SummaryMetaballs latest update is here, bringing new modes, maps, outfits and other new additions.Experience the brand-new Story mode, or test your skills against other players in a new Ranked mode.Play Metaball for free now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.Hello, Xbox gamers! Get ready to tear up the court in the most intense hoverboard basketball experience out there. Metaball is free to download and play, and were starting the year off right with a huge update that will take the game to new heights from competitive Ranked matches to a challenging Story Mode, theres something for everyone. Lets dive into some of the highlights of this action-packed update, live today!Master Your Skills with the Enhanced AcademyWhether youre new to Metaball or a seasoned pro, the Metaball Academy has been redesigned to help you up your game. Introducing an improved lesson system now with step-by-step tutorials aimed at making players better. Perfect advanced dribbling techniques, perfect your aim, and perfect the swing mechanics only found in Metaball. With guided training paths, the Academy will have you dominating the court in no time.Dominate the Court in Story ModeMetaball players can now experience a challenging Story Mode, ideal for solo players. Become the rising star eager to prove ones skills in the hoverboard basketball scene; go against rival teams, complete special missions, and conquer every challenge. The Story Mode is your chance to show youre the best in town while enjoying a deeper connection to the world of Metaball.Rise Through the Ranks in Ranked ModeCompetitive players, rejoice! Ranked Mode brings in a ladder system that will let you rank through divisions, gain seasonal rewards, and access to a special shop, and show your skills to the world. This Ranked Mode is nothing like casual mode; it requires careful strategy and precise timing. To prepare for it: Warm Up in Casual Matches: Use Quick Match games to fine-tune your techniques and adapt to different playstyles. Study the Maps: Utilize all new courts, including new 1v1 and 2v2 arenas to strategize and plan out your moves. Use the Academy Training: Perfect deep mechanics in the Academy to give yourself a really high level of skill and a competitive edge.Put it all together in Ranked Mode the ultimate test!Exciting New MapsGet ready for the most intense competition on the stunning courts in our New Year Update, from high stakes 1v1 battles to strategic 2v2 showdowns. These arenas offer fresh and dynamic gameplay on each and every map.Unlock Exclusive Rewards with the New MetapassThe new seasons pass is here, and with it, a whole slew of exclusive items and cosmetics to make your Metaball experience even better. From sick hoverboards to legendary outfits, the Metapass has got something for every kind of player. Complete challenges to level up, and show off your rewards on the court. The grind has never felt this good!Dont Miss Out on a Free Limited-Time Legendary OutfitShow off your style with our free limited-time Legendary Outfit! Collect exclusive parts through daily missions from January 24th, 2025 February 28, 2025. Whether youre in Ranked Mode or Quick matches, show off in this very special reward before its gone forever.Join the Action TodayDownload Metaball for free from the Microsoft Store and get started. Whether youre gunning for glory in Ranked Mode, diving deep into Story Mode, or just showing off your style, theres never been a better time to play.Follow Metaball on X, YouTube, TikTok and Discord for the latest news, updates, and community events. Catch you on the court!MetaballBucketplay Inc.301Get it nowMetaball is a free-to-play, crossplay-enabled multiplayer sports game with fast-paced action.Play as a Rider, aiming for fame and wealth by winning Metaball League games with your teammates.Hop on your hoverboard, use the chain to swing the ball, and perform various movesdunk, shoot, block, and steal. Boost your speed and perform double or triple jumps using nitro.Customize your playstyle with Perk Points in different Perk Trees for an edge in matches.Compete in 2v2 and 3v3 Quick and Ranked Matches, or practice your skills in Academy, Champion Road, Free Play, and Custom Match modes.Earn MVP points after each match to unlock rewards, level up your Metapass, and collect your favorite items!

