Mastering Generative AI Architectural Patterns: A Comprehensive Guide 0 like January 15, 2025Share this postLast Updated on January 15, 2025 by Editorial TeamAuthor(s): Mike Originally published on Towards AI. Your Ultimate Interview Resource A Walkthrough of Architectures From GANs to Large Multimodal Models(LMMs).This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Photo by BoliviaInteligente on UnsplashGenerative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm, revolutionizing industries ranging from entertainment and marketing to healthcare and scientific research. It refers to AI systems that generate new content, such as text, images, music, and video. These models can learn patterns from data and use those patterns to create something novel. Behind these awe-inspiring capabilities lie various complex architectural patterns, each with its strengths, weaknesses, and specific use cases.In this blog post, well deeply dive into generative AI architectural patterns, exploring how each architecture works, its most popular models, and the applications they enable. Well cover a wide range of patterns, including Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), Autoregressive Models (like GPT and other transformer-based architectures), Flow-based Models, Diffusion Models, and emerging hybrid approaches. This comprehensive guide will explain these models and explore their implications in the real world.What is Generative AI?Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)Variational Autoencoders (VAEs)Autoregressive ModelsDiffusion ModelsHybrid and Emerging ArchitecturesFuture Trends in Generative AI ArchitecturesConclusionAt its core, Generative AI refers to the development of models that are capable of generating new data that resembles existing data. Unlike traditional AI models Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Wicked has finally made its long-anticipated jump from stage to screen. With Ariana Grandes Glinda and Cynthia Erivos Elphaba taking over theaters with the Tony-winning musical, youve most likely seen pink and green somewhere on your feed, or seen some, uh, questionable marketing, or maybe you're even holding space for the lyrics of "Defying Gravity." Who's to say.In her 9/10 Wicked review for IGN, Alyssa Mora wrote: "As the future Good Witch of the South and Wicked Witch of the West, respectively, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo deliver masterful and passionate performances that make them the perfect Elphaba and Glinda for this generation of musical fans no small feat for roles originated by Broadway legends Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. [...] The two synchronize like they were born for it, their genuine connection heightening the emotional stakes of the final minutes of the film. (This is where we should note that Wicked covers only the first act of the musical: Part II, and everything that comes after the anthemic 'Defying Gravity,' will hit theaters next year.)"If youre wondering how or where to watch Wicked online, check out the details below.How to Watch Wicked Showtimes and Streaming Status Wicked is still showing in theaters. You can check the theater links below for showtimes near you: When Will Wicked Be on Streaming? Wicked [Bonus X-Ray Edition]Includes "Sing-Along version" and bonus featuresSee it at Prime VideoWicked is currently available to rent or buy through digital marketplaces like Prime Video. Wicked: Part I is distributed by Universal, so it'll eventually end up on Peacock (rather than Netflix or Disney+ though that doesn't preclude it from ever ending up at either streaming service). Our best guess is the movie is streaming on Peacock by the end of March. Wicked: Part 1 on Blu-rayWicked [4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital]See it at Amazon4K and Blu-ray editions of Wicked: Part 1 are up for preorder, set to release on February 4. For more physical media releases, check out our guide to upcoming Blu-rays. What Is Wicked About? Wicked is an adaptation of one of the longest-running Broadway musicals that opened in 2003, which is an adaptation of a book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum that was a prequel to the original Wizard of Oz. Phew. To keep things simple, heres the Wicked movies official synopsis: "One of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its journey to the big screen as a spectacular cinematic event this holiday season. "Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 21, 2025."Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning and Oscar-nominated powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadways The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her green skin who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman gilded by privilege who has yet to discover her true heart. "The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West."When Is Wicked: Part II Coming Out? As previously mentioned, Wicked is, in fact, actually an almost three-hour-long "Part I." A second and final part is set to arrive in theaters in 2026. TBD if that timeline will hold up or it'll be pushed back.Where to Stream the Wizard of Oz Movies Wizard of Oz 85th Anniversary Theater Edition SteelbookSee it at AmazonWicked (2024) is the first film adaptation of the musical that originated on Broadway, and youll have to wait to come to your local theater. That said, if youre looking for an Oz-themed marathon, heres where to steam the original Wizard of Oz movie as well as other renditions of the Yellow Brick Road over the years. The Wizard of Oz (1939): Return to Oz: The Wiz:Oz the Great and Powerful: Wicked Cast Wicked was directed by John M. Chu and the screenplay adaptation was written by Winnie Holzman (who wrote the book for the musical) and Dana Fox. Wicked: Part 1 stars the following actors:Ariana Grande as GlindaCynthia Erivo as ElphabaJeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of OzMichelle Yeoh as Madame MorribleJonathan Bailey as FiyeroEthan Slater as BoqMarissa Bode as NessarosePeter Dinklage as Dr. DillamondAndy Nymanas Governor ThroppBowen Yang as PfanneeWicked Rating and Runtime Wicked is rated PG for some scary action, thematic material, and brief suggestive material. It has a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes, including credits.

