Exclusive Similarweb data reveals ChatGPT growth might have peaked, and, though its early days, a new competitor could be in line for its throne.

Squarespace has teamed up with Barry Keoghan for its new Super Bowl ad campaign.

The Wt FX once again breathed life into Westeros during season two of House of the Dragon. In fact, breathtaking visuals and fully immersive environments make for one hell of a watch, considering that stunning effects and creatures seem to just be there within the intricately told stories of the show.Among their best was the dragons done with individual identities and details: the playful Seasmoke; the menacing, powerful Vermithor. So, there again, ones eyes were led to see so much in just a glimpse into the world from the studio about balancing realism to fantasy. Intricate scales from lifelike movements, to say the least, are indicative of Wt FXs attention to detail.Every frame enriched the world with Wt FX visual art combined with technical brilliance to help forge a stronger attachment between the fans and this mighty saga.The post House of the Dragon Season 2: VFX Highlights by Wt FX appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Wt FX worked their magic over Michael Graceys ambitious vision for Better Man. Regent Street and a Melbourne set transformed in action to become the backdrop for an extraordinary musical number, all done in one shot. The 3 minutes and 42 seconds scene is known for the seamless transitions involving 5 digital costume changes, 5,334 frames, and a vibrant ensemble of 500 dancers.To achieve this spectacle, detailed planning was necessary. Wt FX mapped every meter of Regent Street over four evenings to ensure the visual effects perfectly matched the previs. The digital costume transitions, synchronized movements, and atmospheric details all worked in harmony to enhance the immersive experience.This yields an amazing, flawlessly done sequence that represents Wt FX mastery over the synthesis of visual effects with live action storytelling. Breakdown of dedication and innovation are present in this section of one of the best scenes of Better Man.The post Rock DJ VFX Breakdown: Better Man by Wt FX appeared first on Vfxexpress.

OpenAI released its newest reasoning model, called o3-mini, on Friday. OpenAI says the model delivers more intelligence than OpenAIs first small reasoning model, o1-mini, while maintaining o1-minis low price and speed. The company says o3-mini excels in science, math, and coding problems.Developers can access o3-mini through an API and can select between three levels of reasoning intensity. The lowest setting, for example, might be best for less-difficult problems where speed of response is a factor. ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users can access OpenAI o3-mini starting today, OpenAI says, while enterprise users will get access in a week.The announcement comes at the end of a week in which the Chinese company DeepSeek dominated headlines after releasing a pair of surprisingly powerful and cost-effective AI models called DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. The latter, a reasoning model, scored close to, and sometimes above, OpenAIs o1 in a set of recognized benchmark tests.However, as reported in the New York Times, many of DeepSeeks answers parrot disinformation campaigns from the Chinese government including illegitimate historical info leaning heavily into Chinese propaganda.Were shifting the entire costintelligence curve, OpenAI researcher Noam Brown said of o3-mini on X. Model intelligence will continue to go up, and the cost for the same intelligence will continue to go down. He said o3-mini even outperforms the full-sized o1 model in a number of evaluations.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in December that the o3 series models demonstrate significantly higher levels of intelligence than the o1 models, including in computer-coding and problem-solving requiring advanced mathematics. The largest version of o3 also achieved the highest score yet of any AI system on a test called ARC-AGI, a logic and reasoning test designed to measure progress toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), meaning AI thats as smart or smarter than humans at most tasks. The o3 model scored 87.5% on the test (humans can score around 85%).OpenAI originally announced o3, along with a smaller version called o3-mini, in December, but said it would complete its internal safety testing, and get feedback from a group of outside safety and security testers, before launching the models. OpenAI said it would release o3-mini this month, but gave no release time frame for the larger o3 model.OpenAI chose not to expose the o1 models chain of thought, and the same holds true for o3-mini. Researchers have shown that generating chain-of-thought can sometimes confuse models and pull them off focus. DeepSeek-R1, however, is trained to show its chain of thought, and Google announced in December a new experimental model called Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking that also shows its thinking.Reasoning models represent a new chapter in developing generative AI models. From 2020-2023 AI labs won almost all of their performance increases by pretraining their models with more data and computing power. That brute force approach began to show diminishing returns in 2024, so the AI labsOpenAI chief among thembegan to teach models to do more reasoning (and use more computing power) at inference time just after the user has asked a question or posed a problem. The model might generate multiple streams of tokens at once, then choose which one leads to the best answers. Or it might follow a certain branch of logic then iteratively backtrack after hitting a dead end. The model generates a lot of tokens, which must all be stored in a context window while the problem is being solved. This requires a lot of memory and a lot of computing power.OpenAIs first try at reasoning models with the o1 series wasnt perfect. The largest o1 model is very expensive to run and its needs a long time to reach an answer. The o3 models are said to do more reasoning at inference time, but return answers faster using less computing power.

