Meta has released a new AI model that can translate speech from 101 different languages. It represents a step toward real-time, simultaneous interpretation, where words are translated as soon as they come out of someones mouth.Typically, translation models for speech use a multistep approach. First they translate speech into text. Then they translate that text into text in another language. Finally, that translated text is turned into speech in the new language. This method can be inefficient, and at each step, errors and mistranslations can creep in. But Metas new model, called SeamlessM4T, enables more direct translation from speech in one language to speech in another. The model is described in a paper published today in Nature.Seamless can translate text with 23% more accuracy than the top existing models. And although another model, Googles AudioPaLM, can technically translate more languages113 of them, versus 101 for Seamlessit can translate them only into English. SeamlessM4T can translate into 36 other languages.The key is a process called parallel data mining, which finds instances when the sound in a video or audio matches a subtitle in another language from crawled web data. The model learned to associate those sounds in one language with the matching pieces of text in another. This opened up a whole new trove of examples of translations for their model.Meta has done a great job having a breadth of different things they support, like text-to-speech, speech-to-text, even automatic speech recognition, says Chetan Jaiswal, a professor of computer science at Quinnipiac University, who was not involved in the research. The mere number of languages they are supporting is a tremendous achievement.Human translators are still a vital part of the translation process, the researchers say in the paper, because they can grapple with diverse cultural contexts and make sure the same meaning is conveyed from one language into another. This step is important, says Lynne Bowker of the University of Ottawas School of Translation & Interpretation, who didnt work on Seamless. Languages are a reflection of cultures, and cultures have their own ways of knowing things, she says.When it comes to applications like medicine or law, machine translations need to be thoroughly checked by a human, she says. If not, misunderstandings can result. For example, when Google Translate was used to translate public health information about the covid-19 vaccine from the Virginia Department of Health in January 2021, it translated not mandatory in English into not necessary in Spanish, changing the whole meaning of the message.AI models have much more examples to train on in some languages than others. This means current speech-to-speech models may be able to translate a language like Greek into English, where there may be many examples, but cannot translate from Swahili to Greek. The team behind Seamless aimed to solve this problem by pre-training the model on millions of hours of spoken audio in different languages. This pre-training allowed it to recognize general patterns in language, making it easier to process less widely spoken languages because it already had some baseline for what spoken language is supposed to sound like.The system is open-source, which the researchers hope will encourage others to build upon its current capabilities. But some are skeptical of how useful it may be compared with available alternatives. Googles translation model is not as open-source as Seamless, but its way more responsive and fast, and it doesnt cost anything as an academic, says Jaiswal.The most exciting thing about Metas system is that it points to the possibility of instant interpretation across languages in the not-too-distant futurelike the Babel fish in Douglas Adams cult novel The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. SeamlessM4T is faster than existing models but still not instant. That said, Meta claims to have a newer version of Seamless thats as fast as human interpreters.While having this kind of delayed translation is okay and useful, I think simultaneous translation will be even more useful, says Kenny Zhu, director of the Arlington Computational Linguistics Lab at the University of Texas at Arlington, who is not affiliated with the new research.

Every Mac mini (Late 2024) is on sale, with exclusive coupon savings in effect on the high-end M4 Pro model equipped with 24GB of memory and 2TB of storage. Plus, get three years of AppleCare for $79.Save on Apple's newest Mac mini release with coupon.Discounted M4 Mac mini prices start at $569 this Wednesday, but we're especially pleased to see inventory begin to appear on M4 Pro models.This particular M4 Pro configuration equipped with 24GB of memory and 2TB of storage is $100 off with promo code APINSIDER at Adorama and at press time, it's expected to ship soon directly from Apple's distribution channel. The same APINSIDER discount code also takes $20 off optional AppleCare, dropping the 3-year extended protection plan to $79. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

A new grant of $558,232 from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation will go towards the restoration of the historic Matthewis Persen House Museum in Kingston, New York. What is considered to be one of Americas oldest existing residential structures was first constructed by Dutch colonists in 1661 and survived the British Armys burning of the town during the Revolutionary War prior to its turn as a site of refuge for escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad. Preservationists will replace its wood shingle roof and make other exterior repairs to preserve the buildings "historic character." (h/t Hyperallergic)

