Time to Walk and Artist Spotlight Series return as well

Loft-style bedrooms are common in tiny homes, but no one likes crawling into one and uncomfortably adjusting themselves there. Named the Sandy Tiny Home, this one-of-a-kind house attempts to deal with this issue by offering standing room in all three bedrooms. Designed by Indigo River Tiny Homes, the home is based on a triple-axle trailer, with a length of 36 feet. It features a finish of smart-engineered wood and two storage boxes on the outside.Designer: Indigo River Tiny HomesAs you enter the home, you are welcomed by the living area which includes a sofa for two, some storage space, and a TV. The kitchen is closely located, it contains solid mahogany countertops with a steel sink, a microwave, an electric oven with an electric cooktop, and a fridge/freezer. The kitchen also accommodates loads of cabinetry and a pull-out pantry. The bathroom is located next to the kitchen, and it is quite spacious with a washer/dryer hookup, a flushing toilet, a vanity sink, and a shower/bath unit which isnt very common in tiny homes.The master bedroom is located on the upper level of the home and can be accessed via a cleverly designed staircase that integrates storage solutions, maximizing functionality in a compact space. This staircase not only offers access to the bedroom but also provides valuable storage compartments for household items, ensuring an organized and clutter-free environment. The master bedroom showcases a unique architectural feature a lowered L-shaped floor area.This design innovation offers the room an impressive headroom of approximately 6.4 feet (1.95 meters), allowing occupants to stand comfortably uprighta rarity in many loft-style bedrooms. It also includes a queen-sized raised bed platform. This elevated sleeping area not only offers a cozy retreat but also enhances the rooms spatial dynamics.The second upstairs bedroom is similarly designed with accessibility and comfort in mind. It can be accessed via a short set of steps and features a lowered-standing platform, much like the master bedroom. The standing headroom in all the bedrooms allows the residents to stand upright with ease, ensuring the space is more livable and comfortable. The third bedroom is located on the ground-floor, although the owner uses it as a home office space. The room is pretty small and compact for a downstairs bedroom, but it can accommodate a double bed. The house is a part of Indigo River Tiny Homes Bunkhouse range and is priced at around US$161,000.The post This Unique Tiny Room Features Three Bedrooms With Sufficient Standing Room In All Three first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple has officially announced its first fiscal quarter 2025 earnings call will be held on January 30 at 5:00 p.m. ET.Apple earnings call to be held on January 30The biggest quarter of the year for Apple has historically been the holiday one as it combines the gift-giving season with the first full quarter of new iPhone sales. The results for the first fiscal quarter of 2025 will provide an idea of how the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 have sold since their September launch.Apple shared that the earnings call will occur on January 30, at 5 p.m. Eastern via its Investor Relations portal. As always, the earnings call will discuss information from the earnings report, forward-looking statements, and include a short question-and-answer segment with analysts. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The Witcher 4sreveal trailer at The Game Awards in December was a lengthy one, but it had nothing to show in terms of gameplay, instead being billed as an in-engine concept thats meant to be representative of what the final game will look like. Even so, developer CD Projekt RED has teased out plenty of gameplay-related tidbits since the official announcement.Speaking in an interview with content creator Parris Lilly, for instance, game director Sebastian Kalemba spoke about CDPRs ambitions in terms of what it wants to achieve withThe Witcher 4sNPCs in particular. As per Kalemba, the goal is to ensure that every NPC in the game looks like theyre living their own, distinct life, with the aim being to heighten the players immersion as much as possible.We have this rule to make every single [The Witcher 4] NPC looking like theyre living, with their own story, Kalemba said (transcription via GamesRadar).Were definitely pushing the quality of NPC the way they look, their behavior, their facial performance as much as possible, because we want to make even more immersive experience than we used to, the director added. We are trying to push the bar here.SinceThe Witcher 4sannouncement, CDPR has also officially confirmed that though Ciri is set to star as the new protagonist (with a new actor playing her), Geralt of Rivia will still be returning, with Doug Cockle reprising his role. How extensive his role will be remains to be seen.The Witcher 4sopen world will be about the same size asthat of its predecessor, while fan-favourite card collecting and battling minigame Gwent also looks likely to return.

