LatestMachine LearningGroup Relative Policy Optimization (GRPO) Illustrated Breakdown & Explanation 0 like January 31, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Ebrahim Pichka Originally published on Towards AI. A simplified intro to GRPO, an efficient policy optimization method used for LLM reasoning trainingThis member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Reinforcement Learning (RL) has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing Large Language Models (LLMs) after their initial training, particularly in reasoning-intensive tasks. DeepSeeks recent breakthroughs with DeepSeek-Math [2] and DeepSeek-R1 [3] models have demonstrated the remarkable potential of RL in improving mathematical reasoning and problem-solving abilities of LLMs.These achievements were made possible through an innovative RL approach called Group Relative Policy Optimization (GRPO), which addresses the unique challenges of applying RL to language models. In this post, well dive deep into how GRPO works and why it represents a significant advancement in LLM training.Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) [1] has been the go-to algorithm for RL fine-tuning of language models. At its core, PPO is a policy gradient method that uses clipping to limit policy updates (gradients), preventing destructive large policy changes. The objective function for PPO can be written as:GRPO first introduced in [2] builds upon PPOs foundation but introduces several key innovations that make it more efficient and better suited for language models:Eliminates the need for a value network, hence less memory/compute usageUses group sampling for more efficient stable advantage estimationUses a more conservative update 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

This Star Trek article contains spoilers for Section 31. Like the Bell Riots of Deep Space Nine, the movie Star Trek: Section 31 is such a disaster for Trekkies that weve stopped our petty debates about Janeway killing Tuvix, or Kirks captaincy compared to Picards, and have finally come together.As much as Section 31 deserves the drubbing its getting, the first duty of every Star Trek fan is still to the truth, and the truth is that the movie does get one thing right about Star Trek. Section 31 is fundamentally an ensemble story about people with vast differences coming together. Does it interpret coming together to mean arguing about who is the dumbest? Yes.But thats still a coming together and that communal spirit is at the heart of Star Treks ethos.Going Boldly as OneOn paper, the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home departs from the standard Star Trek model. Sure, it continues the story began in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. And sure, its bookended by a plot about communicating with a strange probe from deep space. But at its heart, The Voyage Home is a comedy set in 1986. Director Leonard Nimoy also gives his castmates more attention than theyve ever received before.The Voyage Home works for several reasons, including the fact that its really funny, but also because it understands something underscoring all of the previous movies and episodes: that the series appeal goes beyond main character Jim Kirk and primary supporting characters Spock and McCoy. Viewers care about the entire crew and their interactions with one another. The Voyage Home taps into a key truth about the franchise: Star Trek works best as an ensemble.Its no surprise then that The Next Generation, which got a green light in large part because of the success of The Voyage Home (and because Shatner and Nimoy kept raising their fees), quickly adopted an ensemble approach. In the place of Kirk deliberating with Spock on one shoulder and Bones on the other, TNG introduced the Ready Room, where Picard discusses problems with his senior staff. Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise continued in this tradition (although, as a starbase, DS9 employed an office instead of a Ready Room).More than a storytelling convention, these sequences signal to the audience that all of characters matter, not just the captain and his best friends. With this acknowledgment, its easier for audiences to accept that the chief engineer and the helmsman can carry their own episodes, not just get a weird subplot where they giggle at a harem or do shirtless swashbuckling.So engrained into Trek is this ensemble approach that fans reject modern series that focus more on a single protagonist. Yes, Picard gave Jean-Luc a new crew with Raffi, Rios, and Jurati, and yes Discovery did give us episodes that fleshed out Owosekun