The Charles Dickens Museum is celebrating its anniversary by displaying rare books, artworks, letters, artifacts and other unique historical objects connected to the 19th-century author. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty ImagesIn 1925,Charles Dickens home in London was saved from demolition. Instead, it became theCharles Dickens Museum, a small space on Doughty Street dedicated to the 19th-century writers legacy. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, the museum is putting on a new exhibition featuring a treasure trove of rare artifacts.Dickens lived at Doughty Street with his wife and son. He wrote parts of many of his famous novels while living there, including The Pickwick Papers, Nicholas Nickleby and Oliver Twist. The show will spotlight unique portraits, photographs and historic items that celebrate Dickens life and literary genius.Gathered together over the past century and displayed in Dickens only surviving house in London, a beacon at the center of the urban landscape quintessentially associated with the writer, the museum in Doughty Street will be filled with objects that define Dickens life and the museums history, Cindy Sughrue, the museums director, tells BBC News. An unfinished 1837 portrait of Charles Dickens by Samuel Laurence Kirsty O'Connor / PA Images via Getty ImagesOne of those objects is a rare copy of David Copperfield that traveled to Antarctica on Captain Robert Falcon Scotts famousTerra Nova expedition in 1910. The novel entertained them during perilous situations throughout their journey.When the men were stranded in an ice cave, they read a chapter every night for two months, per BBC News. As such, the text is blackened with their fingerprints, likely to have been due to the seal blubber fire that heated the cave.Visitors will see works by artists who illustrated Dickens stories, includingHablot Knight Browne,John Leech,George Cruikshank andFred Barnardas well as early drawings for the original edition of A Christmas Carol.Other items will offer attendees an intimate glimpse into the authors early life. As Artnets Jo Lawson-Tancred writes, Most photographs record Dickens in his rugged middle age; these works capture a much more fresh-faced author, in his late 20s and early 30s. An 1843painting by the artist Margaret Gillies that went missing for more than a century depicts a young, wide-eyed Dickens. The show will also exhibit love poems from the authors early years.Portrait of Charles Dickens,Margaret Gillies, 1843 Fine Art Images / Heritage Images via Getty ImagesSome of [the poetry] is okay. Some of it is quite bad, Emma Harper, the exhibitions curator, tells theGuardians Caroline Davies. I find it quite amusing that it is basically a teenage young man writing poetry for his crush. You wouldnt necessarily recognize it as from the genius of Victorian writing.Excerpts from Dickens correspondence will also be on view, including an early draft of the note he wrote detailing the end of his marriage.Youll be able to see Dickens original manuscripts, letters to friends and family and rare first editions of his most famous works, per the exhibition website. But youll also encounter Dickens the man as well as Dickens the writer, his personal style, interests and passions.Dickens in Doughty Street: 100 Years of the Charles Dickens Museum will be on view at the Charles Dickens Museum in London from February 5 to June 29, 2025.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Artifacts, Artists, Arts, Books, British Writers, Celebrations, Charles Dickens, Exhibitions, Exhibits, Fiction, Letters, Literature, London, Museums

LlamaV-o1, a groundbreaking AI model from MBZUAI, revolutionizes multimodal reasoning by providing transparent step-by-step explanations across text and visual tasks, outperforming competitors in speed and accuracy.Read More

Robocraft 2 developer Freejam shuts down"With the current market conditions, were simply unable to sustain development"Image credit: Freejam News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 13, 2025 Robocraft 2 developer Freejam has shut down.In a statement posted to Discord, the studio blamed "market conditions" and the costs of keeping servers going on Robocraft 2, which will now be sunsetted, along with predecessor Robocraft and Cardlife.The sequel has already been withdrawn from Steam, where it had been available as an Early Access title."Its with a heavy heart that we have to tell you all that were ceasing production on Robocraft 2 and closing Freejam as a studio," said one of the developers in a statement posted to Discord."With the current market conditions and the server costs required to keep a game like RC2 running, were simply unable to launch or sustain development. We will spend some time sunsetting both Robocraft 1 and 2, as well as Cardlife over the coming weeks."Freejam has been a family to all of us, and you have been part of that," the statement added. "Your feedback and thoughts have always driven us forward, but beyond this, the communitys passion is a massive part of what has made working at Freejam such a pleasure [...] Your time, energy, support and so, so much patience has made a world of difference. From all of us at Freejam, thank you so much for joining us on this journey."It's unclear how many will be affected by the closure, but the studio's LinkedIn page intimates it employs between 11-50 people from its headquarters in Portsmouth, UK.The news comes as Swedish games firm Enad Global 7 (EG7) also initiated the "wind down" of Toadman Interactive, which resulted in 69 job losses, and laid off 38 employees from Piranha Games.In the first two weeks of 2025 alone, over 150 developers have lost their jobs, including cuts at Splash Damage and Jar of Sparks.

