"A new legal home for Mastodon" Mastodons founder cedes control, refuses to become next Musk or Zuckerberg Mastodon shifts to nonprofit ownership, calls for $5M in donations to expand. Ashley Belanger Jan 13, 2025 3:21 pm | 113 Credit: SOPA Images / Contributor | LightRocket Credit: SOPA Images / Contributor | LightRocket Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreMastodon announced Monday that it's shifting its structure over the next six months to become wholly owned by a European nonprofit organization"affirming the intent that Mastodon should not be owned or controlled by a single individual."This takes control of the social network away from its previous "ultimate decision-maker," Eugen Rochko. As founder, Rochko initially took the reins to ensure the decentralized platform would never be for sale and "would be free of the control of a single wealthy individual." His grand vision remains to leave Mastodon users in control of the social network, making their own decisions about what content is allowed or what appears in their timelines.The news comes after leaders of other social networks, like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, have sparked backlash over sudden changes to popular apps like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). For years, Musk has drawn criticism for changing Twitter's hate speech policies through his X rebranding. And more recently, Zuckerberg this month defended Meta's decision to relax hate speech policies (permitting women to be called "property" and gay people to be called "mentally ill") by calling bans on such speech "out of touch with mainstream discourse."Mastodon is hoping to provide an alternative social network for users who are potentially frustrated with their lack of control over their timelines and content on other networks.But to achieve the "envisioned independence" for all users, Mastodon's structure needed to "evolve," the blog said, "as the community grew" to about 1.5 million monthly active users in 2023. Remaining headquartered in Europe primarily, Mastodon's day-to-day operations will be managed by the new European not-for-profit entity, "establishing a new legal home for Mastodon."The user experience on Mastodon won't be affected much by the transition to a nonprofit owner, Mastodon said. But "changes are definitely in the pipeline."Mastodon appears to be betting that even more users will seek alternative social networks in the future as popular apps enact unpopular policies. The blog discussed progress on a "privacy-respecting search tool" that could be used to explore the entire Fediverse, a collection of independent social media networks that Mastodon connects to. That could make it possible to discover more content without depending on a "For You" algorithm mining user data.And perhaps in a nod to Meta's recent changes, Mastodon also vowed to "invest deeply in trust and safety" and ensure "everyone, especially marginalized communities," feels "safe" on the platform.To become a more user-focused paradise of "resilient, governable, open and safe digital spaces," Mastodon is going to need a lot more funding. The blog called for donations to help fund an annual operating budget of $5.1 million (5 million euros) in 2025. That's a massive leap from the $152,476 (149,400 euros) total operating expenses Mastodon reported in 2023.Other social networks wary of EU regulationsMastodon has decided to continue basing its operations in Europe, while still maintaining a separate US-based nonprofit entity as a "fundraising hub," the blog said.It will take time, Mastodon said, to "select the appropriate jurisdiction and structure in Europe" before Mastodon can then "determine which other (subsidiary) legal structures are needed to support operations and sustainability."While Mastodon is carefully getting re-settled as a nonprofit in Europe, Zuckerberg this week went on Joe Rogan's podcast to call on Donald Trump to help US tech companies fight European Union fines, Politico reported.Some critics suggest the recent policy changes on Meta platforms were intended to win Trump's favor, partly to get Trump on Meta's side in the fight against the EU's strict digital laws. According to France24, Musk's recent combativeness with EU officials suggests Musk might team up with Zuckerberg in that fight (unlike that cage fight pitting the wealthy tech titans against each other that never happened).Experts told France24 that EU officials may "perhaps wrongly" already be fearful about ruffling Trump's feathers by targeting his tech allies and would likely need to use the "full legal arsenal" of EU digital laws to "stand up to Big Tech" once Trump's next term starts.As Big Tech prepares to continue battling EU regulators, Mastodon appears to be taking a different route, laying roots in Europe and "establishing the appropriate governance and leadership frameworks that reflect the nature and purpose of Mastodon as a whole" and "responsibly serve the community," its blog said."Our core mission remains the same: to create the tools and digital spaces where people can build authentic, constructive online communities free from ads, data exploitation, manipulative algorithms, or corporate monopolies," Mastodon's blog said.Ashley BelangerSenior Policy ReporterAshley BelangerSenior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 113 Comments

