 630% since 2015, but its 2023 Integrated Resource Plan would add up to seven new gas-powered plants, more than doubling the companys gas fleet in Virginia to maintain reliability. The plan also proposes delaying by more than a decade the closure of two existing coal-fired power plants.Related:Even with these adjustments, Dominion has been telling large purchasers that the utility wont be able to provide sufficient new power to meet demand for at least five years due to grid constraints. Keep in mind that a data center takes only about one year to build.Multiple SolutionsAnalysts estimate that the US will need to spend$665 billion through 2030on generating capacity alone, not to mention spending on transmission and grid upgrades. Europes grid, which is older, could need on the order of$1 trillionin investment.While energy storage is on a long-term trajectory to solve renewables intermittency problem, deployment remains nascent as technical performance and safety track records improve and costs decline. Small modular nuclear reactors offer another potential solution, but substantial improvements are required which many experts estimate will take 10 or more years to achieve.Related:To meet the insatiable interim appetite for carbon-free power, several previously uneconomic, decommissioned nuclear power plants -- including Three Mile Island, scene of the worst commercial nuclear accident in US history -- are slated to reopen and they still would not provide enough new power. Parties are even starting to discuss possibly building new nuclear reactors.Perhaps even more vital and beyond technological solutions, legislation must create uniform permitting processes for such large amounts of new generation and transmission to be built. Currently, these differ by state and county, which creates enormous inefficiencies and results in moving targets that are prone to change based on partisan politics.Interconnection reform is also required to enable new power generation to dispatch onto the power grid. According to POWERGRID International, interconnect timelines from making an initial request to having an operational plant have increased from less than two years for projects built in 2000-2007, to more than four years for those built in 2018-2023.Unless we advance collaborative and holistic solutions, the energy transition and AI are two megatrends thatwill continue to collide and intersect in ways that create considerable challenges.About the AuthorDerek BentleyPartner and Head of Energy Transition, Solomon PartnersDerek Bentley is a Partner and Head of Energy Transition at Solomon Partners, a leading financial advisory firm.See more from Derek BentleyNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10)We are seeking a detail-oriented and organized Data Entry Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for accurately inputting, managing, and maintaining data to ensure the smooth operation of our business processes. Key Responsibilities: - Input and update data into company systems with accuracy and efficiency. - Verify data for errors and inconsistencies and resolve discrepancies. - Maintain data integrity and confidentiality at all times. - Generate reports and summaries as required. - Collaborate with team members to improve data management processes. - Provide administrative support as needed. Qualifications Required: - High school diploma - Proven experience in data entry or a similar administrative role. - Excellent typing speed and accuracy. - Strong attention to detail and organizational skills. - Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines. - Associate degree or certification in business administration or a related field. - Previous experience in retail or customer service.