Synthesia has claimed the crown of Britains biggest GenAI company after raising $180mn at a $2.1bn valuation.The London-based business generates lifelike avatars for video content. Enterprises use the software to produce training content and corporate communications.The tech has made Synthesia a leader in the burgeoning synthetic media industry. According to the startup, over 60,000 businesses are customers including more than 60% of the Fortune 100.Investors have also shown a growing interest. In 2023, Synthesia earned unicorn status after securing $90 million in Series C funding at a valuation of $1 billion.Price increase on Friday - Book NowThe latest cash injection creates another milestone. According to Dealroom, Synthesia is now the UKs largest GenAI media company by valuation.The startup wants the fresh funds to fuel a new phase of growth. At the core of the plans is Synthesia 2.0 a product billed as the worlds first enterprise AI video platform. Development of the system is now underway.Synthesia is also preparing for the next generation of synthetic media. Victor Riparbelli, the companys CEO and co-founder, expects big breakthroughs from blending AI videos with reasoning systems such as large language models.We will unlock a new type of media that can think, narrate, and personalise content for us, he told TNW via email.These new interfaces will be centred around intuitive, human communication that is much more effective than text. You could imagine an AI that connects to your Spotify and teaches you music theory based on your skill level and favourite artists. |At work, we may interact with virtual guides that help us make buying decisions, coach us and teach us new skills like you would with a tutor in the real world.Naturally, Riparbelli also shared the funding news in an AI video. Fully generated with Synthesia, the clip summarises the announcement in eight languages. Synthesias position in Europes GenAI landscapeAnnounced today, Synthesias Series D round was led by VC giant NEA. Existing investors GV and MMC Ventures also participated, alongside new backers WiL, Atlassian Ventures, and PSP Growth.The landmark raise has renewed optimism about Europes AI landscape. Yoram Wijngaarde, Dealrooms founder and CEO, is bullish about developments across the continent.Synthesias Series D signals that European AI is picking up where they left off in 2024, he said.AI startups accounted for over 25% of European venture capital last year, up from 15% just four years ago. In one of the most significant technological waves in decades, Synthesia stands out among the emerging AI unicorns reshaping the landscape from this side of the Atlantic.The funding was also welcomed by politicians in Synthesias home country, who announced new plans this week to turbocharge AI.Peter Kyle, the UKs science and technology secretary, said the funding showcases the confidence investors have in British tech and highlights the global leadership of the countrys GenAI pioneers.Riparbelli is also optimistic about the UKs AI scene. He pointed to its combination of talent, capital, and infrastructure. He also praised Britains production of global leaders in the field.There are many countries that want to become AI superpowers but few have a chance to actually succeed, he said. The UK is among the top three for sure, because it has a combination of talent, capital, and infrastructure. Whats also remarkable about the UK is that it produces global leaders, not just regional players.

