Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10)Who we are is what we do.Deel and our family of growing companies are made up of global teams dedicated to helping businesses hire anyone, anywhere, easily.The team comprises over three thousand self-driven individuals spanning over 100 countries, and our unified yet diverse culture keeps us continually learning and innovating the platform and products for customers.Companies should be able to hire the best talent anywhere in the world, so we are building the best platform to make that a reality. Our market-leading technology, expertise, and global team are crucial to the platforms success. We deliver the best products and features in our space, enabling millions of jobs worldwide and connecting the global workforce with the best companies and opportunities.Why should you be part of our success story?A 30-mile hiring radius should no longer dictate how companies hire because exceptional talent lives everywhere. Deel sees a world without hiring borders and endless talent that pairs perfect candidates with great companies.We offer global teams all the tools they need to hire, onboard, manage, pay, and scale at full speed. We aim to foster a diverse global economy by building a generational platform that seamlessly connects companies with talent worldwide.After our successful Series D in 2021, we raised another $50M in 2023, doubling our valuation to $12B. Theres never been a more exciting time to join Deel the international payroll and compliance market leader.Get ready to:Be a part of a truly cross-functional team; Frontend, Back-End and Full-Stack Engineers, Product Teams, Designers and QAs.Participate in product planning (From discovery all the way to deployment); We want your input at all stages of the Software Development Lifecycle!Collaborate! Our teams work together to develop robust new features, APIs, continuously improve our industry-leading products and find and fix any bugs at speed.Ensure our customers receive a white-glove experience with our products!Keep Information Security, Customer Excellence, Self-Development and Cost Savings at top of mind!Learn and be adaptable to new ways of working - if you dont know how to use Angular, we will teach you; yes, you will become a Full-Stack Engineer!The bits and bytes that youll bring to your new team:You have expert knowledge of the latest versions of C#/.NET, .NET CoreYoure an expert when it comes to applying SOLID PrinciplesYoure a database guru! You know the ins and outs of MS-SQLYou have a firm understanding of Azure DevOps (If youre a fast learner, knowledge of something similar would be suitable, too!)You create RESTful APIs with easeYou have worked on the front-end before and are willing to learn how to use Angular at a production levelYou have at least 6 years of experience as a Software EngineerYou're the Engineer we're looking for if you:Excel in the art of designing, coding, testing, and maintaining enterprise-level applications using Microsoft technologies.Thrive in a collaborative, remote-first work culture where teamwork, camaraderie, and being Together Everywhere are key.Embrace independence and take ownership of your projects, yet also excel in a team setting and love to contribute.Communicate complex ideas with ease and enjoy collaborating with diverse teams of technical and non-technical stakeholders.Are passionate about solving customer problems with your coding superpowers, and approach challenges with Default Optimism whilst maintaining a balanced perspective in all aspects of your work.Take a business-focused approach to software development, with a keen eye on delivering high-value outcomes for our clients.Embody our core value of Genuine Care, deeply understanding and addressing the impact of your work on our customers.Extra brownie points if you:Have experience working with Angular and JavaScript/TypeScriptHave worked with memory caching tools, like RedisHave built and worked with MicroservicesHave End-to-End Integration experienceHave knowledge of the dynamic world of FinTechTotal RewardsOur workforce deserves fair and competitive pay that meets them where they are. With scalable benefits, rewards, and perks, our total rewards programs reflect our commitment to inclusivity and access for all.Some things youll enjoyProvided computer equipment tailored to your roleStock grant opportunities dependent on your role, employment status and locationAdditional perks and benefits based on your employment status and countryThe flexibility of remote work, including WeWork access where availableAt Deel, were an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy or maternity or other applicable legally protected characteristics.Unless otherwise agreed, we will communicate with job applicants using Deel-specific emails, which include @deel.com and other acquired company emails like @payspace.com and @paygroup.com. You can view the most up-to-date job listings at Deel by visiting our careers page.Deel is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects different abilities, backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, identities and perspectives.