This year is set to be big for the iPhone, with a compelling new iPhone SE 4 in the spring and the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air in the fall. But what about Apples flagship Pro models? Here are seven new features coming to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max this September.24MP front-facing cameraThe iPhones cameras get better every year, but often Apples big improvements focus on the rear cameras.With the full iPhone 17 line, though, Apple will upgrade the front camera from a 12MP sensor to a brand new 24MP sensor, which should bring big improvements. Its about time for the selfie camera to get closer in quality to the iPhones rear camera.A19 Pro chipApple will once again upgrade its new iPhones with a new and improved A-series chip. This year that will be the A19 Pro chip.Apples very best silicon will be reserved exclusively for the 17 Pro and Pro Max. Though the new 17 Air model is expected to win over a lot of Pro users, it will feature the standard A19 chipjust like the base iPhone 17.12GB RAM, the most ever in an iPhoneThe advent of AI has made RAM in Apples devices increasingly important. iPhone 15 owners know this better than anyone, since RAM limitations made the device incompatible with Apple Intelligence.Apple plans to give its 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max models 12GB of RAMthe most ever in an iPhone.This is a nice 50% improvement from the 16 Pros 8GB of RAM, which is what the standard iPhone 17 and 17 Air will be limited to still.Apples in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chipApple has for years been working on developing two of its own modems: one for 5G, and one for Wi-Fi. Now, both projects are nearing the light of day.The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are expected to use Apples new combo Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, and possibly the rest of the lineup too.Only the 17 Air, however, will get Apples in-house 5G modem, with the Pro models sticking with Qualcomms more advanced modem for another year.Larger rectangular camera bumpLike Apple did with this years 16 Pro models, the company is ready to double down on its Pro line as being especially optimized for camera use.The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will reportedly boast a larger rectangular camera bump. Presumably this will enable some new benefit.It sounds like the top portion of the Pro models may feature a full-width aluminum design. The bottom half, however, will retain its standard glass back for wireless charging.Redesigned frame with aluminumThis is an especially curious one: the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are getting a redesigned frame, with aluminum replacing titanium.Apple just recently introduced titanium to the iPhones Pro models in 2023, so the shift to aluminum is interesting. Well have to wait to hear Apples reasoning for the transition.Improved cooling with vapor chamberFinally, the full lineup is expected to get improved cooling systems, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max exclusively boasting a vapor chamber plus graphite sheet.No doubt this move is a reflection of Apple Intelligences importance to the iPhones future. AI not only requires more powerful chips and extra RAM, but better cooling to maintain max performance too.iPhone 17 Pro features: wrap-upThis list of iPhone 17 Pro features reiterates my belief that this years purchase decision will be harder than ever.The ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air sounds very exciting. But there might just be too many sacrifices Pro users would have to make to switch over.Which iPhone 17 Pro features are you most excited about? Do you plan to buy the 17 Air or stick with the Pro? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Temperature sensors are an important yet often overlooked part of a HomeKit setup. Even working as a passive tracking device, I want to add them to every room to understand more about whats happening in the air. The aree Temperature Sensor is a great option for HomeKit fans with its compact size and detailed monitoring options. Lets have a look.HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apples smart home framework.Whats in the box?The arre Temperature Sensor keeps things simple with a compact design and a focus on doing what it claims to do. Inside the box, youll find:The actual arre sensorThe manual (you really wont need it)With Thread support, youll have reliable connectivity in a low-power state. In addition to temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure, it can monitor VOC air quality, providing a more detailed environmental picture. Size-wise, its really tiny and can fit almost anywhere. I have it on a bookshelf, and its barely noticeable. In fact, my wife hasnt noticed that I installed it. Here are the dimensions:Dimensions: 40mm x 40mm x 10.2mmWeight: 2.85 ozPower: 1 CR2032 batteryThe overall compact design makes it easy to place in any room, bookshelf, behind a TV, etc.Adding to HomeKitAdding the arre Temperature Sensor to HomeKit is super easy. Open the Home app, scan the Matter QR code on the device or in the manual, and follow the prompts to assign the sensor to a room. Thanks to Matter and Thread, pairing it with your HomeKit environment is fast and easy.Once added, youll have access to real-time readings for temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and VOC air quality. You can integrate these readings into HomeKit automations, such as turning on a HomeKit fan when the temperature rises or activating a HomeKit air purifier when VOC levels goes above a threshold that you arent comfortable with.Why I like the arre temperature sensorThe arre Temperature Sensor stands out for me with its ability to measure multiple things in something that can fit in the palm of your hand. Its ability to measure VOC air quality, temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure, provides a more comprehensive view of your environment. Having Matter support built-in ensures compatibility with any smart home platform (Amazon, Google, SmartThings, and HomeKit), so you can easily swap platforms in the future without needing to rebuy any gear.Designed for low-power operation with Thread technology, Ive found the arre Temperature Sensor to be extremely reliable, so its a great addition to your home. Ive not owned it long enough to know how long the battery lasts, but I suspect itll be many months if not years.Wrap up on arre Temperature SensorThe aree Temperature Sensor is a complete environmental sensor designed to elevate your HomeKit tracking for air and temperature. Its small size, strong feature set, and Matter compatibility make it great for maintaining comfort and improving air quality in your home.If youre looking for a versatile and reliable sensor to optimize your HomeKit automations and environmental monitoring, the arre Temperature Sensor is an awesome choice. You can buy it from Amazon or directly from arre. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Wokeness was apparently keeping AI down. Guardrails GonePresident Donald Trump's second administration is all-in on AI just not the woke kind.Amid his weeklong flurry of executive orders, the real estate mogul-turned-president suggested in his latest that wokeness is, essentially, keeping AI down."To maintain this leadership, we must develop AI systems that are free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas," the new AI order reads. "With the right Government policies, we can solidify our position as the global leader in AI and secure a brighter future for all Americans."Titled "Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence," this new order follows after Trump revoked the Biden Administration's 2023 AI safety order, which was intended to make sure these systems don't harm national security or humanity itself.Revoking that order as one of his first acts as president sent a clear signal that Trump is following along with the GOP's 2024 party platform that supported "AI development rooted in free speech and human flourishing," as opposed to the prior administration's insistence on countering "irresponsible use [that] could exacerbate societal harms such as fraud, discrimination, bias, and disinformation."Now we're getting a taste of what that looks like in practice: Trump's sweeping action against anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)that's already started a purge within the governmentwill be a key component of his AI policy, too.Go For WokeThis order's mentions of ideology in AI also seem like they could have been inspired by Trump advisor Elon Musk, whose own "anti-woke" chatbot was builtunder a similar directive.Anyone who's used Musk's "Grok" chatbot knows, of course, that it's failed spectacularly at its "anti-woke" aims so much so that it actually appeared to endorse Trump's rival in the election, Kamala Harris.Were things going well between the billionaire pair, it seems highly plausible that Musk would take credit for pushing his anti-woke AI agenda onto the president. Given that he just ticked off a bunch of his fellow flunkies for criticizing Trump's $500 billion AI investment deal, however, he's doing no such thing.Hilariously, Trump dismissed his advisor's trash-talking by noting that Musk "hates one of the people in the deal" a snide reference to Musk's antipathy toward OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who started that company with the South African-born businessman nine years ago before the two had a severe falling out.While there's no telling who or what is actually writing these rapidly-released executive orders, Trump's devil-may-care attitude about Musk's criticisms could be why he's chosen to include language that seems inspired by the advisor's own pet projects or maybe they just all hate "woke."More on Trump and AI: Trump Admin Accused of Using AI to Draft Executive OrdersShare This Article

The Metaverse is always greener.Do SvidaniyaIt turns out users aren't the only ones fleeing Meta.In the midst of a crucial AI-intellectual-property case, Meta's top corporate council Mark Lemley has announced he "fired Meta as a client" due to "Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook's descent into toxic masculinity and neo-Nazi madness."In an exclusive interview withWired, the well-renowned copyright lawyer unloaded on the company and the cultural moment it's leaning into."I am very troubled by the direction in which the country is going," Lemley said. "I am particularly troubled that a number of folks in the tech industry seem to be willing to go along with it, no matter how extreme it gets."Though he's never talked with Zuckerberg face-to-face, Lemley thinks both fellow executive Elon Musk and the Meta CEO "have been particularly