SummaryCelebrating Global Black Culture: Xbox honors the diverse and rich expressions of Black culture from around the world, highlighting the influence of Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino, African, and African American traditions in gaming.Discover Games Shaped by Black Creators and Stories staring Black protagonists: Xbox is spotlighting a robust list of games that reflects the rich diversity of black creators as well as games that feature black protagonists.Spotlighting Emerging Black Creators: Xbox is proud to continue to amplify the voices of new and upcoming Black creators, showcasing their unique perspectives and innovative contributions to the gaming industry.As we celebrate Black History Month, its important to recognize that Black culture is vast, diverse, and rich in its many expressions. From the rhythms of Afro-Caribbean music to the artistry of African American traditions, Black culture stretches across the globe, with each region contributing its own unique narratives, creativity, and spirit. This February, Xbox is proud to spotlight the varied voices of Black creators from all corners of the world, showcasing the powerful stories and games that reflect the breadth of the Black experience.Black culture is not a single story it is shaped by generations of resilience, joy, innovation, and communal spirit shared across different countries, continents, and languages. Through the games we support, we aim to highlight these diverse perspectives and celebrate the beauty and complexity of Black culture in all its forms.Xbox is proud to support the next generation of Black creators who are shaping the future of gaming, via the games we create and programs we offer. These emerging voices are bringing fresh, dynamic perspectives to the industry, crafting innovative and culturally rich experiences that will resonate with players for years to come. By supporting and amplifying these creators, we aim to provide a platform where their unique stories can thrive, inspiring a new wave of talent and players alike.Xbox remains committed to supporting the creators who inspire, challenge, and entertain, helping to ensure their stories are shared and celebrated globally.PLAYMinecraft Celebrates Black History Month with Education and Community ImpactAs part of its celebration of Black History Month, Minecraft is continuing its mission to amplify the voices of Black individuals, foster education around Black history, and highlight the power of community. Through the Minecraft and Microsoft platforms, Minecraft is showcasing Black creators in its marketplace, partnering with educators to teach civil rights history, and supporting non-profits that work within Black communities.Lessons in Good Trouble is an immersive Minecraft experience aimed at teaching players about the importance of standing up for whats right. DevelopedMinecraft EducationLessons in Good Trouble has reached more than 6 million downloads since its first release in 2020. This updated DLC, Lessons in Good Trouble shows players that they have the power to create change in their own communities. It is available for free in the Minecraft EducationIn addition to the educational content, Minecraft Marketplace is highlighting the work of Black creators, ensuring their contributions are celebrated and showcased to a global audience. In addition to the educational content, Minecraft is partnering with The Cxmmunity Foundation to help increase the representation of underrepresented communities in esports and gaming through STEAM development. Be on the lookout throughout the month of February as The Cxmmunity Foundation is highlighted on Minecrafts socials to learn more about this organization and check out their programs here.By fostering a space for diverse voices and histories, Minecraft is building a more inclusive community where education, creativity, and social change intersect.South of Midnight: A Journey into Southern FolkloreWere excited to spotlight South of Midnight, an innovative third-person action-adventure game that explores the rich cultural landscape of the American Deep South. In this haunting Southern Gothic tale, players step into the shoes of Hazel, a young woman with a powerful ancient weaving ability. Set in a world steeped in myth and folklore, South of Midnight invites players to navigate a world shaped by the regions history, culture, and traditions, with a focus on the often-overlooked Black stories embedded in Southern heritage.As Xbox celebrates Black History Month, we are proud to highlight South of Midnight as an example of how games can preserve and amplify Black culture, folklore, and resilience, all while weaving together a narrative thats as rich and complex as the region it represents.South of Midnight will be available on April 8, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox App for Windows PC, Steam and cloud, and you can play it day one with Game Pass.Discover Games Shaped by Black Creators and Featuring Black ProtagonistsCelebrate Black history through the power of play. During February and beyond, you can play a variety of game collections highlighting Black creators, lead characters, and character creation options that include a variety of skin tones and inclusive hairstyles.Check out a few highlights from our full Xbox Game CollectionGames Featuring Black Protagonists & Stories:Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition The African Royals The definitive RTS game returns! Dive into the heart of Africa as you explore a new continent for Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition with two brand new civilizations and their kingdoms, the Ethiopians and the Hausa! Using an Age up mechanic unique to