Google has notified the European Union that it wont integrate work from fact-checking organizations into Search or YouTube, ahead of the blocs plans to expand disinformation laws. Google had previously signed a set of voluntary commitments that the EU introduced in 2022 to reduce the impact of online disinformation, which are in the process of being formalized into law under the Digital Services Act (DSA).The pushback comes as the emboldened leaders of US tech companies, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, have been courting President-elect Donald Trump, with Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg urging him directly to combat EU regulatory enforcement. In a letter written to the European Commissions content and technology czar Renate Nikolay seen by Axios, Googles global affairs president Kent Walker affirmed that Google wont commit to the fact-checking requirement as it simply isnt appropriate or effective for our services. Google will also pull out of all fact-checking commitments in the Code before the rules become law in the DSA Code of Conduct, according to Walker.Currently, the EUs Code of Practice on Disinformation commits signatories to work with fact-checkers in all EU countries, make their work available to users in all EU languages, and cut financial incentives for spreading disinformation on their platforms. The code also compels companies to make it easier for users to recognize, understand, and flag disinformation, alongside labeling political ads and analyzing fake accounts, bots, and malicious deep fakes that spread disinformation.Fact-checking isnt currently included as part of Googles content moderation practices. The company objected to some of the codes requirements in its agreement, saying that Search and YouTube will endeavour to reach agreements with fact checking organizations in line with this measure, but services will not have complete control over this process.40 online platforms have signed the code, including Microsoft, TikTok, Twitch, and Meta despite the latter scrapping its fact-checking program in the US earlier this month. Twitter (now X) was also a signatory but pulled out after Elon Musk purchased the platform. According to the European Fact-Checking Standards Network, many of the other digital platforms that signed the voluntary disinformation code have been lax about fulfilling their commitments.Its unclear whether all of the codes requirements will be formalized into official rules under the DSA EU lawmakers have been in discussions with signatories regarding which commitments they will agree to follow. The Commission has yet to announce when the code will officially become law, having said in November that its expected to come into force by January 2025 at the earliest.

The Nintendo Switch 2 was finally, officially announced this week, and while we now have answers to basic questions like "What is it?" and "What's it called?", there's still plenty we don't know. But even amid the lingering questions and wild speculation, there's now enough info to start making some predictions about how this new hybrid console from Nintendo will resonate with audiences and whether it will be able to overtake the original Switch and its 146 million units sold.We could rampantly guess at these things ourselves here at IGN, or we could ask some experts what they think. We did the second thing, and spoke to seven professional analysts to get their initial takes on the Nintendo Switch 2: is it a good idea, is it going to sell, and what it needs to do to secure long-term success.Nintendo Switch 2 - First LookIGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!To start:...try asking a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or "No".000/250Successor success?Overall, the tone from analysts I spoke to was positive, and largely in sync. Analysts told me that Nintendo's move in making the Nintendo Switch 2 essentially a Nintendo Switch 1 but bigger and better was the correct play on Nintendo's part. As Joost van Dreunen of NYU Stern and the Super Joost newsletter explained:Nintendo's approach to differentiation appears carefully calibrated to maintain platform continuity while delivering meaningful improvements. Technical specifications may matter less than Nintendo's proven ability to create compelling software experiences. The original Switch demonstrated that revolutionary gameplay innovation often emerges from creative software design rather than raw hardware capability. I expect the new design to appeal especially well to the first 25 million early adopters eager to upgrade.PlayCircana's Mat Piscatella agrees, with a caveat. Bigger and better is good for the many folks who want exactly that, but that means the Nintendo Switch 2 will struggle to attract an audience outside of that."The challenge is that the Switch has been a breakout success," he says. "It is an outlier is many ways, including how much it has sold, and for how long it's been selling. Some of the games that were released for it are, years later, still among the best-selling games each and every month. Can a successor that does not change the formula significantly really have a shot at repeating or expanding on that level of success? Well, it's possible, but not probable."Piscatella summarizes a point that every analyst I spoke to landed on one way or another in my conversations with them: the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely do very well, and will probably even come out of the gate selling better than the original Nintendo Switch. But it will be very, very difficult for it to surpass its predecessor.Let's do the numbersNo one I spoke to thought that the Nintendo Switch 2 was going to be a flop, and in fact everyone is expecting a real home run of a launch. Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games referred to the Switch 1 as "really, really old now" and said he thought its age would be sufficient to turn around an initial batch of 10 to 20 million unit sales fairly quickly to hardcore fans just on base improvements alone. But from there, things get a bit trickier.Omdia's George Jijiashvili is expecting the Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in the first half of 2025, with 14.7 million Nintendo Switch 2 consoles sold through in the calendar year. That's more than the Nintendo Switch 1, which sold 13.12 units worldwide in its first calendar year on the market. However, Omdia also expects Switch 2 will eventually fall behind Nintendo Switch 1 sales after its third calendar year on the market, with Jijiashvili saying that surpassing the Switch 1's lifetime totals would be "a very tall order."Piers Harding-Rolls, games industry analyst at Ampere, has a similar number, projecting over 13 million sales the first year. He notes that this is based on a $400 price point, which seemed to be roughly the ballpark all the analysts I spoke to were expecting. But he added that a price up to $500 likely wouldn't inhibit 2025 sales.And over a slightly different period, van Dreunen said he expected between 15 and 18 million units sold of the Switch 2 within the first 12 months, and between 55 and 60 million games sold. He pointed out that the expected Mario film release in April 2026 would help drive awareness. But he also expressed concern contrary to Harding-Rolls' expectations that a higher price than $400, combined with possible tariff impacts in the United States, could influence sales meaningfully. As for out-selling the Switch 2, van Dreunen thinks the Switch 2 could manage it if Nintendo threads a careful needle."Surpassing the Switch's remarkable success demands masterful execution across multiple dimensions. Nintendo must continue expanding its entertainment ecosystem while maintaining its core gaming excellence," he says. "The convergence of gaming and broader entertainment, exemplified by the Mario movie's success, provides a promising pathway. The company's careful balance of innovation and accessibility and its expanding