egregious in their behavior."As Zuckerberg sheds his old liberal skin to embrace the new world order, critics have argued that he risks ostracizing Meta users in exchange for his newfound political favor.Litigating the FutureAnd as Zuckerberg and Meta lurch right, it's important to remember that their institutional power didn't spring up overnight.Split with the social giant notwithstanding, Langley goes on to explain that he still thinks that Meta is in the right in its most recent copyright dispute a debate over whether the $1.59 trillion Meta should be allowed to scrape copywritten material for AI training without consent."The strongest arguments are the ones where the output of a work ends up being substantially similar to a particular copyrighted input," the lawyer toldWired, referring to copyright disputes with Meta. "Turns out, it's hard to purge all references to Mickey Mouse from your AI dataset, for instance. If people want try to generate a Mickey Mouse image, it's often possible to do something that looks like Mickey Mouse."For him, the ethics of AI transparency are not up for debate, but are the domain of coolheaded copyright litigation which has so far been unable to stop Big Tech from getting everything it wants.But why does the human-created content used to train AI include Mickey Mouse in the first place? If it's hard to purge content once it's been used to train a model, wouldn't that merit stronger scrutinybefore, not after these for-profit models spit our art, music and writing back out at us?Given that most researchers and engineers don't know where AI training data comes from, it seems to behoove us to hold these increasingly powerful corporations accountable for the public data they scrape not despite their toxic turn, but precisely because of it.Share This Article

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10)Job DescriptionSenior Sales ConsultantDo you want to advance your career with the worlds first cloud company? Since 1998, Oracle NetSuite has been on a mission to deliver an agile, unified application suite that gives leaders a complete view into their business. Our team is growing, and were looking for people like you to help us make a global impact.As the leading cloud business system, NetSuite includes financials, inventory management, HR, professional services automation, commerce, and more. Tens of thousands of customers all over the world trust NetSuite to give their businesses the visibility, agility, and control needed to make data-informed decisions quickly. NetSuite is a place where you can build your career and have fun while doing so! Were invested in our people, our customers, and the community. As part of Oracle, our benefits are second to none. Joining our passionate team means that youre ready to take your career to the next level. With priceless learning opportunities, strong support, incredible innovation, and volunteer opportunities, NetSuite is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels empowered and set up for success.As part of the Sales Consulting Organization, the Senior Sales Consultant directly interacts with our prospective customers to analyze their requirements, configure and demonstrate a value-oriented solution, and enlighten the prospects on potential pathways to success. We are committed to being a trusted advisor to our prospects and are devoted to their success.Responsibilities:As a subject matter expert, the Senior Sales Consultant provides direction and specialist knowledge in applying the technology/application to client business. Facilitation of prospect product/application understanding through presentations, demonstrations, and setting a vision for how NetSuite will improve their daily operations and drive them towards their business objectives.As a Senior Sales Consultant you will be responsible for providing presales support to prospective clients while helping to ensuring their success with minimal supervision. Acts as a functional and technical resource for less experienced Sales Consultants. Perform needs gathering and requirement analysis for prospective customers. Develop and deliver high quality standard NetSuite presentations and demonstrations, articulating advanced product features and benefits, product future direction and overall NetSuite solutions to all levels including line of business managers, technical engineers, and "C" level executives. Design, validate, and present the NetSuite software solutions to include advanced product concepts, future direction, and 3rd party complimentary products. Provide input to other cross-functional departments pertaining to prospect requests and product enhancements as needed. Maintain opportunity updates within our internal sales force automation system to manage and prioritize sales opportunities.Skills:5 or more years of relevant industry experience in Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Distribution.Strong verbal and written communication skills: needs analysis, value positioning, business justification, closing techniques, presentation skills.Experience supporting the sales cycle in CRM, ERP, Commerce, Production and Supply Chain, Analytics, Connectors, and accounting applications for software organizations preferred.Previous application experience in one or more of the following desired: Oracle e-Business Suite, PeopleSoft, Sage Intacct, Epicor/Aptos, SAP, Quickbooks, AccPac, Best