A final hearing will take place in June.MGM Resorts International has agreed to pay $45 million to settle a lawsuit over data breaches that collectively exposed the personal information of 37 million customers. The case consolidated 22 class-action lawsuits filed over two security incidents: a data breach in 2019, and a ransomware attack in 2023.Lawyers for the victims said in district court filings that both data breaches saw hackers access MGMs systems and obtain identifiable customer data, including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, and passport numbers. Further information was also stolen in the 2023 ransomware attack that shut down Las Vegas slot machines and ATMs, including drivers license numbers, military ID numbers, and Social Security numbers.The $45 million will be dispersed to those impacted by the breaches as $75, $50, or $20 payments through a tiered system based on what information a person had stolen. Victims who can provide documentation of further losses that resulted from having their information stolen in the breaches can claim up to $15,000.A federal court has granted preliminary approval on the settlement, with a final hearing set to take place on June 18th. While the settlement deals with its class action lawsuit, MGM Resorts is still under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission over how it handled the 2023 ransomware attack, despite its attempts to block the probe.

When TikTok went off the air (to use a very old-fashioned phrase), there was a scramble to find an alternative to its shortform video feed and a similar scramble by various social networks to provide that alternative. (In fact, while I was writing this, Tumblr launched its new Tumblr TV feature.) The question is: how successful are they?Most certainly operate like TikTok. You scroll up to see the next short video, and you can like videos, follow their creators, or leave a comment. There are sometimes minor differences across services for example, while most automatically repeat a video until you swipe away, Xs video feed automatically moves to the next one. But because most of these new and new-ish services are trying so hard to be the next TikTok, most arent offering anything innovative to make them stand apart.On the other hand, the types of videos youll find on each service will vary, at least somewhat. If you have a history with a service for example, if youve been on Facebook or Instagram for a while that may be used to determine which videos you see. What follows is what I found when I tried out the TikTok-ish options included with some well-known social networks and a few of the lesser known but more interesting services that have begun popping up. Whether any of them will actually thrive as a true TikTok alternative is hard to say. If TikTok does finally disappear, I suspect we will find ourselves in the same pattern as that which has followed Twitter / Xs slow plunge, in which a scattering of creators and followers flock to whatever service they trust the most, without any one platform taking the absolute lead. The one thing thats certain is there are plenty of platforms eager to take users in.YouTube ShortsOwned by: GoogleYouTubes Shorts feature was recently increased to a maximum time of three minutes. Screenshots: YouTubeGoogles premier video site introduced its Shorts feature in September 2020. Originally limited to 60 seconds, the maximum time allowed per video was increased to up to three minutes in October 2024. In fact, any video uploaded to YouTube thats under three minutes is now automatically categorized as a short.On the mobile app, Shorts are easily accessible via an icon at the bottom of the screen. Like all of these apps, you watch Shorts in an endless feed, scrolling up to find the next one; you can like or dislike a video, comment on it, share it, and subscribe to the creators channel. If you pause while watching a short, icons that appear at the top of the video allow you to also access live videos or find a current trend. Ive been on YouTube for years now, so while most Shorts reflect some of my tastes, there isnt much variety. The app sent me a fairly narrow amount of content, only a couple of which were from original creators; the others were all film and TV clips. (Although, since Ive always been a movie buff, that may simply be the algorithm responding to my history.) Meanwhile, I was delivered a sponsored video about every four or five swipes. Facebook ReelsOwned by: MetaWhen viewing content on the Facebook app, its sometimes hard to tell the Videos from the Reels. Screenshots: MetaFacebooks approach to making a TikTok competitor is a bit confusing. On one hand, theres Reels, its shortform video format. On the other, theres Videos, its longform video format. And in the middle, theres the video feed you actually end up accessing on mobile: sometimes its labeled as Reels, sometimes as Videos. Facebook spokesperson Grace Sellick told us that well start to see increasingly more Videos next to Reels, and vice versa. In other words, theyre increasingly just the same bucket of videos under different names.You access them on the web by using either the Videos or the Reels links in the left-hand column or by selecting the Video link at the top of the mobile app. And no, they are not the same thing as Stories, which are the short videos in the gallery at the top of your page; those are only from your contacts and only stay up for 24 hours.The videos I scrolled through on my Android phone featured a couple of my favorite creators, clips from TV series, and a couple of recipes in other words, they were obviously geared toward my past Facebook history, but I didnt feel they were as varied as they could have