Update: Some users report that the new options have disappeared. Its possible they went live prematurely.OpenAI is introducing a new way for users to customize their interactions with ChatGPT, the companys AI-powered chatbot. Some users on X on Thursday reported that ChatGPTs existing custom instructions menu on the web has been revamped with new fields. Now, users can specify a preferred name or nickname, their profession, other things theyd like ChatGPT to know about them, and traits theyd like the chatbot to have. OpenAI suggests traits like Chatty, Encouraging, and Gen Z.Introduce yourself to get better, more personalized responses, reads a message in the refreshed menu. Image Credits:Tibor Blaho (opens in a new window)The options arent showing up for this reporter yet. TechCrunch has reached out to OpenAI for comment and will update this article if we hear back. Its likely the new menu is more of an aesthetic makeover than a deep technical upgrade. The old custom instructions feature used whats known as prompt engineering to guide ChatGPTs style and tone. Essentially, it primed the AI powering ChatGPT with a paragraph of user-provided instructions so its answers adhered to those requirements and preferences.So far as we can tell, the new menu still relies on prompt engineering. It simply presents it in a user-friendlier way.OpenAI previously said that it applies moderation to custom instructions to check if they adhere to its terms of use. Presumably, that hasnt changed with the revamped personalization settings. OpenAI has looked to polish ChatGPT as its user base grows, adding capabilities like live web search and a Canvas interface tailored to writing and coding projects. The company said in December that over 300 million people use the chatbot each week.

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free just click TechCrunch Mobility!Hey hey, its a new year! Ive missed you these past two weeks. But Im back, and in Las Vegas for CES 2025. As always, announcements from the show came fast and furious some more material than others.My big takeaway: Autonomous vehicles are back, and the trough of disillusionment days are in the rearview. At least, that was the sentiment from most of the folks I spoke to while walking around the Las Vegas Convention Center. Meanwhile, U.S. automakers were absent this year with the exception of Scout Motors, the VW Group spinoff.Waymo had its largest exhibit yet on the CES convention floor, where it showed off the Zeekr RT. There were plenty of other autonomous vehicle startups (or AV adjacent companies) with exhibits, including Applied Intuition, May Mobility, Japanese company Tier IV, Polymath Robotics, and Zoox. John Deere even got in on the automated driving action. Numerous other AV startups, as well as companies related to automated driving, had executives milling about, including folks from Aurora, Serve Robotics, and Waabi.The mood was uplifted excited, even but without the same unchecked hypey-ness I experienced six or seven years ago.Still, extreme challenges remain on the capital and operational front. Even Waymo, which arguably is the dominant force, has struggles, including an incident where a customer got stuck in one of its robotaxis.A little birdImage Credits:Bryce DurbinWe love being at CES because it gives us a chance to talk to a lot of little birds in person for a change. This week, that included some of the top brass at Volkswagen Group, who had a lot of confidence in the companys new offshoot startup Scout Motors.Scout is still a few years away from production and is still early in the process of building its factory in Columbia, South Carolina. But Volkswagen Group expects big things from Scout. Executives said that could even include using Scouts factory to build other vehicles as the startup ramps up production potentially even from new VW joint venture partner Rivian, which is currently expanding its own factory in Illinois and has delayed plans for a new plant in Georgia.Volkswagen looks at it this way: Its factories are built around producing platforms versus specific vehicles. If there are enough commonalities between various cars or SUVs in the larger portfolio something that is bound to happen as Rivian-VW software and electrical architecture start to power more VW Group vehicles then, in the companys eyes, it makes sense to let them share manufacturing space and resources.Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com, Sean OKane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or check out these instructions to learn how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.Deals!Image Credits:Bryce DurbinNXP, a Dutch semiconductor giant, plans to acquire TTTech Auto, an Austrian company that specializes in safety software for autonomous vehicles. The all-cash transaction is valued at $625 million.NXP specializes in semiconductors for automation across industries, and it provides chips for sensors and cameras that are critical to core automated driving functions. The acquisition comes as chip companies including Nvidia and Qualcomm double down on providing automotive-grade supercomputers and toolkits that can help automakers offer autonomous vehicle technology.Other deals that got my attentionAmazon AWS entered into a 10-year, $1 billion partnership with Here, which specializes in mapping and location tech. As part of the deal, Here can use AWSs cloud infrastructure to help auto manufacturers get the resources they need to develop and deploy automated driving features.Serve Robotics raised $80 million from unnamed institutional investors via a direct offering. This raise came the day after Serve announced that it had raised $87 million throughout the month of December through a combination of an ATM and exercise of warrants. Together, these funds will help Serve extend its runway past 2026 and build its fleet to 2,000 sidewalk robots by the end of 2025.Notable reads and other tidbitsImage Credits:Bryce DurbinCES roundupBefore we jump into the other news, here are some more CES highlights that you might have missed:BMW is revamping its in-car user interface, starting with the Neue Klasse sedan later this year, including a widget-based system that lets users customize the layout in a way that projects visuals onto the windshield.Delta Air Lines announced a slew of updates, including an AI-powered assistant in its app and upgraded in-flight entertainment system, complete with free onboard YouTube Premium and Music. The airline also announced an exclusive deal with Uber that will see SkyMiles members earn miles through Uber rides and deliveries.Honda unveiled the latest in its futuristic 0 Series, a midsized electric SUV prototype called the 0 SUV. Honda promises to debut a production version of the 0 SUV in the first half of 2026.Segway came to play this year with two sick new e-bikes. The first is Xyber, a dirt bike thats not even road-legal yet, and the second is Xafari, a more classic, customizable step-through bike. Both are packed with tech and come in under $3,000.Scout Motors, the VW spinoff, stood out at CES for having a more classic approach to its two vehicles, the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup. Theyve got normal door handles, optional gas-powered range extenders, and, miraculously, buttons! Instead of all touchscreens! That doesnt mean the cars are light on tech, though; one cool feature theyll have is built-in satellite connection.Uber also teamed up with Nvidia this year, announcing it would use the chipmakers new generative world model simulation tool, Cosmos, and cloud-based AI supercomputing platform, DGX Cloud, to support the development of AVs.Vay, the Berlin-based startup that uses teleoperations technology to have humans pilot empty vehicles to rental customers, is expanding operations in Las Vegas, with plans to increase its fleet size to 100 vehicles.Xpeng Aero HT unveiled its modular flying car thats essentially a huge electric van with a small, foldable eVTOL that can roll out and launch into the skies. And, apparently, Xpeng is getting ready to mass-produce this year.ADASTeslas Actual Smart Summon feature, which lets Tesla owners use their app to summon their car to them autonomously, is under federal investigation following several crashes.Autonomous vehiclesAurora Innovation has lost Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi as one of its board members after he resigned last week, citing a desire to focus on his responsibilities at his ride-hail and delivery company.A Serve delivery robot and a Waymo robotaxi collided at a Los Angeles intersection. No robots were hurt, but its an interesting case study of what happens as our streets become filled with different types of AVs.Electric vehicles, charging, & batteriesLucid produced and delivered a record number of vehicles in 2024. The EV startup met its production target with 9,029 EVs and delivered 10,241 vehicles.Rivian delivered 51,579 electric SUVs, trucks, and vans in 2024, up 3x from 2023. The company also built 49,476 EVs last year, which is 8,000 fewer than Rivians July guidance.Tesla saw fewer deliveries last year compared to 2023, marking the automakers first ever year-to-year drop. Not even the Cybertruck, Teslas first true new model since 2020, boosted Teslas growth. (Bonus: Check out all the promises Elon Musk made for Tesla in 2024.)Turo was involved in some seriously messy business after two individuals rented EVs from the peer-to-peer car-sharing platform and used them to perform acts of violence. First there was the guy who drove a Ford F-150 Lightning into a crowd of people, then the guy who drove a Tesla Cybertruck to the Trump hotel in Las Vegas and allegedly blew it up. Both individuals had clean records, so what could Turo have done to prevent this?MiscellaneousTesla directors will now have to pay up to $919 million back to the company after a Delaware judge approved a settlement, resolving allegations that they overpaid themselves.This weeks wheelsImage Credits:Sean O'KaneWithin hours of landing in Las Vegas, I headed to Zooxs operations center, which is located off the Strip. My mission: take a ride in a Zoox robotaxi. Mission accomplished. And twice, for that matter. Stay tuned for my full writeup and video in the next day. But until then, here are a few thoughts.During my two separate Zoox trips, both of which were at night, the robotaxi handled numerous complex situations, including construction zones, two car crashes (we were not involved), double-parked vehicles, and turning right on a red light. This experience felt normal, even though logically I understood this was not normal. At least not yet.Zoox still has a bit of work to do, though. While the robotaxi obeyed all traffic rules and operated safely, there were a few times when it hit the brakes a bit hard. The suspension could also use some work to make it a more comfortable ride.What is This weeks wheels? Its a chance to learn about the different transportation products were testing, whether its an electric or hybrid car, an e-bike, or even a ride in an autonomous vehicle.