Many were surprised by Jim Carrey returning from soft retirement for his double role inSonic the Hedgehog 3as the villainous Dr. Robotnik and his even more villainous grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. And though some may have assumed that that would have been his final hurrah, as it turns out, the actor still may not be fully done with theSonicfranchise quite yet.Speaking in an interview with Cinema Today (spotted by @sonicstadium on Twitter), Carrey said that he remains open to the idea of returning to once again play Dr. Ivo Robotnik in futureSonic the Hedgehogmovies- depending, of course, on whether hes interested in the ideas presented to him.Im definitely open. Im open to the idea, he said. Generally, they come to me with the next idea, and if I go, that sounds fun, then Ill do it. I dont feel locked to anything in life unless its something that interests me.I certainly love this crew, Carrey added. I love this gang that makes these movies, and I love the fans. I think theres a lot of really great energy around it.Sonic the Hedgehog 3launched in theaters worldwide last month, and has enjoyed critical and commercia success since then. Shortly prior to its release, Sega and Paramount Pictures announced that a fourthSonicmovie had also been officially greenlit, and is due out in 2027.BREAKING: In an interview with the Japanese news site @cinematoday, Jim Carrey has confirmed that he is open to coming back for #SonicMovie4, and that hes not retiring but power napping between projects. #SonicNews #SonicMovie3 pic.twitter.com/qhcbIy3SnZ The Sonic Stadium 25 YEARS OF SONIC NEWS (@sonicstadium) January 3, 2025

Few companies in the games industry have the sort of treasure trove of IPs that PlayStation does, as evidenced by the vast amount of beloved Sony properties that have been dormant for prolonged periods. Demand for a great many of those franchises to come back rarely ever ebbs, and though its not often that we get indications that Sony might actually be looking to bring some of those properties back, interestingly enough, it seems like a couple such revivals might actually be in the works at PlayStation.Thats as per journalist Andy Robinson. Speaking during a recent episode of the VGC podcast, Robinson claimed that PlayStation has a couple of revivals in the works for deep cut properties. Though he did not name any specific names, he did also add that they will be smaller titles that Sony intends to use to supplement its release schedule.Whether that means Sony may have relatively fewer bigger releases planned for the coming years remains to be seen. As things stand right now, the company has titles such asGhost of YoteiandDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachlined up for release in 2025, while games such asIntergalactic, Marvelss Wolverine,and others are also in the works, so PlayStation fans do have notable releases to look forward to. The company has also said it intends to release major single-player titles every year going forward.Recently, PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst also touched on the companys roster of inactive legacy IP, indicating that revivals for some of them might not be completely off the table. Read more on that through here.

The development of large language models (LLMs) has significantly advanced artificial intelligence (AI) across various fields. Among these advancements, mobile GUI agentsdesigned to perform tasks autonomously on smartphonesshow considerable potential. However, evaluating these agents poses notable challenges. Current datasets and benchmarks often rely on static frame evaluations, which provide snapshots of app interfaces for agents to predict the next action. This method falls short of simulating the dynamic and interactive nature of real-world mobile tasks, creating a gap between tested capabilities and actual performance. Additionally, existing platforms tend to restrict app diversity, task complexity, and real-time interaction, underscoring the need for a more comprehensive evaluation framework.In response to these challenges, researchers from CUHK, vivo AI Lab, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have introduced the Android Agent Arena (A3), a platform designed to improve the evaluation of mobile GUI agents. A3 provides a dynamic evaluation environment with tasks that mirror real-world scenarios. The platform integrates 21 commonly used third-party apps and includes 201 tasks ranging from retrieving online information to completing multi-step operations. Additionally, A3 incorporates an automated evaluation system leveraging business-level LLMs, which reduces the need for manual intervention and coding expertise. This approach aims to close the gap between research-driven development and practical applications for mobile agents.Key Features and Advantages of A3A3 is built on the Appium framework, facilitating seamless interaction between GUI agents and