• TikTok Returns in the U.S. After Trump Promises To Delay Ban
    gizmodo.com
    TikTok became available for users in the U.S again on Sunday after president-elect Donald Trump promised to sign an executive order that will delay a ban on the platform. TikToks app became unavailable for American users late Saturday in preparation for a law that took effect Jan. 19, the day before Trump will be inaugurated as president at noon E.T. In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service, the social media platform wrote Sunday on X. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive. TikTok praised Trump in a warning posted Saturday night that users saw when they tried to open the app. And the social media app said in a statement Sunday that restoration of its service was a positive development for free speech. Its a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States, the ByteDance-owned company wrote. President-elect Trump, a billionaire authoritarian whos promised to target his political enemies, announced Sunday morning that he will be issuing an executive order that will ensure TikTok can operate in the U.S. while a deal is reached to figure out something long term.Im asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the laws prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order, Trump wrote Sunday morning on his social media platform Truth Social. Bizarrely, Trump signaled that his primary concern about having TikTok available on Monday was that he wanted people to be able to see him become president again. Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations, Trump continued.But the strangest element of Trumps announcement involved his apparent plans for how to structure a deal that would allow the app to continue operations in the U.S. The president-elect signaled the federal government might be taking some kind of ownership stake in the social media company, though details on how that might work werent provided. I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up. Without U.S. approval, there is no Tik Tok [sic]. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollarsmaybe trillions, Trump wrote.The billionaire was clearly hinting at how lucrative this deal might be as a sign that he should both be praised and perhaps should see some kind of benefit for himself. Therefore, my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50% ownership in a joint venture set up between the U.S. and whichever purchase we so choose.Trumps relationship with everyone has long been known to be transactional, but its not entirely clear yet whether the incoming president will personally profit from the TikTok deal, as he has in so many other areas of life. Republican senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas wasnt necessarily happy with the way that things are going with TikTok, releasing a statement praising companies like Apple and Google for removing the app from their stores while saying theres no legal way for any timeline to be extended. We commend Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft for following the law and halting operations with ByteDance and TikTok, and we encourage other companies to do the same. The law, after all, risks ruinous bankruptcy for any company who violates it. Now that the law has taken effect, theres no legal basis for any kind of extension of its effective date, Cotton said in a statement published online.But Cottons discontent may not amount to much now that Trump is taking office again, as laws are only real if theyre enforced. And the executive branch, which houses the U.S. Department of Justice, would be in charge of enforcing the TikTok ban or divest law. For TikTok to come back online in the future, ByteDance must agree to a sale that satisfies the laws qualified-divestiture requirements by severing all ties between TikTok and Communist China, Cotton continued. Only then will Americans be protected from the grave threat posed to their privacy and security by a communist-controlled TikTok.
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  • Cultivating Green Apartments: A Guide to Integrating Nature in Small Urban Spaces
    www.archdaily.com
    Cultivating Green Apartments: A Guide to Integrating Nature in Small Urban SpacesSave this picture!Madreselva Building / Vicca Verde. Image Per ThomasUrban living has become synonymous with limited space and creativity for compact apartments. As cities become more dominated by concrete and steel, there is an exciting, yet unsurprising, rise in interest in embracing the green thumb, even within the constraints of a dense urban environment. This interest is not purely to tend aesthetic tastes, as studies consistently show that exposure to nature reduces stress, improves focus, and enhances overall well-being. However, in dense urban environments, the challenge lies in finding innovative ways to make this vision a reality for apartments where every inch matters.Architects, interior designers, and residents are rising to this challenge by reimagining how vegetation can be integrated into the smallest of urban residences. From vertical gardens to balcony terraces, greenery continues to mold how we experience city living. Shared spaces in these contexts, such as rooftop gardens or interior courtyards, can elevate an individual's health and foster a sense of community with neighbors. These creative solutions demonstrate that greenery is not just a decorative element, but can play an essential component in a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.In addition to the mental and physical health benefits, bringing