been. I got a sponsored video every third or fourth swipe.Instagram ReelsOwned by: MetaWhen you comment on an Instagram Reels video, theres a good chance your comment will also appear on Facebook. Screenshots: MetaThe Instagram Reels feature was introduced to the US in August 2020, and while it may be owned by the same company that owns Facebook, the Reels here are better organized and easier to find. You access them on mobile by simply tapping the Reels icon at the bottom of the screen. There are some interesting differences here. For example, while most apps let you tap to pause a video, on Instagram, you tap to mute and tap again to unmute. The only way to pause a video is to tap and hold, but as soon as you lift your finger, the video unpauses which is pretty inconvenient.The interface is as similar to TikToks as possible: icons on the lower-right side of the screen let you like, comment, share, or access the audio; you can tap on a creators name to see what else they have uploaded. There are translations and closed captions available by tapping the three dots near the bottom right; this also lets you tell the algorithm that youre interested or not interested in that feed.The content I swiped through was fairly varied, including cute animals, political content, and interesting music. I got sponsored videos every five or so swipes. And when I brought up comments, they included a notice stating, This reel is shared publicly to Facebook. Your interactions can also appear publicly there along with your Instagram profile. (If you dont want your videos shared to Facebook, you can adjust that in Settings.)Videos on XOwner: Elon MuskAt first, the initial videos I got were from Elon Musks account, but that changed later. Screenshots: XFirst, a word of advice: if youre looking to find out how to access videos on X, dont do a Google search on X videos. Just dont.Okay, this is where we are now: on January 19th, X announced it was pushing through a new video tab; as of January 22nd, the tab had appeared on my rather old Phone 11 but not on my Android phone. So that is what I used to access it.I will admit that I never watched any coverage of the inauguration, but despite that, the first video that appeared when I hit the Video tab button on X was Elon Musks speech at President Donald Trumps inauguration (minus the problematic gesture). When I went out of the app and back in again, I got another post from Musks account, this time showing a video of Ronald Reagan. (Since Im old enough to have been around during his administration, I swiped through that one pretty quickly.) I left the app and returned again; this time, I got a Tesla engineer explaining the mechanics of Musks gesture. (In later visits, these initial visits to Musks account werent repeated.)The videos that followed Musks were, on the other hand, more varied in opinion, although they were all political in nature. I got ads every three or so videos (including one on Scientology). The default seems to be to let videos auto-advance, so once they run, they automatically move on to the next. However, you can disable that and have them repeat until you swipe. As with the other platforms, I could share, save, and comment on videos, change the speed, and send videos to my Mac or upload them. I could also like (but not dislike) them. According to the X help files, premium subscribers can upload videos up to four hours in length; non-subscribers can upload videos up to 140 seconds long.Bluesky videosOwner: Bluesky PBCBlueskys 60-second Video feature shows a typical variety of politics, animation, and cute animals. Screenshot: BlueskyBluesky has recently been touted as a non-corporate alternative to some of the other social media platforms, so it was not surprising that it would add a video feed as well. Currently, its videos are limited to 60 seconds.The video feed can be found by going to the hash mark at the top-right corner of your mobile app and selecting Video under My Feeds. If you want more immediate access, you can pin it to your top tabs by tapping on the pin icon in the top right of the Video feed. Unlike the other TikTok alternatives, when you go to Video on Bluesky, you dont immediately start the feed. Instead, you are brought to a page with thumbnails of various videos, where you can pick one. The video will start to run, and you can then scroll through short videos as with any other video app.I got a fairly interesting variety of videos, including an old Star Trek episode, some cat videos, some political videos, and a classical music selection. I did not hit any ads. There were comments, replays, likes, and share icons at the bottom of the page; pause the video by tapping on it. When you hit the three-dot more icon, you get basically the same choices as for the text posts, including the option to show more / less content similar to what youre watching, mute the thread, or block the account.Snapchat SpotlightOwner: Snap, Inc.Snapchats Spotlight reflects the friends-and-family feel of the app. Screenshot: SnapSnapchat is mostly a friends-and-family video app, but it does have Spotlight, a selection of snaps that have been made public.Spotlights concentrate on the kind of thing that people take snaps of DIY demos, cute animals and kids, funny videos, etc. As was expected, they are almost all personal or quickly created videos (rather than TV clips, videos of political figures, or professionally edited shorts). No ads popped up; as with the other services, I could follow, like, and promote a video. I could also block the creator or let the app know if I didnt like a particular video. While most snaps are said to be limited to 60 seconds, I saw several videos that were more than two minutes in length.If