DoorDash is expanding its portable benefits pilot program to certain gig workers in Georgia starting next year, the food-delivery giant tells Fast Company.Dashers (which is what DoorDash calls its gig workers) who earn at least $1,000 in the first quarter of 2025, excluding tips, will be eligible to open a portable benefits savings account in April. From January to July 2025, DoorDash will make deposits equal to 4% of their pre-tip earnings monthly. (The payments will start in April, but they will retroactively apply for the first three months of the year.) Workers can add their own funds to the account, and have the ability to access it whenever they need.Those savings can then be used for things like health, dental, and vision insurance and paid time off. DoorDash first introduced its portable benefits savings program in Pennsylvania last April.Weve long believed that people who earn with DoorDash shouldnt have to choose between the flexibility that draws them to this kind of work and having access to benefits that can support themselves and their family, DoorDash CEO Tony Xu said in a statement.Gig companies have spent large sums on lobbying certain bills, like Californias Prop. 22, that allow gig companies to keep workers labeled as independent contractors. These tech giants have been investing in benefits programs to attract workers and appease others without having to take on the expenses of making them full-time employees.This is positive news for hardworking Georgians, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement. We are excited for DoorDash, and Georgia Dashers, as this new program is rolled out and wish them success in this pursuit.

In this week's comments update, readers are discussing a cat-shaped robot that blows air to cool down hot food and drink.Aimed at people with heat-sensitive tongues, the portable device named Nkojita FuFu operates with an internal fan unit powered by a rechargeable battery and uses an algorithm to mimic human breath.Yukai Engineering unveiled a tiny cat robot that blows on hot food and drinks"A representation of everything that is wrong with design"Commenter Getbacktoworkpredicted the device to be "a secret Santa present that will be in the landfill before next Christmas"."This is a representation of everything that is wrong with design and maybe even the world as a whole," scorned Architect incognito."Should we really be wasting precious natural resources like oil (plastics) and rare earth materials (battery, processor etc) on an effin' cat-shaped fan that blows your coffee for you?" they despaired.Meanwhile, Patricia Thomas also couldn't see the relevance, calling it a "wonderful, nothing device to fix a non-existent first-world non-problem".However, Jeff K was fully in support of the idea, stating "I would absolutely buy this and use it all the time". They went on to suggest "this is far more useful than the majority of 'collectible' design created for no one ever to use".What do you make of the cat-shaped robot? Join the discussion Studio on the Rye encases Rusty House in London with "seamless" Corten steel"Perhaps a bit too respectful"Commenters failed to reach a consensus about an extension entirely clad in rust-coloured Corten steel added to a 1950s house inLondon by architecture practice Studio on the Rye.Betty Rubble was impressed. "Wow a delight," they applauded. "Elegant, which is a feat with all this asymmetry," they added."I think it's lovely," agreedRd. "Perfect balance between interesting (enough) and modest".For Tom Roberts, it was"crisp and clean but perhaps a bit too respectful".Jbfelt that "they got the form right but everything else wrong".Which side are you on? Join the discussion Nissan unveils electric version of 1980s Skyline GT-R sports carAlso stoking plenty of debate in the comments section this week was a story about automotive brand Nissan's R32EV concept model, an electrified iteration of its popular R32 Skyline GT-R sports car known as Godzilla."Forget Jaguar et al's EV designs now this is an electric automotive design future I can get behind," applauded Hey in a comment that was upvoted eight times.Albia400 was full of praise and said "this is the nicest electric car proposal I've seen to date".Steve Hassler was also a fan of the concept, writing "I hope other manufacturers jump on this bandwagon".However, other commenters were more blunt. Moter Sport33 concluded "this is dumb" and asked "why would you ruin one of your most iconic cars with an EV?"What are your thoughts on Nissan's R32EV? Join the discussion Comments UpdateDezeen is the world's most commented architecture and design magazine, receiving thousands of comments each month from readers. Keep up to date on the latest discussions on our comments page and subscribe to our weekly Debate newsletter, where we feature the best reader comments from stories in the last seven days.The post "Far more useful than the majority of 'collectible' design" says commenter appeared first on Dezeen.

These are umbilical cord scissors: These are PEX cutters: Both are made to cut through tubing, but their forms are obviously quite different.The outer edges of the umbilical cord scissors are rounded, to prevent any accidental injuries. The tool is monomaterial (stainless steel, for ease of sterilization). The two blades slice in a bypass arrangement, for the cleanest and quickest cut. They're used by medical professionals wearing latex gloves, so there's no need to add any grip material to the handles.Note: These are branded with "Breeder's Edge" as this model is used by animal breeders. The PEX cutters are considerably more robust, as PVC is tougher to slice through than human tissue. Because plumbers may be making dozens of cuts in a single session, often a spring is added to reduce fatigue. Only a single blade is used, for the sake of economy; as the blade goes dull, it can be removed and replaced. The jaw of the tool, which features a slot to accommodate the blade, is made wide to allow the PEX to register against the tool; this ensures a perfectly plumb cut, which is important for adding watertight connections to the PEX. While both tools are form follows function, the difference in execution detailing is all to do with the specificity of the applications.

