The genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist - Tony Stark aka Iron Man. Iron Man was always a popular hero, but not necessarily an A-List hero. This changed when he became a household name superhero following his leading at the helm of the MCU with his 2008 debut film, and adventures thereafter.

TECHNOLOGY &CULTUREWe hold the power to shape AI responsiblyThe Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo, photo by SnapSaga onUnsplashWe are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI. AI holds the power to transform human experiences, amplify creativity, and tackle global challengesbut only if it is intentionally designed, developed, and implemented to serve humanity with integrity, empathy, and purpose. It must enhance human flourishing, protect diversity, and uphold ethicalvalues.As researchers, designers, project managers, developers, and users, we share a responsibility to ensure that AI uplifts humanity, bridges divides, and creates equitable opportunities. By aligning our efforts, we co-create a future where AI is a force for connection, empowerment, and shared prosperity.This manifesto outlines principles and commitments to ensure AI remains a tool for human betterment, fostering well-being and inclusion rather thanharm.Principles of human-centered AI1. Prioritize human flourishingAI must prioritize human well-being at all levelsindividual, systemic, and environmental. It should empower people to live purposeful, fulfilling lives while fostering holistic well-being, creativity, and ethical harmony. Every decision should actively promote purpose, agency, and ethical living while addressing diverse physical, mental, and socialneeds.2. Embed transparency and accountabilityAI systems must be designed with clarity and openness, enabling users to understand how their data is used and the implications of AI decisions. Clear communication about how AI functions, how data is processed, and who is accountable for its outcomes is essential. Developers and organizations must take responsibility for the ethical and societal impacts of their technologies, ensuring user empowerment through ethical oversight.3. Foster inclusivity and representationAI should reflect and respect the full spectrum of human diversity. This involves designing systems that reflect underrepresented voices, preserve cultural richness, and prioritize inclusivity in every interaction. Fairness begins with diverse datasets, equitable algorithms, and a commitment to identifying and addressing biases throughout development.4. Design for context and adaptabilityAI must adapt to the social, cultural, and individual environments in which it operates. This means understanding user goals, respecting regional norms and values, and tailoring solutions to specific needs. Systems should remain flexible to evolve with changing circumstances while avoiding harmful generalizations or one-size-fits-all approaches that risk undermining trust and effectiveness.5. Collaboration between humans andAIAI should complementnot replacehuman creativity, empathy, and critical thinking. By leveraging AIs strengths alongside human judgment, we can create solutions that are efficient, meaningful, and empowering. Teams must design systems that enhance human capabilities while ensuring that people remain at the center of innovation.6. Commit to ethical data practicesData collection, storage, and usage must prioritize privacy, security, and consent. AI systems should minimize risks to sensitive information and reject practices that incentivize over-collection or misuse of data. Clear data policies, secure infrastructures, and mechanisms that give users control over their personal information are essential for ethical AI practices.7. Continuously learn andevolveAI strategies must evolve in step with technological advancements and societal expectations. Teams must prioritize ongoing education, critically evaluate emerging capabilities, and recalibrate their approaches as needed to keep human needs at the forefront. Continuous iteration ensures AI aligns with evolving values and remains relevant and impactful.Commitments toactionEach of the principles above reflect actions we can take as practitioners designing products and services in the Age ofAI:Prioritize people: Make human well-being the cornerstone of every decision. Design AI systems that promote purpose, agency, and holistic well-being at the individual, systemic, and environmental levels.Design for transparency and accountability: Build systems that are easy to understand and inspire trust by clearly communicating how AI functions and how data is used. Support thoughtful governance and advocate for ethical oversight to ensure accountability in AI development and deployment.Eliminate bias: Identify and address inequities in data, algorithms, and decision-making processes to promote fairness and inclusivity. Use diverse datasets and equitable practices to ensure AI reflects the full spectrum of human diversity.Adapt to contexts: Create systems that respect and respond to cultural, social, and environmental diversity. Tailor AI solutions to meet specific user needs while remaining flexible enough to evolve with changing circumstances.Balance efficiency with nuance: Leverage AIs strengths for speed, scale, and pattern recognition while relying on human expertise for empathy, critical thinking, and decision-making. Ensure that AI complements human creativity rather than replacing