The galaxy of Star Wars collectibles is vast and ever-expanding. The biggest toy manufacturers release new Star Wars products multiple times a year, while many other unconventional partners have added their spin on merchandise into the mix.Being a Star Wars collector can be hard to keep up with, so Den of Geek has done the work for you to assemble a list of the hottest Star Wars toys and swag available now or on the horizon in 2025.Star Wars Jewelry from RockloveRelease date: Available nowAre you looking to accessorize one of your latest fits with some Star Wars bling? Its too heavy to wear the 6,000-piece LEGO AT-AT around your neck, but what about a fabulous alternative from RockLove? The popular jewelry brand has partnered with Star Wars to create beloved iconography from the galaxy far, far away in wearable form, including an AT-AT necklace, a TIE Fighter necklace, and an Imperial signet ring.Star Wars Funko Pop! Darth Vader, Clone Trooper Fives, Kylo Ren, & Boba FettRelease Date: March 1Funko Pop! has been a mainstay in the Star Wars collecting community for well over a decade now. Thousands of everyones favorite vinyl figurines have been produced throughout the years, and Funko is always searching for creative avenues to keep things fresh for their figures. In 2025, new comic book art-inspired Pops! are dropping, including fan-favorite characters such as Clone Trooper Fives, Kylo Ren, Boba Fett, and the ubiquitous Darth Vader featured.LEGO Star Wars 75429: AT-AT Driver HelmetRelease date: March 1Somehow, the LEGO Star Wars Helmet Collection has returned. After releasing multiple sets each year from 2020-2023, no new helmets were produced in 2024, leading fans to speculate the subtheme had been discontinued. Well, not to worry, because the Helmet Collection is coming back in 2025, with the release of three new iconic Star Wars characters added to the mix. While Jango Fett and Kylo Ren are heavily rumored to receive this treatment later in the year, LEGO has already revealed the AT-AT Driver for March. The 730-piece helmet set expertly recreates the pilots grey, red, and black helmets as they control one of the most iconic walkers in Star Wars, the AT-AT.New Star Wars The Vintage Collection Action Figures, Including Baylan Skoll and Shin HatiRelease date: Spring 2025Hasbros The Vintage Collection, a series of Star Wars action figures in throwback-style packaging, is expanding in 2025 with some great characters added to the mix. Those characters include a 501st Clone Trooper, Battle Droids, and a Mandalorian super commando. Additionally, fan favorites Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati from the Ahsoka Disney+ series will appear here. This collection doubles perfectly as a playable action figure for kids and a displayable collectors item when left inside the packaging.Star Wars Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex Black Series Action FiguresRelease date: Spring 2025Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!The Black Series has been a premiere Star Wars commodity since its inception, offering fans highly detailed action figures of their favorite characters. This spring, two icons from The Clone Wars enter the fraywith a twist. While these figures are sporting Clone Wars-era outfits, they are actually based on the Ahsoka Disney+ show, specifically the flashbacks in the fifth episode of the series. First up is Anakin Skywalker in his armored outfit, a fan-favorite look for the leading player of the Star Wars canon. Next in line is Captain Rex, another mainstay from Star Wars animation. Seeing both of these characters in live-action was cool enough, but their Black Series figures are the cherry on top.Hot Toys Chewbacca with Disassembled C-3PORelease Date: July 2025 (estimated)If more miniature action figures arent your jam, consider dipping your toes in the world of Hot Toys (and saving up, too). These exceptionally detailed, nearly photo-realistic figures are the cream of the crop in the world of collectibles, warranting the high price tags. This summer, Hot Toys is anticipated to release a 1:6 scale Chewbacca with Disassembled C-3PO from the third act of The Empire Strikes Back. Everyones favorite Wookiee will feature realistically detailed fur with fantastic attention to texture. This Chewbacca figure will instantly become a centerpiece of any Star Wars collection, standing at a staggering 14 inches tall.Star Wars Citizen Watch Rebel Starfighter Box SetRelease date: To be announcedLike the aforementioned jewelry from RockLove, were going to spotlight another Star Wars accessory piece for this yeara very classy one at that. Introducing the Citizen Rebel Starfighter watch. Upon first glance, this might not even appear to be a Star Wars product, but further inspection reveals the glorious (and very nerdy) details, including magnificent stylized artwork featuring the Death Star, an X-wing, and the Rebel Alliance logo. The watch box set also includes a collectible pin, which is a nice add-on. This is one of the more premium entries on our list, but this watch will become a talking point for anyone who wears it.

