• Why iOS 18.3 sets up a big moment for Apple Intelligence
    9to5mac.com
    iOS 18.3 is launching next week. Its not particularly feature-packed, but the update will offer a significant moment for Apple Intelligence thanks to a bold Apple choice.Apple Intelligence is enabled by default in iOS 18.3Apple has decided that iOS 18.3 is the right time to enable Apple Intelligence by default on all compatible devices.The companys AI features first rolled out in iOS 18.1 in October, then got big upgrades in December with iOS 18.2.But before now, AI has always been opt-in. You had to explicitly turn it on.Now, Apple is making the bold decision to activate AI for all.The timing is especially significant due to another Apple Intelligence change in iOS 18.3.iOS 18.3 will temporarily disable one AI featureTech companies stirring controversy with AI launches is nothing new, and Apple unfortunately hasnt gone unscathed in that department.Recently, the company has come under fire for AI notification summaries that offer inaccurate news reports.Which is why, perhaps unsurprisingly, while iOS 18.3 is in one way a big show of confidence in Apple Intelligence, it also comes with a key safeguard.At the same time the masses get opted in to AI by default, Apple is turning off notification summaries for two app categories: News & Entertainment.Its not often that an iOS update removes a feature that was previously available. But thats exactly what will happen in iOS 18.3at least temporarily.Apple plans to continue working to improve the accuracy of the feature, and restore it at a later date.In the meantime though, the sole feature that has so far proven a source for controversy for Apple Intelligence will be temporarily scaled back.Apple continues to approach AI with caution per stated principlesThis move reflects Apples continued caution around the area of AI.Throughout the early Apple Intelligence beta testing period, and even after iOS 18.1s public launch, Apple put users on waitlists to ensure its AI tools were working properly.One of Apples Responsible AI principles is to Design with care.We take precautions at every stage of our process, including design, model training, feature development, and quality evaluation to identify how our AI tools may be misused or lead to potential harm. We will continuously and proactively improve our AI tools with the help of user feedback.iOS 18.3 serves as fresh evidence of this principle.Apple used an extended testing period before enabling AI by default for users.But even in making that bold move, Apple is pausing one of its AI features that isnt yet working as intended.Will there be much pushback or controversy that comes from Apple Intelligence being turned on by default?Well have to wait and see. But for now, the time and the method for this move seem right.What do you think of iOS 18.3s Apple Intelligence changes? 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
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  • In Leaked Email, Elon Musk Admits Defeat on Twitter
    futurism.com
    "Our user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and were barely breaking even."Cutting LossesBanks, that loaned multi-hyphenate billionaire Elon Musk an appreciable $13 billion for his ill-advised $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in late 2022 are getting ready to offload billions of debt they accrued as a result, the Wall Street Journal reports.The hope is to minimize the hurt as they sell off the debt, a massive scar haunting the mercurial CEO's disastrous social media platform shopping spree.And after a chaotic couple of years, and Musk seemingly doing his best to wipe out what was left of the platform's largely ad-dependant revenue with increasingly erratic behavior, X-formerly-Twitter's finances have yet to recover. The company is still drowning in accumulated debt while loaners are struggling with massive interest payments.In short, the financials are still looking pretty dire as Musk himself admitted in a January email to staff reviewed by the WSJ."Our user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and were barely breaking even," he admitted.Scraping ByMusk's own actions, including racist tirades, tantrums, and personal insults, sent advertisers the platform's top source of revenue running for the hills.X has maintained that its financials are improving, with brands coming back to advertise on the platform, the WSJ reports.But as the increasingly hate speech-filled microblogging site continues to embrace what it claims to be "free speech," several key competitors, including Meta's Threads and Twitter alternative Bluesky, have emerged.Both platforms have seen a dramatic influx of new users fleeing Twitter, indicating widespread disillusionment with Musk's disdain for content moderation and embrace of the extreme far right.Now that Musk has catapulted himself onto the political world stage by throwing himself at Trump's feet, banks are seemingly seeing this moment as an opportunity to sell their debt without incurring huge losses.In short, Musk's acquisition of Twitter remains a major blemish on his resume.At the same time, the platform has turned out to be a powerful tool for pumping out a firehose of hate speech, state propaganda, and disinformation. And who knows how much that's worth to Musk or Trump?"Over the last few months, weve witnessed the power of X in shaping national conversations and outcomes," Musk wrote in the email.Share This Article
