Something to look forward to: If you're of an age where thinking of the eighties brings back childhood memories of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and Van Damme action movies, here's some news that will ignite your nostalgia senses: the first video game based on 1989 classic Kickboxer is being made. Jean-Claude Van Damme made a lot of action movies in the eighties and early nineties. There was Bloodsport, Cyborg, Lionheart, Double Impact, Universal Soldier, and many, many more.Out of all of the Muscles from Brussels' movies, Kickboxer has some of the most memorable scenes. From dropping coconuts atop a tree onto Van Damme's stomach to dipping hand wraps in resin and broken glass a scene expertly parodied in Hot Shots! Part Deux Kickboxer has no shortage of great moments. Of course, the most famous part is our hero showing off his awesome dance moves in a bar.There were a lot of 8-bit and 16-bit games based on these sort of movies released at the time, but Kickboxer wasn't one of them.Now, more than 35 years since Kickboxer was released, it will get the video game adaptation it deserves. It's being created by Los Angeles-based Force Multiplier Studios, whose developers have worked on Tales from the Borderlands, Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat, Halo, and some Call of Duty games.There have been several Kickboxer movies since the original, including a reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, which saw Van Damme return as a different character and Dave Bautista play baddie Tong Po. There was also a sequel called Kickboxer: Retaliation, which includes Mike Tyson and Hafr Jlus Bjrnsson (The Mountain from Game of Thrones). Two of the filmmakers behind these installments, Screenwriter Dimitri Logothetis and producer Rob Hickman, are working with Force Multiplier Studios on the Kickboxer game. // Related StoriesForce Multiplier Studios told IGN that the game "will combine the rich narrative of Kickboxer with kinetic martial arts action to deliver an intense, high-octane brawler, and feature iconic characters and locations from the franchise originally starring martial arts icon Jean-Claude Van Damme."Mention of the splits-loving star led to a question about whether Van Damme himself will appear in the game. "We're all massive fans of the Kickboxer movies, and we have the licenses to many characters and likenesses from the Kickboxer universe that we're very excited about," Brent Friedman, Chief Creative Officer at Force Multiplier Studios, said. "We'll have much more to share later in the year." So, not a definite yes but not ruling anything out.Force Multiplier Studios first game is Karnivus: Rooftop Rumble, which was released within Fortnite.Van Damme is set to return for another entry in the franchise, Kickboxer: Armageddon, which is expected to start filming later this year.Kickboxer will be joining Rambo, Robocop, Terminator, Predator, the Running Man, Die Hard, Commando, Mad Max, Total Recall, Lethal Weapon, Aliens, Conan, Red Heat, Batman, and others on the list of video game adaptations of 80s action movies.

Why it matters: You have likely seen multiple ads for products and services designed to make you more secure online. When you turn on your television, see online ads, or even when you get in-app notifications, you are likely to encounter cybersecurity technology marketed as the ultimate solution and the last line of defense against digital threats. Cybersecurity is big business, and tech companies often sell their products based on fear. These campaigns are often rooted in what I call the technology vs. user cycle, a feedback loop that creates more problems than it solves.It works like this: Cybersecurity companies often market their products using tactics that emphasize fear ("Hackers are coming for your data!"), blame ("It's your fault if something happens!") and complexity ("Only our advanced solution can protect you"). They perpetuate the idea that users are inherently not savvy enough to manage security independently and that the solution is to adopt the latest product or service.Editor's Note:Guest author Doug Jacobson is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Iowa State University. Doug is also the director of the Iowa State University Center for Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.As a cybersecurity researcher, I find that this approach often has unintended, harmful consequences for people. Rather than feeling empowered, users feel helpless, convinced that cybersecurity is beyond their understanding. They may even develop techno-stress, overwhelmed by the need to keep up with constant updates, new tools and never-ending warnings about threats.Over time, this can breed apathy and resentment. Users might disengage, believing that no matter what they do, they'll always be at risk. Ironically, this mindset makes them more vulnerable as they begin to overlook simple, practical steps they could take to protect themselves.The cycle is self-perpetuating. As users feel less secure, they are more likely to demand new technology to solve their problem, further fueling the very marketing tactics that created their insecurity in the first place. Security providers, in turn, double down on promises of fix-all solutions, reinforcing the narrative that people can't manage security without their products.Ironically, as people grow dependent on security products, they can become less secure. They start ignoring basic practices, become apathetic to constant warnings, and put blind trust in solutions they don't understand.The result is users remain stuck in a loop where they depend on technology but lack the confidence to use it safely, creating even more opportunities for people with malicious intent to exploit them.Cybercrime evolutionI've worked in cybersecurity since the early 1990s and witnessed the field evolve over the decades. I've seen how adversaries adapt to new defenses and exploit people's growing reliance on the internet. Two key shifts, in particular, stand out as pivotal moments in the evolution of cybercrime.The first shift came with the realization that cybercrime could be immensely profitable. As society moved from paper checks and