SummaryWorlds Part II introduces billions of new stars and planets to No Mans Sky, each teeming with new life to discover.New gameplay, missions and lore tie up loose ends from long-unanswered narrative strands.Worlds Part II arrives on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass today, and is free for existing players.Today, Im super proud to announce that Worlds Part II is coming No Mans Sky today, is free to download for all existing Xbox and Game Pass players today, and is one of the biggest updates weve ever released.Across the universe weve introduced billions of new star systems, home to trillions of wholly new planets have been generated with new terrain technology. Enormous and foreboding Gas Giant planets can be seen for the first time, ten times bigger than our biggest planet, providing dramatic new environments to explore.Innovative water technology has enabled us to spawn all-new water planets with new biomes and oceans that are kilometres deep. Deep sea gameplay has been introduced, and theres a huge variety of new life to be discovered in the depths.Water now responds to players as they travel through them and ripples and foams as spaceships skirt above them. Water surfaces are now more realistic and reflect the ever-changing cloud systems above and the glorious expanse of the night skies.A new lightning system makes the seas and oceans look so different with new caustics, light shafts and the deeper you explore the darker it gets. In fact, every element of our lighting has been rewritten. Even on dry land, shadows show more details, light flickers through leaves, caves are dark and immersiveNew terrain technology enables the creation of huge mountain ranges and deep canyons never possible before. All this technology combines to create that feeling of wonder in an infinite universe as you gaze up at a mountain peak miles above you, or stared down into the abyss of a dizzyingly cavernous gorge.Every planet is different and no one has seen it before you, not even us, for us thats what makes No Mans Sky unique and why the emotions of exploring our universe just hit differently.As the team continues work on our next big game, Light No Fire, we learn new things, develop new tech and cant resist sharing that with our No Mans Sky players.To accompany all this new technology and variety, theres a whole host of new gameplay, lore and missions to dig into. There is a mission strand which explores the mystery of the Gas Giants and links up some narrative threads which have been left teasingly unanswered for a long time.Theres a new expedition which is like a guided tour through the best of what Worlds Part II has to offer, with a generous suite of rewards including a new starship which is part living ship, and part jet fighter!To celebrate the release of Worlds Part II, were running another Twitch Drops campaign from Thursday 30th January to Monday 3rd February. Tune in to your favourite No Mans Sky streamers on Twitch to unlock exclusive ships, multi-tools, pets and more just by watching them play.Worlds Part II takes the No Mans Sky universe to a whole new level. It is way beyond what I ever thought possible when we first sat down to code our crazy little universe. Nine years later and this update is another step in the journey of this game that we truly love.No Man's SkyHello Games1007$59.99$23.99Get it nowXbox One X EnhancedPC Game PassXbox Game PassNo Mans Sky comes complete with all 29 major updates up to and including Worlds Part I.Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man's Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action.In No Man's Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you'll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before and perhaps never will again.Embark on an epic voyageAt the centre of the galaxy lies a irresistible pulse which draws you on a journey towards it to learn the true nature of the cosmos. But, facing hostile creatures and fierce pirates, you'll know that death comes at a cost, and survival will be down to the choices you make over how you upgrade your ship, your weapon and suit.Find your own destinyYour voyage through No Man's Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Power is yours if you upgrade your ship for speed and weaponry.Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you'll reap huge rewards.Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary.Share your journeyThe galaxy is a living, breathing place. Trade convoys travel between stars, factions vie for territory, pirates hunt the unwary, and the police are ever watching. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions as well as your own