distribution channels create the potential for broader market penetration than its predecessor.Looking at the United States specifically, Piscatella has the Nintendo Switch 2 selling around 4.3 million units in the 2025 calendar year, with a ballpark of 14 to 17 million worldwide over the same period. He caveats that this is dependant on both the number of units actually made, but also where they're sent. Rhys Elliott of MIDiA also pointed out that console supply could be an issue for Nintendo as companies continue to battle over fabricator space, though Jijiashvili suspects that the later-than-expected launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 was in part to counter that issue and may have ensured an improved launch supply.First year, and beyondEveryone I spoke to seemed to agree that after the initial year or so rush of Switch 2 sales things would slow down, but several did suggest there might be a path for Nintendo to outdo its original hit.All of the analysts I spoke to emphasized the importance of a good software line-up to help the Nintendo Switch 2 succeed long-term. Elliott expects to see (alongside the new Mario Kart) a new 3D Mario, an upgraded Pokmon of some sort, and "likely some other surprises" in the console's first year. He also points out that it's been almost five years since Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Toto also mentioned the importance of a 3D Mario as a "system seller", as well as a Zelda, and van Dreunen echoed those same games as necessities.Many would find the idea of abandoning their prized digital and physical libraries completely unacceptable in 2025.Alongside that, the Nintendo Switch 2 has backward compatibility with its predecessor, which every analyst agreed was a good move on Nintendo's part. Harding-Rolls called it "non-negotiable" in this day and age, though he also noted that it may inhibit some users upgrading and slow sales of the Switch 2. Toto points out that Nintendo has sold over one billion Nintendo Switch games, which will now be playable on the Nintendo Switch 2. And Jijiashvili notes that Nintendo clearly recognizes this feature as important, given that Nintendo confirmed it even before the teaser today. "Many would find the idea of abandoning their prized digital and physical libraries completely unacceptable in 2025, given all other console and PC platforms now offer persistent game ownership when upgrading hardware," he says.Third-party support was also mentioned by several analysts as critical, but Elliott suggests Nintendo is already set up for success here. "Except for Ubisoft, many third-party publishers were late to the party with the original Switch, scared off by the Wii Us underperformance," he says. "Things will be different for the Switch 2, and third-parties will get in on the ground floor.""The Switch 2 offers up a springboard for third-party developers to extend the lifecycles of their game catalogs, promising engagement and revenue boosts for third-party developers big and small. It will be an opportunity for EA, Ubisoft, and the like to extend the product life cycles of their older PS4 and Xbox One-era games. Speaking of which, Xbox and even PlayStation have been [launching more] games on the Switch. I expect this will ramp up on the Switch 2 as these companies continue their off-platform strategies. I can already play Halo on my Steam Deck. I expect Ill be able to play it on my Switch 2 one day, too."Systematic SwitchA few other topics came up when speaking with analysts that are worth mentioning in regards to the Nintendo Switch 2. Simon Carless of GameDiscoverCo was extremely interested in how the old Nintendo Switch catalog would be integrated would previous-gen Switch games be fully integrated into eShop charts and browsing, or would there be separate shops? Discoverability will be a crucial factor with regard to long-term third-party support, as well as how Switch 2 games sell.Van Dreunen also brought up questions around Nintendo's approach to digital services and online infrastructure, areas where its competitors have typically had the advantage. And everyone wants to know how much the thing costs, though the folks we spoke to largely seemed to coalesce around a $400 price point for the purposes of making predictions now.PlayOne more thought that cropped up a few times when speaking with analysts was the notion that Nintendo might still have a "surprise" or a "trick" up its sleeve somewhere that could potentially propel the Nintendo Switch 2 to new heights. Both Piscatella and Elliott mentioned this, with Elliott suggesting it might be something like the rumored Joy-Con mouse functionality. Harding-Rolls also alluded to the possibility of "unobvious technology innovations" that could shift the forecast. Without knowing what this could be yet, it's impossible to make predictions around it, but the air of mystery could still throw everyone's predictions for a loop.Taken all together, the vibes around the Nintendo Switch 2 are looking pretty positive. It's not a wild swing for the fences like some may have hoped, but after the riotous success of the Nintendo Switch 1, who can really blame Nintendo? Its safe bet looks poised to pay off at least in the short term, and likely won't be a disaster long-term either. As Piscatella put it: "for the moment, it's fine. Good, even. But it's also the safe way to go. For better and worse."Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Apple is clearly really proud of Severance season 2, as the company continues its high-profile promos for the Apple TV+ show.After setting up a transparent Severance cube at Grand Central Terminal in New York City, complete with Lumon employees working at their desks, the company has now added some fun panels to its hompage The company kicked things off with a holiday preview of the first eight minutes of the new season, before the pop-up feature in New York, which included visits by actors from the show playing themselves.Staged in New York Citys Grand Central Terminal, several employees with Lumon desks and computers can be seen working inside a glass cube branded with Severances January 17 return date and the Apple TV+ logo. Director Ben Stiller also put in an appearance.The fun continues today with a promotional panel on the homepage of apple.com, playing second place only to the iPhone 16.There are at least two variants, the first showing one of the Lumon terminals used for macrodata refinement (speaking of which, theres an interesting theory about this on Reddit). This is made to look like an Apple product shot.The second shows a room filling with balloons bearing the face of team leader Mark Scout, a reference to a scene in which the character is seen carrying the balloons along a corridor.Let us know in the comments if you spot any more rotations.Reviewers have been impressed with the show, as this example from Mashable indicates:Somehow, Severance manages to top itself in its second outing, expanding further on its unique sci-fi premise and always, always keeping us on our toes. Expect the unexpected this seasonHow to watch Severance season twoImages: AppleAdd 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

