Installing solar panels is a smart investment that can increase your home's value, reduce your energy bills, and help protect the environment. A recent CNET survey found that 78% of surveyed US adults are stressed out by high energy bills, and making the switch to solar power is a logical next step. However, with tens of thousands of dollars on the line, you don't want to take this decision lightly, even if the big federal incentives make it more appealing.After you research companies, read reviews and gather recommendations from friends and neighbors, you'll need to choose the right installer. Knowing the right kind of questions to ask solar companies in your area can ensure a smooth installation experience and save you thousands over your system's lifetime.Here are 15 questions to ask solar installers to make sure you're making the right choice. Can solar panels save you money? Interested in understanding the impact solar can have on your home? Enter some basic information below, and well instantly provide a free estimate of your energy savings. 1. How long have you been in business?The solar industry's recent boom means that more companies than ever are getting in on the action. That's generally a good thing, but not all of them are experienced installers or even legitimate businesses."Sometimes these installation companies are fly-by-night. They open one month and close the next," said Jani Hale, help desk manager withSolar United Neighbors, a nonprofit that helps consumers go solar by forming residential co-ops and providing educational support. Ideally, an installer will have been in business for three years or more.2. What are your company's certifications?Online reviews for solar installers are a great start, but they're not as reliable as an industry certification. The National American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) sets standards for knowledge, experience and professionalism in the renewable energy sector. "We recommend that at least one person in that company be NABCEP certified to ensure that they have the appropriate knowledge and skills," Hale said.Additional certifications can tell you more about a company's labor practices and environmental standards. B Corp-certified companies are required to meet certain social and environmental standards in their operations, including fair labor practices and wages. "If installers are getting a fair wage, they're going to be much more likely to do a quality installation," said Micah Gold-Markel, who founded Philadelphia-based installer Solar States in 2008. Considering Solar Panels? Our email course will walk you through how to go solar By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.3. What are the rules around solar in my state?"There are different rules for different states, so making sure that the person you're talking to can explain the rules in your state very clearly is extremely important," said Gold-Markel.For example, California law restricts the backflow of residential solar to the grid. In Pennsylvania, residential systems can send unlimited power back to the grid, with utilities required to pay the full retail price. Those state-by-state differences can significantly affect the payback period for your system. Considering Solar Panels? Our email course will walk you through how to go solar By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.4. What solar incentives are available in my area?In addition to the 30% federal tax credit offered by the Inflation Reduction Act, you may be eligible for additional credits or incentives based on other factors. Those incentives can add up, and that's before any local or utility-specific incentives come into play. A knowledgeable solar installer will be able to tell you about federal, state and local incentives that can help you save money. "You can get between 30% and 60% of the cost of your solar back in tax credits, depending on how you use these various federal incentives," Gold-Markel said.For example, if you're purchasing solar for your businessit may be possible to accelerate the depreciation of that asset, allowing for a larger tax deduction in the initial years of your system. You could also be eligible for additional credits if your installer uses American-made materials.5. What type of equipment do you use, and was it produced ethically?Ask about the equipment an installer plans to use and why they've made that choice. A company that only uses one size of panel may not be the best fit if your home has a complex or architecturally elaborate roof. "Beware of salespersons who imply that there's only one type of solar system or battery storage," Hale said. "There are many brands of solar equipment and system designs to choose from."Gold-Markel also recommends inquiring about where equipment was sourced, with a preference for panels that were manufactured in the US. "We are part of Amicus, a national cooperative of installers that buys ethically sourced solar panels," he says. "If you can find an Amicus installation professional in your area, you know you're getting a responsibly sourced system."6. Do I need a new roof before installing solar?The age of your roof is a key consideration in going solar. Solar United Neighbors recommends replacing a roof with less than 10 to 15 years of life left before installing your system.A competent solar installer should be able to give you an opinion of your roof's condition and make recommendations as part of their proposal. "They may not be roofers themselves, but they should be able to say, 'We see some damage on your roof and it would be a good idea if you got it replaced prior to going solar," Gold-Markel said.7. Is your company going to perform the installation?Believe it or not, the salesperson you're speaking with might not work for the company that will actually do your installation. Make sure the installer you're signing on with will be the one to do the work."There are a lot of high-pressure marketing companies out there that are sort of posing as solar companies," Gold-Markel said. "All they do is marketing and sales, and then they pawn off the solar installation to some other company. That can be a real recipe for disaster." Make sure you know who's actually going to be doing the work of putting solar panels on your house before you sign on the dotted line. Sandy Huffaker/Bloomberg via Getty Images8. What's your timeline for installation?You'll want to discuss a rough project timeline with any solar installer you're considering -- both in terms of when work will begin and how long it will take to get your solar installation up and running. Hale noted that's a question a reputable installer should be asking you."Installers should ask what your timeframe is for getting your system installed, so they can give you the room to do your research," she said. "The really good installers will wait for you to come back to them."9. What kinds of maintenance packages or warranties are available?Gold-Markel recommends inquiring about extended warranties or operations and maintenance packages that cover the entire life of the system, which is typically around 25 years. "Ask if you can also get an operations and maintenance package, an extended warranty that covers the lifespan of the solar or a longer warranty for the workmanship than may come with the contract," he said.10. Are there fees associated