If youve noticed a missing toggle from your AirPods Pro settings, youre not alone. Heres how to bring back the Off option when managing AirPods Pro noise control settings. Historically, AirPods Pro allowed users to switch between four different listening modes.Off: Turns off all noise control modes. Active Noise Cancellation: An outward-facing microphone or microphones detect external sounds, which your AirPods Pro then counter with anti-noise, canceling the external sounds before you hear them.Transparency mode:Your AirPods Pro let outside sound in, so you can hear whats going on around you.Adaptive Audio: Adaptive mode blends Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode together to control the level of noise you hear in your headphones based on the changing noise conditions in your environment.With iOS 18, however, Apple removed that Off option from the default choices. This meant users would only see the Active Noice Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Adaptive Audio options in the Settings app and via Control Center.As highlighted this week by Spencer Dailey on his Key Discussions blog, this change has led to frustration for AirPods Pro users.Luckily, there is an easy way to re-add this Off option to your AirPods Pro listening choices: Connect your AirPods to your iPhoneOpen the Settings appTap your AirPods Pro at the top of the listScroll down and toggle on this option: Off Listening Mode When you do this, the Off option will return, and you can once again switch between it and the other noise control modes via Control Center and the Settings app. With iOS 18.1, however, Apple added multiple new hearing health features to AirPods Pro 2, including a new hearing protection feature. Tied to this update, AirPods Pro 2 users noticed another change. As Dailey notes in his blog post, even with the Off option added back using the above steps, AirPods Pro 2 automatically switch you from Off to Transparency mode each time you put them in your ears.This behavior change is tied to the new hearing protection feature for AirPods Pro 2. Apple says that when the Off mode is enabled, your hearing is not protected. This is presumably the reason for iOS 18.1 aggressively switching users from Off to Transparency mode. As it turns out, there is another toggle you can change to revert that behavior. Connect your AirPods to your iPhoneOpen the Settings appTap AccessibilityScroll down and tap AirPods and BeatsScroll down and tap Turn Off Loud Sound Reduction Once you do this, you can set your AirPods Pro to the Off noise control option, and it will remain in that mode until you manually change it to something else. The key thing to keep in mind is that when in the Off mode, your AirPods Pro will no longer reduce harmful levels of environmental noise. As for why youd want to use the Off setting for AirPods Pro noise control, thats up to you. There are battery benefits to disabling all the noise control options. Personally, however, I think Apple has knocked it out of the park with the combination of Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.Best AirPods accessories Add 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

Some folks go to Hooters for the wings, or buy Playboy for the articles. Others, like sitting Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, would like to browse PornhubAt least that's what he longs to see on the porn megasite, if his comments today in the hearing of Free Speech Coalition et al. v. Paxtonare any indication.The bizarre challenge came during an exchange with an attorney for the Free Speech Coalition a group representing the porn industry, essentially regarding the age verification systems that some states have been deploying on pornography sites."What percentage of the material on [Pornhub] is not obscene to children?" asked Alito."Well, Your Honor, if we're talking about the youngest minors, I would agree that most of it is,"the attorney responded. "And that is how we read the law.""Is it like the old Playboy magazine," the conservative justice pressed, perhaps a little too specifically, where "you have essays by the modern-day equivalent of Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr?""Not in that sense, but in the sense you have wellness posts about women recovering from hysterectomies and how they can enjoy sex,"the attorney offered, presumably alluding to the streaming smut giant's foray into sexual wellness content. "That's on there."For obvious reasons, the exchange was relentlessly clowned on (as a point of fact, over the years Pornhub creators have dabbled in everything from erotic literature readings to