vegetation into urban apartments addresses pressing environmental concerns. Rising temperatures and air pollution in cities make plants more vital than ever, offering natural cooling, filtering the air, and a haven for biodiversity. Through biophilic design principles, which increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment, urban spaces are evolving through direct and indirect relationships to greenery. By rethinking how we live with greenery, we can transform urban apartments into thriving, verdant spaces that connect us to nature in profound and lasting ways. Related Article Green Walls, Trellises, Flower Displays and Plant Pots: Integrating Vegetation Indoors Vertical Gardening: Maximizing Functionality in Compact SpacesSave this picture!Urban apartments often struggle with limited floor space, but one powerful way to bring nature indoors is to grow plants upwards. Vertical gardening maximizes wall space, without overcrowding valuable floor space. For those hesitant to commit to large-scale installations, wall-mounted shelves can house small pots, adding layers of greenery to any room. Be sure to choose lightweight materials for planters and mounting systems to ensure easy maintenance and safety, especially in rental apartments. Whether you opt for built-in plant walls, hanging planters, or wall-mounted shelves, vertical gardening adds personal vibrancy to interiors and maximizes the functionality of compact spaces.Consider creating modular systems that grow upwards, personalized with plants of various heights and textures. Self-watering systems or hydroponic solutions ensure easy maintenance, while climbing plants like ivy or jasmine can add layers of depth and a sense of natural enclosure. Alternatively, hanging planters or suspended macram baskets can host trailing plants like pothos or ivy. Another space-saving option is tall, slender plants such as snake plants or bamboo palms, which draw the eye upward while taking up minimal horizontal space. Vertical gardening not only brings greenery inside but serves as an effective way to provide natural air filtration and insulation.Window and Balcony Gardens: Designing Underutilized SpacesSave this picture!Windows and balconies are natural focal points for greenery in urban apartments. With ample light, these spaces can become thriving environments for many species of plants, in many regions around the world. To make these areas adaptable, choose modular or mobile setups that can be rearranged with changing seasons or light conditions. When it comes to maximizing small spaces, windowsills and balconies are often underutilized. However, with clever design and intentional care, even compact windowsills and balconies can become green centerpieces for the home.For windows, consider installing slimline shelves or hanging racks to hold an assortment of plants. Sun-loving species like succulents or cacti thrive here while trailing varieties like a string of pearls create an enchanting cascade effect. Windowsills can house small potted plants such as herbs or succulents, offering both aesthetic and practical benefits. Herbs like basil, rosemary, mint, or thyme can be grown within arm's reach for culinary use.Balconies, no matter their size, offer even more opportunities for creative gardening. Use stackable planters, vertical trellises, or railing-mounted pots to create lush, layered arrangements. Compact options like lavender, small ornamental grasses, or climbing jasmine work beautifully, providing color, texture, and even fragrance. For those with limited outdoor access, transform balcony corners into a mini-greenhouse with glass enclosures, allowing plants to thrive even in colder months.Interior Courtyards and Roof Gardens: Collective Care in CitiesSave this picture!Greenery should not be confined to individual apartments. Architects and designers can encourage community building by incorporating shared garden spaces into apartment complexes and residential blocks to be cultivated, maintained, and enjoyed collectively. For larger apartment buildings, interior courtyards, rooftop spaces, or open-air atriums provide opportunities to bring greenery to urban routines and act as a catalyst for communal activities.Interior courtyards and atriums, for example, offer a wonderful opportunity for communal greenery in dense urban centers. These shared spaces can house potted trees, climbing plants, or even small vegetable gardens, serving as a focal point for social interaction and relaxation. Rooftop terraces, another underutilized urban space, can double as lush communal gardens. Here, residents can cultivate herbs, flowers, or even small crops while enjoying expansive city views.Shared gardens also encourage collaboration among neighbors, turning greenery into a community-focused project. In designing these areas, consider incorporating natural elements like seating areas, water features, or even edible gardens that foster community engagement. These green spaces don't just enhance the aesthetics of a building as they contribute to the mental and physical well-being of its inhabitants. Thoughtfully designed courtyards can also help regulate the building's microclimate, reducing the heat island effect that's common in dense urban environments. By thinking beyond individual apartments, shared gardening solutions bring nature closer to everyone.Biophilic Design: Intentional Experiences with NatureSave this picture!Biophilic design is a growing trend in interior design, one that seeks to create a deeper connection to nature by incorporating elements like natural light, water, and organic materials into the built