and Airiam. But outside of the most minor details, these supporting members are relegated to a distant back seat to Picard and Burnham. As a result, fans complained about the lack of attention to the bridge crew more than any other element of those series.Conversely, fans embrace Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds in part because they have such vibrant casts. Okay, we still know next to nothing about Ortegas (she flies the ship), but we know that Laan struggles with her infamous last name, that Number One doesnt let her Augment status keep her out of Starfleet, and that George Kirk is more than just Jim but with a mustache. We know that Ransom likes working out, that Shaxs saw bad things in the Cardassian War, and that Dr. Migleemo is a foodie.While none of these characters supplant Pike and Spock or the five Lower Deckers as the protagonists of their respective shows, they all make the world richer and add more variety to the storytelling. They also embody Treks values.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Infinite Diversity in Infinite CombinationsEven more than good storytelling, the ensemble approach underscores a fundamental vision of Star Trek. Although we can and should critique The Original Series for its one-dimensional approach to race and nationality, the very fact that the Enterprise bridge featured a Russian, a man of Asian descent, and a Black woman was radical for its time. Inspired by Kennedy-era optimism, creator Gene Roddenberry wanted to imagine a future in which race, gender, and nationality were no longer barriers, that people of radically different backgrounds could work with one another.Star Trek expresses this perspective with the central tenet of Vulcan philosophy: IDIC or Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. The glory of creation is in its infinite diversity, psychologist Miranda Jones tells Spock in the TOS season three episode Is There in Truth No Beauty?, which introduced IDIC. Spock answers, And the ways our differences combine to create meaning and beauty.Time and again, Star Trek comes back to this principle. Sometimes, Starfleet personnel must remind one another of the concept, as when Kirk tells a paranoid crewman, Leave your bigotry in your quarters, there is no room for it on the bridge in Balance of Terror. But it remains a fundamental idea, proof that humanity has emerged from its infancy to become worthy of joining the rest of the cosmos.When Star Trek entries move their focus from a single character and show how vastly different creatures interact, they show us the power of the ideal.To be clear, none of the characters in Section 31 are interesting. Fuzz outdoes Neelix (creepy season one version) and Malcolm Reed as the most irritating character in Trek history. The mech-suit wearing Zeph could be plucked out of the movie and dropped into a nondescript Halo sequel without changing anything. Omari Hardwick does his best to bring gravitas to Aloks Augment backstory, but even that feels half-baked.Yet, the very fact that Section 31 devotes so much time to these characters proves that it understands the power of an ensemble for Star Trek. Nothing better captures our hope for the future like seeing a diverse community. And, on that note (and possibly only that note), Section 31 succeeds.Star Trek: Section 31 is now streaming on Paramount+.

Get ready, Xbox gamersTurbo Overkill, the critically acclaimed cyberpunk FPS, is revving its chainsaw leg and making its explosive debut on Xbox today.From indie developer Trigger Happy Interactive and legendary publisher Apogee Entertainment, Turbo Overkill is a love letter to retro shooters like Doom and Quake, blending their high-octane action with modern speed and style. Its an adrenaline-fueled descent into the neon-drenched dystopia of Paradise, where players take on the role of Johnny Turbo, a cybernetically enhanced anti-hero armed with imaginative weapons, a chainsaw leg, and a thirst for vengeance.Paradise isnt the utopia it was promised to be. This futuristic megacity, riddled with corporate corruption and rogue AI monstrosities, is a brutal battleground. As Johnny Turbo, youll fight through three expansive episodes filled with intricate levels, unforgettable characters, and nonstop carnageall at a buttery-smooth 60 FPS.Iconic Combat: Wield absurd firepower, from dual magnums to plasma railguns, and turn every encounter into a gory spectacle.Kinetic Gameplay: Chain wall-runs, double jumps, and mid-air chainsaw slides for fluid, fast-paced combat that rewards creative destruction.Epic Levels: Battle through neon slums, abandoned arenas, corporate