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorJanuary 13, 20252 Min ReadImage via Games Done Quick.At a GlanceThis year's Awesome Games Done Quick raised $2.56 million amid live concerts and Elden Ring being played via saxophone.The speedrun charity organization Games Done Quick recently ended its first event for 2025, and made $2.56 million in donations for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) ran from January 5 to January 12, and the 24/7 event saw streamers play games to raise money. Its proceeds were a slight bump up from AGDQ's $2.54 million in 2024, and a bit down from 2023's $2.6 million. To date, GDQ's biggest record remains the record-breaking $3.4 million raked in for its Summer 2022 showcase.In its announcement, the organization noted it's now raised over $54 million for charity since its start in 2010."Thank you to everyone who made this marathon possible, and to all of you for your amazing generosity & support," it wrote. Prevent Cancer gave its own love on January 11, saying players "never cease to amaze us with your generosity. Your donations make an enormous impact, THANK YOU!"This year's AGDQ had several highlights, from a live concert during the Crazy Taxi segment to Elden Ring being played with a saxophone. (Really.) Every run is freely available on the GDQ YouTube page, which also features videos from previous events.Games Done Quick will expand its fundraising efforts with a battery of events for different causes througout 2025. Joining the lineup is its first-ever Back to Black speedrunning stream, which runs from Thursday, February 6 to Sunday, February 9 to benefit the racial justice nonprofit Race Forward.Frost Fatales will also return for its fourth consecutive year, and its fifth since debuting in 2020. The all-women and femmes showcase goes from Sunday, March 9 to the following Sunday, March 16, and will give its proceeds to the National Women's Law Center.Finally, Summer Games Done Quick, AGDQ's primary companion, will raise money for Doctors Without Borders in Minneapolis beginning Sunday, July 6 and concluding on Saturday, July 12.Read more about:CultureAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Meta announced last week that it would be ditching fact-checkers in favor of X-like Community Notes, and self-described leaker Alessandro Paluzzi shared screenshots on Monday showing what the feature might look like in Threads.Based on the screenshots, it appears youll be able to start the process of writing a Community Note from the three-dots menu on a post, which is where you can already access features like muting an account or reporting a post. Another screenshot shows that when you write a Community Note, your note will be anonymous.A third screenshot appears to show an Instagram help center page about Community Notes that has a button to join a waitlist for the program. However, the layout of the page looks different from other live help center pages I can see right now.Meta didnt immediately reply to a request for comment.Meta said last week that it plans to phase in Community Notes in the US first over the next couple of months and then improve it over the course of the year, but it hasnt specified exactly when the feature might be available on Threads. My colleague Alex Heath reported Sunday that Community Notes was not on the product roadmap before this week.In addition to the move to Community Notes, Meta said its also getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration and gender, and phasing civil content back into Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri published a video today showing how to set the amount of political content you see on Threads.

