Next up in our 21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings is Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles by Gehry Partners, an icon of deconstructivism.Disney Hall is perhaps the most famous building by Frank Gehry who, despite being Toronto-born, is one of, if not the most, famous living American architects.Its completion in 2003, after more than 15 years of stops and starts, marked the return of Frank Gehry's rising architectural stardom to his adopted home city of Los Angeles, where the architect had been living since the 1940s.Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall was the most significant building of 2003. Photo is by Carol M Highsmith via Wikimedia CommonsWith its crescendo of complex stainless steel panels, the symphony hall is considered an iconic example of deconstructivism a movement that tended towards asymmetrical forms.Though Gehry himself eschewed being labelled a deconstructivist, his work brought global attention to the style.In the early 21st century Gehry designed countless projects, but this building's significance also stems from the near-ubiquitous influence of the Disney media empire's role in contemporary culture, though the building is owned by LA county's Music Center.It is widely considered an icon of the deconstructivist school of architecture. Photo is by Anthony Fomin via UnsplashA relatively rectilinear concert hall, which hosts the Los Angeles Philharmonic symphony, sits tucked inside of the imposing metal shell.At its heart is a sculptural organ made up of functional, asymmetrical tubes created in collaboration with tonal designer Manuel Rosales and organ builder Caspar Glatter-Gtz.Read: Herzog & de Meuron's Tate Modern was the most significant building of 2000The interior was clad with Douglas fir, chosen for its "psychological effect" according to Gehry, who worked with Yasuhisa Toyota of Japanese firm Nagata Acoustics to design the auditorium for sound.Gehry said that he designed the building "inside out", first focusing on the music hall and then moving outwards to the now-famous external stainless steel shell, which has been described alternatively as resembling petals or sails.Gehry designed the petal-like building "inside-out", focusing on the concert experience. Photo courtesy of Frank O Gehry/Getty Research InstituteThe building was intended to be a democratised version of a private arts complex, with Gehry stating he intended the Disney Hall to be a "living room for the city" with its lobby accessible to the public.The concert hall itself extends this sense of democratisation. Informed by Hans Scharoun's Berlin Philharmonie hall, the hall holds a relatively modest 2,200 people, the terraced, vineyard-style hall lacks columns and boxes."There is no obvious hierarchy," wrote critic Paul Goldberger in the New Yorker in 2003.The concert hall was designed first and features a non-hierarchal vineyard-style seating arrangement. Photo by Adam Latham courtesy of LA PhilharmonicDisney Hall was originally commissioned in 1987 by Lillian Disney, the widow of American animator Walt Disney, who donated $50 million (38.5 million) to the project in memory of her late husband.With this seed money, a block of county-owned land on Grand Avenue was set aside and government funds were allocated to begin work on construction.The most gallant building you are ever likely to see Herbert Muschamp in the New York TimesThat a deconstructivist design was selected for such a large, high-profile structure in an American city may have come as a surprise, especially in the context of Downtown Los Angeles with its modernist pavilions and glass-clad highrises.However, Disney as a company had already chosen avant-garde designs with its selection of postmodern American architect Michael Graves.Lillian Disney herself was not immediately sold on the design but gave Gehry leeway. In return, the architect included a number of homages to her tastes, including the floral patterns on the seats of the auditorium and a garden that included a sculpture made of pieces of Delft pottery.The lobby is open to the public and includes massive wood-clad columns that resemble the shape of the organ in the concert hall. Photo courtesy of Frank O Gehry/Getty Research InstituteThe project progressed slowly and by 1995 only the foundations had been built. In 1997 the project received a boost with another round of funding after a campaign by American businessman Eli Broad and then-Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan.When the building finally opened in 2003 it was well received by the clients, concert-going community and architecture critics.At the time of its opening, New York Times architecture critic Herbert Muschamp wrote that Disney Hall was the "most gallant building you are ever likely to see".Floral designs in the hall are a homage to the taste of funder Lillian Disney. Photo courtesy of Frank O Gehry/Getty Research InstitutThe building is often referenced in the same breath as the titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum Bilbao a building that was credited for the artistic and economic upturn in the small Spanish city a phenomenon named the "Bilbao effect".However, the funding and plans for Disney Hall had been hatched nearly a decade before Bilbao's completion.It is a serene, ennobling building that will give people in this city of private places a new sense of the pleasures of public space Paul Golberger in the New YorkerThe success of Bilbao would ultimately play a role in shifts in the design. For example, Gehry originally intended for the facade to be clad in stone for its ability to create a soft glow at night.Gehry said he thought the metal would make the building look "like a cheap refrigerator" at night, eventually relenting.During the day though, it shone perhaps too much. Just a year after it completed the facade had to be sanded down after the glare from its reflection was considered a hazard to drivers.At first, Gehry resisted plans to clad the building in metal, preferring stone. Photo by Adam Latham courtesy of LA PhilharmonicDespite