Author(s): Towards AI Editorial Team Originally published on Towards AI. Good morning, AI enthusiasts! This week, we explore LLM optimization techniques that can make building LLMs from scratch more accessible with limited resources. We also discuss building agents, image analysis, large concept models (LCM), and more. We also have a paid opportunity open at Towards, check it out in the collaboration opportunities section. Enjoy the read!Whats AI WeeklyThis week in Whats AI, I will discuss the basics of knowledge distillation and the other techniques like pruning and quantization that can help you build models with limited resources. What if the big companies just created one big model, and then we, the normal people, could use it to train smaller models that each of us would use for our specific tasks or data? Well, thats exactly Llamas goal with releasing the 405B model and leveraging distillation to train the smaller ones. Likewise, Nvidia recently released two papers exploring this amazing idea with their Minitron approach. I will also dive into this. Read the article here or watch the video on YouTube. Louis-Franois Bouchard, Towards AI Co-founder & Head of CommunityLearn AI Together Community section!AI poll of the week!If reasoning tokens arent the key to AGI, what alternative paths or approaches do you think hold the most promise? Tell us on Discord!Collaboration OpportunitiesThe Learn AI Together Discord community is flooding with collaboration opportunities. If you are excited to dive into applied AI, want a study partner, or even want to find a partner for your passion project, join the collaboration channel! Keep an eye on this section, too we share cool opportunities every week!1. For anyone interested, we have a Developer Relation type of role open at Towards AI. We need someone interested in creating social and blog posts, helping with Discord admin stuff, and attending research/industry events we sponsor representing TAI. If this sounds like something exciting, message Louis-Franois Bouchard on Discord.2. Mesmoiron needs help building advanced components with Toddle and Xano platforms. If you can help with this, connect in the thread!3. Ghub01 has developed an online course and needs a partner to market it. If you need more details, reach out in the thread!4. Iruletheworldnow is looking for five people to study agentic frameworks and build an open-source one. If this sounds exciting, contact him in the thread!Meme of the week!Meme shared by bin4ry_d3struct0rTAI Curated sectionArticle of the weekReimagining GANs: Bridging Statistics and Variance Regularization By Shenggang LiThis article explores Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) through the lens of statistical modeling. It begins by explaining GANs using logistic regression on tabular data, making the concept more accessible. It then introduces Variance-Regularized GANs (VR-GANs), which improve the statistical alignment of generated data with real data by explicitly minimizing the variance discrepancy. Finally, it proposes Reason Code GANs, enhancing the discriminator to provide feedback explaining why generated data is deemed fake. This feedback guides the generator, improving data generation and offering increased interpretability. It includes Python code examples demonstrating both VR-GANs and Reason Code GANs and explores applications for image generation, showing how Reason Codes can track feature evolution during training. It concludes by discussing future research directions for GANs, emphasizing the potential for improved stability and interpretability.Our must-read articles1. LCM + Mapping Hidden Embedding = New Architecture Model By Gao Dalie (This article discusses Metas new Large Concept Model (LCM), a language model architecture that differs significantly from traditional Large Language Models (LLMs). Unlike LLMs, which process text word-by-word, LCMs process sentences as concepts high-dimensional vectors representing the meaning of a sentence, independent of the language or modality. It details LCMs architecture, comprising a Concept Encoder, Large Concept Model, and Concept Decoder, which work together to convert text into concepts and back again. A section explores the provided open-source code, detailing the PreNet, PostNet, and TransformerDecoder components, focusing on the normalization and denormalization of embeddings. It highlights LCMs ability to handle multiple languages using a SONAR tool and its potential for zero-shot learning. It concludes by emphasizing LCMs potential to revolutionize natural language processing by shifting the focus from word processing to semantic understanding.2. Transform Image Data into Insights with VisualInsights AI Automation By Yotam BraunThis article details VisualInsight, an AI-powered image analysis application built using Streamlit, Google Gemini, and AWS services. It addresses common image analysis challenges like manual effort and scalability by automating the process. VisualInsight allows users to upload images via a user-friendly interface, leveraging Gemini for analysis and storing results securely in AWS S3. The applications architecture incorporates Docker for consistent performance and Terraform for infrastructure management, with CI/CD implemented via GitHub Actions for automated deployments. It also provides core code snippets and explains the workflow, highlighting the benefits of automation and reproducibility.3. Building AI Agent Systems: A Deep Dive into Architecture and Intuitions By Prashant KalepuThis article discusses the architecture of AI agents, highlighting their evolution from monolithic models to more adaptable, compound systems. It explains that effective AI agents rely on three pillars: reasoning, acting, and memory. A sample architecture is presented, featuring a reasoning block, an execution block, and a memory block. The feedback loop allows for continuous improvement, while future enhancements could include improved contextual understanding and self-learning capabilities. It concludes by emphasizing the potential of AI agents for solving complex, real-world problems more effectively.4. Building AI Agent from Scratch with Ruby By Alex ChaplinskyThis article details creating a Ruby-based AI agent framework. It utilizes the ReAct architecture, interleaving reasoning and action via an LLM. The frameworks core components include an Agent class managing interactions, a Session class tracking individual interactions (with Spans representing individual operations), and a Toolchain for integrating external tools. The article demonstrates building a simple agent that retrieves cryptocurrency prices using the CoinGecko API, showcasing the frameworks flexibility and extensibility through examples of progressively complex queries, highlighting the agents ability to handle both simple and more intricate requests, even gracefully handling requests outside its defined capabilities.If you are interested in publishing with Towards AI, check our guidelines and sign up. We will publish your work to our network if it meets our editorial policies and standards.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 AI