In a world of perfectly curated interiors and minimalist spaces, bohemian (boho) design is a rebellious breath of fresh air. With its roots in free-spirited creativity and a nod to global influences, boho style celebrates individuality and comfort over strict design rules. Here's what it's not: it doesn't have to include an ungodly amount of macram, cheap '70s-inspired beads, and ugly clutter. Rather, it's the art of mixed patterns, layered textures, and tastefully bringing in the eclectic. Of course, there are as many styles in the bohemian aesthetic as there are chintz patterns. Whether you're drawn to a more glam twist or a southwestern interpretation, these living room ideas will help you find the kind of boho look that speaks to you. 1Mexico City Meets BohoMaureen M. EvansIn Elena Reygadas's Mexico City living room, boho style emerges through a mix of vintage flea-market finds, classic designer pieces, and Mexican craftsmanship. A fringed hammock, reupholstered antique sofas, and wood milking stools coexist with a traditional butaque chair and handcrafted objects. The space combines natural materials, artisanal decor, and eclectic, layered elements, reflecting a lived-in and artistic atmosphere. "Im fascinated by spaces where you can see layers of time, says the acclaimed chef.2Rattan Living Room HavenStephan JulliardJacques Granges Portuguese villa living room is a rattan haven, showcasing wicker furniture, chairs, and hanging birdcages. Playful colors further accent the space, blending rustic, vintage, and artisanal touches. The result is a whimsical, relaxed atmosphere reflecting a vibrant, bohemian charm.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Eclectic Living RoomDouglas FriedmanIn Stacey Hills San Antonio Home, architecture firm Lake | Flato brought in a mix of Mexican Santos, Maasai beads, flea market antiques, and warm tones to create an eclectic, lived-in atmosphere. We especially love the monumental blue painting (at right) by artist Missi Smith, which brings artistic charm to the space. 4Colorful Boho Living RoomAnnie SchlechterRebecca Gardners 1926 Greenwich Village apartment, which she describes as "the size of a nipple," features a raucous boho style, complete with fringed saffron silk faille curtains. But it's the paprika-toned rug that really completes the audacious color scene. It's whimsical, intimate, and fabulously curatedonly in the way Gardner can pull off. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Open-Air Living RoomTrevor TondroIn this Mexican oasis, the outdoor living room exudes a laid-back style through a combination of vibrant, open-air spaces and a Careyes-style built-in sofa. The colorful wall art by Saul Kaminer adds a playful, eclectic touch that is boho style at its best. 6Geodesic Living RoomTrevor TondroWhat's more boho than a giant, geodesic domed living room that integrates a blend of natural materials and vintage finds? Enter: Nick Fouquet's Topanga Canyon dome house, which features a vintage Malm fireplace, cantilevered stairs, and custom furniture that embraces the spaces organic shapes. The decor mixes rustic warmth with eclectic charm, creating a free-spirited, cozy atmosphere.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Bohemian Surrealist Living RoomChris MottaliniTom Healy and Fred Hochberg apartment in Miami Beach, designed by the ELLE DECOR A-List firm Charlap Hyman & Herrero, is a surrealist escape that feels equally grounding and dreamlike. In the living room, vintage rocking chairs and biomorphic side tables are complemented by dried grass lamps that bring us back to earth. Never mind that, just around the corner, there's a secret seashell-encrusted door to be traversed. 8Relaxed Boho Living RoomVictoria PearsonEnter the living room of this Bohemian Santa Barbara beach house toned-down take on your favorite new aesthetic. A velvet green sofa is given pride of place, surrounded by antique rugs, sage-on-white paisley curtains, and the sumptuous terra-cotta-colored grass-cloth wallpaper. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Brilliant Boho StyleEric PiaseckiLeave it to design-world insider and PR maven Christina Juarez to drench her New York apartment in color and pattern. The living room features a mix of prints, including ikats and zigzag rugs and a matching sofa and wallpaper momentall layered with fine art and flea-market treasures. Proof that maximalism and playful design go hand-in-hand with the bohemian aesthetic. 10Barely There BohoRichard PowersIn this Upstate New York ranch house, the living room embraces boho style through a mix of modern and vintage pieces. Observe: a Jean-Michel Frank sofa is complemented by a wooden chair carved in the style of Pedro Friedeberg. The walls, sheathed in inlaid straw marquetry from Paris, and the alpaca rug create further organic warmth and expertly bring the outdoors in. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Striped Bohemian RoomRichard PowersIn John Robshaws Connecticut country home living room, stripe patters dominate, from the rug to the upholstery to the benches in the background. All combined to create a rich, artistic energy that is practically humming. And if you ask many boho enthusiasts, it actually is. 12Chintz-Boho Living RoomSimon UptonIn this New York Apartment, the living room is a treasure trove of floral-patterned pillow cushions, gold-hued cocktail tables, and chintz-upholstered club chairs. The result is a twist on the Bohemian aesthetic that feels as fresh as it is classic. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Moroccan Boho Living RoomSimon UptonThis dreamy desert oasis in Marrakech is boho reimagined. Maryam Montagues dreamy desert oasis features vintage Moroccan rugs, custom-made sofas, beaded accents, and antique mirrors. All against modern architectural elements like polished concrete floors. Moroccan boho for the win.14Artistic Boho RoomRoger DaviesIn the Los Angeles home of Lari Pittman and Roy Dowell, it's clear that two art-world luminaries graced the room with their touch. Here, a bold wallpaper acts as the backdrop to an eclectic blend of cultural art, textiles, and contemporary pieces. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Boho Glam Living RoomKirk Davis SwinehartIn William Cullums Greenwich Village apartment, a blend of eclectic vintage pieces and bold colors make for a room that is as glam as it is Boho. The living room features a mix of 19th-century antiques, personal artworks, and striking textiles, creating a vibrant, layered space that reflects a passion for pattern and cultural treasures.16Southwestern BohoBoris SV//Getty ImagesThis colorful living room blends Southwestern elements with a relaxed vibe. Cactuses and natural wood flooring create earthy textures, while the teal couch adds a pop of color. We could get comfortable here. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Plant-Filled SanctuaryMartine Severin//Getty ImagesNothing says "boho" like a room filled with plants. Here, an abundance of lush plants add a natural, vibrant touch. Neutral-toned textiles, like soft pillows and couches, create a cozy, calming environment. 18Bold Boho Living RoomBulgac//Getty ImagesOk, if you read the intro, don't think we're total macram haters. The macram wall hanging in this cozy reading corner adds texture and a handmade touch to an otherwise stoic-looking room. We especially love the bold red chair, which contrasts beautifully with the neutral tones of the room.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Whimsical Boho Living RoomTrevor TondroKathryn Ireland's Santa Monica Home is a rich blend of boho style, with eclectic furnishings that mix old and new. And the living room is no exception. Here, a 19th-century Uzbek textile hangs over a red linen-velvet sofa, complemented by French and Mexican antiques. Patchwork rugs and whimsical accents add warmth, vibrancy, and personality to the space. 20Paradisical Living Room Hugo Goudswaard//Getty ImagesThis boho space features a tree-like bird of paradise plant that brings a natural, tropical element to the wood room. A hanging chair adds a relaxed touch, perfect for lounging in the room's abundant natural light. Rachel SilvaAssociate Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 16 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.

DeepSeek sent ripples through the global tech landscape this week as it soared above ChatGPT in Apples app store. The meteoric rise has shifted the dynamics of US-China tech competition, shocked global tech stock valuations, and reshaped the future direction of artificial intelligence (AI) development.Among the industry buzz created by DeepSeeks rise to prominence, one question looms large: what does this mean for the strategy of the third leading global nation for AI development the United Kingdom?The generative AI era was kickstarted by the release of ChatGPT on November 30 2022, when large language models (LLMs) entered mainstream consciousness and began reshaping industries and workflows, while everyday users explored new ways to write, brainstorm, search and code. We are now witnessing the DeepSeek moment a pivotal shift that demonstrates the viability of a more efficient and cost-effective approach for AI development.DeepSeek isnt just another AI tool. Unlike ChatGPT and other major LLMs developed by tech giants and AI startups in the USA and Europe, DeepSeek represents a significant evolution in the way AI models are developed and trained.Most existing approaches rely on large-scale computing power and datasets (used to train or improve the AI systems), limiting development to very few extremely wealthy market players. DeepSeek not only demonstrates a significantly cheaper and more efficient way of training AI models, its open-source MIT licence (after the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where it was developed) allows users to deploy and develop the tool.This helps democratise AI, taking up the mantle from US company OpenAI whose initial mission was to build artificial general intelligence (AGI) that is safe and benefits all of humanity enabling smaller players to enter the space and innovate.By making cutting-edge AI development accessible and affordable to all, DeepSeek has reshaped the competitive landscape, allowing innovation to flourish beyond the confines of large, resource-rich organisations and countries.It has also set a new benchmark for efficiency in its approach, by training its model at a fraction of the cost, and matching even surpassing the performance of most existing LLMs. By employing innovative algorithms and architectures, it is delivering superior results with significantly lower computational demands and environmental impact.Why DeepSeek mattersDeepSeek was conceived by a group of quantitative trading experts in China. Thisunconventional origin holds lessons for the UK and US.While the UK particularly London has long attracted scientific and technological excellence, many of the highest achieving young graduates have tended to disproportionately opt for careers in finance, something that has come the expense of innovation in other critical sectors such as AI. Diversifying the pathways for Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) professionals could yield transformative outcomes.The UK governments recent and much-publicised 50-point action plan on AI offers glimpses of progressive intent, but also displayed a lack of boldness to drive real change. Incremental steps are not sufficient in such a fast-moving environment. The UK needs a new plan one that leverages its unique strengths while addressing systemic weaknesses.Firstly, its important to recognise that the UKs comparative advantage lies in its leading interdisciplinary expertise. World-class universities, thriving fintech and dynamic professional services and creative sectors offer fertile ground for AI applications that extend beyond traditional tech silos. The intersection of AI with finance, law, creative industries and medicine presents opportunities to lead in some niche but high-impact areas.The UKs funding and regulatory frameworks are due an overhaul. DeepSeeks development underscores the importance of agile, well-funded ecosystems that can support big, ambitious moonshot projects. Current UK funding mechanisms are bureaucratic and fragmented, favouring incremental innovations over radical breakthroughs, at times stifling innovation rather than nurturing it. Simplifying grant applications and offering targeted tax incentives for AI startups would represent a healthy start.Finally, it will be critical for the UK to keep its talent in the country. The UKs AI sector faces a brain drain as top talent gravitates toward better-funded opportunities in the US and China. Initiatives such as public-private partnerships for AI research development can help anchor talent at home.DeepSeeks rise is an excellent example of strategic foresight and execution. It doesnt merely aim to improve existing models, but redefines the very boundaries of how AI could be developed and deployed while demonstrating efficient, cost-effective approaches that can yield astounding results. The UK should adopt a similarly ambitious mindset, focusing on areas where it can set global standards rather than playing catch-up.AIs geopolitics cannot be ignored either. As the US and China compete with one another, the UK has a critical role to play as the trusted intermediary and ethical leader in AI governance. By championing transparent AI standards and fostering international collaboration, the UK can punch above its weight on the global stage.DeepSeeks success should serve as a wake-up call. Britain has the talent, institutions and entrepreneurial spirit to be a significant leading player in AI but it must act decisively, and now.It is time to remove token gestures and embrace bold strategies that move the needle and position the UK as a leader in an AI-driven future. This moment calls for action, not just more conversation.DeepSeek has raised the bar. It is now up to the UK to meet it.Feng Li, Chair of Information Management, Associate Dean for Research & Innovation, Bayes Business School, City St Georges, University of LondonThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Story by The Conversation An independent news and commentary website produced by academics and journalists. An independent news and commentary website produced by academics and journalists. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

DeepSeek proves that Silicon Valley cant monopolise AI innovation, according to a European AI entrepreneur.Muj Choudhury, the CEO and co-founder of British voice processing startup RocketPhone, welcomed DeepSeeks rapid rise. He hopes the Chinese company signals a shift in the balance of AI power.AI development has long been dominated by Silicon Valleys powerful VC firms, which wield immense influence by pouring vast sums into the technology and shaping its trajectory, he said.In this landscape, an outsider like DeepSeek breaking through is not just impressive. Its necessary.The industry needs challengers to drive real innovation and prevent AIs future from being monopolised by a handful of players.That handful has certainly been shaken by DeepSeeks emergence. The Chinese startups AI assistant has overtaken ChatGPT to reach the top spot on the Apple App Stores free app rankings.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 companys open-source models have also stunned the market. In tests, theyve outperformed rival models from OpenAI and Meta at just a fraction of the operating costs.The advances have shaken the stock market. According to Choudhury, theyve proven that AI innovation isnt dictated by access to supercomputers or Silicon Valley funding.Fresh from raising $10.5mn for his own startup, Choudhury has growing optimism for Europes AI scene.He wants DeepSeek to inspire the continents tech sector,which is struggling to commercialise AI innovations.For European startups, who have historically excelled at building focused, efficient solutions rather than chasing scale at all costs, DeepSeeks rise suggests theres room for strategic players who can execute well without massive capital outlays, he said.Perhaps this shift will finally allow us to focus on what truly matters: building practical AI systems that solve real enterprise problems and deliver tangible business value, rather than chasing the next viral consumer app. 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

