Latent diffusion models are advanced techniques for generating high-resolution images by compressing visual data into a latent space using visual tokenizers. These tokenizers reduce computational demands while retaining essential details. However, such models suffer from a critical challenge: increasing the dimensions of the token feature increases reconstruction quality but decreases image generation quality. It thus creates an optimization dilemma in which achieving a detailed reconstruction compromises the ability to generate visually appealing images.Existing methods need much more computational power, which creates limitations. This presents difficulties in achieving both detailed reconstruction and high-quality image generation efficiently. Visual tokenizers like VAEs, VQVAE, and VQGAN compress visual data but struggle with poor codebook utilization and inefficient optimization in larger latent spaces. Continuous VAE diffusion models improve reconstruction but harm generation performance, increasing costsmethods like MAGVIT-v2 and REPA attempt to address these issues but add complexity without resolving core trade-offs. Diffusion Transformers, widely used for scalability, also face slow training speeds despite enhancements like SiT or MaskDiT. These tokenizers and latent spaces inefficiencies remain a key barrier to effectively integrating generative and reconstruction tasks.To address optimization challenges in latent diffusion models, researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology proposed the VA-VAE method, which integrates a Vision Foundation model alignment loss (VF Loss) to enhance the training of high-dimensional visual tokenizers. This framework regularizes the latent space with element and pair-wise similarities, making it more aligned with the Vision Foundation model. VF Loss includes marginal cosine similarity loss and marginal distance matrix similarity loss, further improving alignment without limiting the latent spaces capacity. As a result, the framework enhances reconstruction and generation performance by addressing the intensity concentration in latent space distributions.Researchers integrated VF loss within the latent diffusion system to improve reconstruction and generation performance by using LightningDiT, optimizing convergence and scalability. The VF loss, particularly with foundation models like DINOv2, accelerated convergence, with a speedup of up to 2.7x in training time. Experiments with different configurations, such as tokenizers with and without VF loss, showed that VF loss notably improved performance, especially in high-dimensional tokenizers, and bridged the gap between generative performance and reconstruction. The loss of VF also improved scalability, optimizing models ranging from 0.1B to 1.6B parameters so that high-dimensional tokenizers kept strong scalability without significant performance loss. The results showed the methods effectiveness in improving generative performance and convergence speed and minimizing cfg dependency.In conclusion, the proposed framework VA-VAE and LightningDiT address the optimization challenges in latent diffusion systems. VA-VAE aligns the latent space with vision models, improving convergence and uniformity, while LightningDiT accelerates training. The approach achieves FID on ImageNet with a 21.8 speedup. This work offers a foundation for future research, enabling further optimization and scalability improvements in generative models with reduced training costs.Check out the Paper and GitHub 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. Divyesh Vitthal Jawkhede+ postsDivyesh is a consulting intern at Marktechpost. He is pursuing a BTech in Agricultural and Food Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He is a Data Science and Machine learning enthusiast who wants to integrate these leading technologies into the agricultural domain and solve challenges. Follow us on X (Twitter) to get regular AI Research and Dev Updates here...

The first weekend of 2025 is here, which makes today a great time to check out the latest deals! Here are the best deals for Sunday, January 5.Save on Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 - PlayStation 5Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is on sale for $49.99 at Amazon. In our 8/10 review, we stated, "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a terrific third-person shooter with a compelling story, loads of weapons that are a blast to use, and a healthy variety of enemies to use them on."M2 MacBook Air for $799Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chipAmazon has this 2022 Apple MacBook Air on sale for $799 this weekend. This model includes the M2 chip, which supports Apple Intelligence, as well as 16GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, and a 13.6-inch display. If you've been holding out on upgrading your MacBook this can be an excellent option. Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics for $34Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics - PlayStation 4Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics - Nintendo SwitchYou can score Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics for only $34 today at Amazon. This collection packs in seven different titles, including the beloved Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes. At last, you can play these classic titles on modern platforms. EPOMAKER Shadow-X Gasket Mechanical Keyboard for $42.99EPOMAKER Shadow-X Gasket Mechanical Keyboard with ScreenThis EPOMAKER Shadow-X keyboard is perfect to switch up your setup with some color. The keyboard can be used either wirelessly or wired, with a 3,000mAh battery to support hours of use. Additionally, there's even a color screen that displays settings, specs, and more at just a glance. Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Charger Stand for $65.99Belkin MagSafe Charger, 3-in-1 Wireless Charging StandIf you own an iPhone, Apple Watch, and a pair of Apple AirPods, this is the ultimate accessory for you. The Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Charger Stand can charge all of your devices wirelessly with one device. It's perfect for placing on your nightstand, or even for bringing with you during a trip away from home. Say goodbye to the days of one cord per device.Dragon Quest Illustrations: 30th Anniversary Edition for $23.82Dragon Quest Illustrations: 30th Anniversary EditionFeaturing 240 pages of artwork from Akira Toriyama, Dragon Quest Illustrations: 30th Anniversary Edition is the ultimate gift for any fan of the iconic RPG series. This book features over 500 different illustrations from Toriyama, stretching from Dragon Quest all the way to Dragon Quest XI. Apple Watch Series 10 for $359Apple Watch Series 10 [GPS 46mm case] SmartwatchAmazon has the Apple Watch Series 10 on sale for $359 this weekend, which nets you $70 off this extremely popular device. Series 10 marked Apple's first wide-angle OLED display on Apple Watch, with the device itself being the thinnest watch yet. If you're not an Apple Watch owner or someone who has an older model, this is the perfect time to score an upgrade.Persona 5 Royal for $14.88Persona 5 Royal - Nintendo Switch (Digital)Walmart has digital Nintendo Switch copies of Persona 5 Royal available on sale for only $14.88. Acting as the definitive version of P5, Persona 5 Royal is one of the must-play RPG experiences of the last generation. This game offers well over 100 hours of content, making this an excellent deal. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World 4K UHD Blu-ray for $12.99Scott Pilgrim vs. The World 4K UHD Blu-rayScott Pilgrim vs. The World is a very beloved movie for many, and you can pick up the 4K Blu-ray this weekend for only $12.99. This package includes a 4K UHD disc, a Blu-ray disc, and a digital copy. We gave the movie an 8/10 in 2010, with the beat-em-up game receiving an 8/10 as well.

Espresso Displays, the Australian brand known for crafting high-performance portable monitors, has unveiled its latest innovation at CES 2025: the Espresso 15 Pro. This new addition to Espresso Displays portfolio is aimed at business professionals and frequent travelers who seek a high-quality, portable dual-screen experience.Having used and reviewed multiple products from Espresso Displays over the years, including the premium 17 Pro and the budget-friendly 15-inch display, I can attest to the brands consistent focus on quality, innovation, and user-centric design. Their monitors have always been excellent tools for productivity on the go, and the new Espresso 15 Pro seems to build on that reputation with some exciting upgrades.Key features of the Espresso 15 ProThe Espresso 15 Pro offers a brighter, more compact, and more efficient portable display solution, with specs that cater to both business users and creatives alike:Brightness: 550 nits for excellent visibility even in bright environmentsResolution: 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) for crystal-clear visualsColor Range: More than one billion colors with 100% AdobeRGB coverageTouchscreen Compatibility: Works with macOS, Windows, iPhones, iPads, and Samsung Galaxy devices via DeXPen Support: Compatible with the espresso Pen for note-taking, sketching, and markupsPortability: Single USB-C cable connection and lightweight aluminum build for easy transportThe device connects seamlessly to laptops, tablets, and even smartphones, making it an ideal companion for those who need flexibility in their work setups. The magnetic Stand+ accessory further enhances usability by providing ergonomic viewing angles and quick setup.Design & build qualityEspresso Displays are known for their minimalist and premium designs, and the Espresso 15 Pro is no exception. With a sleek matte-black aluminum chassis, the monitor exudes professionalism while ensuring durability. The magnetic attachment to the Stand+ makes it easy to set up and adjust for both portrait and landscape orientations.Pricing & availabilityWhile the exact pricing details have not yet been announced, espresso Displays has confirmed that the Espresso 15 Pro will be available for purchase in the coming months. Based on their existing product lineup, its expected to be positioned as a premium offering, likely falling between their entry-level and 17 Pro models.Final thoughtsEspresso Displays continues to push the boundaries of portable monitor technology, and the Espresso 15 Pro looks to be another hit. It offers significant upgrades in brightness, color accuracy, and portability, making it an excellent choice for professionals who need a reliable second screen on the go.As someone who has used their products extensively, Im excited to see how the Espresso 15 Pro performs in real-world scenarios. Whether youre a creative professional, a frequent traveler, or someone looking to boost productivity, this portable monitor is worth keeping an eye on.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

This new high-end TV looks like an early contender for the best picture quality of 2025.