Software-MAS Series, Sales Logix, Siebel or Salesforce.com.Solid presentation and interpersonal skills.Proven track record of increasing deal size and accelerating the buying process.Successful quota achievement.Prior experience in sales, sales consulting, or software consulting is optimal.Demonstrated proficiency in multi-user operating system or ERPs.Demonstrated ability to solve complex business problems with accounts in complex technical environments.Ability to travel as needed ~ 20% - 40%.BS degree or equivalent; advanced degree desirable.QualificationsDisclaimer:Certain US customer or client-facing roles may be required to comply with applicable requirements, such as immunization and occupational health mandates.Range and benefit information provided in this posting are specific to the stated locations onlyUS: Hiring Range: from $30.29 to $76.49 per hour; from $63,000 to $159,100 per annum. May be eligible for equity. Eligible for commission with an estimated pay mix of 65/35 - 80/20.Oracle maintains broad salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions and locations, as well as reflect Oracles differing products, industries and lines of business.Candidates are typically placed into the range based on the preceding factors as well as internal peer equity.Oracle US offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes the following:1. Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including expert medical opinion2. Short term disability and long term disability3. Life insurance and AD&D4. Supplemental life insurance (Employee/Spouse/Child)5. Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts6. Pre-tax commuter and parking benefits7. 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan with company match8. Paid time off: Flexible Vacation is provided to all eligible employees assigned to a salaried (non-overtime eligible) position. Accrued Vacation is provided to all other employees eligible for vacation benefits. For employees working at least 35 hours per week, the vacation accrual rate is 13 days annually for the first three years of employment and 18 days annually for subsequent years of employment. Vacation accrual is prorated for employees working between 20 and 34 hours per week. Employees working fewer than 20 hours per week are not eligible for vacation.9. 11 paid holidays10. Paid sick leave: 72 hours of paid sick leave upon date of hire. Refreshes each calendar year. Unused balance will carry over each year up to a maximum cap of 112 hours.11. Paid parental leave12. Adoption assistance13. Employee Stock Purchase Plan14. Financial planning and group legal15. Voluntary benefits including auto, homeowner and pet insuranceThe role will generally accept applications for at least three calendar days from the posting date or as long as the job remains posted.

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AST (UTC -4), NST (UTC -3:30)Ready to be pushed beyond what you think youre capable of?At Coinbase, our mission is to increase economic freedom in the world. Its a massive, ambitious opportunity that demands the best of us, every day, as we build the emerging onchain platform and with it, the future global financial system.To achieve our mission, were seeking a very specific candidate. We want someone who is passionate about our mission and who believes in the power of crypto and blockchain technology to update the financial system. We want someone who is eager to leave their mark on the world, who relishes the pressure and privilege of working with high caliber colleagues, and who actively seeks feedback to keep leveling up. We want someone who will run towards, not away from, solving the companys hardest problems.Our work culture is intense and isnt for everyone. But if you want to build the future alongside others who excel in their disciplines and expect the same from you, theres no better place to be.Coinbase has built the world's leading compliant cryptocurrency platform serving over 30 million accounts in more than 100 countries. With multiple successful products, and our vocal advocacy for blockchain technology, we have played a major part in mainstream awareness and adoption of cryptocurrency. We are proud to offer an entire suite of products that are helping build the cryptoeconomy, and increase economic freedom around the world.There are a few things we look for across all hires we make at Coinbase, regardless of role or team. First, we assess whether a candidate demonstrates our values: Clear Communication, Positive Energy, Efficient Execution, and Continuous Learning. Second, we look for signals that a candidate will thrive in a culture like ours, where we default to trust, embrace feedback, disrupt ourselves, and expect sustained high performance because we play as a championship team. Finally, we seek people with the desire and capacity to build and share expertise in the frontier technologies of crypto and blockchain, in whatever way is most relevant to their role.Read more about our values and culture here.We are very focused on understanding and building products to fulfill the diverse set of financial services needs for our customer segments including Retail & Institutional and be the primary financial account leveraging Finance 2.0 principles and crypto technology. As part of that journey, a key area of focus is the payments platform which powers all of the payments at Coinbase.We are looking