the African civilizations, gain new Alliances with every age and use your Influence to hire your allies units or research their technologies. Play AoE III: DE The African Royals today (Requires Age of Empires III Base Game, sold separately)Baldurs Gate 3 Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.Streets of Rage 4 Among the best beat em up series ever created, with jammin 90s beats and over-the-top street beating, the iconic series Streets of Rage returns with a masterful tribute to, and revitalization of, the classic action fans adore. Streets of Rage 4 is a beat em up series known for this timeless gameplay and electronic dance influenced music, and builds upon the classic trilogys gameplay with new mechanics, beautiful hand-drawn visuals and a God-tier soundtrack.Games from Black Creators:Tell Me Why Dont Nod, the studio behind the beloved franchise, Life is Strange, present a fresh narrative adventure. In this intimate mystery, reunited twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan use their supernatural bond to unravel the memories of their loving but troubled childhood. Set in beautiful small-town Alaska, Tell Me Why features true-to-life characters, mature themes and gripping choices. As you conjure up memories of the past, your choices will affect the twins relationship, determine the strength of their bond, and shape the course of their lives.El Paso, Elsewhere El Paso, Elsewhere is a supernatural, neo-noir, third-person shooter. Hunt werewolves, fallen angels, and other damned creatures in a vivid slow-motion love letter to action classics. Fight your way through a reality-shifting motel, floor by bloody floor. Save the victims of Draculae, lord of the vampires. Destroy the villain you loved even if it means dying yourself.DISCOVERRising Voices: Emerging Black Creators Shaping the Future of GamingXbox is excited to spotlight Nicodemus Madehdou, the visionary CEO and founder of JumpButton Studio, whose journey into the gaming industry is a testament to resilience, passion, and the power of community. After relocating to the U.S. from Liberia in 2004, Nicodemus faced the challenges of adjusting to a new environment but found solace and connection through online games like RuneScape. This pivotal experience ignited his desire to create games that could bring people together and break down social barriers. Along with his co-founders, Daniel Ostermiller and Calbert Warner, Nicodemus founded JumpButton Studio with the mission of creating inclusive and culturally rich gaming experiences.Based in Philadelphia, JumpButton Studio draws on the citys vibrant cultural and historical background, alongside its strong educational institutions like Drexel University, to foster a thriving local gaming community. Nicodemus is committed to making Philadelphia a hub for game development, ensuring that talented local students have the opportunity to build their careers without needing to leave the city.To aspiring developers, Nicodemus offers valuable advice from his own experiences navigating the highs and lows of the industry. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, learning from failure, and being transparent with team members and investors. Drawing strength from mentors, peers, and his community, Nicodemus believes that building strong relationships is essential to long-term success in the gaming world.His team at JumpButton is working on an two exciting new games. The first game is titled The Piece, an original game where graffiti art comes to life. The team is excited to reveal the game to our readers first and are excited to see peoples reactions and thoughts. Their second game is Our Passing Thoughts, a co-op adventure born out of the challenges of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The game explores the power of communication, vulnerability, and connection through its unique mechanics. In Our Passing Thoughts, players share abilities like jumping or attacking, forcing them to work together in ways that reveal the true value of trust and sacrifice in relationships. Its a game designed to evolve with its players, challenging them to navigate the push and pull of each others needs and grow stronger together. With a release planned for later this year, Our Passing Thoughts aims to provide an experience thats as much about the players connection as it is about the gameplay. Be sure to follow them on @opt_thegame on social platforms.Xbox is proud to highlight Nicodemus and JumpButton Studio as part of our ongoing commitment to celebrate and amplify the voices of emerging Black creators who are shaping the future of gaming.GIVEGamingwith ImpactRewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting mental wellness with Xbox. The organizations below will be available on the Rewards hub:Gameheads A tech training program that uses video game design, development and DevOps to create diverse talent and bold new voices, train youth of color for tech eco-steam and prepare them for college, career and civic life. (US)Xbox players 18 and older can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games, completing Game Pass Quests (terms apply), and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply).Start earning for impact todayand redeem your points for great rewards. Donate your points on the Rewards hub or on theRewards redeem page.Wallpapers and Dynamic BackgroundsThe Black History Month Xbox design is available today as an Xbox wallpaper and dynamic background on console follow these steps to apply the dynamic background:Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.You can choose between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background art that you want with the A button.

