Social network Bluesky is doubling down on video. After it added a new TikTok-like custom video feed last week in the wake of the U.S. ban on the popular video app (now on pause), the company on Monday announced its adding a new video tab to Bluesky user profiles.The tab will allow people to showcase the videos theyve uploaded to Bluesky, whether thats original content or something they grabbed from other social networks, including, of course, TikTok. But in addition to simply chasing the potential for more video-based social activity, video could potentially offer Bluesky another revenue stream if it catches on. The company could charge for features like longer or higher-quality video as part of its upcoming premium subscription plan, if it chooses.However, not all Bluesky users are ready for their network to become just another TikTok rival. Some people are even asking in the replies to the companys announcement if theyll be able to disable the tab on their own profiles. Others are requesting that Bluesky prioritizes other features theyre used to on X, like an Edit button.Still, theres clear demand and developer interest in building video-first Bluesky clients at present. Several developers are already working on Bluesky TikTok apps, including Berlin developer Sebastian Vogelsang, who makes the Bluesky apps Skeets and now Flashes (a Bluesky Instagram of sorts) and the teams behind upcoming apps Reelo and Skylight, for instance.Celeb investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban even recently said hes open to backing a video app built on the AT Protocol, which powers Bluesky.The new user profile video tab was introduced in the Bluesky 1.97 update, which also adds a menu for blocking a user or deleting a conversation after reporting a DM (direct message) and other translation improvements.

In BriefPosted:10:05 AM PST January 27, 2025Image Credits:Anadmist / Getty ImagesAI startup DeepSeek pauses signups amid cyber incidentDeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup that made waves in the AI world last week when it released its open-source R1 model, is pausing new user signups.The company has temporarily paused new user registrations this morning, according to CNBC reporting, due to a cyberattack. Existing users can still access their accounts with no issue.TechCrunch reached out to DeepSeek for comment and will update the story if we hear back.This comes just days after DeepSeek first became the topic du jour of the AI world, driven by industry excitement over its R1 model. DeepSeek claims its reasoning model beats OpenAIs o1 on multiple benchmarks. Today the company released a new image model family.DeepSeeks app hit 2.6 million downloads on Sunday, according to data from Appfigures, with 1 million downloads coming from last Friday alone.Topics

Grab your straw hats! The LEGO Group, Netflix, and Tomorrow Studios have teamed to bring the epic live-action series One Piece to life - in LEGO form. The collaboration will offer multiple new LEGO sets, inspired by some of the most iconic scenes in the series.This is a truly special collaboration. For the first time, LEGO play and the exciting world of anime meet, said Lena Dixen, Senior Vice President for Core Businesses at the LEGO Group. Building the world of One Piece, as depicted in the Netflix live-action adaptation, in LEGO brick form has been such an exciting challenge and I couldn't be more excited for fans to experience the new adventures this One Piece collaboration will bring them for the first time. Throughout this project with Netflix and Tomorrow Studios, it has been an exciting, collaborative process, and I think that shows in all the grand adventures we will begin to unveil soon.It has been an honor to bring the magnificent world of One Piece to life both on and off the screen, added Josh Simon, Vice President of Consumer Products, Netflix. We are excited to collaborate with LEGO, a brand synonymous with creativity and the joy of play, to mark a historic moment as we build out the treasured mangas adventures in iconic LEGO form for the first time ever. Through every detail of the design process, we've worked to meticulously create a collection of playsets that will give fans new ways to live out their own epic voyages into the Grand Line one special brick at a time.Based on Eiichiro Odas manga series, One Piece follows the daring young pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, who has a dream of becoming King of the Pirates. On his quest, Luffy encounters other pirates, bounty hunters and corrupt generals. Some turn out to be fierce enemies while others become steadfast allies like his crewmates Nami, Roronoa Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji.Source: Netflix Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologistL'Wrenbrings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

