It's the latest sign of how tech companies are positioning themselves for a new administration in Washington.

Constellation Energy has been awarded a record $1 billion in contracts to supply nuclear power to the U.S. government, the company said on Thursday.Constellation, the countrys largest operator of nuclear power plants, will deliver electricity to more than 13 federal agencies, as part of the agreement with the U.S. General Services Administration.The GSA estimated that the contracts, set to begin on April 25, will comprise over 10 million megawatt-hours over 10 years and provide electricity equivalent to powering more than 1 million homes annually.The procurement will deliver electricity to 80 federal facilities located throughout the PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission operator that covers parts of 11 mid-Atlantic and Midwest states and the District of Columbia. The U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Army Corps of Engineers are some of the facilities that will get the power.Constellation said the deal will enable it to extend the licenses of existing nuclear plants and invest in new equipment and technology that will increase output by about 135 megawatts.The investments we make as a result of this contract will keep these plants operating reliably for decades to come and put new, clean nuclear energy on the grid while making the best use of taxpayer dollars, Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation said in a release.The GSA said in the face of uncertainty over future electricity prices and soaring power demand from data centers and AI facilities, the contracts will provide federal agencies with budgetary stability by keeping electricity costs fixed for 10 years.Robin Carnahan, the GSA administrator, said the deal demonstrates how the federal government can join major corporate clean energy buyers in spurring new nuclear energy capacity and ensuring a reliable, affordable supply of clean energy for everyone.The announcement comes on the heels of Constellation Energy signing a 20-year deal to supply Microsoft Corporation with nuclear power. A previous report in Fast Company noted that deal would reopen Three Mile Island, the site of the worst accident at a U.S. commercial nuclear power plant in American history.Laila Kearney and Timothy Gardner, Reuters

You might not have unwrapped a Herms Birkin this holiday season, but what about a Walmart Wirkin?The $78 handbag has taken the internet by storm in recent weeks, offering an affordable dupe to one of the most exclusive luxury items in the world. With a starting price of $10,000 and resale values soaring as high as $300,000, the Birkins aspirational value has long been in its exclusivity. Prospective buyers must endure rigorous vetting processes and years-long waitlists for the chance to own one. Per The New York Times, the Birkin is a globally recognized emblem of status and wealth. Its investment potential rivals that of the S&P 500 and gold, with a 500% return over 35 years, according to Baghunter.In comparison, Walmarts alternative costs less than $100 and is (or was) accessible to anyone who could find it in stock. While currently sold out, the BESTSPR Platinum Lychee Tote gained traction after TikToker @styledbykristi shared her excitement over her emerald green version in a viral video that racked up 8.6 million views. For $80, you can pretend you got a Birkin, she joked, unboxing the bag. Another creator, Dillion Reeds, marveled at the designs accuracy. Other than it not having the Herms logo, it literally has all the same hardware. @styledbykristi Walmart Birkin. Thanks for the recommendation @Jessi My She has them linked in her LTK. I dont have an LTK so go use hers!! They sell out fast so you just have to just keep checking back! original sound StyledByKristi However, not everyone is thrilled by the viral dupe. Critics argue that lookalikes undermine the value of original designs and blur ethical boundaries. Herms, known for protecting its intellectual property, has a long history of legal battles against counterfeiters and inspired designs. The luxury house has won multimillion-dollar lawsuits, including a $100 million judgement against fake Herms websites in 2012 and ongoing disputes over Birkin-inspired NFTs.Yet, for some, the Walmart Birkin represents more than just a knockoff. Former Real Housewives star Bethenny Frankel described it as the mob storming the castle, allowing everyday shoppers a slice of what was once an unattainable luxury. The people that are going to be pissed off about are a**holes because they are not interesting people and flexing a bag is the most interesting thing about them, she said in a video posted to TikTok. @bethennyfrankel This disruption is fascinating #disruption #fascinating #walmart #birkin #yourewelcome #forthepeople #lordswork original sound Bethenny Frankel The Walmart Wirkin isnt an isolated case. Affordable dupes of expensive items, from Stanley water bottles to Skims bodysuits, have become ubiquitous online, offering consumers access to coveted styles without the exorbitant price tags. As one commenter added, Jane Birkin would love the Walmart Birkin and you cannot change my mind.