Wearable devices have become a big part of modern health care, helping track a patients heart rate, stress levels and brain activity. These devices rely on electrodes, sensors that touch the skin to pick up electrical signals from the body.Creating these electrodes isnt as easy as it might seem. Human skin is complex. Its properties, such as how well it conducts electricity, can change depending on how hydrated it is, how old you are or even the weather. These changes can make it hard to test how well a wearable device works.Additionally, testing electrodes often involves human volunteers, which can be tricky and unpredictable. Everyones skin is different, meaning results arent always consistent. Testing also takes time and money. Plus, there are ethical concerns about asking people to participate in these experiments, including making sure they are informed about the risks and benefits and can voluntarily participate.Scientists have tried to create artificial skin models to avoid some of these problems, but existing ones havent been able to fully mimic the way skin behaves when interacting with wearable sensors. To address these limitations, my colleagues and I have developed a tool called a biomimetic skin phantom a model that mimics the electrical behavior of human skin, making testing wearable sensors easier, cheaper and more reliable.What is a skin phantom?Our biomimetic skin phantom is made of two layers that capture the nuances of both the skins surface and deeper tissues. Biomimetic means it imitates something from nature in this case, human skin. Phantom refers to a physical model or device made to mimic the properties of something real, like human tissues, so it can be used for research instead of relying on actual people.Your skin is made up of multiple layers of cells.OpenStax, CC BY-SAThe bottom layer mimics the deeper tissues under the skin. It is made from a gel-like substance called polyvinyl alcohol cryogel, which can be adjusted to have similar softness and electrical conductivity to real biological tissues. We chose this material because these qualities, along with its durability and wide use in biomedical research, make it a good stand-in for the deeper layers of skin.The top layer mimics the outermost part of the skin, known as the stratum corneum. It is made from a silicone-like material called PDMS, which is mixed with special additives to match the skins electrical properties. Also widely used in biomedical research, PDMS is flexible and easy to shape to closely replicate the skins outer layer.One unique feature of our skin phantom is its ability to mimic different levels of skin hydration. Hydration affects how well skin conducts electricity. Dry skin has higher resistance, meaning it opposes the flow of electricity. This makes it harder for wearable devices to pick up signals. Hydrated skin conducts electricity more easily because water improves the movement of charged particles, leading to better signal quality. Improving how dry skin is modeled and tested can lead to better electrode designs.To replicate the effects of skin hydration, we introduced adjustable pores into the top PDMS layer of the skin phantom. By precisely changing the size and density of the pores, the model can mimic dry or hydrated skin conditions.Testing the skin phantomMy team and I tested our skin phantom in several ways to see whether it could truly replace human skin in experiments.First, we used a method called impedance spectroscopy to study the phantoms electrical properties. This technique applies alternating electrical signals at different frequencies and measures the materials resistance to electrical flow, providing a detailed profile of its electrical behavior. Results from the experiments we conducted on five volunteers showed that the phantoms impedance response closely mirrored that of human skin across both dry and hydrated conditions, with a difference of less than 20% between real skin and the phantom.Moist skin behaves differently from dry skin.Frederic Cirou/PhotoAlto via Getty ImagesWe also tested whether wearable devices could pick up signals from the skin phantom and how signal quality changed with different skin conditions. To do this, we recorded eletrocardiogram signals on phantoms designed to mimic dry and hydrated skin. The results showed clear differences in signal quality: The phantom simulating dry skin had a lower signal-to-noise ratio, while the hydrated skin phantom showed better signal clarity. These findings are consistent with previous studies from other researchers.Together, our skin phantom closely replicates the way human skin responds to wearable sensors across a range of conditions, including dry and hydrated states. This accuracy makes it an optimal stand-in for real skin in the lab.Wearable technologyThe skin phantom is more than just