LG introduces the M5 and G5 designed to improve gaming and picture quality, with a little help from AI.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i with RTX 4070: $1,500 Save $500 $1,500 at Best Buy Skytech Archangel with RTX 4060: $900 Save $280 $900 at Walmart HP Omen 45L with RTX 4090: $2,957 Save $443 $2,957 at HP MSI Codex Z2C with RTX 4060: $969 Save $330 $969 at Newegg Zhic gaming PC with AMD Radeon Vega: $499 Save $100 $499 at Walmart HP Omen 35L with RTX 4060: $1,000 Save $500 $1,000 at Best Buy MSI / CNET2025 is set to be a bumper year for video games. Many years of development, unexpected delays, and the ongoing aftermath of the global pandemic mean the next 12 months are packed with new blockbuster releases. If you want to experience the latest PC games at the highest specs possible, it might be time to upgrade to a new gaming PC. If not, there are always some budget picks worth considering.Hey, did you know?CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. With the new year now here, lots more deals are popping up, with sales expected to continue throughout January. So if you're looking to the big releases of the coming year like Assassin's Creed, Doom, Avowed, Death Stranding 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds, to name a few, it's a great time to buy. Also, if you missed out during Black Friday or the holiday sales, some decent discounts can still be had from top names.We regularly update this list, since new deals pop up daily and old ones expire even quicker, meaning you have to be fast if you don't want to miss out. It's also worth noting that we sometimes include PCs that are not on sale but that we recommend because they offer great value. With that, head below for all the latest deals and best gaming PCs on offer that are worth considering for 2025 and beyond. Lenovo/CNET Another early Black Friday sale from Best Buy reduces this 2024 Lenovo tower by a huge $500. Alongside a powerful RTX 4070 graphics card, you get an Intel Core i7 processor, a 1TB SDD, 32GB of RAM and the Windows 11 OS. It arrives in a storm gray color scheme and is discounted until Nov. 15. $1,500 at Best Buy If you fancy something a bit different with a splash of color, then this Skytech Archangel is the way to goespecially now that it's down to $900. It contains an RTX 4060, 1TB SSD, Windows 11 OS, Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM and a white limited-edition mesh case. $900 at Walmart HP/CNET HP is offering a $443 discount on one of the highest-spec prebuilt PCs out there. It has an RTX 4090 graphics card that is capable of 100 frames per second at 4K, providing stellar graphics. Backing this up is a top-of-the-line Intel Core i9 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, a 1TB hard drive and Windows 11 -- all in a compact black design with RGB lighting. $2,957 at HP A decent midrange gaming PC for under $1,000, thanks to this $300-plus discount at Newegg. Powered by an RTX 4060, AMD Ryzen 7 8700F, 16GB RAM, 1TB SDD and Windows 11 OS, you can expect to achieve crisp 1080p for the latest big releases. $969 at Newegg Budget PCs don't come much cheaper than this. For less than $500, this is a great way to jump into PC Gaming if you're looking to run the basics and not play the latest games at the highest specs. What you get is an AMD Radeon Vega graphics card that'll support 1080p for games that aren't that intensive. Otherwise, it packs 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Windows 11 OS and an AMD Ryzen 5 processor. $499 at Walmart A flash deal at Best Buy slashes this HP Omen by $500. Act fast to take the RTX 4060-powered machine that also comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM and a sleek white/black design. $1,000 at Best Buy How to choose a good gaming PC dealThere are thousands of gaming PC deals to choose from, but not all of them are worth your hard-earned cash. As with any pricey purchase, it's worth assessing your needs before diving in and spending big bucks. When it comes to gaming PC deals, that means looking at how demanding the games you plan on playing are, how your new PC will fit into your existing setup (how many displays it will be driving, for example, and at what resolution and frame rate) and your budget. If you want multimonitor 4K gaming, you're probably going to struggle with a budget of $1,000, so it's best to be realistic with your expectations here.Once you've considered those factors, it all comes down to the price-to-performance ratio on offer. The main considerations here are the processor, graphics card and RAM as these will have the most impact on your overall experience. Newer and more powerful parts are going to push the overall price up -- just take a look at our list of the best graphics cards for gamers and you'll see that these don't come cheap -- so consider machines with recent previous-gen components to save some cash.Should I buy a prebuilt gaming PC deal or build my own?Depending on how technically savvy you are, the proposition of building your own gaming PC will either excite you or strike fear into you. The main benefit of building a PC yourself is you get to choose every component, shop around for deals on individual parts, and ultimately get more bang for your buck. The downside is that it takes a lot of research, effort and a decent amount of technical savvy. There's also the risk of something going wrong in the build process, which means you'll end up damaging parts or pulling your hair out trying to figure out why things aren't working as expected. With prebuilt gaming PC deals, you get to skip some of the more time-consuming and frustrating parts of the process, but you'll pay for the privilege and likely spend more money overall.