Nintendo has finally revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 and alongside it Mario Kart 9, but fans have noticed one character in particular has received a major redesign seemingly inspired by The Super Mario Bros. Movie.The trailer revealed more than a dozen characters and, while most looked exactly as fans would expect, Donkey Kong stood out as appearing quite different.The character has had the same design for years now, even decades, and has appeared as such in the likes of Mario Kart 8, Mario Tennis, Donkey Kong Country Returns, and more. The incredibly successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie shook up his design, however, and Nintendo now appears to be incorporating this into its games.Donkey Kong in Mario Kart 8, the animated film, and Mario Kart 9 (Image Credit: Nintendo)Only a very brief look at Mario Kart 9 was shared, and Donkey Kong only appeared in a few scenes himself, and not particularly clearly, so it will be a while before the designs can be compared side by side, but it is already notably different.This extra look will likely come in April during the Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. In anticipation of this event, the console reveal trailer included just a few hints of the Nintendo Switch 2, focusing mostly on how it looks. It did confirm the hardware is mostly backwards compatible, the Joy-Cons feature a mysterious new button, and that a theory about using the controller as a mouse appears spot on.While it was only revealed with a 2025 window, the Nintendo Switch 2 probably won't arrive until June at the earliest. That's because myriad hands on events are taking place worldwide, with registration for them opening very soon.Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Legendary filmmaker David Lynch has sadly passed away at the age of 78, as announced by his family in a Facebook post. The director began making movies in the 1960s, when he was an art student who wanted to see his paintings move, and went on to become one of the most recognizable and beloved auteurs in cinema history, a filmmaker who enjoyed remarkable success, given his idiosyncratic work.Because Lynchs work was so personal, it has long been difficult for critics and fans to reach a consensus regarding which is his very best work. Every single one of his movies and TV series has value, and each one strikes different people in different ways. Indeed, even this writer finds himself changing his own personal ranking from time to time.Like Lynch himself, his works are impossible to categorize and, thus, near impossible to rank, but weve given it a go in order to celebrate this masters illustrious career. Were looking back at both his movies and the TV series hes created but have not included the short films this time around. Of course, the list will change again and again, like a dream within a dream.13. Inland Empire (2004)Without question, Inland Empire has its amazing moments. Laura Dern gives a fearless, raw performance as an actress who cannot maintain the line between herself and her character. Lynch is joined by some of his best collaborators, including Harry Dean Stanton, Justin Theroux, and Grace Zabriskie, and gets supporting takes from Jeremy Irons and Mary Steenburgen.Despite containing some of Lynchs most powerful images, Inland Empire is also shot on digital video, which flattens the compositions. Furthermore, the three-hour opus covers a lot of familiar ground for Lynch, making it an interesting exercise, but not a satisfying film.12. On the Air (1992)Without question, there are those who absolute love On the Air, Lynch and Mark Frosts sitcom follow-up to Twin Peaks. For this more obscure project, the duo brings along several members of the Twin Peaks cast, including stars such as Miguel Ferrer and Ian Buchanan, as well as writer Robert Engels and director Lesli Linka Glater. Unsurprisingly, On the Air has a similar tone to Twin Peaks well, it has a similar tone to the comedic sections of Twin Peaks.On the Air chronicles the making of The Lester Guy Show, a 1950s variety program starring the arrogant Lester Guy (Buchanan), which becomes a ratings hit after bumbling starlet Betty Hudson (Marla Rubinoff) captivates the audience. Only three episodes of On the Air made it to air in 1992, and only seven were ever made at all before ABC pulled the plug. This ones not for everyone, but for those who love Lucy and Andys hijinks in Twin Peaks, On the Air is a lot of fun.11. Lost Highway (1997)As much as hes embraced by the avant-garde, Lynch is, at his heart, an affable Midwesterner. So theres a bit of a disconnect in Lost Highway, which drips with late 90s cool. Lost Highway takes Lynchs fascination with doubles into a new direction, with Bill Pullman as a sax player whose doppelgnger might murder his bombshell wife (Patricia Arquette), who looks identical to the mistress of powerful mobster Mr. Eddy (Robert Loggia).The noir trappings give Lynch new avenues to explore his pet themes, making for the directors sexiest (but not most sensual) film. Robert Blake gives Lynch the best depiction of evil this side of Twin Peaks Bob, known only as the mystery man. However, the hipness of Lost Highway often feels overdone, especially with a terribly miscast Pullman trying to convey an edge he simply lacks.10. Hotel Room (1993)The HBO anthology series Hotel Room is hard to classify, simply because of its an odd production. Created by Lynch and Wild at Heart producer Monty Montgomery, Hotel Room tells short stories about the strange happenings within room 603 of the Railroad Hotel. Lynch and Montgomery hoped to produce a full season of standalone episodes, but only a single anthology movie aired on HBO, consisting of three stories.The middle entry directed by James Signorelli is passable at best, but the first and third sections, both directed by Lynch, have merit. The first is an intense and stagy bit about two older men (Freddie Jones and Harry Dean Stanton) with a mysterious connection and the sex worker (Glenne Headly) they fight over. The third is outstanding, a tense and unexplainable conversation between a married couple (Crispin Glover and Alicia Witt) during a power outage. The two segments are fine slices of Lynch storytelling, if a little too underdeveloped to stand up with his best work. Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!9. The Elephant Man (1980)The Elephant Man is truly the outlier in Lynchs filmography. A tony biopic about a tragic figure, starring respected actors Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt, The Elephant Man seems more like an Oscar play than the sophomore film of an experimental filmmaker.However, Lynch works several of his characteristic elements into the movie. The black and white photography, industrial imagery, and dream sequences involving John Merricks (Hurt) mother all make The Elephant Man a strange mixture of traditional biopic and Lynch weirdness.9. Dune (1984)One would think that Denis Villeneuves excellent and more faithful adaptations of the Frank Herbert novel would only make Lynchs infamously uneven Dune look even worse. However, the modern blockbusters have had the opposite effect. For everything that Villeneuve does right, theres a monochromatic domestication to his vision of Arrakis and its warring houses. It feels like a place where people named Paul and Jessica live, not the home of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Liet Kynes, or Chani.Whatever its shortcomings, the David Lynch Dune feels otherworldly. Even when the most bumpkin actor of all time Everett McGill is playing Fremen leader Stilgar, Lynch surrounds him with oddities, such as Patrick Stewart charging into battle with a pug in his arms or the most disgusting Baron Harkonnen imaginable. Its an off-putting film, one poorly suited to launching a sci-fi franchise. But it is unique and unexpected, and that deserves praise.8. Wild at Heart (1990)Wild at Heart is Lynch at his most excessive, in both his pure romanticism and his bizarre visuals. Based on the novel by Barry Gifford, Wild at Heart stars Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern as Sailor and Lula, whose unadulterated love makes them outcasts to the rest of the world. Wild at Heart goes all the way, and Cage and Dern are very much up to the task, giving vulnerable, raw performances.That said, every single person in Wild at Heart goes just as far. Crispin Glover shows up as aman obsessed with Christmas, Derns mother Diane Ladd covers her entire face with lipstick, and Willem Dafoe gleefully plays the most upsetting person ever captured on film. And somehow, the whole thing plays as a tribute to The Wizard of Oz, which either makes Wild at Heart more wonderful or more disturbing, depending on your tolerance for extremes.Eraserhead put Lynch on the map, thanks to the midnight screenings of the late 1970s. To this day, Eraserhead contains some of Lynchs most indelible images, such as the puffy cheeked woman in the radiator and an indescribable bird-like baby. With its black and white photography and emphasis on industrial landscapes, its no wonder that so many see Eraserhead as an aggressive outsider classic.However, too much attention to the edgy elements can distract from Eraserheads fundamentally empathetic core. Eraserhead captures the feeling of a young man unsure about the responsibilities of adulthood, as seen in Jack Nances bemused stare and Charlotte Stewarts emotional breakdowns. This film set the tone for all of Lynchs work to follow, at once shocking and moving.6. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)Even today, its easy to see why so many rejected Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me when it first debuted at Cannes. The prequel movie leaves unresolved the cliffhanger at the end of the series and, in fact, does away with the comedic and romantic parts of the show (along with most of the cast) for a harrowing look at the last week in the life of Laura Palmer.Yet, Fire Walk With Me deserves praise for the way Kyle MacLachlans reluctance to participate in the film drove Lynch to ideas about doppelgangers and doubles, which became the focus of his next couple of films. Best of all, Fire Walk With Me makes Laura into a proper character, not just the tragic pretty girl that everyone talks about and mourns in the series. Sheryl Lee gives a virtuoso performance as the doomed Laura, finding surprising notes of heroism in her character, without sacrificing the horror of her last days.5. The Straight Story (1999)On the surface, The Straight Story sounds like the most unlikely entry in Lynchs filmography. Its a G-rated movie for the Walt Disney Company, based on the inspirational true story about an elderly man who travels across the Midwest on a riding lawnmower to see his dying brother one last time.The Straight Story might lack sinister owls or horrific doubles, but it is Lynch through and through. Written by Lynchs frequent collaborator Mary Sweeney and John Roach, The Straight Story stars Richard Farnsworth as Alvin Straight, who makes the 240-mile trek to see his brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton). The Straight Story finds Lynch using his experimental techniques to underscore the weight of the years accrued by these elderly men, anchored by an outstanding performance by Farnsworth.4. Twin Peaks (1990-1991)In a better world, Twin Peaks would be number one on any Lynch ranking. The series could have been the perfect avenue for Lynch and Frost to explore their unique interests. Although the series purports to follow FBI Special Agent Dale Coopers (MacLachlan) investigation into the murder of Laura Palmer (Lee), it is in fact an exploration of the eccentricities of a small northwestern logging town.Twin Peaks has its moments of surreal horror, especially the infamous Red Room and the backwards-talking