with financing my system, and who's providing the financing?Due to high interest rates, financing your solar installation is a less attractive option than it was a few years ago. If you are considering financing, Gold-Markel said, be sure to inquire about any hidden fees that may be a part of the agreement. It's also important to look into the institution offering the loan, which may be a third party, and read the terms closely to understand what happens if you default.11. What is the cost of my solar system in dollars per watt?Homeowners tend to focus on the total cost to install solaror the cost per panel. Be sure to compare the cost in dollars per watt when comparing solar installers, Hale said. Two solar systems may have a similar overall cost, but the wattage generated can differ based on panel size and capacity. The system with the lower cost per watt is the better deal.12. How much consumption is my solar energy going to offset?A good solar installer should make it easy to understand how much of your household's power consumption can be met by your solar system. Factors like weather, shade, roof size and household energy use will all affect how much power your panels will generate.Information about how much of your household's electricity will be offset by your system should be included in a reputable solar installer's proposal for your project, and installers should be forthcoming about this information. "If that's clearly laid out in a proposal, then nine times out of ten, that's a green flag," Hale said.13. What are the lifetime savings based on?Your discussions with solar installers should not only estimate how much you'll save over the life of your system but also include how that estimate was derived.Installers calculate lifetime savings using a metric called a utility escalator. This percentage describes the projected inflation rate of the cost of power and is based on historical trends (and is different from the escalators in a power purchase agreement). Solar United Neighbors recommends checking that the utility escalator used in competing proposals from different installers is the same to help you compare accurately.14. Is the power generation estimate guaranteed?It's not possible to ensure that every panel in your solar system will always produce power at the maximum level, said Gold-Markel, but a good installer should be able to guarantee your panels' performance within a reasonable range."If the overall power output is within a reasonable error rate of, say, 10% of what was predicted, then I think you should be happy with the outcome," he says.15. How do I sell solar energy credits back to the grid?Net metering policies in some states allow you to sell power generated by your solar system back to the public grid -- a significant solar incentive that can significantly reduce the payback period on your system. You don't typically sell that power to your energy utility directly.Instead, homeowners often sell solar renewable energy certificates, or SRECs, through a third party known as a broker or aggregator. Your installer may be able to connect you with a broker. If you'd prefer to choose your own broker, Solar United Neighbors recommends double-checking your contract to make sure that's not prohibited in your agreement.

With extreme weather events increasing in recent years, homeowners insurance companieshave raised premiums or stopped offering coverage completely. Many of the policyholders hit with nonrenewal or cancellation notices are the ones most in need of insurance coverage.Just six months before the devastating wildfires ripped through Southern California, State Farmcanceled 1,600 policies in the Pacific Palisades community of Los Angeles.If you live somewhere with a high risk of certain disasters, you might not be covered for very costly scenarios. That includes Californians in wildfire-prone areas, Floridians in hurricane paths and Texans in areas with a high probability of wind and hail damage.As the nationwide insurance crisis gains more public attention, some temporary measures have been taken. For example, theCalifornia Department of Insurance issued a one-year moratorium on nonrenewals and cancellations for properties located near the recent wildfire destruction.Here's more on what you can do if you've been denied insurance on your home.Read more:Fires, Floods, Hurricanes and Tornadoes: Do You Need More Home Insurance for Natural Disasters?What homeowners insurance coversInsurance won't cover everything. Flood damage, for example, is not part of most standard homeowners insurance policies. Neither is damage from earthquakes, mudslides, mold or pest infestations. If you have failed to maintain the property in good condition, your company can determine it's not responsible for certain damage.Though policies vary, standard homeowners insurance typically covers these areas:Dwelling protection:This portion protects the actual structure of the home. If a tree falls on the roof, for example, or a vandal breaks your glass door, you can submit a claim to have your insurance company help pay for the repairs after you meet your deductible.Personal property protection: This portion helps cover costs related to the actual belongings in the home. If the vandal who broke the glass door comes in and steals your living room furniture, personal property protection could help you buy new furniture. It's important to note that this may not cover everything in your home. For example, if your $2 million wedding ring is stolen, this may well exceed your limits, which is why a lot of homeowners opt for additional coverage for especially valuable items.Liability protection: This portion applies to the potential costs of an injury on your property. If someone comes to your house, falls down the stairs and winds up in the hospital, you could be liable for the damages. This coverage can help pay for those medical bills and other related costs for the victim.Read more: Insurance Premiums Spike as Natural Disasters Strike. What Homeowners Can DoWhy you might be denied homeowners insuranceWhile there are a variety of reasons you might get rejected for coverage, generally when insurance companies determine a high likelihood of risk, they'll incur more costs, and you'll have a tough time getting approved.Here are a few of the most common reasons homeowners are denied or dropped from coverage.A history of claimsThe most common reason policyholders are dropped from coverage is that they have lost their provider's money. Policygenius research shows that 36% of those who losttheir insurance already filed a claim or multiple claims.High risk of natural disastersWith climate-related disasters on the rise, an increasing number of property owners living in high-risk areas have faced a nonrenewal or outright cancellation of their homeowners insurance coverage.In 2022, Allstate announced a pause on new condo and homeowners insurance policies in California. Over the last two years, State Farm made major reductions to new and existing California insurance coverage, and in 2024, Liberty Mutual ended fire-dwelling protection for around 17,000 California homeowners. In Texas, both Progressive and Foremost (a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance) stopped renewing homeowners policies.Some companies are pressing pause on issuing new policies, while other companies are