cash transactions to digital payments, criminals found that accessing and stealing money electronically was relatively easy. This transition to digital finance created opportunities for criminals to scale up their attacks, bypassing physical barriers and targeting the systems that underpin modern payment methods.The second shift emerged over a decade ago as criminals targeted individuals directly rather than just going after businesses or governments. While attacks on companies, ransomware campaigns and critical infrastructure breaches still make headlines, there has also been a rise in attacks on everyday users. Cybercriminals have learned that people are often less prepared and more trusting than organizations, and so present lucrative opportunities.This combination of digital financial systems and direct user targeting has redefined cybersecurity. It's no longer just about protecting companies or critical infrastructure; it's about ensuring the average person isn't left defenseless. Yet, how cybersecurity technology is marketed and deployed often leaves users confused and feeling helpless.User empowermentThe good news is that you have more power than you think. Cybersecurity doesn't have to feel like an unsolvable puzzle or a job for experts alone. Instead of letting fear drive you into techno-stress or apathy, you can take matters into your own hands by leaning on trusted sources like community organizations, local libraries and tech-savvy friends.These trusted voices can simplify the jargon, provide straightforward advice and help you make informed decisions. Imagine a world where you don't have to rely on faceless companies for help but instead turn to a network of people who genuinely want to see you succeed.Whether you're looking to secure your devices, learn how to spot scams or stay informed about the latest digital threats, these resources are a great place to begin. Empowerment starts with taking that first step toward understanding your digital world.The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has excellent resources to help you understand security.The Federal Trade Commission has resources on consumer safety and privacy.The Cyber House Rock website provides fun videos to help you understand security and privacy.To report a cyber incident, you can go to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.I believe that cybersecurity vendors should offer tools and education that are inclusive, accessible and centered on real user needs. At the same time, people should actively engage with community-driven initiatives, adopt thoughtful security practices and rely on trusted resources for guidance. People feel more confident and capable when they surround themselves with people willing to teach and support them. Users can then adopt technology thoughtfully rather than rushing to buy every new product out of fear or disengaging completely.This community-based approach goes beyond individual fixes. It creates a culture of shared responsibility and empowerment and helps create a more secure and resilient digital ecosystem.Knowing where to find reliable information and support is essential to take control of your cybersecurity and start building your confidence. The following resource list includes trusted organizations, community programs and educational tools that can help you better understand cybersecurity, protect yourself against threats and even connect with local experts or peers for guidance.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsCaptain Phillips (2013)Sweet Smell of Success (1957)Gerry (2002)The trouble with Amazon Prime Video is that, in spite of its great roster of movies to watch, many of them are so buried that you might never even know they were there. If youre trying to find something to watch on the streamer and coming up blank, then youre in luck.Weve pulled together a list of three great Prime Video movies that are well worth checking out, including at least one you might have totally forgotten about. Between the three titles, theres sure to be something for you to enjoy:Recommended VideosWe also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max,andthe best movies on Disney+.RelatedTelling the true story of a freight ship that was kidnapped by Somali pirates, Captain PhillipsAnchored by one of Tom Hankss very best performances and directed with grounded verve by Paul Greengrass,Captain Phillipsis thrilling right up until its final moments, even if you know exactly what will happen. Hankss final scene here, in which he is finally safe enough to feel what hes been feeling the whole movie, is one of the best scenes of the decade.You can watchCaptain Phillipson Amazon Prime Video.SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS Trailer (1957) - The Criterion CollectionAn older movie, but one that absolutely holds up all these years later.Sweet Smell of Successtells the story of an incredibly influential newspaper columnist who recruits a publicist to find a way to split up his sisters relationship.As the publicist gets increasingly ruthless, the movie becomes a study of how those with power wield influence and how public opinion is honed and molded by these people. Featuring two dynamic central performances from Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster, Sweet Smell of Successknows just how rotten this country is, and its endured for that reason.You can watchSweet Smell of Successon Prime Video.Film4Even as Matt Damon was blooming into a full-on movie star, he was still making time for smaller movies likeGerry. Starring Damon and Casey Affleck as two friends both named Gerry who get lost in Death Valley after they wander off a hiking trail and slowly realize how much danger they are in.Directed by Gus Van Sant, Gerryis bracingly honest about how terrifying it would be to get lost in the desert, even as the two friends try their best to keep high spirits. Van Sant carefully emphasizes how much silence passes between the two, and the films final moments are as devastating as they are riveting.You can watchGerryon Amazon Prime Video.Editors Recommendations

Smarts matter, but so do featuresheres how popular bots stack up when performing real-world tasks.