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10)Discord is used by over 200 million people every month for many different reasons, but theres one thing that nearly everyone does on our platform: play video games. Over 90% of our users play games, spending a combined 1.5 billion hours playing thousands of unique titles on Discord each month. Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We are focused on making it easier and more fun for people to talk and hang out before, during, and after playing games.As a Staff Designer and leader within the organization, youll actively define what design quality means within Discord Design, and collaborate across teams to define and execute future evolutions of the product.The Design Systems team is a cross-functional team that ensures design quality across all facets of UI, content, and graphics. As a part of the team, you will be responsible for the creation and maintenance of the design system that all product designers, engineers, and product managers use to design & develop at Discord. Using your full range of interaction, visual, and prototyping skills, you will own creating a coherent and ownable look & feel for our desktop and mobile experiences.If you're interested in joining a passionate team of designers that are creating fun experiences for millions of people across the world, Discord is the place to be.What You'll Be DoingVision & StrategyDefine the north star for the design system, solving foundational challenges and ensuring scalability across the organization.Partner with the Design Systems Design Manager to drive the long-term vision and align the system with company goals.Lead cross-functional efforts, advocating for systems thinking and fostering alignment across teams and disciplines.Stay informed on design trends, best practices, and emerging technologies to ensure the system remains innovative and forward-looking.Design System LeadershipDesign reusable components, patterns, and tools, including design tokens, UI kits, and component libraries, to ensure consistency and efficiency.Write clear, comprehensive documentation to help designers and developers apply system components and guidelines effectively.Continuously improve and evolve the design system based on user feedback, technology advancements, and product landscape changes.Migration & IntegrationLead the migration of existing products to the design system, ensuring a seamless transition while prioritizing the Designer Experience.Update or replace legacy components to align with system guidelines and modern standards.Support & AdvocacyAct as a champion for the design system, educating teams on its benefits and best practices through presentations, workshops, and ongoing communication.Provide support and manage feedback channels to address user concerns, ensuring the system meets the needs of both internal teams and end users.Mentor senior designers and foster systems thinking across the organization.What you should have7+ years designing consumer-facing products.3+ years leading design systems teams.A track record of driving cross-functional initiatives and delivering organizational impact.Proficiency in developing scalable design and code libraries, crafting comprehensive documentation, and evolving systems to meet changing needs.Experience defining the visual style of products; bonus if this includes brand integration.Passion for creating accessible, user-centric design systems that align business goals with user needs.Exceptional storytelling skills across multiple mediums, with consistent experience influencing design decisions at all levels, including executives.Strong, proactive communication skills to articulate ideas, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and contribute to product strategy and roadmaps.A desire to deeply understand the "why" behind decisions to inform the "how," developing a strategic product perspective and vision.High level of design craft with a commitment to quality, ensuring excellent execution from design iterations to documentation and QA.Demonstrated leadership on large-scale, high-impact projects across desktop and mobile, with a portfolio showcasing work where you were the primary designer.Bonus PointsExperience with version control and GithubTechnical writing experience, familiarity with markdownExperience creating Figma ToolingCasual or committed gamer#LI-RemoteThe US base salary range for this full-time position is $205,000 to $225,000 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity, or benefits.Why Discord? Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We're a multiplatform, multigenerational and multiplayer platform that helps people deepen their friendships around games and shared interests. We believe games give us a way to have fun with our favorite people, whether listening to music together or grinding in competitive matches for diamond rank. Join us in our mission! Your future is just a click away!

Apple released iOS 18.3 on Monday, more than a month after the company released iOS 18.2. While the latest update tweaks a few features, like the Apple Intelligence notification summaries, it also patches a handful of bugs. And Apple said that one of those bugs may have been actively exploited in earlier iOS versions, potentially granting others unauthorized access.To download the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update, then tap Update Now and follow the prompts on your screen.Read more: Everything You Need to Know About iOS 18According to Apple, the update patches more than 20 bugs, but the company said that one issue with the Core Media framework may have been actively exploited. This framework helps manage and process audio and visual data on your iPhone.Apple wrote in the update's CVE entry -- that's common vulnerabilities and exposures -- that an application might be able to elevate privileges. According to EC Council, an information security research and certification organization, privilege escalation allows a malicious actor to access sensitive data on your device. Updating to iOS 18.3 will help prevent those people from getting unauthorized access on your iPhoneApple wrote online that it's aware of a report that this bug may have been exploited against iOS software prior to iOS 17.2. It's unclear if this bug affected later iOS versions, but it's best to update your device now to give yourself the most protection possible.For more on iOS, here's what to know about iOS 18.3 and iOS 18.2. You can also check out our iOS 18 cheat sheet. Watch this: Tim Cook and Trump: Apple's Deals and Battles Ahead 06:11