non-sexual educational material.)"Working out a scenario where Pornhub has to launch a prestigious monthly print magazine in order to stay online in Tennessee," quipped journalist David Roth. "This is how we bring the business back: ransoming access to stepsister-stuck-in-washing-machine content with long-form literary criticism and Malcolm Harris book excerpts."Publishing industry strategems aside, Paxton is an important case with potentially massive ramifications for some increasingly marginalized groups in society. It's an examination of a Texas state bill known as HB 1181, which requires any porn website to take steps to verify the age of its users in the state.In mainstream media, the case is billed as a "1st Amendment vs Regulatory Tyranny" debate porn companies on one side, conservative censors on the other once again posing the question of "what kind of free speech are right wingers actually interested in?"The reality is more nuanced. What often isn't addressed in surface-level debates are the implications bills like this have on LGBTQ+ individuals, whose speech is increasingly included in conservative definitions of what constitutes "pornography". Paxton opens the potential for a federal crackdown on anything that deviates from conservative family values from queer literature to sexual health material to Alito's beloved literary essays."It's part of a broader crackdown on disfavored 'pornographic' speech from the right, which coincidentally includes LGBTQ people," wrote queer journalist Gwen Howerton.That in mind, Alito's colorful questions take on a more sinister tone. The conservatives are essentially trying to establish that online pornographic content and anything made to fall into that umbrella is somehow filthier and less deserving of 1st amendment protection than his nostalgic nudie mags.While the American porn industry leaves a lot to be desired and is almost certainly calling out for labor reforms look no further than the infamous Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act to see how overzealous regulation can hurt the most vulnerable Americans far more than it helps them.More about porn:Wild Searches Trending in Texas After Porn BanShare This Article

LawnStarter is the nation's leading on-demand marketplace for lawn care and related services, allowing hundreds of thousands of customers nationwide to book a service with the tap of a button. But lawn care is only the beginning - our vision is to become the one-stop shop for all home services.Our company is flourishing at an incredible pace, profitable and achieving remarkable success. And we're not stopping there! We're actively seeking talented and hard-working individuals like you to join our team and help us achieve our ultimate vision.Role Overview: We are seeking a skilled WordPress Engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate is passionate about WordPress development, has a strong understanding of web technologies, and is committed to delivering high-quality solutions. As a WordPress Engineer, you will collaborate with our team to design, develop, and maintain WordPress websites and applications that meet our business needs and objectives while optimizing them for high speed and SEO performance. This is a contractor position. Responsibilities:Develop custom WordPress themes and plugins from scratch, ensuring responsiveness and optimal performance across various devices and browsers.Customize and extend existing WordPress themes and plugins to meet specific project requirements.Collaborate with designers, project managers, and other developers to translate design mockups and project requirements into functional WordPress websites and applications.Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members to ensure code quality, consistency, and adherence to best practices.Perform upgrades for WordPress, plugins, themes, and PHP.Optimize WordPress sites for high speed and performance, implementing techniques such as caching, lazy loading, image optimization, and minimizing HTTP requests.Implement SEO best practices to improve site visibility and ranking, including optimizing site structure, meta tags, heading tags, and schema markup.Utilize tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, and Lighthouse to analyze and improve site performance, aiming for high scores and fast loading times.Troubleshoot and debug issues that arise during the development and testing phases, implementing effective solutions in a timely manner.Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and advancements in WordPress development, web performance optimization, and SEO techniques, continuously improving your skills and sharing knowledge with the team.Participate in project planning, estimation, and scoping discussions, contributing technical expertise and insights to ensure project success.Collaborate with SEO and Editorial teams to identify new opportunities for site improvements and content optimization.Demonstrate an autonomous mindset in managing your workload, proactively identifying and proposing new opportunities for enhancing our WordPress projects.RequirementsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).Proven experience as a WordPress Developer or WordPress Engineer, with a strong portfolio showcasing your WordPress projects.Proficiency in PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and MySQL, with a solid understanding of web development principles and best practices.Extensive experience with WordPress theme and plugin development, including custom theme and plugin creation from scratch.Strong understanding of web performance optimization techniques and SEO best practices.Experience optimizing WordPress sites for high speed and performance, including achieving high scores on Google PageSpeed Insights and other performance testing tools.Familiarity with front-end frameworks/libraries such as React.js, Vue.js, or AngularJS is a plus.Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail, with the ability to effectively troubleshoot and debug issues.Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.Self-motivated and proactive, with a passion for learning and staying current with industry trends and technologies.Experience with reverse proxy architectures and working on reverse proxy WordPress sites.Strong focus on custom WordPress development rather than plugin-heavy solutions, with experience building custom themes and functionality from scratch.Must provide examples of WordPress sites built or significantly modified, including explanation of your specific contributions to each project.Experience with technical SEO implementation at the code level, beyond basic plugin configuration.English resume required.BenefitsGreat Culture:One of thetop places to workin Austin in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and in the US in 2021, we are all about the team. That's why we have spent a massive amount of time findinghumble, passionate, and smart folksthat you will get to work with every day.Work from the comfort of your own homeOpportunity for growth$45,000 - 60,000 USD annually, depending on experience

The Federal Trade Commission is sending out checks to fully reimburse everyone who bought Razer Zephyr air purifier masks, which were falsely labeled during the COVID-19 pandemic as having N95-equivalent protection. The refunds amount to $1.1 million total and are automatically being sent out to all 6,764 customers who purchased one of the masks.FTC sued Razer, a gaming and lifestyle company, after the company sold the Zephyr mask as an N95-equivalent mask. N95 masks are designed to have a tight fit to the user's face and efficient filtration of airborne particles. Since it is a government-regulated standard, a company can't release a mask and label it N95. It must be certified first.While Razer did submit the mask for certification, the Zephyr never received such a label. Razer eventually took the Zephyr off the market but continued to sell filter replacements. The company eventually suspended that as well and began issuing refunds.The FTC lawsuit alleged that Razer refunded only 6% of consumers who bought the mask or filter replacements. The $1.1 million settlement seeks to reimburse the other 94% of customers who didn't get their money back.Read more: FTC Fines Razer for Misrepresenting COVID Masks as N95sThe FTC says that the median refund will be about $150. Razer originally sold the mask for $100 and $30 for filter replacements.How will customers be reimbursed?According to the FTC, checks will be sent either in the mail or over PayPal. The FTC says that anyone who receives a paper check needs to cash it within 90 days and anyone who receives funds via PayPal needs to accept the money within 30 days.From 2021: The Razer Zephyr "Let Me Down," Says CNET WriterThe FTC court order required the company to provide a list of their customers. The FTC notes it may also use the agency's Consumer Sentinel Network database to find eligible recipients, as well as search for reports related to the defendants and use the contact information in those complaints to create a list of potential refund recipients.Customers with questions are directed to call the FTC's refund administrator, Simpluris, at 1-833-285-3003 or visit the FTC's FAQ page.