the similarities with Bilbao, the architecture of Disney Hall became iconic in its own right and represented Gehry's indelible mark on Los Angeles."The building is a fantastic piece of architecture assured and vibrant and worth waiting for," wrote LA Times critic Christopher Hawthorne. "It has its own personality, instead of being anything close to a Bilbao rehash."Gehry-designed high-rises recently went up across the street. Photo by Tim HurleyAt the opening, mayor Riordan said that the building was a "symbol" of Los Angeles "finally having a downtown".Whether or not the structure inaugurated a Bilbao Effect in depressed Downtown Los Angeles remains to be seen Gehry himself thought the structure should go elsewhere.Development in the area has continued, if slowly, with a pair of mixed-use towers by Gehry and the Diller Scofidio + Renfro-designed The Broad museum rising in the vicinity in the decades since. Gehry is also at work on the Colburn School for music nearby.Read: Zaha Hadid's Bergisel Ski Jump was the most significant building of 2002Goldberger wrote in 2003 that he wouldn't "bet" on the building jumpstarting renewed growth in the area, but also that it "doesn't matter"."It is a serene, ennobling building that will give people in this city of private places a new sense of the pleasures of public space."The Disney and Gehry names together make this structure beyond emblematic of this century, and the question of sculptural architecture's role in the American city continues to be worked out in the petal-like shadows of Disney Hall.Did we get it right? Was Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall the most significant building completed in 2003? Let us know in the comments. We will be running a poll once all 25 buildings are revealed to determine the most significant building of the 21st century so far.This article is part of Dezeen's21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildingsseries, which looks at the most significant architecture of the 21st century so far. For the series, we have selected the most influential buildings from each of the first 25 years of the century.The illustration is byJack Bedford.21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings2000: Tate Modern by Herzog & de Meuron2001: Gando Primary School by Dibdo Francis Kr2002: Bergisel Ski Jump by Zaha Hadid2003: Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank GehryThis list will be updated as the series progresses.The post Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall was the most significant building of 2003 appeared first on Dezeen.

UK studioZaha Hadid Architects and local studio Bureau Cube Partners are set to transform a paper mill in Belgrade, Serbia, into a museum with an elliptical roof informed by the scientific work of Nikola Tesla.In an effort to preserve Belgrade's architectural history, the Nikola Tesla Museum will be located in the Milan Vapa Paper Mill, which was originally built in 1924.The Nikola Tesla Museum will have an elliptical roof informed by magnetic fieldsZaha Hadid Architects and Bureau Cube Partners will preserve some of the mill's facades and vaulted ceilings while converting it into a cultural destination.The museum will be dedicated to celebrating the legacy of Serbian-American engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla, who is known for inventing the Tesla coil and his contributions to the development of alternating-current electricity.The museum will be located in a former paper mill. Image by Zaha Hadid ArchitectsAccording to Zaha Hadid Architects, Tesla's scientific work has informed the curving shapes in the museum's design."The museum's design draws on Tesla's research into magnetic fields and wireless energy transfer," said Zaha Hadid Architects."Informed by concepts of magnetic forces and interconnectivity, the design incorporates dynamic elliptical curves radiating from the old factory chimney, the site's dominant feature."Read: Zaha Hadid Architects unveils sweeping culture centre for ChinaA circular opening will puncture the building's west facade to become the Nikola Tesla Museum's main entrance.Through this entrance, visitors will arrive in a triple-height atrium with an elliptical roof built around the building's original factory chimney.An existing masonry chimney will be preservedAdditional curved openings will be inserted in the building's internal walls to improve visitor circulation between gallery and exhibition spaces."To enhance circulation and functionality in the building's continued life as a museum, ellipsoidal sectional openings will be carved within the walls that divide the old factory's interior," said Zaha Hadid Architects."These openings define a series of three-dimensional spherical voids that create an extended perspective viewed from the western entrance, through the atrium and terminating at the Tesla memorial at the eastern end of the museum."The museum will celebrate the work of Nikola Tesla. Image by XuniverseElsewhere in the museum, there will be a cafe, a multipurpose hall and a rooftop restaurant that overlooks the Sava River.In front of the museum, the Nikola Tesla Square will provide public space with curved paths and gardens informed by electromagnetic fields.Other designs recently unveiled by Zaha Hadid Architects include a cultural centre in Uzbekistan with a weaving brick form and an arts centre in China with a sweeping roof.On 20 December 2024, the High Court ruled that the studio must continue paying to use founder Zaha Hadid's name, in the latest legal battle betweenZaha Hadid Architectsand theZaha Hadid Foundation.The images are by Norviska unless otherwise stated.Project credits:Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects and Bureau Cube PartnersSustainability engineering: Max FordhamStructural engineering for new additions: Lanik I SAStructural engineering for restoration: DB EngineeringMEP engineering: Conventus ConsultantsLighting designer: Lichtvision Design LtdThe post Zaha Hadid Architects references magnetic forces for Serbian mill conversion appeared first on Dezeen.