The old chestnut passed around by industry watchers for the past decade was that CES one of the worlds largest consumer tech trade events had turned into an auto show. Maybe even the most important auto show of the year.And there was ample evidence of that. GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra used the CES stage in 2016 to introduce the world to the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt. In 2022, Barra made another big splash at CES when she declared that General Motors would sell personal autonomous vehicles by the middle of the decade.Meanwhile, Ram and Chrysler two American brands owned by Stellantis have used CES to show off future EVs, including the Ram 1500 BEV in 2023.Ford has been perhaps the most visible CES exhibitor at least on the automotive front. The U.S. automaker has used CES for a bevy of tech-related announcements since at least 2011, including its Smart Mobility Plan in 2015, self-driving car ambitions in 2016, future EV lineup in 2017, and its City of Tomorrow vision in 2018 that included building a cloud platform with Autonomic for smart cities.This year, not one American automaker can be found, unless you count VW Groups U.S. spinoff Scout Motors. Several Chinese automakers filled that void, notably Zeekr, the EV brand owned by Chinas Geely Holdings. Wey, a premium brand under Great Wall Motor, and Xpeng also had booths.Their absence could be attributed to the normal product cycle, which in automotive is longer than other consumer electronics, Brian Moody, senior editor for Kelley Blue Book, told TechCrunch. Its cyclical, thats the boring answer, he said in a recent interview. Automaker product cycles are much longer than consumer product cycles. Building a car in the real world takes longer.He also said automakers are starting to rethink their presence at shows like CES. If youre not generating tens of millions of impressions to consumers, whats the ROI? he mused, adding that media fragmentation has contributed to this concern.Ford spokesperson Alan Hall told TechCrunch that while the company doesnt have an activation (display or news announcements) this year, CES remains an important show for scouting of new technologies and trends in consumer electronics so we will have a presence with a number of our engineering, design, supply chain, and product planning team members there.Some Ford employees, for instance, participated in panel discussions, such as at the Connect2Car conference.GM had a small presence through a few partners, but no speaking engagements or booth, a spokesperson confirmed, noting that with all tradeshows, the company evaluates year-over-year and adjusts based on various business factors and priorities.Regardless, walking the floor of West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center where virtually all vehicle tech can be found the lack of U.S. automakers was notable. The elaborate booths showcasing EVs or in-car software from U.S. companies were nowhere to be found.Several Chinese automakers filled that void, notably Zeekr, the EV brand owned by Chinas Geely Holdings.And it extended to other automakers like Mercedes-Benz that have traditionally had large exhibits at CES.Mercedes made the decision to skip CES after careful consideration and evaluation of our strategic direction for the upcoming year, spokesperson Patrick Kuom told TechCrunch, adding that the company has a presence at the booth of partner Xperi.There were a couple of automakers there such as Honda, which showcased its two vehicles in its upcoming 0 Series as well as its underlying Asimo operating system, and BMW, which revealed more about its new in-car user interface. Toyota also made a splash with its press conference announcing it had completed the first phase of its living laboratory Woven City and that it was exploring and investing in orbital rockets.But the main theme was automated driving and software and the legacy automakers didnt have much to show on that front. Instead, companies working on automated driving or the sensors that support it and software took up the bulk of the floor. AV giants Zoox and Waymo had exhibits (along with Zoox robotaxi rides for media) alongside others like May Mobility and Japanese company Tier IV.Software and sensor companies also abounded including Aeva, Applied Intuition, and Sonatus to name just a few.