I've got a much earlier edition of game deals for you today. Why? Because I have to head in to Publisher X to play several hours of Game Y. (Don't worry, you'll read all about it soon in article Z.) All that being said, let's skip the preamble, get scrolling, and dive into the best gaming deals going today!In retro news, I've cooked a bin chicken feast for the 32nd birthday of Streets of Rage 2, a seminal beat 'em up and massive personal favourite I played the cartridge pins off. Basically, you and a mate needed to go ever rightward on an ultra-violent rescue mission as one of two loose cannon cops, a spandex-clad wrestler, or the most '90s kid ever (think: backwards hat, rollerblades). Not only were this sequel's fisticuffs more technical than its rival to beat, Final Fight, Streets of Rage 2 boasted one of the most jam-pumping EDM soundtracks of its era. Seriously.Happy Bday Streets of Rage 2 This Day in Gaming Aussie birthdays for notable games.- Streets of Rage 2 (MD) 1993. Get- ESPN NBA 2K5 (PS2) 2005. eBay- Army of Two: The 40th Day (PS3/P,X360) 2010. eBayTable of ContentsNice Savings for Nintendo SwitchSuper Mario RPGSuper Mario RPG is considered a classic for a reason, and this wonderfully faithful remake makes it easy for anyone who missed it in the SNES era to see why. 8/10, great.Expiring Recent DealsOr gift a Nintendo eShop Card.Switch Console PricesHow much to Switch it up?Switch OLED + Mario Wonder: $539 $499 | Switch Original: $499 $448 | Switch OLED Black: $539 $479 | Switch OLED White: $539 $479 | Switch Lite: $329 $299 | Switch Lite Hyrule: $339 $299See itBack to topPurchase Cheap for PCMeta Quest 3S + BatmanTake it from a more than happy owner of one of these. The 3S a brilliant bit of kit and Batman is more or less a killer app (although you dont actually kill as him).Dynasty Warriors Origins (-18%) - A$97.80Ready or Not (-40%) - A$44.10Far Cry 6 (-78%) - A$19.79V Rising (-30%) - A$35.66Expiring Recent DealsOr just get a Steam Wallet CardPC Hardware PricesSlay your pile of shame.Official launch in NovSteam Deck 256GB LCD: $649 | Steam Deck 512GB OLED: $899 | Steam Deck 1TB OLED: $1,049See it at SteamBack to topExciting Bargains for XboxCoD BLOPS 6Multi-wise the maps are excellent, built to please almost everyone's favourite gun styles. The meat and potatoes moving quick and dishing out firepower is aces this year; it's fast without feeling too twitchy. 8/10, great.Assetto Corsa Ult. (-75%) - A$13.11LEGO The Hobbit (-90%) - A$5.49Borderlands 3 NL Ed. (-90%) - A$10.79Space Marine 2 Ultra Ed. (-33%) - A$127.46Wolfenstein Alt History Bndl (-80%) - A$19.99Expiring Recent DealsYooka-Laylee Impossible Lair (-80%) - A$8.99Star Wars Outlaws (-46%) - A$59MGS: Master Col. (-41%) - A$50.39Space Marine 2 (-27%) - A$79.95Or just invest in an Xbox Card.Xbox Console PricesHow many bucks for a 'Box? Series X: $799 $729 | Series S Black: $549 $545 | Series S White:$499 $471 | Series S Starter: N/ASee itBack to topPure Scores for PlayStationIt Takes TwoA beautiful, breakneck-paced, and bubbling over with creativity co-op platformer, where playfulness and experimentation are rewarded at every turn. 9/10, amazing.Resi Evil 4 (-50%) - A$27.47NBA 2K25 Tournament Ed. (-60%) - A$55.98Dragon's Dogma 2 (-47%) - A$57.21Hitman WoA (-70%) - A$13.48Expiring Recent DealsLost Judgment (-61%) - A$39.80LEGO DC Supervillains (-78%) - A$20Star Wars Outlaws (-46%) - A$59Astro Bot (-19%) - A$89Space Marine 2 (-37%) - A$69PS+ Monthly FreebiesYours to keep from Jan 7 with this subscriptionSuicide Squad: KTJL [PS5]NFS Hot Pursuit Remastered [PS4]The Stanley Parable: Ultra [PS4/5]Or purchase a PS Store Card.What you'll pay to 'Station.PS5 Slim Disc:$799 $759 | PS5 Slim Digital:679 $678 | PS VR2: $899 | PS VR2 + Horizon: $899 | PS5 Pro $1,199 | PS Portal: $329See itBack to topLegit LEGO DealsIcons: McLaren MP4/4 (-25%) - A$75Imperial Star Destroyer (-17%) - A$249.29Architecture Notre-Dame (-13%) - A$306Expiring Recent DealsBack to top Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

