The LLM, MiniMax-Text-o1, is of particular note for enabling up to 4 million tokens in its context window equivalent to a small library.Read More

Sony's new patents include AI system to predict player behaviour and reduce online lagAnother includes a trigger attachment to boost gunplay realism News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 14, 2025 Sony has patented several new systems, including one designed to harness AI to help predict player behaviour, and another to adapt DualSense controllers to be more realistic weapons.The first seeks to utilise AI tech and anticipate player movements in a bid to reduce lag. By using a camera to study and record player actions, Sony's exploring how accurately AI can predict player behaviour.Other patents recently uncovered also propose using AI to impersonate players to catch cheats online, and providing in-game help should the microphone or controller detect player frustration.As reported by Gamerant, in a separate patent filing - which was submitted last summer but only recently released publicly - Sony has also patented a trigger attachment to improve gunplay realism. In the diagrams presented, players hold the controller sideways and aim down between the R1 and R2 buttons.In December, Electronic Arts added 23 new patents to its public library of free accessibility tools, including patents for photosensitivity analysis plugins, intelligent personalised speech recognition, and generating expressive speech audio from text data.

Chinese officials are reportedly exploring a backup plan for TikTok after the Supreme Court appeared unlikely to save it from a US ban.The kicker? China is reportedly mulling having President-elect Donald Trumps favorite tech billionaire, Elon Musk, act either as broker or buyer in the arrangement. Reports from the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg all citing unnamed sources indicate that Chinese officials are at least discussing the option of a sale. TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes has called the reports pure fiction. The Chinese embassy in the US and Musks existing social media company, X, did not respond to requests for comment.Plenty of people have expressed interest in buying TikTok at this point, from Shark Tank celebrity Kevin OLeary to YouTuber Mr. Beast. The problem has not been a lack of buyers though obvious ones like Meta and Google would likely be barred by antirust authorities but reluctant sellers. The new reporting suggests that the Chinese government, which has long stated it would refuse to approve a sale, could now be changing its mind. Musks reported involvement makes some strategic sense based on his relationships with both China and Trump.Musk is uniquely positioned to play a role in a potential deal. He has a direct line to Trump, has said he wants X to be more like TikTok since he bought it, and plenty of experience dealing with Chinese authorities. (Sales from China account for a significant share of Teslas business.) He could merge TikTok with X and xAI, his OpenAI competitor, to create a more influential platform. As the richest man in the world, he also has access to the money hed need to do a deal.Long Le, an international business professor at Santa Clara University, tells The Verge that China may be open to a joint venture arrangement, similar to what foreign companies operating in China often undergo. Under the text of the US law, an app can be considered to be controlled by a foreign adversary if a person from one of those countries owns at least a 20 percent stake.If they were going to do some type of joint adventure, Elon Musk would be ideal because hes also close to Trump, Le says, adding that the Chinese government may already feel comfortable with him. Having someone like Musk would still allow the US and China to have some aspects of linkage to trade and foreign direct investment, even though, in general, the decoupling is occurring.If they were going to do some type of joint adventure, Elon Musk would be idealChina may hold off on a sale if it believes the US will let TikTok remain under ByteDances ownership, especially given TikToks influence around the world. ByteDance is a homegrown tech champion and source of national pride for China, so government may be unwilling to suffer the optics of handing TikTok over to the US. Plus, China may prefer to let the US take heat globally over the ban, even if it means the loss of a significant market for TikTok. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbinsaid last year that a forced sale or ban will inevitably come back to bite the United States.On the other hand, China is about to face a new protectionist administration when Trump is sworn in next week. He has promised exorbitant tariffs on Chinese imports, which could damage its economy. If the Chinese government is looking for an effective bargaining chip with Trump and the US, it might have found one in TikTok, especially considering the President-elects warm spot for the app. Chinese officials see a deal over TikTok being a possible area of collaboration with the US as they anticipate tense negotiations over other issues with the Trump administration, sources told Bloomberg.If TikTok is banned, its not clear how quickly users would feel the effects. Apple and Google would need to remove the app from their app stores and stop updating it. It would still remain on users phones if theyve already downloaded it but Oracle, which provides cloud infrastructure to TikTok in the US, would likely also be required to stop hosting the apps data. Some could still access TikTok by using virtual private networks (VPNs) but that adds an extra layer of friction. Despite all this, progress toward a deal could continue after the ban takes effect on Sunday extend the deadline.