While Meta enacts the X playbook, TikTok is on the verge of being declared illegal. Who wins? Probably not internet users.

From smartphones to smart glasses, heres everything announced at this year's big tech trade show that you can actually orderor preordertoday.

The inside story of the teenager whose swatting calls sent armed police racing into hundreds of schools nationwideand the private detective who tracked him down.

MacworldThe Consumer Electronics Show, as its name suggests, is a showcase for new consumer electronics. Unfortunately, most of them are for PCs, but there are a lot of Apple-related products at CES, some of them more interesting than others. Fortunately, you dont have to scour the show floor to find them, because weve listed the most interesting one for Apple users right here.If you have a broader interest in CES, you can turn to our sister publication, PCWorld, and its complete coverage of CES (which is very PC centric). But if youre only interested in the best stuff Apple users will care about, read on.LG UltraFine 32U990A 6K monitorLGProduction-minded users will want to pay attention to this new LG Ultrafine 32-inch displayit not only offers a 6K resolution, but it also supports Thunderbolt 5, which means Macs with a M4 Pro or higher chip can take advantage of Thunderbolt 5s 120Gbps bandwidth. Surprisingly, it uses a Nano IPS Black panel (instead of OLED) with a wide color gamut covering 99.5 percent of Adobe RGB and 98 percent of DCI-P3. Apple works closely with LG on its displays, so this could be a preview of the new Pro Display XDR rumored to arrive later this year.LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5LaCieHow about a Thunderbolt 5 external SSD to go with the LG display? The Rugged SSD Pro5 features a design similar to LaCies popular Rugged Mini SSD but with a purple silicone exteriorit has an IP8 water resistance rating. It features read/write speeds of up to 6700MBps and 5300MBps respectively while using a 50GB cache. Available in 2TB and 4TB capacities, which is perfect for expanding the storage of your new Thunderbolt 5-equipped MacBook Pro.Moft Trackable Wallet StandMoftMofts MagSafe wallet includes FindMy functionality so you can track it in case it separates from your iPhone and gets lost. The wallet measures 1.1mm thick and includes an 80-mAh battery for the FindMy functionality. The wallet also has a built-in stand that can fold out and prop up your phone. Its like an origami AirTag.EcoFlow Power HatEcoFlowIs your active lifestyle hampered by the battery life of your devices? What you need is the Power Hat, which can capture solar energy to charge two devices simultaneously. With solar panels all over its brim, you dont have to worry about your head being at a proper angle. It has USB-A and USB-C ports for connecting your iPhone or Apple Watch. EcoFlow claims that the Hat can charge a 4000 mAh battery in 3 to 4 hours. And itll keep you cool too.AutoKeyboWe do it every day: shift our hands between the keyboard and mouse/trackpad. Maybe youre tired of doing that, or maybe you have accessibility issues that complicate this unconscious task. With the AutoKeybo, the keyboard and input devices switch for you when a built-in camera sees your simple gesture. The top switchable shelf has a full-sized keyboard while the bottom shelf has a keypad and your mouse or trackpad. Imagine thata keyboard and trackpad for your Mac thats actually magic.ShiftCam PlanckShiftCamPlanck is a USB-C SSD that will be available in 1TB or 2TB capacities. Its small size makes it ideal for use with an iPhone when shooting video, especially if youre using the ProRes format, which creates large files and quickly takes up storage space. If offers transfer speeds up to 1050MBps.ESR HaloLock MagMouse Wireless MouseESRIf youre always losing your mouse, The MagMouse from iPhone case maker ESR has a base that you can attach to any surface, like a MacBook or a Mac Pro, and when you want to store the MagMouse, you can place it on the base and it magnetically attaches. It has a built-in retractable USB-C cable for charging and uses 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, it wont charge when docked, but its the next-best thing to MagSafe.Belkin Stage PowerGripBelkinPower banks are a dime a dozen at CES, but this new offering from Belkin still manages to stand out. The main reason is the five bold colors it comes inpowder blue, sandbox, fresh yellow, pepper, and lavenderbut its also the funky camera grip-inspired design that combines the functionality of a high-capacity power bank with the practicality of an ergonomic phone grip. It also features a 10,000 mAh battery, 7.5W magnetic wireless charging, a retractable USB-C charging, cable, and a tiny LED screen to show battery percentage.When attached to the back of the phone it looks something like an old-school point-and-shoot camera and even has a built-in shutter for quick picture taking.More CES 2025 stuffBe sure to check out these products that we covered earlier this week:Meet Swippitt, a $600 toaster that makes sure your iPhone is always chargedThis docking station lets you connect five screens to your MacBookNvidia just unveiled a $3,000 Mac mini clone for AI computingThis M4 Mac mini hub has SSD storage and a power button you can reachOWCs new optical cables offer up to 15 feet of Thunderbolt 4 connectivityApples Magic Trackpad is finally getting real competition (or not)