Turn back the clock 30 years and gear up for action-packed Caped Crusader adventures with the brand-new DC Comics Retro Collection from leading global childrens entertainment company Spin Master!Available exclusively at Target, this collection celebrates 30 years of Batman Forever starring Val Kilmer, with authentic movie styling plus retro designs & packaging that capture the spirit & style of the film. Uniting generations of DC fans, these toys and collectors items allow kids & kidults alike to own a piece of cinematic history perfect for proud display or bringing crime-fighting action to life during playtime.Find out more about the exciting new collection hereAn iconic Roman landmark, the Trevi Fountain, is getting the LEGO treatment in a beautiful set made of over 1,800 pieces.Engage your creativity with the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. Immerse yourself in the details as you create the model using warm white, tan and pink elements, with gradient shades of blue to depict the waters depth. Build the impressive Palazzo Poli facade, complete with papal crest. Add in the various sculptures, recreated in minifigure form, and enjoy the full glory of this iconic landmark.Read more about the reveal at BricksetThe Flash director Andy Muschietti opened up about the films lack of success at the box office, blaming its flop on a lack of audience interest in the titular character.I think [The Flash] failed because it didnt appeal to all four quadrants, Muschietti said on La Baulera del Coso. When you make a 200 million dollar film, the studio expects you even to bring your grandmother to the theaters.Muschietti said that in private conversations, he was told that many people are not interested in The Flash as a character. Half of the quadrants, two are female [and] many women are not interested in The Flash as a character.'Read the full story at DeadlineYouve heard of A Bugs Life, but what about Bug Wars? Discover all you need to know about one of early 2025s most exciting upcoming comic books.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!The superstar team of writer Jason Aaron (Southern Bastards, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Absolute Superman) and artist Mahmud Asrar (Conan the Barbarian, X-Men, Batman & Robin) join forces for the upcoming series, Bug Wars. The extra-length first issue of this dark fantasy, epic series is set to debut in February 2025 from Image Comics.Read more hereWe all figured this was coming, but now its official. The popular PlayStation game Horizon Zero Dawn is becoming a feature film.The critically acclaimed action role-playing game Horizon Zero Dawn is officially heading to the big screen. Originally released in 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn tells the story of Aloy, a hunter and outcast from the Nora tribe, as she discovers her origins and navigates a world ruled by mysterious robotic creatures. During Sonys CES 2025 press conference, PlayStation Studios and Columbia Pictures announced they are in the early stages of developing a feature film adaptation of Guerrilla Games beloved title. The movie is expected to explore Aloys origin story, chronicling her journey through a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world teeming with robotic beasts.Read more at HypeBeast

Whether its rolling pastoral hills or the morning mist rising off a quiet mountain lake, the country is full of stunning views, so its no wonder we love our sliding glass doors. Not only do they let in all the light and views, but theyre also a great way to incorporate a natural indoor/outdoor flow into any home. But, knowing how to style them so they arent so sterileand you can have privacy when neededcan be difficult! Have no fear, were here to help. Weve combed through our archives and checked in with our favorite designers to see how theyre finishing their sliding glass doors. From breezy curtains to layers of window treatments, below are ideas here for every budget and style. So, whether your sliding glass door leads out to your screened-in porch or the wide-open backyard, we promise youll find something to inspire your next room makeover project. Ready To Get Hanging? Check Out These Stories To Help Round Out Your Window Treatment Ideas:1Pick an Unexpected Color Combination Diana Paulson for Country