All the news that's fit to lift Rocket Report: SpaceX tosses away a Falcon 9; a Somalian spaceport? "It was the perfect partnership and the biggest softball of all the opportunities." Eric Berger Jan 31, 2025 7:00 am | 0 Falcon 9 launches the SpainSat NG I mission to orbit from Florida on Wednesday. Credit: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches the SpainSat NG I mission to orbit from Florida on Wednesday. Credit: SpaceX Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWelcome to Edition 7.29 of the Rocket Report! It may be difficult to believe, but we are already one full month into the new year. It will be hard to top this month in launch, however, given the historic debut of New Glenn, and fiery end of the seventh Starship flight test. And in truth, February does look a bit sleepier in terms of launch.As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.UK government injects $25 million into Orbex. As some European launch companies have struggled to raise funding, the United Kingdom government stepped up to make a significant investment in the Scotland-based launch firm Orbex, The Financial Times reports. As part of the company's latest fundraising round, valued at $50 million (GBP 40 million), the UK government will become a shareholder in Orbex. The company is working to develop both a small- and medium-lift rocket. Phil Chambers, Orbex's chief executive, said the UK support would be "a strong signal to other private investors, and to the European Space Agency and the EU, that were serious about being a part of the future of European launch."What's the plan, fellas? ... If we're being frank, which is how we roll in the Rocket Report, some of Orbex's recent activity does not inspire confidence. The company, for example, suspended plans to develop a spaceport at Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands to focus resources on developing the Prime microlauncher. And then it said it would develop the larger Proxima rocket as well. That seems pretty ambitious for what is, in the grand scheme of things, a relatively modest round of fundraising. Given that we have not seen a whole lot of hardware from Orbex, some skepticism is warranted. (submitted by EllPeaTea)Turkey may develop a spaceport in Somalia. Turkey has begun advancing plans to construct a rocket launch facility in Somalia, Space in Africa reports. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the project began in December. Mohamud emphasized the projects potential benefits, highlighting its capacity to generate significant employment opportunities and revenue for the East Africa nation. "I believe that the importance of Somalia hosting a launchpad for Turkish satellites goes beyond the billions of dollars and opportunities the project will generate," Mohamud said.Nothing has been finalized yet ... Located along the equator, Somalia fronts the Indian Ocean, offering an ideal launch location. The potential Somali launch site is part of Turkeys broader aspirations to assert itself in the global space race, traditionally dominated by major powers. In 2021, Turkey unveiled a 10-year space road map that includes plans for missions to the moon, establishing a spaceport, and developing advanced satellite systems. Somalia, a key Turkish security partner since 2011, already hosts Turkeys largest overseas training base. The Ars Technica Rocket Report The easiest way to keep up with Eric Berger's and Stephen Clark's reporting on all things space is to sign up for our newsletter. We'll collect their stories and deliver them straight to your inbox.Sign Me Up!Firefly expands Alpha launch plans to Wallops and Sweden. Firefly Aerospace expects to start launching its Alpha rocket from launch sites in Virginia and Sweden as soon as 2026 to help the company avoid growing congestion at launch sites in Florida and California, Space News reports. So far, Alpha has only launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Firefly is planning five Alpha launches in 2025, all from Vandenberg. The company has performed five Alpha launches to date, going back to the failed inaugural launch in 2021.Sweden, you say? ... So what is up with those plans to launch from Sweden? Adam Oakes, vice president of launch vehicles at Firefly, said the Esrange Space Centre in Sweden was an ideal partner. "Esrange has basically done everything for the science community in space except an orbital rocket," he said, citing the more than 600 sounding rocket launches there as well as experience with ground stations. "It was the perfect partnership and the biggest softball of all the opportunities out there." It still feels a bit odd, as Vandenberg already offers polar launch corridors, as well as Alpha-size commercial European launch vehicles coming along soon. (submitted by EllPeaTea)MaiaSpace targets 2026 for debut launch. A subsidiary of ArianeGroup that is developing a two-stage partially reusable rocket, MaiaSpace is one of the more interesting European launch startups. The company's chief executive, Yohann Leroy, recently spoke with Europe in Space to discuss the company's plans. The company will likely start off with a suborbital test flight of a launcher capable of boosting 500 kg to low-Earth orbit in reusable mode and 1,500 kg in expendable mode during the middle of next year. Following an iterative design method ... "Our approach is to test our rocket in flight as early as possible, following our test-and-learn iterative approach," Leroy said. "We are convinced we will go faster this way, rather than spending time in the lab making sure the first flight reaches 100 percent of our performance targets. In short, we are ready to trade lift-off performance for time-saving, knowing that we will quickly recover our performance afterward. Whats important is to stick to our objective of starting commercial operations in the second half of 2026, and were on track to reach this goal." (submitted by RB)Arianespace inking deals for its new rocket. Arianespace currently has a backlog of 30 Ariane 6 launches, 18 of which are for Amazons Kuiper constellation. However, it has recently begun to add Europe-based launch contracts for the rocket. During signing events at the 17th European Space Conference in late January, Arianespace secured contracts for three Ariane 6 flights, European Spaceflight reports.Getting into operations ... The missions are the European Space Agency's PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) mission, the Sentinel-1D Earth observation satellite that will replace Sentinel-1A, and a pair of second-generation Galileo satellites. After completing a largely successful debut flight last year, the first operational flight of Ariane is scheduled for February 26, carrying the CSO-3 reconnaissance satellite for the French Armed Forces. (submitted by EllPeaTea)SpaceX expends a Falcon 9 rocket. On Wednesday, SpaceX launched the SpainSat NG-1 satellite from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A. The Falcon 