skyscrapers, and even the depths of space in Turbo Overkills three episodes.Enhanced for Xbox: Enjoy silky-smooth 60 FPS and enhanced visuals on Xbox Series X|S, delivering a visceral, immersive experience like no other.Turbo Overkill boasts a stellar voice cast that brings its gritty characters to life:Patricia Summersett (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom) as the enigmatic and deadly bounty hunter Ripper.Jon St. John (Duke Nukem) as Johnnys wisecracking AI companion, SAMM.Gianni Matragrano (Ultrakill, Neon White) as the cunning and ruthless Maw.DB Cooper (BioShock 2, The Elder Scrolls Online) as The Exec, a mysterious TeraTek executive with an agenda of her own.Tay Zonday (Chocolate Rain) as Dr. Nyx, Johnnys bio-cybernetics surgeon.Their performances add depth to Turbo Overkills adrenaline-fueled narrative, ensuring every encounter and interaction is as unforgettable as the carnage.Turbo Overkill is something special. Sam Prebble poured everything into this game, and you can feel it in every corner of Paradise. From the brutal gameplay to the insane attention to detail, its a reflection of his relentless creativity and drive. As someone who grew up loving shooters, this game feels like a dream come trueand I couldnt be prouder to see it finally land on Xbox.Jeron Moore, Executive Producer, Apogee EntertainmentThis is the game Ive always wanted to playone that doesnt let up and rewards players who embrace style, carnage, and creativity. Console players are in for a wild ride. This might be the fastest shooter youve ever played, and thats one of the reasons that led me to calling it Turbo Overkill. Find me on X and let me know what you think!Sam Prebble, Creator of Turbo OverkillTurbo Overkills pulse-pounding soundtrack perfectly complements its chaotic gameplay. Composed by Chipper Hammond, Nikola Jeremic, and Tim Stoney, the score blends cyberpunk synths, heavy metal riffs, and cinematic arrangements to fuel every chainsaw slide and wall run.The Turbo Overkill soundtrack is now available from Apogee Music, featuring two distinct albums: the Episode 1 Soundtrack, a comprehensive collection of nearly two hours of music from the entirety of Episode 1, and the Soundtrack Selections album, a curated compilation running over three hours. Fans can stream or download these high-energy, genre-defining tracks on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTubeMusic, and Bandcamp. Albums featuring the complete soundtracks for Episodes 2 and 3 are set to release in the coming weeks, delivering even more pulse-pounding music to accompany their adventures in Paradise, and beyond.To learn more and explore all streaming and purchase options, visitapogeemusic.com.Turbo Overkill is now available on Xbox. Follow @turbo_overkill and @Apogee_Ent on Twitter for updates, join the discussion on Discord, and check out exclusive content on Apogee Entertainments YouTube channel.With its unapologetic carnage, lightning-fast gameplay, and neon-drenched world, Turbo Overkill is a glorious evolution of the boomer shooter. Paradise awaitsare you ready to clean it up?Turbo OverkillApogee Entertainment18$19.99Get it nowTurbo Overkill is the most savage FPS ever released by Apogee. You play as Johnny Turbo, augmented with hidden arm rockets and a chainsaw that extends from your lower leg allowing you to slide-slice enemies wide open.Johnny returns to his hometown of Paradise and finds its entire population possessed by Syn, a rogue AI, and its army of augmented minions. Desperate for enough money to outrun his past mistakes, Johnny takes on the impossible job of destroying the greatest AI ever created. Rival bounty hunters want to claim the prize first. Nothing is easy in paradise.TURBO TIME, WALL-RUNNING, DASHING AND GRAPPLING HOOKS, OH MYTurbo Overkill takes over-the-top to never-before-reached heights. Activate Turbo Time(), a new form of slow motion with a twist. Build incredible speed by wall-running and dashing. Slide on your chainsaw leg, eviscerating foes and opening up bosses for critical damage, and go car-surfing on the hoods of flying cars. Blast away with the Twin Magnums, which lock-on and instagib several foes, the Boomer Shotgun and its attached grenade launcher, or the Telefragger sniper rifle, which teleports Johnny inside an enemy before they explode from within.Race through two dozen stages packed with secrets, bonus arena stages, and white-knuckle combat puzzles. Find game-changing collectibles to unlock punishing modifiers like triple-monster-speed and insta-kill. Combine all of Johnnys weapons and powers to outsmart, outgun and outrun the corrupted legions.