For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in ourTech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers.While Artificial Intelligence (AI) has entered the mainstream conversation, its application in architecture remains mostly unfamiliar to those outside the AEC professional or academic circles. Terms like parametric design and computer algorithms sound like technical jargon, creating a disconnect between these technological processes and the real-world constructions that people interact with. As a result, AIs potential to analyze data, optimize energy use and predict environmental challenges goes unnoticed by the broader public. People engage with architecture daily, yet often without awareness of how these design innovations impact their lives.Iconic buildings are easily recognizable and often admired for their eye-catching aesthetic or shape. However, the connection between these constructions and the AI-powered design processes behind them isnt always clear to the public. People may appreciate a buildings form, size, materials or distinctive features without realizing that many of these elements result from algorithmic design processes that respond to specific parameters. To the average observer, such buildings appear as products of architectural progress, while the role of advanced technologies remains hidden. The lack of visibility of AI tools role in the architectural design process creates a disconnect, leaving people unaware of how these tools are used to create adaptive, efficient and sustainable designs benefits they experience without realizing their origin. This gap between design intent and public perception underscores a broader challenge: bridging the gap between architectural innovation and public understanding, particularly regarding technologies like parametric design and AI tools.The Public Perception Gap in Architectural Innovation170 Amsterdam designed by Handel Architects, New York, New York | Photo by Bruce DamonteArchitects use AI-powered and parametric design tools to create innovative solutions that optimize functionality, efficiency and sustainability, yet these advancements often go unnoticed or are poorly understood by the public. This disconnect limits engagement and appreciation for the transformative role of modern architecture. People may admire or react positively or negatively to visually striking buildings but are often unaware that the parametric design they observe spans beyond aesthetics, responding to site constraints, structural performance, energy efficiency, user behavior and environmental parameters. For example, the 170 Amsterdam residential building in Manhattan, New York, features an exoskeleton that serves structural and shading purposes, addressing functional and environmental challenges. The average passerby, unfamiliar with the designs parametric principles, would interpret it as a bold architectural statement. They would likely recognize the dynamic character of the buildings exoskeleton and the contrast between the robust structure and the expansive glazed surfaces as the buildings most distinctive features. Yet they may be unaware that this design optimizes usable floor area and energy efficiency.Design That Speaks: How Design Features Connect with the PublicSun Shading System designed by Tilt Industrial Design for the University of Technology (UTS) Central building, Ultimo, Australia | Photo by Brett BoardmanWhile the complexities of AI technologies and parametric design often go unnoticed, the rising awareness of sustainability has made some architectural features more recognizable and relatable to the public, especially when they visibly and effectively showcase their environmental purpose. This connection is significant because AI tools and parametric design play an important role in achieving sustainable goals. They enable architects to analyze data, optimize energy efficiency and design thoughtful solutions that respond to environmental challenges. The growing environmental awareness among the general population has made many people more conscious of the efforts in the architectural industry to address sustainability. There might not be a complete understanding of the complex strategies that architects use to achieve sustainable goals. However, when visually striking, some features are more likely to be recognized and associated with sustainability and effectively communicate their purpose to the public. Such features include green roofs and living walls, solar panels, dynamic shading systems and materials such as bamboo or recycled wood. For example, the central building of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in Ultimo, Australia, features an automated sun-shading system that regulates solar heat gain and minimizes glare. In addition to playing a critical role in the buildings energy-saving design, the shading system also creates a striking visual impact. At the same time, it informs of its functional purpose as an integral part of the overall architectural design. Even if people are not fully versed in sustainable design principles, the dynamic shading system on the UTS building conveys its purpose through its visible functionality. The movement of the louvers in response to sunlight and their integration into the buildings faade make their role as a solar heat regulator intuitive. This blend of practicality and visual impact allows the shading device to communicate its environmental intent clearly, making sustainability tangible and relatable to the public.Enhancing Public Awareness to Shape User-Centered EnvironmentsThe visibility of sustainability through AI-powered architectural designs can be extended to other areas of the built environment. Improving public awareness of how AI and parametric design tools shape the built environment can help people recognize the positive impact these technologies have on their daily lives. This awareness, in turn, can promote a stronger societal interaction with architecture and greater support for functional, efficient and sustainable development. The benefits can be particularly evident in high-traffic public areas, like open public spaces, transportation hubs, schools, universities and medical facilities, where efficiency and functionality are paramount.AI is a valuable tool for analyzing human movement, usage patterns and parameters to optimize layouts for circulation and accessibility. This strategy ensures that design outcomes are user-centered while optimizing functionality and efficiency.A Public Education Imperative: How AI Shapes the Built EnvironmentThe Airport Typology Reconfigured. Study Area: Des Moines, Iowa. Created by Blake Gallagher at NBBJThe gap between AI-powered design processes in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry and the general public is significant. However, it also offers an opportunity for a greater and more productive connection. If the AEC community takes an educational approach to bridge this divide, the interaction between the public and architecture can be transformed. Educational initiatives whether through exhibitions, talks by experts, interactive websites or collaboration with schools and continuous cooperation between architects and the public structured around participatory workshops can demystify design choices, making architecture more relatable. These efforts can showcase how elements like form, materials and layout are thoughtfully considered to optimize functionality, efficiency and sustainability.As AI and parametric tools continue to revolutionize how the built environment is designed and experienced, educating the public about their impact will encourage a deeper connection to architecture. This understanding can lead to more inclusive, adaptive solutions aligned with peoples needs.For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in ourTech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers.The post From Algorithms to Architecture: Why Architects Are Turning to AI for Smarter, Greener Designs appeared first on Journal.