How Ninja Gaiden 4's two protagonists will honour the series' legacyBack to black.Image credit: Team Ninja / PlatinumGames / Eurogamer Feature by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Jan. 27, 2025 "In terms of action games, I think ninjas are a good fit," says Fumihiko Yasuda, Team Ninja producer. We're discussing why ninja characters are so enduring throughout the history of video games, right back to the original Ninja Gaiden games in the 1980s."This goes back to the 2D games, because [ninjas] have those acrobatic abilities and that appeals to an audience regardless of country. Also the fact they cover their face, they don't really reveal their emotions, they portray this sense of 'all-business' professionalism, a seriousness, a mysteriousness. I think that makes them appealing."PlatinumGames producer and director Yuji Nakao concurs. "There's this image of what a 'cool' ninja is," he says, "and I think all the way back to the 2D Ninja Gaiden games, those have really captured the cool ninja that's in everyone's imagination."Ninja Gaiden 4 Official Announce Trailer | Developer_Direct 2025Watch on YouTubeNinja characters have long had a place in video games, even before the first Ninja Gaiden game back in 1988. But that game certainly popularised the aesthetic of the ninja action-hero, the retro-futuristic setting, the use of cinematic cutscenes, and a very high level of difficulty. Indeed, all of these elements returned with Team Ninja's 2004 3D revival of the series on the original Xbox, which continued until 2012's Ninja Gaiden 3.Now, the series is back again over a decade later with the announcement last week of Ninja Gaiden 4 during the Xbox Developer Direct. This time it's a collaboration with PlatinumGames - a studio known for its combat-focused games like Bayonetta and NieR: Automata - thanks to the president of publisher Koei Tecmo and CEO of Platinum being friends. Backing from Xbox's Phil Spencer provided the extra push to get the project into development."We wanted to make sure we deliver an experience that's deserving of a mainline entry," says Yasuda. "Ultimately it took more than 10 years to get this new mainline entry off the ground and as we are able to collaborate with PlatinumGames, it also represents an opportunity to introduce the series to a new audience as well, so we can satisfy both longtime players as well as bringing that Ninja Gaiden experience to new users.""We wanted to make sure we deliver an experience that's deserving of a mainline entry."After such a long hiatus, Ninja Gaiden 4 is clearly designed to be a fresh entry point for newcomers, but it will also serve as a continuation of what's come before, with a story that picks up the action several years after the third game, the pair confirm. And anyone keen to catch-up is now able to play a re-release of the second game, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, which was shadow dropped at the Xbox Developer Direct, for a fresh reminder of the series' past and to experience this important reference point."Ninja Gaiden 4 specifically takes a lot of influence from Ninja Gaiden 2," says Yasuda, describing the new Black version as "a good opportunity for new players to familiarise themselves with Ryu."That's Ryu Hayabusa, the ninja protagonist throughout the series. Except Ninja Gaiden 4 will add a new face too, the young ninja Yakumo who's from a rival clan to Ryu. Says Nakao: "It has been such a long time since the last entry in the series, as a mainline title this will allow new users to join the series together with Yakumo and be able to experience this story from the start and experience how he grows." Series protagonist Ryu just oozes ninja cool | Image credit: Team Ninja / Platinum GamesRyu is still a "strong presence" (and is playable!) in Ninja Gaiden 4, representing "the pinnacle of what it is to be a ninja". Yakumo, by contrast, is a vehicle for new elements to "further elevate" the series. That includes his unique Nu Style instant kill ninjutsu moves (as seen in the trailer), offering a varying playstyle.I'm reminded, though, of 2008's Devil May Cry 4, which shocked fans with the introduction of the younger Nero as a new protagonist instead of Dante. More recently, Platinum's own Bayonetta 3 was criticised by some for introducing Viola as a second playable character. Are the Ninja Gaiden developers worried about splitting the fanbase?"First and foremost we want to respect Ninja Gaiden as a series and the legacy it's built over the past more than 20 years, and part of that is making sure that Ryu Hayabusa is thoroughly represented and he has the presence you would expect from a Ninja Gaiden game," says Nakao. "We feel that the introduction of Yakumo actually elevates the presence of Ryu and both characters actually compliment each other." Yakumo will "compliment" Ryu's playstyle | Image credit: Team Ninja / Platinum GamesSince the release of Ninja Gaiden 3, Team Ninja moved to the Soulslike genre with the two Nioh games and 2023's Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. As Yasuda explains, these games share with Ninja Gaiden a focus on action and the satisfaction of defeating larger than life enemies after some trial and error. Ninja Gaiden 4, though, will see the studio return to the "quintessential characteristics" of the series.That includes a notoriously high difficulty. "Ninja Gaiden is known for its intensity, especially that back and forth between offence and defence, and that dynamic ebb and flow of the combat," says Nakao. "With Ninja Gaiden 4, we are making sure it inherits those qualities and that the high speed action and the gameplay feel that longtime players have come to expect from Ninja Gaiden games - including the challenge and the difficulty - are present in this new entry."But what about new players unfamiliar with such a tough challenge? "We're also incorporating difficulty modes and options for new players, or players who aren't very familiar with action games, to customise their experience," says Nakao, though he adds these options are "being designed in a way that will allow [new players] to still experience the intensity and the thrills of what makes Ninja Gaiden such a satisfying experience." The Ninja Gaiden series is known for its tough, stylish combat | Image credit: Team Ninja / Platinum GamesNinja Gaiden 4's reveal trailer not only shows the game's frenetic combat, but a futuristic Tokyo being warped and destroyed, as well as grind rail sections and towering bosses to defeat. Nakao wants to maximise and heighten the idea of overcoming adversity with this game, not just in the number of enemies players must defeat but in the dynamic environments and "seamless" transition between these types of action sequences. Perhaps this marks a certain Platinum influence: the Bayonetta games in particular are known for their wild set pieces, something that seems to be reflected in the Ninja Gaiden 4 trailer, too.Together, it's clear Team Ninja and PlatinumGames feel like they have a strong vision of what's worked in previous Ninja Gaiden games and how to replicate that successfully for a new, modern audience with Ninja Gaiden 4, while still appeasing older fans."[Ninja Gaiden] is a game that's challenging and it really throws a lot at you and creates these stressful situations," says Nakao. "And just when you feel like that stress is about to overflow, there's [Ninja Gaiden 2's] obliteration techniques where you finish off an enemy and it provides that sense of release and this cathartic experience that really keeps players coming back for more, and has allowed the series to endure over the years."After all, what could be cooler than a ninja?