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  • Trump's Staff Have Had It With Elon Musk's Insubordination
    futurism.com
    "It's clear he has abused the proximity to the president."Spilled Tea PartyMore cracks are showing in the testy alliance between president Donald Trump and Elon Musk.Behind the scenes, some of Trump's staffers are incensed at Musk for breaking rank and blasting the president's $500 billion AI deal, .Speaking anonymously, one White House official said that the self-styled "First Buddy" jumped the gun by criticizing the infrastructure project.In fact, the whole camp may be beginning to sour on their attention-seeking billionaire talisman; a Republican close to the administration told the outlet that Trump's staff implying this is the prevailing sentiment among the president's confidantes is "furious" at Musk for his tirade against the dealjust after it was announced."It's clear he has abused the proximity to the president," a Trump ally told Politico. "The problem is the president doesn't have any leverage over him and Elon gives zero fucks."What About Me?Trump's exorbitant Stargate project plans to raise half a trillion dollars of private capital toward building AI data centers across the United States over the next four years. It's being funded by some big names in tech, including OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank not to mention the Emirati investment firm MGX.Musk's own AI startup, xAI, was notably left out of Stargate, while his arch nemesis, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, practically gets to be its poster child. It appears that these perceived slights led him to undermining the deal almost immediately."They don't actually have the money," Musk accused the project's backers of in a tweet replying to OpenAI's announcement. "SoftBank has well under $10B secured," he added. "I have that on good authority."Altman was forced to defend his honor. "I realize what is great for the country isn't always what's optimal for your companies, but in your new role I hope you'll mostly put [the US] first," he replied to Musk.Billionaire BrawlPresenting a unified front is key to any administration that doesn't want to ooze total incompetence. As such, for someone so close to the president to trash one of its biggest initiatives out the gate is kind of extraordinary.It sounds like Musk has plenty of his own ideas in mind regarding AI. "We are now working with him to make sense of his ideas ideas are innovative. Execution not so much," the White House official told Politico, adding that staffers are still hearing out Musk about his concerns over the tech.Publicly, Trump himself seems mostly unbothered by the catty infighting, merely commenting that, like Elon, he harbors "certain hatreds of people too." Still, if the president's staff have resentments towards Musk, those simmering tensions could hit a boiling point in the future.In any case, it shouldn't be surprising that Musk, a guy who tweets deranged conspiracy theories all day, isn't a master of statecraft or of simply knowing when to shut his trap. To be fair, Trump isn't known for his demure demeaner, either. But that's his whole brand, and there's only room for so many motormouths in one administration.More on Musk: Elon Musk's Grok AI Analyzes His Nazi SaluteShare This Article
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  • Disney Announces Closing Date For Jim Hensons Final Muppets Film
    screencrush.com
    Its official: Jim Hensons finalMuppets project Muppet*Vision 3D at Disneys Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World will close for good in a matter of months.The news is not shocking at this point; Disney announced the beloved attraction would close to make way for a newMonsters Inc.area back in November. And the plan for thisMonsters Inc.land and the possibility thatMuppet*Vision 3D may have to close to make room for it has been publiclyknown since August.Which is exactly whats happening. According toDisney Parks Blogthe Grand Avenue area [whereMuppet*Vision 3D is located] will begin a phase closing in May, with the last day to dine at Melroses Ristorante Italiano on May 10.Muppet*Vision 3D and the adjacent PizzeRizzo restaurant will then close on June 7.DisneyDisneyloading...READ MORE: 10 Fictional Amusement Parks We Wish We Could VisitMuppet*Vision isThat aspect makes the film even moresignificantto longtime Muppet fans. Casual parkgoers just enjoy the attraction itself, which is whimsical and fun and makes excellent use of its 3D and 4D effects.Disney has already said that while the Muppets are losing their theater, they will become the stars of another Disney Hollywood Studios attraction apparently in need of a refresh. They will become the new subjects of