MacworldIf you hoped flipping the calendar over to a new year meant that wed stop talking about AI, well, you better keep flipping for a while. Eventually we wont be talking about it because AI will be in charge of everything.As my colleague Jason Snell recently wrote, prepare for 2025 to be the year of Apple Intelligence all over again. As we wait for the last tranche of features announced by Apple last year, the company will no doubt be ramping up to talk about the features it plans to add this year. All of this remains a contentious issue in tech. It seems as though nary a day goes by without some company or other announcing a new AI-powered lawnmower or weird keyboard. Right now the prevailing opinion in the tech industry seems to be that AI is the solution to every problem you encounterand more than a few that you dont.While I think thats far from true, there are places that AIin particular, Apple Intelligencecould prove itself useful in our lives. For every Image Playground that has us wondering who asked for this? theres a corollary of why hasnt AI solved this yet?SpamaheckofalotAfter all this time, how is it that spam is still a problem in 2025? Weve all just accepted that our email inboxes and text messages will be chock full of the stuff, but Apple Intelligence could actually help us. Apples made the barest of tips of the hat towards this with the mail categorization feature in iOS 18.2 (which, it should be noted, is still not available on either macOS or iPadOS), but that system is not only not specifically designed for spam, its efficiency at even categorizing mail ishit or miss.Heres one big problem: iOS/iPadOS has no email spam filtering. Yes, theres a Junk mailbox, but thats reserved for messages you manually move to it; messages moved there by spam filtering on a Mac, if you have one; and messages categorized as spam by your email server. Thats quite the patchwork quilt with a lot of holes in it. At times, Apples spam filtering feels like three outfielders converging only to let a baseball drop between them. I still end up with spam in my inbox and good messages in my Junk mailboxand lets not even get started on iClouds silent email filtering which sometimes just doesnt deliver messages at all.And spam has encroached elsewhere too. Text messages and iMessage have seen a decided uptick in junk too, but calling Apples tools there lackluster is an insult to things that lack luster. There is no message filtering (beyond unread and unknown contacts), and Reporting Junk has questionable utility (it doesnt even block the sender, for example).Recognizing patterns is one thing that AI is actually pretty good at. Apple Intelligence should be taking on the spam problem across the board, because the end result should be that users spend less of their time managing their inboxes.Apple Intelligence could make iOSs junk mail filtering actually useful.FoundrySearch and ye shall find (maybe?)From Sherlock to Spotlight, Apple has a long history of trying to improve search on its platforms. Unfortunately, its still not good enough. A Spotlight search for files edited in the last 30 days does nothing. Even typing to Siri in macOS 15.2 gamely suggests I should try ChatGPT instead, which is an abrogation of responsibility to the extreme. Yes, you can set up an advanced search in the Finder and select all the right criteria, but natural language parsing seems like table stakes in this day and age.Even basic search in some places seems woefully broken. Take Settings on iOS, for example: if you want to search for a particular section, say, Messages, youll find yourself wading through dozens of irrelevant results to find the one youre looking for, if you can find it at all.I dont necessarily want Spotlight or Siri to provide me with all world knowledge at my fingertips, but in the domain of my files and information, it seems like this system should be better informed than any other source. Siri Suggestions on iOS has demonstrated that Apples systems can be good at anticipating their users needs, so a little bit of that old Apple Intelligence wouldnt go amiss when Im just trying to find that document I was working on yesterday.Call me Dan the AutomatorOne of the places that Ive used AI to great effect in recent weeks has been in working on some hobbyist programming projects. Programming is largely a bound problem, one that theres a lot of training material for, and tools like ChatGPT and Claude understand it much better than I can with the time available to me to learn. And thats not even talking about tools like Copilot or Apples Swift Assist that integrate directly into development environments.An AI-enhanced Shortcuts app would make it easier to use.FoundryMe, as I said, Im a hobbyist. But I do love automating a task to save myself time. Still, all too often, I have an idea, open up Shortcuts, and fumble with where to even begin. This seems like a place where Apple Intelligence could notice that I do a certain task a lot and suggest some steps I could take to automate it and save me time in the future. Is that complex? No doubt. But Apples systems should understand their capabilities and how to help users get the most out of them.Thats really the case across the board with Apple Intelligence. Where these technologies work best for Apple is when they make its devices more capable (and more time-saving) for the people who use them. The late Steve Jobs was fond of describing computers as a bicycle for your mind, and I for one would like to spend less time fiddling with Allen wrenches and more time enjoying the ride.