It's not every day that two design heavy-hitters get to join forces and redecorate a museum, but that's exactly what ELLE DECOR A-Lister Robert Stilin and gallerist Sarah Gavlak have done at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach, Florida. Robert Stilin, Tim LenzThe presentation includes art from Gavlak's gallery, and furniture and decor handpicked by Stilin.Living with Art and Design: A Collaborative Presentation by Robert Stilin and Sarah Gavlak, on view through March 16, combines Stilin's interior design style with Gavlak's eye for art to create a show-stopping exhibition that offers a never-ending supply of inspiration. The two tastemakers have transformed the Norton home with contemporary art and eye-catching furniture, all against the backdrop of a truly historical space.Robert Stilin, Tim LenzInterior designer Robert Stilin with gallerist Sarah Gavlak.The property, located in the historic El Cid district in West Palm Beach, was the home of Ralph and Elizabeth Norton, founders of the Norton Museum of Art. The house was originally designed in 1925, but the pair tapped Marion Sims Wyeth (also the architect of Mar-a-Lago) to overhaul it in the more fashionable Monterey Revival style. After Elizabeth's death, Ralph married Ann Weaver, a sculptor and an instructor at the Norton Museum. Today, guests can visit the house, which houses more than 100 of Ann's sculptures, tour her studio, and stroll through two acres of lush gardens. Robert Stilin, Tim LenzContemporary art and modern furniture contrast with the historic Norton home.Within the historic main house, Stilin and Gavlak have added their own history. Together, the pair have decorated the home with a mix of contemporary art from Gavlak's gallery, and an elevated mix furniture, decor, and lighting that Stilin pulled from his favorite galleries and his own shop.Robert Stilin, Tim LenzStilin and Gavlak carefully selected every design detail for the installation.This limited-time collaboration is not just a showcase of the artists, makers, and craftspeople that Stilin and Gavlak work with, but also of their skills as space-makers. Now, folks visiting this West Palm Beach destination can get an insider's glimpse at the Ann Norton property while catching a glimpse of what it truly means to be at home with art and design.Tatjana FreundFashion & Luxury Commerce EditorTatjana Freund is Hearst's Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor, covering beauty, fashion and more across multiple brands. Previously, she worked at ELLE.com and Marie Claire. She's a fan of whiskey neat, podcasts that give her nightmares, and one time Zo Kravitz laughed at a joke she made.

This fall, the iPhone lineup is getting a brand new model: the iPhone 17 Air. Apple plans to drop its Plus model in favor of an iPhone with a fresh form factor that could tempt a lot of Pro users. Here are seven features coming to the iPhone 17 Air.Ultra-thin form factorApples ultra-thin M4 iPad Pro gives us an idea of what to expect from iPhone 17 AirFollowing the trend started by Apples M4 iPad Pro, the iPhone 17 Airs defining feature will be its thinness.Reports have varied around the exact measurements of the new device, but most recently, Ming-Chi Kuo wrote that its thinnest part will be just 5.5mm. Presumably, this means everything except the top camera bar.This is a massive reduction from current iPhones. The 16 Pro models are 8.25mm thick, while the base 16 and 16 Plus are 7.8mm.Apples thinnest model ever was the iPhone 6, and even that was 6.9mm.New 6.6-inch displayBeing ultra-thin wont be the 17 Airs only hardware advantage over the Pro line. Apple will also give its new model a unique display that could offer the perfect compromise between existing sizes.Apples iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively. These are the same sizes as the 16 Pro line.iPhone 17 Air, however, will slot in exactly halfway between the two models with a 6.6-inch display. Thanks to its ultra-thin form factor, the 17 Airs display may still feel small enough for current Pro users while offering just enough space to satisfy Pro Max fans too.Always On and high refresh rate featuresEver since 2022, a big difference between Apples entry models and Pro line has involved two display features:the Pro models boast an Always On displaythey also support the 120Hz ProMotion high refresh rateThese are the kind of features that, once you get used to them, theyre hard to go without.Fortunately, for the first time, Always On and a version of ProMotion are expected to hit the base iPhone 17 and 17 Air.I say a version of because rumors have swirled about a possible 90Hz refresh rate display being in the works at Apple. No credible rumor has indicated this will hit the 17 Air, so its possible it will get the full 120Hz ProMotion feature. But if Apple wants to boost its iPhone displays while still retaining the best tech for the Pro models, perhaps 90Hz on the 17 and 17 Air is the way to do that.A19 chipJust like with its iPhone 16 line, Apple plans to ship two brand new chips for its iPhone 17 models.The base 17 and 17 Air will get the A19 chip, while the 17 Pro and Pro Max get an A19 Pro.How much difference will there be between chips? Probably not a lot for everyday tasks, as the A19 will still be a powerhouse for