Sony has announced the next wave of titles coming to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Starting January 21st, PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play God of War Ragnark, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, SD Gundam Battle Alliance, ANNO: Mutationem, Orcs Must Die! 3, and Citizen Sleeper on PS5 and PS5.PS5 players can look forward to Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand while PS4 players get Sayonara Wild Hearts and, oddly, enough, Poker Club. Of course, the latter is backwards compatible on PS5, further expanding the line-up for current-gen owners.Exclusive to Premium subscribers are two PlayStation Classics Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings from the PS2 era and MediEvil 2 on the PS One with rewind, up-rendering, and quick save. Both are playable on PS4 and PS5, and the former is a great way to prepare for the arrival of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle this Spring for PS5.

A new crayfish species calledCherax pulverulentus has a bright blue color. Ji PatokaScientists have described a new species of colorful crayfishand it might already be sitting in your aquarium. The researchers detailed their discovery in the journal Zootaxa last week.Though crayfishalso called crawdads or crawfishmay not be everyones idea of the perfect animal companion, scientists in the Czech Republic found the newly named Cherax pulverulentus in a shipment of Indonesian pet crayfish theyd purchased for their lab in March 2023.The lobster-like crustacean is a burrowing freshwater crayfish endemic to the Indonesian part of New Guinea, according to the study. Specimens have large eyes and claws, as well as smooth bodies. The species comes in two color forms: Blue form crayfish are a dark hue with orange joints and tails, while purple form crayfish are turquoise with purple spots and white along their joints and tails. ACherax pulverulentuscrayfish raises its claw toward the camera. Ji PatokaLike the other members of this genus, this crayfish is aggressive, strictly freshwater (inhabiting streams and maybe also lake ecosystem), probably moderately burrowing, omnivorous and gonochorist, meaning it has distinct male and female individuals,Ji Patoka, a zoologist at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and a co-author of the study, tells Popular Sciences Laura Baisas. They grow more than four inches long and might live between five and ten years.Despite the fact that Cherax pulverulentus has been sold as an aquarium pet for more than two decades in places including Europe, Japan, Indonesia and the United States, it was never differentiated from similar species. It was referred to as Hoa Creek, Irian Jaya or Blue Moon crayfish, names that were also used for other types of crayfish, according to the study.The new formal name, Cherax pulverulentus, means dusty crayfish in Latin, in homage to the crustaceans dotted exoskeleton. The crayfish's dotted exoskeleton gave it its Latin namepulverulentus, which means "dusty." Ji PatokaThis recent find coincides with another crayfish discovery: Two other species were newly described in North Carolina this month. Like thedusty aquarium crayfish, they had been mistakenly lumped together with another species, as Frank Graff reports for PBS North Carolina.Taxonomy is essential for conservation, Bronwyn Williams, a research curator at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, tells PBS. If a unique creature does not have a formal name, it is not eligible for the resources needed to manage and protect it.The New Guinea crayfish discovery has also been tied to conservation. It highlights the need for better management and identification in the aquatic pet trade as well as recognition and protection for the creatures in their natural habitat, writes Micah Hanks for the Debrief.To confirm their finding, the researchers conducted morphological and genetic analyses of six specimens. Broadly, however, not much is known about the species, since it has been mostly observed in captivity. One exception is a blue form specimen discovered in a Hungarian thermal spring, which the researchers suspect was previously a pet, dumped there by its former owner.They now aim to study the newly identified species in its natural environment.Crayfish are just one group of awesome animals native to New Guinea, the island facing many environmental risks. In this regard, we believe that our findings will help to highlight the importance of this island from a biodiversity perspective, and more conservation activities will apply there, Patoka tells Popular Science. Last but not least, I would like to alert aquarium owners: Do not release your pets outdoors!Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Animals, Biology, Cool Finds, DNA, Genetics, New Research, Pets, Weird Animals

https://youtu.be/2tt1bNPFk0UStray Kite Studios, an indie team composed of veteran developers, announced their first original game called Wartorn.Read More