Creative studio Psyop has announced the promotion of Jen Cadic to MD, Animation and Andrea Panda to MD, Live Action/VFX.We are thrilled to announce this news, said Psyop co-founder Marie Hyon. These two remarkable women embody everything Psyop values in our creative journeydedication, passion, and intelligence that continually elevates our work. Jen and Andrea arent just leaders; they are champions of talent, advocates for our creative ambitions, and stewards of a culture that prizes quality over shortcuts, nuance over noise. Its particularly inspiring to see womens leadership at the forefront of our company, shaping the way we create, collaborate, and grow.Cadics history with Psyop spans over a decade. Before returning to the studio for her second tenure in 2022, she became a founding member and managing director of Flight School, where she executive produced a collection of games and interactive content including the Hunger Games VR Experience.Creative storytelling has always been where passion, creativity, and innovation converge, and Psyop exemplifies these qualities at every turn, Cadic said. I am excited to explore new creative spaces while doubling down on what makes Psyop, Psyop everlasting stories led by iconic design and memorable characters. Extraordinary talent has always been Psyop's core, and I'm eager to champion our roster of visionary directors and exceptional artists.Panda joined Psyop as executive producer after almost a decade working with directors such as The Daniels, Alejandro Inarritu, and Guy Ritchie for brands including Nike, Apple and Calvin Klein. She is now focused on the development of Psyops live-action and VFX offerings with head of production Tina Pavlides and VFX EP Rachael Byrne, boasting talent including Terry Hall, Valle Duhamel and Christian Bevilacqua.The creative marketplace hasnt just evolvedit has fundamentally transformed, said Panda. After many years in the industry its become clear to me that visions like Psyops represent the future. Our Directors bring innovation, passion, versatility, and a collaborative spirit, viewing each project through a broader, unified lens. Their live-action and mixed media expertise blend seamlessly between creative realms. Experiencing the power of a holistic approach through to finish has redefined my perspective. Now, I cant imagine how we ever did it differently.Source: Psyop Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologistL'Wrenbrings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

Frank Lloyd Wrights lauded Hollyhock House turned 100 years old last year. To celebrate the centennial affair, artist Janna Ireland was invited to display 21 photographs of the Los Angeles abode, the citys sole World Heritage Site. The photographs by Ireland now on view at Hollyhock House zoom in on some of its most intimate details, which took cues from a bevy of influences, Wright himself said, including the Prairie Style, but also Mayan, Aztec, Asian, and Egyptian architecture. Wright called Hollyhock House a California Romanza.Janna Ireland: Even by Proxy is very much rooted in the present: The artist focused on Hollyhock Houses subtle details, she said, in an attempt to make visible the care and conservation that sustains it over time. Its an intimate portrait of an renowned building at 100 years old, and all of its blemishes.The photographs detail cracks in the glass windows, the craftsmanship of the custom wood furnishings, and the aging (and repair) of the hollow clay and stucco used to the build the residence.The show coincides with Hollyhock Houses 100th birthday. (Janna Ireland/Courtesy City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs)Plants frame a statue positioned in the center of the pool at Hollyhock House (Janna Ireland/Courtesy City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs)Even by proxy is a phrase Wright often used to describe the fraught relationship between architect and client. I regard the story of Hollyhock House, and how it came to be in spite of the often contentious relationship between heiress Aline Barnsdall and architect Frank Lloyd Wright, as one of the great L.A. stories, Ireland said in an artist statement. It is a tale of ego and conflicting ambitions, as so many of the best stories are, Ireland continued. My photographs are about light and shadow, wood and concrete, and the labor involved in preserving Wright and Barnsdalls complicated project for future generations.A view out toward Hollyhock Houses courtyard is layered with reflections of the interior architecture. (Janna Ireland/Courtesy City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs)Oak furnishings inside were custom-designed by Wright. (Janna Ireland/Courtesy City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs)Abbey Chamberlain Brach, Hollyhock House director and curator, contextualized Irelands show with past photographers who shot the house.At the sites centennial, Janna Ireland beautifully documents the landmark structure, showing signs of life, scars, and activity along with striking interplay of light and shadow, Brach said. This commission builds a rich photographic legacy for Hollyhock House, including work by Margrethe Mather, Edmund Teske, and Julius Shulman, and here Ireland reframes the storied site, capturing its continued resonances into the 21st century.Janna Ireland: Even by Proxy was scheduled to open on January 16, but its debut was pushed back to January 26 because of the California wildfires. The house regularly plays host to art exhibitions, last spring floral arrangements from Ravi GuneWardena were installed throughout the home.The exhibition is open through September 27.