a testing tool its a step forward for wearable health technology.By removing the unpredictability of human testing, scientists can design and improve wearable devices more quickly and effectively. They can also use it to study how skin interacts with medical devices, such as patches that deliver medicine or advanced diagnostic tools.Our skin phantom is also simple and inexpensive. Each phantom costs less than US$3 and can be made with standard lab materials and tools. It can be reused multiple times within the same day without significant changes in its electrical properties, though extended use over several days may require adjustments, such as rehydration, to maintain stable performance. This affordability and reusability make the phantom more accessible for labs with limited budgets or resources.As wearable technology becomes more common in health care, tools such as the skin phantom can help make devices more reliable, accessible and personalized for everyone.Krittika Goyal, Assistant Professor of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Rochester Institute of TechnologyThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Story by The Conversation An independent news and commentary website produced by academics and journalists. An independent news and commentary website produced by academics and journalists. 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As Chinas DeepSeek threatens to dismantle Silicon Valleys AI monopoly, a European alliance has emerged with an alternative to techs global order.They call their project OpenEuroLLM. Like DeepSeek, they aim to develop next-generation open-source language models but their agenda is very different. Their mission: forging European AI that will foster digital leaders and impactful public services across the continent.To support these objectives, OpenEuroLLM is building a family of high-performing, multilingual large language foundation models. The models will be available for commercial, industrial, and public services.Over 20 leading European research institutions, companies, and high-performance computing (HPC) centres have enlisted in the the project. Leading their alliance is Jan Haji, a renowned computational linguist at Charles University, Czechia, and Peter Sarlin, the co-founder of Silo AI, Europes largest private AI lab, which was acquired last year by US chipmaker AMD for $665mn.Register NowTheyre joined by an array of European tech luminaries. Among them are Aleph Alpha, the leading light of Germanys AI sector, Finlands CSC, which hosts one of the worlds most powerful supercomputers., and Frances Lights On, which recently became Europes first publicly-traded GenAI company.Their alliance has been backed by the European Commission. According to Sarlin, the initiative could be the Commissions largest-ever AI project.Whats unique about this initiative is that were bringing together many Europes leading AI organisations in one focused effort, rather than having many small, fragmented projects, he told TNW via email. This concentrated approach is what Europe needs to build open European AI models that eventually enable innovation at scale.The project has a budget of 52mn, as well as compute commitment that may have a larger monetary value, Sarlin said.Alongside funding from the Commission, OpenEuroLLM has received support from STEP, an EU scheme to boost investment in strategic technologies.The project also aligns with the EUs plans to fortify Europes digital sovereignty, which is becoming vulnerable.Europes AI futureWith China and the US developing new AI capabilities at breakneck speeds, Europe faces an uncertain future in the digital landscape.OpenEuroLLM hopes to strengthen the continents position with new digital infrastructure. The project has also pledged to embed AI with European values of democracy, transparency, openness, and community involvement.According to OpenEuroLLM, the models, software, data, and evaluation will be fully open. They will also be capable of fine-tuning and instruction-tuning for specific industry and public sector needs. Additionally, the alliance promises to preserve both linguistic and cultural diversity.The plans arrive in testing times for European tech. With US and Chinese firms racing to deliver new AI breakthroughs, fears are growing that European companies, economies, and even culture are under threat.Sarlin wants OpenEuroLLM to bring new hope to the continent.This isnt about creating a general purpose chatbot its about building the digital and AI infrastructure that enables European companies to innovate with AI, he said.Whether its a healthcare company developing specialised assistants to medical doctors or a bank creating personalised financial services, they need AI models adapted to the context in which they operate, and that they can control and own. This project is about giving European businesses tools to build models and solutions in their languages that they own and control. Story by Thomas Macaulay Managing editor Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he e (show all) Thomas is the managing editor of TNW. He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers. Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse). Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Apple is reportedly about to launch a new iCloud-based service, codenamed Confetti, thats tied to the iOS 18.3 Calendar app. Here are three advantages Apples offering could provide over its competition.What is Confetti?Over the weekend, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg shared that a new iCloud-based Confetti service was launching as early as this week. He wrote:As the festive code name implies, the service offers a new way to invite people to parties, functions and meetings. For years, Apple has been seeking to revamp its calendar app and this new initiative could be the beginning of a broader effort.My colleague Filipe Espsito was the first to report on this services existence based on iOS 18.3 code he discovered referencing an Invites app. Now, it seems Apple is nearly ready to debut the new offering.Based on both reports, it sounds like Confetti will be a cloud-based service thats baked into the existing Calendar app and perhaps offers a standalone iMessage app too.Other apps and services offer similar schedule coordinating functionality, but here are three potential advantages Apple could bring.Ive used a number of scheduling services and apps over the years. Unfortunately, Ive yet to find one thats both free and ad-free.Its understandable, of course. Services need to pay the bills.Fantastical, for example, offers great scheduling features like Proposals. But those features are part of its premium subscription.Doodle was once my go-to as a free alternative, but the presence of ads is a drawback.Apple, however, makes most of its revenue from hardware. Thus, building a new scheduling-type feature and giving it free to Calendar users makes sense.#2: Seamless multi-calendar useBy tying its new Confetti feature to the existing Calendar app, Apple can tap into one of that apps chief benefits: being a calendar aggregator.Inside the Calendar app, users can (and do) set up various different calendars from multiple services. You can have calendars from Google, Microsoft, iCloud, and more.Since all of these calendars can exist in one place, the Confetti feature will offer a more seamless experience for anyone using multiple calendar services. Fantastical, again, does this well. But now Apple will provide similar ease of use thats accessible to its billions of users.#3: Photos app integrationFinally, one feature I hope we see from Confetti is Photos app integration.After a party or outing, the process of getting photos and videos from other attendees is messy. Some of my friends have gotten in the habit of using AirDrop before leaving, while others send a shared Google Photos album after the fact and ask people to upload there.Since theres no standard practice, lots of post-event photo sharing just doesnt happen.But Apple could build Photos app support into the Confetti feature such that attendees can seamlessly share their photos right from the Calendar event.Perhaps a new type of Calendar notification could even gently prompt users to share their photos the day after the shared event ends.Apple Calendars Confetti: wrap-upApple left its Calendar app largely stagnant for years, but thats finally starting to change. Confetti sounds like a great addition to the recent UI upgrades in iOS 18 and new Visual Intelligence feature in 18.3. Once Confetti ships, iPhone users should be able to organize parties and meetings with a great, free addition thats built right into the OSthats a compelling advantage.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

After a steady string of iPad mini, M2 iPad Air, and M4 iPad Pro deals to kick the year off, we are now seeing our first chances to save big on the latest AirPods releases. Amazon has now dropped the AirPods 4 down to a new $100 all-time low there while the lauded AirPods Pro 2 have now dropped from the $249 regular list price to $170 shipped. Those offers join a $210 price drop on a couple different M4/Pro MacBook Pro configs as well as up to $299 off the gorgeous Apple 5K Studio Display lineup. Youll also find a $100 price drop on Sonos Ace headphones, Beats deals, Anker Apple Watch power banks, and more. more