Android devices. It supports a broad action space, ensuring compatibility with agents trained on diverse datasets. Tasks are categorized into three typesoperation tasks, single-frame queries, and multi-frame queriesand are divided into three levels of difficulty. This variety enables a thorough assessment of an agents capabilities, from basic navigation to complex decision-making.The platforms evaluation mechanism includes task-specific functions and a business-level LLM evaluation process. Task-specific functions use predefined criteria to measure performance, while the LLM evaluation process employs models like GPT-4o and Gemini for autonomous assessment. This combination ensures accurate evaluations and scalability for a growing number of tasks.Insights from Initial TestingThe researchers tested various agents on A3, including fine-tuned models and business-level LLMs, yielding the following insights:Challenges in Dynamic Evaluations: While agents performed well in static evaluations, they faced difficulties in A3s dynamic environment. For instance, tasks requiring multi-frame queries often resulted in low success rates, highlighting the challenges of real-world scenarios.Role of LLMs in Evaluation: The LLM-based evaluation achieved 8084% accuracy, with cross-validation reducing errors significantly. However, complex tasks occasionally required human oversight to ensure accuracy.Common Errors: Observed errors included incorrect click coordinates, redundant actions, and difficulties in self-correction. These issues underscore the need for agents capable of learning adaptively and understanding context.ConclusionAndroid Agent Arena (A3) offers a valuable framework for evaluating mobile GUI agents. By providing a diverse set of tasks, an extensive action space, and automated evaluation systems, A3 addresses many limitations of existing benchmarks. The platform represents a step forward in aligning research advancements with practical applications, enabling the development of more capable and reliable AI agents. As AI continues to evolve, A3 sets a strong foundation for future innovations in mobile agent evaluation.Check out the Paper and Project Page. 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. FREE UPCOMING AI WEBINAR (JAN 15, 2025): Boost LLM Accuracy with Synthetic Data and Evaluation IntelligenceJoin this webinar to gain actionable insights into boosting LLM model performance and accuracy while safeguarding data privacy.The post Meet Android Agent Arena (A3): A Comprehensive and Autonomous Online Evaluation System for GUI Agents appeared first on MarkTechPost.

Evaluating the real-world applicability of large language models (LLMs) is essential to guide their integration into practical use cases. One key challenge in assessing LLMs is their tendency to exploit fixed datasets during testing, leading to inflated performance metrics. Static evaluation frameworks often fail to determine a models ability to adapt to feedback or provide clarifications, resulting in evaluations that do not reflect real-world scenarios. This gap in assessment methods necessitates a dynamic and iterative framework to test models under evolving conditions.Traditionally, evaluation methods like LLM-as-a-Judge rely on fixed datasets and static benchmarks to measure performance. While these approaches often correlate better with human judgments than lexical matching techniques, they suffer from biases, including verbosity preference and inconsistent scoring across iterations. They also fail to evaluate models in multi-turn interactions, where adaptability and iterative improvement are critical. As a result, these traditional methods struggle to capture a holistic understanding of an LLMs capabilities.Researchers from KAIST, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Contextual AI have introduced LLM-AS-AN-INTERVIEWER, a novel framework for evaluating LLMs. This approach mimics human interview processes by dynamically modifying datasets to generate tailored questions and providing feedback on model responses. The interviewer LLM adapts its questions based on the evaluated models performance, fostering a detailed and nuanced assessment of its capabilities. Unlike static methods, this framework captures behaviors such as response refinement and the ability to address additional inquiries effectively.The framework operates in three stages: problem setup, feedback and revision, and follow-up questioning. Initially, the interviewer creates diverse and challenging questions by modifying benchmark datasets. During the interaction, it provides detailed feedback on the models responses and poses follow-up questions that test additional aspects of its reasoning or knowledge. This iterative process culminates in generating an Interview Report, which compiles performance metrics, error analysis, and a comprehensive summary of the models strengths and limitations. The report offers actionable insights into the