The things that artists choose to collect and live with have always fascinated me. So at a panel discussion last fall about Judd Furniture, a new book discussing the minimalists prolific functional art practice, something his daughter Rainer said really stuck with me: Her father had a thing for Swedish antiques. A pine Swedish serving table sat on the second floor of his famous Spring Street home in New York City; early-20th-century pieces filled the Cobb House at the Judd Foundation in Marfa, Texas. And if you look at the practical, streamlined elegance that characterizes furniture from this time and place, it makes sense that Judd, an artist who valued the pure, pared-down essence of things, quite liked them.The Cobb House, appointed with Swedish furniture, at the Judd Foundation in Marfa, TexasPhoto Elizabeth Felicella. Courtesy Judd Foundation. Donald Judd Art Judd Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.Judd, of course, was ahead of the curve. But lately Swedish designparticularly from the first half of the 20th centuryhas been on our radar, big time. Whether in homes, where rustic wood pieces by Axel Einar Hjorth or svelte yet approachable Josef Frank stunners have become hot design trophies, or on the auction block, where such furnishings go for six figures, design from this period has quietly crept back in style.Axel Einar Hjorth chairs pull up to a Swedish farm table in the breakfast room of Giancarlo and Jane Keltner de Valles Connecticut home.Stephen Kent JohnsonAn Ivar Johnsson cast-iron garden urn from 1919, part of the Swedish Grace movement, on a plinth at Casa Valle in New York.Clement PascalTheres a simplicity and a directness to the ideas from this period that resonates with us, says AD100 interior designer Giancarlo Valle, who has long incorporated Swedish antiques into his projects (in his own Connecticut country house, for example), and now sells them at Casa Valle, the new gallery space he runs with his wife, Jane Keltner de Valle. Here, Axel Einar Hjorths 1930 pine Ut dining chairs sit with 1950s Josef Frank lamps and a pair of Ivar Johnsson cast-iron garden urns from 1919. Those urns are from the Swedish Grace movement, the nations slightly more romantic answer to contemporaneous Art Deco which offered a more humanistic approach to the mechanized style taking root across Europe. Interior designer and architect Lee Mindel calls the period a socio-political response to a world in turmoil after the First World War. Designs from this period, which blended streamlined forms with neoclassical motifs, are on view through January 31 at Mindels Galerie56 in New York, a collaboration with Swedish purveyor Jackson Design. Pieces like Anna Petruss monumental cast-iron and granite table, originally shown at The Mets 1927 survey, Swedish Contemporary Decorative Arts, and Gunnar Asplunds Senna Lounge Chair, designed for the 1925 Paris World Fair show, prove, in Mindels words, that simple materials, a celebration of democratic principles, and elegant use of materials are universal.A 1960s Bruno Mathsson Eva chair sits in the retro trailer kitchenette, adjoining a redwood-clad California home by AD PRO Directory firm Electric Bowery.Chris MottaliniA sofa, armchair, and stool by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn in the Hamptons home of photographers Inez and Vinoodh. The house was designed by Simrel Achenbach of Desciencelab and Daniel Sachs of Sachs Lindores.Stephen Kent JohnsonPieces by the likes of Gunnar Asplund and Axel Einar Hjorth represented Sweden on the global stage, slowly evolving into a style that, Phillipss senior specialist Sofia Sayn-Wittgenstein calls balanced modernist elegance with a human-centric touch. At the center of the movement were Josef Frank and Estrid Ericson, founders of the Stockholm emporium Svenskt Tenn, which celebrated its centennial last year with a retrospective exhibition at Liljevalchs Konsthall. At auction, Sayn-Wittgenstein says, Weve witnessed exceptional results in recent years for works by Swedens most celebrated figures. A rare 1941 Josef Frank cabinet, covered in images of monkeys, went for a whopping $347,600, while a Mrta Ms-Fjetterstrm rug recently reached $206,159. These results further underscore the global appreciation for Swedish craftsmanship and design, she notes.Mrta Ms-Fjetterstrms Chequered red half pile rug, designed in 1938 and executed in 1946, went for $206,159 at Phillips.Courtesy of PhillipsA 1930s Swedish floor lamp in the primary bedroom of this Los Feliz home designed by AD100 firm ReathLaure JolietThat idea has long been at the core of New York gallery Hostler Burrowss program, which has specialized in dealing vintage and antique Scandinavian pieces since opening in 1998. When they first opened, Danish design was coming into vogue, with collector interest around works by Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen, and Hans Wegner. Over time, as the market for works by those iconic names intensified, we saw a growing interest from collectors in our Swedish material, Kim Hostler explains. Sweden, in contrast, offered a wealth of small cabinetmakers throughout the early 20th century who were designing stylish, comfortable furniture in very limited production, often as commissions for specific clients. These types of pieces have an enduring appeal and mix beautifully with a diverse range of both contemporary and vintage design.