9 first-stage booster used on this launch saw its 21st and final flight, Florida Today reports. SpaceX said the reason it was not trying to recover the booster was due to the extra power needed to reach the satellite's intended orbit.Into the drink ... The well-traveled booster had launched a variety of missions during its lifetime: 13 Starlink missions, SES-22, ispace's HAKUTO-R MISSION 1, Amazonas-6, CRS-27, Bandwagon-1, GSAT-20, and Thuraya-4. The Airbus-built satellite, known as SpainSat NG-1 (New Generation), is the first of two satellites for Hisdesat. It was developed under a partnership with the European Space Agency, making its launch on a Falcon 9 somewhat notable.India marks first launch of 2025. India conducted its first launch of the year late Tuesday, sending a new-generation navigation satellite toward geostationary orbit, Space News reports. A Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk II lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Aboard was the NVS-02 satellite, sent into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite is the second of five new-generation spacecraft for the Navigation with Indian Constellation.A busy year planned ... The mission was the first of 10 orbital launches planned by India in 2025, which would mark a domestic launch record. Major missions include a joint Earth science mission between NASA and ISRO, named NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, expected to launch around March on a GSLV rocket, and an uncrewed test flight for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program on a human-rated LVM-3 launcher. The first launch of the Vikram-1 for private company Skyroot Aerospace could also take place this year. (submitted by EllPeaTea)New Glenn represents a milestone moment for Blue Origin. In a feature, Ars Technica explores what the successful launch of the New Glenn rocket means for Blue Origin. The near-term step is clear: getting better at building engines and rockets and flying New Glenn regularly. In an interview, Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos sounded a lot like SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who has spoken about "building the machine that builds the machine" over the last decade with respect to both Tesla vehicles and SpaceX rockets. Asked about Blue's current priorities, Bezos responded, "Rate manufacturing and driving urgency around the machine that makes the machine."The tortoise and the hare ... There are those who wonder why Blue Origin, which has a "tortoise" as its unofficial mascot, has moved so slowly when compared to SpaceX's progress over the last quarter of a century. Bezos responded that the space age is just beginning. "It's still absolutely day one," he said. "There are going to be multiple winners. SpaceX is going to be successful. Blue Origin is going to be successful. And there are other companies who haven't even been founded yet that are going to grow into fantastic, giant space companies. So the vision that I think people should have is that this is the absolute beginning."Space Force has big dreams for ULA this year. The US Space Force is projecting 11 national security launches aboard United Launch Alliances Vulcan rocket in 2025, Space News reports. This ambitious schedule comes as the National Security Space Launch program continues to wait on Vulcan's readiness. The heavy lift rocket, which debuted last year after prolonged schedule setbacks, is a cornerstone of the national security's Phase 2 program, under which ULA was selected in 2020 as the primary launch provider for national security missions through 2027.That seems like a lot ... However, Vulcan remains under review, with certification expected in late February following its second demonstration flight in October 2024. There is a lot of pressure on ULA to execute with Vulcan, due not only to the need to fly out Phase 2 launches, but because the military is nearing a decision on how to award launch contracts under Phase 3 of the program. The more complex "Lane 2" missions are likely to be divided up between ULA and SpaceX. Reaching 11 national security launches on Vulcan this year seems like a stretch for ULA. The company probably will only launch two rockets during the first half of this year, one of which probably will be an Atlas V booster. (submitted by EllPeaTea)April 2026 a no later than date for Artemis II. In a Space News article citing current contractors defending NASA's Artemis plan to return humans to the Moon, a space agency official said the current timeline for Artemis II is achievable. April 2026 is actually a no-later-than date for the mission, Matt Ramsay, Artemis 2 mission manager at NASA, said during a panel discussion. "The agency has challenged us to do better, and were in the process of figuring out what better looks like," he said, with a "work-to" launch date coming in the next few weeks.NET or NLT? ... This is interesting, because a good source told Ars about a month ago that the present date for the Artemis II mission to fly astronauts around the Moon has almost no schedule margin. However, Ramsay said the key factor driving the launch date will be work assembling the vehicle. Crews are currently stacking segments of the SLSs twin solid rocket boosters, a process that should be complete in the next two to three weeks. This all assumes the Artemis II mission goes forward as designed. I guess we'll see what happens.Next three launchesJan. 31: Falcon 9 | Starlink 11-4 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | 23:11 UTCFeb. 2: H3 | Demo Flight | Michibiki 6 | Tanegashima Space Center, Japan | 8:30 UTCFeb. 3: Falcon 9 | Starlink 12-3 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | 8:54 UTCEric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 0 Comments

Lumon Industries The Severance writer and cast on corporate cults, sci-fi, and more Cult documentaries, science fiction classics are named as the show's influences. Samuel Axon Jan 31, 2025 7:00 am | 0 The core cast members return for season two. Credit: Apple The core cast members return for season two. Credit: Apple Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThe following story contains light spoilers for season one of Severence but none for season 2.The first season of Severance walked the line between science-fiction thriller and Office Space-like satire, using a clever conceit (characters cant remember what happens at work while at home, and vice versa) to open up new storytelling possibilities.It hinted at additional depths, but its really season 2s expanded worldbuilding that begins to uncover additional themes and ideas.After watching the first six episodes of season two and speaking with the series showrunner and lead writer, Dan Erickson, as well as a couple of members of the cast (Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette), I see a show thats about more than critiquing corporate life. Its about all sorts of social mechanisms of control. Its