Baldur's Gate 3 exceeds 100m mod downloads | News-in-briefLarian introduced mod support in June 2024, surpassed 50 million mod downloads last NovemberImage credit: Larian Studios News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 15, 2025 This is a News-in-brief article, our short format linking to an official source for more information. Read more about this story by following the link below:Baldur's Gate 3 exceeds 100m mod downloads

The case were about to discuss is none other than the beautiful and critically acclaimed The Star Named EOS. In this article about console porting, well discuss specifically the solutions we found to translate the save system. Without further ado, lets jump right in..In The Star Named EOS, the system operations are performed directly and synchronously without a hint of asynchronous interaction. This is quite an exciting task that presents many challenges. For example, PlayStation 5 works with saves through memory mount, which does not happen instantly. The critical point is that the saves will only be completed by unmounting the memory area. In fact, for PlayStation, you can use PlayerPrefs, which works similarly to memory mount, but all of this happens behind the scenes, out of our control. However, this approach has a significant drawback the available memory volume is limited since the primary purpose of this feature is to save game settings. Therefore, the limits are pretty expected. However, since screenshots are used for saves, this limit will be insufficient, so the first save option remains primary.What about Xbox? Xbox currently uses GDK API as the main one, and to use it at the start of the project, synchronization with cloud data always takes place. This already affects another element of the project initialization. But thats not what we are here to discuss. The main idea of working with saves on Xbox is that each time you write or read, you need to open a container, perform the necessary operations, notify the GDK API about the changes (if any), and close the container.What about the Switch? It is almost the same as on PlayStation: mounting and unmounting take time.How is data saved in the original game we are working on? Saves are created as follows: data is saved, a screenshot of the screen is taken, and it is recorded in the save. Each time a save is deleted or a new one is created, the data is reread.We created a unified save system for this project as a single entry point for any platform. Each platform has its own SDK and methods for working with saves, so creating a unified system became essential for ensuring consistency. As a result, we made a single entry point script that works using the Adapter pattern and controls entities for each platform, determining which platform is in use and running the appropriate script.Now, we have a more or less complete picture of our main challenges. What are they?The project code must be able to release the main thread without breaking the core execution logic.We need to minimize the number of calls to our save system, as even asynchronous calls can cause freezes.Since we have asynchronous calls, we must ensure the main condition only one call to the save system at a time.A simple and quite effective solution is to use Task. Async. Why? Because it allows you to pause the original logic and resume it when needed. Is this the best solution in terms of project performance? No. Will it provide the fastest and most expected result? Yes.Of course, this approach generates much additional code after compilation, but it gives us precisely the expected result. Now, we need to remove all direct calls to the file system and replace them with new calls to the "new save system implementation" that we developed on Task. Async.After that, we rework all methods that call our save system methods to async so they can pause their execution until all save or load actions are completed. We also partially rework higher-level methods in the call hierarchy if necessary. Thus, the first most critical issue has been resolved.A screenshot of The Star Named EOS. Image via Pingle Studio.What next?At this stage, we encountered an issue with Unitys Player Prefs. To address it, we created a custom analog that works similarly but saves data to a file, allowing it to be used on any platform, including Switch. This solution was necessary because Nintendo Switch does not support Unity Player Prefs and can only save using the native Nintendo SDK.Then, we had to minimize calls to the save system. The original project was implemented as follows: We have an analog of PlayerPrefs that is written to a filea dictionary with save names that are used to access screenshots and save data. Every time reading, writing, or deleting files occurs, they are read from scratch. On PCs, especially with SSDs, this is not a problem, so optimization can be ignored, but on consoles with more than a dozen saves, this can lead to serious problems.There are several solutions to this problem:Bundle a large amount of data and access the saves with a batch of operations (which requires reworking the original logic and may take a lot of time).Create a cache for already loaded saves and use cached data for repeated access.The second option was much more convenient to implement, so we chose it as the main one. It does not create additional interaction scenarios when there are dozens rewrites of one object or simultaneous read-and-write operations. Such situations might not be very obvious, but avoiding them from the start is better so they do not become a significant challenge later on.So, we have one final challenge left multiple simultaneous write, read, and delete operations. This is pretty easy to manage when using asynchronous calls. Each time we are about to work with a file, we can use an indicator, such as a semaphore or a simple variable that signals that the queue is still busy. Since we reworked the original logic for Task, async, our code awaits further calls, and a simple variable where we do an increment when the save operation starts and a decrement when it ends is sufficient. This way, we can ensure that multiple operations do not happen simultaneously, and the interaction logic eliminates competition at the entry point.Hope youve had a good read and maybe learn something. Until next time...