Jan 17, 2025The Hacker NewsThreat Detection / Zero TrustRecent data breaches have highlighted the critical need to improve guest Wi-Fi infrastructure security in modern business environments. Organizations face increasing pressure to protect their networks while providing convenient access to visitors, contractors, temporary staff, and employees with BYOD. Implementing secure guest Wi-Fi infrastructure has become essential for authenticating access, protecting data, maintaining compliance across all geographies, and ensuring business continuity.Evolved security solutions now combine zero-trust architecture with cloud-based captive portals to enhance network protection. These systems enable organizations to implement strict access controls, verify every device's security status, and maintain network separation. Through advanced features like conditional access and device registration, businesses can now offer secure guest Wi-Fi access while maintaining complete visibility and control over their network resources.Challenges in Wi-Fi Security TodayDistributed organizations implementing guest Wi-Fi networks face increasingly sophisticated security challenges. The complexity of implementing and managing secure guest Wi-Fi access while maintaining network integrity has become a critical concern for both IT administrators and Security practitioners.Common security vulnerabilitiesModern guest Wi-Fi networks face several significant security threats:Lack of Network Micro-Segmentation: Networks for unmanaged/unsecured devices often share the same infrastructure as networks for managed/corporate devices without proper isolation. This increases the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive systems or data.Weak Encryption: Most of Guest Wi-Fi Networks use "Open" authentication which may introduce a source of attack during spoofing. It's recommended to use WPA3 and OWE encryption to enforce the security for clients during association.Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks: Attackers can exploit unsecured Guest Wi-Fi to intercept communications, steal credentials, or inject malicious data.Inadequate Authentication: Some networks use too simple shared passwords or no authentication at all, making it extremely easy for attackers to connect and launch attacks.Rogue Access Points (APs): Attackers can set up rogue APs mimicking legitimate Guest Wi-Fi to lure users and steal sensitive information.If not properly secured, the Wi-Fi guest networks pose significant security risks. Weak access controls allow unauthorized users to exploit the network, leading to data interception and man-in-the-middle attacks. A critical issue is the lack of network segmentation; without proper isolation, attackers on the guest network may access internal systems, risking data breaches.Insufficient authentication and weak password practices further heighten vulnerabilities, enabling unauthorized access. To mitigate these risks, organizations should implement VLANs, strict authentication, and active monitoring. A well-segmented guest network helps maintain security while offering convenient access to visitors.Why is BYOD the most critical category to monitor?BYOD introduces a mix of unmanaged and potentially insecure devices into the network. These devices often lack corporate-level security controls and might already be compromised with malware, creating a direct entry point for attackers once connected to the network. If the attacker has access to the network through a BYOD, sensitive corporate data accessed via BYOD devices may increase the likelihood of unintentional or malicious data leakage.Here is a summary of the potential actions that can be implemented to mitigate such issues :Proper Network SegmentationAsset inventoryEncryptionAuthentication Mechanism (like Captive Portal)Profiled Security PoliciesMonitoring and Threat DetectionZero Trust ApproachPotential consequences for businessesSecurity breaches in guest Wi-Fi networks can have devastating impacts on organizations. Recent studies indicate that 40% of businesses have experienced information compromise through public Wi-Fi networks. The financial implications are significant, with some companies reporting ransomware payments exceeding $1 million to recover their data.Beyond immediate financial losses, businesses face:Damage to brand reputation and customer trustDisruption of normal business operationsPotential loss of intellectual propertyCompromise of internal network resourcesLegal and compliance considerationsOrganizations must navigate complex regulatory requirements when implementing guest Wi-Fi management systems. The legal framework includes multiple layers of compliance, they need to warrant the security level for their network while ensuring the confidentiality of the users' data, and they need to cooperate with the authorities when required while complying with limited data retention period obligation. It is even more difficult for international organizations because they need to monitor and stay updated on any regulations' changes in various countries and jurisdictions, operating at international levels creates diverse and even contradictory obligations, for example, the data retention policies are different among countries, in France, it is required to retain data logs for 1 year, but it is 6 years in Italy, while the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) requires users' data to be deleted after the purposes have been achieved. Some key regulations need to be taken into consideration: Therefore, businesses must implement proper documentation, monitoring systems, and security controls to maintain compliance with these regulations. Regular security audits and network infrastructure updates are essential to maintaining legal compliance while providing secure guest access.Leveraging Cloud Captive Portals for Enhanced SecurityCloud-based captive portal solutions have emerged as a cornerstone of modern network security infrastructure. These sophisticated systems provide organizations with centralized control over guest access while maintaining robust security protocols.How Cloud Captive Portals WorkCloud-captive portals function as gateway systems that authenticate users before granting network access. The system intercepts initial connection attempts and redirects users to a secure login page. Organizations can implement various authentication methods, including:Social login integrationSponsorDeclarative EmailSMS AuthenticationThese solutions operate without additional hardware requirements, making them infrastructure-agnostic and instantly deployable across global locations.Integration with Zero Trust frameworksModern Cloud Captive Portals should align seamlessly with Zero Trust security principles by implementing continuous verification and limited access protocols. The integration enables:Device Profiling & AuthenticationIntegrity Access Control Policy EnforcementAutomationTraffic Monitoring & ComplianceRequired security features to deploy a cloud captive portals solutionModern captive portal solutions shall incorporate multiple layers of security protection. Innovative solutions now integrate with leading security solutions, enabling administrators to implement granular access controls and URL filtering.Cloudi-Fi platform supports comprehensive compliance requirements through regional data center deployment, ensuring adherence to local privacy regulations. Automated encryption of personal data and transparent collection processes provide users and administrators complete control over information handling.Advanced features include integration with cloud-based security platforms, enabling:Cloud firewall implementationContent filtering capabilitiesBandwidth ControlAutomated device onboardingThese capabilities offer a robust security framework that protects both the organization's network and user data while maintaining seamless access for authorized users.Benefits of a Zero Trust Captive Portal SolutionThe implementation of Zero Trust Architecture represents a paradigm shift in securing guest Wi-Fi networks, moving away from traditional perimeter-based security to a more comprehensive verification model. This approach fundamentally changes how organizations manage and secure guest network access.Zero Trust Cloud Captive Portal solutions provide a scalable, centralized access control layer across multiple sites or large office campuses. By leveraging cloud-based infrastructure, they allow seamless deployment without needing extensive on-prem hardware, ensuring consistent policy enforcement and secure, device-specific access. The cloud-based platform dynamically scales to handle high volumes of traffic and multiple entry points, while continuously monitoring user behaviors. This architecture not only simplifies management but also enhances security, as