Devin Stone of the YouTube Channel Legal Eagle is suing PayPal over the affiliate link practices of its Honey extension that were detailed by fellow YouTuber MegaLag last month, he announced in a video published Friday. The proposed class action lawsuit was filed December 29th in Californias Northern District Court by Stones Eagle Team LLP and several other YouTubers businesses. It accuses Honey of intentionally replacing creators affiliate links with its own, even if its not offering shoppers a benefit, depriving creators of money in the process.The complaint alleges that PayPals practice violates Californias Unfair Competition Law and constitutes interference between creators and their business partners. The plaintiffs are seeking to represent anyone who was part of an affiliate program and had their link redirected to Paypal as a result of the Honey browser extension. Class action status has not yet been certified by a court.Honey operates by offering to find coupon codes through its browser extension. The MegaLag video last month describes how when shoppers interact with its pop-up offers at checkout, it replaces existing affiliate cookies with its own in the background and gets credit for the sale, whether it actually found a coupon or not. The complaint lists other ways PayPal is allegedly claiming affiliate commissions. That includes offering users rewards through its Honey Gold Program and encouraging them to Get Rewarded with PayPal, which prompts them to check out using PayPal. We dispute the allegations in the lawsuits, and will defend against them vigorously, PayPal VP of corporate communications Josh Criscoe said in a statement emailed to The Verge. He added that Honey follows industry rules and practices, including last-click attribution.The lawsuit acknowledges that last-click attribution is a standard practice that credits the most recent affiliate with a sale at checkout. The plaintiffs argue Honey is using that standard practice in a way thats deceitful and clandestine, luring users into clicking useless pop-ups that insert its code. Weve reached out to PayPal for a statement on the lawsuit. Lawyers are asking the court to make PayPal pay damages to creators and to permanently forbid it from swapping its own affiliate attribution at checkout. Theyve set up a website inviting other creators to join the lawsuit. Here is Criscoes full statement:We dispute the allegations in the lawsuits, and will defend against them vigorously.Honey is free to use and provides millions of shopperswith additional savings on their purchases whenever possible. Honey helps merchants reduce cart abandonment and comparison shopping while increasing sales conversion. Honey follows industry rules and practices, including last-click attribution, which is widelyused across major brands.Update January 5th: Added statement from PayPal VP of corporate communications Josh Criscoe.

A new lawsuit alleges that the PayPal-owned browser extension Honey is cheating creators out of money.Honey, which PayPal acquired for $4 billion in 2019, works by automatically presenting users with relevant coupon codes as they shop. However, in a video posted last month, YouTuber MegaLag described Honey as a scam thats stealing money from influencers.Among other accusations, MegaLag said that if a YouTuber or other creator promotes a product through an affiliate link, if the viewer has installed Honey, the extension will surreptitiously substitute its own link when the viewer makes a purchase even if Honey didnt provide any discounts. That means Honey, not the creator, receives the affiliate revenue for the transaction.Now Devin Stone, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer who posts videos on his popular LegalEagle YouTube channel, has filed a lawsuit against PayPal, claiming that the company systematically diverts commissions from rightful earners, undermining the affiliate marketing system.Adding to the irony, PayPal enlists content creators and influencers to promote the Honey browser extension to their audiences, effectively enabling it to usurp the commissions and other benefits those same creators depend on for income, Stone said in his lawsuit.TechCrunch has reached out to PayPal for comment. The company shared a statement with The Verge saying it disputes the allegations and will defend itself vigorously, and adding that Honey follows industry rules and practices, including last-click attribution (an advertising attribution system where the final touchpoint gets all the credit for a purchase).Naturally, Stone also published a video about the lawsuit, which also emphasized Honeys marketing efforts, in which creators promoted the browser extension to their audiences and once those audiences installed it, Stone said it was like a sleeping leech in their browsers, waiting for the viewer to conduct a transaction.And thus, forever after, the creators future sponsorships and future affiliate relationships and advertisements were devalued now that the creators audience was infected, he said.Stone added that hes seeking class action status for the lawsuit and looking for other creators to join.

The company unveiled two projectors during CES' first media day - and one of them does so much more.