Man from Another Place (Michael J. Anderson). But its also an ongoing parody of soap operas and features moments of unironic teen romance, slapstick comedy, and more. When Lynch and Frost were at the helm, Twin Peaks combined these elements into something amazing. When they stepped away, leaving the reigns to Harley Peyton and Robert Engels, Twin Peaks became a parody of itself, which accounts for its lower ranking here.3. Blue Velvet (1986)Blue Velvet begins with a shot of a pleasant suburb, complete with a man watering his lawn. When the man has a heart attack, the camera follows him as he collapses, and then continues into the dirt, where it holds on the creepy crawlies lurking below the well-maintained yards. A lesser filmmaker would have stopped there, thinking that the suburbs are weird is enough of a statement, even 30 years after John Cheevers best stories.But Lynch goes farther in Blue Velvet, using its Neo Noir tropes to portray innocence lost and innocence never present. Good boy Jeffrey (MacLachlan) returns to his hometown and connects with his one-time love (Dern), only to get pulled into a mystery involving an alluring torch singer (Isabella Rossellini) and her abuser (Dennis Hopper). The scene of a nude Rossellini running outside and screaming at the void goes far beyond Blue Velvets opening shot, cementing Lynchs status as one of cinemas most important voices.2. Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)Ill see you in 25 years, Laura tells Agent Cooper in the 1991 finale of Twin Peaks. The fact that Twin Peaks: The Return only misses that promise by one year speaks to how special, and unexpected, the series is. On one hand, The Return does indeed follow-up on the original series, bringing back nearly every cast member (the retired Michael Ontkean and Michael J. Anderson declined to show up), but also exploring issues of aging, nostalgia, and unresolvable dread.The Return features moments of fan service, including a long-awaited kiss between Big Ed (Everett McGill) and Norma (Peggy Lipton), Bobby (Dana Ashbrook) remembering his late fathers advice, and confirmation that James (James Marshall) was always cool. But it also intentionally frustrates the audience, both by keeping Cooper out of almost all of the series, replacing him with the brain dead Dougie, and completely undercutting the idea that Cooper could ever save Laura. All together, The Return feels like the coda of Lynchs work, a celebration of everything that makes him so weird and moving.1. Mulholland Drive (2001)First of all, we have to acknowledge that Mulholland Drive can be explained pretty easily. It doesnt take much to unravel the mystery of starry-eyed ingnue Betty (Naomi Watts), her doppelgnger Diane, her new friend Rita (Laura Harring) and Ritas doppelgnger Camilla. The blue box, the incompetent hit man, heck, even the spooky figure behind Winkysall of that fits into a coherent explanation.But anyone who worries about explaining Mulholland Drive is missing the point. Mulholland Drive stands as the ultimate statement on the power and peril of the movies, and Lynch fills the film with moments that operate best on an emotional and ineffable level. To explain the depths of feeling that the otherwise flighty Betty conjures during her audition or the slow dread of the cowboy who meets director Adam Kesher (Justin Theroux) is to limit them. Instead, more than any of Lynchs other works, Mulholland Drive exists as a feeling and a dream, something that stays with you, even in the waking world.

If youre thinking of refreshing your space this year, TikTok is swarming with inspiration. The social media platforms home sector has over 7.6 million videos to browse through, with spotlights on the emerging interior design trends of 2025 on the rise.A common theme weve noticed on the app is an emphasis on all things bold: dousing rooms in vibrant colors and peppering spaces with eclectic patterns across various types of decor. We also see styles on the opposite end of the spectrum being represented: quiet luxury and cozy-chic aesthetics with Earth tones and pops of greenery. We reached out to three design experts to help break down the best TikTok design trends of 2025 and explain how you can get the looks in your own home.Related StoriesMocha Mousse and Other Earth Tones JoybirdWhat to Search: #mochamousse (10,200+ posts) #pantone (43,000+ posts) #coloroftheyear2025 (4,700+ posts)Mocha Mousse is Pantone's 2025 color of the year, and home design has fully embraced the luxe brown hue. Upon announcing the new shade, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman, described Mocha Mousse as a thoughtful indulgence, sophisticated and lush, yet, an unpretentious classic. Its bold but not brazen; trendy but timeless. In other words, unlike Barbie pink, you likely wont regret color-drenching a room in warm brown years down the road.But Mocha Mousse isnt the only shade of brown designers are seeing an uptick in for home interiors. According to Alexis Elley, the owner and designer at Textures Interior Design, chocolate brown and other earth tones like rust and martini olive green are adding an air of moodiness to the on-trend rooms of 2025. If not committing to full walls in these colors, you could add them in through layers of accessories. Think custom throw pillows, coffee table books, throws, and artwork.Shop the Mocha Mousse TrendWall Decor, Set of TwoNow 30% Off$13 $9 at EtsyCozy Earth Bamboo Flat Sheet$81 at Cozy EarthPottery Barn Westwood Leather SectionalNow 12% Off$9,996 $8,836 at Pottery Barn Microgreen CornersToby Mitchell//Getty ImagesWhat to Search: #GreenLiving (273,200+ posts) and #BiophilicDesign (6,400+ posts)Set down your paintbrushes because this 2025 TikTok design trend puts a spotlight on plants. Matthew Coates, owner of Coates Design Seattle Architects, likens microgreen corners to DIY biophilic design on a budget. The setup can include hydroponic systems or small pots of herbs on a windowsill. And while the greenery is certainly aesthetically pleasing, Coates highlights the indoor gardens practicality. Imagine grabbing fresh basil for dinner straight from your kitchen, he says, adding that the trend is also perfect for smaller living spaces that could use sprucing. Shop the Microgreens TrendIndoor Hanging Plant Holder$20 at EtsyBarnyard Designs Indoor Herb Garden