"We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper."Caveat EmperorAfter forcing out a top official at the US Treasury Department, it now appears that Elon Musk has seized control of the government's payment system with apparent free rein to do what he wants.Over the weekend, Musk declared that he and his lackeys at DOGE the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which is not a departmentdespite its name would cut off government payments to specific organizations Musk doesn't like.Chief among those targets is USAID, an independent government agency that provides foreign aid. In a flurry of social media posts, Musk denounced USAID as a "criminal organization," and a "viper's nest of radical-left marxists who hate America." So it had to go.DOGE staffers have now accessed USAID's security systems and other classified files, , after top officials who refused DOGE's demands were placed on leave."We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper," Musk tweeted Monday morning.X Marks the SpotMusk began his quest of ruthless cost-cutting by shaking up the Treasury Department last week. His lieutenants at DOGE hounded a top Treasury official for access to its sensitive payment system, which distributes trillions of dollars every year, including Social Security benefits and federal salaries. The system has traditionally only been accessed by a select few senior officials.After refusing DOGE's demands for months, that official, David Lebryk, abruptly announced his retirement. (The New York Times reported that Lebryk was placed on leave after refusing, almost certainly precipitating his decision to end his decades-long career at the agency.)Following the standoff, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acceded to DOGE's demands and granted it access to the federal payment system.Musk immediately fired off blockbuster claims without evidence to show that his fake department was making progress. "The DOGE team discovered, among other things, that payment approval officers at Treasury were instructed always to approve payments, even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups," Musk tweeted. "They literally never denied a payment in their entire career. Not even once."Eye of a NeedleAccording , no government payments have actually been blocked yet, because Musk doesn't possess the operational capabilities to do so. Though we emphasize: not yet. The Treasury payment system was one considered off-limits, too.In any case, Musk has vociferously signaled his intent to turn off the money hose beyond just the USAID. As , the world's richest man declared that DOGE would cut off grants to Lutheran Family Services, a Christian non-profit that provides social services and relief to refugees."The DOGE team is rapidly shutting down these illegal payments," tweeted Musk, who not too long ago openly embraced the teachings of Christ.More on Trump administration: Trump Broke the Federal Email System and Government Employees Got Blasted With Astonishingly Vulgar MessagesShare This Article

US senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has introduced a bill that could effectively make it illegal to use DeepSeek, a new ChatGPT competitor that made huge waves last week, within the United States.Hawley's bill, introduced last week, looks to "prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes."The bill, described by Harvard AI research fellow Ben Brooks as "easily the most aggressive legislative action on AI," could land anybody importing "technology or intellectual property" developed in China in prison for 20 years, with fines up to $1 million for individuals and $100 million for companies.Needless to say, that's all pretty extreme, which may doom the bill: it was tabled last week, which in practice often means a proposed new law has lost legislative steam.Nonetheless, the bill shows that there's considerable panic among lawmakers following DeepSeek's astronomical rise and the enormous selloff it triggered last week.Congress is now desperately looking to shut China out to preserve US market interests, with lawmakers as disparate as Hawley and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) arguing that the Biden administration didn't act fast enough before implementing a ban on AI chip exports to China starting in 2022."Multiple administrations have failed at the behest of corporate interests to update and enforce our export controls in a timely manner," Hawley and Warren wrote in an appeal to Congress obtained by The Washington Post. "We cannot let that continue."Earlier this month, DeepSeek demonstrated that the performance of OpenAI's top-of-the-line AI chatbots can be matched while using a tiny fraction of the resources, stoking fears that Wall Street may be massively overpaying.Lawmakers believe Chinese AI could pose a major threat to national security, while US companies are still reeling from the sudden emergence of steep competition that wiped out more than $1 trillionin market value.Hawley and Warren are among a growing number of lawmakers looking for greater export controls against