exiting the market altogether: Around 30 insurance companies left Floridaafter the devastation of Hurricane Ian in 2022.Age or condition of the homeInsurance companies also evaluate a home's age and condition. An old home lacking updated plumbing or electrical wiring, for instance, might not qualify for a standard policy. According to Policygenius, 33% of homeowners who have been dropped from their insurance coverage failed a home inspection and didn't make the necessary improvements.Companies might also be wary of features that could pose potential hazards, such as nonfenced-in swimming pools, wood-burning stoves or an open pit or well in the yard. It might also be tough to qualify if you're living in an unconventional home, such as a tiny house or yurt.Read more:8 Steps for Homeowners When You're Home Is Destroyed or Damaged by a WildfireWhat to do if you're rejected for insurance coverageIf you're rejected for homeowners insurance, here are some steps you can take.Find out whyAsk the company to explain the reason behind the rejection. A company is legally required to share why they denied coverage to an applicant, according to Loretta Worters, vice president of media relations at the Insurance Information Institute. "This is typically done through an adverse action notice, which outlines the specific factors that led to the denial."If the reason is based on something within your control, try to find a solution and apply again. For instance, you could update old wiring, install security devices or weatherproof your home to mitigate the risk of damage.Ask for recommendationsTalk to your neighbors to find out what insurance company they use. Locals in your area might recommend a different insurance provider.Shop aroundEvery insurance company sets its own rates and requirements, so research multiple options to find one that's willing to work with you. Your state's insurance department should provide a list of companies that offer insurance in your area.Explore alternative policiesIf you can't qualify for a standard insurance plan, you're not out of options. Here are some alternatives.State-sponsored options: Dozens of states and the District of Columbia have residual markets to offer coverage for risks that private insurers are not willing to cover. In some areas, these plans are known as FAIR, or Fair Access to Insurance Requirements, but they may go by other names. According to Worters, these plans are typically reserved for those who have been repeatedly denied by private insurance companies due to their property's location in a high-risk area.To qualify for state-sponsored coverage, homeowners should be prepared for an inspection to evaluate "the home's structural soundness, potential fire hazards, security measures and overall maintenance," Worters said. Inspectors will want to see evidence that you've taken preventative measures, such as creating a defensible space free of brush around the perimeter of the home and maintaining debris-free gutters. For more information on your state's plan, check out the III's comprehensive list of resources.HO-8 insurance: Houses that are at least 40 years old may qualify for an HO-8 policy, which is a type of modified plan that covers specific issues, such as fire or vandalism.Surplus lines policy: You may qualify for a policy from a surplus lines insurance company, though the coverage is usually limited, and you'll likely have to pay a high deductible. These companies also don't have to be licensed by the state where you live, which comes with significant drawbacks. You could be more limited in pursuing legal action against them, and if they go bankrupt, you could struggle to get your claim covered.How to dispute an insurance denialEven if you have a homeowners insurance policy in place, you might encounter roadblocks when you try to use it. Providers may deny your claim due to lack of coverage, insufficient documentation or another reason.Look at the notice with the reason for your denial. If you disagree with the decision, you can take these steps to dispute it:Review your policy: Carefully study your policy to see what it covers. Find out if any exclusions apply to your specific claim. If not, you may go on to dispute the decision.File an appeal: Call your insurance provider and ask for a review of your claim. See if there's any additional documentation or information you can provide to clarify the request. This might include photos, videos or a home inventory with receipts. The insurance company may send out someone to visit your home again and reassess the claim.Hire an insurance professional or attorney: Seek out a professional or hire an attorney to help you navigate the process. A public claims adjuster could also review your claim and provide their opinion. However, these avenues could be expensive, and there's no guarantee your claim will be approved.File a complaint: If your insurance provider is treating you unfairly, you could file a complaint with your state's insurance department. The department might connect you with additional resources that could help.If you've been denied insurance coverage for your most valuable asset, shop around to find an alternative option. Even if you can't qualify for a standard homeowners insurance plan, you may be able to get a state-sponsored plan or modified policy that offers some coverage in the event of an emergency.You need more than a roof over your head. You also need financial peace of mind that the roof is protected in case anything goes wrong.Correction, Jan. 26: Allstate announced its pause on new condo and homeowners insurance policies in California in 2022. State Farm made significant changes to its insurance policies in California in 2023 and 2024.More on homeowner protection:

Fanta partners with Xbox to give away some very, very bright hardwareWinner winner Fanta slinger.Image credit: Coca-Cola / Xbox News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 26, 2025 Coca-Cola has partnered with Xbox to give away a selection of super bright controllers "representing the most popular flavours in the brand's portfolio", such as orange, lemon, exotic, fruit twist, grape, and lemon-elderflower.As well as Fanta-inspired Xbox Series X console bundles and wireless controllers, there's also hundreds of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions up for grabs, too, although you should probably note that they can only be redeemed by new members and not existing ones, I'm afraid.Xbox Developer Direct - four promising games also coming to PlayStation.Watch on YouTubeDelving into the small print, it looks like there'll be 1600 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subs available, 15 Xbox wireless controllers - two each week for the first six weeks, and one per week in the remaining three - and two Xbox Series X console bundles.Players need to be 18 or over, able to scan the QR code, and willing to download the Coke App to see if they're a winner. You're welcome to try your luck up to 100 times between now and when the competition ends on 25th March, 2025 providing you live in one of the qualifying regions: Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and Norway. Good luck!Earlier today we reported that Xbox boss Phil Spencer said its brand identity is "evolving" now keeping first-party games exclusive to its own platform is no longer "a path for [Xbox]".