youre a Snapchat user and want to explore some of the snaps outside of your friend group or prefer nonprofessional videos to the more polished versions, Spotlight is a fun place to visit.RedNoteOwner: Xingyin Information TechnologyAt the very least, RedNote offers an interesting glimpse into the lives of some of Chinas citizens. Screenshots: Xingyin Information TechnologyWhen TikTok temporarily shut down, instead of going to one of the US-based services listed above, a lot of TikTok refugees (perhaps in a protest move) went instead to another Chinese-based service called , or Xiaohongshu, but known in the US as RedNote. Its an interesting place to visit.One of the first videos I found was a user carefully explaining some of the limits of the service: no politics, no discussion of LGBTQ+ issues. (Looking to check this, I found a long list of community rules, which, when translated by Google, prohibit things like attacking and defaming party and state leaders and content that shows or implies sexual behavior.) On the other hand, I found another post that purported to teach English speakers how to say Shut the fuck up, in Chinese. I found live videos of workers in the kitchen of a restaurant (which could become something to watch until the next season of The Bear comes out), cat videos, and a video of a recipe for apple ginger tea to ease menstrual pain.The interface is fairly easy to understand, even for English speakers. You can like or favorite a video on the bottom, and comments not in English have the option to be translated. There are also live videos that let you Gift the creators. (At one point, language-learning app Duolingo claimed a 216 percent increase in Mandarin learners from the US as a result of TikTok fans experimenting with RedNote.)I doubt that RedNote will become a substitute for TikTok, or any other English-language social network and it may be subject to the same ban as TikTok. Still, it was fun to experience an unfamiliar platform.Tumblr TVOwner: AutomatticTumblr TV mixed GIFs with videos, which means you may swipe to a video of a singer without video. Screenshots: AutomatticAs we speak, Tumblr is adding its service to the melee. Tumblr TV was originally created to exhibit GIFs, but it has now added videos to the mix, an ability that just came out of beta.New Tumblr users will see a tab for Tumblr TV at the top menu of the app; otherwise, existing users will need to go to Tab Options to add it. Once tapped, the Tumblr TV tab sends you to a page where you can choose from categories like Sport, TV, Fashion, Gaming, and Bollywood. Theres also a Recommended section at the top. Unfortunately, the Recommend videos I got had very little to do with anything Ive ever watched on Tumblr, and although a normal Tumblr video can be up to 10 minutes long, these seemed to top out at 30 seconds. In addition, the fact that this is still mainly a GIF feed can result in frustration, especially when you go to a category such as Music & Theater and find that most of what youre coming across lacks audio. However, its early days yet for the service, so perhaps this will improve.Any others?There are other less-well-known apps that offer TikTok-like scrolling videos some of which are still in development. Clapper, for example, advertises that it has a 17+ audience policy, while a series of introductory videos touts some of its differences from TikTok, including the freedom to smoke or drink on camera. (But best of all, you will never have to say the word unalive again.) Triller has a similar interface but is mostly about music videos. Fediverse enthusiasts can look forward to Loops, which is currently in development and is looking for testers.Whether any of these can attain the momentum of TikTok has yet to be seen. After all, we still dont know if there will be, or could be, an app that can take the place of what Twitter used to be. Well just have to keep checking back its up to the creators and their viewers now.See More:

This post contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.Right from its opening credits, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man teaches viewers what they can expect. The theme song Neighbor Like Me, by The Math Club and featuring Relaye and Melo Makes Music, remixes the classic theme from the 1967 animated series into something fresh, exciting, and unexpected.The show applies that approach to everything, including Peters origin story. The Disney+ series builds on some parts of the characters introduction in the comics and in the MCU, but it takes unexpected turns, ensuring that Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man wont be exactly the same Spider-Man weve seen 100 times.Spider-Mans Not-So-Secret OriginLike Superman and Batman, Spider-Man has an origin thats been told so many times that it almost doesnt bear repeating.As established in Spideys first appearance in 1962s Amazing Fantasy #15, drawn by Steve Ditko and written by Stan Lee, Peter Parker is a good-hearted and bookish kid raised by his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Petes spindly stature makes him an object of abuse for bullies and an object of sympathy instead of admiration for girls. That is, until a radioactive spider bites Pete and gives him the ability to whatever a spider can.The power goes right to Petes head and he promptly starts making money as a wrestler, putting his desires before the needs of anyone else. But when Pete refuses to stop a burglar, insisting that he now only looks out for number one, and that burglar kills Uncle Ben, he learns an important lesson about great power and great responsibility.The MCU version of Spider-Man doesnt ignore that origin, but it does go in a slightly different direction. Peter already has powers when he arrives in the MCU, in the form of Tom Holland, and Ben Parker has already been so long dead that no one even mentions him. Instead, its Tony Stark who becomes Peters mentor, giving Spider-Man access to billionaire technology while trying to teach him about responsibility.Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man makes references to both origins, but takes them in very different directions.The Birth of a Moral ConscienceEarly in the first episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter realizes that hes late for school, so he pulls up his backpack for something to give him an edge. Yet all he finds is a sandwich, not the costume and web-shooters we were expecting.Thats because Peter doesnt yet have his powers, which is a bit of a surprise to long-time fans. After all, as Aunt May drives him to school, Peter makes reference to everything thats happened with Ben, that is, his death.On the surface, this timeline change doesnt matter much. Peters still a good enough guy to stare down the Kraven/Venom hybrid that comes through a portal into an alternate reality, even before he gets by a spider from the same portal. Even after getting bit, Peter seems to take well to his newfound power, showing empathy toward a thief who swiped some cash because she was hungry.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!The fact that Uncle Bens death didnt teach Peter about power and responsibility lessens some of Spideys goodness. Part of Spider-Mans appeal is that he could do whatever he wants, but he chooses not to, and thats sometimes a hard choice. The decision to be good seems to come easily to Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.However, the series may just be delaying Peters lesson about power and responsibility, letting it come not from his dying uncle, but from his malevolent mentor.Great Power, Great Responsibility, and Great MenThe first episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man ends with near 1:1 recreation of Peters MCU introduction in Captain America: Civil War. While alt-Js Left Hand Free plays on the soundtrack, the camera follows Peter through the halls of his apartment, a DVD player in one hand and a set of keys in the other. May asks about school when Peter walks in and he answers, but hes more concerned about the crazy car parked outside.When Peter finally turns around to face his aunt, he notices her surprising guest, one of the richest men on the planet. In Civil War, that guest is Tony Stark, the invincible Iron Man. In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, its Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin.As Den of Geeks review of the first episodes notes, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is fond of winking at the MCU while still taking place in its own separate universe. The homage could be nothing more than such a wink, setting up the viewers to expect one thing and then delivering another.But given the fact that Norman goes on to become a mentor Peter, just like Tony did, and even learns that hes Spider-Man by the end of episode two, the two business moguls mirror one another. Could it be Norman, not Stark or Uncle Ben, who teaches Peter about power and responsibility? And, if so, how far will the villainous Green Goblin push Peter while teaching that lesson?Or, maybe Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is just reminding us that all billionaires are evil, whether its Stark to Osborn Nah. That would be too annoying and woke.Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man streams every Wednesday on Disney+.

Shares in ASML have bounced back from the hit inflicted by DeepSeeks AI advances. Celebrating the results, ASML predicted that the sudden emergence of low-cost models will boost demand for the firms semiconductor machines.The companys stock price rose by over 10% on Wednesday after the Dutch business reported impressive orders for its chip-making equipment. The tools produce the most advanced semiconductors in the world and ASML is the only company that manufactures them.This dominant position has made ASML the second most valuable tech firm in Europe. But the business was shaken on Monday by DeepSeeks rapid AI progress.Last week, the Chinese company released a new chatbot and models with a stunning blend of high performance and low cost.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!The results sent tech stocks spiralling. Nvidia set an alarming precedent, suffering the largest rout in market history.Shares in ASML slumped by as much as 12%. But the company has been reinvigorated by strong results from 2024.The firm reported total annual sales of 28.3bn just above its forecast of 28bn. Net bookings, meanwhile, surged to 7.1bn in the fourth quarter of 2024 169% above the 2.63bn reported in Q3.Christophe Fouquet, ASMLs CEO, expects demand for the companys machines to grow. He told CNBC that the business will benefit from rise oflow-cost AImodels developed by the likes of DeepSeek.A lower cost of AI could mean more applications, Fouquet said. More applications means more demand over time. We see that as an opportunity for more chips demand. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