January 15, 20253 min readWhy Are U.S. TikTok Users Signing Up for RedNote?Thousands of U.S. TikTok users are joining China-based app RedNote, spawning memes, jokes and confusionBy Ben Guarino edited by Dean VisserA TikTok creator and advocate wears a button showing support for TikTok. Other users have flocked to alternative apps, such as China-based RedNote. Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesIn reaction toor protest overthe impending U.S. TikTok ban, which will take effect on Sunday if the app is not sold or if the Supreme Court doesnt intervene, thousands of people in the country have joined RedNote. The latter is a China-based e-commerce and lifestyle app that is also known as Xiaohongshu, Mandarin for Little Red Bookwhich is also a nickname for the famous book of quotations from Mao Zedong. About 300 million people, mainly in China, use RedNote for video and image sharing, shopping and travel recommendations.This week RedNote climbed to the top of the charts on Apples and Googles U.S. app stores. The potential TikTok ban has so far prompted about 700,000 people to join the Chinese app, according to Reuters. Thats less than 1 percent of the 170 million U.S. users of TikTok, but the influx has been enough to spawn goofy memes and the occasional misunderstanding: a man in Vancouver who welcomed the new arrivals went viral because people mistook him for RedNotes chief executive.The rush to this app is an example of the media substitution hypothesis, in which people fill a media void with a new platform or network, says Saleem Alhabash, a professor of advertising and public relations at Michigan State University, who studies the psychological effects of social media use. On TikTok, there is no implicit contract that you have to be an active user, he points out, unlike arguably more posting-driven platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram. Its completely acceptable to passively lurk, scroll and shop on TikTok, and RedNote may be scratching that same itch. Mix the social with satisfying the need to shopto buy cheap clothes or exercise equipmentthat is the full package, in terms of user experience, Alhabash says.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Although TikTok owner ByteDance is based in China, the English version of its app operates in the U.S. through an American subsidiary. RedNote, meanwhile, has a single app with mostly Mandarin content and is headquartered in Shanghai. One result of the recent migration has been a cultural exchange between new users in the U.S. and veteran ones in China: Some Americans on RedNote, for instance, marveled at Chinas mass-market electric cars, which arent sold in the U.S. because of high tariffs. And Chinese students have sought help with their English homework on the app.RedNotes ownership also means that if the app were to take off in the U.S., it would likely be subject to the same kind of national security concerns over data harvesting and content manipulation that TikTok has faced. RedNote, which did not immediately respond to Scientific Americans request for comment, also restricts posts that people would be able to share freely on U.S. platforms. To avoid algorithmic constraints on LGBTQ content, same-sex couples in China typically call themselves roommates, according to a 2024 ethnographic study of RedNote and similar apps, or camouflage their digital communities via unconventional hashtags. (Because interest in #ToddlerFood is stereotypically coded as female, queer and lesbian women in China can use it to avoid men who only care about themselves, as a RedNote user told the studys author.)Whether former TikTok users will migrate from one app to another in a cultlike manner is far from certain, Alhabash says. Some people might be convinced to follow their favorite influencers to new platforms, and where those influencers end up could, in turn, be guided by financial prospects or brand support. Theres more than just an individual decision by the user at play, he says.For now, on RedNote, there are jokes. One user who had freshly signed up was greeted by a message from their new Chinese spy friend. Others said they were happy to give their data directly to President Xi Jinping or Chinas government. And the Los Angeles Times reported that this week nearly 200,000 people joined a RedNote live chat named TikTok Refugees Club.

BioShock lead designer unveils fantasy real-time tactics roguelite WartornComing to PC this "spring".Image credit: Stray Kite Studios News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 15, 2025 Stray Kite Studios, the indie developer co-founded by BioShock lead designer Paul Hellquist, has unveiled its first original title - fantasy themed real-time tactics roguelite Wartorn, which is coming to PC early access at some point this "spring".Stray Kite - whose other co-founder is Age of Empires Online lead programmer Shovaen Patel - has previously collaborated on likes of Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep and Fortnite, but Wartorn will be its first original release. It follows two elven sisters, Yara and Elani, as they journey across the war-ravaged Isles of Talaur - a fantasy realm "torn apart by extremism and the unraveling of ancient bonds" - in order to reach the safety of their ancestral home.Wartorn is described as a "single-player, squad-based, roguelite campaign experience" that'll see players recruiting groups of strategically diverse fantasy creatures - including goblins, elves, demons, treefolk, and more - to their Caravan. Squads can be mixed and matched before skirmishes, with battlefield positioning, squad combos, and careful deployment of abilities all said to be key. Losses, however, will reduce morale, and it's Game Over if all hope is lost.Wartorn reveal trailer.Watch on YouTubeAdditionally, there's talk of emergent, elemental-themed combat, enabling players to harness the likes of fire, water, lightning, tar, and planta to create unique tactical opportunities - with tar amplifying fire, lightning surging through water, and so on. That's on top of a physics-based environmental destruction system, intended to add "depth and unpredictability" to battles - and there's also a slow-down-time feature, giving players pause to issue precise commands in order to make "even the most complex scenarios... accessible".Stray Kite is also touting a heavy focus on narrative, with players facing "unpredictable" events with each new attempt to get home. These are said to involve tough, impactful decisions - from who gets fed to which lives can be saved - plus "moral quandaries of violence and sacrifice"."Wartorn challenges players to navigate the chaos of a divided world while finding purpose and joy in selflessness," Hellquist (who also served as Borderlands 2 creative director) explains in today's announcement. "We've poured our hearts into creating a game that not only entertains but also makes players think deeply about sacrifice, survival, and the bonds that unite us."Wartorn is currently scheduled to enter early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store sometime this "spring". Stray Kite is promising a "polished experience and a wide range of units, squad upgrades, hero upgrades, family members, biomes, maps, events, and quests" at launch, with more coming as development progresses toward Wartorn's 1.0 release.