AlphaSense is a market intelligence platform that uses generative artificial intelligence (genAI) and natural language processing to help organizations find and analyze insights from sources like financial reports, news, earnings calls, and proprietary documents.The purpose behind the platform is to allow business professionals to access relevant insights and make data-driven decisions.Sarah Hoffman, director of AI research at AlphaSense, is an IT strategist and futurist. Formerly vice president of AI and Machine Learning Research at Fidelity Investments, Hoffman spoke with Computerworld about how AI will change the future of work and how companies should approach rolling out the fast-moving technology over the next several years.In particular, she talked about how the arrival of genAI tools in business will allow workers to move away from repetitive jobs and into more creative endeavors as long as they learn how to use the new tools and even collaborate with them. What will emerge is a symbiotic relationship with an increasingly proactive technology that will require employees to constantly learn new skills and adapt.How will AI shape the future of work, in terms of both innovation and new workforce dynamics? AI can manage repetitive tasks, or even difficult tasks that are specific in nature, while humans can focus on innovative and strategic initiatives that drive revenue growth and improve overall business performance. AI is also much quicker than humans could possibly be, is available 24/7, and can be scaled to handle increasing workloads.As AI automates more processes, the role of workers will shift. Jobs focused on repetitive tasks may decline, but new roles will emerge, requiring employees to focus on overseeing AI systems, handling exceptions, and performing creative or strategic functions that AI cannot easily replicate.The future workforce will likely collaborate more closely with AI tools. For example, marketers are already using AI to create more personalized content, and coders are leveraging AI-powered code copilots. The workforce will need to adapt to working alongside AI, figuring out how to make the most of human strengths and AIs capabilities.AI can also be a brainstorming partner for professionals, enhancing creativity by generating new ideas and providing insights from vast datasets. Human roles will increasingly focus on strategic thinking, decision-making, and emotional intelligence. AI will act as a tool to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them, leading to a more symbiotic relationship between workers and technology. This transformation will require continuous upskilling and a rethinking of how work is organized and executed.Why is Gen Zs adoption of AI a signal for broader trends in business technology?Gen Z, having grown up in a highly digital environment, is naturally more comfortable with technologies like AI. Their rapid adoption of AI tools highlights a shift towards technology-first thinking. As this generation excels in the workforce, their familiarity with AI will drive its integration into business processes, pushing companies to adopt and adapt to AI-driven solutions more quickly.Gen Zs use of AI also reflects the broader understanding that AI complements human skills rather than replaces them. As businesses increasingly adopt AI, they will need to recognize the importance of training employees to work alongside AI, ensuring that AI becomes a valuable tool that enhances human creativity and strategic thinking.Sarah HoffmanAlphaSenseWhat is AIs role in business teams and how can companies best leverage it to enhance human skills and knowledge?AIs role in teams is to act as a tool that enhances human capabilities rather than [as] a complete replacement for human decision-making. Professionals can use AI to streamline routine tasks, such as data analysis and trend identification, which frees up time for more strategic and creative work. Additionally, AI can accelerate learning and innovation by synthesizing complex data, identifying new perspectives, and providing personalized insights.To best leverage AI to enhance human skills and knowledge, companies should:Define AIs role clearly and establish specific tasks for AI, such as data processing or generating insights, and use it as a tool to support human judgment and decision-making.Regularly check AIs outputs for accuracy and reliability to ensure its recommendations align with human expertise.Train teams effectively with the knowledge of when to trust AIs recommendations and, importantly, when to rely on their own judgment and expertise.Enable effective collaboration between AI tools and humans. AI should complement human intelligence, helping teams work more efficiently, creatively, and strategically.What should companies prioritize to harness AI for long-term success? Before companies can leverage this powerful technology and the business opportunities that come with it, they must consider the common pitfalls. Companies can build a proprietary system that may be the best fit for their customers or they can leverage third-party partnerships to mitigate the initial cost of building an AI system from the ground up. This is a pivotal decision that impacts future success and longevity. And the answer doesnt have to be just build or buy; often a hybrid solution can make sense too, depending on the use cases involved.Companies should focus on long-term strategy, quality data, clear objectives, and careful integration into existing systems. Start small, scale gradually, and build a dedicated team to implement, manage, and optimize AI solutions. Its also important to invest in employee training to ensure the workforce is prepared to use AI systems effectively.Business leaders also need to understand how their data is organized and scattered across the business. It may take time to reorganize existing data silos and pinpoint the priority datasets. To create or effectively implement well-trained models, businesses need to ensure their data