Apple agreed to pay $95 million in cash to settle a proposed class action lawsuit claiming that its voice-activated Siri assistant violated users privacy.A preliminary settlement was filed on Tuesday night in the Oakland, California federal court, and requires approval by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.Mobile device owners complained that Apple routinely recorded their private conversations after they activated Siri unintentionally, and disclosed these conversations to third parties such as advertisers.Voice assistants typically react when people use hot words such as Hey, Siri.Two plaintiffs said their mentions of Air Jordan sneakers and Olive Garden restaurants triggered ads for those products. Another said he got ads for a brand name surgical treatment after discussing it, he thought privately, with his doctor.The class period runs from Sept. 17, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2024. It began when Siri incorporated the Hey, Siri feature that allegedly led to the unauthorized recordings.Class members, estimated in the tens of millions, may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, such as iPhones and Apple Watches.Apple denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.The Cupertino, California-based company and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to similar requests. They may seek up to $28.5 million in fees, plus $1.1 million for expenses, from the settlement fund.The $95 million is about nine hours of profit for Apple, whose net income was $93.74 billion in its latest fiscal year.A similar lawsuit on behalf of users of Googles Voice Assistant is pending in the San Jose, California federal court, in the same district as the Oakland court. The plaintiffs are represented by the same law firms as in the Apple case.The case is Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 19-04577.Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by Susan Fenton

US architecture studio Lever Architecture has renovated a former 1980s warehouse in Los Angeles, placing a new cross-laminated timber and steel office building atop its parking garage foundation.At 145,000 square feet (13,470 square metres) 843 N Spring Street is located at an intersection near Dodger Stadium in Chinatown and contains offices as well as retail space.Lever Architecture has renovated a former 1980s warehouse in Los Angeles into an office building"Technically a renovation, the project takes a windowless, 1980s-era retail warehouse with a parking garage underneath and grafts a new structure on top of it, creating one of the first and largest hybrid cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings in Los Angeles," said Lever Architecture.The building consists of two, four-storey wings placed on top of the garage. The wings flank an interior courtyard, atrium and walking path through its centre, with landscape design byField Operations.A centre pathway and atrium cut through the centre of the buildingA main staircase leads uphill towards the entrance of the building, retail spaces, and the courtyard, while the remaining sides of the building abut a street, alleyway and a neighbouring building.The building's facade is clad almost entirely in glass, while its structure consists of 3- and 5-ply CLT panels and concrete slabs.Exposed steel and CLT panels run through the spaceExposed steel concrete and beams run throughout the interior, which consists of open floor plans.The new structure was based on the original "typical" 30 x 30 grid plan of the parking garage below and extended upwards through the office floors.Read: Largest earthquake test for mass-timber tower successful in California"The use of CLT also allowed us to build atop the building's existing foundations instead of demolishing and completely rebuilding the structure a significant saving in embodied carbon," said the studio.The centre atrium is made up of an egress stair, balconies and wide landings that stretch in between the two wings. Outdoor seating and planting beds fill the vertical space, which culminates in a rooftop deck and garden.The atrium provides outdoor spaces for workersBalconies cantilever outwards from the front and back of the building, marked with the exposed Douglas fir and spruce pine fir timber of the building's structure.The use of the CLT panels adds a "natural, warm aesthetic" according to the studio, while also contributing to the building's overall sustainable strategies.The interior features open floor plans, concrete floors and exposed CLT panels on its ceilingsThese include rooftop solar panels, EV charging stations, bike parking, 100 per cent rainwater recycling and vertical fins along the facade to provide shading and reduce solar heat gain.According to the studio, the building materiality and design is a hybrid of Los Angeles's "high-rise towers and low-rise bow truss warehouse culture".Recently, Lever Architecture wrapped a Wyoming house in weathering steel and tested the earthquake capabilities of a 10-storey mass-timber building in California.The photography is by Jeremy BittermanThe post Lever Architecture grafts hybrid mass-timber structure onto LA parking garage appeared first on Dezeen.