China, limiting Chinese companies' access to key AI chips from the likes of US chipmaker Nvidia.The California-based company's CEO Jensen Huang met with president Donald Trump on Friday, just days after Nvidia broke its own record for the biggest single-day loss of any company in history.What exactly came from that meeting remains unknown, beyond a spokesperson telling Reuters that "Jensen and the President discussed the importance of strengthening US technology and AI leadership.""I can't say what's gonna happen," Trump told reporters. "We had a meeting. It was a good meeting."Whether there's enough appetite to outright make it illegal for Americans to even use DeepSeek seems unlikely, considering the constant back and forth on the still-unfolding TikTok ban which stemmed from national security concerns, was passed by Congress last year, but remains in limbo thanks to Trump's newfound opposition to the ban, which he originally supported.Would DeepSeek's AI chatbot pose those same risks or are lawmakers simply looking out for US market interests? Some,after all, are personally invested in the debacle.More on DeepSeek: DeepSeek Failed Every Single Security Test, Researchers FoundShare This Article

TechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Tech World Braces for Trump Tariff ImpactTech World Braces for Trump Tariff ImpactAs promised, the Trump administration on Tuesday will unleash new tariffs on trading partners Canada, Mexico, and China. Experts say the move could have a profound impact on supply chains.Shane Snider, Senior Writer, InformationWeekFebruary 3, 20253 Min ReadGK Images via Alamy StockPresident Donald Trump is set to enforce major tariffs on trade partners Tuesday and signaled tariffs for the EU and more -- a move that sent stocks crashing on Monday over uncertainty and broad trade war will mean for consumers and businesses.Canada and Mexico will pay 25% duties on exports to the US, and China will face a 10% levy. Canada and Mexico have announced plans to retaliate, with the former promising its own tariff of 25% on $155 billion of US-imports. Tariffs, taxes paid by importers of foreign good, will likely be offset by increased prices impacting everything imported -- from fruits and vegetables to semiconductors, computer hardware, and more.On Monday, the Trump administration announced the tariffs on Mexico would be delayed by one month.A January report from the Consumer Technology Association said tariffs on technology produces could slice US consumer purchasing power by up to $143 billion. The report also said sales of laptops and tablets could decline up to 68%. Smartphone buying could decline by 37%.According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, China (with $536.3 billion in goods), Mexico ($454 billion) and Canada ($436.6 billion) were the among the top origin countries for US imports in 2022. Electronics and machinery were among the top imports at $916 billion. China and Mexico are among the top suppliers for US-bound electronics. In 2022, the US spent $108 billion on computers for personal and professional use.Related:Retaliation from our trading partners raises costs, disrupts supply chains, and hurts the competitive of US Industries, CTA Vice President of Trade Ed Brzytwa said in a statement.Many economists -- on both the right and left side of the political spectrum -- warn that even a temporary tariff policy will have lasting impacts on the economy.Trumps tariffs will create an immediate economic shock, especially for North American trade, which has not faced barriers like this in decades, Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy for non-profit think tank Tax Foundation, tells InformationWeek in an email interview. Even if the tariffs are not left in place permanently, they will have a lasting negative effect on the US economy by heightening policy uncertainty. If left in place permanently, they will shrink US economic output, harm productivity, and reduce American incomes.York says Tax Foundations research suggest that US taxpayers after-tax incomes will drop by 1.1% in 2025. (Media Bias/ Fact Check gives Tax Foundation a high credibility score with a right-center political bias rating).Related:What Will Tariffs, New Policies Mean for IT?Gartner analyst Michael OGrady says software and IT services are somewhat insulated from tariff pressures, citing findings from the research firms 2025 Global Tech Forecast. From a tech viewpoint, it is helpful to realize that three-quarters of enterprise and government tech spend in the US comes from software and IT services, computer, and communication equipment make up about 13% of US tech spend although tariffs will impact the price of imported goods, most of the software and IT services spend would not come from China.However, IT firms will contend with likely price increases for