American teens have lost their faith in Big Tech, according to a new report from Common Sense Media, a nonprofit offering reviews and ratings for media and technology, which more recently includes AI products.In the study released Wednesday, the organization surveyed over 1,000 teens on whether major technology companies like Google, Apple, Meta, TikTok, and Microsoft cared about their well-being and safety, made ethical decisions, protected their private data, and more. In all cases, a majority of teens reported low levels of trust in these tech companies. Nearly half of teens said they had little or no trust that the companies would make responsible decisions about how they use AI.Distrust in Big Tech has been building in the U.S. for years, from the 2013 revelation of the governments mass data collection, to the data scandal involving consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, to the 2021 Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugens leaks indicating Meta was aware of its harms on society, to the multiple Congressional hearings where lawmakers grilled Big Tech CEOs over app safety, antitrust issues, and harmful algorithms.This year, tech CEOs lined up to pledge allegiance to the Trump administration in the form of $1 million donations to the presidents inaugural fund, hoping to buy favor and avoid scrutiny and regulation of their businesses no matter the cost to their users. (Even for those aligned with Trump, the tech leaders actions are seen as disingenuous, given how theyve flip-flopped after previously criticizing Trump in his earlier term.)While teens may or may not track these tech news headlines as closely as their adult counterparts, this overall shift in sentiment is affecting them, too.Common Sense says that 64% of surveyed U.S. teens dont trust Big Tech companies to care about their mental health and well-being and 62% dont think the companies will protect their safety if it hurts profits.Over half of surveyed U.S. teens (53%) also dont think major tech companies make ethical and responsible design decisions (think: the growing use of dark patterns in user interface design meant to trick, confuse, and deceive.A further 52% dont think that Big Tech will keep their personal information safe and 51% dont think the companies are fair and inclusive when considering the needs of different users. Not surprisingly, the mistrust in tech is influencing teens opinions around AI, too, as 47% of those surveyed dont believe these companies will make responsible decisions over their use of AI.The new study builds on Common Senses prior research about the adoption of generative AI among teens and also focuses on how GenAI is impacting the larger media landscape.For instance, it found that 41% of surveyed teens reported being misled by fake images online, 35% were misled by fake online content in general, and over a quarter (28%) wondered if they were talking to a bot or a human. A third of teens also said that GenAI would make it even harder to trust the accuracy of online information. That figure rises to 40% if the teens had previously been duped by fake or misleading content.Overall, the report points to a lack of uncertainty over online content, though thats hardly a new problem for the web. Still, it seems that AI isnt helping the matter despite AI chatbots authoritative answers. Some 39% of surveyed teens noticed problems with AIs output when using it for schoolwork help. Plus, a majority of surveyed U.S. teens (74%) said privacy safeguards and transparency are needed to manage AI, 74% said AI companies should discourage people from sharing personal information on their platform, and 73% of teens said AI images and other content should be labeled and watermarked.When weighing in on the business models of AI, 61% of teens felt that content creators should be compensated when their data is used by AI systems. As a result of teens lack of trust and the fast pace of AI development, 35% of teens think GenAI will make it harder to trust online information though that number could change in time.Topics