DeepSeek, the viral AI company, has released a new set of multimodal AI models that it claims can outperform OpenAIs DALL-E 3. The models, which are available for download from the AI dev platform Hugging Face, are part of a new model family that DeepSeek is calling Janus-Pro. They range in size from 1 billion to 7 billion parameters. Parameters roughly correspond to a models problem-solving skills, and models with more parameters generally perform better than those with fewer parameters.Janus-Pro is under an MIT license, meaning it can be used commercially without restriction.Image outputs from DeepSeeks Janus Pro models.Image Credits:DeepSeekJanus-Pro, which DeepSeek describes as a novel autoregressive framework, can both analyze and create new images. According to the company, on two AI evaluation benchmarks, GenEval and DPG-Bench, the largest Janus-Pro model, Janus-Pro-7B, beats DALL-E 3 as well as models such as PixArt-alpha, Emu3-Gen, and Stability AIs Stable Diffusion XL.Granted, some of those models are on the older side, and most Janus-Pro models can only analyze small images with a resolution of up to 384 x 384. But Janus-Pros performance is impressive, considering the models compact sizes.Janus-Pro surpasses previous unified model and matches or exceeds the performance of task-specific models, DeepSeek writes in a post on Hugging Face. The simplicity, high flexibility, and effectiveness of Janus-Pro make it a strong candidate for next-generation unified multimodal models.DeepSeeks new Janus Pro models compared with the competition.Image Credits:DeepSeekDeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab funded largely by the quantitative trading firm High-Flyer Capital Management, broke into the mainstream consciousness this week after its chatbot app rose to the top of the Apple App Store charts. DeepSeeks language models, which were trained using compute-efficient techniques, have led many Wall Street analysts and technologists to question whether the U.S. can maintain its lead in the AI race and whether the demand for AI chips will sustain.Update: An earlier version of this story implied that Janus-Pro models could only output small (384 x 384) images. Thats untrue. We regret the error.TechCrunch has an AI-focused newsletter! Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Wednesday.

Chinese AI lab DeepSeek might be getting the bulk of the tech industrys attention this week. But one of its top domestic rivals, Alibaba, isnt sitting idly by.Alibabas Qwen team on Monday released a new family of AI models, Qwen2.5-VL, that can perform a number of text and image analysis tasks. The models can parse files, understand videos, and count objects in images, as well as control a PC similar to the model powering OpenAIs recently launched Operator.Per the Qwen teams benchmarking, the best Qwen2.5-VL model beats OpenAIs GPT-4o, Anthropics Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Googles Gemini 2.0 Flash on a range of video understanding, math, document analysis, and question-answering evaluations.Image Credits:AlibabaQwen2.5-VL, which is available to test in Alibabas Qwen Chat app and to download from AI dev platform Hugging Face, can analyze charts and graphics, extract data from scans of invoices and forms, and comprehend multiple-hours-long videos, the Qwen team says. Qwen2.5-VL can also recognize IPs from film and TV series, as well as a wide variety of products, per the team suggesting that the models mightve been trained in part on copyrighted works.Qwen2.5-VL, being AI developed by a Chinese company, has certain restrictions on the topics it will discuss at least in Qwen Chat. When I asked the largest and most capable Qwen2.5-VL model, Qwen2.5-VL-72B, to talk about Xi Jinpings mistakes, Qwen Chat threw an error message.Chinas internet regulatorbenchmarksmany models developed in the country to ensure their responses embody core socialist values. ManyChinese AI systemsdeclineto respond to topics that might raise the ire of regulators, such as Taiwans autonomy.One of Qwen2.5-VLs more interesting features is its ability to interact with software both on PCs and mobile devices. A video posted on X by Philipp Schmid, a technical lead at Hugging Face, Qwen2.5-VL launching the Booking.com app for Android and booking a flight from Chongqing to Beijing.In the video below, a Qwen2.5-VL model controls apps on a Linux desktop but doesnt seem to accomplish much beyond switching tabs. Perhaps tellingly, Qwens benchmarking shows Qwen2.5-VL scoring poorly on OSWorld, a benchmark that tries to mimic a real computer environment.The two smaller, less sophisticated models in the Qwen2.5-VL series, Qwen2.5-VL-3B and Qwen2.5-VL-7B, are available under a permissive license. The flagship Qwen2.5-VL-72B, however, is under Alibabas custom license, which requires that companies and devs with more than 100 million monthly active users request permission from Qwen/Alibaba before deploying the model commercially.

Researchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redox flow battery (RFB) also mimics biological functions, as it releases electrolytic fluids, which dissolve to create energy through chemical reaction.The first two robots on display are a modular worm and a jellyfish, designed by the Cornell Engineering labs. The batteries powering these systems utilize embodied energy, an approach that incorporates power sources into the body of a machine, to reduce its weight and cost, according to the school.Mechanical and aerospace engineering Professor Rob Shepherd describes the underlying technology thusly: There are a lot of robots that are powered hydraulically, and were the first to use hydraulic fluid as the battery, which reduces the overall weight of the robot, because the battery serves two purposes, providing the energy for the system and providing the force to get it to move.Image Credits:Cornell UniversityIn addition to improving the speed and movements, the battery technology extended the robot jellyfishs runtime to an hour and a half. The robot itself was built atop technology the school utilized in the development of a lionfish-inspired biological robot. When that system was unveiled in 2019, researchers referred to the circulating liquid as robot blood, which presumably makes the battery a robot heart.The RFB powering the jellyfish features a tendon that propels the robot upward when flexed into a bell shape. When the shape is relaxed, the robot sinks down. Footage of the system in action showcases familiar jellyfish-like movements as it navigates through the water.The worm, meanwhile, is constructed from modular segments, similar to those seen on larger snake robots. Each segment contains a motor and a tendon actuator, which expands and contracts to create locomotion.The team notes that the transition from underwater to land presented its own challenges. Chief among them is the fact that submerged robots dont require a rigid skeletal structure.This is how life on land evolved, Shepherd says. You start with the fish, then you get a simple organism and its supported by the ground. The worm is a simple organism, but it has more degrees of freedom. From the Storyline: Cornells robot jellyfish and worm are powered by a hydraulic fluid batteryResearchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redox From the Storyline: Cornells robot jellyfish and worm are powered by a hydraulic fluid batteryResearchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redox From the Storyline: Cornells robot jellyfish and worm are powered by a hydraulic fluid batteryResearchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redox From the Storyline: Cornells robot jellyfish and worm are powered by a hydraulic fluid batteryResearchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redoxTopics

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has just announced that 14 scientific and technical achievements, represented by 37 individual award recipients, will be honored at its annual Scientific and Technical Awards(Sci-Tech Awards) ceremony, which has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.Achievements receiving Scientific and Technical Awards must demonstrate a proven record of contributing significant value to the process of making motion pictures. In addition, an Academy Award of Merit (an Oscar statuette) will be presented at the ceremony to collectively recognize all the individuals who have developed and supported captioning technology, whether open or closed, for film. The statuette will reside at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.As part of the Academys mission to celebrate artistry and innovation in filmmaking, we are honored to recognize the exceptional contributions of this years Scientific and Technical Awards recipients, said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. Their work has powerfully driven advancements in our industry. Also, we are deeply honored to present the Academy Award of Merit to the individuals who created and supported the development of captioning for films. This is an essential technology that plays a vital role in making the cinematic experience accessible to all.Each year, our international committee of industry professionals conducts thorough evaluations of the innovation and impact of technologies developed for the motion picture industry, said Darin Grant and Raymond Yeung, co-chairs of the Academys Scientific and Technical Awards Committee. This years awards encompass a wide range of film production advancements, from fire stunt safety, stabilized hand-held camera operation, and animation to post-production innovations in dialogue capture and CG imagery rendering systems. These vital technologies have expanded the visual possibilities of cinema, creating new and compelling experiences for moviegoers.The Academy Awards for scientific and technical achievements are:Technical Achievement Awards (Academy Certificates)To Essex Edwards, James Jacobs, Jernej Barbic, Crawford Doran and Andrew van Straten for the design and development of Ziva VFX.Ziva VFX is a system for constructing and simulating muscles, fat, fascia, and skin for digital characters. An artist-friendly interface that emphasizes easily understood physical metaphors, coupled with a robust, physically accurate solver, has enabled a broad range of studios to bring visually rich creatures to life.To Javor Kalojanov and Kimball Thurston for the creation of Wt FXs ML Denoiser.This denoiser prioritizes temporal filtering using innovative optical flow techniques to preserve crucial details. Novel training strategies allow its machine learning algorithms to denoise computer-generated imagery to the most exacting standards.To Neeme Vaino for the development of Fireskin360 Naked Burn Gel.This widely available gel allows longer targeted burns directly on the skin, broadening the range of fire stunts performed across the industry.To Dustin Brooks and Colin Decker for the development of naked burn gel.Fire for Hires gel first publicly