Ever wonder how some of the stuff we use everyday came to be?I think about it sometimes when Im at the stove with my favorite saut pan, with its perfect trifecta of size, weight and performance. Or when Im struggling with the badly designed zippers on my otherwise-swanky new tote bag.Good designdoesnt just come out of thin air. From the idea to the finished product, it can be a long road. One mind might have cooked up the product idea, but theres usually a slew of others who have a say in getting it to your store.At the beginning, every clever gadget and life-simplifying tool had an industrial designer who spent hours thinking about the components that make it so clever or life-simplifying.I talked to two of them, both winners of multiple design awards: Dan Harden of Whipsaw, a San Francisco-based firm thats designed all kinds of products, from water filters and home saunas to the little tags you stick on things you dont want to lose. And Scott Henderson, an industrial designer whose eponymous firm in Brooklyn, New York, designs products for brands youve probably gotin the kitchen, nursery andbathroom.Moby spout cover for babies and totsIf you have toddlers, you may have a little blue rubber whale, a Moby, on your bathtub spout. Henderson designed it for Skip Hop in 2008.Moby, made of a rubbery latex-free material called TPE, fits over the spout to protect kiddos from bumping into or touching the warm spout while theyre in the bath. Its tail can function as a hook, and the tubs water spout can be right where a whales blowhole would be. When Henderson is asked about his design favorites, Moby tops the list.I think it was a first-of-its-kind product that combined problem-solving innovation with an intrinsic soul and an iconic personality, he says.Pixar included a Moby-like spout cover, Drips the Whale, in Toy Story Toons.Working with boldface names in the kitchenYour OXO dustpan, T-Fal measuring spoons, Sunbeam Mixmaster and Chantal kettle also came from the imagination of Henderson and his team.If a product makes you smile, he says, it becomes easier to use. How do you get a blender or a spoon to make you smile?One approach I like is to design the object around one big idea, instead of 10 small ones. When someone can easily understand the purpose and the way to use a tool, thats a happy feeling, he says.The experience is as much sensed as it is seen. The product makes them feel smart, and when they feel smart, they smile.A new kind of face shield for the pandemicDuring COVIDsdisruption of the supply chain, many designers started 3-D printing personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospitals and essential workers.After brainstorming ideas with product development company ZVerse, Henderson and his crew had an idea: How about a face shield that attached at the neck instead of the top of the head a boon for food service workers, dentists and others? The ZShield was born. It also became popular for public appearances by celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt and Michelle Obama.The shield was produced in North Carolina, instead of overseas. We bypassed the supply chain backlog, Henderson said.Creating something useful is a sublime experienceHenderson says the creative breakthrough for a new product idea is the most gratifying part. Its a dopamine explosion.And when millions of people start buying it? Says Whipsaws Harden: Its awesome to see your design out in the real world succeeding and making people happy. It starts with a thought that makes your heart jump. Followed by a sketch, then a computer rendering, then a model. Seeing a concept come to life like thats a sublime experience.Hardens design oeuvre includes the FreeSip, a collaborative product with water bottle maker Owala, part of Trove Brands. The product made TIME magazines Best Inventions list in 2023, as well as The New York Times list of best water bottles in 2024.Whipsaw also worked with fitness company Tonal on a smart home gym that has fans like Serena Williams and Lebron James. Instead of a bulky set of iron, the Tonal system is wall-mounted, with digital weights powered by electromagnets, and an interactive screen for virtual training lessons.Then theres the Tile tracker, which attaches to things like wallets, phones, bikes, carry bags and sports gear. Whipsaw worked with Life360 on refining the design for easy attachment, and came up with fun colors to appeal to new tech adopters and families.Design is incredibly fun to do, but there are challenges, Harden says. Keeping a vision alive for the duration of a project is hard, since there are many opportunities for it to get sidetracked by things like cost, product requirements and making sure the concept fits the brand.People think a designer has the proverbial big idea in the shower and snap, its done. Its way more involved than that.Rethinking the pianoAlso an accomplished artist and musician, Harden says his design aha! moment came while listening to classical music on a long flight. He got thinking about how instruments like the harp, violin and trumpet were beautiful to look at as well as listen to. What each of those instruments looks like greatly elevates the listeners musical experience.But then theres the piano. Its a big black box held up with three chunky legs, with a sound-reflecting lid thats kind of a functional afterthought, he said. Further, a pianist is watched in profile, so you miss much of the emotion on their face.So he started sketching out a sleek, smaller, front-facing piano that showed off its strings and mechanism to the audience within an evocative, wing-like silhouette.By the time I landed several hours later, it was conceptually worked out, and that soon became the Ravenchord piano, he says.Theres more where that came fromIf these designers could redesign anything next, what would it be?Henderson would love to make city water towers more attractive; the standard silo with legs doesnt do anything for the look of the building it sits on, he says. Hes also bothered by the unsightly orange construction barriers that beleaguer cityscapes, and sees those as ripe for redesign.Harden thinks the common walking cane could use a rethink. Or really any product that serves our aging population, Id like to design, he said.Creativity is the most precious of human traits, and theres no better life pursuit than to study, practice and actualize ones creative expression.Kim Cook