threats are isolated, and access is tightly controlled based on identity, device, and risk assessment, all through a unified, cloud-driven approach.Adapting Zero Trust principles for guest accessOrganizations must carefully adapt Zero Trust principles to maintain security while ensuring a seamless guest experience. The implementation requires a balanced approach that considers security requirements and user convenience. Key adaptation strategies include:Role-based permissions for the access controlSponsoring, social login with MFA, mail address, for user authenticationSegmentation for network isolationTime-limited access tokens for session managementBenefits of traditional security modelsZero Trust Architecture offers significant advantages compared to conventional security approaches. The model eliminates the inherent vulnerabilities of traditional perimeter-based security by implementing continuous verification and granular access controls.The transformation from traditional to zero-trust security brings multiple operational improvements:Enhanced Security PostureElimination of lateral movement threatsReal-time threat detection and responseComprehensive audit trailsOperational EfficiencyAutomated device onboardingCentralized policy managementSimplified compliance reportingThe architecture's ability to maintain strict security controls while supporting dynamic access requirements makes it particularly effective for guest Wi-Fi environments. By implementing least-privilege access principles, organizations can ensure that guests receive only the necessary network resources while maintaining complete visibility and control over all network activities.Integrating Zero Trust principles with cloud-based management platforms enables distributed organizations to effortlessly scale their guest Wi-Fi security efficiently. This combination offers network and security administrators powerful tools for monitoring network usage, enforcing security policies, and responding to potential threats in real time.ConclusionThe transformation of guest Wi-Fi security through cloud-captive portals and Zero Trust Architecture marks a significant advancement in corporate network protection. Modern organizations require robust security solutions that extend beyond traditional perimeter defenses. The combination of continuous verification, granular access controls, and advanced monitoring capabilities creates a comprehensive security framework that addresses current and emerging threats while maintaining operational efficiency.Business leaders must recognize the critical role of secure guest Wi-Fi in maintaining regulatory compliance and protecting sensitive data. Organizations ready to strengthen their network security should consider implementing a Zero Trust Captive Portal solution - Cloudi-Fi offers extensive resources and guidance for this essential security upgrade. This strategic approach positions businesses to meet future security challenges while providing secure, seamless guest access that supports operational goals and protects valuable digital assets.Note: This article is expertly written and contributed by RJ Singh, Chief Revenue Officer at Cloudi-Fi, with extensive experience in sales leadership and business development, and Simon Mesnage, Senior Network Engineer with 8 years of expertise in Wi-Fi infrastructure design and troubleshooting.Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

In the world of programming, technical chops have always been the golden ticket. But over the years, some of the best programmers Ive hired and worked with didnt come from computer science backgrounds. They came from the humanities -- music, philosophy, literature. These liberal arts grads brought a fresh perspective to programming, one thats not always easy to find.And as generative AI changes the game, this edge will only become more valuable. With AI handling the ABCs of programming -- the line-by-line code writing -- whats left is the harder stuff: understanding problems deeply, communicating with stakeholders, and designing solutions that make sense in the real world.Programming Isnt Just About CodeProgramming has never been purely about logic. Sure, you need what used to be called left-brain skill -- the ability to translate technical specs into precise code. But a programmers real value comes when they push beyond that: recognizing patterns, solving complex problems, and seeing connections that others miss.I first noticed this long ago. A talented colleague used to entertain a roomful of fellow IT workers by playing and singing Eric Clapton tunes. He was also a gifted coder, capable of recognizing patterns, and solving problems in a different way.Related:Programming is a creative process, not unlike music. The notes matter, but so does knowing when to riff, how to structure, and how to build something thats more than the sum of its parts. Its no coincidence that the best developer I ever worked with, period, was a music major.Liberal arts majors dont come to work burdened with technical rigidity. Theyve spent their time dissecting ideas, making connections between concepts, and thinking critically. Theyve honed their writing and storytelling. Those skills are incredibly valuable, especially now.GenAI Is Changing the JobGenAI is fundamentally changing what it means to be a programmer. Tools like GitHub Copilot and Googles Gemini can write code, debug simple issues, and automate many of the tasks that used to take up time. But AI doesnt know how to ask the right questions, interpret user needs, or mold its output into something that makes sense in a broader context. Thats still a human job.The role of the programmer is evolving, possibly splitting into two paths. There will always be a place for the hardcore programmer with a computer science background, someone to make systems talk to one another. For others, call them citizen programmers, the work is no longer just about writing code line by line; its about knowing how to work with AI, guiding it, and knowing when and where human input is most needed.Related:This is where that liberal arts mindset comes in -- being able to understand the nuances, think critically about user experience, explain things simplistically, and piece together ideas in new ways.Preparing for the AI FutureSo, what should businesses do with this insight? First, its time to rethink talent and look for people who can adapt, think on their feet, and see the big picture. This outreach could start at the university level where IT recruiters begin visiting leading liberal arts and music colleges in addition to the traditional technical schools on their lists.We also need to recognize that the most valuable skills dont always show up on a resume. How do you measure the ability to see a new solution that nobody else considered? Or the capacity to understand what a user is really asking for, even if they cant quite articulate it? These are the skills that will matter most, even if they dont fit neatly into a job description.And once these new minds are hired, theres a need to change how we approach development within our teams. AI isnt going to stop evolving, and neither can we. For the next few years, people will focus on learning how to use these new tools. But beyond that, itll be about figuring out how to create with them. And thats going to require people who arent afraid to question how things have always been done.Related:All this change isnt mere theory; its happening right now. Instead of looking for people who tick all the technical boxes, Im looking for those who bring a creative mindset to the table. Hiring cannot be merely about pulling in more STEM graduates. It must be about building an environment where people with different backgrounds can work together to solve problems.The future of tech work will be shaped by those who can use AI to amplify their creativity, their empathy, and their ability to solve tough problems. In my experience, thats often the person with a background in the humanities.