is organized and prioritized correctly.Its crucial to have alignment across teams to create a successful AI program. This includes developers, data analysts and scientists, AI architects and researchers and other critical roles that decide the overall business goals and objectives. These teams must work together closely to ensure there is consistency across development, product, marketing, etc.Another critical aspect for companies to consider is the end user. For AI to deliver long-term success, businesses must prioritize understanding the needs and expectations of those who will interact with or benefit from the technology. This involves gathering feedback from end-users throughout the development and implementation process to ensure the solutions being built provide real value.By focusing on these priorities, companies can ensure their workforce is prepared and AI programs are highly effective and ethically sound, positioning themselves for long-term success.What are some of the biggest advances you see happening with AI this year? In 2025, generative AI will transition from its experimental phase to mainstream, product-ready applications across industries. Customer service automation, personalized content creation, and knowledge management are expected to lead this evolution.As more production-ready solutions are deployed, companies will refine methods to quantify AIs impact, moving beyond time savings to include metrics like customer satisfaction, revenue growth, enhanced decision-making, and competitive advantage. These advancements will help executives make more informed investment decisions, accelerating generative AI adoption across industries.Generative AI systems will also become significantly more proactive, evolving beyond the passive question-and-answer model to intelligently anticipate users needs. By leveraging a deep understanding of user habits, preferences, and contexts, these systems could predict and provide relevant information, assistance, or actions at the right moment. Acting as intelligent agents, they may even begin autonomously handling simple tasks with minimal input, further enhancing their utility and integration into everyday workflows.For what purposes do you see generative AI moving from pilot to production next year? The leap from pilot projects to full-scale deployment is the next critical step for generative AI in 2025. While 2024 saw companies experiment with AI for efficiency such as automating customer service queries or creating personalized content these applications are expected to mature and deliver measurable business outcomes. As companies refine their data pipelines and AI infrastructure, these tools will likely become integral to daily operations rather than isolated experiments.Beyond efficiency, theres a growing interest in leveraging AI for strategic innovation. For example, businesses may use generative AI to prototype new products, model market scenarios, or enhance customer experiences. These strategic applications could reshape industries by fostering innovation, increasing competitive advantage, and driving revenue growth.This past year, many organizations seemed to struggle with cleaning their data in order to prepare it for use by AI. Why do you believe thats still necessary? Data cleaning remains essential for ensuring AI reliability, even as models become more advanced. Generative AI systems depend on high-quality, consistent data to produce accurate results. Poorly prepared data can lead to biased outputs, reduced performance, and even legal risks in sensitive applications. By standardizing, de-duplicating, and enriching datasets, organizations ensure their AI systems are well-equipped to handle real-world complexity.How should companies go about ensuring the responses they get from genAI are accurate? To ensure the accuracy of generative AI, businesses must employ rigorous testing and validation methods. Models should be evaluated against real-world datasets and specific benchmarks to confirm their reliability.Many companies are turning to retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), using domain-specific trusted and citable data to mitigate the risk of misinformation. This approach is particularly critical for applications like healthcare or financial decision-making where errors can have serious consequences. Similarly, in such high stakes functions,human oversight is essential.Companies that have deployed AI have used multiple models, but how do you create pipelines between those models and businesses for strategic purposes?Rather than relying on a single provider, companies are adopting a multi-model approach, often deploying three or more AI models, routing to different models based on the use case. Continuous monitoring is necessary to ensure the models perform optimally, maintain accuracy, and adapt to changing business needs. Do you see smaller language models or the more typical large language models dominating in 2025 and why?In 2025, the choice between smaller language models and large language models will ultimately depend on specific use cases. SLMs are invaluable for specified, narrow tasks that have use-case specific constraints around security, cost and latency. SLMs can be faster and cheaper to operate and can be deeply customized for domain workflows. For example, AlphaSense uses SLMs for earnings call summarization. Another advantage of SLMs is that they can be run on-device, which is critical for many mobile applications leveraging sensitive, personal data.LLMs, on the other hand, will dominate in general-purpose and complex applications requiring high-level reasoning, adaptability, and creativity. Their expansive knowledge and versatility make them essential for advanced research, multimodal content generation, and other sophisticated use cases. A hybrid approach will likely define the AI landscape in 2025, combining the efficiency of SLMs with the versatility of LLMs, enabling businesses to optimize performance, cost, and scalability.