Gone Cyberfishin'Cyberpunk 2077 modder steps in to stop you accidentally running into your romantic interest's weird mute clone if you visit the wrong sofa snogging addressThey'll now leave a nice note instead, which doesn't say 'Why are you in my house, you fool, I'm supposed to be doing a thing with you elsewhere!'Image credit: CD Projekt News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 30, 2025 Good news, people who make plans and then explicably do something different - a new Cyberpunk 2077 mod looks like it'll be right up your alley. Basically, it stops V from muffing things up by making plans to do something with their partner, and then running into a weird placeholder version of them left hanging out at home.This handy immersion tweak has been put together by prolific Cyberpunk modder Deceptious, who made their own whole new intro to the game late last year, and has previously added-in new quests and improved CD Projekt's romance hangouts.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Their latest work - 'Gone Away - Better Partner Suspended Behaviour' - draws its name from a song by The Offspring, which earns it as least 50 extra cool points.Basically, what it does is replace a weird, mute version of romantic partners like Judy, Panam, and River that can be found hanging out in those characters' homes if you pay a visit when they're registered by the game as being "busy/suspended" - usually meaning they're supposed to be meeting you somewhere else in the game world for a romantic hangout or modded quest. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Instead of running into them in their house, as you can do when they've got nothing going on and get a character who's behaving normally, the mod makes it so that when they're supposed to be somewhere like your apartment, you just find a note or two in their home telling V they've headed out. It doesn't ask you why you're possibly breaking in when they're not around, but hey, they're loving and forgiving people.Once they've finished with whatever they were busy with, you'll then find them chilling in their digs as normal once more, probably wondering who's been in and forgotten to flush their loo. It's just a little tweak, but a handy one that could save you from a very surreal encounter that could permanently colour your immersive simulation of being able send someone in a dystopian future messages ending in xD.If you're after more Cyberpunk 2077 community stuff, one fan released their own hour-long Cyberpunk film made in-game earlier this month.

If you were planning to cancel your Netflix sub in 2025 or had let it lapse, you might want to rethink your choices, as this year's slate is looking spicy, and Squid Game season 3 is just the cherry on top.On January 30, Netflix dropped a rather creative promotional video to tease what's coming this year, with Stranger Things 5 and Wednesday season 2 also among the many shows that should be making a splash. Of course, big movies from filmmakers such as Rian Johnson and Guillermo del Toro are also on the way, so let's go over the biggest confirmed releases.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Via Deadline, the streamer's annual event in Los Angeles gave the press, subscribers, and shareholders quite a bit to chew on. You can find the whole list of confirmed shows clicking on the link we've shared, but here's the rundown of the biggest series that are locked for 2025 (and some come with dates):Cobra Kai S6 (Part 3) February 13Devil May Cry April 3Squid Game S3 June 27Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight Spring 2025Black Mirror S7Emily in Paris S5Jurassic World: Chaos Theory S3The Sandman S2Stranger Things S5The Witcher S4Wednesday S2On the movie front, things are looking attractive too, with releases ranging from big blockbusters (that would benefit from hitting theaters too) to smaller features that will surely find their audience if they're plastered all over the homepage each week. Here are some highlights:The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep - February 11La Dolce Villa - February 13Plankton: The Movie (SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff) - March 7The Electric State - March 14Havoc - Spring 2025The Old Guard 2 - Summer 2025Fear Street: Prom Queen - Summer 2025Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein - Fall 2025Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - Fall 2025Happy Gilmore 2K-Pop: Demon HuntersThe Thursday Murder ClubBut of course, the third and final season of Squid Game was placed at the forefront of the presentation and the promotional video, which you can watch below:"Netflix's number one non-English language series of all time" will return on June 27 for its explosive final set of episodes, which was shot alongside the season 2 batch released back in December 2024."The fierce clash between [Gi-hun and Front Man's] two worlds will continue into the series finale with Season 3, which will be brought to you next year," said series director, writer, and executive producer Hwang Dong-hyuk with a letter written before the end of 2024. No surprise spoilers here, but season 2 raised the stakes quite a bit, and we've also received the first-ever season 3 images, which you can check out below. Image credit: NetflixAs for the first teaser poster, Netflix dropped it on social media right after the event too. Here you go: Image credit: Netflix

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube794kHello Kitty Island Adventure released on Apple Arcade in July 2023 to generally positive reviews. A year and a half later, the Switch release brings a charming cast of Sanrio characters and their island resort to a wider audiencean audience ultimately in for a good time.Hello Kitty Island Adventure opens on a plane en route to a mysterious resort with lots of familiar faces from the Sanrio franchise on board. After creating an animal avatar of our own (a moody purple bunny), we soon found ourselves jumping out of the plane and gliding to the ground with a handful of balloons. We get our first major quest shortly after touching down: find everyone who was scattered across the island during the descent.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)Despite having a big quest to start us off, the game gave us a refreshing amount of free reign to begin exploring and building relationships right off the bat. Within the first hour of gameplay, wed only tracked down a couple of lost characters but had also picked up a handful of other quests and ventured into areas that we probably werent supposed to have access to just yet. While we liked being let off the leash, we also managed to get pretty lost during the early gameplay from the sheer inability to focus on any one task.Hello Kitty Island Adventure has been noted as sharing similarities with Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and there is an obvious inspiration in gathering mechanics, home decoration, and even the bubbly art style. Possibly even more noticeable, though, is the clear inspiration in exploration mechanics from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Our ability to scale cliffsides and swim underwater was determined by an upgradable green stamina wheel, and our handful of balloons acted as an at-will glider. There were even dungeons with their own only-sometimes challenging puzzles to find and loot.The map itself had a surprising amount of depth, with different terrains like a swamp, desert, and volcano. Each time we thought wed explored every corner, wed find a new dungeon to delve into, circuit race to beat, or Gudetama to photograph. Quest lines unlocked at higher friendship levels with different characters opened up even more hidden areas and abilities, making the game feel just that much richer as we progressed through the storyline.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Exploration is at the heart of Hello Kitty Island Adventure, but the game doesnt lack for other activities. We went fishing, caught critters, cooked meals, crafted items, played minigames, and rode mine carts. In place of currency, furniture and clothing items are purchased with specific combinations of items that can be foraged from around the map. These items are also used for crafting, cooking, and gifting. The gathering of resources can feel like a bit of a grind, but everything regenerates each day in real time, and theres generally plenty to go around for those willing to put in the time.Making friends with the variety of cute creatures in Hello Kitty Island Adventure is paramount since main plotline quests are locked behind particular friendship levels. Its easy enough to make nice at the earlier levels of friendship, especially while being able to give each character up to three items per day. The higher we went, however, the more difficult it became to budge that heart meter, making this another area of the game that can feel like a grind.Luckily, making friends has the added motivation of upgrading character abilities for when theyre asked to join in on adventures. We could have Hello Kitty herself hang out to increase our chance of producing extra food items at cooking stations or have Keroppi tag along to make catching bugs easier.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)We had a good time decorating our house and even putting together visitor cottages to entice new Sanrio characters to visit the resort, but ultimately didnt feel compelled to spend much time at home when there was so much else to accomplish.The character creator, which could be accessed at any point in the game, was so much fun to play with that we found ourselves completely changing up our look multiple times. Customisation options for attire were expansive as well, with clothes dyeing becoming an option later in the game.Hello Kitty Island Adventure runs well on the Switch overall, but there were a few moments of frame rate lag as we ran around the expansive map, particularly when there were a lot of other moving objects on the screen. The camera angle also ended up in funny positions at times, clipping our view of what was happening behind a tree or other visual obstacle. On the whole, these were minor occurrences that didnt drastically affect our play experience.ConclusionHello Kitty Island Adventure proves an innovative entry into the social sim genre. While borrowing from multiple powerhouse games, it brings a fresh experience that is likely to subvert the expectations of any Animal Crossing expats looking for their next cosy fix.Map has a lot of depth and is fun to exploreGreat character creator and customisation optionsPlenty of story content and activities to work throughMinor lag issuesCamera can be glitchyResource grind can become tediousGreat 8/10Full disclosure: Just prior to this review going live, former Nintendo Life staffer Kate Gray revealed online that she has contributed writing to the game. The NL team had no prior knowledge of this, and we understand that her contributions aren't present in the Switch version at launch, but it should be noted all the same. Our congratulations to Kate - we look forward to seeing her work in-game! Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.

Image: Super Evil MegacorpTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is getting DLC! We knew this already, of course, but today Super Evil Megacorp has revealed our first proper look at it, introducing the roguelike's newest playable character: Casey Jones.The 'Casey Jones & The Junkyard Jam' DLC is set to land on Switch on 5th February, bringing with it the Turtles' hockey-mask-wearing pal, a new stage and a fresh wave of enemies to take out along the way.Alongside the usual bat-swinging close combat, Casey packs a ranged attack for taking down foes from afar. We'd have to imagine that the likes of Raph or Leo's slashing attacks will deal more damage, but throwing some range into the mix could be a fun way to mix up the roguelike runs, particularly in co-op.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube794kWatch on YouTube The Junkyard Jam DLC will see you facing off against the Punk Frogs another line-up of mutant amphibians that date way back to the 1987 TMNT animated series with Genghis, Attila, Napoleon and Rasputin being joined by a new face, Gigi, for this entry.You can have a peek at Casey and the Turtles battling their froggy foes in the following screenshots:Images: Super Evil MegacorpBack when Super Evil Megacorp first teased the Splintered Fate DLC, it was framed as anything but a one-and-done deal. It'll be interesting to see what the team has in store further down the line.We had a perfectly good time with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate when it skated onto Switch last year, calling it "a fun and approachable 'Hades-like' that's best played with pals" in our review. Sure, the Hades influences were obvious and it never quite escaped Supergiant's shadow, but it served its purpose nicely as an IP-infused roguelike. RoguesteadyWill you be checking out the Splintered Fate DLC next month? Let us know in the comments.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles69 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Supercharge' eShop Sale (North America)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Metal Poster Pre-Order Bonus RevealedAvailable now in the USCeleste Dev Makes "Difficult Decision" To Cancel New Game EarthbladeFollowing "a disagreement about the IP rights of Celeste"Mini Review: Taito Milestones 3 (Switch) - Third Time's A CharmGetting better all the timePSA: Don't Fall For This New 'Wukong' Game On The Switch eShopYou cheeky monkey

Talk to many architects, and theyll likely tell you that Autodesks software, including AutoCAD and Revit, has been indispensable to their work for decades.But despite their widespread use, Autodesks former co-CEO and chief product officer Amar Hanspal says that the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is using 20th century tools to design 21st century buildings. His latest startup, Motif a company that Hanspal describes as a next-generation design platform for buildings is setting out to change that. Its now raised $46 million aid of that effort.Hanspal is coming to the problem on the heels of a long career already in the space of AEC technology. He spent about 20 years at Autodesk, and then in 2018 he co-founded Bright Machines, a manufacturing automation company (which itself has raised signficant funding). Six years later, Hanspal left Bright Machines and was looking for his next act.His exploration of the AEC industry revealed significant frustration among architects with existing software, which is largely not cloud-based and can take up to 45 minutes to process even simple edits.In 2023, Hanspal teamed up with Brian Matthews, former product CTO at Autodesk, to work on Motif.Motifs first product wont be ready until the first half of this year but Hanspal gave a rough picture of what it would be. He said that Motif is working on building a platform that will offer a set of cloud-native 3D computer-aided design tools that will have elements of machine learning and AI.The $46 million that the startup has now raised is a combination of seed and Series A funding. The Series A was led by Capital G, Alphabets growth fund, while Redpoint Ventures led the seed round.Capital G partner Jill Chase told TechCrunch that she was researching the software for architects before meeting Motif.She noticed that its a very large market with outdated products.She wondered why existing tools still havent been disrupted and learned that putting 3D architecture models in the cloud is technically very difficult.In addition to the engineering complexity, selling these tools could be challenging, Chase said. You have to have some element of trust and relationships with big architecture firms for them to even let you in the door.When she met Henspal and Matthews, she immediately knew that their combined 40 years of experience in the AEC software industry will help them create a company that can take on incumbents.As for why it is taking so long to release the first product, Henspal compared Motifs effort to design company Figma, which was in stealth mode for three years before releasing anything.Its a very big and ambitious venture that we know will take a substantial amount of effort to pull off, Hanspal said.Motif is not alone in trying to disrupt AEC software. Other startups in the sector include Snaptrude and Arcol.But Hanspal is certain that Motif has the best chance of winning in this market.It really requires a very special team that is willing to do the hard work, he said. I think thats us.

An international coalition of law enforcement agencies took down two hacking forums that had more than 10 million users, according to Europol, one of the agencies involved in the operation.On Thursday, Europol and Germanys police the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) announced the seizures of Cracked and Nulled. The BKA called them the worlds two largest trading platforms for cybercrime on the internet, according to a machine translation of the BKAs press release.Confirmation of the operation comes a day after cybersecurity experts noticed that Cracked, Nulled, as well as two other sites called Sellix and StarkRDP, appeared to have been seized by redirecting the domains nameservers to servers run by the FBI. The four sites later displayed a banner announcing the law enforcement action, dubbed Operation Talent.These sites worked as one-stop shops and were used not only for discussions on cybercrime but also as marketplaces for illegal goods and cybercrime-as-a-service, such as stolen data, malware or hacking tools, Europol wrote in its press release.An announcement published on Wednesday on Crackeds official Telegram channel said the site had been seized with specific reasons being undisclosed.Europol said the operation took place between Tuesday and Thursday and resulted in two arrests, seven properties searched, and the seizure of 17 servers, 50 electronic devices, and 300,000 euros ($313,000) in cash and cryptocurrency.According to the BKA, the law enforcement coalition seized a dozen accounts and domains across ten countries. Also, twelve people were identified as being involved in operating the cybercrime platforms. Two German citizens one who lived in Germany, and one who lived in Spain were arrested; and two others will face prosecution by U.S., Spanish, and Greek authorities. The agencies said they acquired email addresses, IP addresses, and communication histories from the seized forums.A video published by Europol shows Spanish authorities, the Policia Nacional (National Police) and Guardia Civil entering a building, arresting three people, counting cash, searching an apartment, as well as sitting in front of a computer that displayed the seizure banner.The operation, which was led by German authorities, also involved law enforcement agencies from Australia, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, as well as the Department of Justice and the FBI in the United States.Australian Federal Police said in an email that it would provide an update at an appropriate time. None of the other agencies involved responded to TechCrunchs request for comment.Contact UsDo you have more information about Operation Talent, or other operations against cybercrime? From a non-work device, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram and Keybase @lorenzofb, or email. You also can contact TechCrunch via SecureDrop.Operation Talent is the latest salvo in a years-long series of law enforcement operations against cybercrime forums, such as the notorious BreachForums, which was seized for the first time in 2023, and again in 2024. Later in 2024, another coordinated international police action dubbed Operation Endgame targeted several hacking services and malware makers resulting in the arrest of four suspects. At the time, Europol also identified eight fugitives allegedly involved in the scheme.

Breakdown & ShowreelsThe Six Triple Eight: VFX Breakdown by One of UsBy Vincent Frei - 30/01/2025 Invisible VFX played a key role in bringing The Six Triple Eight to life. One of Us extended battle-worn Glasgow, reconstructed a bustling Washington D.C., and filled an RAF base with thousands of mailbags. From full CG stormy seas to subtle period cleanups, they made history feel real!WANT TO KNOW MORE?One of Us: Dedicated page about The Six Triple Eight on One of Us website. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

When using that module all particles are spawn at a single location. Anyone has any idea why that is? I am using standard settings 1 post - 1 participant Read full topic

Postwar Pop OverIn London, Holloway Li tailors Club Quarters Hotel St. Pauls to accommodate business and pleasureByKelly Pau January 30, 2025Interiors, International (Nicholas Worley)SHAREAcross from Londons St. Paul Cathedral, Club Quarters occupies a postwar building first completed in the 60s. The hotel was originally designed to cater to business travelers but the operators wanted to expand the reach of their audience. StudioHolloway Liperformed the double duty so often dealt to architects and designers: to guide the brief befitting the companys goals and redesign the building. The interior architecture studio, run by Alex Holloway and Na Li, opted to incorporate lifestyle-leaning designs to open up the clientele, creating a tailored, bespoke approach that speaks to both the hotels previous traditions and the buildings history. The most interesting thing about [the building] was that it had quite an adventurous facade of a textured stone motif. And on top of that, it has cast-iron sculptures by Geoffrey Wickham, Holloway toldAN Interior. The reimagined hotel pays homage to these idiosyncrasies. The entry is greeted with a 10-meter-long feature wall of carved cherry wood, a riff on the motifs found outside. Holloway Li designed the wall, which breaks up the line of elevators, with furniture maker James Trundle, using digital modeling to create the textures of each tile that is then carved with a CNC machine before theyre finished by hand.Read more about the hotel on aninteriormag.com.