the parks Rock n Roller Coaster, which currently features the songs and likenesses of Aerosmith. (Disney has yet to announce a final date for the Aerosmith version of that ride.)As forMuppet*Vision 3D, Disney previous claimed they were having creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future. What that might mean is unclear; perhaps they will release the actual film on home video, minus the in-theater effects. Or perhaps some of the physical elements of the show building could make their way over to the Muppets new home at Rock n Roller Coaster. Or the conversations could amount to nothing, and this could be the true final curtain for Jim Hensons final Muppets film. If thats true, youve got until June 7 to see it.Get our free mobile appAmazing Theme Park Rides Based on Movies That Were Never BuiltFiled Under: Jim Henson, The Muppets, Walt Disney WorldCategories: Movie News
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  • Once-Beloved Home Video Formats That No Longer Exist
    screencrush.com
    It is a terrible thing to realize you have become An Old.I bought a few movies on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K recently; Im working on a project, and I need access to their special features, most of whichare not available in any form on streaming or online.As a result, the space next to my TV is filling up with lots of little black and blue plastic cases. Whenmy youngest daughterspotted them sitting there recently,she asked What are those things?Movies, I said.There are movies inthere? she repliedin a voice steeped in confusion. (She sounded exactly likeChristine Taylor tells Owen Wilson the files arein the computer inZoolander.)Even ten years ago,abunch of physical media would not havegenerated such bewilderment from a child. Certainly when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s, noTV stand was complete without astack of movies in some format or another. Not anymore. These days, most people look to streaming and clouds for their home entertainment. That goes for me too; I still own dozens of Blu-rays and 4Ks, but theyre mostly stored out of sight in closets and cabinets. Hence my daughter has no idea what a DVD is.The digital revolution has consigned a lot of perfectlyserviceable technology to the dustbin of history. Its kind of incredible to look back at just how many formats have come and gone. In tribute to these once great home video formats and also so I dont have to explain this stuff to my daughter the next time she stumbles across myancient VHS copy ofGymkata here are ten of the most notable ones. (R.I.P.)Once-Popular Home Video Formats That No Longer ExistThese popular ways to watch movies and TV shows are now basically extinct.READ MORE: The Silliest Names for DVD Directors Cuts of MoviesGet our free mobile appDVDs That Sold For Shocking Amounts of MoneyThese DVD discs and box sets recently sold for hundreds of dollars eBay.Filed Under: Blu-ray, DVD, S-VHSCategories: DVD and Blu-ray, Movie News
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  • Clipboard Health: Customer Support Specialist
    weworkremotely.com
    About the Role:We are seeking experienced customer support specialists with a focus on providing high-quality service to Enterprise-level Customers (Healthcare Facilities). Youll be responsible for owning and resolving issues raised by these clients, ensuring that they receive prompt, tailored solutions that meet their specific needs.Key Responsibilities:Manage and resolve escalated queries from business customers via phone, chat, and email.Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., legal, billing, operations, etc.) to solve complex customer issues and ensure timely resolution.Ensure all customer interactions are tracked, and issues are resolved within established service-level agreements (SLAs).Provide professional, empathetic service to enterprise clients, particularly during high-stakes situations.Skills and Experience:3-4+ years of experience providing specialized customer support, B2B preferred, ideally within a SaaS or enterprise software environment.Proven experience managing escalations and maintaining strong relationships with business customers.Experience working towards High CSAT (>90%) and QA scores in B2B environments.Ability to handle an average of 30+ calls and 15+ emails daily, with a focus on resolution and customer satisfaction.Familiarity with SLA management and complex customer issue resolution.Why Work at CBH?Join a fast-paced, innovative startup unicorn that is making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of customers.Work remotely with a diverse team from around the world.Access opportunities for personal and professional growth, with support to develop new skills and explore different areas of the business.System Requirements:A reliable laptop/desktop (no Chromebooks or Linux OS).Minimum 20 Mbps wired internet connection.Wired headset.Quiet, distraction-free working environment.Stable power and internet connectivity.If you're excited to provide excellent customer service and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply today!