In todays digital age, we are surrounded by enormous amounts of data, from social media interactions to e-commerce transactions and medical records. Making sense of this data to derive meaningful insights is a significant challenge. Traditional programming methods often fall short when dealing with complex and dynamic datasets, making manual rule-based systems inefficient. For instance, how can we accurately predict customer preferences or identify potential fraud in real-time? These challenges highlight the need for systems that can adapt and learnproblems that Machine Learning (ML) is designed to address. ML has become integral to many industries, supporting data-driven decision-making and innovations in fields like healthcare, finance, and transportation.Explaining Machine LearningMachine Learning is a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that allows systems to learn and improve from data without being explicitly programmed. At its core, ML involves analyzing data to identify patterns, make predictions, and automate processes. Rather than relying on predefined rules, ML models learn from historical data to adapt to new situations. For example, streaming platforms use ML to recommend movies, email providers use it to filter spam, and healthcare systems use it to assist in diagnosing diseases. IBM describes Machine Learning as training algorithms to process and analyze data to make predictions or decisions with minimal human intervention.Technical Details and BenefitsMachine Learning operates on three key components: data, algorithms, and computational power. Data serves as the foundation, providing the information needed to train models. Algorithms, including supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning techniques, determine how the system interprets and processes this data. Supervised learning relies on labeled datasets, unsupervised learning identifies hidden patterns in unlabeled data, and reinforcement learning optimizes decision-making through trial and error. Cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure provide the computational infrastructure necessary for training and deploying ML models.The benefits of ML are wide-ranging. Organizations using ML often achieve greater efficiency, reduced costs, and better decision-making. In healthcare, ML algorithms help detect anomalies in medical images, facilitating early diagnosis and treatment. Retailers use ML to tailor customer experiences, increasing sales and loyalty. ML also enables improvements in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and agriculture by predicting market trends, optimizing supply chains, and boosting crop yields. These capabilities make ML a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.InsightsNumerous real-world applications highlight the impact of Machine Learning. According to a study by SAS, organizations adopting ML report up to a 30% improvement in operational efficiency. In healthcare, IBM Watsons ML technologies have contributed to identifying new drug treatments. Meanwhile, e-commerce platforms leveraging ML have experienced a 20-40% increase in conversion rates through personalized recommendations.The data underscores the value of ML in transforming raw information into actionable insights. A recent article by Databricks notes that ML models often achieve higher predictive accuracy compared to traditional statistical methods. Additionally, businesses utilizing ML report significant cost savings, with AWS highlighting reductions of up to 25% in operational expenses. For more insights into MLs capabilities, resources such as IBM, MIT Sloan, and AWS provide valuable perspectives.ConclusionMachine Learning represents a practical and effective approach to solving complex problems, analyzing data, and making informed decisions. By leveraging data, algorithms, and computational power, ML provides tools to address challenges that traditional programming cannot. Its applications range from improving efficiency in businesses to advancing healthcare and personalizing customer experiences. As industries continue to explore MLs potential, its role in shaping the future of technology and innovation will only grow.Sources:Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our65k+ ML SubReddit.(Promoted) Aswin Ak+ postsAswin AK is a consulting intern at MarkTechPost. He is pursuing his Dual Degree at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He is passionate about data science and machine learning, bringing a strong academic background and hands-on experience in solving real-life cross-domain challenges. Meet 'Height':The only autonomous project management tool (Sponsored)

7 Counterintuitive and Non-intuitive Probability Problems 0 like January 14, 2025Share this postLast Updated on January 14, 2025 by Editorial TeamAuthor(s): Saankhya Mondal Originally published on Towards AI. Exploring Mind-Bending Scenarios Where Probability Challenges Our ExpectationsThis member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.This article will explore seven fascinating probability problems that challenge intuition and lead to surprising results. Each problem will illustrate how our expectations can differ from reality. Ill discuss the hidden principles behind these seemingly paradoxical scenarios. Lets get started.Image generated by author using GPT 4oThis problem is taken from the book 50 Challenging Problems in Probability by Frederick Mosteller. The question goes as follows.To encourage Elmers promising career, his father offers him a prize if he wins (at least) two tennis sets in a row in a three-set series to be played with his father and the club champion alternately: father-champion-father or champion-father-champion, according to Elmers choice. The champion is a better player than Elmers father. Which series should Elmer choose?Intuition says Elmer must pick father-champion-father because he gets to play against his father twice and the champion, a better player than his father once. The answer is incorrect.Elmer must pick champion-father-champion to increase his chances of winning the prize. Heres why.Let the probability of beating the champion be c and the father be f. f > c. Elmer will win the prize if he wins two sets 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