US studio Robert A M Stern Architects has completed a learning facility at the University of St Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, intended to foster collaboration between arts and engineering students.Robert A M Stern Architects (RAMSA) collaborated with BWBR Architects and McGough Construction to complete the LEED v4 Gold-rated Schoenecker Center. The centre brings together various departments within the university's School of Engineering and the College of Arts & Sciences.The Schoenecker Center includes facilities like a double-height performance space with retractable seatingThe 130,000-square-foot (12,077-square-metre) building is split over five levels and houses classrooms, art and media studios, performance spaces, science labs, computer labs, engineering labs and more.All are designed to allow students from different departments to work together on projects ranging from musical productions to robotics.A high bay space features a concrete wall and a crane for engineering research and experiments"Educators increasingly understand that exposure to new ideas or disciplines is conducive to creativity and innovation," said RAMSA partner Melissa DelVecchio."As a result, many universities and colleges are looking to move beyond the traditional, siloed departmental model in favor of one that values and encourages convergence."Classrooms and recording studios face a central atriumOn the ground level, double-height spaces include a 150-person choral performance venue with retractable seating to increase floor space for flexible use.Another is the high bay, outfitted with a 20-foot (6 metres) bridge crane and concrete wall for engineering students to conduct research and experiments.A staircase at one end of the atrium is linked by cantilevered mezzanine landingsThe Emerging Media department is located one storey above and overlooks the high bay, while the upper levels designed by BWBR are primarily dedicated to engineering and lab spaces for robotics, sustainability, physics and energy."The Schoenecker Center is technically complex due to how it weaves different departments together," DelVecchio said.Pointed-arch windows help the building to fit into the "Collegiate Gothic" context of the historic campus"Engineers smashing things beside a performance hall or a recording studio requires careful design and engineering to ensure that one department's needs do not impede on another's experience of the building.""It's a complex design puzzle motivated by the belief that all these disciplines can and should inform one another," she added.Read: RAMSA overhauls 120-year-old Schwarzman Student Center at YaleMany of the classrooms and rehearsal spaces face an atrium at the centre of the building, allowing views between the learning areas.At one end is a wood-panelled staircase with cantilevered mezzanine landings that connect the looping flights.Purple accents like furniture and signage are found throughout the bright white interiorsPurple details such as seat upholstery, accent walls, structural beams and signage were used throughout to connect the bright white areas visually.Pointed-arch windows, a clay tile roof and Kasota Limestone facades help to connect the building to the "Collegiate Gothic" character of the campus, which is part of the city's West Summit Avenue Historic District.Specialised spaces for music production and art storage also form part of the building's programRAMSA's education-focused projects range from the overhaul of the 120-year-old Schwarzman Student Center at Yale to a pair of higher education buildings for performing arts at Ohio State.Other recent updates to US universities include Peterson Rich Office's insertion of a glazed art gallery between two neoclassical buildings at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and SOM's glass-wrapped building on the MIT campus in Cambridge.The photography is by Brandon Stengel.The post RAMSA combines disciplines at "technically complex" university building in Minnesota appeared first on Dezeen.

Small living spaces dont just have a problem with furniture but also with fitting small objects on or around those furniture. Thats why multi-functional or modular products are quite popular among people living in small apartments or single-person households, allowing them to combine multiple functions in the space of a single physical object. Not all combinations make sense, though, but it might just be a matter of making an appealing composition or selling the idea.This odd yet pleasing concept design, for example, might look like a decorative object, but it is actually a handheld vacuum cleaner in disguise. Actually, its a discreet mood lamp to adorn your desk and create the ambiance you want. Actually, it can also be a makeshift Ikebana vase that holds a single, delicate flower stem. Actually, its all three, and it pulls off this rather unusual mishmash of functions without losing sight of its true purpose: bringing value to the owners life even in such a small space.Designer: Seunghyeon Kim (Focus Studio)A vacuum cleaner is not something youd immediately associate with having an aesthetic charm, yet the Budding design concept really tries to bridge those two incongruent ideas using some nature-inspired explorations. Like a sprout that curves as it grows, this design object also curls and rises from its base in an elegant and smooth manner. That alone gives it some decorative value, but its worth extends to its practical uses.That vertical part of the tube is supposed to be a handheld vacuum cleaner, not unlike those rather basic and cheap simulacra youd see in online shops. This hides such a technical and utilitarian product in plain sight, though how obvious it is as a vacuum cleaner will probably depend on how well youll be able to clean it after each use. The concept is also designed to make it easy to take the cylindrical vacuum cleaner apart to replace its filter when needed.The base of the object serves as a fixed front-facing mood light, whose gentle glow is supposed to, well, set the mood. Its not strong enough to provide any kind of serious illumination, nor is its low angle conducive for that purpose. The design doesnt indicate if the lights hue or intensity can be changed, as some people might not always appreciate a warm yellowish glow.Although its not a formal vase of any sort, Buddings curved form makes it possible to prop up a single flower stem to some artistic effect. Its a fitting image to the designs sprout metaphor, though its minimalist aesthetic does limit the kind of flowers that go perfectly with it. Even without this aspect, however, having two functions hiding inside a decorative object is more than enough to endear it to people living in small spaces with simpler needs and simple tastes.The post Handheld vacuum concept doubles as mood lighting and an ikebana vase for your desk first appeared on Yanko Design.