for goal-oriented, self motivated, Sr. Product Manager who thrives in a fast paced startup environment, comfortable with dealing with ambiguity, is able to think through complex challenges & align cross functional teams effectively to launch products. Previous experience in building customer facing products, payments knowledge is definitely a value add for this role. Someone who has a proven track record of building & launching payment product solutions, someone who understands the workings of cards & banks including ACH & networksWhat You'll Be Doing (i.e., Job Duties)In this role you will define & build new solutions & products to manage the existing platform expansion in terms of magnifying the fiat rails, APM's supported, building a robust fault tolerant platform & own ETE payment experiences.Work with you Design and Engineering counterparts to build & launch products.Help prioritize the roadmap for your charter.Build relationships with stakeholders and teams to help influence & drive successful outcomes.Leverage ability to challenge existing stats quo and push for new, effective & scalable platform solutionsWhat We Look For In You (ie. Job Requirements)Minimum of 5 + years of experience with expertise in Risk, Payments or e-CommerceBachelors degree, MS/MBA preferredAbility to focus on scalable platform and business outcomesAbility to build strategy, prioritize with deploy new innovative solutions with focusKeen analytical skill, awareness of the latest in payments & Fintech spaceValue add to the team with excellent interpersonal skillsPay Transparency Notice:Depending on your work location, the target annual salary for this position can range as detailed below. Full time offers from Coinbase also include target bonus + target equity + benefits (including medical, dental, vision and 401(k)).Pay Range:$207,485$244,100 USD

The AI community is abuzz over DeepSeek R1, a new open-source reasoning model. The model was developed by the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, which claims that R1 matches or even surpasses OpenAIs ChatGPT o1 on multiple key benchmarks but operates at a fraction of the cost. This could be a truly equalizing breakthrough that is great for researchers and developers with limited resources, especially those from the Global South, says Hancheng Cao, an assistant professor in information systems at Emory University. DeepSeeks success is even more remarkable given the constraints facing Chinese AI companies in the form of increasing US export controls on cutting-edge chips. But early evidence shows that these measures are not working as intended. Rather than weakening Chinas AI capabilities, the sanctions appear to be driving startups like DeepSeek to innovate in ways that prioritize efficiency, resource-pooling, and collaboration. To create R1, DeepSeek had to rework its training process to reduce the strain on its GPUs, a variety released by Nvidia for the Chinese market that have their performance capped at half the speed of its top products, according to Zihan Wang, a former DeepSeek employee and current PhD student in computer science at Northwestern University. DeepSeek R1 has been praised by researchers for its ability to tackle complex reasoning tasks, particularly in mathematics and coding. The model employs a chain of thought approach similar to that used by ChatGPT o1, which lets it solve problems by processing queries step by step. Dimitris Papailiopoulos, principal researcher at Microsofts AI Frontiers research lab, says what surprised him the most about R1 is its engineering simplicity. DeepSeek aimed for accurate answers rather than detailing every logical step, significantly reducing computing time while maintaining a high level of effectiveness, he says. DeepSeek has also released six smaller versions of R1 that are small enough to run locally on laptops. It claims that one of them even outperforms OpenAIs o1-mini on certain benchmarks.DeepSeek has largely replicated o1-mini and has open sourced it, tweeted Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas. DeepSeek did not reply to MIT Technology Reviews request for comments. Despite the buzz around R1, DeepSeek remains relatively unknown. Based in Hangzhou, China, it was founded in July 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, an alumnus of Zhejiang University with a background in information and electronic engineering. It was incubated by High-Flyer, a hedge fund that Liang founded in 2015. Like Sam Altman of OpenAI, Liang aims to build artificial general intelligence (AGI), a form of AI that can match or even beat humans on a range of tasks. Training large language models (LLMs) requires a team of highly trained researchers and substantial computing power. In a recent interview with the Chinese media outlet LatePost, Kai-Fu Lee, a veteran entrepreneur and former head of Google China, said that only front-row players typically engage in building foundation models such as ChatGPT, as its so resource-intensive. The situation is further complicated by the US export controls on advanced semiconductors. High-Flyers decision to venture into AI is directly related to these constraints, however. Long before the anticipated sanctions, Liang acquired a substantial stockpile of Nvidia A100 chips, a type now banned from export to China. The Chinese media outlet 36Kr estimates that the company has over 10,000 units in stock, but Dylan