environment. However, this interest is not only concerned with the aesthetic approach. This approach extends beyond adding plants; it involves weaving nature into the very fabric of a space.To embrace biophilic principles, consider pairing greenery with natural materials like stone, wood, and linen for a harmonious, organic atmosphere. Plants should be strategically placed to serve functional purposes, such as reducing noise levels, dividing spaces, or improving indoor air quality. For example, peace lilies and spider plants are not only visually appealing but also excellent at filtering toxins from the air. Technology can also enhance the experience. Smart planters with automated irrigation systems and app-controlled light monitors make plant care effortless for busy residents and new green thumb enthusiasts.When designing the interior of urban apartments, introduce fractal patterns, flowing curves, and plant-inspired textures in the design to encourage a sensory connection with the natural world. These principles can be seamlessly integrated into compact spaces, where seemingly minute design choices, like selecting furniture or wall treatments, transform the space.Cultivating Urban Life: the Big PictureSave this picture!Designing with greenery in mind is more than a passing trend; it is a necessity for creating sustainable, livable urban environments. As cities grow taller and denser, the presence of plant life in residencies cannot be underestimated as an antidote to the stresses of modern living but as a transformative element that redefines how we experience space. Whether through vertical gardens, shared courtyards, or biophilic interiors, even the smallest design choices can yield profound benefits for individuals and communities alike.For architects, designers, and planners, integrating greenery into apartments is more than an aesthetic enhancement; it is a powerful tool for fostering health, sustainability, and social connection. The future of urban living is undeniably green. Through thoughtful and creative approaches, the smallest apartments can transform into thriving, vibrant spaces. In doing so, residents cultivate more than just plants; they reshape the urban fabric, providing refreshing and needed alternatives for a sustainable and livable future.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorOlivia PostonAuthorCite: Olivia Poston. "Cultivating Green Apartments: A Guide to Integrating Nature in Small Urban Spaces" 19 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025364/cultivating-green-apartments-a-guide-to-integrating-nature-in-small-urban-spaces&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream
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  • Could we ever regrow our adult teeth?
    www.popsci.com
    'The tooth, by itself, is one challengegetting it to become part of bone, integrating into your jaw, is another aspect of regeneration.'Credit: DepositPhotos ShareIf youre an adult human, odds are you already know a thing or two about tooth regeneration. Around age six, most of us begin to lose baby teeth in a process called eruption, exchanging our delicate, first set for more burly, permanent teeth. The phenomenon calls to mind the critters that continuously regrow their chompers for example, sandbar sharks, which sprout tens of thousands of serrated teeth over time; and rabbits, whose incisors grow continuously as theyre worn down by roughage. If fish, bunnies, and kiddos do it in their sleep, then why dont adults naturally expel their aging molars with shiny, new replacements? And on that note, just how close is science to making such a feat a reality? Please, I feel a toothache coming onOff the bat, why dont we do this already? To better understand what were up against in this toothy quest, Dr. Ophir Kleina professor of orofacial sciences and pediatrics at the University of California, San Franciscooffered Popular Science a brief history lesson.Long ago, before celebrity veneers, bleach kits, or even dental floss, animals diverged into invertebrates and vertebrates, explained Klein. At the time, hundreds of millions of years ago, the earliest vertebrates [were] sort of reptile-like creatures, and mammals came out of that, as did dinosaurs and birds and amphibians.[ Related: Why do humans have toenails? Because were evolutionary weirdos. ]As fate would have it, Klein explained, teeth became an integral part of the vertebrate mouth, but its not exactly clear where they originated, he addedwhether they started inside the mouth or whether they started as scales, like fish have, that migrated from outside to inside. Okay, gross! We know these early teeth were simple, and they mightve been somewhat like the teeth we see in fish today. If you open a salmons mouth, all the teeth are the same and theyre continuously replacing, explained Klein. Thats a stem-cell driven process.Teeth got more complicated with the emergence of mammals, and eventually, humans. Rather than having all the teeth within a species being the same, which is called homodont dentition, we have heterodont dentition, said Klein. With the development of roots, we have molars and premolars and canines and incisors, each with specific jobs to do. Although plenty of mammals evolved teeth and tusks that grow continuously, a defensive strategy against wear and tear, humans did not. When our adult teeth arrive, the hard, outer part (enamel) is permanent and we dont have the cells anymore to make that. In other words, somewhere in the evolutionary process, we lost some special progenitor cells necessary to continuously replace teeth.So, maybe our perma-teeth represent a sort of ancestral tradeoff, in which we exchanged replicability for complexity. In any case, just how close are experts to undermining (or augmenting) this evolutionary development?An intermediate step towards regrowing permanent human teeth could involve a mash-up of synthetic materials and stem cells. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Were pretty good at making artificial enamel, said Klein. We could, perhaps, use the stem cells that exist inside the tooth to regrow the living part of the tooth and then make a crownjust like we do now for a root canalto bioengineer a new tooth. Later on, Klein added, if we can learn how other animals are able to regrow their teeth from stem cells, we could actually really grow a full, new tooth in vitro. This isnt something Klein thinks well see in the next five years, but he said he would not be shocked if it happened during the next couple of decades, just because things are moving so fast.It might sound like sci-fi on first blush, but theres a whole lot to chew on here.The tooth, by itself, is one challengegetting it to become part of bone, integrating into your jaw, is another aspect of regeneration, explained Dr. Salvador Nares, a professor in the periodontics department at the University of Illinois, Chicagos College of Dentistry. Nares spoke to Popular Science on a call along with Dr. Afsar Naqvi, an associate professor in the same department.Ultimately, the vision would be to seed, if you will, some sort of capsule or something within the gum tissue, and then let it grow out into a tooth, said Nares. However, there are challenges with that, because you have to have a certain morphology [thats] accurate and complete. The tooth must be durable and the right shape, plus it has to stay in place and work well with the rest of the body. On top of all that, it has to stop growing, because if it keeps growing, then thats called cancer, said Nares. As for where things stand today, the professor pointed to research on stem cells in erupted baby teeth, which certain laboratories have been able to utilize to actually manufacture parts of teeth.[ Related: Why do we have earlobes? They make no evolutionary sense. ]Fields such as scaffolds (structures in which we can seed cells), and bio-printing, have likewise progressed, as have gene-editing techniques a la CRISPR.Naqvi explained, Gene editing could be one very promising avenue of avoiding the rejection of the organoids, using patients own cell types, guiding them into the desired cell type, and using it for the purpose of repair and regeneration.Theres also research towards an antibody drug that might, theoretically, spur human tooth growth some day. However, Naqviwho was not involved in the researchraised concerns about the possible treatment, which would target a gene (USAG-1) that is not specific to the dental tissues.This gene is expressed in different tissues, including kidneys, where it is expressed at a very high level. Naqvi added, What if, beyond tooth [growth], it affects our bone growth in a positive, negative, or whatever manner? It has to be controlled.Popular Science emailed lead author Dr. Katsu Takahashi and Kyoto University Hospital for comment on their USAG-1 research, but neither responded.Anyhow, given the scope of inquiry into tooth regeneration, surely something will work someday, right? Twice-annual cleanings be damned?If you were to ask this question five, ten years ago, youd probably get a different answer in terms of how far we are in the whole process, said Nares. But with AI being able to rapidly make calculations and see patterns and things that we dont see, we would envision that this is going to accelerate discovery and bring this notion of growing teeth or growing other tissues to bear. Still, Nares cautioned that he doesnt expect to see it all realized in the next decade; I think were still quite a ways off, he said, citing safety concerns, trials, regulatory rules, and generally a lot of work to be done.[ Related: What does oil pulling do to your teeth? We asked dentists. ]In the meantime, Nares spoke of the adult teeth we do have with reverence. The natural dentition that we were born with is one-of-a-kind, he explained.To function through adulthood, permanent teeth need ongoing care, including brushing, flossing, and cleanings. Plus, dental health isnt limited to teeth and gums; the state of your mouth is an indicator of overall health. Researchers have linked gum disease to Alzheimers, diabetes, and other conditions.I would caution readers not to give up on their oral hygiene, Nares said. All the microbes that cause cavities and more so gum disease, which loosen teeth and [cause them to fall] out, disseminate into other parts of the body and can really create effects away from the mouth.He added, So, definitely keep the mouth clean.This story is part of Popular SciencesAsk Us Anything series, where we answer your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the ordinary to the off-the-wall. Have something youve always wanted to know?Ask us.
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  • The road to CAR-T-cell therapy for lethal childhood brain tumours
    www.nature.com
    Nature, Published online: 15 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04156-wA phase I clinical trial of GD2-CAR T cells (immune cells engineered to target the molecule GD2) in children and young adults with diffuse midline gliomas incurable cancers of the central nervous system shows promising results. Several trial participants exhibited substantial improvements, and one childs tumour has been undetectable for more than three years.