2023s highly commended project was Housing for rubber workers in Chiapas, Mexico by Manuel Cervantes EstudioThe Architectural Review is seeking the most innovative and creative houses in the world enter the AR House awards todayThe private house occupies a unique position in the history of architecture. Beyond its function of shelter, it is an object of fantasy, a source of delight, a talisman and a testing ground. Launched in 2010, the AR House awards recognises creativity, originality and excellence in the design of dwellings. The house a key rite of passage for architects offers the potential for innovation and is critical to the ferment and crystallisation of new ideas.The AR is looking for projects built in the last five years. Perfection is not required: were seeking inventive ideas that push the type forward, whatever the scale and construction cost. This is your chance to be recognised on the global stage as a leading designer of exceptional house projects.AR House awards 2025Early bird deadline Friday 9 May. Click here to find out more and send us your work today2024s AR House winner, a series of homes designed by Manuel Cervantes Estudio for families displaced by hurricanes in Acapulco, MexicoCredit:Csar BjarAll entries will be reviewed by the expert international judging panel which will choose a shortlist of fifteen houses, of which six finalists will be visited by an AR critic before the winner is selected by the judges. Winning and commended projects will be featured in the ARs December/January issue and all shortlisted projects will be promoted on the AR website to over a million readers worldwide.Big Space, Little Space by Davidson Rafailidis was 2020s winnerCredit:Florian HolzherrThe AR House awards are diverse and wide-ranging. Last year, the AR House winner was Post-hurricane houses by Manuel Cervantes Estudio, a series of modular homes in Acapulco, Mexico, built for residents displaced by a destructive hurricane in 2023. Other previous winners includeEl Garaje by NOMOS which transformed a car repair shop into a home in Madrid, Spain, Davidson Rafailidis Big Space, Little Space transformation of a 1920s garage into a small house in Buffalo, Habitat for Orphan Girls in Iran by ZAV Architects, a modular furniture system for families in Hong Kongs subdivided apartments by Domat,and Fayland House by David Chipperfield Architects.We look forward to receiving your work.2025-01-27AR EditorsShare

Pieces on Green, 25 x 35 centimeters. All images courtesy of Deniz Kurdak, shared with permissionDeniz Kurdak Crafts Fragility and Resilience in Embroidered Depictions of PorcelainJanuary 27, 2025ArtCraftKate MothesWhat draws me to the motif of ceramics is the deep sense of belonging they evoke in me, says Deniz Kurdak. The London-based artist is fascinated by blue-and-white porcelaina style that originated in China as early as the 7th century and was broadly imitated and collected around the globeand the way certain pieces inspire familiarity. She adds, They have even found their way into my grandmothers home.Themes of identity, belonging, and memory play central roles in Kurdaks work, as she draws on personal histories and bases her compositions on real objects that remind her of pieces her grandmother owned. Fragments, 30 x 40 centimetersGrowing up with an abusive father, I found sanctuary in my grandparents homea safe, predictable, and nurturing space where I felt accepted, the artist tells Colossal. Along with my admiration for blue-and-white porcelain, my passion for textiles and embroidery was passed down to me by my grandmother.Bringing conceptual elements to needlework, a craft traditionally dismissed in art circles as womens work, she emphasizes expression and narrative. I like to reimagine the acts of cutting, stitching, and embroidering as forms of emotional repair, she says, allowing me to reconstruct and navigate the complexities of my personal history.Long associated with its calming and meditative nature, embroidery has become both a medium and a means of reflection in my artistic process, Kurdak says. Seemingly at odds with making intimate and methodical stitches, her images suggest the violence of breakage, suddenness, and the relationship between ornament and utility.Kurdak is intrigued by dualitiesfragility and resilience, belonging and displacementwhich mirror the tensions and contradictions of the human condition. Contrasting brittle yet durable porcelain with pliable yet resistant fabric and thread, she highlights polarities in the act of merging the ideas together.Not Even Close, 48 x 48 centimetersBlue-and-white porcelain predominantly inspires Kurdaks compositions, but she also renders red, green, or multi-colored pieces in textiles, too. She uses a wide range of needlework and fabric techniques, including appliqu, lacework, and embroidery. Vases appear to melt into streams, lacy decorations hover above the surface, and motifs rearrange into puzzle-like grids or dynamic swirls. If youre in London, Willow is currently on view at the Young Masters Art Prize Finalists Exhibition through April 8. Kurdaks work will be included in Collect Art Fair opening in late February at Somerset House, followed by Affordable Art Fair in March in New York. Learn more on her website, and followed updates on Instagram.Willow, 60 x 60 centimetersJar Descending, 120 x 90 centimetersAnguish in Blue, 27 x 47 centimetersDetail Anguish in BlueDisjointed, 49 x 49 centimetersDissolving Willow, 55 x 55 centimetersMother Jar, 80 x 80 centimetersDetail of Pieces on GreenThis Beyond, 49 x 49 centimetersNext article

