Is smarter always better? The debate on monitoring tech.

Step behind the scenes of The Penguin (HBO, 2024) with this detailed VFX breakdown from FrostFX, showcasing their role in bringing the iconic antihero to life. Led by Visual Effects Supervisor Eugene Bondar and overall VFX Supervisor Johnny Han, FrostFX delivered 124 stunning shots between August 2023 and August 2024, working tirelessly to create a gritty, immersive world for the character. The team partnered with top VFX studios: SSVFX, Pixomondo, DNEG, ReDefine, and Accenture Song VFX to bring together all their expertise into different parts of the visual storytelling. From the cityscapes and dark alleys to the action-packed sequences, it resulted in smooth and dynamic effects which enhanced the raw atmosphere of Gotham. With that in mind, this VFX breakdown will detail how digital artistry helped refine the look and feel of the Penguin, interweaving elements of practical work with cutting-edge visual innovation.The post The Penguin VFX Breakdown by FrostFX appeared first on Vfxexpress.

When a renowned Israeli TV journalist lost his ability to speak clearly because of ALS, he thought his career might be over. But now, using artificial-intelligence software that can recreate his widely recognized gravelly voice, Moshe Nussbaum known to generations of viewers simply as Nussi is making a comeback.Nussbaum, 71, was diagnosed two years ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive disease also known as Lou Gehrigs disease that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body.At the time, he vowed to viewers of Israels Channel 12 News to continue working as long as he was physically able. But, gradually, it became more and more difficult.It was a devastating blow to the career of a leading, no-nonsense reporter who for more than 40 years had covered many of Israels most important stories from the field. He had appeared from the scenes of suicide bombing attacks and the front lines of wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and had covered scandals in Israels parliament and high-profile court cases.After Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war in Gaza, Nussbaum was unable to report from the field. It was the first war of his career he had ever sat out, he noted in a recent interview with colleagues at Channel 12, the countrys largest station.Even though he was having trouble moving and speaking, he launched a segment interviewing injured soldiers from Israeli hospitals. His questions were slow and halting, but he kept it up for the first half of the war. Then, as it became increasingly difficult to speak, and to be understood, his interviews became less frequent.On Monday, Channel 12 made the surprising announcement that it would bring Nussbaum back on the air in the coming weeks as a commentator with the help of AI.It took me a few moments to absorb it and to understand that it is me speaking now, Nussbaum told the Associated Press via text message. Slowly, slowly, Im understanding the incredible meaning of this device for everyone with disabilities, including me.Nussbaum will report his stories, and then write them up, using an AI program that has been trained to speak using Nussbaums voice. He will be filmed as if he were presenting, and his lips will be technologically adjusted to match the words.People with speech disorders have used traditional text-to-speech technology for years, but those voices sound robotic and flat, and lack emotion. In contrast, AI technology is trained using recordings of a persons voice there are thousands of hours of Nussbaum speaking thanks to his lengthy career in TV and radio and it can mimic their intonations and phrasing.Thrilled by the possibilities the technology affords him, Nussbaum said he is also worried about the ease with which the technology could be used by bad actors to spread fake news and falsehoods.In its current form, the technology will not work for live broadcasts, so Nussbaum wont be able to go out into the field, which is his favorite part of the job, he said. Instead, he will focus on commentary and analysis about crime and national security, his areas of expertise for decades.Ahead of the broadcasts, Channel 12 released a preview showing snippets of Nussbaum speaking naturally garbled and difficult to understand followed by the new Nussi AI. The new version sounds strikingly like the old Nussbaum, speaking quickly and emphatically. Nussbaum was filmed as if he was presenting the report, sitting straight with his trademark bushy eyebrows moving up and down for emphasis.Honestly, this is my first time sitting here in the studio after more than a year, AI Nussbaum says in the preview. It feels a bit strange, and mostly, it tugs my heart.AI-powered voice cloning has grown exponentially in recent years.Experts have warnedthat the technology can amplify phone scams, disruptdemocratic electionsand violate the dignity of people living or dead who never consented to having their voice recreated to say things they never said.Its been used to producedeepfake robocallsmimicking President Joe Biden. In the U.S.,authorities recently chargeda high school athletic director with using AI to generate a fake audio clip of the schools principal making racist remarks.But the technology also has tremendous potential to help people who have lost their ability to speak clearly. A U.S. congresswoman who cannot speak due to complications from Parkinsons and a related palsy has used asimilar AI program to give a speech on the House floor, and the technology has also helped a young woman wholost her voice due to a tumor.Channel 12 declined to say which AI program it was using.Nussbaum had worried that ALS would rob him of the career he loved. In an interview with Channel 12, he recounted telling his managers dont feel like youre pitying me, doing me a favor, he said. The day you come to the conclusion that this is it tell me. Ill know how to accept it without a problem.He calls his new AI-enabled persona a magic trick that enabled his comeback, and believes it will raise awareness in Israel of ways that people with disabilities especially progressive disabilities can continue to work.The fact that Channel 12 and my news managers are allowing me to reinvent myself anew, that is one of the most important medicines I can get in my fight with this disease, he said.Melanie Lidman, Associated Press