Last week, when Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta would be ending third-party fact-checking, it was a shocking pivot, but not exactly surprising. Its just the latest example of a billionaire flip-flop affecting our social lives on the internet. After January 6th, Zuckerberg bragged to Congress about Facebooks industry-leading fact-checking program and banned President Trump from the platform. But just two years later, he welcomed Trump back. And last year Zuckerberg was privately reassuring conservative rep Jim Jordan that Meta will no longer demote questionable content while its being fact-checked. Now, not only is Meta ending fact-checking completely, it is loosening rules around hate speech, allowing horrendous personal attacks on migrants or trans people, for example, on its platforms. And Zuckerberg isnt the only social media CEO careening all over the road: Elon Musk, since buying Twitter in 2022 and touting free speech as the bedrock of a functioning democracy, has suspended journalists, restored tens of thousands of banned users (including White Nationalists), brought back political advertising, and weakened verification and harassment policies. Unfortunately, these capricious billionaires can do whatever they want because of an ownership model that privileges singular, centralized control in exchange for shareholder returns. And this has led to a constantly shifting, opaque digital environment in which people can lose their communication pathways and livelihoods in a second, with no recourse as the rules shift. The internet doesnt need to be like this. But as luck would have it, a new way is emerging just in time. If youve heard of Bluesky, youve probably heard of it as a clone of Twitter where liberals can take refuge. But under the hood its structured fundamentally differently in a way that could point us to a healthier internet for everyone, regardless of politics or identity. Just like email, Bluesky sits on top of an open protocol. In practice, that means that anyone can build on it. Just like you wouldnt need anyones permission to start a newsletter company built on email, people are starting to share remixed versions of their social media feed, built on Bluesky. This sounds like a small thing, but think about all the harms done by social media companies through their algorithms in the last decade: insurrection, radicalization, self-harm, bullying. Similarly, Bluesky enables users to share blocklists and labels, to collaborate on verification and moderation. Letting people shape their own experience of social media is nothing short of revolutionary. And importantly, if you decide that you dont agree with Blueskys design and moderation decisions, you can build something else on the same infrastructure and use that instead. This is fundamentally different from the dominant, centralized social media that has come before. At the core of Blueskys philosophy is the idea that instead of being centralized in the hands of one person or institution, social media governance should obey the principle of subsidiarity. Nobel Prize-winning economist Elinor Ostrom found, through studying grassroots solutions to local environmental problems around the world, that some problems are best solved locally, while others are best solved at a higher level. In terms of content moderation, posts related to CSAM or terrorism are best handled by professionals keeping millions or billions safe. But a lot of decisions about speech can be solved in each community, or even user by user by assembling a Bluesky blocklist. So all the right elements are currently in place at Bluesky to usher in this new architecture for social media: independent ownership, newfound popularity, a stark contrast with other dominant platforms, and right-minded leadership. But challenges remain, and we cant count on Bluesky doing this right without support. Critics have pointed out that Bluesky has yet to turn a profit and is currently running on venture capital, the same corporate structure that brought us Facebook, Twitter, and other social media companies. As of now, theres no option to exit Bluesky and take your data and network with you, because there are no other servers that run the AT Protocol. Bluesky CEO Jay Graber deserves credit for her stewardship so far, and for attempting to avoid the dangers of advertising incentives. But the process of capitalism degrading tech products is so predictable that Cory Doctorow coined a now-popular term for it: enshittification. Thats why we need to act now to secure the foundation of this digital future and make it enshittification-proof.Free Our Feeds. There are three parts: First, Free Our Feeds wants to create a nonprofit foundation to govern and protect the AT Protocol, outside of Bluesky the company. We also need to build redundant servers so anyone can leave with their data or build anything they wantregardless of policies set by Bluesky. Finally, we need to spur the development of a whole ecosystem built on this tech with seed money and expertise. Its worth noting that this is not a hostile takeover: Bluesky and Graber recognize the importance of this effort and have signaled their approval. But the point is, this effort cant rely on them. To free us from fickle billionaires, some of the power has to reside outside Bluesky Inc. If we get this right, so much is possible. Not too long ago, the internet was full of builders and people working together: the open web. Email. Podcasts. Wikipedia is one of the best examples a collaborative project to create one of the webs best free, public resources. And the reason we still have it today is the infrastructure built up around it: the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation protects the project and insulates it from the pressures of capitalism. Whens the last time we collectively built anything as good? We can shift the balance of power and reclaim our social lives from these companies and their billionaires. This an opportunity to bring much more independence, innovation, and local control to our online conversations. We can finally build the Wikipedia of social media, or whatever we want. But we need to act, because the future of the internet cant depend on whether one of the richest men on earth wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. Eli Pariser is author of The Filter Bubble and co-director of New_ Public, a nonprofit R&D lab thats working to reimagine social media. Deepti Doshi is a co-director of New_ Public and was a director at Meta.