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  • Mural: Customer Support Representative
    weworkremotely.com
    Time zones: GMT (UTC +0)ABOUT THE TEAMOur Customer Support team is based in several different countries, providing support to customers around the globe. We have a rich mixture of cultures and backgrounds and have a strong team spirit of helping each other. Our work helps unlock customers using our platform and drives improved customer satisfaction and engagement.YOUR MISSIONAs a Customer Support Representative you will respond to customer requests, provide general support and engage with customers to help them achieve their goals. As a successful candidate you will be able to convey how exciting and innovative our software is. You will turn our current customer base into Mural fanatics by showing how easy and fun it is to collaborate in design thinking with Mural.WHAT YOU'LL DOManage and respond to customer requestsUnderstand our customers and become their advocateEducate and instruct customers through email, chat, phone call and videoAssist the Customer Experience team with managing their accounts as neededCollaborate with the Product team on how to improve the productCollaborate with Customer Success on education programsWHAT YOU'LL BRING2+ years experience in software customer support (ideally B2B)Fluency in spoken and written English (additional languages are a plus)Willingness and passion for understanding, helping and teaching customersThe curiosity to find new, better ways to solve problemsA strong passion to help teams succeed, and empathy with usersExperience troubleshooting and reporting software bugsExperience tracking bugs with a QA and development teamGreat visual communication skillsThe ability to provide clear and concise guidance through emails, over the phone, video or in personAvailability to work some weekend shiftsThe hours will be 14:00 to 22:00 ARTEqual OpportunityWe will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
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  • Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 25, #328
    www.cnet.com
    Looking for the most recent Strands answer?Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.Todays NYTStrandspuzzle is actually a really fun one. Once you see the pattern in the answers, you should be able to solve it without too much trouble. But if you need hints and answers, read on.Also, I go into depth about therules for Strands in this story.If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more:NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So FarHint for today's Strands puzzleToday's Strands theme is:Seeing double.If that doesn't help you, here's a clue: Like bookkeeper.Clue words to unlock in-game hintsYour goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:LOOT,WOOT, BATE, TABS, SEEN, LOON, SOON, SLED, WHIP, CUFF, SLAB, POOR, MEET, BALLAnswers for today's Strands puzzleThese are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you've got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:COFFEE, BALLOON, SUCCEED, COMMITTEE, WHIPPOORWILLToday's Strands spangramToday's Strands spangram isLETTERS.To find it, start with the L that's five letters down in the far left row, and wind across. The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNET
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  • Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 25, #594
    www.cnet.com
    Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.Today's Connections puzzle isn't easy. But if you like knowing about the history of words we absorbed into English, you'll get a kick out of the blue group. Read on for clues and today's Connections answers.The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.Read more:Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every TimeHints for today's Connections groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.Yellow group hint: The bell is ringing.Green group hint: Downhill time.Blue group hint: Thanks, Tokyo.Purple group hint: It means three.Answers for today's Connections groupsYellow group: School periods.Green group: Features of a ski resort.Blue group: Words derived from Japanese.Purple group: Words after the prefix "tri-".Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections answers? The completed NYT Connections puzzle for Jan. 25, 2025, #594. NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is school periods. The four answers are class, homeroom, lunch and recess.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is features of a ski resort. The four answers are lift, lodge, mogul and slope.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is words derived from Japanese. The four answers are emoji, ginkgo, karaoke and tycoon.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is words after the prefix "tri-". The four answers are angle, cycle, dent and pod.