AI, gaming, and more. But the 17 Air chip will technically be a little underpowered compared to the A19 Pro.Single rear 48MP camera with bar designAs seen in the leaked image above, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to differ from its siblings substantially in the camera department.While the 17 Pro line again offers three rear cameras, and the base model two, the 17 Air will feature only one: the main 48MP Fusion camera.Rumors have been minimal around this cameras features, which could indicate it will be very similar to the existing main camera on the iPhone 16 line.Then again, its unknown what benefit the camera bar design will offer the 17 Air, so we could be in store for some surprises after all.24MP front cameraCurrently, the iPhones selfie camera is only 12MPand gets clearly inferior results to the rear cameras.Fortunately, Apple is bringing a welcome 24MP upgrade to the front camera on the iPhone 17 Air and all other iPhone 17 models.The new front camera is still unlikely to match the quality of the rear camera, but it should at least close the gap substantially.Apples in-house 5G modemFinally, theres a connectivity change coming to the iPhone 17 Air that no other 17 models will offer.Apples in-house 5G modem, which has been in the works for many years, is debuting this year and the 17 Air will get it.Well first see this new chip in the iPhone SE 4 this spring, but the iPhone 17 Air is set to receive it too.In some ways the new chip wont be able to match the current 5G modem from Qualcomm, but hopefully Apples tight integration of hardware and software will enable unique benefits that make up for that.iPhone 17 Air features: wrap-upThe iPhone 17 Air will no doubt be the most compelling fourth model in Apples lineup to date. Where the iPhone mini and Plus had their niche groups of loyal fans, the 17 Air stands to set the future tone for iPhone design. Its going to be a fun iPhone launch season this fall.Which iPhone 17 Air features are you most excited about? Do you plan to buy the new model? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Bad news for fans of bad products. Apple wont be shipping a pair of augmented reality glasses that require a tethered connection to the Mac after all. Mark Gurman at Bloomberg has the exclusive development, including a thorough description of how the product would have worked. Based on Marks reporting, this project was buried in compromises that ultimately made it undesirable.Apple Glasses remains a product that technology enthusiasts want to see from Apple, but this Mac-connected hardware sounded like a dud based on the direction of the project. Apple wasnt expected to announce and ship hardware until at least 2027.Heres Mark Gurman reporting on the project cancellation:Apple Inc.has canceled a project to build advanced augmented reality glasses that would pair with its devices, marking the latest setback in its effort to create a headset that appeals to typical consumers.The company shuttered the program this week, according to people with knowledge of the move. The now-canceled product would have looked like normal glasses but include built-in displays and require a connection to a Mac, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the work wasnt public. An Apple representative declined to comment.People want to wear a pair of augmented reality smart glasses wherever they go, not when theyre stuck at their desk or behind a laptop. Apple knows that of course, which is why the project initially tried to use the iPhone for compute and not the Mac, but that product wasnt feasible for Apple.However, Gurman details a number of new technologies that Apple hoped to use in the tethered smart glasses product.The N107 device had advanced projectors that could display information, images and video in the field of view for each eye, similar to augmented reality glasses being developed by Meta and others. Despite the project being shuttered, Apple is still working on underlying technologies that could be used in AR glasses down the road, including custom microLED-type screens, Bloomberg Newsreportedthis week.The company worked on including lenses that could change their tint depending on what a user is doing. The idea was to tell an onlooker if the person is present and approachable or busy working on computing tasks.Still, needing a tethered computer is too tall of an ask to make a hit product.Meanwhile, Meta drew attention last year when it showed off a very early prototype of the type of product Apple was developing. Orion, as Meta calls it, costs about $10,000 to even produce and requires a separate compute device for functionality. Meta believes it can bring down the cost and turn Orion into a compelling product in the years ahead.And while the Mac-connected AR glasses arent shipping, Apple still believes in the idea, at least Tim Cook. Heres what the Apple CEO said about the idea of AR glasses last month:Yes, its a progression over time in terms of what happens with form factors. AR is a huge deal. With Vision Pro, weve progressed to what is clearly the most advanced technology weve ever done, and I think the most advanced technology in the world in terms of electronics problems. Well see where it goes.Read Mark Gurmans full story at Bloomberg.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