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  • Rare 'Corinthian' helmet from ancient Greece is up for auction, and stunningly preserved
    www.livescience.com
    A helmet up for auction in London is a well-preserved example of the "Corinthian" helmets used by many hoplite warriors.
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  • x.com
    Watch Mengya Zhang test her cool OpenCL-powered Skin Slide deformer HDA on a panda character.Get it for free: https://80.lv/articles/free-houdini-tool-skin-slide-deformer/#houdini #opencl #simulation
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  • One Piece: This Small Moment Makes Sanjis Backstory Even Sadder
    gamerant.com
    One Piece's backstories have always been incredibly sad. Whether dealing with the death of a close childhood friend or coping with the loss of an entire island of people, each character in One Piece is hiding massive amounts of depth that are just waiting to be explored. Characters like Robin or Law, have been completely changed by their tragic childhoods, making them into the complex characters they are today.
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  • Cannot debug shader in Render Doc OpenGL
    gamedev.net
    When trying to debug glsl shader in render doc , debug button disabled
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  • Netflix revived and killed the interactive movie but its platform is still a game
    www.polygon.com
    Game designer Sam Barlow deserves a lot of credit for driving the redemption of FMVs. The full-motion video game format was pioneered in the early 90s as a cutting-edge visual technique in an age when computer graphics were more simplistic.But long before that, filmmakers were experimenting with ways to make films more interactive, in theaters and on home DVDs. The efforts met with uneven success until Black Mirror: Bandersnatch became a hit, simultaneously justifying the interactive format and killing all future attempts at it.As part of the launch of our documentary The Great Game: The Making of Spycraft, we asked FMV aficionado (and prolific podcaster and former Polygon writer) Justin McElroy to sit down with Barlow and talk about the appeal of this strange genre, and the ways its changed through the history of entertainment. You can find the whole conversation in the video above. The Great Game: The Making of Spycraft was recently nominated by the New York Videogame Critics Circle for a New York Game Award for Best Games Journalism. You can learn more about the New York Game Awards and our fellow nominees here.Sam Barlow: There were a couple of movies in theaters in the 90s where you got the big plastic buttons. And they were just terrible.Justin McElroy: Im Your Man is one that I know was on you could get it on DVD. It was an interactive DVD, one of those types of things where you could make the choices with your home remote.Barlow: Theres such a good talk, I think its online I think I want to say Brian Moriarty did it at NYU about interactive movies where hes like, Hey, people have been trying to do this thing for ages. And going back to the early fake interactive movies. William Castle, the great producer, did a movie called Mr. Sardonicus. And the gimmick of that movie because he loved his gimmicks was when you went into the theater, you were given a big maybe it was like a big hand, or some sort of big prop. At the end of the movie, the character turns to the audience, so were establishing that already, and says, Hey, what do you think? Should this big evil villain, Sardonicus, should he be punished or should we forgive him? You, the audience, will now decide. And everyone would have to raise or lower their thing to signal if they wanted to kill the guy. And one of the ushers would make a show of tallying the votes and then disappear. And then the movie would play out, and the ending you got would depend on the vote. Heres the thing: William Castle understood his audience. He knew the vote was always going to be to punish. So it was a linear movie. It was just a movie that waited three minutes, and went, The audience has decided to punish Mr. Sardonicus.McElroy: Well, just these past couple of weeks, Megalopolis was released with an interactive scene with an audience member whos supposed to come up and do a line in the film. Thats an interactive element.Barlow: I still need to watch that movie, but I will say the stuff Ive seen looks like a 90s interactive movie. Like some of the back projection, the CGI, and certainly the performances.McElroy: Its up to about eight CDs.Barlow: Jon Voight is the exact guy you wouldve cast in a 90s FMV at the time.McElroy: I think his disc had some scratches on it. Jon was having a rough time.Barlow: Youd be like, Could we get some Hollywood talent in our FMV game? And theyd be like, Well, Tom Cruise isnt returning our calls, but Jon Voight is down as long as we donate some money towards the Trump campaign or something.McElroy: Do you wish more people were sort of exploring this space, this interactive cinema area? Do you feel like there is a lot of room for iteration and growth, or do you think that it is going to remain a sort of subgenre or even sort of a branching media between two different types of media?Barlow: If I dont be cynical for a second, I get very excited about the possibilities. And I think when Her Story blew up, I got a lot of meetings with people in Hollywood and stuff, at a time when Netflix were sort of disrupting things and lots of people were like, Fuck, we