The competition, now in its sixth edition, features two prizes. The William Sutton Prize for Sustainability focuses on promoting the restoration and preservation of our natural world while the William Sutton Prize for Connected Communities aims to enhance community ties, promote inclusion, and strengthen the social fabric of Clarion neighbourhoods.The 125,000 overall prize pot will be split across the winners of each category. In addition to funding, the winners will also receive a tailored package of business support and the chance to collaborate with Clarion and their partners and sector-leading experts to turn their boldest and brightest ideas into reality.The initiative is open to English organisations and all UK individuals aged over 18. It is named after Clarion Housing Groups founder, a Victorian entrepreneur who bequeathed his fortune to providing public housing.AdvertisementClarions chief executive Clare Miller said: Through The William Sutton Prizewe are proud to collaborate with those who are pioneering new innovations and cutting-edge thinking. Kickstarting our 125th year anniversary celebrations, this years prize is our most ambitious to date and we are delighted to be able to increase the value of the funding thanks to the support of our partners.Were focusing our efforts on tackling two major societal issues preserving and restoring nature, and the need for truly connected communities and I cant wait to see what innovative ideas are put forward.Bell Phillips Architects won the 2023 prize alongside Building with Nature, an organisation that provides planners and developers with guidance on delivering high-quality green infrastructure. Bell Phillips Architects winning concept (pictured) imagined a pathway to net zero through the development of a new vernacular architecture for all buildings below 11m, using natural building materials.Tim Bell, director of Bell Phillips Architects, said:Winning The William Sutton Prize has enabled Bell Phillips to expand our focus on reducing embodied carbon in all the buildings we design.The Prize has provided us with dedicated research and development time for our in-house carbon calculation tool and to implement the findings of that into live projects across a range of building types it truly has been invaluable.AdvertisementMole Architects the 2022 prize with a zero-carbon community homebuilding system. Previous winners included AJ 40 under 40 star and emerging practice Surman Weston whose Hackney School of Food created a seed-to-spoon food education hub for primary school children within an old building and area of disused land.Clarion Housing Group formed nine years ago following a merger of Circle Housing Group and Affinity Sutton, which was founded after Suttons death in 1900. The housing association is today the largest in the UK, managing 125,000 homes across 170 local authorities.Sutton was born in the City of London in 1833 and created Sutton Carriers, the countrys first door-to-door parcel service. He bequeathed his entire fortune to a range of charitable projects including providing much-needed public housing across the capital.Judges for the latest edition of the prize will include Peter Murray OBE, co-founder of New London Architecture, Tara Gbolade, co-founding director of Gbolade Design Studio, Matt Harvey-Agyemang, co-founder of The POoR Collective, and Greg Fitzgerald, chief executive of Vistry Group.Murray said: It is an honour and privilege to be asked to judge The William Sutton Prize in Clarions 125th anniversary year. We need the best brains with the most ambition to match the transformative impact of Clarions founder, and Im really looking forward to receiving the submissions and meeting the people behind them.Competition detailsProject title William Sutton Prize 2025Client Clarion Housing GroupContract value125,000First round deadline Midday, 8 April 2025Restrictions Applications can be accepted from both not-for-profit and commercial organisations.These may be registered charities, community interest companies, social enterprises, community groups or registered companies, amongst others. Organisations must be registered to work in England and must be able to specify how their idea will make a positive contribution to helping the affordable housing sector and its communities achieve net zero by 2050. Successful projects should take place in EnglandMore information www.clarionhg.com/william-sutton-prize

"Duolingo at this point is really all in on AI," Klinton Bicknell, Duolingo's head of AI, told me in an interview this month.The company said it's been invested in AI features since its launch in 2012, but advances in generative AI have propelled its latest efforts. Those advances helped create the features Explain My Answer and Roleplay, and the AI-powered feature Video Call, which launched on iOS in September.Video Call is a GPT-4 powered feature that lets you video call with one of Duolingo's characters named Lily. You and Lily then have a conversation in the language you're learning. Duolingo said Thursday the feature is now available on Android devices, and it can be used to converse in more languages, like German, Italian and Portuguese, on all devices and Japanese and Korean on iOS.The company also said that Lily is now more expressive in these calls, you can also access call transcripts to help you look back at your call and Lily will call you by surprise as opposed to you always calling her. But like Explain My Answer and Roleplay, Video Call is available only on Duolingo Max, which costs $30 a month or $168 a year. DuolingoArtificial intelligence has made a lot of news in the last few years as it has seeped into more products, to varying degrees of success. While many people aren't interested in AI features in products like smartphones, the AI in mobile apps global market is expected to be worth $250 billion by 2033, according to the market and research group Market. And similar to other companies likeAdobe, Duolingo is doubling down on the technology.Video Call is focused on conversing in whatever language you're learning while other lessons on Duolingo revolve around reading and comprehension in your desired language. While reading and listening comprehension are beneficial to learning a second language, a study published in Psychological Science suggests that producing a language (writing or speaking it) may be a more effective way to learn than just practicing comprehension."Producing language is an incredibly strong learning experience (when the production involves generating the language yourself and you are provided with feedback)," the study's authors wrote.Bicknell said Duolingo experimented with a feature where you would converse with another person in the language you were learning, but the company didn't pursue that feature."When you're having a conversation [in another language] with humans, most adults feel kind of embarrassed," Bicknell said. "If you're talking to an AI, they're not judging you so you can be free