models real-world applicability and adaptability.Experiments using the MATH and DepthQA datasets demonstrate the frameworks efficacy. For MATH, which focuses on arithmetic reasoning, models like GPT-4o achieved % initial problem-solving accuracy of 72%. This accuracy increased to 84% through iterative feedback and interaction, highlighting the frameworks ability to enhance model performance. Similarly, DepthQA evaluations, which emphasize open-ended queries, revealed the effectiveness of follow-up questions in uncovering models knowledge gaps and improving their responses. For instance, the adaptability metric for GPT-3.5 showcased a marked improvement of 25% after iterative interactions, reflecting the models ability to refine answers based on feedback.The framework also addresses critical biases prevalent in LLM evaluations. Verbosity bias, a tendency to favor longer responses, diminishes as interactions progress, with a significant drop in correlation between response length and scores. Further, self-enhancement bias, where models favor their responses during evaluation, is minimized through dynamic interactions and comparative scoring. These adjustments ensure consistent and reliable evaluation outcomes across multiple runs, with standard deviations decreasing as feedback iterations increase.LLM-AS-AN-INTERVIEWER offers a robust solution to data contamination, a major LLM training and evaluation concern. The framework mitigates contamination risks by dynamically modifying benchmark questions and introducing novel follow-ups. For example, models trained on contaminated datasets showed significantly higher performance in static settings but aligned more closely with uncontaminated models when evaluated dynamically. This result underscores the frameworks ability to distinguish between genuine model capabilities and artifacts of training data overlap.In conclusion, LLM-AS-AN-INTERVIEWER represents a paradigm shift in evaluating large language models. Simulating human-like interactions and dynamically adapting to model responses provide a more accurate and nuanced understanding of their capabilities. The frameworks iterative nature highlights areas for improvement and enables models to demonstrate their adaptability and real-world applicability. With its robust design and comprehensive analysis, this framework has the potential to set a new standard for LLM evaluation, ensuring that future models are assessed with greater precision and relevance.Check out the Paper. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. FREE UPCOMING AI WEBINAR (JAN 15, 2025): Boost LLM Accuracy with Synthetic Data and Evaluation IntelligenceJoin this webinar to gain actionable insights into boosting LLM model performance and accuracy while safeguarding data privacy.The post This AI Paper Introduces LLM-as-an-Interviewer: A Dynamic AI Framework for Comprehensive and Adaptive LLM Evaluation appeared first on MarkTechPost.

LatestMachine LearningMonth in 4 Papers (December 2024) 0 like January 3, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Ala Falaki, PhD Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.This series of posts is designed to bring you the newest findings and developments in the NLP field. Ill delve into four significant research papers each month, offering a comprehensive summary. Be sure to visit my blog regularly or subscribe to my newsletter for monthly updates. Lets dive in!Also, heres to an amazing 2025! (Just a bit early!) Large Language Monkeys: Scaling Inference Compute with Repeated Sampling [paper]This paper proposes scaling the inference time as another dimension for scaling NLP models. They suggest that using the LLM to generate only one sample as the response is ineffective. The success of repeated sampling depends on two key factors: coverage and precision. Coverage refers to how many problems we can solve as we take more samples, while precision focuses on whether we can accurately choose the correct answer from the set of generated samples.One of the open challenges is to have an automatic evaluation to measure the success rate. A method like a unit test is useful for finding a correct sample from a pool of candidates, but there are tasks like math problems that we dont have a proper way Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Happy new year! If you've resolved to become a better runner in 2025, now is the time to get going.But that might not be easy. With the weather downright frigid in many parts of the country, it's tempting to just curl up with some hot cocoa and enjoy some Netflix. Spring races are just around the corner, though.Whether you're looking to run your first 5K or earn another Abbott World Major Marathon star, training can't stop for the cold and snow. Getting through the next few months will take dedication, discipline and the right gear.I'm speaking from experience. I spent last winter training for the Boston Marathon. Now I'm digging