As part of our ongoing coverage of films in the lead-up to the Oscar Bake-off on January 11, we highlight the VFX of Barry Jenkins Lion King prequel Mufasa: The Lion King. MPC, a Technicolor Group company, has a long history of bringing to life unforgettable characters and crafting classic worlds, balancing animation with VFX. From The Jungle Book to Maleficent and The Lion King, MPCs has helped contribute to many new chapters in VFX and cinematic expression. This year, MPCs team brought Disneys African savannah to life in Mufasa: The Lion King. The film was directed by Barry Jenkins, the Production VFX Supervisor was Adam Valdez, and Animation Supervisor was Daniel Fotheringham. MPCs VFX Supervisor was Audrey Ferrara, and VFX Producer was Georgie Duncan. A team of over 1,700 artists, production crew, and technologists at MPC crafted the VFX for Mufasa: The Lion King. To create a blueprint for our final animation our motion capture shoot involved multiple performers playing Mufasa, Sarabi, Taka, Rafiki and even Zazu says Production VFX Supervisor Adam Valdez. They wore motion capture suits, and through a process we call QuadCap, their movements were mapped onto digital lion characters. This technology aligned the performers head and spine movements to the lions head and neck, their legs to the lions front legs, and simulated the lions back legs and hips to follow. Barry could then watch a live feed of the lions on screen through Unreal Engine, allowing him to give real-time performance and camera notes to the actors and DP. Within Unreal Engine, a total of 12680 on-stage takes were shot using the VCam and Motion Capture systems, all of which produced both a recorded and rendered artifact. If you were to play all captured takes one after the other, it would take just under 200 hours, or just over 8 days, to watch them all. A total of 7399 live motion capture and Quad Cap performances were captured throughout the shoot.We added facial expressions and lip sync to enhance characters performances. says Animation Supervisor Dan Fotheringham, then Barry could walk through the recorded sequence in VR making notes before we could wrap it up to be shot virtually. Performances with complex animal mechanics, like fighting or leaping were then integrated into the Quadcap performances and into the virtual sets, creating a complete master scene that Barry and James could shoot from any angle. This innovative blending of live-action filmmaking techniques and visual effects became a defining feature of the entire production. Building Africas Wild MajestyTo authentically recreate the African savannah, MPCs Environment team embarked on scouting trips across the continent, gathering invaluable references for the films flora, fauna, and landscapes. Armed with photogrammetry scans and painstaking hand-sculpting techniques, the team meticulously built the world of Mufasa, crafting plains, canyons, and forests down to the finest detail, including individual rocks and blades of grass.A crucial step in the process was optimizing the rendering of the vast environments. To handle the scale of these huge environments, the team had to develop new tools to increase efficiency. The landscapes became integral to telling Mufasas journey, serving as much a geographic as a spiritual backdrop. The result is a sprawling digital recreation of Africa spanning 107 square milesthe size of Salt Lake City, Utah. Custom scattering tools were used to populate rivers, trees, and plants in ways that mimicked the complexity of natural ecosystems. These breathtaking environments serve as both a stage and a character, guiding Mufasa on his epic journey. Breathing Life Into the Animal KingdomMPCs acclaimed Character Lab took the lead in bringing over 118 unique animals to life, including beloved characters like Mufasa, Scar, Pumbaa, Timon, and Rafiki. Each character was constructed from the ground up, beginning with an anatomically accurate bone and muscle structure. From there, the team used their proprietary grooming system, Loma, to create lifelike fur with unparalleled detail and realism.The challenge with fur is not just making it look realistic, but ensuring it moves and reacts naturally, says MPCs Character Supervisor. This was achieved through a combination of advanced simulation techniques and meticulous fine-tuning. Each lion had over 30,000,000 hairs to achieve the realistic look of fur. Mufasas mane alone had 16,995,454 hair curves. Mufasa has 600,000 hairs on his ears, 6.2 million hairs on his legs, and 9 million hairs covering the middle portion of his body. Simulating realistic lion manes for the assembled loins required 40,000 80,000 dynamic curves per character, with custom presets for different weather and physical conditions. Long shots took up to a week per iteration, with final fur caches exceeding 800 GB.To capture the emotional subtleties of the characters, animators studied hours of real animal footage. Muscle movement, posture, and even subtle shifts in expression were analyzed and replicated to ensure authenticity. Animators often acted out expressions themselves, using their performances to infuse each character with genuine emotion. This hybrid of research and personal creativity resulted in characters that feel as lifelike and emotionally resonant as their real-world counterparts. This shot of Rafiki making a snow angel required simulating over 620 million snow particles. Dynamic Elements: Simulating Natures ForcesMPCs FX team brought the dynamic forces of nature into the mix, simulating wind, rain, snow, and fire to create a fully immersive world. The FX work was key to grounding the characters in their environment, says Ferrara. Whether it was the golden light filtering through the savannah or a storm rolling across the plains, every element was designed to integrate into the photoreal aesthetic. CG lighters and compositors worked meticulously to perfect the films lighting and mood, ensuring every shot radiated authenticity. Pushing Boundaries in Animation and VFXA team of up to 88 artists across London, Montreal, and Bengaluru brought to life 77 digital sets, including the iconic Pride Rock and new locations Mountains of the Moon and the Tree of Life. Artists built a library of 5,790 assets, including trees, plants, and grass species, which are all featured in the film. The storage requirements for the film reached 25 petabytes which is the equivalent storage of 5.6 million DVDs. Rendering the film in final quality took 150M hours. It would take a single computer 17,123 years to complete. The fully digital world brims with depth, vivid detail, and a cinematic scale that does justice to the legacy of the original film. From its sweeping landscapes to its intricately animated characters, MPCs work on Mufasa: The Lion King represents another achievement in visual 3D animated storytelling.