Apple may face new shareholder scrutiny over its AI practices following a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The document was filed ahead of Apples next Annual Shareholder Meeting thats scheduled for February 25 at 8 a.m. PT.The National Legal and Policy Center has submitted a proposal urging Apple to disclose how it acquires and uses external data for AI training. The filing, disclosed on the SECs website, highlights potential legal risks tied to data privacy and intellectual property rights. Thats despite Apples brand alignment with privacy-centric policies.Whats in the proposal?The NLPCs proposal, listed as Proposal No. 4 in Apples 2025 proxy materials, requests that Apple produce a report outlining its policies on AI data acquisition and ethics. Specifically, the NLPC wants Apple to address:The risks associated with improperly obtained data used to train AI models.Apples privacy safeguards in AI development.Measures taken to ensure AI-generated outputs comply with legal and ethical standards.The NLPC argues that Apple, as a leading technology company with a reputation for user privacy, should set a higher standard in AI ethics. The proposal notes that competitors, including OpenAI, Google, and Meta, are already facing lawsuits over allegedly unauthorized data scraping to train AI models.In fact, the NLPC pulls no punches in how it summarizes Apples AI development strategy:The Company presents itself as privacy-friendly to great success but the monetization potential of its massive userbase is too high to pass up, so Apple outsources its unethical practices to other parties.For example, the Company has a longstanding partnership with Alphabet one of Apples major competitors to make Google the default search algorithm on Apple products. The deal is estimated to be worth $25 billion to Apple, which is 20% of its pretax profit. Not only does the partnership generate antitrust scrutiny, but it provides Alphabet the opportunity to collect massive amounts of data on Apple users. Alphabet is known for a wide variety of ethical and privacy violations. In effect, Apple has outsourced its unethical activities to Alphabet while collecting substantial sums in the process.This is the playbook that Apple is attempting to run with AI. In addition to its partnership with OpenAI, Apple has explored a partnership with Meta, another serial privacy violator.What this means for AppleApple has so far taken a more restrained approach to AI than some of its rivals, focusing on on-device intelligence and privacy-centric machine learning rather than large-scale, cloud-based AI models.Specifically, Apple has touted its Private Cloud Compute model that is designed to transmit and contain no account data when using Apple Intelligence.However, Apples privacy policy ends when Apple Intelligence relies on partner integration. For now, OpenAIs ChatGPT is the only partner, but Apple has openly courted Google for Gemini integration in the future.Apple explicitly requires user permission to turn on third-party AI integration with Apple Intelligence not just upon first use.What happens next?For starters, the proposal will almost certainly be voted down. Apple usually advises against supporting shareholder proposals, and shareholder proposals fail as a result. Well keep you posted on what happens next month.Still, the pointed accusation of outsourcing unethical practices for developing AI technology carries a sting especially when analysts are praising Apple for not wasting money on catching up with AI competitors and instead serving them up on Apple platforms.What do you think? Should Apple disclose more about its AI training data? Let us know in the comments below.Top 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

In a blog post for Windows Insiders, Microsoft has announced that Start menu phone integration on Windows 11 now works with iPhone. The feature was previously tested for Android last year with iPhone support promised at a later date.Start menu phone integration on Windows 11 allows users to share files more easily between the PC and phone. Microsoft details other capabilities enabled by phone integration as well:Connected iPhone users can now access their phone features directly from the Start menu. This seamless integration allows iPhone users to enjoy the same benefits as Android users, including ability to view phones battery status and connectivity, ability to access messages and calls, and keeping track of the latest activities, all conveniently integrated into the Start menu.Heres how that looks on Windows 11:Microsoft is introducing the feature to Windows Insiders (beta testers) on the Dev and Beta Channels starting today. These software and hardware requirements are needed for the feature to work:Windows 11 Insider Preview Build4805and higher in Beta Channel and26120.3000and higher in Dev channel.Phone Linkversion 1.24121.30.0or higher.Your PC must be signed in with a Microsoft account and must have Bluetooth LE capability.Learn more about Start menu phone integration on Windows 11 here. Using this new feature? Let us know how it goes in the comments! For the best PC and iPhone integration, of course, theres always the Mac.Top 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