demonstrated a naked burn, where fire appears directly on the skin, enabling a new form of safe fire stunts in motion pictures.To Attila T. fra for the creation of Intel Open Image Denoise, and to Timo Aila for his pioneering work at NVIDIA applying U-Nets to denoising.Open Image Denoise is an open-source library that provides an elegant API and runs on diverse hardware, leading to broad industry adoption. Its core technology is provided by the widely adopted U-Net architecture that improves efficiency and preserves detail, raising the quality of CG imagery across the industry.To Mark Noel for adapting and enhancing the safety and reliability of transportable six-degrees-of-freedom motion base technology for motion picture use.The NACMO series of modular motion bases enables filmmakers to dynamically control simulated actions, providing precise movements, enhancing special effects, and enriching the visual experience for audiences worldwide.To Su Tie for the development of the sensor analysis and stabilization software, to Bei Shimen for the electrical engineering, and to Zhao Yanchong for the mechanical design and engineering of the Ronin 2 gimbal system.Utilizing three-axis stabilization through multiple sensors, the DJI Ronin 2 has achieved broad adoption. It is controllable from a diverse set of input devices, enabling filmmakers to create complex, dynamic camera moves.To Tabb Firchau for the conception and development, to John Ellison and Steve Webb for the attitude control system, to David Bloomfield for the motor design, and to Shane Colton for the motor driver system design of the Mvi gimbals.Freefly Systems introduction of handheld stabilized gimbals provides single-person or collaborative remote camera operation with various controllers, enabling previously difficult shots without dolly or crane-supported stabilized heads.Scientific And Engineering Awards (Academy Plaques)To Jayson Dumenigo for the development of the Action Factory Hydrogels.Action Factory hydrogels are engineered to allow longer burns at higher temperatures with quick turnaround times, increasing the safety and efficiency of fire stunt performances.To Thijs Vogels, Fabrice Rousselle, David Adler, Gerhard Rthlin and Mark Meyer for the creation of Disneys ML Denoiser.This sophisticated machine learning denoiser features a ground-breaking kernel-predicting convolutional network and temporal stability. It has been adopted far beyond its original domain of animation and is an essential tool for creating computer-generated imagery in feature films.To Nir Averbuch, Yair Chuchem and Dan Raviv for the concept, design and development of the Auto Align Post 2.Sound Radixs Auto Align Post 2 allows the seamless blending of multiple moving microphones during film post-production, eliminating phase distortion, saving significant time over manual alignment methods and raising the reproduction quality of dialogue recorded on set.To Curt Schaller for the concept, design and development of the Trinity 2 system, and to Dr. Roman Foltyn for the software and hardware design of its motorized stabilized head.The ARRI Trinity 2 is a body-worn system that combines a traditional inertial camera stabilization system with electronic gimbal technology, allowing unprecedented freedom of camera movement for acquiring shots with multiple transitions that are otherwise unobtainable.To Steve Wagner for the initial concept and software, to Garrett Brown for the design, and to Jerry Holway and Robert Orf for the engineering of the Steadicam Volt stabilization system.The Tiffen Steadicam Volt revolutionizes inertial stabilization with its advanced two-axis motorized design, creating artificial inertia and simulated friction while providing adjustable tactile feedback. Different modes allow the operator to alter the physical feel of the rig. The Volt empowers filmmakers to achieve dynamic shots with more complex camera movement while maintaining a stable roll axis.To Dave Freeth for the design, engineering and development of the hand-held Stabileye three-axis motorized camera stabilization system.The compact size and live adjustment of operating parameters of these devices facilitate subtle and dynamic camera moves closer to actors, and in tighter quarters than previously possible. Its low latency allows for instinctive operation whether controlled by a single operator or remotely.Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

14 scientific and technical achievements to be honored with academy awardsThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced 14 scientific and technical achievements, represented by 37 individual award recipients, will be honored at its annual Scientific and Technical Awards ceremony, which has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.Achievements receiving Scientific and Technical Awards must demonstrate a proven record of contributing significant value to the process of making motion pictures. In addition, an Academy Award of Merit (an Oscar statuette) will be presented at the ceremony to collectively recognize all the individuals who have developed and supported captioning technology, whether open or closed, for film. The statuette will reside at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.As part of the Academys mission to celebrate artistry and innovation in filmmaking, we are honored to recognize the exceptional contributions of this years Scientific and Technical Awards recipients. Their work has powerfully driven advancements in our industry, said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. Also, we are deeply honored to present the Academy Award of Merit to the individuals who created and supported the development of captioning for films. This is an essential technology that plays a vital role in making the cinematic experience accessible to all.Each year, our international committee of industry professionals conducts thorough evaluations of the innovation and impact of technologies developed for the motion picture industry, said Darin Grant and Raymond Yeung, co-chairs