Planter SetNow 33% OffHarry & David Herb Garden in Wooden Box$60 at Harry & DavidRelated StoryColorcoreMatthew NiemannWhat to Search: #colorfulhome (25,000+ posts) #colorfulhomedecor (7,100+ posts) #maximalistdecor (26,000+ posts) #dopaminedecor (34,200+ posts)Colorcore is rooted in maximalism. It embraces bold colors and loud, contrasting patterns and prints, layered within the same space. Homeowners are increasingly viewing their spaces as vehicles for joy and self-expression rather than just serene retreats, Garcia explains, noting an uptick in clients requesting eclectic, colorful design elements and rejecting neutral minimalism. As far as the designer is concerned, there are two ways to go about the technique. Either you fully embrace it, with something like a vibrant accent wall, or start small by layering bold accessories like pillows or rugs. Either way, Garcia says, the key is to create unexpected color combinations that energize your space while reflecting your personality. Shop the Colorcore TrendHappyWall Checkerboard Wallpaper$48 at happywall.comIris Apfel Colorful Loom Mango Tufted Rug$559 at RuggableNathalie Lete Embroidered Velvet Pillow$98 at AnthropologieHostingcoreLauren TaylorWhat to Search: #hostingera (4,600+ posts) #hostingideas (14,400+ posts) #hostingtips (18,600+ posts)Date nights, girls' nights, boys' nights: Times normally spent out are heading inward in 2025. According to Vanessa Garcia, an elite designer tasker at TaskRabbit, homes are doubling as social hubs, with hosts aiming to create inviting spaces that facilitate connection and memorable experiences. To do this, Garcia says, the trick is to merge functionality with style in three key areas: A stylish beverage station, be it a bar cart or dedicated cabinet; the right lighting (think dimmers and layered sources); and furniture arrangements, like clusters of chairs, sofas, etc. that are conversation-friendly and can flex for different group sizes.Shop the Hostingcore TrendAnthropologie Pauline Champagne Bucket$138 at AnthropologieVasagle Bar Cart$170 at TargetWine Enthusiast Maison Bar Cabinet With Cooler$1,895 at wineenthusiast.comRelated StoryColor DrenchingStephen KarlischWhat to search: #colordrenching (900+ posts) #colorsaturated #howtocolordrench #colorfulhome (25,000+ posts)Color drenching isnt a new concept per se, but it is a major TikTok design trend for 2025. The concept is simple: Pick a color, choose a shade, and douse a room in your house with it. To master the technique, Elley says to paint your walls, ceiling, and trim all the same color. But, to make the most impact, Elley recommends assigning a different paint finish to each component and having the color seep into the rooms accessories, like drapery and linens. It will help give a put-together and polished look.Shop the Color Drenching TrendTarget PAVILIA Pom-Pom Throw Pillow Covers$17 at TargetTorre & Tagus Adele Emerald Green Glass Vase$35 at AmazonEider & Ivory Quimby Velvet Solid Blackout Curtains$25 at WayfairFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Yet another deal has been signed between a publisher and a GenAI leader.Paris startup Mistral and news outlet Agence France-Presse (AFP) announced today that they are combining their services to improve AI responses.The deal provides Mistrals chatbot imaginatively named Le Chat with access to all of AFPs text stories.According to Mistral, the integration will bring enhanced factuality to the AI assistant.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Partnering with a globally trusted news agency like AFP allows Le Chat to offer reliable, factual, and up-to-date responses, verified by professional journalists, said Arthur Mensch, the startups CEO and co-founder.Mistral also highlighted the linguistic capabilities. AFPs daily production of 2,300 text stories spans six languages French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Arabic all of which will be available to LeChat. Through this partnership, we are providing our clients with a unique multicultural and multilingual alternative, Mensch said.For AFP, the deal adds an extra income source and a new outlet for the agencys 1,700 journalists.Through this partnership, AFP is further diversifying its revenue sources, reaching a clientele beyond the media sector and exploring new uses for its content in the daily operations of businesses, said Fabrice Fries, the companys CEO and chairman.Deals and disputes between GenAI firms and news outletsThe content deal expands a growing range of agreements between publishers and GenAI companies.Just a day earlier, two other eye-catching collaborations were announced. One brings news from the Associated Press (AP) to Googles Geminis chatbot. The other merges Axios journalism with OpenAI products. As part of the deal, the ChatGPT-maker will fund the media brands expansion to four new US cities.Axios joins a lengthy list of publishers collaborating with OpenAI. The GenAI giant has now partnered with nearly 20 media organisations, including the Financial Times, Le Monde, and AP. Yet not every news outlet has been a willing collaborator. A group of them led by The New York Times took OpenAI to court this week over alleged copyright infringements.They argue that OpenAI used their content to build systems without consent or payment. OpenAI contends that the fair use law protects the practice.By signing agreements with publishers, GenAI firms could avoid such legal disputes.For Mistral, the partnership with AP is the first content deal of this kind. The integration is slated to roll out to all Le Chat users in the coming weeks. Neither Mistral nor AFP have revealed the value of the multi-year contract. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