Patel, founder of the AI research consultancy SemiAnalysis, estimates that it has at least 50,000. Recognizing the potential of this stockpile for AI training is what led Liang to establish DeepSeek, which was able to use them in combination with the lower-power chips to develop its models. Tech giants like Alibaba and ByteDance, as well as a handful of startups with deep-pocketed investors, dominate the Chinese AI space, making it challenging for small or medium-sized enterprises to compete. A company like DeepSeek, which has no plans to raise funds, is rare. Zihan Wang, the former DeepSeek employee, told MIT Technology Review that he had access to abundant computing resources and was given freedom to experiment when working at DeepSeek, a luxury that few fresh graduates would get at any company. In an interview with the Chinese media outlet 36Kr in July 2024 Liang said that an additional challenge Chinese companies face on top of chip sanctions, is that their AI engineering techniques tend to be less efficient. We [most Chinese companies] have to consume twice the computing power to achieve the same results. Combined with data efficiency gaps, this could mean needing up to four times more computing power. Our goal is to continuously close these gaps, he said. But DeepSeek found ways to reduce memory usage and speed up calculation without significantly sacrificing accuracy. The team loves turning a hardware challenge into an opportunity for innovation, says Wang. Liang himself remains deeply involved in DeepSeeks research process, running experiments alongside his team. The whole team shares a collaborative culture and dedication to hardcore research, Wang says. As well as prioritizing efficiency, Chinese companies are increasingly embracing open-source principles. Alibaba Cloud has released over 100 new open-source AI models, supporting 29 languages and catering to various applications, including coding and mathematics. Similarly, startups like Minimax and 01.AI have open-sourced their models. According to a white paper released last year by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, a state-affiliated research institute, the number of AI large language models worldwide has reached 1,328, with 36% originating in China. This positions China as the second-largest contributor to AI, behind the United States. This generation of young Chinese researchers identify strongly with open-source culture because they benefit so much from it, says Thomas Qitong Cao, an assistant professor of technology policy at Tufts University. The US export control has essentially backed Chinese companies into a corner where they have to be far more efficient with their limited computing resources, says Matt Sheehan, an AI researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. We are probably going to see a lot of consolidation in the future related to the lack of compute. That might already have started to happen. Two weeks ago, Alibaba Cloud announced that it has partnered with the Beijing-based startup 01.AI, founded by Kai-Fu Lee, to merge research teams and establish an industrial large model laboratory. It is energy-efficient and natural for some kind of division of labor to emerge in the AI industry, says Cao, the Tufts professor. The rapid evolution of AI demands agility from Chinese firms to survive.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 2025 Academy Award nominations and ILM visual effects teams received two nominations in the Visual Effects category. ILM Visual Effects Supervisor Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser was nominated for his work on Fede lvarezs sci-fi/horror-thriller Alien: Romulus and ILMs Pablo Helman and David Shirk were each nominated for their contributions to Jon M. Chus musical fantasy film Wicked. In addition to its nomination for visual effects, Wicked received nominations in nine other categories.Sepulveda-Fauser said, Working on Alien: Romulus with Fede, a director with such a bold and compelling vision, was an absolute pleasure. I am incredibly proud of the beautiful imagery ILMs Sydney and San Francisco teams brought to the screen. Bringing this project to life has been nothing short of extraordinary.Helman and Shirk were equally effusive in their praise for their teams on Wicked with Shirk noting, Im so excited for our nomination and honored to be part of such an amazing team! I was frequently awed by the artistry and passion of the crew. Its an incredible thrill to see our contribution recognized for a film that is so emotional, and optimistic and has connected so strongly with audiences. Helman added, It was such an incredible experience to be part of the production of Wicked and I feel so honored to be nominated! This film was such a passion project for every member of the cast and crew. Our effects teams around the world put their heart and soul into the work and I couldnt be more proud of the teams effort, it truly defied gravity. The nominated films were selected by the Academys Visual Effects branch based on peer voting at the annual Visual Effects Bake-off event. Of the 10 films invited to participate ILM contributed to half of those in contention including Alien: Romulus, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II, Twisters, and Wicked. The 97th Oscars will still be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and air live in more than 200 territories worldwide.