Researchers from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen and City University of Hong Kong have unveiled a manufacturing strategy for thick-panel origami structures that promises unprecedented load-bearing capabilities and flexibility. Published in Nature Communications, their approach uses a single fused deposition modeling (FDM) multimaterial 3D printer to create rigid panels fully wrapped in soft, stretchable hinges. This design allows each origami unit to hold more than 11,000 times its own weight, withstand over 100 cycles of 40% compressive strain, and absorb substantial impact forces.Origame metamaterials. Image via Nature Communications.The research team employed the Ultimaker S5, produced by Netherlands-based Ultimaker, to print polylactic acid (PLA) cores entirely encased in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Conventional attempts at thick-panel origami often fail at the interface between stiff and flexible components, leading to delamination or limited foldability. By contrast, wrapping PLA panels in continuous layers of TPU produces robust hinges that handle large tension during folding without debonding. This wrapping approach eliminates complex assembly processeslike manually adhering thick panels or rolling hingesand ensures reliable performance under cyclic loading.The Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle complete with Air Manager and Material Station. Photo via UltimakerSelf-Locking Origami for Structural StrengthTwo 3D printed thick-panel Miura-origami sheets can be stacked to form a self-locking unit. A key innovation is the push-to-pull (P2P) deformation mode, which channels vertical compression into the horizontal stretch of soft hinges. During tests, four self-locking units collectively supported more than 260 kilograms and exhibited full recovery after repeated loading. This ability to sustain large compressive strains without permanent deformation results from transferring loads through flexible hinges rather than risking panel buckling.Finite element analysis (FEA) simulations and a custom theoretical model helped pinpoint the geometric parameters required to avoid buckling and maintain the P2P mode. Adjusting factors such as hinge length, wall thickness, and the angles between panels enables programmable mechanical responses. When configured properly, the origami supports static loads and resists cyclic stresses. In addition, stacking multiple origami layers significantly lowers impact forces. One three-layer setup reduced peak impact by 72.1% under a 72J drop test, underscoring its potential in protective applications.Fabrication and design of thick-panel origami. Image via Nature Communications.From Prototypes to Real-World ApplicationsBecause the fabrication process directly prints rigid and soft parts in one piece, origami designs can be customized to suit specific engineering needs. Potential applications include energy-absorbing panels for helmets, deployment mechanisms in aerospace, and flexible supports for robotics. The research team also envisions experimenting with other materials, such as carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers, to increase stiffness or tune energy absorption.Origami Structure Stress Test. Image via Nature Communications.The thick-panel origami method addresses longstanding obstaclesparticularly in managing thickness while preserving flexible foldingto bring origami-inspired metamaterials closer to mainstream use. By combining simple 3D printing workflows with a well-defined geometric model, researchers have demonstrated how these foldable structures can exceed typical load-bearing expectations.This work was supported by Chinas National Key Research and Development Program (2020YFB1312900), the National Natural Science Foundation (11922215), and additional grants from the Science Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, and City University of Hong Kong. Design and mechanical performance of self-locking thick-panel origami. Image via Nature Communications.Ready to discover who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards?What will the future of 3D printing look like?Which recent trends are driving the 3D printing industry, as highlighted by experts?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights.Stay connected with the latest in 3D printing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, and dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel for more exclusive content.Feature image shows Fabrication and design of thick-panel origami. Image via Nature Communications.