This year Apple is planning to launch three new Home products as part of a renewed smart home push. Heres when to expect one such product, the HomePod mini 2, to debut.HomePod mini 2 launching in late 2025, per reportHomePod mini first came on the scene in late 2020, over four years ago. It brought many of the features of the full-size HomePod in a smaller, more affordable $99 package.Since then, besides ongoing software updates, HomePod minis only change has been the addition of new color options.But according to Mark Gurman, this is the year HomePod mini 2 finally arrives.In his big overview of Apples 2025 product release plans, Mark Gurman shared that HomePod mini 2 is planned for release toward the end of the year.A late 2025 release is also when Apples expected to ship its new Apple TV 4K.So were looking at a spring debut for the brand new HomePad product, then HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K near the end of the year.This probably means October or November debuts.September is always packed enough already, and this year that will be especially true with the iPhone 17 Air and 17 Pro, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3.But with those launches out of the way, Apples calendar clears up with only an M5 MacBook Pro and possibly M5 iPad Pro set to debut.Throw in a couple of upgraded Home products, and you have a great hypothetical October event.What new features do you hope to see in HomePod mini 2? Let us know in the comments.Best HomeKit smart home accessoriesAdd 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

"Leaked photo of heaven is going viral on social media."God's CountryA "leaked photo of heaven" has been going mega viral on social media this week.The purported photo shows a half-baked and architecturally unsound city, seemingly carved into a chalky material and set against what appears to be the Milky Way, strongly reminiscent of the "Heaven" called Urdak portrayed in the 2021 video game Doom Eternal.It was a lowbrow and technologically lacking instance of AI slop, but caught the attention of millions of netizens nonetheless."Leaked photo of heaven is going viral on social media," one X-formerly-Twitter account wrote in the caption of the photo, which has been viewed just shy of seven million times on the platform. "No wonder Christians are so determined to get there!"Whether the image was shared with the intention of making a joke about how gullible people keep falling for AI slop on social media or not, the viral post again highlights how oafish AI-generated content is slowly becoming a de facto part of content feeds, in a pervasive flood of dubious and misleading content.And while many were sharing the drek ironically, the idea that somehow a picture of "heaven" was "leaked" by some greater power paints a troubling picture of what some on social are willing to believe."By far the funniest part of this insane post is that even the maniacs who believe this stuff are so media-pilled they refer to it as a 'leaked photo,'" wrote author Samas O'Reilly in a post on Bluesky. "As if God, CEO of Heaven Studios, had included it in a press kit for awards season, but embargoed it til January 27th."Slop PrizeParticularly on Facebook, an online "graveyard" that's already largely succumbed to an incessant deluge of AI slop, the same image proved extremely popular. Countless accounts reshared the image with the exact same caption, garnering hundreds of likes.Other accounts riffed on the original caption, adding their own two cents."This place is too small for heaven..." one Facebook user wrote. "Looks like the house of Elon Musk to me."While a nonsensical picture of "heaven" isn't likely to mislead many into believing there's a strange asteroid-based structure waiting for them in the afterlife, other AI slop taking over Facebook is proving far more insidious.In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene last year, for instance, AI images that purported to show the resulting devastation made their rounds on Facebook.And it's not just social media. Google has also been overrun with garbled and nonsensical slop.Looking on the bright side, at least the depiction in the "leaked photo of heaven" presents an alternative counterpart to America's relentlessly pedestrian-hostile suburbia that's overreliant on gas-guzzling cars."So heaven is a walkable city, got it," one Bluesky account joked.Share This Article

Jan 16, 2025Ravie LakshmananSpear Phishing / Threat IntelligenceThe Russian threat actor known as Star Blizzard has been linked to a new spear-phishing campaign that targets victims' WhatsApp accounts, signaling a departure from its longstanding tradecraft in a likely attempt to evade detection."Star Blizzard's targets are most commonly related to government or diplomacy (both incumbent and former position holders), defense policy or international relations researchers whose work touches on Russia, and sources of assistance to Ukraine related to the war with Russia," the Microsoft Threat Intelligence team said in a report shared with The Hacker News.Star Blizzard (formerly SEABORGIUM) is a Russia-linked threat activity cluster known for its credential harvesting campaigns. Active since at least 2012, it's also tracked under the monikers Blue Callisto, BlueCharlie (or TAG-53), Calisto (alternately spelled Callisto), COLDRIVER, Dancing Salome, Gossamer Bear, Iron Frontier, TA446, and UNC4057.Previously observed attack chains have involved sending spear-phishing emails to targets of interest, usually from a Proton account, attaching documents embedding malicious links that redirect to an Evilginx-powered page that's capable of harvesting credentials and two-factor authentication (2FA) codes via an adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) attack.Star Blizzard has also been linked to the use of email marketing platforms like HubSpot and MailerLite to conceal the true email sender addresses and obviate the need for including actor-controlled domain infrastructure in email messages.Late last year, Microsoft and the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) announced the seizure of more than 180 domains that were used by the threat actor to target journalists, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) between January 2023 and August 2024.The tech giant assessed public disclosure into its activities may have likely prompted the hacking crew to switch up its tactics by compromising WhatsApp accounts. That said, the campaign appears to have been limited and wound down at the end of November 2024."The targets primarily belong to the government and diplomacy sectors, including both current and former officials," Sherrod DeGrippo, director of threat intelligence strategy at Microsoft, told The Hacker News."Additionally, the targets encompass individuals involved in defense policy, researchers in international relations focusing on Russia, and those providing assistance to Ukraine in relation