Recently, I was asked a question I havent heard in several years: Can you manage Apple devices without using MDM?The technical answer is yes. You can use configuration profiles and Apple Configurator to do this.But you really shouldnt try that approach. With mobile device management (MDM) vendors licensing their software for as little as $1 per device or user per month, MDM should be the go-to option for all but those on the tiniest of shoestring budgets. (Theres also the possibility of usingApple Business Essentials, a stripped down solution from Apple intended for small organizations.)MDM and Apple Business Manager (or Apple Business Essentials) allow for zero-touch deployment. IT does not even have to see a device; it can be shipped new in the box to an employee and it will automatically configure and enroll in MDM when querying Apples activation servers during startup.By contrast, managing devices manually can be extremely time consuming because you have to set up each device by hand when installing configuration profiles and you must touch it every time you need to make changes. Security updates (or any software updates) cannot be forced to install, leaving it up to each user to install them or not.When a device is managed via MDM, theres a constant back and forth communication between the device and your companys MDM service. This allows a whole host of features, particularly security features such as being able to query the device status, lock/unlock the device, install software updates, and add applications and other content over the air.You also gain the ability to securely separate work and personal use of a device and to make use of managed Apple Accounts rather than relying on a users personal Apple account.Managed Apple Accountsperform the same function as personal Apple IDs, but theyre owned by an organization rather than the end user and they link to an employees work-related accounts. They can also be managed in a way that allows users access Continuity features at work and provides a work-related iCloud account. One big advantage here is that work related passwords and passkeys can sync across all of a users work devices (and they can be automatically removed from a device if a worker leaves the organization.Another consideration to keep in mind if youre a small shop looking to save a few dollars is that you might not always be small. You may not think you need the features that come with MDM solutions, but as your company grows, your needs will change and youll likely have to go through the headache of migrating away from manual management anyway.This is the part where I tell you to turn back from trying to manage Apple devices manually.But if youre truly determined to go it without using MDM or youre really that cash strapped and you have a small number of employees and devices, heres what you need to know. (Just dont say you werent warned if you go this route and run into problems or security breaches.)The basic component for managing devices is the configuration profile; its an XML file that specifies the various options you want to set up. These profiles have been around since the iPhone 3G launched in 2008 (two years before MDM even existed). These files also underpin MDM configuration, but you get a much broader selection of configuration options and an easier interface via MDM.Apple Configurator for Macis a free tool available in the App Store. There is an iPhone version as well thats used to enroll devices if theyre not eligible for zero-touch deployment typically, devices bought outside of a business purchase from Apple or an authorized reseller. (The Mac version can also be used for this purpose.)The latest version of Apple Configurator supports the management of iPhones, iPads and Apple TVs, but cautionary alert it does not support managing Macs. (This is another downside to manual device management.)Apple Configurator allows you to create a blueprint for various device types and to create configuration profiles with a simple-to-use GUI. You can then assign your profiles to blueprints. Configurator also lets you prepare devices to receive configuration profiles; backup and restore devices; determine whether they will work usingApples Supervision functions, which provide some additional control over devices; and to install apps.Once youve set up blueprints and added configuration profiles and apps, youll need to connect each device via a USB-to-Lightening cable (for older devices) or with a USB-C cable (for newer devices) and then assign the device to a blueprint. When preparing a device for Apple Configurator, you can choose to remove various steps in Setup Assistant (just as in MDM). You can also set the device name, wallpaper, and home screen layout.Managing Macs works essentially the same way by building configuration profiles. But you need to hand install them on each Mac. Depending on the payload of the profile and whether a user has local admin privileges, the Mac user might be able to delete installed configuration profiles. Keep that in mind.Apple Configurator can also be used torevive or restore the firmware of Apple devices(including Macs).Apple provides auser guidethat offers additional details and a walk-through of tasks in Apple Configurator.So, as I noted from the very start, you can see that its certainly possible to manage Apple devices manually. But hopefully, you can also now see that there are too many advantages to managing devices using MDM (or Apple Business Essentials) to do it the old-school way.From better security to a lighter IT workload and an improved user experience, MDM really can streamline everything needed to keep your fleet of Apple devices up and running.