What could possibly go wrong?Air Force NoneAfter leaving the federal government's operations in shambles and causing major confusion over healthcare funding, SpaceX CEO and White House advisor Elon Musk has a new priority: the delivery of a pair of luxurious Boeing 747s, so he and president Donald Trump can jet around in style.And in an unusual twist, Musk is talking to longtime space industry competitor Boeing to speed up the delivery of the two Air Force One passenger jets.Musk reportedly stopped by Boeing in person to chat with the company's chief executive."Weve been engaged with Elon," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told CNBC. Ortberg took over the reins in August in an effort to rescue the company's nose-diving reputation.It's an eyebrow-raising collaboration, to say the least. Boeing has repeatedly made headlines for years over its passenger planes falling apart mid-air and worse.The company has been in crisis mode for a while now, laying off around 17,000 employees in October following a disastrous year and a massive strike. Its efforts to develop an alternative to SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft have been a complete catastrophe as well.Jetting OddsIn a move that's become a hallmark of Boeing's operations, the Air Force One planes are already more than $2 billion over budget and several years late.In 2018, Trump struck a $3.9 billion deal with the aerospace company for two new Air Force One planes, asking for them to be ready by 2021. But Boeing has dragged its feet, blaming labor constraints and supply chain shortages for the four-year delay and astronomical overspending."The president wants those planes sooner so were working with Elon to see what can we do to pull up the schedule of those programs," Ortberg told CNBC.Needless to say, the money could be better spent on virtually anything else. Trump's chaotic first two weeks in the White House have been filled with alleged actions to cut the federal government's budget.Yet a pair of lavish, multibillion-dollar planes are somehow not on the chopping block, once again showing the administration's unwillingness to put its money where its mouth is.And Ortberg is still preparing for failure, telling investors not long after meeting with Musk that there was "no silver bullet" for the Air Force One program, as quoted by CNN.More on Boeing: A Boeing Jet's Nose Was Caught on Video Suddenly Collapsing to the GroundShare This Article

After spending years indiscriminately ripping off other people's work and getting sued for copyright infringement left and right OpenAI is sobbing that the buzzy Chinese AI startup DeepSeek did the same thing on its AI that it built on all that pilfered content.As the Financial Times reports, OpenAI is accusing the app of using its proprietary models to train its own ChatGPT competitor. The company claimed that it had "some evidence" of DeepSeek using the output of OpenAI's models to train its own, a technique called "distillation," that it says may have breached its terms of service.The news comes after DeepSeek flipped the AI industry on its head, wiping out over $1 trillion worth of market capitalization in a single day with an advanced model that's much less resource-intensive than anything cooked up by Silicon Valley. As the main purveyor of AI computing infrastructure, chipmaker Nvidia broke its own record for the biggest single-day loss of any company in history.Now that DeepSeek has come for OpenAI, the ChatGPT maker is suddenly crying foul, whining that the upstart lab did exactly what it did to human creatives: vacuumed up its work and used it to build a competing product."The issue is when you [take it out of the platform and] are doing it to create your own model for your own purposes," a source close to OpenAI told the FT.It's hard not to see the development as the peak of hypocrisy. OpenAI has a long track record of hoovering up data with an astonishing disregard for giving credit or fairly compensating rights holders.That's not an exaggeration. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously admitted that it would be impossible to "train today's leading AI models without using copyrighted materials."Put simply, it's roughly the equivalent of a school bully complaining to the teacher that his stolen lunch was stolen from him by another bully."Funny on OpenAI, who totally didn't gobble up our data without asking, is now pointing fingers at DeepSeek for doing the exact same thing," one Bluesky user wrote."I'm so sorry I can't stop laughing," AI critic Ed Zitron wrote in a scathing post. "OpenAI, the company built on stealing literally the entire internet, is crying because DeepSeek may have trained on the outputs from ChatGPT.""They're crying their eyes out," he added. "What a bunch of hypocritical little babies."It's also worth reiterating that despite its name, OpenAI is a closed-source and for-profit company while DeepSeek's AI models are open-source.The Sam Altman-led company refused to officially comment or provide further details, the FT reports.And in reality, whether DeepSeek actually infringed on its intellectual property remains debatable.On Tuesday, president Donald Trump's "crypto czar" told Fox News that distillation is "when one model learns from another model [and] kind of sucks the knowledge out of the parent model.""And