This week on Dezeen, we reported that construction of the world's tallest skyscraper, the Jeddah Tower by Adrian Smith + Gill Gordon Architecture, officially resumed in Saudi Arabia.Previously known as the Kingdom Tower, Jeddah Tower is slated to be completed by 2028.Developer Kingdom Holding Company announced that the Adrian Smith + Gill Gordon Architecture-designed project, which has been on hold since 2018, had restarted at a ceremony last week.Albania's Downtown One Tirana is one of 10 major skyscrapers expected to be completed this yearIn other architecture news, we rounded up 10 upcoming skyscrapers around the world that are set to complete this year.Included on the list is The Henderson, a Hong Kong tower by Zaha Hadid Architects that is being constructed on the world's most expensive plot. MVRDV's Downtown One Tirana, Albania's tallest building, is also expected to make waves when completed with its distinctive pixelated facade.Elsewhere, US editor Ben Dreith outlined everything you need to know about Oklahoma City Legend's Tower America's next tallest building.Marina Tabassum is the architect of this year's Serpentine PavilionIn the UK, Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum was revealed as designer of the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion, which will mark the 25th anniversary of the first pavilion created by the late Zaha Hadid.Renderings of Tabassum's design show a lightweight timber structure called A Capsule in Time an homage to the many temporary pavilions that have graced the outside of the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens each summer."When conceiving our design, we reflected on the transient nature of the commission, which appears to us as a capsule of memory and time," said Tabassum.We published the alarming results of a survey about conditions for workers in the architecture and design industryWe also published the results of our working-conditions survey. Thesurvey revealed that one in five architecture and design workers are planning to leave the industry, citing high workloads, low pay and unacceptable workplace behaviour as motivators to quit their trade."It's important to note that these only represent a small proportion of the total responses and are among the most extreme cases," wrote Barker."Most people that responded to our survey indicated that they enjoy their jobs overall. However, they demonstrate that the very worst types of professional conditions in the field are more than isolated incidents."Justin Shubow spoke to Dezeen about Donald Trump's classical architecture executive orderFollowing last week's news that recently inaugurated US president Donald Trump signed an executive order to promote "beautiful federal civic architecture", Dezeen spoke to National Civic Art Society president Justin Shubow about the "extremely concerned" reaction from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).Despite the AIA's belief that the order would "stifle innovation", Shubow claimed that the architecture profession is overreacting in this interview with editor Tom Ravenscroft.Hyundai revealed concept designs for electric rickshawsIn design news, car manufacturer Hyundai revealed concept designs for electric rickshaws that aim to provide a practical and low-emissions solution for urban transportation. The project was unveiled at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 in New Delhi.Beijing's Economic-Technological Development Area also announced that it will host the world's first half marathon between humans and humanoid robots in the Chinese capital in April.And more than two decades after the retirement of the Concorde, American aircraft company Boom Supersonic achieved supersonic flightwith its XB-1 prototype in a test flight above California's Mojave Desert.We are inviting readers to vote for the most significant building of the 21st centuryThe end of January marks the conclusion of our21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings series, which featured the most significant buildings from the past 25 years.Now, we are inviting readers to vote for the most significant building of the 21st century. The winner will be announced later on Dezeen this year.One of this week's most popular projects was a multi-generational home in IndiaPopular projects on Dezeen this week include a multi-generational Indian home with timber shutters by SJK Architects, a group of intertwined woodland cottages by Nendo and a Menorca farmhouse converted into a holiday home.Our latest lookbooks collected pink sinks and homes for book lovers.This week on DezeenThis week on Dezeenis our regular roundup of the week's top news stories.Subscribe to our newslettersto be sure you don't miss anything.The post This week construction of the world's tallest building officially restarted appeared first on Dezeen.

Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition is soon going to be removed from the Nintendo Switchs digital storefront, but only on a temporary basis.Square Enix recently took to Twitter via the officialDragon Questpage and announced that starting February 1, the game will be temporarily unavailable on the eShop, with the company making some minor updates to the store listing.Square Enix hasnt mentioned what updates its looking to make exactly, but one can take a guess based on the publishers past titles.Triangle Strategyand Octopath Travelerboth saw temporary delistings on the eShop as well, for the purposes of changing the publisher for both titles from Nintendo to Square Enix.Like with the two aforementioned titles, Nintendo published Dragon Quest 11on the Switch outside of Japan and is, as such, still listed as its publisher on the eShop in relevant regions. Its likely that the game has been delisted so it, too, belatedly swap back to Square Enix as its publisher.Square Enix hasnt mentioned how longDragon Quest 11will remain delisted on the eShop, but it has assured that existing owners will continue to be able to play without any issues.FYI: DQXI S will be temporarily unavailable on the Nintendo eShop starting on Feb 1, 2025 as we make some minor updates to the store listing.For those who have already purchased the game, fear not, the game will not be affected during this time and you can still venture forth DRAGON QUEST (@DragonQuest) January 31, 2025

Leaks are claiming that a sizeable wave of major first-party Xbox titles will be releasing for PS5 in the months ahead, with the likes ofFable, Halo: The Master Chief Collection,and others rumoured for the console. That, of course, is on top ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle, Forza Horizon 5, and of course, DOOM: The Dark Ages, all due out for PS5 soon. As you may have expected, however, theres more stuff in the pipeline that we dont yet officially know about.Thats as per prominent leaker extas1s, who has claimed in a recently uploaded video that the long-rumoured Gears of War Collectionis also going to release for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC simultaneously day and date. Whether a Switch 2 version is also planned is unknown, the leaker says.Though the insider is unaware of when the collection will be announced, he claims it will feature remastered versions of the originalGears of Wartrilogy.This isnt the first time weve heard aboutGearscoming to PS5. With Microsofts multiplatform plans gathering pace, one would think it wont be long before all major Xbox franchises are available on non-Xbox consoles.Meanwhile, the nextGearstitle,Gears of War: E-Day,is in development for Xbox Series X/S and PC. As per leaks, its targeting a Fall 2025 release.

In our February issueOur February issue focuses on living and working spaces for creatives.Ulster House, our cover story, is the home of LGA Architectural Partners co-founders Janna Levitt and Dean Goodmanand also a prototype for missing middle housing in Toronto. Jaliya Fonseka reports on the project, which replaces a single-family home with five units, each with their own front door and thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces.Halifax firm FBM has similarly used their own building as a prototype, in this case constructing a mixed-use infill that proves the viability of mass timber in the Atlantic Provinces. T.E. Smith-Lamothe visits the mid-rise, which combines three storeys of office space with a half-dozen apartments, topped with a shared roof garden.Contributor Michael Carroll takes us even further east, reporting from Fogo Island, Newfoundland. He explores how local designer Kingman Brewsters projects are continuing the legacy of contemporary architecture launched by the Fogo Island Inn and Studios a decade ago.We also look back at Banff Centres Leighton Artist Studios, a set of eight retreats, built 40 years ago, each by a different architectwhich continue to host visual artists, writers, and composers to this day.This months editorial viewpoint considers the HouseEurope! campaign championing anti-demolition, pro-renovation policies for the EUan effort documented in a current exhibition at Montreals CCA. Peter Sealy also visits the CCA to review an exhibition showcasing Arthur Ericksons travel photography and letters.Within our pages, the RAIC Journal includes two articles on sourcing bio-based materials to address upfront carbon, and a field report from Japan on design for an aging population.Our issue is rounded out by a set of book reviews, includinga new book on Torontos Casa LomaandAlberto Prez-Gmezs two-volume Alliterative Lexicon of Architectural Memories.-Elsa Lam, editorThe post February 2025 appeared first on Canadian Architect.