A new industrial facility in suburban Seattle is giving off a whiff of futuristic technology. It can safely treat fecal waste from people and livestock while recycling nutrients that are crucial for agriculture but in increasingly short supply across the nations farmlands. Within the 2.3-acre plant, which smells lightly of ammonia, giant rotating spindles turn steaming-hot septic sludge and biosolids from local wastewater treatment plants into what an engineer calls poop crepes. Giant scrapers then deposit the baked biomatter onto a combination conveyor belt and dryer to yield a growing pile of sterilized fertilizer. The waste-processing method uses compressed steam generated in an earlier step, cutting the electricity needed by 95%. Besides the dry fertilizer, the process yields nearly pure ammonia and water. This system, called Varcor, was designed by the Seattle engineering firm Sedron Technologies and is owned by the SanFranciscobased company Generate Upcycle. Wastewater treatment plants across the country are using high heat, composting, and devices akin to pressure cookers to transform leftover biomass into rich fertilizers, mulches, and other soil additives with names like Bloom and TAGRO (short for Tacoma Grow). Some process the wastewater in a separate step to extract phosphorusan essential plant nutrient and a common element in the human dietand layer it to form round pellets, in a technique a bit like building pearls. This technology, developed by a St. Louisbased company called Ostara, creates a slow-release fertilizer that can be sold back to farmers. We love tackling the yuck factor head-on, says the CEO of Epic Cleantec, which transforms wastewater into clean water and a natural soil additive. Even portable toilets can be vehicles for nutrient recovery, through nitrogen-capturing methods developed by peecycling groups like the Rich Earth Institute and Wasted in Vermont and by Sanitation360 AB in Sweden. Because our protein-rich diets contain abundant nitrogen, the element can be readily recycled from both urine and feces. Making fertilizer from the nutrients that we and other animals excrete has a long and colorful history; for generations it helped Indigenous cultures around the world create exceptionally fertile soil. These systems fell out of favor in Western culture, but researchers and engineers have joined advocates in reframing feces, urine, and their ingredients as invaluable natural resources to reuse instead of waste products to burn or bury. Several companies are now showing how to safely scale up the transformation with energy-efficient technologies. We love tackling the yuck factor head-on, says Aaron Tartakovsky, cofounder and CEO of Epic Cleantec, which uses a chemical reaction and heat to transform wastewater into clean water and a natural soil additive. A small sample of the truckloads of waste being transformed into dry fertilizer.BRYN NELSON A recent review in the Journal of Environmental Management, in fact, touts wastewater treatment plants as renewable biological nitrogen mines that can supply the essential but expensive component from reclaimed sewage sludge at a time when many farmers are finding it harder to obtain. Sewage can, the authors conclude, become an important raw material for the sustainable production of organic-mineral fertilizers from renewable resources available locally, with a low carbon footprint. Extracting nitrogen and phosphorus for reuse can also help remove those pollutants from the plants outflow and reduce the amount of organic matter destined for landfills and manure lagoons, which store and manage huge concentrations of livestock waste. Reinserting ourselves into natures recycling system, in other words, could help us meet the planets growing food needs without unduly fouling the environment. The Varcor system heats the incoming poop and separates it into solid matter and vapor. A process called mechanical vapor recompression allows the compressed steam to be reused as a heat source while the water and ammonia vapor are separated and distilled. The conveyor belt/dryer carries the remaining solids to the giant crepe-making spindles and then into a waiting truck below. The plant is now selling three to four truckloads of this dry fertilizer to farms every week. Stanley Janicki, chief revenue officer for Sedron Technologies, says several companies are also interested in using the ammonia product to make fertilizer instead of deriving it from fossil fuels. It could be really exciting to have a technology like this work if it can help us close the environmental loops on fertilizers and clean water access, Kimberly Worsham, founder and CEO of the sanitation and hygiene consulting agency FLUSH (an acronym for facilitated learning for universal sanitation and hygiene), says of Varcor. I love seeing new technologies coming on that can revolutionize how we use and reuse. But Worsham worries that managing such complex technology could prove unsustainable if it doesnt attract enough workers with the necessary skills. Securing regulatory permits and licenses could also pose challenges. When I look at why this has not been done before, it has very little to do with the technology, says Tartakovsky. It has everything to do with the regulatory framework. Many existing regulations, advocates say, simply never contemplated the potential for wastewater to generate useful products instead of pollutants. The water released by the Varcor plant, for example, is clean enough to be reused, but local officials are proceeding cautiously. To meet discharge regulations, the plant is sending its outflow to a nearby wastewater treatment plant instead of an adjacent wetland. Despite the challenges, the underlying technology is spreading: Two Midwestern dairies have adopted the system, and a third is working on it. Janicki says the biggest one installed, in Indiana, is five times the size of the Seattle-area septic conversion system, with the potential to convert 250 million gallons a year of cow manure into reusable water, organic fertilizer, and ammonia. The energy-efficient transformation of waste into naturally derived products could eliminate greenhouse-gas emissions from stored manure and traditional fertilizer production while offsetting the energy needed to run the farm. Waste-to-fertilizer strategies, even if scaled up, wont be enough on their own to help feed the planets burgeoning population. By viewing people as not only consumers but also producers, however, they could help us take far better advantage of some underrated natural assets that wont run dry anytime soon. Bryn Nelson is a Seattle-based science writer and the author of Flush: The Remarkable Science of an Unlikely Treasure.