A Stanford law professor dropped Meta as a client in the wake of Mark Zuckerberg's recent changes.Mark Lemley represented Meta in a 2023 AI copyright case involving comedian Sarah Silverman and others.Zuckerberg's recent changes at Meta more closely align with Elon Musk's opinions and strategies.Mark Lemley, a Stanford law professor and lawyer who represented Meta in a 2023 AI copyright case,CEO Mark Zuckerberg's "descent into toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness.""I have fired Meta as a client. While I think they are on the right side in the generative AI copyright dispute in which I represented them, and I hope they win, I cannot in good conscience serve as their lawyer any longer," Lemley, a partner at the law firm Lex Lumina, wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday.Lemley and Lex Lumina represented Meta when comedian Sarah Silverman and other authors sued the Facebook owner in 2023, saying it violated copyright by training the Llama AI model on books they had written.At the time, Meta's lawyers argued the claims should fail because the authors could not prove Llama generated text that closely resembled their books.In the LinkedIn post, Lemley also said he was changing how he used some Meta products.He has deactivated his Threads account because he did not want to "support a Twitter-like site run by a Musk wannabe."The lawyer also said he will no longer buy anything from ads he encounters on Facebook or Instagram."While I have thought about quitting Facebook, I find great value in the connections and friends I have here," Lemley wrote.Lemley is a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. At Lex Lumina, he works with clients on cases pertaining to intellectual property, antitrust, and internet law."Money can't buy everyone. We're proud to be a firm that doesn't sell out our values. Sadly, it seems this is becoming a rarer and rarer quality in America today," Rhett Millsaps, managing partner of Lex Lumina told Business Insider via email.Lemley, Meta and Sarah Silverman did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.Changes at MetaSince the start of the year, Zuckerberg has made sweeping changes to Meta, includingthird-party fact-checking on the platform in the US in favor of community notes.Meta also planned to reduce diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.Zuckerberg recently said Meta needs more "masculine energy.""Masculine energy, I think, is good, and obviously society has plenty of that, but I think that corporate culture was really trying to get away from it," he said on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast.Zuckerberg's changes at Meta resemble those made by Elon Musk on the social media platform X.Musk has spoken out against DEI and content moderation. Politically, Musk has thrown his support behindright-leaning political partiesand figures in Europe and the US.He's a prominent supporter of President-elect Donald Trump and has been named the co-lead of a commission called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.Zuckerberg has also started to mirror Musk in terms of politics and relationship-building with Trump. Meta donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund, and Zuckerberg declined to endorse any candidate during the 2024 election campaign.These moves mark a distinct change in how Zuckerberg approached Trump in the past.In 2020, after Facebook was criticized over the then-president's violent remarks on the platform, Zuckerberg said he was "deeply shaken and disgusted by President Trump's divisive and incendiary rhetoric."Trump was barred from Facebook and Instagram in 2021 for what Meta called praising "people engaged in violence at the Capitol on January 6."