LivingWhile the best decorating advice usually calls for curtains to coordinate with other fabrics in the room, you can also bravely choose to throw that advice directly out the window and still get a chic result. Take this airy cabin living room, for example. It successfully pairs oversize olive curtains with rusty reds, blues, and yellows, proving that unexpected colors can be brought in with success. RELATED: These Lake House Decorating Ideas Will Give You That Laid-Back Look2Choose Contrast HardwareRoger Davies for Country LivingIn a breezy living room, such as this beachy California bungalow, deeply saturated black iron hardware offers a pleasing pop against the simple palette. RELATED: Could There Be Any More Charm In This California Beach Cottage?Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Keep It BreezyAlec Hemer for Country LivingCurtains dont have to take up a lot of visual weight. In fact, when theyre blocking a beautiful ocean view such as this, its better if theyre simple. Here, classic white curtains with tab ties keep things feeling clean-yet-coastal. RELATED: These Beach House Decorating Ideas Will Make Waves In Any Room4Let The Light InDavid TsaySometimes, you really don't need a window treatment! We promise this isn't an easy out but practical decorating advice that most design-minded homeowners could easily overlook. If your furniture has plenty of pattern and color and your view outside is as stunning as this California winery, then you should keep your sliding glass door free of any visual infringement. Just embrace the au naturel look!RELATED: These Are The Best Designer-Approved White Paint ColorsAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Go for Gauzy INGRID WEIRThe more see-through the curtains, the better. In this she-shed-turned-guest-house, a barely-there curtain lets in loads of light. Stick to sheers when you want to prioritize both privacy and the view. RELATED: Turn Your Guest Bedroom Into The Coziest Room In The House With These Expert Tips 6Hide The HardwareBrian Woodcock for Country LivingA well placed piece of trim can hide curtain hardware with ease. In this dreamy bedroom, an under-mounted pair of breezy white curtains keeps the visual clutter to a minimum while handsome leather furniture sets a more rustic tone. RELATED: Heres How To Clean Any Kind of Leather Like a ProAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7Pick Pretty WoodMax Kim-Bee for Country LivingIf you are torn about putting up curtains, start with beautiful wood sliding doors, like these barn-door style doors on a lake houses back patio, designed by Thom Filicia. You may even decide you never want curtains! RELATED: Tour More of This Dreamy Lake House Designed by Thom Filicia8Pick Complementary ColorsBrie Williams for Country LivingIf the room youre decorating has a strong visual point of view, sometimes its best not to disrupt that flow. In this North Carolina cabin, neutral tones and warm touches set a welcoming tone, which is extended to the double-height glass windows and doors. Paired with neutrally patterned curtains, the view to the stunning mountain valley below takes precedent without losing out on style. RELATED: See More of This Rustic Mountain Cabin That is Filled With an Eclectic Mix of AntiquesAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below9Try Out a Top FlourishHouse Beautiful/Rachel WhitingCurtains with a flop-over valance top such as pictured here add a cottage whimsy to even the starkest of living rooms. Their soft silhouettes ease the transition from outdoors to in, while acting as the perfect foil to more modern furniture. RELATED: Heres Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About Cottagecore10Keep It Simple with SolidsDiana Paulson for Country LivingIn a space already full of pattern, keep your curtains simple. In this colorful lake house bedroom, bold solid red curtains liven up the white walls without distracting from the beautiful view.RELATED: Heres Why Designers Love the Add a Touch of Red TheoryAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Lean Into LinenBrie Williams for Country LivingLinen is the optimal material for curtains, in