From 2013 to 2023, the number of ICT specialists in the EU increased by 59.3% according to Eurostat. In that period, most of these tech workers were found in Germany, which provided employment for 21.5% of the EUs ICT specialistsunsurprising when you consider the fact that the country is home to a myriad of high-tech companies and organisations such as SAP, Siemens, Bosch, and Audi.France had the second largest share at 13.8%, with Italy and Spain representing 9.9% and 9.6% respectively. While the demand for tech workers is increasing, this is happening in tandem with a worsening skills gap.5 software roles to apply for nowLabour market challenges2024 data from Eurostat shows that 57.5% of EU businesses just cant recruit necessary ICT talent, and that the gap between labour demand and actual employment has grown by 20% in the past ten years. Large companies arent faring much better with 68% unable to fill all their open tech roles.The skills gap looks set to worsen as new technologies open up demand for emerging job roles.Register NowAdditionally, universities and learning institutions often cant keep up with ever-changing technology requirements. The length of many higher education courses means that qualified tech talent is often in a pipeline that is simply too long for wider hiring needs.The European Commission is highly aware of its ongoing skills gap issue and the threat that this poses for economic expansion. It is seeking to address it with a series of measures which include up- and reskilling needs, improving labour and skill forecasting and addressing individual and structural barriers to labour market participation, for example.The recent Future of Jobs report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified 15 of the fastest-growing job titles by 2030. These are highly tech focused and include big data specialists, fintech engineers, AI and ML specialists, plus software and applications developers. Security management specialists, data warehousing specialists, UI and UX designers, IoT specialists, data analysts, information security analysts, and DevOps engineering roles will also increase.New opportunities for software devsFor software developers in particular, emerging technologies are set to significantly impact their skillsets and career trajectories this year and beyond.Think of the continued expansion of artificial intelligence and machine learning as one key area of growth. Additionally, low-code/no-code platforms, cloud-native development, edge computing, DevSecOps, quantum computing, natural language processing (NLP), and robotic process automation (RPA) are more technologies software developers may need to get to grips with.The WEF says that Three technologies in particular are set to have the biggest impact: robots and automation, energy generation and storage technology, and AI and information processing.It found that 86% of leaders expect AI and information processing technologies to transform their business by 2030. That will lead to a rise in the jobs available and the skills required, which may prompt the rise of focused roles such as generative AI engineer, AI ethicist, prompt engineer, remote AI training specialist, robotics software engineer, AI product manager and business intelligence developer with AI focus.Quantum computing is also a rapidly emerging field and as it continues to advance, a variety of new job titles are likely to emerge, reflecting the unique skills and expertise required in this cutting-edge field.Think roles for quantum optimisation engineers, quantum algorithm developers, quantum software engineers, and application specialists, for example. Roles could also develop for quantum error correction specialists, quantum machine learning scientists, quantum health researchers, quantum data scientists, and quantum sensing engineers.Upskilling for the futureSkill gaps represent opportunities for software engineers with the right skills. However, keeping up with an ever-changing industry can be daunting. Developers who want to stay ahead of emerging technologies and job titles over the next five years can adopt several strategies.Continuous learning and upskilling is a key aspect to focus on. Online courses, certifications and bootcamps, and coding workshops can all hone and develop your skills. Platforms like Coursera, edX, or Pluralsight can be used to develop skills that are focused on specific technologies such as low-code/no-code development, or AI frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, for example.If you arent getting the experience youd like within your current work environment, think about developing personal projects using new technologies. This will give you valuable hands-on experience, and could involve creating applications with AI capabilities or exploring quantum computing simulations.You can also contribute to or collaborate on open-source projects to apply new skills in real-world scenarios, while gaining visibility within the developer community. Keep your curiosity going by joining relevant professional networks, both on and offline.Conferences and meetups are another rich resource to mine, and you can be among the first to learn about the latest trends, as well as network with your peers.Lastly, think about how you can make yourself the most employable youve ever been by identifying and then focusing on niche skills. Generative AI, ethical AI practices, or quantum algorithm development are just some to look at. Exploring how emergent technologies can intersect with other industries can also significantly broaden your career opportunities.Ready to look for a new tech role? Check out The Next Web Job Board now Story by Kirstie McDermott Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Content provided by Amply and TNWAlso tagged with