it.Protect privacy: Safeguard sensitive data through ethical collection, secure storage, and transparent user consent. Prioritize practices that give users control over their personal information while rejecting data over-collection andmisuse.Empower through education: Equip teams, users, and communities with the knowledge and tools needed to critically and effectively engage with AI. Commit to ongoing learning, iteration, and adaptation to ensure AI strategies align with evolving technology and societalneeds.A Call toActionWe have a unique opportunity to shape AI as a tool that uplifts humanity.As researchers, designers, product managers, developers, and users, we must ensure that this technology uplifts humanity, bridges divides, and creates equitable opportunities. Together, we can shape AI as a force for human flourishing.Sign this petition to commit to these principles, ensuring that AI remains a tool for equity, empowerment, and connection keeping the human centered in theloop.Note: This Manifesto is based on the challenges and opportunities for AI in Human Flourishing in the Age of AI, published by the UX Collective.Josh LaMar is the Co-Founder and CEO of Amplinate, an international agency focusing on cross-cultural Research & Design, based in the USA, France, Brazil, and India. As the Chief Strategy Officer of JoshLaMar Consult, he helps Entrepreneurs grow their business through ethical competitive advantage.The human-centered AI manifesto was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.At $899 (down from $1,199) at Best Buy, the Apple Mac mini (2023) is at its lowest price in four months (according to price-trackers). If youve been eyeing a powerful desktop in a compact package, this might be worth a closer look. This model runs macOS Ventura (giving you access to Apples ecosystem of over 15,000 apps) and features the M2 Pro chip, a 10-core CPU with a 16-core GPU, 16GB of internal memory, and 512GB of SSD storage. Thats plenty of horsepower for creative professionals, casual gamers, or anyone juggling multiple demanding tasks. From video editing and music production to software development, the Mac mini handles it all efficiently, according to this PCMag review. Apple Mac Mini Desktop Computer With M2 Pro Chip $899.00 at Best Buy $1,199.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $899.00 at Best Buy $1,199.00 Save $300.00 Its connectivity options are another major plus. It comes with four Thunderbolt 4 ports, an Ethernet port, dual USB Type-A ports, and a full-size HDMI output. Those Thunderbolt 4 ports and the HDMI output mean you can connect up to three monitors, with support for resolutions up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz, provided you have a compatible display and an HDMI 2.1 cable. Its designed for smooth, efficient performance across a variety of tasks (from creating digital content to streaming media and gaming) with faster and more stable wireless connections through wifi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support.That said, the Mac mini isnt a workstation in the traditional sense, so if youre working with extremely heavy-duty applications, you might still need a pricier setup like the Mac Studio. And while its gaming performance is impressive for its size, keep in mind that macOS doesnt have the same breadth of gaming options as Windows. It also doesnt include accessories like a keyboard or mouse, so those need to be purchased separately.

Apple Intelligence had a slow rollout, launching with a waitlist and only recently allowing access to AI images and its emoji generator. But now, it seems Apple is finally ready to follow Microsoft and Googles leads and start putting its AI features front-and-center.According to the release notes for the iOS 18.3 release candidate, the final beta for the latest iPhone update before it goes live in (likely to be a few days), Apple Intelligence will be going from an opt-in feature to an opt-out one. In other words, if you have an AI-compatible iPhone (meaning the iPhone 15 Pro and above), Apple Intelligence will be toggled on by default.Heres Apple explaining it in the companys own words:For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device.Its a major last-minute change to what has been a fairly boring update so faralthough unlike Googles plan to eventually replace Google Assistant with Gemini, at least Apple still gives you the option to opt out. That tracks with Apples other big change for the patch, which sees the company rolling back some of the features associated with Apple Intelligences AI-generated notification summaries.Apple Intelligence isnt without its perks, although for me, the biggest difference Ive seen since enabling it is that Siris UI looks a little different. Its still got more features on the way, including the ability for Siri to natively pull context from your phones screen and your messages, so itll presumably get better, but its understandable if youd rather hold off for now.How to opt out of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.3To ensure youve got Apple Intelligence disabled once iOS 18.3 goes live, keep an eye on your phone. If summoning Siri turns on a purple border all around your phones screen, youve been opted into AI. To opt out of Apple Intelligence and go back to the standard, AI-less experience, navigate to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and flip off the Apple Intelligence toggle at the top of the page.