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  • Weekend Rain Poses Landslide Risk in Wildfire-Scarred Los Angeles
    www.scientificamerican.com
    January 24, 20253 min readRain Is Coming to Burning Los Angeles and Will Bring Its Own RisksThe Los Angeles area is expecting rain this weekendpotentially offering a respite from fires that have blazed throughout the month but increasing the risk of debris slidesBy Meghan Bartels edited by Dean VisserTrees burned by the Palisades Fire are seen from Will Rogers State Park, with the City of Los Angeles in the background on January 15, 2025. Apu Gomes/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles area has been at the mercy of fire and wind this month, and this weekend a third element will join the mix: water.Rain is forecast to begin as soon as Saturday afternoon and to continue as late as Monday evening, says meteorologist Kristan Lund of the National Weather Services Los Angeles office. The area desperately needs the precipitation, but experts are warily monitoring the situation because rain poses its own risks in recently burned areasmost notably the potential occurrence of mudslides and similar hazards.Rain is good because weve been so dry, Lund says. However, if we get heavier rain rates or we get the thunderstorms, its actually a lot more dangerous because you can get debris flows.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.A burned hillside in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Mandeville Canyon area of Los Angeles, California, on January 12, 2025.Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesFires do a couple of different things to the landscape that can increase the risk of burned material, soil and detritus hurtling out of control.When fires burn hot or long enough, they leave an invisible layer of waxy material just under the surface of the ground. This develops from decomposing leaves and other organic material, which contain naturally hydrophobic or water-repellent compounds. Fire can vaporize this litter, and the resulting gas seeps into the upper soilwhere it quickly cools and condenses, forming the slippery layer.When rain falls on ground that has been affected by this phenomenon, it cant sink beyond the hydrophobic layerso the water flows away, often hauling debris with it. All of the trees, branches, everything thats been burnedunfortunately, if it rains, that stuff just floats, Lund says. Its really concerning.Even a fire that isnt severe enough to create a hydrophobic layer can still cause to debris flows, says Danielle Touma, a climate scientist at the University of Texas at Austin. Under normal conditions, trees and other plants usually trap some rain above the surface, slowing the waters downward journey. But on freshly burned land theres much less greenery to interfere; all the rain immediately hits the ground.And whereas healthy vegetation holds soil together with its roots, fires can easily burn off the fine roots that do most of that work. So then you have all this loose soil that can be transported by water as well, Touma says.This month the three largest Los Angelesarea fires have created nearly 50,000 acres of fresh burn scar, Lund notes, and some of that scar is in mountainous terrain that facilitates mudslides. Current forecasts suggest the rain will mostly fall below the rate of a quarter-inch per hourbelow the intensity that tends to increase the risk of debris flows, Lund says. But this weekend the region does face a 10 to 20 percent chance of thunderstorms, which can cause short bursts of rain that may be heavy enough to trigger flows.Fortunately, the rain should also help firefighters tame the blazes that remain active. The largest, the Palisades Fire, is currently 77 percent contained. The second largest, the Eaton Fire, is 95 percent contained. The Hughes Fire is third largest and only 56 percent contained. A fire can be fully contained but still burning. The containment percentage refers to the amount of the perimeter that has barriers that firefighters expect will prevent further spread.This weekends rain may offer a respite, but it wont end the regions risk of blazes. Unfortunately, we pretty much need a widespread two to three inches to really end what we call high fire season, Lund says. It will help, but it wont pull us out of high fire season.Even once the fires stop burning, the risk of debris flows will remainand will linger far beyond the coming weeks. Debris flows are most worrying within the first two years of a fire, Lund says, but depending on conditions, they can occur even longer after a burn scar forms. Recovering from a fire includes surveying the land to see where the debris flow risk is highest and what can be done to protect people in such areas, Touma says. There is work to be done even if the storm passes and nothing happens. Were still not in the clear.In general, Toumas work indicates that this scenariorecent fire conditions followed by heavy rainswill continue to become increasingly common as climate change unfolds and the warmer atmosphere is able to hold and deliver larger amounts of water. We should be expecting more of these postfire debris flows in the future, just based on meteorological conditions, Touma says.
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