Each year, about half a million Americans are diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile, a common bacterial infection of the large intestine. Only some patients respond to antibiotics. Infection recurs in about 20% of patients and proves fatal in about 30,000 cases annually. But there is a highly effective, albeit unconventional, treatment: fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which involves transplanting healthy stool into a patients gut. Although FMT is approved in many countries, access is still limited. In Europe, for example, only one in 10 patients with recurrent C. difficile is able to get FMT treatment. Access for children is especially challenging. Most banks collect samples only from adults, and transplanting them into children may cause unwanted side effects. Nikhil Pai, a pediatric gastroenterologist at McMaster Childrens Hospital and associate professor at McMaster University, is helping to change things. In 2022, he set up the first pediatric stool bank in Canada. Since then, the bank has stored more than 150 samples and completed five FMT procedures in children. Pai is collaborating with other researchers on designing oral crapsules to make treatment easier. Managing a stool bank: Pai and his colleagues take on multiple roles to keep the bank running. They recruit and screen donors, catalogue the samples, store them in a freezer at 80 C,and fundraise to keep the effort going. The bank also provides stool to researchers testing FMT as a treatment for other diseases. Theres a lot of different roles that weve taken on to be able to do this, Pai says. From donation to treatment: The bank recruits donors throughout the hospital. The healthy siblings of patients or children of hospital staff are eager to help. There is a very strong sense of citizenship that leads children to want to volunteer, he says. To ensure that their stool is healthy, donors are screened via a questionnaire and a blood test. Their stool is also tested for infectious diseases like HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and hepatitis. The bank matches each new patient with healthy stool from a donor of the same age and sex. The treatment is delivered via enema. Pai says theres an 80% success rate after one treatment and more than 90% after a second. Easing access: Pai says its crucial to fund stool banks so patients dont need to travel far for treatment. And hes hopeful that oral crapsules will make life easier for patients. Rather than needing to travel to a hospital with specialized personnel for an enema or endoscopy, they could take these like any other pill. One day, the treatment could extend to a range of other drug-resistant infections and gut diseases. Simon Spichak is a freelance science, health, and tech journalist based in Toronto.

Morning Lane residential proposals highlight conflicts between Londons housing needs and night-time economySource: Stephen Davy Peter Smith ArchitectsThe proposed developments on Morning LaneTwo proposed residential developments on Morning Lane in Hackney have highlighted the ongoing tension between the demand for urban housing and the pressures facing Londons nighttime economy. The planned schemes, located at 2 and 46 Morning Lane, have attracted criticism for their potential impact on the adjacent MOTH Club, a celebrated independent music venue.The 4-6 Morning Lane proposal, designed by Stephen Davy Peter Smith Architects, seeks to introduce a six-storey building with seven residential units a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom flats and a 55m2 retail unit at ground level. The adjacent 2 Morning Lane development, by the same architects, proposes a five-storey building with five residential units and a 66m2 retail unit.The proposed development sites are located close to Mare Street in central Hackney. The immediate surroundings include Hackney Town Hall and the Grade II* listed Hackney Empire.The design and access statement describes the existing site as comprising three single-storey retail units, which it characterises as being in moderate condition and of no notable architectural merit.Abutting the two sites is the MOTH Club, housed in a distinctive red-brick former trades hall on Valette Street. Established in 1972 as the General Browning Club for ex-servicemen, it has evolved over the past decade into a vital hub for live music, comedy and cultural events. Renowned acts such as Lady Gaga and Jarvis Cocker have performed on its stage, cementing its place in Londons independent music scene.The venue was originally established