Which iPhone should I buy? Its a question you might have heard many times over the years. Much of the time, the answer is simple: Get the best iPhone you can afford. If youre happy with your current iPhone, meanwhile, dont feel like you have to make a change at all. But if youre ready to upgrade, allow us to help. Weve reviewed just about every iPhone ever released, so weve picked through all nine models in Apples current smartphone lineup and highlighted the ones that should satisfy most people below.Before we dive in, note that weve based our guide on the MSRPs of new, unlocked iPhones on Apple.com. If you can find a heavy discount from another trusted retailer or a good deal on a refurbished model, that could always change the value equation. With that disclaimer out of the way, here are the best iPhones you can buy as of early 2025. Table of contents Best iPhones for 2025 The rest of Apple's iPhone lineup in 2025 Recent updates Best iPhones for 2025 The rest of Apple's iPhone lineup in 2025 The iPhone 16. Billy Steele for Engadget Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus As noted above, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have made genuine improvements over last years models and generally feel more Pro-like than they have in years past. They also come in a range of vibrant colors. If the iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max are just too pricey, especially if you want extra storage space, theyre fantastic compromises. Still, they are compromises. If you can afford it, the Pro should hold up a bit better over time. Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are fine phones in a vacuum, but we just dont have the stomach to recommend a $600 or $700 phone without USB-C in late 2024. You lose out on the Dynamic Island and Apple Intelligence as well. The 14 Plus may be justifiable if you just want the cheapest large-screen iPhone out there, but most should look for a trade-in or refurbished deal on an iPhone 15 or, if your budget allows it, iPhone 16 instead. Apple iPhone SE (3rd gen) The iPhone SE (3rd gen) isn't just the cheapest iPhone that Apple sells, its also the smallest and lightest. It retains the look and feel of the iPhone 8, which was released all the way back in 2017, but some may appreciate the older design and tactile Home button. The SE uses the same A15 Bionic chip as the old iPhone 13, but it still runs fine for everyday tasks. It might be OK if you just want the cheapest route into iOS or youre buying a first iPhone for your kids. For most, though, the SEs small display, single-rear-camera setup and limited memory and storage are tough to accept in 2024. It also lacks ultra-wideband (UWB), so its not as adept at finding nearby AirTags. Bloombergs Mark Gurman has reported that Apple could release a new iPhone SE by early 2025, so anyone in need of a true budget iPhone should try to hold out for a little longer. Recent updates January 2025: We've made a few minor edits for clarity and ensured our recommendations are still up to date. December 2024: Weve made a few edits to reflect the release of Apple Intelligence, though our picks remain the same.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/best-iphone-160012979.html?src=rss

For the second year in a row, the story of Samsungs new flagship Galaxy phones isnt about hardware changes. For better or worse, the Galaxy S25 features few material changes from its predecessor, and many of the most substantive enhancements come courtesy of new AI features Samsung has built into One UI.The highlight of those is something Samsung is calling the Personal Data Engine. Over time, One UI 7 will collect and analyze data about how you use your S25 to personalize the software experience. This customization will be most visible in two new features called Now Brief and Now Bar. The former will generate morning, midday and evening summaries of information that might be relevant to you. For instance, in a morning brief, you might see the days weather, a calendar of your upcoming meetings, and news stories that might interest you.The latter, on the other hand, is a new interface element you can access from both the S25s lock screen and just below the digital clock when the phone is unlocked. The Now Bar will automatically generate a Rolodex of reminders you can flip through throughout the day. One widget might include directions from Google Maps, while another could feature the 45-minute timer you set earlier in the day.Its all basic stuff, but Samsung is betting these features and the ones Im about to detail will save S25 users time by reducing the amount of jumping between apps they need to do. According to the company, any usage information the Personal Data Engine records is kept secure and private inside the S25s Knox Vault security enclave.