also a show with a tremendous sense of style and deep influences in science fiction.Corporation or cult?When I started watching season 2, I had just finished watching two documentaries about cultsThe Vow, about a multi-level marketing and training company that turned out to be a sex cult, and Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God, about a small, Internet-based religious movement that believed its founder was the latest human form of God.There were hints of cult influences in the Lumon corporate structure in season 1, but without spoiling anything, season 2 goes much deeper into them. As someone who has worked at a couple of very large media corporations, I enjoyed Severances send-up of corporate culture. And as someone who has worked in tech startupsboth good and dysfunctional onesand who grew up in a radical religious environment, I now enjoy its send-up of cult social dynamics and power plays. Lumon controls what information is presented to its employees to keep them in line. Credit: Apple When I spoke with showrunner Dan Erickson and actor Patricia Arquette, I wasnt surprised to learn that it wasnt just methe influence of stories about cults on season 2 was intentional.Erickson explained:I watched all the cult documentaries that I could find, as did the other writers, as did Ben, as did the actors. What we found as we were developing it is that theres this weird crossover. Theres this weird gray zone between a cult and a company, or any system of power, especially one where there is sort of a charismatic personality at the top of it like Kier Eagan. You see that in companies that have sort of a reverence for their founder.Arquette also did some research on cults. "Very early on when I got the pilot, I was pretty fascinated at that time with a lot of cult documentariesWild Wild Country, and I dont know if you could call it a cult, but watching things about Scientology, but also different military schoolsall kinds of things like that with that kind of structure, even certain religions, she recalled.She gave an example of how that framework informed her view of the character:Even in her sleep clothes when shes Sevig, its like a nod back to when she was a little girl, and you cover your neck, you cover certain part of your body in modesty. So it was fun coming up with this history and where things began and what theyre referencing. Patricia Arquette's character returns from season 1 to grapple with the ups and downs of navigating a corporation that is also a cult of personality. Credit: Apple By incorporating these influences, Severance ends up being not just about bad work/life balance and manipulative corporate leadershipits about all kinds of mechanisms of social control.Erickson said he hopes more people will see the themes about how people in power can sometimes divide in order to conquer. They do [that] on a personal level literally with severance because they know that the more you divide up a persons mind or consciousness, he explained.Season 2 further explores this idea as it introduces more departments to the mix. Season 1 had some hints at thatfor example, the paintings and mythology depicting different departments rebelling, where the content varied by department. On moving beyond severed individuals to focus more on severed social groups, Erickson added:You see that also play out on a wider level on the floor with the different departments, because theyre literally keeping them physically separated, and then theyre also seeding distrust. And I think theres something to take from that in terms of, you know, that those in power will often try to divide up a populace, turn them against each other, get them fighting each other so that theyre not noticing whats going on above their heads. Season 2 expands beyond the departments mentioned in season 1 with new additions like the one Gwendoline Christie's new character hails from. Credit: Apple A new layer of dramatic ironyOf course, what makes Severance special is the first example: the dramatic opportunities created when this divide-and-conquer framework is applied not just to social groups but to a single individual.There are only a few other shows or films that have explored the idea that when a persons memories are severed like this, you end up with the emergence of two distinct identitiesand those identities might end up having conflicting goals or desires. When I asked actor Adam Scott how he approaches playing a severed character, he said:Its interesting because theyre the same guy, its just different parts or sections of the same person. Particularly in season two, as their interests start to differ a bit, they become more and more separate, and I guess playing it, I do treat them as sort of separate charactersbut always remembering that theyre just different sort of sections of the same person.The longform format of a prestige TV series allows for a richer exploration of this kind of role than, say, relatively short feature films that have touched on it before. Severance works as well as it does because it's a slow burn.I feel like theres really room to stretch out in one way or the other, for lack of a better term, and work my way through the story, Scott said on that point. Ive been at this a while and often had roles where I had to squeeze so much into a small amount of screen time, and with Mark, his journey is pretty gradual. Mark, played by Adam Scott, lives a double life where the interests of his "outtie" and "innie" don't always align. Credit: Apple Because they live in a bubble they cant see outside of, corporate employees in the show are relatively easy to manipulate and control. But they often test the boundaries and outwit their captors in unexpected ways.Erickson said that he and director Ben Stiller looked to the 1998 Peter Weir film The Truman Show for inspiration here. Like that film, Severance flirts with being a science-fiction story without adopting all the trappings.Digging into the shows influencesWhen asked about the shows influences, Erickson didnt stop with The Truman Show. The Truman Show is another thing where youre like, Is that sci-fi? Kind of. Theres tech in there that doesnt really exist, he said. But from that to The Matrix to Dark Cityto Brazil, Being John Malkovich all this stuff sort of came into the soup.He said he and Stiller mixed ideas and approaches from those science-fiction films with everything from The Office to Office Space. He also said Stiller put special emphasis on a sci-fi thriller called The Conversation.When I asked him if he considers Severance science fiction, he was happy to accept the label.I do consider the show science fiction, even though it doesnt always feel like that. To me, Ive always had a pretty broad definition of science fiction, and I dont think that its just one thing. What I love about the genre is that it can be very, very grounded. It can be something that feels like it could be five years from now, or it could be space lasers, and both are