In BriefPosted:8:42 PM PST January 24, 2025Image Credits:Matt Cardy (opens in a new window) / Getty ImagesWall Street banks plan sale of X debt at a discountBankers are reportedly gearing up to offload debt used to fund Elon Musks social network, for which he paid $44 million in 2022 including $13 billion in financing. Morgan Stanley is leading the charge, hoping to sell senior debt at between 90 and 95 cents on the dollar, reports the WSJ.As notes the outlet, bankers typically dont hold debt for years, but volatile periods can impact those plans, and volatility has defined X since Musks takeover, with advertisers skedaddling over concerns that extreme content on the platform could damage their brands. Though Journal sources say that Xs financials are improving, Musk himself told staffers in a January email seen by the WSJ that, Our user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and were barely breaking even.Musk reportedly observed in that same email Xs power in shaping national conversations and outcomes. It isnt clear that its power is luring back advertisers, however. Meanwhile, a gesture made by Musk at President Trumps inaugural celebration that many construed as a fascist salute could further complicate the equation for big brands.TopicsSocial

In Reid Hoffmans new book Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right With Our AI Future, the LinkedIn co-founder makes the case that AI can extend human agency giving us more knowledge, better jobs, and improved lives rather than reducing it.That doesnt mean hes ignoring the technologys potential downsides. In fact, Hoffman (who wrote the book with Greg Beato) describes his outlook on AI, and on technology more generally, as one focused on smart risk taking rather than blind optimism.Everyone, generally speaking, focuses way too much on what could go wrong, and insufficiently on what could go right, Hoffman told me.And while he said he supports intelligent regulation, he argued that an iterative deployment process that gets AI tools into everyones hands and then responds to their feedback is even more important for ensuring positive outcomes.Part of the reason why cars can go faster today than when they were first made, is because we figured out a bunch of different innovations around brakes and airbags and bumpers and seat belts, Hoffman said. Innovation isnt just unsafe, it actually leads to safety.In our conversation about his book, we also discussed the benefits Hoffman (whos also a former OpenAI board member, current Microsoft board member, and partner at Greylock) is already seeing from AI, the technologys potential climate impact, and the difference between an AI doomer and an AI gloomer.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.Youd already written another book about AI, Impromptu. With Superagency, what did you want to say that you hadnt already?So Impromptu was mostly trying to show that AI could [provide] relatively easy amplification [of] intelligence, and was showing it as well as telling it across a set of vectors. Superagency is much more about the question around how, actually, our human agency gets greatly improved, not just by superpowers, which is obviously part of it, but by the transformation of our industries, our societies, as multiple of us all get these superpowers from these new technologies.The general discourse around these things always starts with a heavy pessimism and then transforms into call it a new elevated state of humanity and society. AI is just the latest disruptive technology in this. Impromptu didnt really address the concerns as much of getting to this more human future.Image: Simon & SchusterYou open by dividing the different outlooks on AI into these categories gloomers, doomers, zoomers, bloomers. We can dig into each of them, but well start with a bloomer since thats the one you classify yourself as. What is a bloomer, and why do you consider yourself one?I think a bloomer is inherently technology optimistic and [believes] that building technologies can be very, very good for us as individuals, as groups, as societies, as humanity, but that [doesnt mean] anything you can build is great.So you should navigate with risk taking, but smart risk taking versus blind risk taking, and that you engage in dialogue and interaction to steer. Its part of the reason why we talk about iterative deployment a lot in the book, because the idea is, part of how you engage in that conversation with many human beings is through iterative deployment. Youre engaging with that in order to steer it to say, Oh, if it has this shape, its much, much better for everybody. And it makes these bad cases more limited, both in how prevalent they are, but also how much impact they can have.And when you talk about steering, theres regulation, which well get to, but you seem to think the most promise lies in this sort of iterative deployment, particularly at scale. Do you think the benefits are just built in as in, if we put AI into the hands of the most people, its inherently small-d democratic? Or do you think the products need to be designed in a way where people can have input?Well, I think it could depend on the different products. But one of the things [were] trying to illustrate in the book is to say that just being able to engage and to speak about the product including use, dont use, use in certain ways that is actually, in fact, interacting and helping shape [it], right? Because the people building them are looking at that feedback. Theyre looking at: Did you engage? Did you not engage? Theyre listening to people online and the press and everything else, saying, Hey, this is great. Or, Hey, this really sucks. That is a huge amount of steering and feedback from a lot of people, separate from what you get from my data that might be included in iteration, or that I might be able to vote or somehow express direct, directional