need to figure out how we are going to do the digital thing. We need to figure out how were going to get gamers watching television again. Because they dont. Theyre too busy on their phones, right? And I was like, This is really cool, because I think there is so much interesting stuff that could be done on the Im going to say TV side versus the game side. And the tech is kind of there, and I think there could be a huge, interesting shift that would create really interesting things.Then in the how many years has it been now? nearly 10 years since, Ive just seen like, Oh no, the world of Hollywood is so risk-averse that I kept being told time and time again: We dont want to be number one. We want to be number two. Let somebody else break the ground, and then we can step in. So I would hear things like, Well, do you know what? When Steven Soderbergh brings out Mosaic, then the floodgates will open.Mosaic came out and didnt change things. I think you look at Bandersnatch and that came out [on Netflix] and I think that kind of killed a lot of these discussions because it was almost if you were trying to kill that movement dead, Bandersnatch was a great way of doing it, because it was very successful. The Hollywood mindset goes, OK, lets replicate that. Well, hang on a minute: It worked because it was Black Mirror, which was an IP that allowed you to have fun with technology, have that sort of humor to it and just that sort of self-awareness. The story was about 80s Choose Your Own Adventure games.McElroy: Right, the form and the content are sort of [baked in].Barlow: And youve seen Netflix struggle. They were like, Oh, were going to make tons of these now. Well actually everything done since doesnt have those affordances. So that structure of essentially the Choose Your Own Adventure TV show breaks down when you cant nod and wink at the camera, when it isnt self-referential, when its not about the literal thing that it is. And so I think it kind of killed things because all the other people in the industry went, Well, hey, Netflix did a really good job of that and it was really successful, but I just dont see how like, its a one and done. And I think that allowed people to retreat back.[Ed.s note: In December 2024, two months after this conversation, Netflix pulled all but four of its interactive programs. Bandersnatch is one of the remaining titles.]Whereas [] take Netflix, theyve to use a phrase I hate theyve gamified the experience of choosing what to watch, right? Ive stopped doing this now because I want to escape my digital hell. But there was a period where if I had a free evening and my family were out or something and I got to choose what was on TV, Id be like, OK, Daddys going to watch something cool on the television. And I would sit down, and 45 minutes later Im still paging through Netflix, looking at the stuff, seeing the algorithmic choices. So theyve done a really good job of making the browsing the shelf experience feel very interactive. Its personalized, right? I get different shows pushed to me. Not only do I get different shows, I get different thumbnails. The funny thing of like, you get the stuff right, where its like, the thumbnail says Godfather, and then its a picture of one of the female characters from The Godfather that doesnt even have a speaking line, because the algorithm has decided, Oh, you like things with women in them, we need to push that on you.And then the other one that delighted me was when there was a Netflix show, Love, Death & Robots. And a cool thing with an anthology show is you have to decide what order to put the episodes in. And this is a fascinating problem. If you think of a traditional linear setup, its like, you cant have the best episode first because youre going to then kind of fail to meet expectations. But you want a good episode.McElroy: [Laughs] Not too good!Barlow: The episode that will hook people, but still give us room to have the best episode. And Netflix being algorithmic and all this were like, Hey, we know how to solve for this problem. We can run A/B tests and we can try different algorithmic episode orders and see which works best. So they did this for Love, Death & Robots. There was a journalist for one of the tech sites who was gay. He watches Love, Death & Robots. First episode he gets is the quote-unquote gay episode, and his flatmate is also watching Love, Death & Robots, and the episode he gets is the quote-unquote extremely heterosexual episode, and the two of them are like, Wait, fuck, does Netflix know that Im gay? And then youre like, Yeah, it probably does. If Netflix is watching what Im watching, you could make assumptions. And then they were extremely creeped out. So this guy wrote this article of like, Holy hell, Big Brother is watching. Netflix knows that Im gay and is now targeting content based on my sexuality. This is kind of scary. To which Netflix had to immediately step in and be like, We werent, it was random. We were just randomly choosing episodes.McElroy: But also this is a really good idea, and we are going to write this down, if thats OK with everybody.Barlow: I was like, Theres something so cool Its almost like building to a kind of War of the Worlds moment of like, Hey, my video content, which historically has been static and safe and behind my TV screen, is somehow aware and alive.Well be running more excerpts from this conversation between Sam Barlow and Justin McElroy each weekend, for the next few weeks.
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