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League just received its final update, which along with the promised offline mode, adds an official ending to the game's story that wraps everything up in a tidy, if rather uninteresting, way.As previously announced, Episode 8: Balance is the final update planned for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Alongside some new armore and exotic weapons, the biggest feature in the update is a new Offline Mode that will allow players to continue playing Suicide Squad Game by themselves without requiring an internet connection.The Offline Mode was announced in December 2023 as part of Rocksteady's post-launch plans, but the studio was also committed to releasing its promised DLCs and additional characters, leaving the Offline Mode for its final update.There's also a big comic book ending to wrap up the story of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, so if you're okay with spoilers feel free to read below the break. You've been warned.PlayIGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!To start:...try asking a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or "No".000/250Okay so Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, as the name implies, is about taking out members of the Justice League who have been brainwashed by Brainiac. One of the biggest shocks in the game was when Harley Quinn shoots Batman point blank in the head.However, Batman was actually still alive. In his masterful gambit, he allowed Brainiac to create clones of the Justice League and then oversaw the events of the game from the shadows as he worked to take down Brainiac in secret.The ending is told via the comic book illustrations that the different post-launch episodes have been presented in and in true comic book fashion, your favorite heroes are still all alive and the bad guys are defeated. Woo-hoo.Is this how Rocksteady envisioned the end of Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League? Who can say. The game released to mixed reviews and Warner Bros. said the game fell short of expectations when it came to sales, and the developers announced that it was ending future updates on the game after Season 4.You can read our full review of Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League here and for anyone looking to play the game, the Offline Mode means you're able to fully. So if you see it on sale next time, don't worry about picking it up as the game will still run just fine.Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

Eindhoven-based startup Photon IP has raised 4.75mn in seed funding as it looks to scale up its unique method for creating energy-efficient photonic chips.AI systems, data centres, fibre-optic networks, andeven some sensors rely on photonic chips to send and receive information using light. These chips are a big deal because theyre faster and use less energy than typical semiconductors, which transfer data through electricity.But to make these high-performance, light-speed chips you need special compounds called III-V materials, such as indium phosphide.These materials are relatively scarce and expensive though, so the industry has been looking at ways of using silicon, leveraging all the scale and capability from the world of electronics, Photons CCO John Anderton told TNW.However, combining III-V materials with silicon on one single chip is, simply put, bloody difficult. Thats exactly where Photon has found an attractive market opportunity.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Founded in 2022, the startup has developed a way to integrate III-V materials and silicon onto a single chip that can handle light better, use less power, and be mass-produced for things like faster internet, smarter AI systems, and high-precision sensors. There are many companies making photonic chips, but the challenge is finding the best way to combine and integrate these materials onto a single chip, said Anderton. We bring to market a unique, revolutionary technology that allows us to deliver the lowest energy use and the best performance while being scalable.Photon is fabless, meaning it outsources the chipmaking to established manufacturers, who make the chips to the startups specifications. The commercial value lies in Photons secret sauce.Amsterdam-based deep tech VC Innovation Industries led Photons seed round,with participation from Faber and the Brabant Development Agency. The venture arm of PhotonDelta, a photonics industry body based in Eindhoven, was the fourth and final investor.Photon IP has already secured 2mn in grant funding from the European Innovation Council. Todays seed round is its second injection of private equity, following a 1.1mn investment in 2022 led by Polish early-stage photonics investment firm Vigo Ventures.Photon told TNW it will use the fresh funding to grow its team as it looks to announce its first photonic chip products later this year. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

The popular Opera web browser has just released a major update for its iPhone and iPad app. With the new version, Opera is making it easier for users to interact with Aria the companys built-in AI through new Home Screen widgets. Read on as we detail everything thats new with the latest Opera update for iOS.As detailed in a blog post, the latest version of Opera for iOS brings new Home Screen widgets. These widgets are fully customizable and let users access key features of the web browser in a single tap. For instance, you can use the widget to open a new tab in Private Mode or even Ask Aria.Theres more: if you long-press on the icon, youll find even more shortcuts. These additions speed up your daily browsing by giving you one-tap access to the features that matter most, Opera says.But theres another important change coming with this update. Operas Aria AI is now available for anyone to use, even when youre not signed in. With Aria, users can ask questions via text or voice input. Aria can search the web and is even capable of generating images using Googles Imagen 3 Fast model.According to Opera, all you need to do to use Aria without an account is update the iOS app to the latest version. The only thing to keep in mind is that image generation is limited to five images per day when youre not signed in, while registered users can generate up to 30 images per day.Opera also thanks iOS users for the significant growth recently.Innovative, user-focused updates like these have spurred Opera for iOS to some significant growth recently. Between September and November 2024, our flagship browser for iPhone recorded a 33% increase in new users across the European Union and a 31% rise around the world! So our thanks to you youre the reason we keep coming up with exciting new features as we look to craft the very best browning experience possible.The Opera browser for iOS is available for free on the App Store. It requires an iPhone or iPad running iOS 14 or later.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