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is targeting the next technology revolution in the aerospace sector through a delivery centre that will focus on technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.Based in Toulouse, it is TCSs fourth IT delivery centre in France. It will start with 50 people, but could increase to 500.The region of France is a hub for the aerospace sector, home to Airbus, the French space agency and hundreds of companies focused on the sector.According to Anupam Singhal, president of manufacturing at TCS, the investment could stimulate the growth of TCSs French operation as a whole.TCSs workforce in France currently stands at about 1,700 people after 30 years in the country. In comparison, the UK, with a similar size economy, has 23,000 TCS staff.The new centre will be focused on the use of technologies such as AI and quantum computing to address the challenges faced by the aerospace and defence industries. It will also give customers access to the knowledge of TCSs 600,000 global staff.Singhal cited the delivery delays being experienced by Boeing as an example of where the latest technologies might be used to assist aerospace manufacturers.Despite orders for planes being at an all-time high, Singhal pointed to major challenges. Supply chain resilience has been a big issue, and thats the reason major suppliers have not been able to deliver the backlog of the demand they have, he said.Problems can escalate quickly for manufacturers when the supply chain is disrupted. Singhal gave the example of the Suez Canal blockage, which delayed the delivery of parts coming from suppliers across the world.He said TCS is using AI to gather information in different formats, such as news reports, and work out what global or local events could impact the supply chain. It then warns the manufacturers if they need to make changes.The technology can process information and analyse what the possible impact could be. It can then advise the company, for example, to stock up with more items. The whole idea is that resiliency can be built in, he said.Everything comes out of data, so the ability for us to connect public information with enterprise data to understand where suppliers are and where items are coming from means AI can tell the enterprise, Deliveries may get stuck, but you have another supplier which is not affected maybe you need to put an order into that supplier so your production line is not stopped.Singhal added: We are not saying it will replace humans, because they are in the loop, but today, all leaders and managers take decisions based on data. By using technology, we can provide a lot more data so that enterprises can make more intelligent decisions. In fact, AI technology can offer two or three possible options and let the customer decide what is the right thing for them.While companies across the world talk about their targets for becoming carbon neutral, the aerospace industry is hugely dependent on fossil fuel. Singhal said TCS is working on the use of quantum computing in the design of aircraft to enable manufacturers to dramatically reduce fuel consumption.This is being done now with newer aircraft, which are 20% more efficient than older versions, he said. The lighter the plane, the lower the amount of fuel it will burn. So we built a quantum computing-based solution where the analysis of material can be done.Then there is the use of technology to optimise flight routes based on factors including distance, congestion and weather. The fact is, every minute a plane is in the air, its producing huge amounts of carbon dioxide and airlines are burning money. We can use quantum to devise the optimal flight path so it doesnt have to be in the air longer than necessary.Optimising limited human resources is also a major challenge in a sector that is highly regulated and requires high-level skills.Singhal said in sectors such as aerospace and defence, it is a challenge to find people with the right level of skills. But technology generally, he said, including AI, can enable less skilled people to perform the work of more highly skilled people.Using generative AI and natural language support, a worker can ask, I need to assemble this part tell me how to go about it, and there could be a video or instructions for this part, he added.When it comes to human skills, TCS said the Toulouse centre will help accelerate recruitment in the region, accessing local talent, engaging in academic partnerships and using existing capabilities in France.Read more about tech in the aerospace sectorAirbus extends Astrocast partnership to enhance satellite IoT technology.Nato membership boosts Finnish civil and military tech startups.Could generative AI help to fill the skills gap in engineering?