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetThe Galaxy S25 also includes a series of interconnected features that broadly fall under a concept Samsung is calling AI agents. These agents are powered by multi-modal machine learning models, meaning they can parse images, videos, audio and text. Samsung has deployed these throughout One UI 7, though youre most likely to encounter them through the Samsung sidebar.The most interesting of the new agents is called AI Select. It builds on the Smart Select tool previous Galaxy phones featured. When evoked, AI Select will scan the screen and suggest actions based on what it sees. As mentioned, the model powering this feature is multi-modal, so its not limited to reading just text. For example, say you bring up AI Select while watching a YouTube video. In that context, the tool will offer to create a GIF for you. Again, the idea here is to simplify an action that previously may have required multiple apps and steps.At the same time, Samsung has polished existing AI tools to make them better. Most notably, Sketch to Image, now known as Drawing Assist, is more accurate and detailed and includes the option to import existing images.Separately, the Galaxy S25 series will ship with an improved version of Circle to Search. For the uninitiated, Circle to Search is a way to access Google Search from nearly anywhere on your phone without switching between apps. You activate the feature by long-pressing your phones Home button. Circle to Search arrived at the start of last year, with Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 owners among the first to get access. The latest version of Circle to Search can recognize phone numbers, emails and URLs, allowing you to call, email or visit a website with a single tap. Additionally, Circle to Search now also includes integration with Googles AI Overviews.These enhancements arent limited to Samsung devices, and Google is in the process of rolling them out to all Android phones.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-ai-becomes-more-personal-and-cohesive-180029521.html?src=rss

AI giants promised perfect accuracy. Instead their models are endangering users. Can integrating humans help?

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

Last night, at more than 1,600 restaurants in 325-plus cities around the globe, approximately 20,000 people gathered for dinner with complete strangers. Its what the creator of Timelefta French app that has been arranging impromptu dinner dates among strangers all over the world for the past year and a halfsees as a small but useful contribution to the fight against global loneliness.If you want to meet new people, Timeleft is the perfect way to do it, said cofounder and CEO Maxime Barbier, a 40-year-old French tech entrepreneur.Using technology to bring people together and facilitate friendships comes with a bit of irony, considering the role that technology (especially social media and all manner of delivery apps) has played in weakening social ties and impromptu interactions.But IRL social apps like Timeleft have seen considerable uptakeand investor interest. They include Partiful, the Eventbrite for Gen Z invitation app that raised $20 million in 2022; Posh, the self-proclaimed TikTok for events, which boasts 2 million users and $22 million in recent funding; and 222, which links up users for local events after they take an online personality quiz. In addition, more regional groups, like Californias Groundfloor and Englands Lonely Girls Club, have helped strangers connect in person.Maxime Barbier [Photo: Helene Marie Pambrun/courtesy Timeleft]The ultimate incentive for tech companies has been getting us hooked on the tech, saidErin Peavey, an architect and expert on loneliness and design for social connection. What I love about this suite of apps is this focus on getting people together off the app.[Photo: @lieselfrth/courtesy Timeleft]The evidence of our lack of connection, especially in the U.S., paints a fairly damning picture. One-third of adults over 50 report feeling lonely or isolated. Gen Z has been called the loneliest generation. Many men are in what one researcher calls a friendship recession and lack even a single close friend. Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy told the nation in 2023 that it faces a loneliness epidemic.The deterioration of in-person interaction, decline in third places for socialization, and rise in loneliness explains in part why fitness groups, from Crossfit to the bevy of running clubs that grew out of the pandemic, became such key parts of many Americans social lives in recent years.Run groups, which started out organically, are now full-fledged, attracting thousands of people in certain cities, said Anthony Vennare of newsletter Fitt Insider. Its really, truly grassroots, organic hanging out.This current wave of social apps also fills that void. And perhaps more importantly, by arranging group events, it allows its users to avoid the feeling of rejection, common to dating apps, that can result from one-on-one interactions, said Peavey.[Photo: courtesy Timeleft]Apps and online networks that set out to cultivate real-world communities arent new. Meetup, a social media platform for hosting and organizing events that launched in 2002, rose to prominence in the early 2010s, hitting 25 million users at its peak, then gradually lost users before being sold to WeWork in 2017. Dating site Bumble launched its own BFF service in 2016 to connect users with friends of the same gender. And fitness apps have created ways for people to connect through physical exercise, like Strava for cyclists.What sets Timeleft, which has garnered significant media attention, and similar apps apart may be their simplicity. Barbier settled on the concept in Lisbon, Portugal, in May 2023 after other ideas for the app didnt pan out, like a way to share bucket lists among friends. The formula was simple: groups work, strangers work, and food is a common denominator. Eliminate pictures and swiping and just get people together.[Photo: @lieselfrth/courtesy Timeleft]Doing one thing well is key, he said; otherwise, even good tech struggles to bring together different people doing different activities at mutually convenient times. And hosting every Wednesday seemed like the right cadence; Barbier found the American idiom hump day amusing.I was talking to a competitor, who was discussing success in terms of daily active users, he said. I thought that was strange, because I dont talk about daily active users. I dont care if people use my app. My end goal is how many participants attend the dinner. The app is only a way to go to the offline thing.Diners purchase a ticket for dinner for $16 (subscriptions for multiple dates are available), then fill out an in-app survey that helps match them and create a group of six. Barbier said groups are arranged to be within 10 years of age and have a balanced mix of males and females, and introverts and extroverts. The algorithm, which last year ingested data from almost half a million diners, also avoids seating a group that all want to talk about politics.On the Tuesday before dinner, users get sent a brief introduction. On Wednesday, diners show up, order, socialize, and pay for their own food. If theyre enjoying the night, they can then move to a second bar location, where different Timeleft groups congregate.The app has received positive reviews from users across the globe, and domestically, from Los Angeles to D.C. Despite starting in Europe, Barbier says New York City is the biggest location for the app, with crowds of 300-plus showing up to the bar events. Now Timeleft boasts 70 full-time employees overseeing operations in 65 countries and 325 cities. One is the chief technology officer, who Barbier met at an early dinner. Roughly 60% of users come back for another dinner the next month.[Photo: @lieselfrth/courtesy Timeleft]People are craving to be seen, to be heard, Barbier said. When you go for a dinner with strangers, you can really talk about everything you want. Strangely enough, no ones gonna really judge you.The money, and social interest, in these apps has led to a number of different strategies for growth. Posh, an app that hosts events, works with event promoters and seeks to attract digital creators and podcasters to host their own events on the platform. Barbier believes Timeleft has space for continued expansiondinners open in India and Vietnam next month. In the coming weeks, it will roll out an in-app messaging tool so that people who hit it off at dinner can connect and arrange additional meetups.I believe Timeleft can make a dent, he said. Every trend, like AI and social media, is making [connection] so hard. But I do believe technology needs to be used to help solve loneliness, because people are so into technology. First, we need to catch them online.