In The Shadows?Nintendo Switch 2 info seekers: here are some games you reportedly may be able to play on it, including one all of us have had to wait longer than expected forHey, it's not just a box you can stare at in the hopes of gleaning some insight about joy-cons!Image credit: Nintendo. News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 14, 2025 Look fast! The Nintendo Switch 2 isn't just a thing you can speculate about the reveal of or trawl the internet looking for allegedly leaked pics which may or may not tell you anything about what it'll look like - it's actually set to have some games you'll be able to play on it. Plus, one of them is reportedly a game most of us were originally supposed to be playing late last year.Sure, we've already had some games like Yooka-Replaylee be cheekily revealed as coming to future "Nintendo Platforms", but you can never have too many games, and leaker Nate the Hate has just claimed that these ones could be due to rock up on Switch 2 at some point.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Speaking on their podcast, Nate claimed that the Switch 2 will be revealed on January 16, ahead of a potential launch in May or June 2025, but added that they don't expect to see the reveal itself feature many games for the console - instead being focused on the hardware.They went on to speculate that in terms of Nintendo itself, a new Mario Kart at launch could be on the cards, with a new 3D Mario possibly set to arive in 2025's holiday period. Metroid Prime 4 was also chatted about. Most of the chat, though, was about third party games which could end up on Switch 2 at some point. For example, a path of Final Fantasy 7 Remake in 2025, followed by Rebirth in 2026 was mentioned.Ubisoft was a big focus of the discussion, with Assassins Creed Mirage, being claimed to be a Switch 2 launch title, while Assassin's Creed Shadows - which has just had its intial release date on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC pushed back to March 20 - is allegedly "one of those in development ports, it just wont be ready for launch, and it probably wont be ready for the launch window." The leaker went on to claim that Ubisoft is doing "more than half a dozen games for the Switch 2", with ports from The Division series and Rainbow Six Siege and a Mario + Rabbids collection possibly being among those.Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater from Konami also got a mention in this podcast, with Nate suggesting it could launch day and date on Switch 2, while Xbox-wise, a previous Nate the Hate podcast claimed that Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 were in line for ports.We'll have to see if any or all of these games actually do hit Switch 2, but until then, at least we can all K O N G like Nintendo did in a lot of countries yesterday.

Image: NintendoDonkey Kong Country Returns HD is just around the corner and, now that the embargo on our review coverage has lifted, we can officially confirm that developer Forever Entertainment is responsible for the porting duties on Retro Studios' platformer.However, much like Metroid Prime Remastered before it, Nintendo has opted to omit the original Retro Studios development team from the credits of the new release. Instead, it simply states 'Based on the work of the original development staff'.The removal of Retro Studios' staff from Metroid Prime Remastered caused quite a stir with some key developers from the original team, with engineer Zoid Kirsch stating that he felt "let down" by the exclusion, and technical lead engineer Jack Mathews going one step further and calling it "a travesty".Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube792kWatch on YouTube Despite the backlash, Nintendo has maintained its stance on condensing the credits for an entire development team into one rather dismissive sentence. You can see exactly how this appears in the credits via the below screenshots:Images: NintendoIt's a shame, but it seems clear at this point that this is now Nintendo's standard practice regarding remasters and ports. The company has also attracted some controversy for its similar stance on keeping its partner developers hidden from public view until close to their games' release dates. Knowledge acquiredLink's Awakening Switch players won't be surprisedUpdate: Another OG dev calls it a "travesty"What are your thoughts on the exclusion of Retro Studios from the credits of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD? Leave a comment down below and let us know.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Breaks Silence On 'Switch 2' Image And Video LeaksThe "official" announcement will take place this fiscal yearIs This Our Best Look Yet At 'Switch 2'?Update: Genki had a visit from Nintendo's lawyers, it's claimedRumour: 'Switch 2' Will Reportedly Be Officially Revealed This ThursdayThough software won't be the focusZelda: Breath Of The Wild Tops Rolling Stone's 50 Best Games Of All TimeOf course it does!