as the General Browning Club, also known as the M.O.T.H. (Memorable Order of Tin Hats) Club, serving as a social hub for ex-servicemenSource: Google Street ViewAerial image showing the 2 Morning Lane site outlined in redSource: Stephen Davy Peter Smith ArchitectsAerial image showing the 4-6 Morning Lane site outlined in redSource: Stephen Davy Peter Smith ArchitectsThe sites on Morning Lane with single storey retail unitsSource: Google Street ViewThe proposed developments on Morning LaneSource: Stephen Davy Peter Smith Architects1/5show captionConcerns about the developments impact on the venue have been raised by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), which has cited the declining number of nightclubs in London a 29% drop between 2020 and 2024 as indicative of broader issues facing the industry. In a statement, the NTIA noted: Both developments, if approved, put one of Londons most loved independent grassroots venues at serious risk, as well as impacting the identity of the local area.A noise assessment, conducted by Hawkins Environmental, evaluated the MOTH Clubs operations. The report concluded that the venue presents a low risk of noise disruption. It highlighted the clubs noise management strategies, such as signage requesting patrons to respect neighbours, and noted no significant noise from music or patrons during a site visit. The report stated: The MOTH Club would unlikely be a constraint upon the development of the site.However, the NTIA warned that new residential developments near nightlife venues often lead to conflicts over noise, despite such assessments. These proposals have balconies directly overlooking MOTHs smoking area and back onto the stage wall, the association said. This could lead to conflicts, noise complaints, and a serious threat to the venues ability to operate.The MOTH Club has launched a petition opposing the proposed developments, which has attracted nearly 14,000 signatures.The conflict encapsulates a wider debate about balancing the urgent need for new housing with the preservation of vibrant cultural and social spaces. As Hackney Council considers these applications, many in Londons nighttime and live music economy will be watching closely. The outcome may set a precedent for how the city navigates the competing priorities of housing and nightlife.

The practice was granted planning permission for the home behind 13 Calmont Road in Bromley. Five previous applications to build on the site, which fronts onto Ambleside, were refused between 2015 and 2017.But planning officers assessing the latest proposals noted that the National Planning Policy Framework had a presumption in favour of sustainable development and that Lewisham was under-performing against housing completion targets.They concluded: The provision of one residential dwelling is welcomed and carries a significant planning merit. The standard of accommodation, design, impact on neighbours and the highway system, contribution to sustainable development and the environmental impacts are all considered acceptable, subject to conditions.AdvertisementGouldstone & Co said its single-storey scheme had been designed carefully to sit within the surrounding built environment, respecting the amenity of the existing dwellings and mature trees.The practice said its proposal was for a single family home designed around three courtyards that provided 50m of private amenity space accessible from all habitable rooms.The house also becomes quadruple-aspect, providing high-quality accommodation on a small site, it added in planning documents.Mature trees on the site will be retained and the new property will be set back from the pavement edge, with bedrooms at the back.Gouldstone & Co said the massing of the 97m scheme meant it would fit well within the tight site.AdvertisementThe ridge of the house enables its highest part to be in the centre of the site and the lower eaves to be nearer to the neighbouring gardens, said the practice.The building line is also pulled in from the rear boundary of the existing Ambleside housing. As the house is only a single-storey dwelling, there is no potential to overlook existing homes or their amenity spaces. Source:Gouldstone & CoGouldstone & Co's approved plans for infill site behind 13 Calmont Road Bromley - elevation sketchProject dataLocationCalmont Road, Bromley, LondonLocal authorityLondon Borough of LewishamType of projectResidentialClientCaswell&DainowArchitectGouldstone & CoLandscape architectHeard LandscapesGross internal floor area97m Source:Axson Office / Gouldstone & Co