Genshin Impact publisher Cognosphere (which is also called Hoyoverse) is settling a United States Federal Trade Commission lawsuit over selling loot boxes to players under the age of 16. Itll pay a $20 million fine for allegedly violating U.S. childrens privacy laws and deciev[ing] children and other users about the real costs of in-game translations and odds of obtaining rare prizes. The company will also stop selling loot boxes to people under the age of 16 without parental consent. The complaint covers not only the act of selling loot boxes to people under the age of 16, but also alleges that Hoyoverse has mishandled childrens data and personal information.Genshin Impact deceived children, teens, and other players into spending hundreds of dollars on prizes they stood little chance of winning, FTC consumer protection director Samuel Levine said in a news release. Companies that deploy these dark-pattern tactics will be held accountable if they deceive players, particularly kids and teens, about the true costs of in-game transactions.The settlement is awaiting approval from a judge before it goes into effect. Beyond the $20 million fine, heres whats changing for the company, per the FTC news release:Prohibited from allowing children under 16 to purchase loot boxes in their video games without a parents affirmative express consent;Prohibited from selling loot boxes using virtual currency without providing an option for consumers to purchase them directly with real money;Prohibited from misrepresenting loot box odds, prices and features;Required to disclose loot box odds and exchange rates for multi-tiered virtual currency;Required to delete any personal information previously collected from children under 13 unless they obtain parental consent to retain such data; andRequired to comply with COPPA including its notice and consent requirements.Animation-style games and shows are well-received by global audiences and players across various ages, a Genshin Impact spokesperson said in a statement to Polygon. Genshin Impact is a popular free-to-play, anime-style game designed for older teens and adults. While we believe many of the FTCs allegations are inaccurate, we agreed to this settlement because we value the trust of our community and share a commitment to transparency for our players. Under the agreement, we will introduce new age-gate and parental consent protections for children and young teens and increase our in-game disclosures around virtual currency and rewards for players in the U.S. in the coming months.A Bloomberg report ahead of the released findings suggested players who paid for loot boxes may be reimbursed as part of the settlement, but an FTC representative clarified to Polygon that the $20 million civil penalty will go to the U.S. Treasury, as is law.Genshin Impact is a free-to-play video game that uses a gacha monetization system that encourages players to convert real-life currency into in-game currency thats used to buy wishes to randomly unlock characters and weapons. The system means that people can end up spending a lot of money to pull rare characters or items something akin to gambling. The system, the FTC said, includes multiple in-game currencies that obscure the amount of money spent to open its loot boxes.The FTC alleged that Hoyoverse spends millions of dollars to promote its gacha system to its players, many of which are children. It brought up an instance in 2021 when Hoyoverse paid Alia Shelesh, better known online as SSSniperWolf, more than $100,000 to make two videos about Genshin Impact, and directed her to open loot boxes via the Event Banner for a character called Zhongli.In May 2021, the SSSniperwolf promotional video was released, the FTC wrote in the complaint. It featured a segment in which the influencer opened twelve loot boxes in a row, conveying enthusiasm and excitement as she had been instructed, and won the featured 5-star hero. She remarked, We are getting way too lucky tonight. I thought we were going to be here all night, but the RNG [random number generator] bussin, indicating her unexpected luck that Genshin Impact had purportedly dispensed the rare prize to her by random chance.The FTC alleged the video was edited to depict a fake loot box prize win, in a way that would have been impossible in the Genshin Impact game. (The proof provided by the FTC is that Genshin Impact only allows players to open 10 loot boxes in a row, but SSSniperwolf opened 12 uninterrupted. The video also used the wrong animation when opening 5-star prizes, according to the FTC.) Update: This story has been updated to include a statement from Hoyoverse and clarify details about the settlement fine.