to the war with Russia."It all starts with a spear-phishing email that purports to be from a U.S. government official to lend it a veneer of legitimacy and increase the likelihood that the victim would engage with them.The message contains a quick response (QR) code that urges the recipients to join a supposed WhatsApp group on "the latest non-governmental initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine NGOs." The code, however, is deliberately broken so as to trigger a response from the victim.Should the email recipient reply, Star Blizzard sends a second message, asking them to click on a t[.]ly shortened link to join the WhatsApp group, while apologizing for the inconvenience caused."When this link is followed, the target is redirected to a web page asking them to scan a QR code to join the group," Microsoft explained. "However, this QR code is actually used by WhatsApp to connect an account to a linked device and/or the WhatsApp Web portal."In the event the target follows the instructions on the site ("aerofluidthermo[.]org"), the approach allows the threat actor to gain unauthorized access to their WhatsApp messages and even exfiltrate the data via browser add-ons.Individuals who belonging to sectors targeted by Star Blizzard are advised to exercise caution when it comes to handling emails containing links to external sources.The campaign "marks a break in long-standing Star Blizzard TTPs and highlights the threat actor's tenacity in continuing spear-phishing campaigns to gain access to sensitive information even in the face of repeated degradations of its operations."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Joao-Pierre S. Ruth, Senior EditorJanuary 16, 20254 Min ReadFlame front of the Eaton Fire on the first night during the January 2025 California wildfires in Altadena and Los Angeles.Timothy Swope via Alamy Stock PhotoSatellite-based communication helped clear up some of the smoke and confusion that arose from the LA County wildfires that tore into Southern California.Firefighters, who came from across the country, Canada, and Mexico, contained a number of the devastating fires that began the first week of 2025 but some of the largest patches of flame continue to burn.Rescue and recovery efforts require cohesive communication, for individuals and emergency responders, in such a widespread disaster. So far, the infernos across the region consumed collectively more than 40,000 acres of land, destroyed entire communities, and claimed at least 24 lives.Companies such as Intrado and Cisco offer resources that can help ensure clear lines of communication remain available during disasters that might disrupt standard means of staying connected. What happens in these disaster situations is traditional networks may have impacts to them because of the nature of hurricanes or fires and knocks out the traditional communication what were all used to, says Josh Burch, vice president of product operations at Intrado.That might include cellular, landline, VoIP, or voice over Wi-Fi networks, he says. In such instances, Burch says the use of satellite-based communication, including direct to device satellite communication, may come into play.Related:Two to three years ago, something like this wouldnt even have been possible, Burch says. The ability for satellite constellations to communicate with wireless handsets is now possible in certain scenarios.That communication might be limited to text communication in certain circumstances but can still allow emergency messages to be transmitted by individuals who might otherwise lose contact and service on their phones, Burch says. Intrado has processed more than 2,000 TXT29-1-1 messages in LA county since the wildfires began.The LA County wildfires saw Cisco called into action to provide support to agencies tasked with rescue and relief efforts.To avoid confusion in already challenging circumstances, Cisco Crisis Response Director Erin Connors says the Cisco team gets rolling only after they make contact with the emergency response agencies that focus on critical infrastructure, government continuity, aid delivery, and public safety. She says her team leverages Cisco resources, funding, technology, and expertise to connect vulnerable communities in crisis.In the case of the LA fires, there has been some degradation to cellular infrastructure, but not extensively, Connors says. Her team is made up of emergency response network engineers who can deploy in the event of emergencies. We dont self-deploy; its always at the request of partner agencies that are on the ground that have an expressed need that we can meet.Related:For the LA County fires, Connors says her team received requests from state and local response agencies for such needs as connectivity support for command posts and incident management teams. In a lot of cases, this is where theyre setting up new offices, she says. There might still be some backhaul or cellular connectivity, but if theyre setting up new field offices to be able to coordinate and manage their relief activities, they need network infrastructure.Cisco lent satellite backhaul where needed, Connors says, pairing Cisco Meraki security appliances to secure the network. All this goes toward managing and prioritizing network traffic to help response centers deliver services to affected citizens, she says. You can block Netflix streaming, for example, so that doesnt actually take up all the bandwidth for really critical communications to manage response efforts.Resources Cisco brings to bear for such disasters include equipment or remote guidance while the emergency response agencies look for longer-term solutions. Connors says Ciscos response team continues to provide remote support for the recovery from Hurricane Helene and also lent support in response to the 2023 fires in Maui. The team not only works with government agencies, but also supports nonprofit organizations and provides community Wi-Fi and shelters, she says.Related:Though the LA County wildfires covered a vast breadth of geography and cause widespread damage and displacement, Connors says the situation has not necessarily affected the resources Cisco made available. That is despite the challenge of oversight and communication needed to coordinate support from across international. There is just a lot more to manage for all