Powerset, founded in late 2022, is an investment program with a simple hypothesis: what if the best investors arent venture capitalists but other founders, scribbling off checks in between late night coding sessions and board meetings?Every year, Powerset, founded by AngelList alum Jack Zeller and coaching company Athena founder Zeller described Powerset as a sort of decentralized venture fund: theres no programming to teach founders how to invest, no timeline for when founders need to deploy the capital, and no group of managing partners that can veto a deal. Founders take home fifteen percent of whatever profit a deal makes.Its an experimental model that rests somewhere between angel investing except founders are not investing their own personal money and the old-school VC scout programs, where VCs engaged people, including founders, to help them source deals. The cohort founders are then encouraged to mentor and advise the portfolio companies, like any investor.In Powerscouts case, however, investments made entirely at the whims of already overworked and stressed out founders. There are some founders who are so busy with their companies and so picky that they dont invest at all, Zeller said. Or a founder will go from making no investments to being one of the most active very quickly.Despite complications, Zeller believes Powersets strategy will produce massive returns. Oftentimes its the best founders who are building the best companies are going to make for the best investors, he said.Founders, after all, deeply understand the intricacies of building a startup in their field and are constantly on the lookout for top talent anyway. Ive never found a genius-level technical founder whos building an incredible company who just sucks at investment, he said.Theres no hard and fast rules for who qualifies for Powersets program just that you are building a company and immersed in the tech ecosystem. Hopefully your company is getting to a scale where you kind of get some organic connectivity, Zeller said, meaning that other founders like your product and are naturally reaching out to you.But Zeller does have one deal breaker: hes not interested in anyone who views PowerSet as an off-ramp to running a company, with aspirations to imminently become a full time venture capitalist. Those people are going to perform terribly, he said.He claims the best performing Powerset participants are founders who plan to spend the next five, ten years building their own company. If youre building something thats hugely important, and your life mission and your life work, youre not going to invest in some marginal company, he said. It doesnt justify the activation energy.

Breakdown & ShowreelsThe Six Triple Eight: VFX Breakdown by Scanline VFXBy Vincent Frei - 14/01/2025 Explore the variety of the visual effects crafted by Scanline VFX in The Six Triple Eight, where planes, environments and powerful imagery depict the devastation of World War II. From ruined cities to the courage of 855 women overcoming adversity, these VFX transport viewers into a pivotal moment in history! Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

Sutton House | James BrittainLocated in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Sutton House highlights architecture that respects history while incorporating contemporary needs. Originally built in 1908 and expanded in the 1950s, the houses heavy stone walls, oversized chimneys, and manor-like geometry reflected its historical roots. However, the interiors narrow layout and mismatched cement mortar posed challenges in functionality and appearance.Sutton House Technical InformationArchitects1-3: Pelletier de FontenayLocation: Sutton, Quebec, CanadaArea: 500 m2 | 5,380 Sq. Ft.Original Construction Year: 1908Renovation Completion Year: 2024Photographs: James BrittainRather than creating a contrasting language with its new additions, or trying to mimic the existing building, the project offers a more ambiguous dialogue between old and new, drawing upon the original houses architectural language to establish a distinctive yet coherent architectural form. Pelletier de Fontenay ArchitectsSutton House PhotographsOrginal House & Addition | James Brittain James Brittain James Brittain James Brittain James Brittain James Brittain James Brittain James Brittain James Brittain James BrittainDesign Approach: Merging Historical and Contemporary NarrativesPelletier de Fontenay, a Montreal-based architectural studio, worked to conserve the original structure while reorganizing the interior, improving thermal efficiency, and adding a modern extension that connects the house to its landscape. The project balances historical context with contemporary design, demonstrating a thoughtful transformation.The Sutton House transformation integrates three distinct architectural periods. Instead of contrasting or mimicking the existing structure, the architects used the houses original language to create a cohesive design. This approach honors its history while marking its evolution.The new addition echoes the primitive and monolithic character of the original structure with thick walls and deep roof overhangs. Three blocks, housing storage and a fireplace, frame landscape views, and support a large overhanging roof. This roof extends the living spaces outward onto terraces and pathways, connecting indoor and outdoor spaces. The low profile ensures the original pitched roofs remain intact and visually prominent.The extension features a fully glazed roof dormer on the upper floor, marking the transformation inside. A new chimney complements the existing ones, tying together the houses architectural history. This integration of old and new creates a unified design that respects the homes past while addressing modern needs.Sustainability and Passive Design StrategiesSutton House prioritizes sustainability through restoration, material use, and passive design. Pelletier de Fontenay preserved original materials, including stone walls, timber beams, and fireplaces. Bio-sourced hemp insulation was added to improve thermal performance while maintaining wall breathability. Interior walls were finished with natural lime for moisture control and air circulation.Locally sourced materials, such as St-Marc limestone for flooring and fieldstones from the site, were integrated into the design. These choices minimized the projects carbon footprint while maintaining its historical character. Thermal efficiency was enhanced with high-performance wood windows and a heat recovery ventilation system.Passive strategies reduced energy consumption. The deep roof overhangs protected windows and reduced summer heat gain, while south-facing glazed facades and radiant stone floors captured passive solar energy in winter. Masonry fireplaces served as heat sinks, radiating warmth throughout the home. These measures highlight the projects sustainable design approach.Sutton House PlansGround Level | Pelletier de FontenayUpper Level | Pelletier de FontenaySection | Pelletier de FontenayElevation | Pelletier de FontenayElevation | Pelletier de FontenaySutton House Image GalleryAbout Pelletier de FontenayCredits and Additional NotesDesign Team: Yves de Fontenay, Hubert Pelletier, Yann Gay-Crosier, Laurence Gaudette, RaphaeGendron, Mikaele FolLandscape Design: Friche AtelierGeneral Contractor: Menuiserie Simon Fortin