to just try things." DuolingoI used the feature a few times and I still felt silly at first despite knowing I was talking with an AI. Lily has a robotic sounding voice similar to Siri or Alexa, so talking with her felt impersonal. We also talked about my language learning experience the first few calls, which felt awkward.After the first couple calls, Lily started asking me about books I'm reading and pets. I also asked Lily questions like you would in any conversation, like if she has any pets. Lily said she has an old dog named Harold who she said sleeps most of the day.Our conversations weren't too long -- about a minute in length -- and they weren't too complicated. It was a lot of Lily asking me questions about myself and me responding and asking her a few questions. Lily would then say something like, "I have to go," and we'd say goodbye and the calls ended.With each call, it felt easier to talk to Lily, and I felt more comfortable with the conversations. The calls also helped break out of the rote memorization of some lessons, and forced me to really think about what to say next and how to say it. This feature makes me wonder if Duolingo will ever revisit the idea of calls with another person for advanced learners in the future. For now, Video Calls with Lily feels like a helpful tool in learning a new language. DuolingoAnd some leaders at Duolingo said Video Call is the kind of teaching tool the company has dreamed of."It provides the kind of learning opportunity that was previously only available to those who can afford to travel or hire a tutor," Luis von Ahn, co-founder and CEO of Duolingo, said in a news release.While Video Call might help you in your language learning journey, some people might still be cautious about using the tool because of privacy concerns over AI. More than a third of people told CNET in a survey that privacy was a key concern for them when it comes to AI.Duolingo said it's not taking and using people's sensitive information and using it to train its AI model, but it is using people's data to tailor lessons and Video Calls to each person's needs."We're really just using people's data to figure out what works, what doesn't work," Bicknell said. "Trying to figure out when people might have a call that doesn't go as well as we would like it to, what led to that and then using that to try to fix it to make it even better for future versions."The company did say the app will ask a random set of people for permission to keep audio recordings of their Video Calls. Bicknell said there are additional restrictions on who can access these recordings.Duolingo also said there are protections in place to protect people from inappropriate content. DuolingoThe company said each Video Call has a goal, and each person can get to the goal any number of ways. However, if a person goes too far astray, Lily, the cartoon avatar, will try to steer the conversation back. If the person keeps trying to take the conversation to inappropriate places, Lily will end the call.Some AI can also hallucinate and give wrong information sometimes, but Duolingo said it isn't concerned with hallucinations in Video Call."This feature is not about giving you information," Bicknell said. "It's just Lily having a conversation with you."Unfortunately, if you do run into an issue with Video Call, Duolingo said, there isn't a way to report an issue within the feature. Other Duolingo AI features, like Explain My Answer, do have ways to report issues so this feels like an odd exclusion.Despite this, Duolingo said the overall reaction to Video Call has been positive, and the company hopes the feature will encourage people to continue learning. The goal is to "simulate natural dialogue and give people this personalized, interactive practice environment," Bicknell said. "People have said things like, 'This is what Duolingo was missing.'"For more on Duolingo, here's how well the free version of the app prepared me for a trip to Italy and our review of the language learning app. You can also check out our best language learning apps. Watch this: The Coolest Mobile Gadgets We Saw at CES 02:29

January 17, 20255 min readThese Prime Numbers Are So Memorable That People Hunt for ThemMath enthusiasts challenge one another to find special prime numbers, including those that are palindromes and Smarandache numbersBy Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas klee123/Getty ImagesOne of my favorite anecdotes about prime numbers concerns Alexander Grothendieck, who was among the most brilliant mathematicians of the 20th century. According to one account, he was once asked to name a prime number during a conversation. These numbers, which are only divisible by 1 and themselves, form the atoms of number theory, so to speak, and have fascinated humankind for thousands of years.Grothendieck is said to have replied: 57. Although it is hard to determine the truth of this story, 57 has since been known in nerd circles as the Grothendieck prime numbereven though it is divisible by 3 and therefore not a prime number.A similar conversation that mathematician Neil Sloane overheard during a meal between two of his colleagues, Armand Borel and the late Freeman Dyson, had a more exciting outcome. Borel asked Dyson to name a prime number and, unlike Grothendieck, Dyson provided a number that is only divisible by 1 and itself: 231 1. But that reply did not satisfy Borel. He wanted Dyson to recite all of the digits of a large prime number. Dyson fell silent, so after a moment, Sloane jumped in and said, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.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.The number 12,345,678,910,987,654,321 is indeed prime. It consists of 20 digits and is really easy to remember: count to 10 and then count backward again until you get to 1. But it has been unclear whether other primes take the palindromic form of starting at 1, ascending to the number n and then descending again. Sloane calls them memorable primesand they can be presented as 123 ... (n 1)n(n 1) ... 321. For n = 10, you get the number mentioned by Sloane. But are there other ns for which the result is a prime number? Dyson, Borel and Sloane must have had a lively conversation about all this.Sloane was particularly interested. He created a database of number sequences in 1964 that eventually formed the backbone of the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS), which was launched in 1996. On the OEIS website, experts compile all kinds of facts about number sequences and discuss them. Sloane himself was happy to take part in the discussions and repeatedly initiated research questions, and this online activity eventually led to the hunt for memorable and similar prime numbers.Is There an Infinite Number of Memorable Primes?In 2015 Indian engineer Shyam Sunder Gupta, who has been fascinated by prime numbers since childhood, discovered that the number 123 ... (n 1)n(n 1) ... 