Adam Chandler is a journalist. He was formerly a staff writer atThe Atlanticand his work has appeared in TheNew York Times,The Wall Street Journal,The Washington Post,WIRED, andVox, among many other publications. He is a recurring guest on The History ChannelsThe Food That Built Americaand regularly appears across television and radio, such as on CBS and NPR.Whats the big idea?American work standards are damaging the well-being of employees, as well as the success of companies. Myths about achievement, productivity, and equality are clouding our collective reasoning about what leads to a long and fulfilling life. Fixing job culture has the power to fix Americas social crisis.Below, Adam shares five key insights from his new book,99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life.Listen to the audio versionread by Adam himselfin the Next Big Idea App.1. The American AbracadabraThe Bootstraps Myththe belief that anyone can succeed with hard work and a little moxieis a core tenet of American life. Its visible in culture, policy, and civics. But theres a dark side to this ideal. If you fail to get ahead, it means that you didnt try hard enough. I call this The American Abracadabra.The danger of the abracadabra is that it turns success or failure into a matter of individual character, rather than prompting us to collectively confront the obstacles that have made achieving success so much harder in recent years. To understand what prevents Americans from a prosperous and stable life, we might examine the costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and college in the U.S. A recent study by the Brookings Institution revealed that an astonishing 44% of Americans hold jobs that qualify as low-wage.2. Everyone benefits from time off,especiallyemployersGenerous time-off policies in the U.S. have long been looked upon with suspicion by bottom-line-minded employers, particularly when compared to Americas peer nations. One result is that American workers log more work hours than nearly all other industrialized countries. They also tend to eschew the breaks to which theyre entitled. According to Pew, roughly half of all U.S. workers avoid using their allotted time off out of fear of seeming disloyal, replaceable, or burdening their coworkers. Interestingly, its higher earners in particular who are the most reluctant to use all their paid time off. Studies have found that at companies with unlimited time-off policies, workers take even fewer days off.Employees who take time off are not only happier and healthier, but also more productive, more creative, and more loyal.Theres a strong case for employers to encourage workers to step away from their desks and take time off. Employees who take time off are not only happier and healthier, but also more productive, more creative, and more loyal. Another big piece of this equation is the high cost of turnover for companies in training and replacing workers, as well as in lost morale. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019, Gallup put a conservative price tag of $1 trillion on the replacement cost of employees who leave their jobs in the U.S. each year, estimating that The cost of replacing an individual employee can range from one-half to two times the employees annual salary.3. The American work obsession is a civic and social crisisAmericans disproportionately define themselves by their jobs. In a recent Pew survey, an astounding 71% of Americans listed having a job or career they enjoyed as the top measure of what makes for a fulfilling life, more than close friendships, having children, or marriage.Even as we put more of ourselves into workwhether its how we spend our time, construct social circles, or identify ourselveswork does not love us back. A 2023 economic opportunity poll by Gallup found that 39% of Americans believed that they were failing to get ahead despite working hard. That figure was 23% in 2002. Works failure to get us where we want to be is driving resentment, distrust of institutions, xenophobia, and extremism.4. Immigration is critical to the strength and durability of the American economyIn recent years, immigration, legal or otherwise, has been the focus of populist ire and the centerpiece of political campaigns. What they often leave out is that immigrants are 80% more likely to start a business than native-born Americans, whether its a mom-and-pop outfit like a restaurant or gas station, or a huge company like Google, Zoom, or Duolingo. On average, immigrant-founded businesses hire more workers than others.Immigrants are 80% more likely to start a business than native-born Americans.When it comes to government benefits, immigrants pay $1.38 in taxes for every dollar of government benefits they use. Lastly, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022, far more than many loophole-savvy billionaires or companies on the Fortune 500.5. American income inequality isnt just about moneyIncome inequality has reached dangerous levels. The effect of these disparities has had strange consequences. Between 1970 and 2009, Stanford researchers estimated that the share of families living in middle-income neighborhoods dropped from 65% to 44%. In other words, higher-income households wended their way to wealthier neighborhoods while low-income households went to poorer ones. Back in 1980, you could live in a city with a high level of income inequality, and it didnt necessarily map geographically. The kid of a doctor and the kid of a dockworker were more likely to play ball in the same street and go to the same school.But thats no longer the case. These divergences influence everything in a neighborhood, from crime rate, school quality, social mobility, and its stock of good-paying jobs to the presence of environmental hazards, the likelihood of developing chronic health conditions, and the life expectancies of both old and young. Fortunately, countless people at every level of society are working on bold initiatives to make communities stronger, safer, healthier, and happier.Thisarticleoriginally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.