feedback.I guess Im trying to dig into how these mechanisms work because, as you note in the book, particularly with ChatGPT, its become so incredibly popular. So if I say, Hey, I dont like this thing about ChatGPT or I have this objection to it and Im not going to use it, thats just going to be drowned out by so many people using it.Part of it is, having hundreds of millions of people participate doesnt mean that youre going to answer every single persons objections. Some people might say, No car should go faster than 20 miles an hour. Well, its nice that you think that.Its that aggregate of [the feedback]. And in the aggregate if, for example, youre expressing something thats a challenge or hesitancy or a shift, but then other people start expressing that, too, then it is more likely that itll be heard and changed.And part of it is, OpenAI competes with Anthropic and vice versa. Theyre listening pretty carefully to not only what are they hearing now, but steering towards valuable things that people want and also steering away from challenging things that people dont want.We may want to take advantage of these tools as consumers, but they may be potentially harmful in ways that are not necessarily visible to me as a consumer. Is that iterative deployment process something that is going to address other concerns, maybe societal concerns, that arent showing up for individual consumers?Well, part of the reason I wrote a book on Superagency is so people actually [have] the dialogue on societal concerns, too. For example, people say, Well, I think AI is going to cause people to give up their agency and [give up] making decisions about their lives. And then people go and play with ChatGPT and say, Well, I dont have that experience. And if very few of us are actually experiencing [that loss of agency], then thats the quasi-argument against it, right?You also talk about regulation. It sounds like youre open to regulation in some contexts, but youre worried about regulation potentially stifling innovation. Can you say more about what you think beneficial AI regulation might look like?So, theres a couple areas, because I actually am positive on intelligent regulation. One area is when you have really specific, very important things that youre trying to prevent terrorism, cybercrime, other kinds of things. Youre trying to, essentially, prevent this really bad thing, but allow a wide range of other things, so you can discuss: What are the things that are sufficiently narrowly targeted at those specific outcomes?Beyond that, theres a chapter on [how] innovation is safety, too, because as you innovate, you create new safety and alignment features. And its important to get there as well, because part of the reason why cars can go faster today than when they were first made, is because we go, Oh, we figured out a bunch of different innovations around brakes and airbags and bumpers and seat belts. Innovation isnt just unsafe, it actually leads to safety.What I encourage people, especially in a fast moving and iterative regulatory environment, is to articulate what your specific concern is as something you can measure, and start measuring it. Because then, if you start seeing that measurement grow in a strong way or an alarming way, you could say, Okay, lets, lets explore that and see if theres things we can do.Theres another distinction you make, between the gloomers and the doomers the doomers being people who are more concerned about the existential risk of super intelligence, gloomers being more concerned about the short-term risks around jobs, copyright, any number of things. The parts of the book that Ive read seem to be more focused on addressing the criticisms of the gloomers.Id say Im trying to address the book to two groups. One group is anyone whos between AI skeptical which includes gloomers to AI curious.And then the other group is technologists and innovators saying, Look, part of what really matters to people is human agency. So, lets take that as a design lens in terms of what were building for the future. And by taking that as a design lens, we can also help build even better agency-enhancing technology.What are some current or future examples of how AI could extend human agency as opposed to reducing it?Part of what the book was trying to do, part of Superagency, is that people tend to reduce this to, What superpowers do I get? But they dont realize that superagency is when a lot of people get super powers, I also benefit from it.A canonical example is cars. Oh, I can go other places, but, by the way, when other people go other places, a doctor can come to your house when you cant leave, and do a house call. So youre getting superagency, collectively, and thats part of whats valuable now today.I think we already have, with todays AI tools, a bunch of superpowers, which can include abilities to learn. I dont know if youve done this, but I went and said, Explain quantum mechanics to a five-year-old, to a 12-year-old, to an 18-year-old. It can be useful at you point the camera at something and say, What is that? Like, identifying a mushroom or identifying a tree.But then, obviously theres a whole set of different language tasks. When Im writing Superagency, Im not a historian of technology, Im a technologist and an inventor. But as I research and write these things, I then say, Okay, what would a historian of technology say about what Ive written here?When you talk about some of these examples in the book, you also say that when we get new technology, sometimes old skills fall away because we dont need them anymore, and we develop new ones.And in education, maybe it makes this information accessible to people who might otherwise never get it. On the other hand, you do hear these examples of people who have been trained and acclimated by ChatGPT to just accept an answer from a chatbot, as opposed to digging deeper into