Samsung vs Apple just got more interesting. AFP via Getty ImagesTiming really is everythingsometimes. Thats certainly the case for Samsung versus Apple this week, as the two battle it out in the premium smartphone segment. Samsung is about to make an exciting upgrade move just as Apples key defense has suddenly been undermined by a surprising mistake.Samsung is now readying its new Galaxy S25 flagship for launch, which will be at the forefront of the companys push to AI everything and will come with the innovative Android 15 and the delayed release of One UI 7. Security and privacyApples core DNAhas become the latest battleground between the two phone giants, and Samsung had made clear its intent to close the gap. One UI 7 does exactly that.Samsung says One UI 7 enhances security and privacy in the age of AI, giving users greater transparency and choice. The company also says now is the turning point of AI technology, and we need bold innovation that goes beyond the existing methods of success... lets establish ourselves as a leading device AI company this year through advanced intelligence.MORE FOR YOUThis aligns with the latest upgrade promise ahead of the Galaxy S25 launch, with reliable leaker Ice Universe posting on X that Samsung Galaxy S25 will tell Apple what leading AI is. Many new AI functions of S25 have not been leaked so far, which is very surprising to me.Samsung is reportedly about to show Apple what AI is really all about, Phone Arena suggests. Samsung has everything in place to make a statement about GalaxyAI with its 2025 flagship line. For security purposes, much of the AI activities handled by the Galaxy S25 line will stay on-device... The tweet from Ice Universe sets the bar high and we look forward to seeing the new AI features that allow Samsung to meet the height of that bar.We had expected on-device versus off-device AI processing to define the difference between Apples and Samsungs devices, with the Galaxy-maker tied to Googles way of working holding it back from matching Apples end-to-end control. Yes, Apple links to ChatGPT in the way Samsung links to Gemini, but the iMaker is careful to clearly call out whenever user data goes off-device.But Apples real groundbreaking move was the development of Private Cloud Compute. This extends the secure device enclave through to Apples cloud, ensuring that personal user data sent to PCC isnt accessible to anyone other than the usernot even to Apple. Apple says PCC is the most advanced security architecture ever deployed for cloud AI compute at scale.Meanwhile, in November, Samsungs Kim Dae-hyun promised generated AI that meets the level of user needs, operational technology that enhances personalized experience and usability, and security technology that protects personal information safely... When I wake up in the morning, an AI secretary [will] brief today's schedule and handle what I want with a natural conversation as if talking to a person is typical. The era of using AI like this will become our daily life, not the future.The enabler for this is Samsungs hybrid-AI. A technology that uses on-device AI and cloud AI together to provide a balance of speed and safety. If you use on-device AI, which has its advantages of fast response speed and strong privacy protection in the device, and cloud AI, which provides various functions based on massive data and high-performance computing, you can provide the optimal AI experience in various environments and conditions.And so, back in November, I suggested that you can see how this new privacy battle is likely to play out... [and that] Samsung [needs] a response to Apples PCC, to provide a closer match. What we have seen now, though, appears more a renewed commitment to the hybrid AI alternative.But all that has suddenly been clouded by the furor this week around Apples enhanced visual search and its newly agreed $95 million settlement for allegedly eavesdropping on users through its Siri AI assistant. A raft of ominous headlines followed: Apples New Photo Feature Quietly Violates What Happens on Your iPhone, Stays on Your iPhone, and This sneaky iOS 18 setting shares your photos with Apple, and Apple to pay $95 million in Siri spying lawsuit.And suddenly those dividing lines werent quite so clear anymore. On photo search, what Apple is doing is designed to preserve user privacy while deploying AI to link photos to a central dataset of landmarks. But 99% of users wont understand homomorphic encryption, differential privacy and OHTTP relays that hide IP addresses. Optically, it seems just like the hybrid-AI Samsung is promoting.Apples real mistake has been a lack of transparency. Crypto expert Matthew Green complained that its very frustrating when you learn about a service two days before New Years and you find that its already been enabled on your phone, while tech analyst Michael Tsai warned that not only is it not opt-in, but you cant effectively opt out if it starts uploading metadata about your photos before you even use the search feature. It does this even if youve already opted out of uploading your photos to iCloud... I dont think the company is living up to its ideals here.And on the Siri front, the allegations date back five years to a time when almost all voice assistants were being caught out for blurring the lines between on and off. This is just a case of awkward timing, putting Apples AI privacy back in the headlines for long-gone problems. I reached out to Apple for any response to the furor on its AI photo searchnothing so far.But in combination, its very bad timing for the locked-down iPhone to seem less locked down that before. Samsung will herald its AI future at CES this week, and while the S25 will be more capable than any Galaxy before to process AI on-device, the reality is this is going to be a hybrid solution and the clear differences users had been steered towards are more blurry than before. The Samsung versus Apple AI stakes have just got more interesting, and 2025 is still less than a week old.