of the Academys Scientific and Technical Awards Committee. This years awards encompass a wide range of film production advancements, from fire stunt safety, stabilized hand-held camera operation, and animation to post-production innovations in dialogue capture and CG imagery rendering systems. These vital technologies have expanded the visual possibilities of cinema, creating new and compelling experiences for moviegoers.The Academy Awards for scientific and technical achievements are:TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS (ACADEMY CERTIFICATES)To Essex Edwards, James Jacobs, Jernej Barbic, Crawford Doran and Andrew van Straten for the design and development of Ziva VFX.Ziva VFX is a system for constructing and simulating muscles, fat, fascia, and skin for digital characters. An artist-friendly interface that emphasizes easily understood physical metaphors, coupled with a robust, physically accurate solver, has enabled a broad range of studios to bring visually rich creatures to life.To Javor Kalojanov and Kimball Thurston for the creation of Wt FXs ML Denoiser.This denoiser prioritizes temporal filtering using innovative optical flow techniques to preserve crucial details. Novel training strategies allow its machine learning algorithms to denoise computer-generated imagery to the most exacting standards.To Neeme Vaino for the development of Fireskin360 Naked Burn Gel.This widely available gel allows longer targeted burns directly on the skin, broadening the range of fire stunts performed across the industry.To Dustin Brooks and Colin Decker for the development of naked burn gel.Fire for Hires gel first publicly demonstrated a naked burn, where fire appears directly on the skin, enabling a new form of safe fire stunts in motion pictures.To Attila T. fra for the creation of Intel Open Image Denoise, and to Timo Aila for his pioneering work at NVIDIA applying U-Nets to denoising.Open Image Denoise is an open-source library that provides an elegant API and runs on diverse hardware, leading to broad industry adoption. Its core technology is provided by the widely adopted U-Net architecture that improves efficiency and preserves detail, raising the quality of CG imagery across the industry.To Mark Noel for adapting and enhancing the safety and reliability of transportable six-degrees-of-freedom motion base technology for motion picture use.The NACMO series of modular motion bases enables filmmakers to dynamically control simulated actions, providing precise movements, enhancing special effects, and enriching the visual experience for audiences worldwide.To Su Tie for the development of the sensor analysis and stabilization software, to Bei Shimen for the electrical engineering, and to Zhao Yanchong for the mechanical design and engineering of the Ronin 2 gimbal system.Utilizing three-axis stabilization through multiple sensors, the DJI Ronin 2 has achieved broad adoption. It is controllable from a diverse set of input devices, enabling filmmakers to create complex, dynamic camera moves.To Tabb Firchau for the conception and development, to John Ellison and Steve Webb for the attitude control system, to David Bloomfield for the motor design, and to Shane Colton for the motor driver system design of the Mvi gimbals.Freefly Systems introduction of handheld stabilized gimbals provides single-person or collaborative remote camera operation with various controllers, enabling previously difficult shots without dolly or crane-supported stabilized heads.SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING AWARDS (ACADEMY PLAQUES)To Jayson Dumenigo for the development of the Action Factory Hydrogels.Action Factory hydrogels are engineered to allow longer burns at higher temperatures with quick turnaround times, increasing the safety and efficiency of fire stunt performances.To Thijs Vogels, Fabrice Rousselle, David Adler, Gerhard Rthlin and Mark Meyer for the creation of Disneys ML Denoiser.This sophisticated machine learning denoiser features a ground-breaking kernel-predicting convolutional network and temporal stability. It has been adopted far beyond its original domain of animation and is an essential tool for creating computer-generated imagery in feature films.To Nir Averbuch, Yair Chuchem and Dan Raviv for the concept, design and development of the Auto Align Post 2.Sound Radixs Auto Align Post 2 allows the seamless blending of multiple moving microphones during film post-production, eliminating phase distortion, saving significant time over manual alignment methods and raising the reproduction quality of dialogue recorded on set.To Curt Schaller for the concept, design and development of the Trinity 2 system, and to Dr. Roman Foltyn for the software and hardware design of its motorized stabilized head.The ARRI Trinity 2 is a body-worn system that combines a traditional inertial camera stabilization system with electronic gimbal technology, allowing unprecedented freedom of camera movement for acquiring shots with multiple transitions that are otherwise unobtainable.To Steve Wagner for the initial concept and software, to Garrett Brown for the design, and to Jerry Holway and Robert Orf for the engineering of the Steadicam Volt stabilization system.The Tiffen Steadicam Volt revolutionizes inertial stabilization with its advanced two-axis motorized design, creating artificial inertia and simulated friction while providing adjustable tactile feedback. Different modes allow the operator to alter the physical feel of the rig. The Volt empowers filmmakers to achieve dynamic shots with more complex camera movement while maintaining a stable roll axis.To Dave Freeth for the design, engineering and development of the hand-held Stabileye three-axis motorized camera stabilization system.The compact size and live adjustment of operating parameters of these devices facilitate subtle and dynamic camera moves closer to actors, and in tighter quarters than previously possible. Its low latency allows for instinctive operation whether controlled by a single operator or remotely.