this Senior Homes Editors humble opinion. Not only does the natural texture add nice dimension, but it also lets light through without reducing privacy, something that is at a premium in this party barn, owned by country music star Thomas Rhett. RELATED: See More of Lauren Akins and Thomas Rhetts Party Barn!12Turn up the TrimBrian Woodcock for Country LivingIf youre going light and breezy on your curtain panels, paint your window and door casement something striking. Here, a moody dark brown was chosen to pop against creamy curtains. RELATED: See How a Tennessee Couple Transformed a Rickety Hayloft Into This Airy Modern HomeAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Try Subtle Ticking StripesRachel WhitingTicking stripes have long been a country staple thanks to their prim-yet-humble disposition which allows them to work in almost every space. In this breezy oceanside bedroom, their subtle pattern adds breezy, country flair. 14Hang Above the FrameVictoria Pearson for Country LivingTo keep your curtains from getting hung up in the door, place your curtain rod at least six inches above the door frame. In fact, many designers even recommend going all the way to the ceiling. Using a rounded, wrap-around style of rod will set the curtain away from your door slightly and make opening and closing easier. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Trim Your Curtain PanelsRachel WhitingIn this coastal living room, a striped sofa sets a quiet patterned tone that is mimicked on the trim of the sliding glass doors curtain trim, as well as on the Roman shade! Pairing patterns across furniture and accessories is a quick way to elevate a rooms design. RELATED: These Are The Best Color Palettes for Beach Homes, According To Designers16Make it Pop With Pattern and PaintDavid HillegasFor a coordinated look, pick a paint color for your trim that is a close match to the curtain fabric of your choice. You can even bring your fabric to the paint store and ask them to make a custom matching shade. In this sitting area designed by Heather Chadduck Hillegas, sky blue paint paired with colorful curtains brings the dreamy space together.RELATED: These Are The 100 Best Paint Colors of All TimeAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below17Continue a Color PaletteEric PiaseckiThe easiest way to blend curtains into their surroundings is to match them to the paint color (or pick a matching fabric-wallpaper duo). In this cozy snug accented by floor-to-ceiling glass, the designer Barbara Westbrook chose a pretty beige set of curtains to match the subdued color on the wood walls. RELATED: These Are Our Favorite Living Room Paint Colors of All Time18Liven It Up with LayersRead McKendreeNothing adds a designed feel to a room like layers. To get the look, start with woven wood shades like shown here. Then pair them with patterned curtains like designer Katie Rosenfeld did and youll have a perfectly put together living room in no-time. Tip: These woven shades can be custom made via Amazon (of all places!) for a relatively low cost. Get the Look:Woven Wood Shades: Windows and Gardens Cordless Woven Wood Roman Shades on Amazon Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Try Casual Tiebacks Nassima RothackerTiebacks are the easiest way to give your curtains dimension. In this mudroom, the tieback is crafted from the same fabric as the panel for a more harmonious look. You can also buy premade ties at most major home decor stores. RELATED: This Is The Secret to a Well-Designed and Functional Mudroom, According to Designers20Pretty It Up With PlaidAdam Albright for Country LivingWe love maximalism here at Country Living, and there exists no clearer example of just how much style a powerful pattern can lend to a space than this Wisconsin living room. Here, multicolored swaths of plaid fabric were sewn together to craft these one-of-a-kind window treatments that are hung in panels at the ends and in the middle along the glassed wall.RELATED: Tour More of This Wisconsin Cabin That Feels Like Happy HourAnna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isnt working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!