out my favorite thermals as I get ready to run the TCS London Marathon on April 27.Winter running gear can sometimes get pretty pricey, but scrimping on your key layers could leave you cold and miserable. The key is to look for deals and get the best bang you can for your buck.Here's a look at some of my favorite winter and other top running gear. It's a fact: Runners love socks. FeeturesRunners love socks Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. When I was a kid, I used to groan when I'd find socks in my Christmas stocking. Now I get excited.Runners don't cut corners when it comes to socks. They can make the difference between finishing a race happy and limping to the end with bloody feet.That's why there's always more than one pair of Feetures exchanged at my running team's annual gift swap. Priced at about $18 a pair, Feetures' colorful and long-lasting socks are my go-to for training and racing. Specifically, the "Elite" versions of the socks offer targeted compression that helps protect and support your feet as you run, without feeling too heavy.When temperatures drop below freezing, I reach for my pair of Smartwool Cold-Weather Run crew socks. When it comes to keeping your feet warm and dry without adding a lot of bulk, you just can't beat wool.At $24, they're worth the money. Like Smartwool's other products I've used, they've managed to survive several wash cycles without shrinking as wool socks can be prone to do. Just a few pairs of the running shoes I've tried recently. Bree Fowler/CNETFor great shoes, leave it to the professionalsI could tell you what shoes I ran the TCS New York City Marathon in (Saucony's Endorphin Pro 4) or what my favorite daily trainers are (New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14), but it doesn't really matter.The truth is, the best shoe for you is going to depend on you, your feet and your needs. A size 9 in one brand may fit completely differently than in another. Shoes that your best friend, or even a world-class marathoner, thinks are amazing may feel torturous for you to walk in.If you're shopping for yourself, head to your local running store and get some expert advice. The fitting technology used by many stores has come a long way. In 2023, I got an up-close look at the system used by Fleet Feet, a national chain of running stores. It uses artificial intelligence to compare a 3D scan of your feet to those of millions of other customers, along with the store's inventory. Combine that tech with suggestions from a store employee and you're bound to walk away with a pair of shoes you love. Kanes are fun and comfortable. KaneFor this reason, shoes make a very bad gift, but I've got a better idea.I was happy with my marathon sneakers, but I couldn't get them off fast enough after I crossed the finish line. Once I did, I slipped on a pair ofKane recovery shoes. Yes, they look a lot like Crocs, and at $80 a pair they're a lot more expensive, but I think they're well worth the money.My swollen feet had the room they needed to breathe, while the little nodes of the relatively firm footbed massaged them as I walked the eight blocks to the subway. The shoes slipped on and off easily, and thankfully they didn't rub raw marks on my feet through the journey home.The shoes are available in a variety of fun colors and patterns, including licensed versions for alumni and fans of two dozen colleges and universities. Each pair also comes with a handy carabiner that you can use to clip them to the outside of a bag.Light brightWhether you run in the morning or the evening, it's dark outside this time of year. Lights and reflective gear are a must, both to make sure cars see you and that you see all those cracks in the sidewalk and all those unfortunately placed piles of dog poop.I've got a few sets of lights, but my favorite remains the Tracer2 light-up vest from Noxgear. Its rechargeable LED lights flash in a rainbow of fun colors. They can be seen a quarter mile away and last up to 20 hours on a single charge.At $51, it's not cheap, and I'd recommend adding on the optional Tracer Lamp ($32) that clips on the front. It's super bright and can be aimed down to help you spot cracks in the sidewalk and avoid blinding fellow runners who might try to look directly at you.The vest, which includes reflective straps, fits me perfectly and doesn't slide around like a less expensive version I used previously that was made by another company.My teammates would be upset if I didn't mention Noxgear's 39G wearable Bluetooth speaker ($56). It kicks out a surprising amount of sound for its size. Instead of using headphones or earbuds that could block out the sound of an approaching car or another threat, you can use the speaker to listen to your tunes while also staying aware of what's going on around you.Reflective clothing can also help drivers see you. If you're in the market for a winter running coat, think about getting one with reflective