"It is imperative that we do not allow [Chinese] AI systems to gain significant market share in the United States."Scaredy CatsThe release of DeepSeek's low-cost R1 model has precipitated an existential crisis in Silicon Valley, whose executives are now begging the government to protect their AI companies from the horrors of the free market.While some tech leaders are outwardly praising DeepSeek's achievements, others are in the same breath demanding even tighter export controls on Nvidia's AI chips to prevent them from reaching China."Well-enforced export controls are the only thing that can prevent China from getting millions of chips, and are therefore the most important determinant of whether we end up in a unipolar or bipolar world," wrote Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in a recent blog post.Amodei could get what he wants. In the capital, lawmakers are echoing calls for a crackdown on advanced AI hardware from entering China, raising fears that a Chinese AI could win in the marketplace of ideas by becoming popular domestically.That's RichSuch talk reeks of hypocrisy. US leaders love to harp on China's so-called "Great Firewall" that blocks or limits access to many Western websites and services, including ChatGPT, enforced under the guise of protecting citizens from misinformation while being used to prop up domestic alternatives.Now, these freedom-loving power players are basically calling for their own version of such draconian measures to prevent Chinese companies from nipping on American heels.On Thursday, two members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party which should tell you what their whole deal is called for restricting exports of Nvidia's H20 AI chip, citing speculation that DeepSeek used thousands more of these chips, as well more advanced versions included in the extant restrictions, than the startup has disclosed."It is imperative that we do not allow [Chinese] AI systems to gain significant market share in the United States, while acquiring the data of US users that only further enable the capabilities of the AI system," wrote Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) in a joint statement.Calling DeepSeek "deeply alarming," Krishnamoorthi added: "Export controls and AI innovation are not mutually exclusive, but two sides of the same coin." The free market at work, folks.Chip On ShoulderAs an aside, we'd like to note that Nvidia may not be too happy about this talk. The company created the H20 to skirt restrictions that blocked the more powerful H800 for the Chinese market itself created to be sold in China after the US first banned its flagship H100 chip. Whatever its commitment to American AI hegemony, the sanctions will probably hurt its bottom line.Nonetheless, Nvidia has stated it's "ready to work" with the Trump administration on its approach to AI, per the WSJ, though it stresses it has found no indication that exports of its chips to Singapore are secretly being diverted to China, as the House committee members suggested.Share This Article

Oops.Honest ElonAfter repeatedly insisting for over a decade that Tesla was on the verge of legitimate full self-driving (FSD) and selling cars with pricey computing hardware, based on the promise that they'd increase in value once the feature became reality CEO Elon Musk has finally admitted that it's not happening with the vehicles' current hardware.During the electric carmaker's latest quarterly earnings call, Musk gave investors the "absolutely painful and difficult" concession."The truth is that were gonna have to upgrade peoples Hardware 3 [computers] for those who have bought Full Self Driving," the brash billionaire said, "and that is the honest answer.""Im kind of glad," he mused, "that not that many people bought the FSD package" which, let's not forget, he spent years exhorting them to purchase.AsThe Verge notes, Musk issued this revelation while interrupting Tesla's Autopilot and AI czar Ashok Elluswamy, essentially contradicting his own executive while he tried to tell investors that the company had not given up on its HW3.Elluswamy, to his credit, handled the interruption diplomatically by teasing that Tesla will be releasing a "baby" version of FSD while its engineers work on the latest version of the self-driving feature for cars equipped with the newer Hardware 4 computers.Promise Rings HollowThe admission follows previous musings by Musk, during another quarterly earnings call last year, in which he appeared to realize that HW3 doesn't have the juice."There is some chance," the CEO said during Tesla's Q3 2024 earnings call last October, "that HW3 does not achieve the safety level that allows for unsupervised FSD.""H4 has several times the capability of HW3," he continued. "Its easier to get things to work on HW4 and it takes a lot of effort to squeeze that into HW3."Back in 2018, the company began giving away "free" HW3 upgrades to people who bought FSD software for their Teslas. On this latest call, Musk reiterated a similar offer to FSD purchasers to upgrade them to HW4, Teslerati reports, though he didn't give a timeline for when that might happen.Despite that promise, these latest missives from Musk's galaxy brain coming after more than a decade of kicking the can are beyond the pale, even for him.More on Tesla: Tesla's Profits Are Falling Off a Cliff as Elon Musk Self-ImmolatesShare This Article