Every square inch of the Amber Apartmentdesigned by Marta Terekhradiates warmth and elegance. This studio apartment transforms compact living into an art form. You can find golden hues, sleek modern finishes, and cozy corners that will basically feel like an embrace. This golden retreat offers the best of modern living!The Amber Apartment smartly segregates spaceseven while keeping them all together. The bedroom is partitioned with an opaque amber curtain, which provides optimal privacy. On the other end is a cozy white bed, comfy enough to spend the night in.The entertainment complex in the living room is incredibly compact and sleek. Right next to it, the same light oakwood continues into the workstation. After all, work and entertainment do go side by side!The coffee table next to the amber sofa is unique. It provides room to store two extra seats, in case youre expecting guests and need to pull them out. Behind the sofa is the kitchen island. This uses glass blocksand houses a tinted vaseso easily doubles as a decorative partition.The kitchen in the Amber Apartment features a classic grid backsplash. This is minimal, but makes sure to keep the visual interest intact. The cabinetry is smooth and sleek, and appliances are built into their designated spots. The amber bar stools make sure to keep the decor around the apartment cohesive.Right next to the entryway is some built-in storage. You can hang your coat on the hook or use the closed drawer to toss in your shoes. Above the drawer is a cushionso you can have a quick seat while tying those laces. The Amber Apartment shows us how even the smallest spaces can offer all types of functionality, and with style!Finally, the bathroom. This uses classic grid tiles, a wall-mounted toilet, and a compact golden vanity. The ring light illuminates the space well for makeup sessions.

When Razer comes out with a new prototype at CES, we sit up and listen.

Touchscreens dont always get the job done. Try one of these WIRED-tested controllers for your iPhone or Android instead.

In a new proposal issued Friday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking to regulate virtual currencies used in Roblox and other video games like US dollars.

We're tuning in live as the justices consider what could be one of the most consequential First Amendment cases of the past several decades.

Constellation Energys deal to buy Calpine is being driven by fast-rising demand for electricity in part by the technology industrys investments in artificial intelligence.

This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.How the US is preparing for a potential bird flu pandemicThis week marks a strange anniversaryits five years since most of us first heard about a virus causing a mysterious pneumonia. A virus that we later learned could cause a disease called covid-19. A virus that swept the globe and has since been reported to have been responsible for over 7 million deathsand counting.We are facing the same uncertainty now with bird flu. We know it can cause severe disease in animals, and we know it can pass from animals to people who are in close contact with them. As of this week, we also know that it can cause severe disease in peoplea 65-year-old man in Louisiana became the first person in the US to die from an H5N1 infection.Scientists are increasingly concerned about a potential bird flu pandemic. The question is, given all the enduring uncertainty around the virus, what should we be doing now to prepare? Read the full story.Jessica HamzelouThis story is from The Checkup, our weekly health and biotech newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Thursday.Ask our journalists anything!Do you have questions about emerging technologies? Well, weve got answers. MIT Technology Reviews science and tech journalists are hosting an AMA on Reddit today at 12 pm ET. Submit your questions now!The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 Metas new speech policies allow the denigration of trans peopleThe revamped guidelines now permit previously-forbidden insults and allegations. (Platformer $)+ The changes have left Metas employees feeling embarrassed and ashamed. (404 Media)+ Axed fact-checkers held an emergency meeting after Meta said it no longer required their services. (Insider $)2 The US Supreme Court will hear TikToks final pleaJustices are likely to make their decision before the end of next week. (The Guardian)+ If the ban is enacted, you can probably still access TikTok via a VPN. (NYT $)+ ByteDances founder could be TikToks secret weapon. (The Information $)3 Those pictures of the Hollywood sign burning are AI-generatedAI slop is making the Los Angeles fires appear even worse than they are. (404 Media)+ Elon Musk and Donald Trump arent helping matters by spreading disinformation. (The Verge)+ AI cameras are keeping tabs on the spreading destruction in Californias hills. (Insider $)+ The scale of the destruction is truly horrifying. (NY Mag $)4 Last year was officially the hottest ever recordedThe average global temperature exceeded 1.5C above the pre-industrial baseline for the first time. (New Scientist $)+ Consequently, were edging closer to breaching the Paris Agreement. (Politico)5 How to prevent another zoonotic pandemicIt all hinges on early detection. (FT $)6 Foxconn has stopped sending Chinese workers to Indian iPhone factoriesIts bad news for Apple, as its likely to disrupt production. (Rest of World)7 This new cell could change plastic surgery as we know itLipochondrocytes have the rigidity of cartilage and the squishiness of fat. (Wired $)+ Cosmetic surgery is booming in middle-income countries. (Economist $)8 Yandexs co-founder is shaking off PutinArkady Volozh has condemned Russias actions in the war with Ukraine, and started a new company. (Bloomberg $)+ How Russia killed its tech industry. (MIT Technology Review)9 Grok is a standalone app nowIts searching for an audience beyond the X faithful. (WSJ $)+ The company appears to be testing a separate website, too. (TechCrunch)10 PlayStation is experimenting with adding smells to its games Smells fishy to me. (Fast Company $)Quote of the daySocial media is like building real estate on sand. You never know.Joanne Molinaro, a former lawyer-turned TikTok chef, worries about the precarity of building a career tied to a specific internet platform, she tells CNN.The big storyAI hype is built on high test scores. Those tests are flawed.August 2023In the past few years, multiple researchers claim to have shown that large language models can pass cognitive tests designed for humans, from working through problems step by step, to guessing what other people are thinking.These kinds of results are feeding a hype machine predicting that these machines will soon come for white-collar jobs. But theres a problem: Theres little agreement on what those results really mean. Read the full story.William Douglas HeavenWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ The Sun turned blue 200 years ago and no one knew whyuntil now.+ Theres nothing better than a surreal TV crossover (Arrested Development + Law & Order: SVU, anyone?)+ Rye the truffle-hunting golden retriever is a very good boy indeed (thanks Vincent!) + I want to go to every single one of these incredible destinations and eat all their food.