elements. Feetures, mentioned above, also has new reflective crew socks. They offer the same cushioning and performance as the company's other models but are designed to show up in a car's headlights.Fashionable and functionalI grew up in Michigan, so it takes a lot for me to get cold. I ran the New York City Marathon in my team singlet and a trusty pair of compression shorts from Flipbelt, even though it was 38 degrees outside when I started the race. That said, I finally pulled out my pair of Flipbelt thermal leggings ($65) this past week.Flipbelt made its name by producing stretchy running belts designed to hold everything you might need for a long run. I've had problems in the past with a belt stretching out and riding down in the middle of a race.The shorts and leggings solve that problem by building that same storage into compression bottoms that stay in place. They offer enough storage to hold your phone, keys, water flask and all the fuel and snacks you need to get through a long race.I found the leggings a little tough to pull on, but once you get them in place they don't move and they provide catsuitlike support, even if you load down the pockets. The thermal version kept me warm without adding a lot of weight. I'm looking forward to wearing these for my next race.Whether it's to shade my face from the sun or keep my ears warm, I almost always wear a hat when I run. Usually, it's a baseball cap, but when the mercury drops I'll reach for one of my fleecier options.Sprints, known for its wacky designs, makes my favorite ultralight and supercomfortable baseball-style hats. They've got some cool, new winter options that I'm looking forward to trying out.In the meantime, one of my new favorite hats comes from Turtle Fur. This merino wool cap ($58) is super light and stays on when I run, and it keeps my cold-prone ears toasty.Speaking of merino wool, Smartwool knows a few things about dressing for winter. It collaborated with shoemaker Altra to create a collection of winter running clothes complete with a matching pair of smartwool-lined Altra shoes.The women's collection comes in a beautiful eggplant, black and charcoal color combination and includes a long-sleeve top, a vest and a half-zip pullover, among other items. It launched earlier this year as anREI exclusive, but now you can find it on Smartwool's website.The shoes weren't available to test, but the clothes kept me toasty on a day when temperatures dropped into the mid 20s. The layers gave me the range of motion I needed to run, without adding a lot of bulk. I'm sure I'll be pulling these out a lot this winter. The Adidas Dunamis. AdidasShades for every budgetJust because it's cold doesn't mean it isn't bright outside. Good shades are still a must. Goodr's line of active sunglasses ($25) remain the best budget option. They block harmful UVA and UVB rays, don't slip down your nose when it gets sweaty, and come in a slew of fun colors and frames. They don't last forever, particularly if you buy the ones with mirrored lenses, which scratch easily.I recently tried a couple of pairs from Tifosi. At about $35, they cost a little bit more, but so far they seem a bit more durable. They're not heavy, but they feel sturdy. My teenage daughter instantly fell in love with my pair of the Sanctum models, and I've yet to get them back, but she hasn't broken them either. I've been wearing the Swank model.For people looking to go upscale and look very cool doing it, the Adidas Dunamis ($210) feature crystal-clear, reflective, wraparound lenses that are light as a feather and will make you feel like a professional athlete. Just a heads-up that they're meant for larger faces. If you're a small person like me, you may find them a little big.Other great gearRunners need to stay hydrated even when it's cold outside, and every runner would be happy to receive a great water bottle.My favorite right now is Nathan's ExoShot 2.0 handheld 14-ounce bottle. It's a soft flask that's held in a fabric case. There's an adjustable strap that goes around your hand, so you don't really have to cling to it while you run. It's easy to squeeze and drink from.Best of all, it doesn't leak, and you can throw it in the dishwasher. I'd use this bottle a lot more if my daughter hadn't also stolen it for her own runs.Gels, chews and other kinds of running fuel are also worthwhile. I'm a fan of Skratch Labs energy chews. They taste less like chemicals and more like gummy bears. Some of my favorite products come from UnTapped, a maple syrup company based in you guessed it Vermont. Its coffee-spiked maple syrup athletic fuel gives me the zip I need without including chemicals I can't pronounce.When I reach for a traditional gel, it's generally a Maurten. While other brands offer a Baskin-Robbins-like variety of flavors, Maurten comes in just one, which doesn't really taste like anything but isn't super sweet. It takes some getting used to, but I've found it to be easy on the tummy.