If you havent heard, Kendrick Lamar is set to perform at the Apple Music Halftime Show during Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9. The rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs starts at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, and theres a free way to stream it in 4K this year.Adding to the hype is an exclusive Apple Vision Pro experience through Apple Arcade. The immersive music game and Apple Design Award nominee Synth Riders is launching an exclusive Kendrick Lamar HUMBLE. Synth Riders Experience in anticipiation of the Apple Music Halftime Show. The new game experience launches on February 6 for all Apple Arcade subscribers and is available exclusively through Apple Vision Pro:Even if you cant be atSuper Bowl LIXto seeKendrick Lamarperform at theApple Music Halftime Show, you can still experience his music in an immersive way! Kluge Interactiveproudly announces theKendrick Lamar HUMBLE. Synth Riders Experience, availableexclusively on Apple Arcade for Apple Vision Pro.EachSynth Riders Experienceis a groundbreakingspatial-musical journey, allowing players to step into the universe of a song. In this case, youll move through a world inspired by Kendrick LamarsHUMBLE.music video. Moody spotlights shift to the beat, transporting players fromNew Orleansto thestreets of Los Angeles. Navigate through the crowds and take yourrightful place on the thronein this electrifying, rhythm-driven adventure.For music lovers, Synth Riders offers fantastic gameplay on Apple Vision Pro. Unlike other platforms, the title has no in-app purchases or packs to unlock because everything is available through an Apple Arcade subscription.Synth Riders Experience offers two modes on Apple Vision Pro. The first is a mixed reality view that creates a portal for gameplay while showing your real world environment. The other is a fully immersive experience that transports you to another musical dimension.Stay tuned for more details! The Kendrick Lamar experience launches on Apple Vision Pro next week!Apple Arcade is available for up to six users for $6.99/month after a one-month free trial. The game subscription service is also included in the Apple One bundle.Add 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

Apple is about to report its earnings for the all-important holiday quarter, and many onlookers hope to see a big Apple Intelligence impact on iPhone sales. Heres why thats not going to happen now, but it absolutely will in due time.iPhone 16 is doing just fine, but the major AI impact is still to comeAfter Apple first introduced its set of AI features last June, analysts started predicting that an iPhone supercycle was coming.Essentially, they expected AI to bring a big boost to iPhone demand and motivate device upgrades sooner than might otherwise be expected.When Apple last reported its earnings, the iPhone 16 line had just barely been released, and the first Apple Intelligence features werent available yet. So it was unsurprising that sales were about average for a new iPhone launch. There was a 5% boost, but thats not exactly supercycle levels of growth.This weeks earnings will give a much better glimpse into any potential AI impact.And while Apple is generally expected to report a strong quarter, consensus points to iPhone sales being solid but nothing extraordinary.To be fair, the iPhones success itself is extraordinary. Nothing else in Apples very profitable portfolio comes even close to matching iPhone sales.But its not unusual for the iPhone to do great. Growth is what matters most to Wall Street, and a big AI impact looks like it may not arrive yet.Dont worry though, because that iPhone supercycle is almost certainly coming in the years aheadit may just be more prolonged than expected.Apple Intelligence is a set of software features, but its entirely dependent on Apple building powerful hardware.Weve already started to see the AI impact on Apples hardware choices:the full iPhone 16 lineup was bumped to 8GB of RAM, a spec formerly exclusive to Pro models, and even the upcoming iPhone SE 4 will boast AI-capable chip and RAMon the Mac, Apple recently bumped all new Macs to 16 GB of base RAM, which almost certainly wouldnt have happened otherwisein the next few months, Apples full iPad lineup will feature modern chips that support AIeven the budget modelRumors also suggest that Apple has some solid hardware advancements on the way.Later this year, the iPhone 17 Pro lineup will boast 12GB of RAM, and all iPhone 17 models are gaining improved cooling. Well undoubtedly see nice gains with the A19 chip series too, particularly with the Neural Engine.As someone who has followed Apple closely for many years, its rare to see such aggressive hardware advancements in such a short period of time.But Apple Intelligence demands itnot just for the current features, but also everything in the works for iOS 19, iOS 20, and beyond.In the next few years, iPhone hardware will have advanced significantly to power upcoming AI features.And the near-unprecedented hardware and software transformations will make pre-AI iPhone models feel dated fast.Apple Intelligence iPhone supercycle: Wrap-upRight now, the current Apple Intelligence features arent necessarily driving huge numbers of iPhone upgrades. Is AI making some impact? Sure, but not a ton.But in the next 2-3 years, I have no doubt that AI will become a huge upgrade motivator. The advantages offered by Apple Intelligence will be increasingly hard to deny. Its just going to take a little time for that supercycle to arrive.Do you think AI will drive an iPhone supercycle? Why or why not? 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