This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Reviews weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here.I love the fresh start that comes with a new year. And one thing adding a boost to my January is our newest list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies.In case you havent browsed this years list or a previous version, it features tech thats either breaking into prominence or changing society. We typically recognize a range of items running from early-stage research to consumer technologies that folks are getting their hands on now.As I was looking over the finished list this week, I was struck by something: While there are some entries from other fields that are three or even five years away, all the climate items are either newly commercially available or just about to be. Its certainly apt, because this year in particular seems to be bringing a new urgency to the fight against climate change. Were facing global political shifts and entering the second half of the decade. Its time for these climate technologies to grow up and get out there.Green steelSteel is a crucial material for buildings and vehicles, and making it accounts for around 8% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. New manufacturing methods could be a huge part of cleaning up heavy industry, and theyre just on the cusp of breaking into the commercial market.One company, called Stegra, is close to starting up the worlds first commercial green steel plant, which will make the metal using hydrogen from renewable sources. (You might know this company by its former name, H2 Green Steel, as we included it on our 2023 list of Climate Tech Companies to Watch.)When I first started following Stegra a few years ago, its plans for a massive green steel plant felt incredibly far away. Now the company says its on track to produce steel at the factory by next year.The biggest challenge in this space is money. Building new steel plants is expensiveStegra has raised almost $7 billion. And the companys product will be more expensive than conventional material, so itll need to find customers willing to pay up (so far, it has).There are other efforts to clean up steel that will all face similar challenges around money, including another play in Sweden called Hybrit and startups like Boston Metal and Electra, which use different processes. Read more about green steel, and the potential obstacles it faces as we enter a new phase of commercialization, in this short blurb and in this longer feature about Stegra.Cow burp remediesHumans love burgers and steaks and milk and cheese, so we raise a whole bunch of cows. The problem is, these animals are among a group with a funky digestion process that produces a whole lot of methane (a powerful greenhouse gas). A growing number of companies are trying to develop remedies that help cut down on their methane emissions.This is one of my favorite items on the list this year (and definitely my favorite illustrationat the very least, check out this blurb to enjoy the art).Theres already a commercially available option right now: a feed additive called Bovaer from DSM-Firmenich that the company says can cut methane emissions by 30% in dairy cattle, and more in beef cattle. Startups are right behind with their own products, some of which could prove even better.A key challenge all these companies face moving forward is acceptance: from regulatory agencies, farmers, and consumers. Some companies still need to go through lengthy and often expensive tests to show that their products are safe and effective. Theyll also need to persuade farmers to get on board. Some might also face misinformation thats causing some consumers to protest these new additives.Cleaner jet fuelWhile planes crisscrossing the world are largely powered by fossil fuels, some alternatives are starting to make their appearance in aircraft.New fuels, today mostly made from waste products like used cooking oil, can cut down emissions from air travel. In 2024, they made up about 0.5% of the fuel supply. But new policies could help these fuels break into new prominence, and new options are helping to widen their supply.The key challenge here is scale. Global demand for jet fuel was about 100 billion gallons last year, so well need a whole lot of volume from new producers to make a dent in aviations emissions.To illustrate the scope, take LanzaJets new plant, opened in 2024. Its the first commercial-scale facility that can make jet fuel with ethanol, and it has a capacity of about 9 million gallons annually. So we would need about 10,000 of those plants to meet global demanda somewhat intimidating prospect. Read more in my write-up here.From cow burps to jet fuel to green steel, theres a huge range of tech thats entering a new stage of deployment and will need to face new challenges in the next few years. Well be watching it allthanks for coming along.Now read the rest of The SparkRelated readingCheck out our full list of 2025s Breakthrough Technologies here. Theres also a poll where you can vote for what you think the 11th item should be. Im not trying to influence anyones vote, but I think methane-detecting satellites are pretty interestingjust saying This package is part of our January/February print issue, which also includes stories on:This system thats tracking early warning signs of infection in wheat cropsHow wind could be a low-tech solution to help clean up shippingEfforts to use human waste in agricultureJUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTYAnother thingEVs are (mostly) set for solid growth in 2025, as my colleague James Temple covers in his newest story. Check it out for more about whats next for electric vehicles, including what we might expect from a new administration in the US and how China is blowing everyone else out of the water.Keeping up with climateWinter used to be the one time of year that California didnt have to worry about wildfires. A rapidly spreading fire in the southern part of the state is showing thats not the case anymore. (Bloomberg)Teslas annual sales decline for the first time in over a decade. Deliveries were lower than expected for the final quarter of the year. (Associated Press)Meanwhile, in China, EVs are set to overtake traditional cars in sales years ahead of schedule. Forecasts suggest that EVs could account for 50% of car sales this year. (Financial Times)KoBold metals raised $537 million in funding to use AI to mine copper. The funding pushes the startups valuation to $2.96 billion. (TechCrunch) Read this profile of the company from 2021 for more. (MIT Technology Review)We finally have the final rules for a tax credit designed to boost hydrogen in the US. The details matter here. (Heatmap)China just approved the worlds most expensive infrastructure project. The hydroelectric dam could produce enough power for 300 million people, triple the capacity of the current biggest dam. (Economist)In 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed 32 solar panels on the White Houses roof. Although they came down just a few years later, the panels lived multiple lives afterward. I really enjoyed reading about this small piece of Carters legacy in the wake of his passing. (New York Times)An open pit mine in California is the only one in the US mining and extracting rare earth metals including neodymium and praseodymium. This is a fascinating look at the site. (IEEE Spectrum) I wrote about efforts to recycle rare earth metals, and what it means for the long-term future of metal supply, in a feature story last year. (MIT Technology Review)