As someone who is inundated with emails and messages throughout the day, one of the Apple Intelligence features I was most cautiously optimistic about was Notification Summaries. The feature aims to make sorting through the pings on your Lock Screen a neater, faster experience, by grouping multiple notifications from the same app together and quickly summarizing the lot. Unfortunately, it seems the feature isnt quite ready yet, seeing as the BBC complained to Apple that Notification Summaries made up false headlines for its news stories. Now, with iOS 18.3 beta 3, Apple is rolling back how involved the feature is, and is making it easier to opt out of entirely. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt No AI summaries for news appsPerhaps its a response to reporting like the BBCs, or perhaps its a coincidence, but the biggest change to Notification Summaries in the latest iOS 18.3 beta is that theyre being paused for news and entertainment apps. If you try to enable notification summaries for a news app, iOS will tell you the setting is temporarily unavailable, although you can still turn it on to start receiving summaries when theyre re-enabled.Given that Notification Summaries had previously sent users what looked like an official BBC alert that United Healthcare shooting suspect Luigi Mangione had shot himself when the paper only mentioned an angry outburst, thats probably for the best. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt More direct warnings about hallucinationsThe Notification Summaries settings page also now blatantly tells users that Summaries may contain errors, where it had previously only said summary accuracy may vary based on content. Both are technically true, although the formers a bit more direct.To that end, when youre setting up Notification Summaries for the first time, Apple will also now tell you, This beta feature will occasionally make mistakes that could misrepresent the meaning of the original content. Yes, even the version of Notification Summaries present in the current public iOS build is considered a beta. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt AI-written notifications will look differentThis really should have been there at launch. In order to indicate when a notification is an AI-written summary rather than an original, Notification Summaries will now be written in italics. Previously, the only real indication when a notification was a summary was a small icon to the left of the summary showing that multiple notifications were being summarized and grouped together. Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt You can disable any apps Notification Summaries from the notification bannerPreviously, the only way to disable Notification Summaries once you had set it up was to dive into the Settings app, where you could either disable the feature altogether or on an app-by-app basis. In the beta, you can now instead turn off Notification Summaries by swiping down from the top of your Home Screen and looking at your notification banners, but only on a per-app basis.To do this, swipe left on any apps notification banner, tap Options, then select Turn off [app name] Summaries. You can also rate a summarys accuracy from this menu, by giving it either a thumbs up or thumbs down.On the off chance that you do want to try Notification Summaries but didnt enable them when first setting up Apple Intelligence, you can do so under Settings > Notifications > Summarize Notifications.How to Install iOS 18.3 beta 3While the updated Notification Summaries feature will make its way to all compatible iPhones with iOS 18.3s final release, you can try it out right now. To install the current iOS 18.3 beta, first ensure you have a compatible phone, then double-check that youve enrolled your iPhone into Apples beta program at beta.apple.com. From here, simply open your iPhone and navigate to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates. If youre also enrolled in the developer beta program (you dont need to be in this instance), youll be able to choose between iOS 18 Developer Beta or iOS 18 Public Beta here, but either will work if you only see one. Make your selection, then tap Back and download iOS 18.3 Beta 3 when it pops up on your screen.Note that beta releases tend to be buggier than final builds, so download this update to your main device at your own risk.

On Thursday, The New York Times published a lengthy story about the rise in power of Stephen Miller, a longtime loyalist of Donald Trump known for his hardline views on immigration. Normally, a story like that wouldnt get much attention in the tech press. But the piece opened with an anecdote about Mark Zuckerberg that immediately raised eyebrows.The story detailed a recent meeting Miller had with Zuckerberg when the Meta CEO traveled to Mar-a-Lago last year. According to The Times, Zuckerberg who would soon renounce Metas prior fact checking efforts and ditch corporate diversity programs blamed his former chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, for an inclusivity initiative at Facebook that encouraged employees self-expression in the workplace.That line set off a fresh round of speculation (and some outrage) in tech circles. Sandberg, who left Meta in 2022 and rose to fame after authoring her women in the workplace manifesto Lean In, was known for her once close partnership with Zuckerberg at the top of Facebook. That Zuckerberg would blame his former top lieutenant for fostering inclusivity at his company, raised eyebrows even among longtime observers of the company.She always knew who Mark Zuckerberg and covered for him, New York Times reporter Sheera Frankel, who co-wrote a book about Facebooks dominance, observed on Bluesky. The question is whether she will continue to do so when he so blatantly throws her under the (Trump) bus. Journalist and longtime tech pundit Kara Swisher likewise noted that folks I talked to tonight from the Mark/Sheryl Facebook era are shocked but not surprised by his blaming her.I also weighed in on my Threads account, sharing a link to a Business Insider story from February that quoted an interview in which Zuckerberg said that Sandberg had raised him like a parent. I joked that the comment hadnt aged well.But on Friday, Zuckerberg decided to let me (and I guess everyone else) know that he and Sandberg are still cool, after all. Sheryl did amazing work at Meta and will forever be a legend in the industry, he wrote in a reply to my post. She built one of the greatest businesses of all time and taught me much of what I know.ThreadsA few minutes later, Sandberg jumped in to helpfully let me know there are no hard feelings on her side, either. Thank you, @zuck. I will always be grateful for the many years we spent building a great business together - and for your friendship that got me through some of the hardest times of my life and continues to this day.Zuckerberg responded with a single heart emoji.I asked Zuckerberg if he felt Sandberg was too focused on DEI initiatives at Meta, or whether she took away from the masculine energy he recently told Joe Rogan corporations should embody. Notably, he has not denied The Times reporting about his comments regarding Sandberg, though he claimed they are being misconstrued."I answered a question about where the phrase 'bring your whole self to work' came from, and now there's a whole bogus narrative saying I blamed Sheryl for a bunch of stuff that I never did and never will," he said. (Bringing your "whole self" to work is a slogan popularized by Sandberg in Lean In. Similar language often appeared on Meta's careers site when the company highlighted diversity among its employees. "Being your authentic self is the foundation of who we are as a company," Meta wrote on a since-deleted page of its corporate website where it shared its internal diversity reports.)So, I guess that settles it. Nothing to see here, folks. Mark and Sheryl are definitely still friends. They may not work at the same company anymore, but they are still able to come together to head off a potential PR crisis. What could be more inspiring than that?Update, January 17, 2025, 4PM PT: This post was updated to reflect an additional comment from Zuckerberg.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/mark-zuckerberg-and-sheryl-sandberg-want-you-to-know-theyre-still-friends-and-definitely-not-mad-at-each-other-222145203.html?src=rss