As Donald Trump offers federal employees massive buyouts in a bid to axe as many as possible, OpenAI isconveniently offering a new AI tool to replace that workload.In a new blog post, OpenAI announced the launch of ChatGPT Gov, a "tailored version" of the company's groundbreaking chatbot with additional security layers for the processing of sensitive government information.Unveiled just a week after Trump's $500 billion Stargate AI deal that includes OpenAI and right before his administration offered government employees "deferred resignation" in exchange for months of pay and benefits this new version of ChatGPT will, asCNBC reports,operate similarly to the enterprise version that underpins it.In a call with reporters, OpenAI chief product officer Kevin Weil insisted that agencies will be able to input "non-public, sensitive information" into ChatGPT Gov even though ChatGPT Enterprise has not finished the "long process" of getting federal accreditation for such usage.Despite that shaky foundation, the company told FedScoop that it's already in conversation with "several" unnamed agencies who want to use ChatGPT Gov an alarming prospect in terms of national security,though to be fair, Trump's human "First Buddy" also lacks the level of security clearance needed for the work he does as well.With OpenAI announcing ChatGPT just before news broke about Trump's "deferred resignation" scheme, folks online smelled something fishy."Just happen to announce this the same day they invite all federal employees to quit," Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a particle physicist at the University of New Hampshire, posted on Bluesky. "Your social security is going to be handled by [a] large language model that is on constantly on shrooms."Beyond the mighty coincidental timing, folks also pointed out just how easily this project involving a technology notorious for making stuff upcould backfire."This seems like a great way for private organizations to mine government data," one Bluesky user noted."'Having been dunked on by [C]hina, what if we propped up this boondoggle with the federal government,'" another Bluesky poster joked, in a clear reference to DeepSeek's big weekend.The r/artificial subreddit, meanwhile, called a spade a spade."The only possible moat for OpenAI left," one commentator quipped. "Government slop that doesn't do anything meaningful and wastes taxpayer dollars."And wait a second wasn't saving money supposed to be a top goal of the Trump administration?More on government and AI: Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Woke AIShare This Article

President Donald Trump has been talking a big talk about the AI industry but his actual understanding of it remains hazy, and he keeps posting AI-generated material in a way that makes it seem a lot like he has no idea it's fake.In the latest instance, Trump fell for an incredibly obvious AI-generated image of a sports car with the letters "GM" illuminated above it."What a beautiful car," the president gushed on his Twitter-turned-X competitor Truth Social. "Congratulations to GM!"It's unclear whether the original account, which parades as an "OFFICIAL TRUMP" account and drums up excitement for Trump's memecoin, intended to use the letters GM to denote "good morning," an extremely common phrase in crypto circles, instead of General Motors (which the original post makes no explicit mention of.)It's a sad state of affairs. Trump has a long history of using blatant AI slop to further his agenda. In August, for instance, he went far as to post a slew of images showing young women in "Swifties for Trump" T-shirts which turned out to be cheap, AI-generated engagement bait that faked an army of nonexistent Taylor Swift fans endorsing his campaign.Worse yet, Trump eventually told Fox Business he had no idea where the pictures even came from while demonstrating a shockingly low level of familiarity with the tech.In short, the latest gaffe is a perfect demonstration of the president's cluelessness and willful ignorance when it comes to the kind of lazy AI slop drowning out entire social media platforms.It also comes after Trump proudly announced a $500 billion deal involving several major industry players as part of a massive AI infrastructure venture dubbed Stargate.Less than a week later, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek wiped out more than $1 trillion in market value when it showed off an AI model that appears to have much of the functionality of competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT, but that required a minuscule fraction of the computing infrastructure.For his part, Trump shows no sign of slowing down with the AI slop. Most recently, he posted an AI-generated picture of himself wearing a fedora, with a message reading "FAFO" (fuck around, find out) written next to him an apparent swipe at Colombia in light of an escalating trade war with the nation.In a different peculiar post, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself shouting next to a growling lion.In many ways, Trump's blas embrace of the tech echoes multi-hyphenate billionaire Elon Musk's well-documented passion for lazy AI slop. Most recently, Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency posted a shoddy AI-generated image of its new logo on its website, including a mangled American flag that featured 11 stripes and a deformed mush of about 37 stars.Share This Article