different sources or even realizing that ChatGPT could be wrong.It is definitely one of the fears. And by the way, there were similar fears with Google and search and Wikipedia, its not a new dialogue. And just like any of those, the issue is, you have to learn where you can rely upon it, where you should cross check it, what the level of importance cross checking is, and all of those are good skills to pick up. We know where people have just quoted Wikipedia, or have quoted other things they found on the internet, right? And those are inaccurate, and its good to learn that.Now, by the way, as we train these agents to be more and more useful, and have a higher degree of accuracy, you could have an agent who is cross checking and says, Hey, theres a bunch of sources that challenge this content. Are you curious about it? That kind of presentation of information enhances your agency, because its giving you a set of information to decide how deep you go into it, how much you research, what level of certainty you [have.] Those are all part of what we get when we do iterative deployment.In the book, you talk about how people often ask, What could go wrong? And you say, Well, what could go right? This is the question we need to be asking more often. And it seems to me that both of those are valuable questions. You dont want to preclude the good outcomes, but you want to guard against the bad outcomes.Yeah, thats part of what a bloomer is. Youre very bullish on what could go right, but its not that youre not in dialogue with what could go wrong. The problem is, everyone, generally speaking, focuses way too much on what could go wrong, and insufficiently on what could go right.Another issue that youve talked about in other interviews is climate, and I think youve said the climate impacts of AI are misunderstood or overstated. But do you think that widespread adoption of AI poses a risk to the climate?Well, fundamentally, no, or de minimis, for a couple reasons. First, you know, the AI data centers that are being built are all intensely on green energy, and one of the positive knock-on effects is that folks like Microsoft and Google and Amazon are investing massively in the green energy sector in order to do that.Then theres the question of when AI is applied to these problems. For example, DeepMind found that they could save, I think it was a minimum of 15 percent of electricity in Google data centers, which the engineers didnt think was possible.And then the last thing is, people tend to over-describe it, because its the current sexy thing. But if you look at our energy usage and growth over the last few years, just a very small percentage is the data centers, and a smaller percentage of that is the AI.But the concern is partly that the growth on the data center side and the AI side could be pretty significant in the next few years.It could grow to be significant. But thats part of the reason I started with the green energy point.One of the most persuasive cases for the gloomer mindset, and one that you quote in the book, is an essay by Ted Chiang looking at how a lot of companies, when they talk about deploying AI, it seems to be this McKinsey mindset thats not about unlocking new potential, its about how do we cut costs and eliminate jobs. Is that something youre worried about?Well, I am more in transition than an end state. I do think, as I describe in the book, that historically, weve navigated these transitions with a lot of pain and difficulty, and I suspect this one will also be with pain and difficulty. Part of the reason why Im writing Superagency is to try to learn from both the lessons of the past and the tools we have to try to navigate the transition better, but its always challenging.I do think well have real difficulties with a bunch of different job transitions. You know, probably the starting one is customer service jobs. Businesses tend to part of what makes them very good capital allocators is they tend to go, How do we drive costs down in a variety of frames?But on the other hand, when you think about it, you say, Well, these AI technologies are making people five times more effective, making the sales people five times more effective. Am I gonna go into hire less sales people? No, Ill probably hire more. And if you go to the marketing people, marketing is competitive with other companies, and so forth. What about business operations or legal or finance? Well, all of those things tend to be [where] we pay for as much risk mitigation and management as possible.Now, I do think things like customer service will go down on head count, but thats the reason why I think its job transformation. One [piece of] good news about AI is it can help you learn the new skills, it can help you do the new skills, can help you find work that your skill set may more naturally fit with. Part of that human agency is making sure were building those tools in the transition as well.And thats not to say that it wont be painful and difficult. Its just to say, Can we do it with more grace?

Hi,I wonder about the best approach for screen-spaced effects for explosions, impacts, and aftershocks. Noticed them in many games, Im talking about the local radial blur-like effect. Here are two references:https://youtu.be/qj9ed1XWem8?si=0q5HFxI9xdWRDGWC&t=305In this one, light particles have trails similar to radial blur, but they are too consistent, I thought that this many samples for a screen space radial blur could lead to performance issues, maybe they used a different approach?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ply-2cjzC68&t=996sIn this example looks like a regular radial blur is used, but still, this is a kinda expensive screen space effect, and I wonder how they managed to add it without impacting the performance.Can anyone share some info about how to make these kinds of post effects, and most important, optimize them?