of the agencies, she says. That maybe is a little bit different.Evolution of satellite technology such as Starlink, Connors says, made these types of resources more accessible and affordable to put into play during such crises. Thats been a big game changer.In prior years, Connors says, when Cisco first offered crisis response, resources had to be deployed in person with skilled technicians to set up and manage the network. Nowadays, she says, with Cisco Meraki the equipment can be shipped to location, is relatively easy to install, and features remote support. AI can also be used to scan for threats and troubleshoot the systems, making it easier to manage without always needing boots on the ground for technology to deliver support to agencies that respond to a disaster. We dont necessarily need to fly in, deploy, set it up, and be there long term, Connors says.About the AuthorJoao-Pierre S. RuthSenior EditorJoao-Pierre S. Ruth covers tech policy, including ethics, privacy, legislation, and risk; fintech; code strategy; and cloud & edge computing for InformationWeek. He has been a journalist for more than 25 years, reporting on business and technology first in New Jersey, then covering the New York tech startup community, and later as a freelancer for such outlets as TheStreet, Investopedia, and Street Fight.See more from Joao-Pierre S. RuthNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

David Lynch has died.The passing of the brilliant director behind such classics asBlue Velvet,Eraserhead, andTwin Peakswas announced by his family on Lynchs own Facebook page.It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch, they wrote. We would appreciate some privacy at this time. Theres a big hole in the world now that hes no longer with us. But, as he would say, Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.They added Its a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way, in tribute to Lynchs popular weather reports, which he delivered on local L.A. radio and then online for many years. Lynch was 78 years old.READ MORE: The Best Movies of the 21st CenturyThe iconoclastic artist, director, and musician was born in Montana in 1946. He studied art at the Corcoran School in Washington D.C., the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, before moving to Los Angelesto study filmmaking at the American Film Institute. It was there that Lynch began work on his first feature,Eraserhead, a moody, black and white horror film about a man in a nightmarish industrial world caring for a bizarre-looking baby. (Until the end of his life, Lynch never revealed exactly how he made the films disturbing looking baby.)Eraserheadbecame one of the first America filmsto become a cult hit playing in urban theaters as a midnight movie. (The picture of its title character, played by Jack Nance, adorns the cover of the most famous book on that subject,Midnight Movies by J. Hoberman and Jonathan Rosenbaum.) Lynchs bold work on Eraserheadcaught the attention of Mel Brooks, who brought Lynch on to directThe Elephant Man,which became his first Hollywood production.The success ofThe Elephant Man, which earned Lynchhis first Oscar nomination for Best Director, helped Lynch land the job directing the much-anticipated first adaptation of Frank HerbertsDune.(Along the way, Lynch also turned down the opportunity to directReturn of the Jedi.)Dunewas not well-received at the time and it was a box-office disappointment, butit has become more and more of a cult favorite in recent years.Lynch rebounded fromDunewith one of his signature projects:Blue Velvet, a neo-noir set in a small town where a naive young man (Kyle Maclachlan, who previously worked with Lynch onDune) uncovers a mystery and falls deeper and deeper into the local underworld, where he encounters thederanged Frank Booth, played by Dennis Hopper.Equally controversial and influential,Blue Velvetis now considered one of the greatest movies of the 1980s. And Lynch followed it with maybe his biggest mainstream success ever: The TV seriesTwin Peaks, which channeled many of Blue Velvetssame themes about the darkness lurking beneath the surface of small-town America into the form of a high schoolTV soap opera.The first season ofTwin Peaks became a smash, although mainstream audiences began to lose interest in the series during its second season, after ABC moved the show to Saturday nights and forcing Lynch and the creative team to reveal the answer to the shows biggest mystery, the identity of the murderer of Laura Palmer.AlthoughTwin Peaks ended after its second season, Lynch returned repeatedly to the material, first in a prequel film, 1992sTwin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, and then in a revival show,Twin Peaks: The Return, which expanded the mythology of the show in myriad ways across 18 fascinatingly strange episodes on Showtime in 2017.Lynchs other movies includeWild at Heart,Lost Highway,The Straight Story, and possiblythe most acclaimed film of his entire career,Mulholland Drive.Thatproject began life as a pilot for an ABC series, but after the network rejected it, Lynch retooled the concept, shot new material, and turned it into a feature about an actress (Naomi Watts) who moves to Los Angelesandmeets an amnesiac (Laura Harring).Lynchs cinematic output slowed in the 21st century; he made just one feature afterMulholland Drive, 2006sInland Empire, along with the massiveTwin Peaks: The Return.But he continued creating all sorts of things in his later years. In addition to those famous weather reports,Lynch made music, directed music videos, wrote books, andchampioned Transcendental Meditation, which he practiced for many years.Last summer, Lynch revealed in an interview that he had been diagnosed with emphysema after decades of smoking. The disease had left him essentially homebound, he said, and put an abrupt end to his directing career because he could only walk a short distance before he ran out of oxygen.He did say at that time that for the right project he would try to [direct] it remotely. Sadly, that never happened. But the movies and shows Lynch did make will be watched for decades to come.Get our free mobile app10 Wild Passion Projects from Famous Directors That Were Almost Never MadeIf it weren't for these directors' sheer determination, we might never have seen these movies at all.