Rapid integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning is reshaping traditional tech roles, while making many legacy skills obsolete. Organizations are placing a premium on professionals with advanced technical expertise and refined soft skills, such as collaboration, analytical thinking, and innovation.This shift is especially evident in areas like data science, cybersecurity, and AI/ML, where demand for specialized roles and skills continues to rise, according to the IT Skills and Certifications Pay Index from Foote Partners.Emerging interdisciplinary roles, such as AI model auditors and machine learning engineers, also indicated a need for a more diverse skill set to navigate these transformative technologies.In data science, expertise in areas like data strategy, architecture, and governance for AI systems is seeing a significant rise in value, with skills like Apache Flink and predictive analytics earning premium pay.Similarly, cybersecurity professionals with knowledge of AI-powered tools, security architecture, and machine learning models are commanding higher salaries, as are those with certifications such as GIAC and NIST.IT professionals must focus on adaptability and continuous learning to stay relevant, says Ram Palaniappan, CTO of TEKsystems Global Services.Related:He explains that AI is changing the entire application architecture and topology through the continuous advancement of technology from GenAI to agentic AI.Roles like prompt designers, AI/ML engineers, AI ethicists, and NLP specialists are emerging as critical, so developing skills in areas like AI governance, machine learning engineering, and natural language processing is essential.Assessing IT Skill SetsTanja Podinic, senior vice president of AI programs for ContractPodAi, says IT professionals must reassess their skill sets and understand their value in a rapidly changing landscape.The shifting market will demand more creative and critical thinking, she says. However, technological and process-oriented skills are not everything.As technology is increasingly integrated into new areas, soft skills will also grow in importance.Emotional and social intelligence, strong communication, teamwork, and leadership skills are among the key attributes that make IT pros invaluable assets to organizations.Podinic explains that as professionals continue to face new challenges, they need to develop skills that support innovative problem-solving and effective data analysis.Related:These abilities will be pivotal as AI and machine learning reshape industries, she says.HP chief commercial officer Dave McQuarrie says within the next five to 10 years, integrating AI in daily tasks will become as fundamental in the workplace as email is today. As the significance of traditional skills shifts, leaders must focus on upskilling their teams or risk falling behind, he explains via email. While implementing mandatory AI training programs is a positive initial step, it is insufficient on its own.He adds that businesses cannot simply check a box and expect employees to navigate these changes independently.There is a significant need and opportunity for leaders to engage with their workforce and fulfill their AI training needs, McQuarrie says.Soft Skills and CertificationsPalaniappan says skills like business process management, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and creativity should not be neglected.These are the traits that complement technical skills and are difficult to automate, he says. Look out for all opportunities to leverage technology to complement the work is going to be the future.He says the challenge is to create long-term and holistic training programs that keep up with the rapidly evolving speed of digital evolution, especially in the AI arena.Related:Certifications and formal training programs are becoming more essential for IT professionals, particularly for those looking to enter fields like AI and machine learning, he explains.Certifications validate foundational knowledge of ML models, algorithms, and data management, which are critical for building careers in areas like ML engineering.Investing in Training, UpskillingPodinic says continuous learning and skill development are crucial, and a key factor will be having a mindset that is open to change. Professionals must remain flexible and have the agility to adapt to new tools and methodologies, while also embracing changes to their roles and responsibilities, she says.Beyond maintaining technological literacy, its about staying up to date on emerging tech trends will help ensure the relevance of IT roles.Accepting the change and joining the journey will be critical for success, Podinic says.She recommends that organizations develop strategic upskilling plans that identify key focus areas, set clear goals, and establish specialized training programs to foster professional growth.From her perspective, the key component of any upskilling initiative is leadership and its support. Business leaders must not only understand the critical importance of upskilling but actively champion it, Podinic says.Companies must also focus on creating an ecosystem of continuous learning, creating a sandbox for exploring different tools and offering employees opportunities to develop both technical and soft skills.Leadership must take a proactive approach to identify and address gaps, fostering a culture where innovation and education are a part of daily operations.Reskill or Rehire?Ornella Casagrande Rizzi, learning and development coordinator at Indicium, has a simple mantra: Reskill where possible, hire where necessary.Upskilling or reskilling are strategies that companies need to prioritize for numerous reasons, she says in an email interview.Besides avoiding the risks associated with hiring externally, upskilling and reskilling are excellent ways to foster a culture of learning by effectively teaching employees how to learn and shaping them into lifelong learners.This ensures the staff is better prepared for the dynamic changes brought by emerging technologies while also remaining loyal to their company, Rizzi says.Palaniappan says he agrees that matching these skills alongside industry needs is a great way to start building out a program in these specialized areas.Upskilling initiatives should be tied to measurable business outcomes, ensuring employees not only gain knowledge but also understand how to apply it to real-world challenges, he says.