321 for n = 2,446 is a prime number. He did not publish this in a mathematical journal but announced the result through a mailing list used in number theory for discoveries of this kind. The resulting prime number has 17,350 digits.Since prime numbers are very useful in secure communication, such easy-to-remember large prime numbers can be of great advantage in cryptography, Gupta says. Thats why Im enthusiastic about this type of prime number.Whether there are other memorable primes is not yet known. Mathematicians have checked all cases up to n = 60,000; apart from 10 and 2,446, no others have been found. But experts suspect that more exist, even if they cannot prove it.Some argue that there should be an infinite number of primes of this type. Such heuristic arguments assume that prime numbers are randomly distributed across the number line and determine how likely it is that a certain type of number (in this case the palindrome 123 ... 321) is prime. Although these considerations are not incontrovertible proof, they at least provide an incentive for further research. Gupta, for one, is convinced that there should be an infinite number of such palindromes, even if they are rare.Other Types of Memorable PrimesOn September 29, 2015, about two months after Gupta shared his result, Sloane posted a call to the number theory mailing list to challenge others to find another variety of memorable prime in which numbers simply ascend until they hit a final digit n: 123 ... (n 2)(n 1)n. To be prime, such a number cannot end with an even digit or a 5, which excludes 60 percent of all n from the outset. Yet even in this case, heuristic arguments suggest an infinite number of such prime numbers exist.In response to Sloanes call, some prime number enthusiasts fired up their computers and began to systematically search for a Smarandache prime number, as these particular primes are called. After none appeared even for five-digit values of n, Sloane turned to the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search team. This is a collaborative project in which volunteers make their computing power available to search for prime numbers. A group from the Mersenne prime search team liked Sloanes idea, and the search for Smarandache primes was launched under the name Great Smarandache PRPrime search. But after no prime number appeared through n = 106, the project was abandoned.At first glance, the lack of results seemed surprising. The number 1,234,567,891 is a prime numberbut 12,345,678,910, an even number, is not. If we take into account the restrictions that exista prime number cannot be divisible by 2, 3, 4, and so onwe can estimate that no prime number should appear among all numbers of the form 123 ... n from n = 1 to n = 106. At least, that is what a calculation by computer scientist Ernst Mayer suggests. According to this, the expected number of Smarandache primes up to n = 106 is around 0.6. So I would like to encourage the world to keep going and find this missing prime, Sloane said in a Numberphile YouTube video.Even though there has been little progress on this front, Sloane has encouraged people to stay curious. In 2015, for example, he urged one of his colleaguescomputational biologist Serge Batalovto seek a reverse Smarandache prime number. He noted that writing out numbers in descending order (for example 4321) had revealed two such primes to date: 82818079 ... 321 and 3776537764 ... 321.Can you get one more term? This might be childs play for you! he wrote.Batalovs response: Challenge accepted!These reverse Smarandache primes all inevitably end in 1, meaning far fewer candidates are eliminated from the outset. Yet to date, Batalov, who has contributed many insights into similar prime number problems, has not found any novel examples of this memorable variety.Gupta has also contributed to the search but to no avail. In 2023 software developer Tyler Busby stated that for the third prime number in the sequence, n must be greater than 84,300 for n(n 1) ... 321.How and whether the hunt will continue is still unclear. It is mostly amateur mathematicians who take partnot professional number theorists. Thats because prime numbers of this type do not provide any immediate new mathematical insights.Nevertheless, Sloane is not giving up. Now age 85, he continues to spread his enthusiasm for mathematics and numbers and to motivate people to have fun with it, too. He certainly does not need to convince Gupta: Im still looking for all kinds of large prime numbers that are easy to remember, Gupta says. And every now and then he finds one.This article originally appeared in Spektrum der Wissenschaft and was reproduced with permission.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth verified for Steam Deck handheldQueen's Blood on the go!Image credit: Square Enix / Eurogamer News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Jan. 17, 2025 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has been Steam Deck verified ahead of its PC release next week.It means the epic RPG will be playable handheld after all, as rumours swirl of it also heading to Nintendo's newly-revealed Switch 2 console - something Square Enix itself has not acknowledged.The PC release brings new bells and whistles to the game's visuals, though presumably these won't be available on the comparatively underpowered Steam Deck.Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Custom Chocobo Steam DeckWatch on YouTubeStill, a proper verified version of the game on Steam Deck is great to see. It means Queen's Blood on the go!The PC release boasts improved lighting, enhanced textures and modelling, DLSS, VRR and more, following an update for the game on PS5 Pro.Square Enix has already released the recommended tech specs for the game, though you'll need a strong setup for the Ultra settings to get the most out of those improvements.At the least, it's great to see Square Enix fully embracing the PC market with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, not just for those on PCs but on Steam Deck too.The PC release of Final Fantasy 7 Remake was notoriously disappointing thanks to performance issues. And while Final Fantasy 16 released on PC last year, it's a highly demanding game.To celebrate the Steam Deck verification, Square Enix has created a fluffy chocobo themed handheld too (see video above). For now it's just a sneak peak, though the company has teased it may be available for fans.To see this content please enable targeting cookies."Rebirth is a playful take on an emo classic that's bloated but full of character in a bid to justify its own existence," I wrote in our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth review for the PS5 release last year."There are some divisive changes to debate, but for me the good outweighs any issues as deep down Rebirth does enhance the tone and mood of the original game. For all its cosmological and world-ending drama, it offers warmth and tenderness, its world bustling with detail and culture and extravagance, yet still full of pain."