cool, he said.Aesthetically, Severance reminds me of the video game Control, so I asked if it factored in, too. Scott said:I am familiar with Control, and Ive taken a look at it. It wasnt something I knew of before, nor was The Stanley Parable, which people have also sort of compared [Severance]to. But both of those, Ive looked at since then and I totally see it. I think that a lot of the interesting storytelling that is being done today is being done in games, and so to me its cooleven though it wasnt intentional on my partits cool to be compared to stuff like that. I think it is the hugest possible compliment.As a longtime Star Trek fan, I found an aesthetic parallel in Severance: the characters are always traversing nondescript corridors, akin to those on the USS Enterprise (but much more unsettling). On The Next Generation, the show's producers, directors, and production designers got a lot of mileage out of shooting or decorating one very small hallway set in creative ways. I brought that comparison up to cott and asked him if it was a similar situation.He said it wasn't:There are many, many hallways that we're working with, and in season two, there are even more. Ben built even more hallways for us to walk down, and they seem to never end, and they're always being shifted around for different patterns or depending on what we're shooting, so it's very easy to get lost in these hallways, and you hit dead ends. It can be frustrating.But at the end of the day, it's great because we get to shoot these long oners where we're walking down hallways for an extended period of time, and we don't have to cut because we have lots of hallway. I wonder if we could measure at some point and find out just how many miles of hallway we have built. Just one of the many, many hallways from Severance. Credit: Apple I opted not to include any spoilers in this article since the season is still airing, but I will say this after watching six episodes of season 2: I think its just as good as season 1. The world retains its air of unsettling mystery, even as some questions are answered, and its scope expands beyond just a couple of offices. The story takes some unexpected turns, and if you're into this Lost-style "big mystery" type of show, there's simply nothing better on the air right now to scratch that itch.Season 2 began on Apple TV+ on January 17 and airs new episodes weekly. There will be 10 episodes in the season.Samuel AxonSenior EditorSamuel AxonSenior Editor Samuel Axon is a senior editor at Ars Technica. He covers Apple, software development, gaming, AI, entertainment, and mixed reality. He has been writing about gaming and technology for nearly two decades at Engadget, PC World, Mashable, Vice, Polygon, Wired, and others. He previously ran a marketing and PR agency in the gaming industry, led editorial for the TV network CBS, and worked on social media marketing strategy for Samsung Mobile at the creative agency SPCSHP. He also is an independent software and game developer for iOS, Windows, and other platforms, and heis a graduate of DePaul University, where he studied interactive media and software development. 0 Comments

From automating complex tasks to providing deep insights through data analysis, artificial intelligence has reshaped the way businesses operate and compete in a global marketplace. Yet, we are still in the early stages, with new AI advancements emerging regularly, each promising to push the boundaries of what's possible. One of the most recent advancements is in the development of speech-to-speech AI technology, which is set to facilitate and enhance communication on an unprecedented scale. By enabling real-time voice translation and voice-based interactions with AI agents, speech-to-speech AI is poised to break down language barriers, streamline operations, and foster a more connected global economy. The Architecture of Speech AI and AdvancementsThe term speech-to-speech might suggest a direct conversion of spoken language, but the reality is a more complex, multi-layered process. Todays speech AI systems operate through a sophisticated three-step workflow:Speech-to-Text (STT): The process begins by capturing voice input, which is then transformed into mel-spectrograms -- a visual representation of the sounds frequency content over time. Advanced neural networks, such as those used in models like OpenAIs Whisper, apply deep learning techniques to these spectrograms, enabling automatic speech recognition (ASR). The neural network analyzes the spectrograms to convert the audio signal into text. This deep learning approach allows the system to transcribe speech with high precision, providing the foundation for subsequent processing tasks.Text-to-Text (TTT): Once the speech is converted into text, its processed by powerful natural language models like GPT-4. This stage involves understanding the context, translating languages if needed, and generating appropriate responses. Its the cognitive core of the system, where raw input text is turned into a meaningful output.Text-to-Speech (TTS): Finally, the processed text is converted back into spoken words. This involves generating new mel-spectrograms that represent the speech, which are then converted into high-quality audio using advanced vocoder models. Startups, as well as industry giants like Google and Amazon, are at the forefront of this technology, producing voices that are nearly indistinguishable from human speech.Related:Academic Advancements in Speech AIAlthough speech recognition systems have been around since the 1950s, a significant breakthrough came in 2014 with Baidus pioneering research. Led by Andrew Ng, the team introduced deep learning methods to ASR, fundamentally reshaping the design and implementation of these systems.Related:Building on these advancements, companies like OpenAI have pushed the envelope further. OpenAIs Whisper, released in September 2022, stands at the forefront of speech AI models. As an open-source model, Whisper has not only set new standards for accuracy and versatility but has also spurred the growth of speech AI companies that leverage its capabilities to develop human-like conversational systems.Todays speech-to-text models can closely replicate the intonation, emotion and cadence of human voices, with companies like Eleven Labs -- now valued at over $1 billion -- leading the charge. The convergence of these advancements has led to the development of sophisticated speech AI systems like OpenAIs advanced voice mode. With its recent rollout to paying users, we are beginning to see the real-world applications of this powerful technology. Transformative Use CasesSpeech-to-speech AI holds immense potential across various applications, including enhancing accessibility for individuals with vision impairments and bridging language gaps in global business, including:Empowering individuals with vision impairments: Historically, individuals with blindness and vision loss -- numbering over 1.1 billion