Installation view of emajendat at Serpentine South. Installation photos by Hugo Glendinning, Lauren Halsey, courtesy of Serpentine, shared with permissionLauren Halseys emajendat Is an Energetic Celebration of South Central Los AngelesJanuary 14, 2025ArtSocial IssuesKate MothesInspired by the South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles, where Lauren Halseys family has lived for generations, vibrant sculptures and site-specific installations vividly reflect the artists community.At Serpentine South, a large-scale, maximalist exhibition titled emajendat highlights Halseys self-described obsession with material culture, her interest in remixing messages and symbols, and the need to confront issues that affect people of color, the queer community, and the working class.Installation viewHalsey gathers photographs, posters, flyers, commercial signs, and found objects that relate to her communities activism, highlighting a sense of civic urgency and free-flowing imagination, says David Kordansky Gallery, which co-represents the artist with Gagosian. Inspired by Afrofuturism and funk, as well as the signs and symbols that populate her local environments, Halsey creates a visionary form of culture that is at once radical and collaborative.Past, present, and future merge in the artists exploration of how idols, architecture, history, and communication fuel how we perceive identities and society. She draws on the imagery of ancient Egypt, the African diaspora, Black and queer icons, and the visionary design associated with funk to construct a kind of ever-evolving archive.In a monumental rooftop installation titled the eastside of south central los angeles hieroglyph prototype architecture (I), Halsey nods to palatial, ancient Egyptian architecture, placing the faces of notable Black figures on the columns capitals, such as activist Susan Burton and ethnomusicologist Dr. Rachel Eubanks.Halseys eclectic funkmound sculptures also encompass numerous found items, harboring miniature dioramas and objects that appear as though they are emerging from heaps of cotton candy. Throughout emajendat, seemingly endless collages, sculptures, reflections, prismatic color, patterns, messages, and textures welcome the viewer into an enthusiastically immersive experience.Installation view of The Roof Garden Commission: Lauren Halsey, the eastside of south central los angeles hieroglyph prototype architecture (I) (2022). Photo by Hyla Skopitz, Lauren Halsey, courtesy of the artist; David Kordansky Gallery and The Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe social element of Halseys work is amplified by a community center she founded in 2019 called Summaeverythang, located adjacent to her studio in South Central. The nonprofit initiative is dedicated to the empowerment and transcendence of Black and Brown folks socio-politically, economically, intellectually, and artistically.emajendat continues through February 23 in Kensington Gardens, London. Plan your visit on the gallerys website.Foreground: keepers of the krown (susan burton) (2024), glass fiber, reinforced concrete, and mixed media, 261 3/4 x 48 1/8 x 48 1/8 inches. Background: keepers of the krown (dr. rachel eubanks) (2024), glass fiber, reinforced concrete, and mixed media 261 3/4 x 48 1/8 x 48 1/8 inches. Photo by Andrea Avezz, Lauren Halsey, courtesy of the artist, David Kordansky Gallery, and GagosianInstallation viewInstallation detailInstallation viewInstallation detailInstallation collage detailNext article