A new day, a new controversy around artificial intelligence. This time, Meta has been accused of using pirated content from torrents to train its large language model (LLM) Llama, which powers Meta AI. The case was one of the first copyright lawsuits filed against a tech company for training AI.As reported by Wired, Meta was hit with a lawsuit in 2023 for allegedly training Llama, the companys LLM, with pirated content. The case became known as Kadrey et al. v. Meta Platforms and was filed by novelists Richard Kadrey and Christopher Golden, who claimed that Meta used copyrighted content without authorization.Until now, Meta had handed over documents with redacted information to the court, but Judge Vince Chhabria of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ordered that the original documents should be made public and thats what happened.The documents reveal conversations between Meta employees about Meta AI and Llama. In one of the conversations, an engineer says that torrenting from a [Meta-owned] corporate laptop doesnt feel right, which corroborates that the company used pirated content to train its AI. Another conversation suggests that MZ (Mark Zuckeberg) authorized the use of pirated material.Evidence suggests that Meta used content from LibGen, a huge library of pirated books, magazines and academic articles. LibGen was created in Russia in 2008 and has been hit by multiple copyright lawsuits since then, even though no one knows who actually operates the piracy hub. Meta also reportedly used content from other shadow libraries for AI training. The company argues that it used public materials under the legal doctrine of fair use, which allows the use of copyrighted content without permission in certain circumstances, which are analyzed on a case-by-case basis. Meta also claims that its just using text to statistically model language and generate original expression.Meta announces expansion of its AI features to 21 additional countriesThis is not the first time that big techs have been accused of training AI models with copyrighted content. Last year, an investigation revealed that the OpenELM model created by Apple included subtitles from more than 170,000 YouTube videos.Although at first this led people to believe that Apple was using copyrighted content to train Apple Intelligence, the company later explained that OpenELM was an open-source model created for research purposes and that its database is not used to power Apple Intelligence.According to Apple, its AI features available on iOS and macOS are trained on licensed data, including data selected to enhance specific features, as well as publicly available data collected by our web-crawler.Its worth noting that many large publishers such as The New York Times and The Atlantic have chosen not to share their content with Apple Intelligence training.Buy new Apple products at a discountAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

As the city takes stock of the wreckage, firefighters are still battling several wildfires in the Los Angeles region and the path of destruction is enormous.An extremely dry 2024 inextricable at this point from the consequences of human-caused climate change has made firefighting efforts even more complicated. Last week, fire hydrants started to run dry, leaving some firefighters empty-handed.Which leaves an intriguing question: why aren't they scooping up water from the nearby Pacific Ocean?As Patrick Megonigal, associate director of research at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, explains in an essay for The Conversation, dumping saltwater is conventionally only a last resort, reserved for extreme situations.The answer as to why is twofold. For one, saltwater can accelerate the corrosion of firefighting equipment substantially. Second, saltwater can have devastating effects on the ecosystems where it's dumped, a more insidious and long-term reason why firefighters avoid ocean water.As Megonigal explains, researchers are only beginning to understand the negative consequences of introducing saltwater in places that are only accustomed to fresh water a pertinent topicbeyond the fires in California,considering that sea levels are on the rise around the globe.And in fact, the devastation in Los Angeles has been so immense that firefightershave been using ocean water as a last resort.Last week, firefighters flew aircraft known as Super Scoopers across the surface of the ocean to collect thousands of gallons of water to dump on wildfires, in an extreme measure reserved for when fresh water is extremely hard to come by.That's because many local ecosystems are only accustomed to freshwater. Introducing salts could have devastating effects on trees alone; for an example, look at the remaining stumps of ghost forests, which are newly created wetlands caused by rising sea levels in coastal areas.In an experiment dubbed Terrestrial Ecosystem Manipulation to Probe the Effects of Storm Treatments (TEMPEST), Megonigal and his colleagues at the Smithsonian pumped salty water from the Chesapeake Bay into a forested test plot.Being exposed to the salty water for just 30 hours caused the test plot trees to brown in mid-August, weeks earlier than normal."These changes did not occur in a nearby plot that we treated the same way, but with freshwater rather than seawater," Megonigal explained.They also found that the soil chemistry and structure were altered, with clays and other particles being dissolved, something that generally doesn't happen without the presence of saltwater.In other words, dumping "full-strength, salty ocean water" in extremely dry areas that are not used to being soaked, like Los Angeles, could have disastrous consequences.However, there's still plenty to learn about these undesired effects."Our research group is still trying to understand all the factors that limit the forests tolerance to salty water, and how our results apply to other ecosystems such as those in the Los Angeles area," Megonigal admitted.However, as sea levels continue to rise, more of the West Coast is being routinely exposed to saltwater, which could pose "unknown risks for coastal landscapes."In short, the fact that Los Angeles firefighters are resorting to saltwater at all is just another indication of how serious the blazes have been.More on the fires: Politicians Blame Los Angeles Fires on Explosion of AI Data CentersShare This Article