TL;DR: It's official, Apple's next-generation CarPlay is late. The delay is a rare miss for Cupertino, a company known for meeting its self-imposed deadlines and its highly predictable product cycles. The tech giant has quietly updated its website, removing all references to the supposed 2024 launch date, effectively acknowledging the pushback. Apple seems to remain committed to the project despite the delay, emphasizing ongoing collaboration with multiple automakers. "We continue to work closely with several automakers, enabling them to showcase their unique brand and visual design philosophies in the next generation of CarPlay," the company said in a statement to MacRumors.The next-generation CarPlay, first unveiled at WWDC 2022, promises a significant overhaul of the in-car experience. It's designed to integrate with a vehicle's instrument cluster, providing information on speed, climate control, and other car data directly through the CarPlay interface. Users will be able to control various vehicle functions, including radio and temperature, directly from the interface.While Apple has not provided a new timeline for the release, there are indications that development is progressing. References to the next-gen CarPlay were recently found in the iOS 18.3 beta, and new visuals of the system have been submitted to a European database.Previously, Apple had announced partnerships with several car manufacturers, including Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, and Volvo. In December 2023, Aston Martin and Porsche previewed their next-generation CarPlay designs, though neither has delivered a product to market.Meanwhile, some manufacturers like General Motors and Rivian have opted out of CarPlay integration, preferring to maintain control over their own automotive systems. However, Apple maintains that its current CarPlay platform is available in over 98 percent of new cars sold in the U.S. over the past few years. // Related StoriesApple's next-generation CarPlay promises to offer what the company calls "the best of iPhone and the best of your car." The system will allow drivers to personalize their experience, with customizable gauge cluster designs and layouts, including brand-specific options that reflect each automaker's style.Vehicle controls will see significant enhancements as well. For example, the adaptive cruise control feature will display a visual band in the instrument cluster, indicating the vehicle's proximity to the set speed. Other design elements will include color-coded fuel and temperature gauges, with red indicators providing warnings for low fuel or high engine temperatures. Moreover, the instrument cluster will showcase not only essential vehicle data but also real-time information such as dynamic maps and daily schedules.

When it comes to the Oscars, theres always something to bellyache about. Forget the unworthy films the Academy deems worthy. (Paging Ms. Prez, first name Emilia.) Its what doesnt get nominated that really ticks people off. Last January, even Hillary Clinton weighed in on the snubbing of Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig, star and writer-director, respectively, of Barbie. This year, grievances have been aired on behalf of Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, and Dune director Denis Villeneuve. None of the above heard their names called on Thursday morning when the nominations for the 2025 Oscars were unveiled.Regretfully, we are not immune to this powerful urge to gripe. Goofy though it may be to expend any emotional energy on the Academy Awards, which have been getting it wrong (and ignoring exceptional films) since their inception, theres one snub this year that feels particularly egregious one omission thats as annoying as it was easy to see coming. Command-F a full list of the 2025 nominations and say it with us in unison: Where, you gormless chumps, is the love for Challengers?Recommended VideosLuca Guadagninos playful drama about three young tennis champs tangled in a decade-spanning love triangle scored not a single nomination no, not even for that propulsive, Golden Globe-winning original score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. No one seems particularly surprised by its total absence from the race. Oscar bloggers wrote the film off as a long shot months ago. Setting aside the question of whether predicting awards season actually shapes awards season, the writing was on the wall. And yet it still boggles the mind: Served a smart, sexy entertainment for grownups, thousands of Academy voters voted nay.Josh OConnor and Zendaya in Challengers MGM / MGMThere are multiple categories for which Challengers could and should have competed. The script by Justin Kuritzkes is the years wittiest marvel of screenwriting a chronologically intricate three-hander that develops its relationships across two dovetailing timelines, with dialogue that pings back and forth like a ball served and returned. Guadagnino directs the ever-living hell out of that blueprint, bringing a virtuosic kineticism to dialogue exchanges and tense championship matches alike; arguably no filmmaker this year tackled scenes with this much athletic enthusiasm. And how many performances from 2024 were as charismatic as Josh OConnors turn as the mischievous, down-on-his-luck Patrick, mounting a comeback thats really a roundabout push to reconnect with an old friend and the beautiful fellow tennis star who came between them?RelatedAnd who could forget that throbbing Reznor-Ross symphony, a techno heartbeat that drives the action, on and off the court, as relentlessly as it ear-wormed its way onto gym playlists? You can hold the blasphemous opinion that maybe, just maybe, Guadagnino should have mixed the music down a little (the way it drowns out dialogue in key scenes is a bit much, however bold and purposeful) and still acknowledge that its the kind of infectious musical suite inseparable from the movie it augments, instrumental to its rhythm and tone that the Original Score category was seemingly created to honor.The way Challengers brought all these elements together should have made it a shoo-in for the Best Picture lineup, too. Yes, it was a competitive field, but how many of the final nominees supplied as collective a buzz of satisfaction? How many built to a better, more instantly iconic ending? Of course, great movies fail to make the cut every year. Thats the real folly of complaining about the Oscars: Youll go hoarse cataloging their slights. And certainly, there are movies that would benefit more from a nomination than Challengers, an already well-liked, widely-seen Hollywood movie that got good reviews and made healthy money.Mike Faist, Zendaya, and Josh OConnor in Challengers MGM / MGMBut thats the thing: The relative success