globally-- have faced barriers in knowledge-based roles due to reliance on visual data and text-heavy interfaces. Speech-to-speech AI, combined with computer vision technology, is changing how these individuals interact with both physical and digital environments. For example, Be My Eyes uses GPT-4o alongside computer vision to provide real-time audio descriptions of visual surroundings, like iconic landmarks, enhancing the user's spatial awareness. Related:Bridging language gaps in global business: On a global scale, with more than 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, speech-to-speech AI is breaking down language barriers that have traditionally hindered international trade and collaboration. Real-time translation capabilities enable seamless communication across different languages, fostering trust and cooperation among global partners. For instance, a business executive in Tokyo can now engage in smooth, multilingual meetings with colleagues in So Paulo, overcoming linguistic obstacles and enhancing global business operations. The Future of Speech-to-Speech AIWe are on the cusp of a major shift in speech-to-speech technology. Recent advancements are pushing the boundaries by developing unified models that move beyond the traditional three-layer approach, speech-to-text, text-to-text, and text-to-speech. Researchers are exploring direct speech-to-speech systems that bypass text altogether, aiming to reduce latency and enhance the fluidity of translations. These innovations promise to make interactions with AI more seamless and intuitive. In the near term, such developments will significantly improve conversational experiences, while future advancements may address challenges like real-time interruptions and dynamic query changes, with startups already exploring ways to pause and redirect AI processing in more natural and responsive ways.Moving forward, the key will be to ensure that these innovations are accessible to all and that their benefits are equitably distributed. By doing so, we can harness the power of speech-to-speech AI not just to enhance productivity and economic growth, but to build a more inclusive and connected global community.

We adorn the neck with jewels and perfumes, and it plays a key role in human courtship ritualsMartin Parr/Magnum PhotosThe NeckKent Dunlap (University of California Press)The late writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron famously felt bad about her neck. Ephrons concern, as expressed in her best-known essay I Feel Bad About My Neck, was ageing, and the neck in particular as a dead give-away of the passage of time. The visibility of the area and the truth it exposed was cause, for Ephron, to cover up with turtlenecks and scarves.For Kent Dunlap, a biologist at Trinity

Alexander Weber's parent realized his family had money when they moved into a bigger house.However, his parents still gave him a small allowance and taught him financial responsibility.That pushed him to work, which impacted his career as an entrepreneur.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alexander Weber. It has been edited for length and clarity.Until I was in elementary school, my parents and I lived in a modest apartment. My mom ran her own business, and my dad worked for a major retailer in Germany, where we lived. He was in management, working as a buyer for the whole of Germany. It was an important role, with a solid salary to match. My dad would spend weekdays in another city, visiting us on the weekends. I didn't think much about how much money we had.Then, we moved to a very large house. Our financial status hadn't changed my mom and dad had always made substantial money. But suddenly, that was clearer to others, and to me, as a child. Our new house had three stories, a finished basement, and a garage. My parents drove fancy cars like BMWs and Mercedes. That's when I noticed that, compared with my peers, my family was wealthy.Unfortunately, my dad died when I was 13. However, my mom's business generated a solid income, so she was able to keep our family financially secure, while instilling lessons I still use today.My parents tied allowance to responsibilityAlthough we had more material items than many of the people around us, my parents only gave me a very modest allowance. At the time, it was about 25 euros a month, enough to go to the cinema once twice if I was lucky.Sometimes I would argue with my mom, pointing out she could afford to give me a larger allowance. But she wouldn't budge. Then, after a few years, my mom offered me a more substantial allowance. If I took it, however, I would be responsible for paying for my needs, in addition to my wants. I would have to budget for clothes and food. At the end of the day, I didn't want that responsibility. I also realized that I might end up with even less discretionary spending money than if I took a more modest allowance.My small allowance pushed me to workSince I'd chosen to stick with my modest allowance, I got creative about earning money. I started building websites when I was a teenager and even automated video games to sell in-game currency. Building that entrepreneurial spirit early impacted my career path. As a young adult, I grew my own online companies, focused on helping businesses use social media to increase their sales and online presence. I'm still running those today.My mom emphasized never having debtAs a teenager, I was exposed to material items, like those flashy cars my parents had, and yearly trips to California. At first, I wanted more of that, but eventually, the novelty wore off. These days, I'm not drawn to luxury or fancy items. My mom always told me that if you have debt, you give the banks (or credit card companies) control over you. She emphasized that I should always make money before I spend it. I internalized another message: don't buy unnecessary things.I'm 29 now, but I still live by that rule. I still travel, but it's more likely to be a car or train ride to somewhere else in Europe than a lengthy trip to the US. I really don't buy things for myself. I'll spend it on my business or my girlfriend, but rarely on something I want. When I do, I try to purchase a quality item that will last a long time.I realized people talked about my wealthAs I got older, I realized people were talking about my family's wealth. California is a big thing to Europeans, and people were impressed that my mom and I spent about a month there every year.At first I wanted to lean into the status wealth gave me I even tried my hand at becoming an influencer. But I quickly realized that being flashy made me feel like an imposter. I was being celebrated for something I'd been gifted, not something I earned.These days, I try to avoid attention. I still live in that big house my parents moved into when I was a child. But it's old now and needs lots of work. I'm looking forward to downsizing, so I can focus on my work and my partner the things that really give my life purpose.