As we embrace 2025, its clear that artificial intelligence has firmly embedded itself into the fabric of our lives. Far from being a futuristic concept, AI is now a reality shaping how we work, live, and interact with the world. At Yanko Design, were kicking off the year by exploring how AI is transforming design and technology, bridging the gap between innovation and daily functionality.AI-Driven Personal DevicesIn 2025, AI-powered devices will no longer be limited to sci-fi fantasies. Smartphones will no longer be just tools for communication. With generative AI capabilities becoming a standard, these devices will learn user habits, predict needs, and enhance personalization like never before. Smart glasses are emerging as the next frontier. Companies such as Apple and Google, along with emerging brands like Looktech and Even Realities, among others, are set to redefine wearables with real-time translations, navigation, and augmented reality.Avi GreengartMeanwhile, smaller, cost-effective AI models like the DeepSeek V3 are reshaping the AI landscape by offering advanced capabilities at a fraction of the cost. Compared to larger proprietary models, DeepSeek V3s open-source nature and efficient architecture make it highly accessible for developers and researchers, while its performance rivals that of more expensive systems in coding, multilingual tasks, and reasoning. This accessibility stresses its potential to democratize AI applications across diverse fields. DeepSeek V3, developed by the Chinese firm DeepSeek, uses a groundbreaking Mixture-of-Experts architecture to deliver remarkable efficiency and performance. This models open-source nature and affordability are sparking conversations about democratizing AI technology. Im also looking forward to testing out offerings from other brands debuting at CES 2025, which promise exciting innovations in this space.Laptops have also entered an AI-driven renaissance. Enhanced by real-time analytics and automated workflows, theyre indispensable for professionals seeking more productive and creative ways to work. Im particularly eager to see what Lenovo will unveil at CES, as their recent strides in AI-integrated laptops have been impressive.Smarter Homes and Connected CitiesAI is transforming the spaces we live in, making everyday tasks smarter and more intuitive. Refrigerators now order groceries, and thermostats adjust settings automatically to match your preferences and the weather. These advancements are no longer conceptsthey are part of daily life. Looking ahead, Apple is rumored to be developing a HomePod with a 7-inch display, aiming to integrate smart home controls, media playback, and video calling into a single device. This development could further enhance the seamless integration of AI into our homes.Adaptive AI systems are making urban environments smarter. For instance, Hisenses Urban Governance Platform, debuting at CES 2025, optimizes traffic, public transit, and disaster prevention measures. Cities like Qingdao are already seeing AI transform daily commutes with responsive train schedules and traffic signals.Redefining Creativity and InformationAI is reshaping how we create and consume content, offering significant advantages and raising critical questions for everyday users. Video production and AI-generated media are opening new pathways for storytelling and design by automating repetitive tasks and enabling rapid content generation. For consumers, this means access to more personalized and diverse content, but it also raises concerns about the authenticity and creative value of AI-driven works.AI-powered search platforms are transforming how we find information. These systems deliver instant, concise answers tailored to specific queries, saving time and reducing information overload. However, for everyday users, there are drawbacks, including potential over-reliance on AI-generated summaries and reduced visibility of nuanced perspectives available in traditional search methods. The growing demand for efficiency underscores the need for careful consideration of how these tools are integrated into our daily lives.Design in the AI AgeAt Yanko Design, well continue to explore how AI influences the aesthetics and functionality of modern products. From AI-enhanced appliances to devices with integrated intelligence, the intersection of design and AI offers endless possibilities.In 2025, we plan to explore these advancements further by covering the technology and its broader implications, including user experience, environmental sustainability, and design ethics. Our reporting will feature in-depth analyses, hands-on reviews, and interviews with key innovators.The CES 2025 event will serve as a key focus for us, highlighting how groundbreaking innovations reshape usability and design. By prioritizing intuitive, sustainable, and ethically responsible solutions, we aim to navigate the challenges and opportunities AI presents for designers and consumers alike.The post Welcome to 2025: The Future of AI and Design first appeared on Yanko Design.