Daniel - stock.adobe.comNewsGovernment funding to help businesses discover AI valueThe government is betting the bank on the power of artificial intelligence to fix the public sector, mend roads and boost the UK economy ByCliff Saran,Managing EditorPublished: 14 Jan 2025 13:30 The government has announced 7m of funding for 120 artificial intelligence (AI) projects to help small businesses.The funding forms part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Technology Missions Fund, with support from the Innovate UK BridgeAI programme, and builds on the AI opportunities action plan announced on Monday.The government has also announced 1m of funding to develop bespoke AI tools to support teachers and transform education.Labour hopes the funding for small business will enable companies to trial AI in a range of sectors, including agriculture, transport and construction.The funding part of its plan for change aims to give people the tools they need to harness the power of new technologies such as AI. Other projects include using AI at a bakery to predict sales and forecast how much of each product needs to be made daily.There are also plans to deploy AI tools to predict potholes before they form, which would enable roads to be repaired earlier and more cheaply. Another trial involves using an AI model to determine where mould is likely to grow in buildings, which can then be remediated before it becomes a health and safety issue.Discussing the AI trials and testing, science and technology secretary Peter Kyle said: Putting AI to work right across the economy can help businesses cut waste, move faster and be more productive.The huge range of projects receiving funding today, from farmers and bakers to those tackling potholes on our roads and mould in residential properties, demonstrates the truly limitless benefits of AI that are there for the taking.This latest round of government funding for AI is part of UKRIs 320m investment in technology missions to enable new and existing capabilities and capacity in artificial intelligence, engineering biology, future telecommunications and quantum technologies in the years 2023 to 2025 and beyond.Along with the funding, Innovate UKs BridgeAI programme has been set up to enable businesses to gain access to training and scientific expertise. The Innovate UK-funded programme, which is delivered by a consortium that also includes Digital Catapult, The Alan Turing Institute, STFC Hartree Centre and BSI, provides advice and guidance to help companies develop their AI innovations.Esra Kasapoglu, director of AI and data economy at UKRI Innovate UK, said: The adoption of AI in UK industry is fundamental to supporting the countrys economic growth. Todays investment will enable us, through BridgeAI, to help more companies to unlock the potential of AI in their business.It will also allow further development of projects already demonstrating impact to continue their AI journey.In what appears to be a boost to the governments AI action plan, HSBC has reported that 2024 was a strong year for investment in AI-focused businesses. It announced that UK AI-focused venture-backed businesses raised $4.2bn in venture capital investment in 2024, a 31% increase from $3.2bn in 2023.According to HSBC, this meant that over a quarter (27%) of all venture capital was raised by AI startups in 2024. HSBC also reported that AI companies closed five mega rounds of over $100m, including a $1.1bn round from Wayve.Read more about UK government artificial intelligenceCan UK government achieve ambition to become AI powerhouse? The artificial intelligence opportunities action plan has been largely well received, but there are plenty of questions about how it will be achieved.UK government launches AI assurance platform for enterprises: The platform is designed to drive demand for the UKs artificial intelligence assurance sector and help build greater trust in the technology by helping businesses identify and mitigate a range of AI-related risks.In The Current Issue:Interview: Wendy Redshaw, chief digital information officer, NatWest Retail BankPreparing for AI regulation: The EU AI ActDownload Current Issue

Is the enormous Echo Show 21 Amazon's best smart display or its biggest missed opportunity? Here's my verdict.

A few key strategies that organizations can employ to begin fostering a learning culture include the following.