At University of Texas at Austins Mebane Gallery, a group show organized by Kyriakos Kyriakou and Sofia Krimizi compiles drawings which meditate on the micro-urban archipelago, a condition which makes up much of the American hinterland, curators said. The exhibition, Micropolitan American, opened today, January 9.The project builds upon years of research and teaching by Kyriakou and Krimizi, both Greek architects. Kyriakou teaches at UT Austin, and Krimizi at Londons Architectural Association. Micropolitan Americas conceptual point of departure is a famous 1976 cartoon by Saul Steinberg. The drawing, View of the World from 9th Avenue, which featured on the cover of The New Yorker, showed what middle America looks like from the lush, perhaps distorted view of Manhattan and its people.In Steinbergs drawing, vast terrain is compressed: Beyond the Hudson River, everywhere between Chicago, the U.S.-Mexico border, and Los Angeles is shown as one homogenous landmass. This was meant as a commentary on the elitist gaze and sheer apathy many New Yorkers seemingly have in what happens in the so-called fly over states.(Saul Steinberg/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)At Mebane Gallery, with Micropolitan America, Kyriakou and Krimizi were interested in flipping this paradigm on its head. Micropolitan America offers an alternative construction of this perspective, shifting the lens away from the vast, formless megalopolis, and positioning it on the archipelago of micro-urban clusters rendered invisible in the hyper-context of the urbanized American countryside, curators said. Turning our gaze on the miniature cities of the American hinterland, the curators continued, we see the social, political, economic and environmental fissures produced by the deployment of planetary networks of capitalist urbanization.Toward that end, Kyriakou and Krimizi collected student drawings in line with this mission by Zeke Jones, Lexi Blanton, and others, as well as works by UT Austin grads including AN contributor Davis Richardson.Projection Drawing by Zeke Jones and Lexi Benton (Courtesy UT Austin)Students from Texas Tech University and University of Houston also contributed drawings. These works reflect on the current reality in the hinterland and project, distort, or accelerate it into absurd yet familiar fantasies found within abstract futures, the curatorial statement adds.To make their drawings, students set off on many road trips; they were encouraged to document their journeys, and the fears, paranoia, and paradoxes they encountered, but also the things which gave them hope; not unlike what Bob Venturi and Denise Scott Brown did a few decades back in Vegas.An opening talk for Micropolitan Americawill take place on January 17, and the show will stay open through February 14.

If you need the air in your home, basement, garage, or business clear, the Airthings Renew air purifier is the one to beat. Plus, it's currently $44 off.

Deleting Facebook suddenly goes viralAFP via Getty ImagesAnother interesting week for Meta, as the response to its sudden decision to abandon the use of independent fact checkers on Facebook raises hackles worldwide. Starting in the US, we are ending our third party fact-checking program and moving to a Community Notes model, CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted on Tuesday, with his new plan to adopt the same form of audience monitoring that Elon Musk has introduced to X (formerly Twitter).But less than 48-hours later, as first noticed by TechCrunch, the move prompted a viral surge in Google searches for how to cancel and delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts. The website described the data pulled from Google Trends as explosive, noting that the consequences of Metas new policies could have serious implications for the types of posts, hateful and violent speech, and misinformation that can spread even faster than they already do.Commenting on the surge, Gizmodo noted that apparently not everyone is ready to live in a post-truth world... Fittingly, Facebook competitors are also seeing a spike in interest. Bluesky saw a nearly 1,000% increase in searches during the same period that saw people looking to exit the Meta-verse of social apps.According to TechCrunch, the backlash has been swift. Interest in searches related to getting off Meta platforms soared this week, particularly in the last two days. Google searches for terms like how to permanently delete facebook hit a maximum score of 100 the highest level of interest possible on Google Trends.MORE FOR YOUDeleting Facebook or not has been a recurring theme over the years, as the company has built a social media empire that touches more than half the worlds population. But it has survived backlash after backlash,. as various parts of its algorithmic-driven data harvesting have come under increasing scrutiny. But ultimately users need their fix and there are not really any alternatives and there will be even less if TikTok is actually banned in the U.S.Its time to get back to our roots around free expression, Zuckerberg explained, adding that he started building social media to give people a voice. Moving forward, Facebook will see the same community notes weve seen work on X where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context, and people across a diverse range of perspectives decide what sort of context is helpful for other users to see.Quite what happens next is anybodys guess but pushing responsibility for censoring and correcting content back onto the audience and away from the company does resolve challenges around company bias. And with the Trump administration just days from office, there may be some necessary thinking behind all this.I have reached out to Meta for any comments on this sudden surge in appetite for deletion.So, should you delete Facebook? Probably not. Theres little point. It knows who you are, where you live, what you do and who you know. Its trackers underpin much of your internet use, and it has apps for every occasion. But you should definitely check the privacy settings on your devices and be mindful of what you post, search and transact when using its apps or sites. As for community notes versus fact checkers thats probably a case of no right answers and least worst alternatives. The reality is there has always been too much of the wrong content and no-one has yet solved the problem.