theres substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI models, and I dont think OpenAI is very happy about this," Sacks explained.If independently confirmed, what DeepSeek pulled off with its latest model, dubbed R1, could signify a major advancement in the development of cheaper-to-run, but still as powerful, AI models.The company used just over 2,000 Nvidia graphics cards, purchased shortly before the US banned exports of these cards to China.Some experts believe that DeepSeek likely didn't do anything wrong."It is a very common practice for start-ups and academics to use outputs from human-aligned commercial LLMs, like ChatGPT, to train another model," University of California, Berkeley PhD candidate Ritwik Gupta told the FT. "That means you get this human feedback step for free. It is not surprising to me that DeepSeek supposedly would be doing the same."In a statement, OpenAI said thatit engages in "countermeasures to protect our IP, including a careful process for which frontier capabilities to include in released models" despite having the word "open" in its name.The company added that it's "critically important that we are working closely with the US government to best protect the most capable models from efforts by adversaries and competitors to take US technology."Whether DeepSeek actually represents a threat to national security remains to be seen, and the White House has since revealed that it's currently evaluating the possible risks.But given Trump's ongoing efforts to get Chinese-owned video platform TikTok unbanned in the country Congress banned the app last year it'd be a notable double standard if he'd start coming after DeepSeek.How OpenAI's accusations will play out remains to be seen, but the optics aren't great, no matter which way you spin it."There's no way OpenAI can make this argument without looking very, very silly," tech journalist Mike Masnick wrote in a post on Bluesky.Meanwhile, Zitron didn't pull any punches."Are you crying because your plagiarism machine that made stuff by copying everybody's stuff was used to train another machine that made stuff by copying stuff?" he said. "Are you going to cry? Cowards, losers, pathetic."More on DeepSeek: Former Intel CEO Says After Seeing DeepSeek, He's Done With OpenAIShare This Article

Jan 29, 2025Ravie LakshmananThreat Intelligence / MalwareThe North Korean threat actor known as the Lazarus Group has been observed leveraging a "web-based administrative platform" to oversee its command-and-control (C2) infrastructure, giving the adversary the ability to centrally supervise all aspects of their campaigns."Each C2 server hosted a web-based administrative platform, built with a React application and a Node.js API," SecurityScorecard's STRIKE team said in a new report shared with The Hacker News. "This administrative layer was consistent across all the C2 servers analyzed, even as the attackers varied their payloads and obfuscation techniques to evade detection."The hidden framework has been described as a comprehensive system and a hub that allows attackers to organize and manage exfiltrated data, maintain oversight of their compromised hosts, and handle payload delivery.The web-based admin panel has been identified in connection with a supply chain attack campaign dubbed Operation Phantom Circuit targeting the cryptocurrency sector and developers worldwide with trojanized versions of legitimate software packages that contain backdoors.The campaign, which took place between September 2024 and January 2025, is estimated to have claimed 233 victims across the world, with most of them identified in Brazil, France, and India. In January alone, the activity targeted 110 unique victims in India.The Lazarus Group has become something of a social engineering expert, luring prospective targets using LinkedIn as an initial infection vector under the guise of lucrative job opportunities or a joint collaboration on crypto-related projects.The operation's links to Pyongyang stem from the use of Astrill VPN which has previously been linked to the fraudulent information technology (IT) worker scheme and the discovery of six distinct North Korean IP addresses that have been found initiating connections, which were routed through Astrill VPN exit nodes and Oculus Proxy endpoints."The obfuscated traffic ultimately reached the C2 infrastructure, hosted on Stark Industries servers. These servers facilitated payload delivery, victim management, and data exfiltration," SecurityScorecard said.Further analysis of the admin component has revealed that it allows the threat actors to view exfiltrated data from victims, as well as search and filter of interest."By embedding obfuscated backdoors into legitimate software packages, Lazarus deceived users into executing compromised applications, enabling them to exfiltrate sensitive data and manage victims through command-and-control (C2) servers over port 1224," the company said."The campaign's infrastructure leveraged hidden React-based web-admin panels and Node.js APIs for centralized management of stolen data, affecting over 233 victims worldwide. This exfiltrated data was traced back to Pyongyang, North Korea, through a layered network of Astrill VPNs and intermediate proxies."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE