If youre in the market for a compact yet highly capable camper van, Hymer will surely make the cut before Knaus Tabbert, Frankia-GP GmbH, and Burstner. No disrespect to any of these camper van manufacturers but Hymer with its exceptional build, innovative design, spacious layouts, and high-end features, edges past its competitors. The strong reputation for reliability and comfort, has not only made it a top choice for discerning camper van enthusiasts but also for those who yearn for a luxurious travel experience.The German motorhome giant has now unveiled a special edition of its Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Grand Canyon S camper van, designed with remote workers in mind. Dubbed, Grand Canyon S Xperience, the new version unveiled at this years CMT show, combines comfort with cutting-edge tech. Built on a rear-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the camper van delivers 170 bhp, a 9G-Tronic automatic transmission, and a 10.25-inch MBUX multimedia system with navigation and reverse camera.Designer: HymerThe Xperience package sits between the base Grand Canyon S and the off-grid-ready Grand Canyon S Crossover, with the company adding key upgrades like a 5G WLAN router and roof antenna to ensure reliable connectivity wherever you roam. This robust 5G connectivity system backed with smart home-level controls, offers a seamless blend of work, leisure, and everyday living on the go. As per the company, 5G WLAN router is included as standard for the very first time, ensuring the highest levels of connectivity on the road. The onboard 5G WLAN router comes with dual SIM compatibility that allows you to conveniently switch between dual network providers.The Xperience also boasts premium audio with four additional speakers, a 7-inch smart touchscreen for vehicle control, and an accompanying Hymer Connect app for remote operation. For energy requirements, Grand Canyon S Xperience relies on an 80-Ah LFP leisure battery, while the smart control system includes sensors to monitor gas levels, temperature, and other important parameters.Design-wise, the camper rvan boasts a Tenorite grey metallic finish on the exterior that is complimented by a contemporary interior available in two style options: Ivy Green, which includes cozy felt details, and Pearl Grey, featuring a warm oak finish. A standout feature across both decor options is the multi-level ambient lighting system. This includes hanging lights, position-adjustable wall-track lighting, direct overhead lighting, and indirect mood lighting, all adjustable in color and contrast via the Hymer Connect app.Akin to other models coming from the foundry of Hymer, the vans layout features a four-seat dinette and wet bathroom on the drivers side, with a kitchen block on the passenger side. Speaking of the kitchen, it comes equipped with a dual-burner gas stove, sink combo, 90-L compressor fridge/freezer, and an extendable worktop. It also has a raised rear bed, accessible through a sliding door which is designed to fit into the vans left and right wall flares and provides a 77 x 53 inches sleeping area. To prevent you from the cold, the makers have accoutered a 6-kW diesel air heater to keep things warm inside.While the Grand Canyon S Xperience seats four, an optional pop-up roof is available for those who need extra sleeping space. The company also offers some additional upgrades with the likes of, a 10.3-inch MBUX infotainment system, Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control, fog lights with cornering function, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Grand Canyon S Xperience is priced from 101,940 (approx $126,700) for remote workers who cannot give up on their passion for adventures.The post Grand Canyon S Xperience camper van fuses comfort with cutting-edge tech for remote workers first appeared on Yanko Design.

The appeal of the boundless freedom of open world experiences is never going to wane to a point where theyre not among the most popular games in the medium, and sure enough, theres no shortage of plenty more upcoming ones in the pipeline either. Here, were going to highlight a few such open world games scheduled to release in 2025 or beyond that we cant wait to get our hands on.GRAND THEFT AUTO 6It makes sense to start off with the obvious choice. The big daddy of open world games is returning this year (or so Rockstar says) with the long awaitedGrand Theft Auto 6. Arriving more than a decade after its predecessors release, the epic crime saga will take players back to the sunny, coastal streets of Vice City, touting a level of immersion and detail that only Rockstar can manage. WhetherGTA 6will actually launch this Fall as intended remains to be seen its hard to think of Rockstar games thathaventbeen delayed at least once but either way, this is the big one that open world fans will be keeping their eye on.

DOOM (2016)andDOOM Eternalwere both among the best games of their respective years, so expectations from the upcomingDOOM: The Dark Agesare high, to say the very least. Based on everything weve seen of the game, however, it sure looks like its once again taking incredible shape as yet another unmissable rip-roaring FPS adventure.Recently, we had the chance to view a behind-closed-doors presentation of the first-person-shooter (which Microsoft went on to showcase as part of its Xbox Developer_Direct show), before sitting in on a Q&A session with director Hugo Martin and executive producer Marty Stratton. Here, were going to go over the most significant details that we gathered on the game, from its story and combat to its new weapons, mechanics, larger levels, and more.STORY DETAILSAs weve known for a while,DOOM: The Dark Agesis serving as a prequel toDOOM (2016).Players will once again step into the shoes of the legendary Doom Slayer, a supersoldier caught in the midst of a medieval war against the forces of hell. According to id Software, the game will be a great entry point for newcomer, given the fact that it takes place before both of the modern DOOMtitles. Its story will, however, lead directly intoDOOM (2016),which means veteran fans will also have plenty to chew on.And what exactly is the narrative setup? id hasnt revealed much, but has confirmed that the game will begin with the Doom Slayer imprisoned, with his powers coveted by his enemies, but withheld from his allies. Take from that what you will.NEW APPROACH TO STORYTELLINGDOOMhas never beentoofocused on storytelling, with narrative usually taking a backseat, even if there is never any shortage of compelling lore and backstory to dive into. WithThe Dark Ages,however, the series is changing its approach. Director Hugo Martin says about the games story, Its easier to access now, as weve taken the narrative out of the codex and into the cutscenes, featuring new characters, old allies, and powerful new villains. He has also described the story as big, and a summer blockbuster event with everything on the line. In the aforementioned Q&A, the devs also revealed that the game has more cutscenes than either of its predecessors (but did not provide any specifics).STAND AND FIGHTLets get to the meat and potatoes here, because this isDOOMafter all- whats the combat looking like? Well, its looking aggressive- which isnt surprising for the series, but itisgoing about it a different way. As id Software describes it,DOOM (2016)score loop encouraged players to run and gun, while DOOM Eternalswitched it up to jump and shoot. WithDOOM: The Dark Ages,that mantra is changing to stand and fight, with id likening this games Doom Slayer to an iron tank. Martin describes it as a grounded combat system with an emphasis on power over the acrobatics ofDOOM Eternal.SHIELD SAWAt the heart ofDOOM: The Dark Agesnew approach to combat will be a number of new tools and mechanics, chief among them being the Shield Saw. Players will be able to block, parry, and deflect incoming attacks, while the shield can also be thrown as a weapon, cutting distant enemies with the saws on its perimeter. Every action taken with the Shield Saw will be with a single button, all being contextual. According to the devs, thats part of a wider initiative to remove some of the excessive input and controls-related complexity ofDOOM: Eternal.MELEE OPTIONSThe Shield Saw is ultimately a defensive tool. In keeping with the games more aggressive nature, however, players will also be encouraged to stand and fight by using multiple new melee weapons. The three new melee options available to players will include an iron flail, an electric gauntlet, and a spiked mace. Like with the shield, there will be one single button dedicated to all melee actions, with actions being contextual.WEAPONSThe weapons are obviously always VIPs in anyDOOMgame, andThe Dark Agesisnt turning its back on that tradition by any means. In addition to its new melee options and the Shield Saw, id says the game will also feature some of the most ridiculously powerful weapons to ever come from the studio. Director Hugo Martin saysThe Dark Agesroster of weapons will be filled with mean and ancient tools of destruction that are built to butcher, impale, and shred the minions of hell with.Only inDOOM.Thats the mission statement for the design of these never-before-seen, insanely fun to use tools of mayhem, he says.CHANGED GLORY KILLSYes, obviously Glory Kills are coming back inDOOM: The Dark Ages, but theyre taking a different form. id Software is clearly heavily focused on ramping up the tempo of the action, and inThe Dark Ages,that will be reflected in the new, un-synced Glory Kills. Rather than each Glory Kill having an unskippable animation that takes you out of the action,The Dark Ageswill feature completely seamless Glory Kills that you can trigger from any direction, allowing you to unleash a string of them in quick succession (should the opportunity arise).ATLAN MECH AND CYBERNETIC DRAGON SECTIONSDOOM: The Dark Agesreveal trailer last year showed glimpses of the Doom Slayer controlling a cybernetic dragon in gameplay sections, and now we have more info on that. The shooter will not only allow players to pilot a fire-breathing cybernetic dragon wielding a gatling gun, but also building-sized Atlan mechs. And these wont just be one-off set-piece sections either. Says Hugo Martin, Neither of these are one-and-done features. They have a full suite of abilities and even minibosses. The spectacle is epic, the power fantasy is unlike anything weve made at id, and the combat systems behind these features are deep and tons of fun.EXPLORATIONDOOM: The Dark Agesis also placing a much greater emphasis on exploration. Still very much a level-based game (executive producer Marty Stratton explicitly stated during the Q&A that itsnotopen world), the shooter is still at least asemi-open world game. That means players can expect larger levels with a host of exploration and optional content to engage with. Director Hugo Martin says, Explore what is the largest play space ever in a DOOMgame., discovering secret caves and dungeon-like mines in search of vital resources. You control the pace of the game- where you go, who you fight, and the objectives you pursue. Its aDOOMsandbox full of war and riches.PROGRESSIONExploration inDOOM: The Dark Ageswill yield plenty of collectibles (and toys are confirmed to be returning), but in the Q&A, Martin also stated that the rewards for exploration would now be more deeply tied to progression and upgrades. Specifics on what progression mechanics will entail are scarce, but id has said that through exploration, players will constantly be unlocking new abilities and powers. The games recent presentation also showed brief glimpses of skill trees where players will be upgrading their tools by spending Runes- including the Shield Saw and (presumably) their melee weapons.LOCATIONSThe full extent of details on the locations that players will explore inDOOM: The Dark Agesare obviously yet to be revealed, but id has already offered some enticing teases. The developer says players will visit the far reaches of theDOOMuniverse, which will include mysterious worlds from the Slayers past, dark forests, dungeons, ancient hellscapes, battlefields, and worlds beyond.id SOFTWARES LARGEST GAME YETGiven the fact that this is going to be a semi-open world experience, it should come as no surprise that id Software is touting this as its biggest and most ambitious game to date. That means it will also be the longest. Exactly how much longer thanDOOM Eternal(which was a 15-25 hour experience) it is going to be hasnt been confirmed, but you can expect it to be notably longer. Executive producer Marty Stratton said during the Q&A, It kinda depends on how youre playing, like any game. But its the biggest game, the biggest campaign weve ever made by a good bit. If youre exploring those levels, theres just tons.NEW DIFFICULTY OPTIONSFor those who foundDOOM Eternala bit too difficult (and there were plenty out there who did), id Software will attempt to makeThe Dark Agesmore accessible with some new features. Multiple difficulty options are obviously returning, but this time, players will also be able to customize their gameplay experience exactly how they want, with a number of difficulty sliders included. These sliders will let you tweak your damage output, how much damage you take, how aggressive enemies are, what the speed of the game is, how freely you get resources, the timing windows for parries, and more.MUSICThe heavy metal music ofDOOMis a big part of the experience, but with acclaimed composer Mick Gordon and id Software having parted ways (apparently under acrimonious circumstances) after having worked together forDOOM (2016)andEternal,The Dark Ageswill see new talent stepping forward. id Software has revealed that the games music will be composed by video game music production company Finishing Move, which has worked on titles such asBorderlands 3, The Callisto Protocol, Halo Wars 2, Grounded,and more.LAUNCH DETAILSAnd when exactly can we get our hands onDOOM: The Dark Ages? Its not too far away. The first-person shooter launches on May 15, and it will be available day and date for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5. Like all first-party Microsoft titles, it will also be available via Game Pass at launch.

Jan 30Sean HollisterIntel is canceling Falcon Shores, its next big AI chip.I am not happy with where we are today, Intel interim co-CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus says of the companys AI server business on todays earnings call, a business which has not met its promises with Gaudi.So, says Holthaus, Intel will simplify our roadmap and concentrate our resources by canceling Falcon Shores. We plan to leverage Falcon Shores as an internal test chip only without bringing it to market. Itll focus on Jaguar Shores, a system-level solution at rack scale, instead.Intel foundries lost $13 billion last year, but its losses are no longer historicSean HollisterJan 30Jan 30Sean HollisterIntel cancels AI chip, talks painful past and simplified futureImage: Alex Castro / The VergeLast quarter, amid turmoil and restructuring, chipmaker Intel announced one of the largest corporate quarterly losses of all time $16.6 billion, ten times worse than its $1.6B loss the quarter before. But in todays Q4 2024 and full-year earnings release, Intels not hurting as badly: the company just announced a mere $126 million quarterly loss on $14.3 billion in revenue, and its executives are talking about simplifying the company so it can win in the future.The company isnt in great shape despite the staunched bleeding, as its primary businesses were all down this quarter and barely up over the full year (see table below). And if you thought its chipmaking foundries were spending too much back when they lost $7 billion in 2023, well, Intel just revealed the foundries lost nearly double that $13.4 billion across 2024.Read Article >Jan 28Richard LawlerNvidias market cap drops by almost $600 billion amid DeepSeek R1 hype.As Chinese AI startup DeepSeek draws attention for open-source AI models that it says are cheaper than the competition while providing similar or better performance, AI chip king Nvidias stock price dropped today.CNBC said that after closing at $118.58, down 17 percent, this was the biggest drop ever for a U.S. company.Jan 22Chris WelchElon Musk, White House adviser, says OpenAI deal announced at White House is a shamIllustration: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Photo: Getty ImagesElon Musk doesnt miss an opportunity to take a dig at OpenAI even when the news item in question is supposed to be favorable to President Trump. Just a few hours after yesterdays White House presser on The Stargate Project wrapped up, Musk posted on X that they dont actually have the money.Softbank, OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX have committed to deploy $100 billion now and $500 billion toward the AI data center company over the next four years.Read Article >An AI supercomputer you can carry around.This is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huangs introduction of Project Digits, a GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip-powered system with 128GB of RAM that costs about $3,000 and can run sophisticated AI models in a package small enough to sit on your desk.Dec 18, 2024Jay PetersPlayStation and AMD are teaming up to infuse games with AISony is furthering its partnership with AMD so they can create more AI-powered technology to make games look and play better and not just on PlayStation hardware. The two companies are establishing a deeper collaboration to work on Machine Learning-based technology for graphics and gameplay, lead architect of the PS5 and PS5 Pro Mark Cerny announced on Wednesday.The two already partner on the PS5 and PS5 Pros GPUs, which are based on AMDs RDNA 2 architecture, and the PS5 Pro uses a feature called PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) to improve image clarity and frame rates.Read Article >Dec 9, 2024Umar ShakirChina opens an antitrust investigation into NvidiaCath Virginia / The VergeChina is investigating Nvidia over antitrust violations, reportedly over claims the chipmaker failed to follow conditions set during Chinas approval for its $6.9 billion acquisition of Israeli network hardware company Mellanox in 2020.While announcing the DGX A100 GPU after acquiring Mellanox, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said this while explaining its importance to his company:Read Article >Dec 3, 2024Sean HollisterWhat happened to Intel?Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger holds up an early Intel 18A wafer in late 2023. Image: IntelOn Monday, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger abruptly decided to retire after less than four years on the job. That was the official story, anyhow. Within hours, Reuters, Bloomberg, and The New York Times had a different one: the board of directors pushed him out. Three and a half years ago, Gelsinger announced an ambitious plan to turn around the troubled chipmaker within four years now, hes reportedly been kicked out of the company before he could see it through. It happened so abruptly that Intel doesnt have a planned successor in mind, and so completely that Gelsinger wont even stick around as an adviser. Hes gone.Read Article >Dec 2, 2024Emma RothIntels CEO is out after only three yearsImage: Laura Normand / The VergeIntel CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired after over four decades at the company and stepped down from the board of directors effective December 1st, 2024. A report from Bloomberg says that after meeting with the board to discuss Intels progress in catching up with Nvidia and regaining lost market share, Gelsinger was given the option to retire or be removed, and chose to announce the end of his career at Intel.Gelsinger rejoined Intel as CEO in February 2021, taking over from Bob Swan to turn around the already struggling chipmaker an effort that hasnt gone as planned. Its largely missed out on the AI chip boom that fueled Nvidias rise, failed to launch new technology on schedule, struggled with recent CPU instability issues, and was skipped over as Microsofts launch partner for AI PCs.Read Article >Nov 20, 2024Sean HollisterNvidia says its Blackwell AI chip is full steam aheadThe Blackwell B200 GPU. Image: NvidiaNvidia has become the worlds most valuable company on the back of AI chips, passing Microsoft and Apple along the way, and in todays Q3 2025 earnings, the company suggested its record AI revenue and profits are only the beginning.While The Information recently reported that its new flagship Blackwell AI servers might have cooling issues, the company didnt address that on todays call instead, Nvidia assured investors that Blackwell is in full production, is full steam ahead, and that the company would continue to deliver more of the chips each quarter from here on out.Read Article >Nov 20, 2024Sean HollisterNvidia just made nearly $20 billion in pure profit in a single quarter.$14.8 billion profit in Q1, $16.6 billion in Q2, and now $19.3 billion in Q3 of fiscal 2025 thats profit, not earnings. (Earnings were $35.08 billion, up from $30.04 billion last quarter.)The vast majority is from AI data center, of course but gaming did have a 14 percent bump. Its a $3B-a-quarter business, while data center is a $30B one.Oct 31, 2024Sean HollisterIntels Gaudi AI chips are far behind Nvidia and AMD, wont even hit $500M goalNvidia made a fortune on the AI boom. AMDs rival AI chip became the fastest ramping product in its history, already pulling in $1 billion per quarter and inspiring AMD to remake itself as an AI company too. But Intel, which suggested it would pull in $1 billion, even $2 billion on the back of AI in 2024, now says it wont even meet its more modest $500 million goal for its Gaudi AI accelerator this year.We will not achieve our target of $500 million in revenue for Gaudi in 2024, CEO Pat Gelsinger just said on the companys Q3 2024 earnings call today.Read Article >Oct 29, 2024Umar ShakirOpenAI will start using AMD chips and could make its own AI hardware in 2026Image: OpenAIOpenAI is reportedly working with Broadcom to develop new custom silicon designed to handle its large AI workloads for inference and secured manufacturing capacity with TSMC, according to sources speaking to Reuters. OpenAI has reportedly built a chip development team of about 20 people, including lead engineers who previously worked on Googles Tensor processors for AI.Still, on its current timeline, the custom-designed hardware may not start production until 2026.Read Article >Oct 23, 2024Sean HollisterWe had a design flaw in Blackwell, admits Nvidia CEO.It was functional, but the design flaw caused the yield to be low. It was 100% Nvidias fault, Nvidias Jensen Huang tells Reuters, effectively confirming The Informations report from August about why its new flagship AI chips wont ship in large amounts right away.He says its now fixed, but the timeline stays the same: Q4 for first shipments.Nvidia's design flaw with Blackwell AI chips now fixed, CEO says[Reuters]Oct 10, 2024Sean HollisterAMDs AI chips are coming for Nvidia but how quickly?AMD says the MI325X, shipping Q4, will beat Nvidias H200. But Nvidia seems a step ahead; itll ship several billion dollars of its next-gen Blackwell B200 GPU in Q4, too. AMD says its Blackwell competitor, the MI355X, wont arrive till 2H 2025.AMD isnt talking price, but told us itll undercut Nvidia when it comes to total cost of ownership.1/19Tap through our gallery for info about the upcoming MI355X, too. Images: AMDSep 22, 2024Richard LawlerSamsung and TSMC have reportedly discussed building AI chip megafactories in the UAE.Weve heard rumors about AI chip manufacturing projects in the Middle East linked to OpenAI Sam Altman and Elon Musk.Now, the WSJ says Samsung and TSMC execs have visited the United Arab Emirates recently, discussing projects worth up to $100 billion despite concerns about water sources and building up local engineering talent.Chip Giants TSMC and Samsung Discuss Building Middle Eastern Megafactories[WSJ]Sep 20, 2024Qualcomm wants to buy IntelIllustration by Alex Castro / The VergeOn Friday afternoon, The Wall Street Journal reported Intel had been approached by fellow chip giant Qualcomm about a possible takeover. While any deal is described as far from certain, according to the papers unnamed sources, it would represent a tremendous fall for a company that had been the most valuable chip company in the world, based largely on its x86 processor technology that for years had triumphed over Qualcomms Arm chips outside of the phone space.The New York Times corroborated the report on Friday evening, adding that Qualcomm has not yet made an official offer for Intel.Read Article >Sep 17, 2024Richard LawlerApple A16 chips are reportedly being made in America.Former Bloomberg reporter Tim Culpan writes on Substack:Apples A16 SoC, which first debuted two years ago in the iPhone 14 Pro, is currently being manufactured at Phase 1 of TSMCs Fab 21 in Arizona in small, but significant, numbers, my sources tell me.Theyre only used in the iPhone 14 Pro and standard iPhone 15 right now, but maybe the American-made chips Apple signed up for will end up in a future iPhone SE someday. The question is if its worth the costs.Apple Mobile Processors Are Now Made in the USA. By TSMC[timculpan.substack.com]Sep 16, 2024Emma RothIntels big turnaround plan includes spinning off its chipmaking businessIllustration by Alex Castro / The VergeIntel is spinning off its chipmaking business as part of its plans to reverse billions in losses and a tumbling stock price. In an announcement on Monday, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said the Intel Foundry will become an independent subsidiary with clearer separation and independence from Intel.With the change, the Intel Foundry will have its own operating board and report its financial earnings separately from Intel. Intel will also stop work on the factories its building in Poland and Germany for two years based on anticipated market demand. The company is still moving forward with its plants in Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, and Ohio, however.Read Article >Sep 16, 2024Richard LawlerSony reportedly picked AMD over Intel for the PS6Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeWhats next after the PS5 Pro? A report from Reuters focuses on Sonys plans beyond this falls new $700 system, saying that the battle to win a contract for the chip powering a future PlayStation 6 came down to AMD vs. Intel, with others like Broadcom eliminated earlier, with AMD eventually winning out.According to Reuters, since AMD makes the chip in the PS5 and PS5 Pro, maintaining backward compatibility in a possible move was part of months of discussions in 2022 between executives and engineers at Sony and Intel. However, Intels bid was blocked because they couldnt agree on how much profit Intel would make from each chip it would design as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) handled the manufacturing process.Read Article >Sep 16, 2024Emma RothTikToks parent company reportedly gets closer to making its own AI chips.A report from The Information details the China-based ByteDances plans to mass produce two new AI chips by 2026 with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The move would help ByteDance save billions of dollars as opposed to buying chips from Nvidia.ByteDance Steps Up AI Chip Efforts[The Information]Sep 9, 2024Sean HollisterAMD is turning its back on flagship gaming GPUs to chase AI firstPhoto by Tom Warren / The VergeAMD is saying the quiet part out loud: its now prioritizing AI chips ahead of flagship GPUs for gamers. The companys just laid out a new business strategy, where it will merge its RDNA gaming graphics and CNDA data center efforts into a single universal UDNA thats aimed at AI first.In two interviews with Toms Hardware (youll definitely want to read both), AMD computing and graphics boss Jack Huynh doesnt beat around the bush. With gaming graphics, he explains, the goal is now building scale and market share at lower price points not the King of the Hill flagship GPUs that havent convinced enough buyers to leave Nvidia behind.Read Article >Sep 3, 2024Richard LawlerThe Nvidia AI antitrust investigation is escalating, reports BloombergCath Virginia / The VergeAn antitrust investigation by the Department of Justice focusing on Nvidias AI dominance as the hardware company of choice is escalating, reports Bloomberg. The outlet reports that Nvidia and other companies have received legally binding requests for information as its sources say regulators are investigating whether Nvidia is making it harder to switch to other suppliers and penalizes buyers that dont exclusively use its artificial intelligence chips.Nvidia wins on merit, as reflected in our benchmark results and value to customers, and customers can choose whatever solution is best for them. We have inquired with the U.S. Department of Justice and have not been subpoenaed. Nonetheless, we are happy to answer any questions regulators may have about our business, said Nvidia spokesperson John Rizzo, as reported previously by CNBC.Read Article >Aug 28, 2024Sean HollisterDont expect affordable Nvidia Blackwell gaming GPUs to arrive anytime soon.Nvidia just said it wont begin to ramp production of its new Blackwell GPUs until its fourth fiscal quarter, which begins in November.Nvidia just reported a record $30 billion quarter, and the vast majority of it ($22B) was data center compute... will it set aside some of its latest and greatest for gamers instead of AI? If so, I wouldnt bet on prices being low.Nvidia CFO Commentary (pdf)[s201.q4cdn.com]Aug 15, 2024Emma RothGeekbench has an AI benchmark nowPhoto by Tom Warren / The VergeThe popular benchmarking utility Geekbench has launched a new cross-platform tool to evaluate the performance of devices under AI-heavy workloads. Geekbench AI measures a devices CPU, GPU, and NPU (neural processing unit) to determine how well it can handle machine learning applications.Geekbench developer Primate Labs has been working on the software using the name Geekbench ML, which launched in preview in 2021, but shifted the name to AI for reasons that seem obvious. To explore how different hardware responds to different AI-related tasks, it evaluates performance based on both accuracy and speed, with support for different frameworks, including ONNX, CoreML, TensorFlow Lite, and OpenVino.Read Article >

Agentic AI stands at the intersection of autonomy, intelligence, and adaptability, offering solutions that can sense, reason, and act in real or virtual environments with minimal human oversight. At its core, an agentic system perceives environmental cues, processes them in light of existing knowledge, arrives at decisions through reasoning, and ultimately acts on those decisionsall within an iterative feedback loop. Such systems often mimic, in part, the cycle of perception and action found in biological organisms, though scaled up by computational power. Understanding this autonomy requires unpacking the various components that enable such systems to function effectively and responsibly. The Perception/Observation Layer and the Knowledge Representation & Memory systems are chief among these foundational elements.In this five-part article series, we will delve into the nuances of Agentic AI to better understand the concepts involved. This inaugural article provides a high-level introduction to Agentic AI, emphasizing the role of perception and knowledge as the bedrock of decision-making.The Emergence of Agentic AITo emphasize the gravity of the topic, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, declared at CES 2025 that AI agents represent a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity.Agentic AI is born out of a need for software and robotic systems that can operate with independence and responsiveness. Traditional programming, which is rules-driven and typically brittle, struggles to cope with the complexity and variability of real-world conditions. Contrastingly, agentic systems incorporate machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies that allow them to adapt, learn from experience, and navigate uncertain environments. This paradigm shift is particularly visible in applications such as:Autonomous Vehicles Self-driving cars and drones rely on perception modules (sensors, cameras) fused with advanced algorithms to operate in dynamic traffic and weather conditions.Intelligent Virtual Assistants Chatbots, voice assistants, and specialized customer service agents continually refine their responses through user interactions and iterative learning approaches.Industrial Robotics Robot arms on factory floors coordinate with sensor networks to assemble products more efficiently, diagnosing faults and adjusting their operation in real time.Healthcare Diagnostics Clinical decision support tools analyze medical images, patient histories, and real-time vitals to offer diagnoses or detect anomalies.The consistent theme in these use cases is an AI-driven entity that moves beyond passive data analysis to dynamically and continuously sense, think, and act. Yet, before a system can take meaningful action, it must capture and interpret the data from which it forms its understanding. That is where the Perception/Observation Layer and Knowledge Representation frameworks come into play.The Perception/Observation Layer: Gateway to the WorldAn agents ability to sense its environment accurately underpins every subsequent step in the decision chain. The Perception/Observation Layer transforms raw data from cameras, microphones, LIDAR sensors, text interfaces, or any other input modality into a form the AI can process. This transformation often involves tokenization, embedding, image preprocessing, or sensor fusion, all designed to make sense of diverse inputs.1. Multi-Modal Data CaptureModern AI agents may need to concurrently handle images, text, audio, and scalar sensor data. For instance, a home assistant might process voice commands (audio) while scanning for occupant presence via infrared sensors (scalar data). Meanwhile, an autonomous drone with a camera must process video streams (images) and telemetry data (GPS coordinates, accelerometer readings) to navigate. Successfully integrating these multiple sources requires robust pipelines.Computer Vision (CV): Using libraries such as OpenCV, agents can detect edges, shapes, or motion within a scene, enabling higher-level tasks like object recognition or scene segmentation. Preprocessing images might involve resizing, color normalization, or filtering out noise.Natural Language Processing (NLP): Text data and voice inputs are transformed into tokens using tools like spaCy. These tokens can then be mapped to semantic embeddings or used directly by transformer-based models to interpret intent and context.Sensor Data: In robotic settings, analog sensor readings (e.g., temperature and pressure) might need calibration or filtering. Tools such as Kalman filters can mitigate noise by probabilistically inferring the systems true state from imperfect readings.2. Feature Extraction and EmbeddingRaw data, whether text or images, must be converted into a structured numerical representation, often referred to as a feature vector or embedding. These embeddings serve as the language by which subsequent modules (like reasoning or decision-making) interpret the environment.Tokenization and Word Embeddings: In NLP, tokenization divides text into meaningful units (words, subwords). Libraries like spaCy can handle complex tasks such as named entity recognition or part-of-speech tagging. Embeddings like word2vec, GloVe, or contextual embeddings from large language models (e.g., GPT-4) transform the text into vectors that capture semantic relationships.Image Embeddings: Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) or vision transformers can transform images into dense vector embedding. This vector captures high-level features such as object presence or image style. The agent can then compare images or detect anomalies by comparing these vectors.Sensor Fusion: When dealing with multiple sensory inputs, an agent might rely on sensor fusion algorithms. This process merges data into a single coherent representation. For example, combining LIDAR depth maps with camera-based object detection yields a more complete view of the agents surroundings.3. Domain-Specific ContextEffective perception often requires domain-specific knowledge. For example, a system analyzing medical scans must know about anatomical structures, while a self-driving car must handle lane detection and traffic sign recognition. Specialized libraries and pre-trained models accelerate development, ensuring each agent remains context-aware. This domain knowledge feeds into the agents memory store, ensuring that each new piece of data is interpreted in light of relevant domain constraints.Knowledge Representation & Memory: The Agents Internal RepositoryWhile perception provides the raw input, knowledge representation, and memory form the backbone that allows an agent to leverage experience and stored information for present tasks. Dividing short-term context (working memory) into long-term data (knowledge bases or vector embeddings) is a common design in AI architectures, mirroring concepts from cognitive psychology.1. Short-Term Context (Working Memory)Working memory holds the immediate context the agent requires to perform a given task. In many advanced AI systemssuch as those leveraging large language modelsthis manifests as a context window (e.g., a few thousand tokens) that the system can attend to at any one time. Alternatively, short-term memory might include recent states, actions, and rewards in reinforcement learning scenarios. This memory is typically ephemeral and continuously updated.Role in Decision-Making: Working memory is crucial because it supplies the system with immediate, relevant context. For example, suppose an AI-based customer service agent handles a complex conversation. To respond accurately, it must retain user preferences, prior questions, and appropriate policy constraints within its active memory.Implementation Approaches: Short-term context can be stored in ephemeral data structures in memory or within specialized session-based storage systems. The critical factor is speedthese data must be accessible within milliseconds to inform real-time decision-making.2. Long-Term Knowledge BasesBeyond the ephemeral short-term context, an agent may need to consult a broader repository of information that it has accumulated or been provided:Databases and Vector Embeddings: Structured knowledge can reside in relational databases or knowledge graphs. Vector databases like Faiss or Milvus increasingly store high-dimensional embeddings, enabling fast similarity searches across potentially billions of entries. This is crucial for tasks like semantic retrieval, where an agent may look for relevant documents or patterns similar to the current situation.Semantic Knowledge Graphs: Knowledge graphs store entities, relationships, and attributes in a graph data structure. This approach enables agents to perform complex queries and infer connections between pieces of information that may not be explicitly stated. Semantic knowledge graphs also incorporate ontologies that define domain-specific concepts, supporting better contextual understanding.Incremental Updates: In truly autonomous systems, knowledge representation must be mutable. As new data arrives, an agent must adjust or augment its knowledge base. For instance, a warehouse robot might learn that a particular corridor is often blocked and update its path-planning preferences accordingly. A virtual assistant might also learn new user preferences over time.3. Ensuring Context AwarenessA critical function of knowledge representation and memory is maintaining context awareness. Whether a chatbot adjusts tone based on user sentiment or an industrial robot recalls a specific calibration routine for a new part, memory elements must be seamlessly integrated into the perception pipeline. Domain-specific triggers or attention mechanisms enable agents to look up relevant concepts or historical data when needed.The Synergy Between Perception and KnowledgeThese two layers, Perception/Observation, and Knowledge Representation & Memory, are deeply intertwined. Without accurate perception, no amount of stored knowledge can compensate for incomplete or erroneous data about the environment. Conversely, an agent with poor knowledge representation will struggle to interpret and use its perceptual data, leading to suboptimal or even dangerous decisions.Feedback Loops: The agents knowledge base may guide the perception process. For example, a self-driving car might focus on detecting traffic lights and pedestrians if its knowledge base suggests these are the top priorities in urban environments. Conversely, anomalies detected in the perception layer may trigger a knowledge base update (e.g., new categories for unseen objects).Data Efficiency: Embedding-based retrieval systems allow agents to quickly fetch relevant information from vast knowledge repositories without combing through every record. This ensures real-time or near-real-time responses, a critical feature in domains like robotics or interactive services.Contextual Interpretation: Knowledge representation informs how raw data is labeled or interpreted. For example, an image of a factory floor might be labeled machine X requires maintenance instead of just red blinking light. The domain context transforms raw perception into actionable insights.ConclusionAgentic AI is transforming how systems sense, reason, and act. By leveraging a robust Perception/Observation Layer and a thoughtfully constructed Knowledge Representation and memory framework, these agentic systems can feel the world, interpret it, and meaningfully remember crucial information for the future. This synergy forms the bedrock for higher-level decision-making, where reward-based or logic-driven processes can guide the agent toward optimal actions.However, perception and knowledge representation are only the initial parts. In the subsequent articles of this series, the spotlight will shift to reasoning and decision-making, action and actuation, communication and coordination, orchestration and workflow management, monitoring and logging, security and privacy, and the central role of human oversight and ethical safeguards. Each component augments the agents capacity to function as an independent entity that can operate ethically, transparently, and effectively in real-world contexts.SourcesAlso,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our70k+ ML SubReddit.(Promoted) Asif RazzaqWebsite| + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Yandex Develops and Open-Sources Perforator: An Open-Source Tool that can Save Businesses Billions of Dollars a Year on Server InfrastructureAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/NVIDIA AI Releases Eagle2 Series Vision-Language Model: Achieving SOTA Results Across Various Multimodal BenchmarksAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Qwen AI Releases Qwen2.5-VL: A Powerful Vision-Language Model for Seamless Computer InteractionAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/DeepSeek-AI Releases Janus-Pro 7B: An Open-Source multimodal AI that Beats DALL-E 3 and Stable Diffusion [Recommended] Join Our Telegram Channel

Building End-to-End Machine Learning Projects: From Data to Deployment 0 like January 30, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Aleti Adarsh Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Have you ever stood at the edge of a mountain, looking down, unsure of how to take the first step? Thats exactly how I felt the first time I decided to build a machine learning project from scratch. Excited, nervous, and honestly, a little overwhelmed. But let me tell you the journey from raw data to a fully deployed model is worth every step, twist, and turn.In this article, Im going to take you on that journey from the first spark of an idea to seeing your model live and kicking in production. Along the way, Ill share the highs, the lows, and the aha moments that make machine learning so addictive.Grab a coffee, get comfortable, and lets dive in!machine learning illustrationLets start with a question: Whats the point of machine learning if your model just sits in a Jupyter Notebook? I mean, sure, its satisfying to get a 90% accuracy score, but wouldnt it be more fulfilling to see your model actually solving real-world problems?Building an end-to-end ML project isnt just about creating a model its about turning ideas into impact. Its about:End-End ml project Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Apple disclosed today that its global install base has reached a new high. However, the active device growth rate is down compared to the previous year.There are now 2.35 billion actively used Apple devices around the world. The new milestone of 2.35 billion represents an increase from 2.2 billion disclosed in February 2024. Thats a 6.8% growth rate with 150 million devices added across the year.In January 2023, Apple announced its install base had surpassed 2 billion active devices, marking a previous record. That means that Apple added 200 million devices between 2023 and 2024, a 10% growth rate.Apple remains optimistic about the growth opportunity from launching Apple Intelligence in China. Thats set for April, when iOS 18.4 will include support for Simplified Chinese and additional languages.Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that iPhone 16 sales have outpaced iPhone 15 sales in markets where Apple Intelligence has been available.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

Everyone with high blood pressure (typically 130/80 mmHg or higher) should monitor their blood pressure at home, as per the American Heart Association. It's essential because the tracking can help your doctor confirm your diagnosis or determine if treatments are working, but it shouldn't replace regular doctor visits or stop you from taking your medications.Managing your high blood pressure is especially important, considering that it can lead to a stroke, a heart attack, kidney disease, vision loss and other health conditions. To help you find the most accurate, best blood pressure monitor for home monitoring, we consulted cardiologists for their advice and tips. Our Picks Best smart blood pressure monitor Withings BPM Connect Wi-Fi Smart Blood Pressure Monitor View details $95 at Amazon View details Best blood pressure monitor with EKG Omron Complete Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor + EKG View details $117 at Walmart View details Most affordable blood pressure monitor Omron 3 Series View details $33 at Best Buy View details Best blood pressure monitor for larger arms LifeSource Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor With Extra Large Cuff View details $113 at Amazon View details Table of Contents Who should be tracking their blood pressure?Ideally, everyone should, according to Dr. Mary Branch, a cardiologist at Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina."Blood pressure is a good overall measure of health, so really anyone can," Branch said. She added that some people may feel blood pressure is only something to worry about when you're older, but it's important to establish a baseline when you're younger, along with other basic health metrics like A1C (an average blood sugar metric that screens for diabetes) and lipids (insight into cholesterol).While anyone who's been advised to track blood pressure regularly should do so, especially those diagnosed with hypertension. Other populations may be at higher risk of potentially dangerous conditions involving high blood pressure and may benefit from more home monitoring.Branch advised anyone planning a pregnancy to start tracking their blood pressure because of the risk of preeclampsia, which is a serious and potentially fatal condition involving high blood pressure during pregnancy. Similarly, those who had high blood pressure during pregnancy should track it after giving birth, Branch advised.What should you watch for while monitoring your blood pressure at home?Blood pressure is read with two numbers: systolic (the top number, which tells you the pressure your arteries are under with each heart beat) and diastolic (the bottom number, which indicates how much pressure your arteries are under between beats). Only a doctor can diagnose hypertension or chronically high blood pressure, but monitoring at home can clue you in that measurements may be higher than normal and cue you to reach out to a doctor, who can help you get to the bottom of it or manage your heart health. (It's important to note that any blood pressure reading above 180 systolic top number or 120 diastolic, is considered a hypertensive crisis and you should seek medical care immediately.)But monitoring your blood pressure can provide other clues about your heart health. Dr. Mustali Dohadwala, medical director of Heartsafe in Boston, said that "erratic" blood pressure readings, meaning those that are significantly lower or higher morning to night, or even minute to minute, can indicate an irregular heartbeat such as atrial fibrillation. Some models of blood pressure monitors have irregular heart beat detection or EKG built in.On the other hand, lower-than-normal blood pressure can also be detected through home monitoring. This chart from the American Heart Association gives different categories of blood pressure readings and what yours may mean. American Heart AssociationHow we chose the best blood pressure monitorsAlong with a handful of other monitors, the Withings, LifeSource and Omron Complete with EKG models went through hands-on testing in 2019. Based on factors such as consistency, brand credibility and accuracy, these models remain solid choices today. The Omron 3 series was added last year based on cardiologist preference for the brand in addition to its affordability. Photo Gallery 1/1 Pros Allows for multiple users Clinically validated Cons There are more affordable blood pressure monitors The Withings BPM Connect feels trendy, and it provides a consistent and accurate result. For the upper arm cuff fit, comfort and ease of use, the Withings BPM Connect holds its own. The app is also a breeze once you're in, and it has unlimited storage for your BP measurement needs (although the device will remember only up to eight readings in between syncs). You can also set up multiple user profiles in the Withings Health Mate app, which is a plus if you have multiple people in a household that want to track their blood pressure. $117 at Walmart The Omron Complete Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor with EKG was the first FDA-approved combination EKG-blood pressure device in the US. Omron produced the product in partnership with AliveCor, which powers many FDA-approved consumer electrocardiogram(EKG or ECG) devices.Worth mentioning is that this blood pressure monitor gave the most consistent readings throughout the entire testing process. It measures so much more than just blood pressure. In addition to the essentials systolic and diastolic blood pressure this Omron model measures your pulse, atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, bradycardia and sinus rhythm simultaneously.If you need a seamless way to measure two or more of those metrics, this upper-arm monitor is a top choice. The Omron app interface is simple, and it can store unlimited data. The cuff is comfortable and flexible, making it easy to get a good fit, which helps with accuracy.The monitor itself is a little bulkier than other models but probably worth it for people who need all those other measurements in one place. It comes in a nice carrying case that you can use for traveling.

Here's how they could compare to the current Switch cases.We don't have a release date for the Switch 2 and we also don't know what its game cartridges will look like just yet, but it seems we might already have "leaked proportions" of the new system's physical game cases.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Answers for today's NYT Mini Crossword are just ahead.New York TimesIn case you missed Thursdays NYT Mini, you can find the answers here:Wondering what one of a potential 13 for Emilia Prez might be? Not sure what a movie doubles responsibility could be? Dont worry, because I'm here to help you with the answers for today's The NYT Mini is a quick and dirty version of the newspaper's larger and long-running crossword. Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.Unlike its larger sibling, the NYT Mini crossword is free to play on the NYT Games app. However, youll need an NYT Games subscription to access previous puzzles in the archives.MORE FOR YOUTo help you avoid getting stuck and having to reveal missing letters, here are the NYT Mini Crossword answers for Friday, January 31 (spoilers lie ahead, of course):NYT Mini Crossword Clues And AnswersNYT Mini Across Answers1 Across: Like a dry-cleaned shirt or fresh sheets CRISP6 Across: Weapon used on horseback LANCE7 Across: One of a potential 13 for Emilia Prez, as announced last week - OSCAR8 Across: Movie doubles responsibility STUNT9 Across: The "blue marble" - EARTHNYT Mini Down Answers1 Down: In the ballpark - CLOSE2 Down: Someone who might smoke ganja as a sacrament, informally - RASTA3 Down: Run up, as debt - INCUR4 Down: Meager - SCANT5 Down: Capital of Western Australia - PERTHCompleted New York Times Mini crossword for Friday, January 31New York TimesIt took me 0:31 to complete today's NYT Mini.Im pretty happy with that one. I missed CRISP and LANCE on my first run through the Across clues. I wasnt sure about STUNT, since body doubles are also used for things like blocking a scene and checking lighting, but it worked out.With the letters I had unlocked on the Across side, I was able to get all of the Down words except SCANT. But I filled in the blanks easily enough once I got back to the Across clues.Thats it for my current stint on the NYT Mini answers column. See you in two weeks!Make sure to follow my blog for more coverage of the NYT Mini and other word games, as well as video game news, insights and analysis. It helps me out a lot! Also, follow me on Bluesky! Its fun there.