A Pew Survey finds ChatGPT use by students doubled in a year.

TikTok said its services will go dark Sunday unless the Biden administration gives a definitive statement providing assurances for the app's service providers.

Its been a decade since OK Go released its last album, and three years since its last music video, itself crowdsourced as the world sheltered in place. Whereas the band redefined the music video as pugilistic performance art in the 2010s, the 2020s have been void of their Rube Goldberg machines and zero gravity antics. Treadmills everywhere breathed a sigh of relief.But now, OK Go has returned with its most ambitious project since 2017: the drop of a new single and video, A Stone Only Rolls Downhill. In a complete return to form, frontman Damian Kulash (alongside Chris Buongiorno) directed visuals across a mosaic of 64 phones, each of which play their own video.This whimsical riff on modern digital life required more than a thousand takes, and the choreography of hours of individual videos to make them dance as one. Whereas the premise of OK Go videos are always fun, the energy is defined by a constant acceleration of premise. And what they created is not just a multi-pane video, but the equivalent of a fractal, ever-expanding layer after layer of visual complexity.OK Gos next tour starts in April, with their next album promised for later this year.

Japanese architect Hiroshi Hara, who designed Osaka's Umeda Sky Buiding and the Kyoto Station building, has passed away aged 88.Hara died on 3 January. He was a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, where he taught renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and Pritzker Prize-winning Riken Yamamoto.Top: Hiroshi Hara designed several notable buildings in Japan, including the Yamato International Building. Photo by Yosei Shoshi via Wikimedia Commons. Above: Hara also designed the Umeda Sky Building. Photo by Dmitry Romanoff via UnsplashThe Kawasaki-born architect designed a number of large-scale projects in Japan, including the 173-metre-tall Umeda Sky Building in Osaka.Completed in 1993, the skyscraper contains two towers that are connected on the upper levels by a two-storey observatory, which is punctured with a giant hole.Architect Hiroshi Hara, who designed Kyoto Station Building and Umeda Sky Building, died at 88 on Friday, leaving a remarkable legacy with his distinctive building designs.https://t.co/B8B6sOWxAB The Japan News (@The_Japan_News) January 5, 2025Hara passed away aged 88 on 3 JanuaryThe Times named the Umeda Sky Building one of the top 20 buildings in the world in 2008 for its distinctive shape and views over the surrounding city, alongside architectural greats such as the Colosseum in Rome, the Parthenon in Greece and the Sydney Opera House.In 1997, Hara completed the 15-storey Kyoto Station building, which became Japan's second-largest station.The glass-and-steel building contains a hotel, a shopping mall, a cinema and platforms for multiple rail lines, including Shinkansen services to Tokyo.Read: Japan's biennale pavilion celebrates radical 1970s architectureHara's other notable projects in his native country include the Sapporo Dome stadium in Hokkaido, the Tasaki Museum of Art in Nagano Prefecture and the Yamato International Building in Tokyo.In 2004, he completed his first Casa Experimental home in Uruguay, which he would go on to design iterations of in Argentina and Bolivia in 2005 and 2010, respectively.Hara completed the Kyoto Station building in 1997Hara gained three degrees from the University of Tokyo a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1959, a master's in 1961, and a PhD in 1964.He went on to become an associate professor at the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Architecture in 1964 before moving to the university's Institute of Industrial Science, where he became a professor in 1982.The post Japanese architect Hiroshi Hara dies aged 88 appeared first on Dezeen.