hardware, including computers, networking equipment, and semiconductors.We are on edge, says Mike Turicchi, vice president of marketing and strategic relations for Virginia-based IT services provider NCS Technologies. He says major vendors have already signaled substantial price increases for hardware. For us, its been a wait-and-see game. Theres been a lot of big talk and also a loft of shifting resulting in confusion bordering on chaos.But there may be opportunities born out of new policies as well, Turicchi says.Related:New agencies like the External Revenue Service [which Donald Trump recently floated as an alternative to the Internal Revenue Service] and DOGE [the Department of Government Efficiency headed up by billionaire Elon Musk] will likely create new demand for our products and services, Turicchi says.Read more about:RegulationAbout the AuthorShane SniderSenior Writer, InformationWeekShane Snider is a veteran journalist with more than 20 years of industry experience. He started his career as a general assignment reporter and has covered government, business, education, technology and much more. He was a reporter for the Triangle Business Journal, Raleigh News and Observer and most recently a tech reporter for CRN. He was also a top wedding photographer for many years, traveling across the country and around the world. He lives in Raleigh with his wife and two children.See more from Shane SniderNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

Most long-running film franchises are based on a character. Batman. Superman. Harry Potter. Freddy Krueger. James Bond. Luke Skywalker and his pals. Indiana Jones. And so on.Final Destinationis one of the few franchises I can think of thats not based on a popular character, or even an ongoing story that follows multiple characters through the years. Its about a quirky concept: People who somehow escape certain doom who thenwind up dying anywaythrough coincidences and unhappy accidents so convoluted they make Rube Goldberg look chill.The concept is endlessly renewable, because it doesnt rely on characters (most of whom die in each new movie). Insert some new people, hatch up some inventive new ways for them to kick the bucket, and youre ready to roll cameras.And thus: Here is the sixth film in the saga,Final Destination Bloodlines. The title suggests some sort of connection to the earlier films characters, as if dying in horrible ways is somehow hereditary. But really thats not what anyone is going to go to see it for. Theyre going to see tattoo artists get pulled by their noses into ceiling fans.Check out the first trailer for the film below:READ MORE: The Best Elevated Horror Movies EverBloodlines marks the first newFinal Destinationmoviein 14 years. The originalFinal Destination premiered in 2000, directed by James Wong and written by Wong, Glen Morgan, and Jeffrey Reddick. The story of the new film was co-written bySpider-Man series director Jon Watts.Here is the newFinal Destinations official synopsis:The newest chapter in New Line Cinemas bloody successful franchise takes audiences back to the very beginning of Deaths twisted sense of justiceFinal Destination Bloodlines. Plagued by a violent recurring nightmare, college student Stefanie heads home to track down the one person who might be able to break the cycle and save her family from the grisly demise that inevitably awaits them all.Final Destination Bloodlines is scheduled to open in theaters and IMAX on May 16.Get our free mobile appThe Most Anticipated Movies of 202520 movies we cant wait to see in 25.

The first trailer for the newFantastic Four movie is almost ready for launch.Although there have been multiple previousFantastic Fourfilm franchises, The Fantastic Four: First Stepsis the first fromMarvelStudios, and the first set within the confines of theMarvel Cinematic Universe. A brief teaser posted online confirms that the full trailer for the film will debut tomorrow at 7AM ET on February 4, AKA F4.Get it?READ MORE: Every Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie, Ranked From Worst to BestThe new Fantastic Four are Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, playing Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing, respectively. Matt Shakman, best known for his work on theWandaVision Disney+ TV series, directed the film.Here is the official synopsis for MarvelsThe Fantastic Four: First Steps:Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvels First FamilyReed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it werent bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently scheduled to open in theaters on July 25. This is the linksupplied by Marvel for the trailer launch...Get our free mobile appThe Most Anticipated Movies of 202520 movies we cant wait to see in 25.Categories: Movie News, Superheroes, Trailers