It's now been six weeks since Haliey "Hawk Tuah" Welch launched her disastrous and allegedly fraudulent meme coin and in the ensuing firestorm, it's been exactly that long since she last posted a podcast episode.The expectorating internet sensation's most recent podcast episode ironically titled "HOW TO AVOID GETTING CANCELLED" was posted to Spotify and YouTube on December 3.Since then, she's gone dark.The very next day after that episode was published, the 22-year-old viral vixen launched her "HAWK" meme coin, which crashed spectacularly and immediatelyin what many believe was some sort of scam. In a single day, the coin's total worth dropped from $490 million to just $24.6 million, leading to accusations of a pump-and-dump scheme.Though Welch initially insisted on X-formerly-Twitter that the team behind the HAWK coin hadn't sold any of their tokens, she appeared to change her tune after jilted investors filed suit against her and the coin's shady promoters."I take this situation extremely seriously," she posted on December 20, weeks after the debacle. "I am fully cooperating with and am committed to assisting the legal team representing the individuals impacted, as well as to help uncover the truth, hold the responsible parties accountable, and resolve this matter."Beyond that cooperation post and the bizarre instance in which she responded to criticism on an X spaces audio chat by announcing that she was going to bed Welch has been entirely absent from the web. Though we don't know exactly what accounts for her MIA status, it could well be under the advice of attorneys urging the young woman to avoid incriminating herself or fraternizing with people involved in the case.Still, it's a shame that Welch's "Talk Tuah" podcast which only has 13 episodes, and launched three months to the day before the last one has disappeared from the digital airwaves, because it was actually kind of hilarious.Depending on what happens with the lawsuit, this may not be the last we've heard from Hawk Tuah girl but her podcast may, unfortunately, be dead on arrival.Share This Article

See at Apple TV Plus Home of Severance Apple TV Plus See at Apple TV Plus See more details See at Expressvpn Best VPN for streaming ExpressVPN See at Expressvpn See more details Table of Contents Get ready for round two of this corporate thriller. AppleIt's a long-awaited moment for fans of the dystopian thriller Severance, which premiered on Apple TV Plus in 2022. At last, the second season of this unsettling and irresistible drama is slated to drop -- and Apple doesn't want you to forget it.On Tuesday, the company staged a pop-up at New York's Grand Central Terminal featuring Lumon-style workstations and computers. Soon enough, actors including Adam Scott, Britt Lower and Zach Cherry made an appearance, arriving at their desks in character. Director Ben Stiller posted a photo and video from the pop-up on X and Bluesky.Severance follows Mark Scout (Adam Scott) and his colleagues at a fictitious biotech company called Lumon, who have undergone a brain surgery that separates their work and personal lives. When they're in the office, they have no recollection of their lives outside and vice versa. But strange things start to happen, including the sudden axing of a longtime colleague, which pushes Mark and his colleagues to question the company they work for and its motives. It's a riveting commentary on work-life balance (or the lack thereof), made stronger by understated yet memorable characters and a focused storyline.Season 1 ends on such a compelling cliffhanger that you'll be desperate to jump right into season 2 at the earliest chance. And at last, the wait is almost over. So without further ado, here's everything you need to know about the next season of Severance, including how to watch the highly anticipated show with a VPN.Right now c xx[image or embed] Ben Stiller (@benstiller.redhour.com) January 14, 2025 at 1:35 PMHow to Watch Severance Season 2 on Apple TV PlusThe second season of Severance lands on Apple TV Plus on Friday,Jan. 17. There are 10 episodes, which will be released on a weekly basis -- likely leaving viewers on the edge of their seats in between airings. You also now have the option to access Apple TV Plus through another streamer: Prime Video. The retail and tech giants have struck a deal to offer Apple's streaming service as a $10 monthly add-on for Prime Video customers. That can make it easier to access the platform and give it added visibility -- therefore simplifying the process of binging Severance Season 2 (or whatever you're watching).And if you'd like to catch up on Season 1 before activating an Apple TV Plus subscription, you can do so for free on the Roku Channel (though you'll have to sit through ads). James Martin/CNET Subscribe to Apple TV Plus for $10 a month. If you'd like to give it a try before committing, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial. And if you've purchased a new Apple device, you'll get three months of Apple TV Plus free, as long as you redeem the offer within 90 days. See at Apple TV Plus How to watch Severance from anywhere with a VPNWhat if you're traveling abroad and want to stream Severance while away from home? With a VPN, you can virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the series from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too.A VPN is the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds by encrypting your traffic. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that's passed our tests and security standards.You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are legal in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you're using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list such as Surfshark or NordVPN. James Martin/CNET ExpressVPN is our current pick for the most secure and reliable VPN service. It's fast, works across multiple devices and offers stable streams. ExpressVPN is normally $13 a month, but you can save money with an annual plan. There's also a 30-day money-back guarantee.Read our review of ExpressVPN. See at Expressvpn Follow the VPN provider's instructions for installation and choose a country where Severance is streaming on Apple TV Plus. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you're connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream Severance on more than one device, it's possible you'll need to configure each one to ensure you are signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you're logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you're ready to open Apple TV Plus to stream.If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you've followed installation instructions correctly and you've picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.