LA's wildfires put added pressure on the city's 2028 Olympic hosting gig.Historically, most host cities have faced costly overruns.LA could be in a stronger position than other cities because of its existing sports venues.Los Angeles' wildfire rebuilding efforts couldThe city's recovery efforts face a hard deadline ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics. Historically, most host cities have faced costly overruns, and LA is already likely to face serious economic challenges in the wake of the fires.However, Andrew Zimbalist, a sports economist at Smith College, told Business Insider that LA could be in a stronger position than other cities to handle Olympic costs because of the city's existing sports venues."I think the 2028 games will provide an opportunity for Los Angeles to show how it's rebuilt itself," Zimbalist said.While many sports facilities were sparred from the fires, the city's economic losses could reach $275 billion, per the data platform AccuWeather. The estimate accounts for direct costs like emergency response and construction, along with indirect costs like lost employee wages, housing displacement, and hits to the local business scene and job market. Additionally, some experts estimate it could take the city years, or up to a decade, to rebuild.Zimbalist said he thinks LA is in a good position to "break-even" economically as the Olympics host, in large part because it doesn't have to build any new sporting venues. This will significantly reduce the construction and infrastructure costs that often balloon host cities' spending.The LA Olympics Games have an operating budget of $6.9 billion, according to the latest estimate provided by LA2028, the private committee responsible for putting on the Olympics and raising funding for the games. The money is expected to come from International Olympic Committee funding and revenue generated from the Games which are tied to things like international sponsorship income, ticket sales, and licensing merchandise. These funds will go toward hosting the sporting events and the opening and closing ceremonies, including investments in the city's airport and a downtown convention center.LA2028 did not respond to BI's request for comment.LA may be in a strong position to host 2028If the costs of hosting the Olympics exceed the generated funds, LA has pledged to contribute $270 million to close the gap. If this isn't sufficient, the state of California has committed an additional $270 million, and if that doesn't cover it, LA would be on the hook for the rest. As of July, LA2028 was $1 billion short of its sponsorship goal.Zimbalist said this insurance policy to cover some of its exposure in the case of a budget overrun is standard for every host city. As things stand, he doesn't expect the Games to go over budget, though he said it's "far from a sure thing.""I don't see there being a public deficit here overall because there's so little building to be done," Zimbalist said.While LA might be able to avoid drawing upon public funds, the Olympics are likely to cost US taxpayers. Zimbalist said LA is counting on the federal government to help provide as much as $5 billion in funds for transportation and security costs ahead of the Games.$2 billion when adjusted for inflation.In 1984, the last time LA hosted the Olympics, Zimbalist said LA generally avoided negative economic impacts, which he said was driven by the availability of existing venues, significant IOC funding, and solid financial management from the city's Olympic committee. He said that LA could benefit from the same factors this time.Host cities often lose money on the OlympicsMany Olympic host cities spend beyond their budget due to unforeseen expenses, construction costs, or an inability to produce enough tourism revenue, per theOxford Olympics Study. And, with a higher number of events and athletes, the study reported that the Summer Games are especially expensive.The Oxford Olympics Study which analyzed the cost of past Olympics in 2022 US dollars found that the Summer Games held between 1960 and 2024 went over budget by an average of 195%. In the past two decades, the most expensive Games was Rio 2016, costing $23.6 billion with a cost overrun of 352%, some of which was shouldered by taxpayers."When you add it all up, most cities end up with a deficit that could be on the order of $10 or $20 billion, sometimes more than that," Zimbalist said.In December, Paris announced that it closed the 2024 events under budget, but this only included the operating costs of the Olympics during the 17 days they were held. When operating costs, capital costs related to the Games (like building sporting venues), and indirect capital costs (like investments in Paris's rail system) are all accounted for, Zimbalist estimated that the total spending approached $20 billion.To be sure, Zimbalist said there are benefits to hosting the Olympics that economic indicators can't measure. While LA will likely still be recovering from the wildfires, he said the Olympics could provide the city with the opportunity to show its progress.Have you experienced financial challenges due to a natural disaster? Are you open to sharing your experience with a reporter? If so, reach out to allisonkelly@businessinsider.com.