Money is tighter than ever for American families, so they've been dining out less and less in the last several years.But that hasn't stopped Chili's from being one of only a few chain restaurants thatare thriving big time.According toNation's Restaurant News,Brinker International Inc. which owns Chilis reported a whopping 31.4 percent increase in same-store sales for the quarter ending December 25, 2024.With such an unprecedented leap of profit, they are going to do what few chains get to do: Update and upgrade all of their locations!Instead of pocketing the profits, Chilis will putmoney rightright back into the business by buying upgraded kitchen equipment that will not only make their food taste better, but also make it ready to servefaster.CEO of Brinker International, Kevin Hochman, says, We have decided to accelerate the conversion of the balance of our restaurants to Turbo Chefs, which are ovens that use a combination of modern cooking methods to rapidly accelerate cooking vs. conventional ovens today.As if that wasnt enough, not only will Chilis be taking even better care of its patrons, but it will also seek to make the work environment even better for its employees.Those new ovens don't just cook the foodfaster and better, they put off less heat,making the kitchen more comfortable for team members.Withsuch a large increase in same-store profits, and the re-investing of those profits into the business model, this is only going to add more pressure to Chili's competitors like Applebees.Snacks from the '90s That Have DisappearedWas there anything better than opening your lunch box and seeing Shark Bites packed in next to some Hi-C Ecto Cooler? A simple pleasure kids of today can't experience. What other snacks came and went from our lives in the 1990s and beyond? Follow us as we look back at some '90s snacks that have since disappeared.Gallery Credit: WoodGet our free mobile appThe Best 80s Happy Meal ToysIf you grew up in the 1980s, you definitely remember these iconic Happy Meal prizes.Filed Under: Chain Restaurants, RestaurantsCategories: Movie News

HighlightsChameleon is SaaS for product teams to create in-product UX (modals, banners, checklists, microsurveys etc.) to drive user engagement.Were a remote-first, Series A, VC-backed (Matrix Partners, True Ventures) startup with ~40 folks in the Americas and Europe. Were financially sustainable, have never conducted reduction in workforce layoffs, and care about building a high ARR per teammate ratio. Learn more about us here.Seeking our third Product Designer; someone with 5+ years of SaaS design experience living in US or Canada on EST doing end-to-end design work. Our Designers function as Product Owners and have significant decision-making responsibility.Base salary range=$120k-150k per annum (offer will be based on your experience)Our application process is engaging and interactive we want to focus on your work quality, not just your interviewing skills, while getting to know you during the process. Check out our Figjam JD here Skills and experience need for this role5+ years of full-time product (UI, interaction) design at a SaaS company where software is the product (using Figma or similar) creating pixel-perfect aesthetically-pleasing designs.1+ years of real startup (<50 employees) experience and preference for working in a remote-first and asynchronous working cultureYou are a builder you try new approaches and tools; structure processes; plan your priorities; conduct independent research; make justifiable decisions etc.You have good design system experience created or leveraged an effective and high-quality system, and can understand how to adapt it for different situations (including going from a two-person to a three-person design team)Structured thinking, organized work, clear written and verbal communicationOther requirementsYou have a fully functioning workstation and a quiet place to work (and take calls) with a high-speed internet connectionYou are living in the US or Canada in an EST timezoneThis will be your full-time job (no other part-time roles)Fluency (written and verbal) in EnglishWhat your day might include (+ our stack)Review and contribute on our product roadmap (Figjam, Linear)Research patterns, components, and flows from other tools (ChatGPT, Arc, Mobbin)Join or conduct meetings for research/discovery (Chameleon, Google Meet, Fathom)Build mockups, hi-fidelity designs, and creating prototypes (Figma, Claude)Present in our daily design syncs with the product team (Tuple)Async sharing of designs and or problems for feedback (Loom)Test and give feedback on engineering stories (Chameleon testing accounts, Loom)Update our design system and component library (zeroheight)Our Product teamOur product team is ~10 Engineers, 3 QAs, 1 PM (Harrison), 2 Product Designers (Valentin, Russ), and our founders (Pulkit & Brian). We are building the best product in our category and are shipping great functionality, (see this or our LinkedIn page) but have ambitious plans to incorporate Agents and transform how effectively in-app experiences will drive feature discovery, onboarding, feedback collection, and deeper engagement. Related Jobs See more Design jobs