Street Fighter, often hailed as the father of modern fighting games and esports, once ruled neon-lit arcades where lines of eager challengers vied for bragging rights. For me, growing up in the 80s meant falling under its spell at age 13, back when quarters vanished fast as I honed my reflexes and memorized combos. Iconic Arcade, with backing from Medion AGa Lenovo company recognized for its strengths in gaming and computingis inviting fans to relive those glory days by launching the Street Fighter XXL Arcade Machine at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.Designer: Iconic ArcadeThis 9/10 scale stand-up cabinet captures the vibe of a classic arcade unit without dominating your rec room. Pre-orders are live at major retailers for $699, and deliveries are slated to begin in Q2 2025. Two distinct variants, the Street Fighter II The World Warrior XXL Arcade Machine and the Street Fighter Alpha 2 XXL Arcade Machine, honor the 90s arcade craze with updated features for an era that thrives on online connectivity. The release also features a collaboration of several entities, including Eldohm, Media1UP, and Arcade PR, all working closely to blend classic gaming with modern technology.Iconic Arcade focuses on authenticity and performance, which is why the Street Fighter XXL Arcade Machine is powered by a Raspberry Pi 5 sporting a 2.4 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 processor. The cabinet stands about five feet seven inches tall, weighs around 90 pounds, and measures 67 by 23 by 28. The 19-inch BOE monitor delivers vivid colors and crisp animations across 14 official Capcom titles, including Street Fighter II The World Warrior, Street Fighter II Champion Edition, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting, Hyper Street Fighter II The Anniversary Edition, Street Fighter Zero, Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha, Street Fighter Zero 3, Street Fighter III 3rd Strike Fight for the Future, Giga Wing 2, Final Fight, Knights of the Round, Progear Storm of Progia, and 1944 The Loop Master. Real arcade-feel controls use Happ-style joysticks and Sanwa-style buttons, so fireballs and spin kicks are intuitive whether youre a returning pro or a fresh recruit.Online multiplayer and leaderboards bring a dose of community rivalry, letting you face off against friends or take on complete strangers who appreciate Capcom classics. The cabinet is equipped with HDMI Out, making it simple to record matches or stream them live for an audience, which is perfect for content creators and esports enthusiasts. A lit marquee and glowing faux coin door provide the nostalgia factor, and an adjustable volume control and headphone jack cater to nights when you want to keep the noise down. Assembly is straightforward, and you can set it up in the afternoon.Design ElementsThe two distinct designsthe Street Fighter II: The World Warrior and Street Fighter Alpha 2 cabinetseach bring their own flair, rooted in nostalgia while making bold visual statements. The World Warrior edition sports a gritty black-and-yellow theme that perfectly encapsulates the hard-hitting vibe of the original arcade. Its side panel features Ryu in a dynamic fighting stance, with bold yellow text slashing across the cabinets side. This textured design reflects the rugged and competitive spirit of the era, with details like the Capcom USA logo adding a nod to its heritage.The Alpha 2 edition takes a different approach, opting for a sleek blue gradient backdrop with key characters from the Alpha series depicted in striking artwork. The gradient blends seamlessly with vibrant colors, offering a more modernized but equally nostalgic aesthetic. The side panels feature intricate art of Ryu and Akuma facing off, bringing the Alpha series storyline and rivalries to life. This cabinets smoother design cues cater to those who appreciate a refined touch, while still evoking arcade memories.Both cabinets share rad physical features, including a glowing faux coin door that recreates the feel of old-school arcades and an illuminated marquee that grabs attention in any room. The control decks are designed with a metallic diamond plate finish, giving a tactile and industrial feel thats reminiscent of classic arcade builds. These details totally amp up the look but also reinforce the durability and authenticity of the experience. Whether youre drawn to the grit of the World Warrior edition or the polish of the Alpha 2 cabinet, each design tells its own story while staying true to the spirit of Street Fighter.Medion AGs role as the driving force behind Iconic Arcade adds an extra layer of credibility for anyone familiar with its track record in consumer tech. The German manufacturer has been part of Lenovos global family since 2011, and its using that expertise to reimagine home arcade systems that balance iconic styling with modern-day performance. The brand also plans to unveil additional licenses and classic titles over the year, backed by partnerships with other leading publishers and franchises. When Q2 2025 rolls around, the cabinet should be ready to unleash old-school rivalries in living rooms everywhere, standing as a retro centerpiece that merges the electricity of 90s arcades with the advantages of contemporary technology.The post Street Fighter XXL Arcade Machine by Iconic Arcade: Power Up Your Game Room with 80s Arcade Glory first appeared on Yanko Design.

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Spain uses an algorithm to score how likely a domestic violence victim is to be abused again. A Times investigation last year identified flaws in the system.