Three men have been sentenced at Londons Snaresbrook Crown Court after pleading guilty to a series of cyber crime offences relating to OTP.Agency, an underground subscription service that enabled cyber criminals to buy access to victims online accounts, including personal bank accounts, to take them over, commit fraud and steal money.Callum Picari, 23, of Hornchurch in Essex; Vijayasidehurshan Vijayanathan, 21, of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire; and Aza Siddeeque, 19, of Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, enabled criminals to conduct social engineering attacks against their victims to trick them into disclosing personally identifiable information (PII).This data included one-time passcodes (OTPs) designed to be used in legitimate multifactor authentication (MFA) challenges.Cyber criminals and fraudsters could avail themselves of a tiered service plan via the OTP.Agency site. The basic package, sold for 30 a week, had access to a spoof call bot designed to fool victims; while the elite plan, which cost 380 a month, offered services such as a bespoke text-to-speech cool to create automated calls, and call scripts specifically written by the defendants.During their investigation, National Crime Agency (NCA) officers recovered scripts used by criminals pretending to call from the likes of BT, HMRC, Mastercard, Sky, Virgin Media and Visa.The NCA, which began its investigation in 2020 and believe that more than 12,500 members of the public may have been targeted with over 65,000 over the 18 months from September 2019 to March 2021. The precise amount of money it made has not yet been disclosed, but if the majority of users bought the top tier package, it could have run to millions of pounds.As this case shows, the NCA has the ability to disrupt and dismantle websites like www.OTP.Agency, which cause harm to the public, and bring those responsible to justice, said Tim Court, senior manager at the NCA National Cyber Crime Unit.We would urge anyone using online banking services to be vigilant.Criminals can pretend to be a trusted person or company when they call, email or message you. If something seems suspicious or unexpected, such as requests for personal information, contact the organisation directly to check using details published on their official website.Craig Rice, CEO of the Cyber Defence Alliance, added: This is another example of UK law enforcement's determination to target criminal services which are industrialising fraud.The Cyber Defence Alliance were able to identify the impact of this service on UK financial services and support NCA investigators, leading to the disruption and arrest of those involved. Law enforcement working with industry makes for a formidable alliance that will disrupt criminal networks.Prior to its shutdown, the OTP.Agency service was owned and developed by Picari, who was also its main beneficiary. Picari advertised his operation on a 2,200-strong Telegram group, promising users profit within minutes.Vijayanathan and Siqddeeque also undertook promotional activities, while Vijayanathan helped with admin duties and managed chat channel moderators, while Sidddeeque was engaged in technical support work.Read more about fraudLearn how First National Bank of Omaha in the US is enhancing customer authentication and verification in its contact centres, eliminating friction points and making life easier for its customer service teams, with Pindrop voice security technology.Information about peoples age, disability, marital status and nationality influences decisions to investigate benefit claims for fraud, but the Department for Work and Pensions says there are no immediate concerns of unfair treatment.As AI technology becomes more widely adopted, attackers are abusing it for their scams, which the FBI says are becoming increasingly more difficult to detect.Following their arrests, the trio were charged with conspiracy to make and supply articles for use in fraud, while Picari was additionally charged with money laundering offence. All three initially denied their involvement, but later changed their pleas.Picari has now received a two-year-and-eight-month prison term, while his accomplices have been given 12-month community orders and made to pay costs of 760 each. They will also have to undertake 200 and 160 hours of community service respectively.The NCA added that it has began recovery proceedings against Picari.Panic on the streets of HornchurchThe court heard how, after cyber investigator and writer Brian Krebs published an investigation into OTP.Agency 2021, Picari deleted the Telegram group and the following panicked message exchange took place between him and Vijayanathan.Picari: bro we are in big trouble... U will get me bagged... Bro delete the chatVijayanathan: Are you surePicari: So much evidence in thereVijayanathan: Are you 100% surePicari: Its so incriminating... Take a look and search fraud... Just think of all the evidence... that we cba [cant be arsed] to find... in the OTP chat... they will findVijayanathan: Exactly so if we just shut EVERYTHING downPicari: They went to our first ever msg... We look incriminating... if we shut down... I say delete the chat... Our chat is Fraud 100%Vijayanathan : Everyone with a brain will tell you stop it here and move onPicari: Just because we close it doesnt mean we didnt do it... But deleting our chat... Will f*ck their investigations... Theres nothing fraudulent on the site.

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