of this film is worth celebrating, especially by an industry that could stand to learn from (and emulate) its example. Challengers is something of a unicorn in the modern movie landscape the sort of adult-oriented studio confection that too rarely gets made anymore. A movie about people and sex and relationships. A star-driven drama in an age when you usually have to look for those on the small screen, not the big one. Its like the second coming of Bull Durham another mnage trois of a sports movie that, incidentally, did score an Oscar nomination for its screenplay.So what stopped Hollywoods most prominent voting bloc from embracing a well-reviewed American crowd-pleaser that drummed up $50 million at the box office (aka more than most of the Best Picture nominees) and forcefully touched a meme-making zeitgeist? Timing might be to blame. Challengers, after all, opened way back in April. In recent years, the conventional wisdom that a pre-summer movie cant compete has been repeatedly, well, challenged. But recency bias still benefits late-breaking contenders at the expense of others. Look at the other big Zendaya vehicle of 2024, Dune: Part Two, which also opened in the spring after being delayed by the guild strikes. That movie did pick up some nominations but not as many as some initially predicted it would when it hit theaters.More than the when, it might be the what of Challengers that kept it out of the running. Its gotten to the point where the Academy, like the industry on a whole, sees movies in binary terms. On the one side, you have the arthouse films the festival favorites like Anora or The Brutalistor (sigh) Emilia Prez that make the case for cinema as a still-vital medium, worthy of the praise the Oscars reinforce. On the other side, you have the tenpole entertainments and popcorn spectacles that keep the lights on at Disney, Warner Bros., et al. Nominations for Wickedand Dune are as much about commercial performance as they are about quality, though it takes a certain respectability to make an awards contender out of a blockbuster.CHALLENGERS | Final TrailerChallengers doesnt really fit either of those labels. Its a serious piece of storytelling and filmmaking thats also a hoot. Its a deliriously fun movie that didnt make a billion dollars or employ hundreds to thousands of special-effects wizards. Its caught, in a sense, between the two poles of art and entertainment that now define the split priorities of Hollywood. We used to get a lot of studio films that fit such a description. Now a mid-budget success story like Challengers mostly exists in the streaming sphere, where movies so often go to disappear.Maybe the Academy ignored this great film because it represents a kind of moviemaking accessible but intelligent, endlessly enjoyable (and rewatchable) but not aimed at all ages and demographics that barely exists anymore. Which is one big reason, of course, that they shouldnt have ignored it. Challengers is gleeful proof that, every once in a while, they do make em like they used to. If that isnt deserving of a trip to the Dolby Theatre and a shot at the gold, what is?Challengers is available to rent or purchase from the major digital services. For more of A.A. Dowds writing, visit his Authory page.Editors Recommendations

Apples new smart hub could look like a HomePod with a seven-inch screen attached to it, and a higher-end version of the same device could even have a robot arm that lets it track users around the room. In his latest Power On! newsletter, Mark Gurman lays out what fans can expect from the new device. It aims to improve on the capabilities of the existing HomePod and elevate Apple HomeKit to a higher level. Gurman said, I still consider it Apples most significant release of the year because its the first step toward a bigger role in the smart home.Currently, HomeKit users can set up a home hub using either the HomePod, HomePod Mini, Apple TV, or similar device. Its new smart home hub is rumored to be part of an attempt to elevate HomeKit to the same level of Alexa or Google Assistant.Murat orlu/Unsplash / AppleGurman calls the new smart device a smaller and cheaper iPad that lets users control appliances, conduct FaceTime chats and handle other tasks. It doesnt sound like the new hub will stand alone, though; Gurman goes on to say that it should be followed by a higher-end version in a few years. That version should be able to pan and tilt to keep users in-frame during video calls, or just to keep the display visible as someone moves around the home.Recommended VideosThis information contradicts earlier leaks that predicted a six-inch screen, but they do corroborate other details like the idea Apple would combine an iPad and AI features with a HomePod. Other details are still known, like whether the device will use an original operating system. The overall plan is to make the new smart device the center of an Apple-based smart home and open the doors to a more conversational Siri.Editors Recommendations

President Trump said the US would issue tariffs on Colombia after it rejected deportation flights.Colombian President Gustavo Petro halted flights with deported migrants from landing in his country.Trump said on Truth Social that the 25% tariffs would increase to 50% in a week.President Donald Trump on Sunday said the United States will impose 25% tariffs on Colombia after its president turned away two flights carrying deported migrants."A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that a human being deserves," Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Sunday. "That is why I returned the US military planes that were carrying Colombian migrants."Trump responded on Truth Social, announcing immediate tariffs and vowing they'd increase if Petro didn't comply."I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures: Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States," he said. "In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%."Trump also imposed a travel ban on Colombian government officials and visa sanctions on individuals tied to the country's government."These measures are just the beginning," the president said. "We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!"Trump's posture on the repatriation of migrants has rankled some governments in Latin America. NBC News reported that Mexico on Thursday also refused to allow a US military flight carrying migrants to land in the country.Trump has long made immigration a central issue. While President Joe Biden was in office, Trump railed against the number of migrants who crossed the US southern border, making the issue a centerpiece of his 2024 campaign.Trump pledged during the campaign to enact the biggest mass deportation plan in US history once he assumed office for his second term.