Black Ops 6 zombie players are getting a good start to the year, as developer Treyarch on Friday revealed a new trailer for the next zombies map, The Tomb, which is launching at the beginning of the game's second season on Tuesday, Jan. 28.The Tomb was first revealed for 115 Day, Call of Duty's annual zombie celebration. When the new season goes live, Black Ops 6 will have four zombies maps available within four months of the game's launch -- an unprecedented release schedule for the shooter franchise.In addition to information about the new map, Treyarch recently pulled the curtains back on how well its zombie Directed Mode is working and shared details about quality-of-life improvements that'll be folded into the season 2 launch.Here's everything we know so far about the next content drop on Jan. 28.What we know about the next Black Ops 6 zombies map Black Ops 6 players got their first look at some shots from within The Tomb's catacombs today. ActivisionPicking up after the events of Citadelle des Morts, The Tomb will have Weaver, Maya, Carver and Grey plunge into the heart of an ancient catacomb to rediscover a powerful artifact capable of helping them deal with the undead threat.The new map has been built from the ground up for zombies. It's not reusing any locations from the campaign or Warzone modes.The Tomb will be smaller than maps like Terminus and Citadelle des Morts, forcing engagements in tighter play areas. The returning Black Ops 4 perk Death Perception is meant to help players deal with this increased threat by offering more insights into where nearby zombies are located. In addition, new traps like the arrow trap and aetheric lanterns will rain damaging bolts of energy down upon undead pursuers in a pinch.Treyarch cited Liberty Falls as a key contributor to the design philosophy for the new map, explaining that the Black Ops 6 launch map was the most replayed zombies experience in recent years.Fan-favorite weapons will return, including the PPSh-41 SMG and a "reimagined Wonder Weapon inspired by [Treyarch's] past." This wonder weapon is the Staff of Ice from Origins, an oft-lauded zombies map introduced in Black Ops 2 and remastered for Black Ops 3. The new easter egg will reward players with a Project Janus skin for the new wonder weapon.As per usual, any weapon introduced in the multiplayer battle pass or seasonal events will be usable in the zombies mode loadout. Three new GobbleGums will also make their debut and be earnable in The Tomb and other Black Ops 6 zombies maps upon the launch of Season 2.In addition to the main Easter egg, The Tomb will have a strong focus on side Easter eggs -- like the Liberty Falls bowling alley minigame and bank vault.Black Ops 6 season 2 quality-of-life improvements revealedIt looks like the beginning of season 2 will largely focus on improving the Black Ops 6 zombies experience, but that doesn't mean the multiplayer mode is being left high and dry. There are four key changes being made to players' quality-of-life at the beginning of season 2.Multiplayer and Zombies mode challenge tracking: Players will now be able to separately track challenges for multiplayer and zombies. In addition, players can now pin 10 challenges for each mode at any given time -- if no challenges are manually pinned, Black Ops 6 will show players the challenges they are closest to completing.Separate HUDs for multiplayer and zombies modes: Players who want to use different heads-up display layouts for the different modes will now be able to do so without toggling each and every option whenever they swap between multiplayer and zombies.Co-op pause: If everyone in a lobby is grouped in a single co-op party, pausing in zombies mode will function like it does in a solo session. Crucially, this feature will not work if you aren't in a party with every player in your co-op game.AFK kick loadout recovery:If you're kicked from a zombies game for AFKing for too long, you are now able to rejoin the lobby and recover your weapons, equipment, score streaks and perks.Black Ops 6 zombies Directed Mode is working as planned Directed Mode makes the main Easter eggs much easier, giving players ample time to build up their loadout of Pack-a-Punched weapons, perks, armor and more. ActivisionThe final insight we received for 115 Day focuses on the new zombies mode introduced in Black Ops 6: Directed Mode.Treyarch created this mode to increase community participation in the zombies maps' main Easter eggs -- round caps and guided objectives make the challenges much easier for new and casual players to finish.Now, the developer has revealed that Directed Mode is working the way it intended. Whereas 3.38% of Call of Duty zombies players completed the main Easter egg on maps before the guided mode was introduced, that number has more than doubled with 8.23% of players completing the Black Ops 6 maps' main Easter eggs.Treyarch intends to continue looking for ways to make its zombies storyline more easily accessible to all players, but is optimistic about the results so far.Maybe more players will be able to beat the Black Ops 6 zombies maps by 115 Day in 2026.