Photo illustration of post-it notes with New Year's resolutions in San Francisco, Calif., on ... [+] Wednesday, December 23, 2015. (Photo By Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)San Francisco Chronicle via Getty ImagesAs the new year begins, many of us reflect on the past year and prioritize our goals to reach optimum health and well-being. For some, this means focusing on living longer lives; for others, it means achieving a healthier life.The distinction between lifespanthe number of years we liveand health spanthe years we live free from disease or disabilityis a critical conversation for public health, especially for disadvantaged communities that face systemic inequities.Disadvantaged communities, including rural populations, Indigenous peoples, sexual and gender minority groups, and communities of color, often face disproportionate barriers to health and well-being. These barriers may include limited access to quality healthcare, systemic discrimination, higher rates of chronic diseases, and the stress of navigating structural inequities. The differential risks these communities face shape their likelihood of living longer, let alone achieving a healthier life. Addressing the root causes of these health disparities is essential to creating equitable opportunities for all individuals to thrive.As a public health researcher and higher education leader with three decades of experience addressing social determinants of health, I believe focusing on health span goes beyond semanticsit's about prioritizing quality of life over simply extending years. Achieving this shift requires not only changes at the institutional level but also active engagement from individuals (and people in decision-making roles) who can drive demand for healthier practices and policies.As we envision a new year filled with resolutions, what would it look like to focus on improving health spansnot just for ourselves but for our communities? Here are three strategies we can take, as individuals and as a society, to prioritize healthier lives for everyone.MORE FOR YOU1. Advocate for Preventive CarePreventive care is one of the most effective ways to extend health span. This means each of us scheduling our annual check-ups, receiving recommended vaccinations, screenings for chronic diseases, and health education courses so we can make informed decisions about our health. But access to preventive care is not equitable. Expanding Medicaid, advocating for increased funding in your states legislation for community health clinics, fighting against vaccine misinformation and addressing the shortage of culturally competent providers can help bridge the gap for underserved communities.2. Tackle Social Determinants of HealthThe conditions in which people live, work, and play have an outsized impact on their health. Health should be incorporated into all policies, especially ones that address social determinantssuch as affordable housing, access to quality education, and workplace equity because they can create environments that foster longer, healthier lives. For example, ensuring access to nutritious food through initiatives like nutritious food pantries, subsidized farmers' markets or urban gardening programs, we can reduce diet-related chronic illnesses in low-income neighborhoods.3. Invest in Our Collective HealthBuilding a healthier future requires empowering individuals in every sector with the tools and knowledge to prioritize well-being. For example: human resources managers can invite speakers to educate employees about menopause, breaking stigmas and fostering workplace support. Nurses and medical professionals can benefit from continued medical education on healthier living habits, improving both their own health and their ability to guide patients. Librarians can hold training courses on dispelling misinformation and effectively communicating science, equipping communities to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape. By investing in collective health education, we create ripple effects that benefit everyone.A Call to Action As we navigate this new year, lets resolve to think beyond individual health resolutions and embrace collective ones. For policymakers and for those whose decisions affect many, this means advancing health equity by bolstering budgets for programs that dismantle the systems perpetuating disparities. For healthcare providers, it means delivering care that respects and reflects the diverse identities and experiences of their patients. For voters, we can advocate at local, state, and federal levels for investments in preventative health, ensuring that resources are allocated to promote well-being before illness occurs.Improving health span is not solely the responsibility of policymakers or public health leadersits a collective effort. By taking personal steps to maintain our own health while holding organizations and leaders accountable to support long, healthy lives for everyone, we can ensure that health span becomes a priority at every level of society.Health span is not just about the years we add to our lives but the life we add to our years. For disadvantaged communities that have long borne the burden of health inequities, extending health span is an act of justice, a promise of possibility, and a commitment to equity.This new year offers a chance to reimagine what it means to live well. Lets take this opportunity to ensure that wellness is not a privilege but a rightfor everyone.