Co-working brand The Malin has opened a location in Austin, Texas, offering bright open workspaces and cosy burgundy lounges for its members.The Malin's first location in the Lone Star State and its sixth nationally is situated in East Austin, inside a modernist-style new build by local architectural firm Chioco.Comfy lounge spaces with burgundy walls are available to The Malin East Austin membersAs with the brand's other clubs, the interiors are designed by an in-house team to have a residential atmosphere, using comfortable furniture, curated objects and plants.Throughout the 12,000-square-foot (115-square-metre) club, all of the furniture is custom-designed, while characterful lighting is sourced from brands including Blue Green Works and Bocci.Those working can choose between sofas, banquettes and large communal tablesThe club strategically caters to the area's burgeoning community of remote workers, entrepreneurs and tech startups."As a resource for Austin's workforce, our aim is to provide a workspace that is as dynamic as the multi-faceted city itself, supporting and inspiring their most ambitious professionals," said Malin founder and CEO Ciarn McGuigan.Custom furniture with velvet and mohair upholstery creates a residential feel in the spaceThe colour scheme is warm and sumptuous, mixing areas of soft neutral decor with others featuring dark green and rich purple walls and furniture."The palette evokes the calming hours before daybreak, with deep burgundy and eggplant shades, and the rich velvet and mohair upholstery to provide an added element of luxury," said the team.The colour scheme "evokes the calming hours before day break" according to The Malin teamMembers are greeted at a reception desk wrapped in rounded wooden bands and topped with richly veined stone.Behind the desk, claret-toned zellige tiles are laid inside the niches of a full-wall shelving system, which is populated with a variety of ceramic vessels.Read: Co-working members' club The Malin opens wood-filled Nashville locationThose working can choose between textured upholstered banquettes and booths, large communal tables accompanied by cushioned armchairs, or sofas and coffee tables.Dedicated desks for individuals and offices for small companies are also available, along with boardrooms for internal and external meetings, and private spaces that can be booked upon request.Comfy furniture and planting add to the residential atmosphereThe Malin's first clubs were in New York City, and it currently operates hubs in Soho, Williamsburg, NoMad and the West Village.The company recently expanded south, opening a wood-filled Nashville location last year and advertising an upcoming spot in Savannah.Members have access to a variety of meeting rooms and bookable private spacesAustin's economy has grown significantly over the past decade, particularly in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic, as many tech workers and creatives relocated to the city.As a result, a rise in the number of supertall skyscrapers in the Downtown area has been met with mixed opinions.The photography is by Alpha Smoot.The post The Malin co-working club in East Austin features light and dark workspaces appeared first on Dezeen.

And you do know you can get a free 30-day trial of Prime, right?!

So far Meta has only abandoned fact-checking in the US. If and when it expands, the move will be a major blow to the Latin American news ecosystem.

The 1,100-pound mystery object landed in Kenya at the end of December. Experts are still baffled.

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Amazon will be winding down its Prime Try Before You Buy program, which let Prime members try on clothes before paying for them, reports The Information. It will shutter on January 31st, according to a banner at the top of the services landing page.Amazon spokesperson Maxine Tagay said in a statement emailed to The Verge that the company is discontinuing the service because it only worked for a limited number of items and customers have been increasingly using our newAI-powered features to decide what to buy. Tagay gave examples like Virtual Try-On AR feature that puts 3D renders of shoes from certain brands on your feet using your smartphones camera. She also mentioned the companys LLM-powered personalized size recommendations that tweak size recommendations based on customer reviews.Prime Try Before You Buy launched in 2018 for all Prime subscribers as Amazon Wardrobe before the company later changed its name. Through it, Prime members can order up to six items, try them for seven days, then pay for what works and send back the rest like a very basic version of Stitch Fixs curated clothing service. But a big part of that is returns, which is something the company has been trying to cut back on.The discontinuation of Prime Try Before You Buy comes after years of cost-cutting at the company, as CNBC points out. Thats included massive layoffs and shuttering physical stores, as well as scaling back some of its efforts in the grocery industry.Here is the full statement Tagay provided to The Verge: Given the combination of Try Before You Buy only scaling to a limited number of items and customers increasingly using our newAI-powered featureslike virtual try-on, personalized size recommendations, review highlights, and improved size charts to make sure they find the right fit, were phasing out the Try Before You Buy option, effectiveJanuary31, 2025. Of course, customers will continue to enjoy fast, free shipping, with easy, free returns on our full apparel selection.

The inventive gadgets and gizmos at CES can often define the year, but most everything that appears on the showroom floor isnt going to be available until later in the year, if at all. Fortunately, thats not the case with Ankers 140W GaN charger, which is already available in black or silver for $79.99 ($10 off) when you clip the on-page coupon at Amazon or use promo code WSCPV2LBR7KR at Ankers online storefront.RelatedOut of all the chargers to come out of CES this year, the Anker Charger (140W) easily offers one of the more refreshing designs. The wall charger is unique in that it positions all four USB ports on the underside of the device, thus reorienting its center of gravity and helping prevent it from falling out when loaded with weighty cables. Two of those ports are USB-C ports that supply up to 140W of power letting you top off everything from a Nintendo Switch to the latest MacBook Pro while a third USB-C port maxes out at 40W. It also features a single USB-A port limited to 33W, as well as a built-in info display for viewing temperature data and the power output for each port.$80$80$9011% offAnkers latest GaN charger features an integrated display and four USB ports on the underside of the device, as opposed to the side, which helps keep it in place while charging.$80 at Amazon (with on-page coupon)$80 at Anker (with code WSCPV2LBR7KR)More ways to save this weekendAmazon is selling its Smart Air Quality Monitorfor $49.99 ($20 off), which is only $5 more than its best price to date. The compact device uses phone and voice alerts (via Echo speakers) to let you know when it detects abnormal changes in particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, humidity, and temperature. It can even automatically trigger Alexa-enabled air purifiers, along with humidifiers and other connected devices.Samsungs budget-friendly Galaxy Buds FE are down to $59.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, nearly matching their lowest price to date. Theyre a good bet if you could care less about multipoint support and wireless charging, as they offer reliable performance, enjoyable sound, and surprisingly good noise cancellation for the price. They also sport a wing tip design, which can provide a more secure fit if you struggle with traditional in-ears. Read our review.Note: Quentyn Kennemer also contributed to this post.