Tails helps you to use the Internet anonymously and circumvent censorship almost anywhere you go and on any computer but leaving no trace unless you ask it to explicitly.Tails is a complete OS designed to be used from a DVD, USB stick, or SD card independently of the computer's original operating system. Start on your Tails USB stick instead of starting on Windows, macOS, or Linux. Tails leaves no trace on the computer when shut down.Tails helps you to:Use the Internet anonymously and circumvent censorshipAll connections to the Internet are forced to go through the Tor networkLeave no trace on the computer you are using unless you ask it explicitlyUse state-of-the-art cryptographic tools to encrypt your files, emails and instant messagingTails includes a selection of applications to work on sensitive documents and communicate securely. It comes with several built-in applications pre-configured with security in mind: web browser, instant messaging client, email client, office suite, image and sound editor, etc.If you are interested in giving Tails a try on your current computer without running any risk, please check out our Guide: Running Linux From a USB Drive As a Virtual Machine or Bootable Disk.What is Tails?Tails is a portable Linux distribution based on Debian that combines the Tor network, the GNOME desktop and several other tools to offer a secure and anonymous computer experience.How safe is Tails?Tails is very safe as long as you do not run it on an infected machine. Tails is designed to run from a USB stick on any computer as a completely independent OS. However, if the host computer is infected with malware such as a keylogger your privacy would be at risk.How does Tails ensure privacy?Tails is set up out of the box to run from your computer's memory and never stores information locally unless you configure it to. This means that every time you shut down Tails, the memory is wiped clean, deleting all traces of your work and every new session starts as a blank slate.Can I use Tails to circumvent censorship?Yes, you can use Tails to circumvent internet censorship and browse the web anonymously. All the applications that come with Tails (email, browser, messaging client, office suite) use the Tor network to connect to the internet, so all your activity can be hidden.Online anonymity and censorship circumvention with TorTails relies on the Tor anonymity network to protect your privacy online:all software is configured to connect to the Internet through Torif an application tries to connect to the Internet directly, the connection is automatically blocked for security.Tor is free software and an open network that helps you defend against a form of network surveillance that threatens personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security known as traffic analysis.Tor protects you by bouncing your communications around a distributed network of relays run by volunteers all around the world: it prevents somebody watching your Internet connection from learning what sites you visit, and it prevents the sites you visit from learning your physical location.Using Tor you can:be anonymous online by hiding your locationconnect to services that would be censored otherwiseresist attacks that block the usage of Tor using circumvention tools such as bridgesWhat's NewCritical security fixesThe vulnerabilities described below were identified during an external security audit by Radically Open Security and disclosed responsibly to our team. We are not aware of these attacks being used against Tails users until now.These vulnerabilities can only be exploited by a powerful attacker who has already exploited another vulnerability to take control of an application in Tails.If you want to be extra careful and used Tails a lot since January 9 without upgrading, we recommend that you do a manual upgrade instead of an automatic upgrade.Prevent an attacker from installing malicious software permanently. (#20701)In Tails 6.10 or earlier, an attacker who has already taken control of an application in Tails could then exploit a vulnerability in Tails Upgrader to install a malicious upgrade and permanently take control of your Tails.Doing a manual upgrade would erase such malicious software.Prevent an attacker from monitoring online activity. (#20709 and #20702)In Tails 6.10 or earlier, an attacker who has already taken control of an application in Tails could then exploit vulnerabilities in other applications that might lead to deanonymization or the monitoring of browsing activity:In Onion Circuits, to get information about Tor circuits and close them.In Unsafe Browser, to connect to the Internet without going through Tor.In Tor Browser, to monitor your browsing activity.In Tor Connection, to reconfigure or block your connection to the Tor network.Prevent an attacker from changing the Persistent Storage settings. (#20710)New featuresDetection of partitioning errorsSometimes, the partitions on a Tails USB stick get corrupted. This creates errors with the Persistent Storage or during upgrades. Partitions can get corrupted because of broken or counterfeit hardware, software errors, or physically removing the USB stick while Tails is running.Tails now warns about such partitioning errors earlier. For example, if partitioning errors are detected when there is no Persistent Storage, Tails recommends that you reinstall or use a new USB stick.Changes and updatesUpdate Tor Browser to 14.0.4.Update Thunderbird to 128.5.0esr.Remove support for hardware wallets in Electrum. Trezor wallets stopped working in Debian 12 (Bookworm), and so in Tails 6.0 or later.Disable GNOME Text Editor from reopening on the last file. (#20704)Add a link to the Tor Connection assistant from the menu of the Tor status icon on the desktop.Make it easier for our team to find useful information in WhisperBack reports.For more details, read our changelog.Tails 6.8.1 Release notesNew featuresFile system repair when unlocking the Persistent StorageWhen the file system of the Persistent Storage has errors, Tails now offers you to repair the file system when unlocking from the Welcome Screen.Because not all file system errors can be safely recovered this way, we wrote comprehensive documentation on how to recover data from the Persistent Storage using complementary techniques.Changes and updatesUpdate Tor Browser to 13.5.6.Improve the notification when a network interface is disabled because MAC address anonymization failed.Fixed problemsIncrease the maximum waiting time to 8 minutes when unlocking the Persistent Storage before returning an error. (#20475)Hide shown password while unlocking Persistent Storage. (#20498)Better handle failures in when sending WhisperBack error messages:Fix input fields when Tails is not connected to Tor. (#19731)Fix accessibility of input fields with screen reader. (#19903)For more details, read our changelog.