The fake IRS emails and texts announcing tax refunds and credits are already on the way. It's tax filing season, so beware of the onslaught of financial scams.

OpenAI is scouring the U.S. for sites to build a network of huge data centers to power its artificial intelligence technology, expanding beyond a flagship Texas location and looking across 16 states to accelerate the Stargate project championed by President Donald Trump.The maker of ChatGPT put out a request for proposals for land, electricity, engineers and architects and began visiting locations in Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin this week.Trump touted Stargate, a newly formed joint venture between OpenAI, Oracle and Softbank, shortly after returning to the White House last month.The partnership said it is investing $100 billionand eventually up to $500 billionto build large-scale data centers and the energy generation needed to further AI development. Trump called the project a resounding declaration of confidence in Americas potential under his new administration, though the first project in Abilene, Texas, has been under construction for months.Elon Musk, a Trump adviser and fierce rival of OpenAI who is in a legal fight with the company and its CEO Sam Altman, has publicly questioned the value of Stargates investments.After Trumps announcement, a number of states reached out to OpenAI about welcoming additional data centers, Chris Lehane, OpenAIs vice president of global affairs, told reporters Thursday.The companys request for proposals calls for sites with proximity to necessary infrastructure including power and water.AI uses vast amounts of energy, much of which comes from burning fossil fuels, which causes climate change. Data centers also typically draw in large amounts of water for cooling. Some tech giants have started financing nuclear power to plug into their data centers.OpenAIs proposal makes no mention of whether it intends to prioritize renewable energy sources such as wind or solar to power the data centers. But it says electricity providers should have a plan to manage carbon emissions and water usage.Theres some sites were looking at where we want to help be part of the process that brings new power to that site, either from new gas deployment or other means, said Keith Heyde, who directs OpenAIs infrastructure strategy.The first Texas project is in a region Abilene Mayor Weldon Hurt has described to The Associated Press as rich in multiple energy sources, including wind, solar and gas. Also describing it that way is the company that began building the AI data center campus there in Junethe same two big, beautiful buildings that Altman showed off in a recent drone video posted on social media.Crusoe CEO Chase Lochmiller said that wind power is central to the project his company is building, though it will also have a gas-fired generator for backup power.We try to build data centers in locations where we can access low-cost, clean and abundant energy resources, Lochmiller said. West Texas really fits that mold where its one of the most consistently windy and sunny places in the United States.Lochmiller said he expects the Trump administration, despite the presidents opposition to wind farms, to be pragmatic in supporting wind-powered data centers when it is actually the cheapest way to access energy.Data centers consumed about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and thats expected to increase to 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.The other states where OpenAI is actively looking include Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Heyde said the company only plans to build somewhere between five to 10 campuses in total, depending on how large each one is.OpenAI previously relied on business partner Microsoft for its computing needs. But the two companies recently amended their partnership to enable OpenAI to pursue data center development on its own.-Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten contributed to this report.-The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement that allows OpenAI access to part of APs text archives.Matt OBrien, AP Technology Writer

Volkswagen-backed Scout Motors is making a massive bet in the electric SUV market with a carefully cultivated experience that will allow some customers to buy the companys vehicle in minutes on an app and then use it to handle everything after from repairs to updates and upgrades.But without some help from lawmakers, that will be impossible in South Carolina, where the company is pouring billions into its new auto plant and a Scout Motors experience like BMWs test track in Greer.In a world where almost everything can be bought online, automobiles remain an exception. Supporters of the dealership model say the experience allows buyers to compare prices across several businesses.Unlike a pair of pants, where color, style and size are about the only concerns, buying a car involves financing, state registration, taxes, regulationsand often a test drive.South Carolina is one of about two dozen states that ban manufacturers from selling vehicles directly to consumers and instead require all new autos be purchased through a dealer. Scout would like to see that practice changed nationwide for all EV makers and figured it could start in its new backyard.South Carolina also bans manufacturers from owning their own service centers, which means anyone who wants to own a Scout SUV must travel to another state to have it repaired or serviced.People who back the dealership structure said online sales could lead to carmakers raising their own prices with less competition.The dealership structure requires local business owners to back what they sell and assure buyers get quality service on their vehicles. Auto dealers often have close ties to their communities and cities could lose one of their biggest businesses and heftiest taxpayers.If for some reason the car is a lemon or the job isnt getting done, they are the folks who live there, who pay their taxes and send their kids to school, said Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who runs the Senate Transportation Committee where any bill changing the rules would likely end up.Scout is determined to get the law changed to help them as well as other EV makers like Tesla and Rivian. They have gone on a media blitz that includes stories in local outlets. They are also trying to secure support in a Republican-dominated state with an argument that consumers should be free to buy whatever they wish directly, without a middleman.Scout also is armed with a 2000 Attorney Generals Office opinion on the bill which would weeks later would become law and serve as the most recent major overhaul to South Carolinas laws on new car buying.If a manufacturer cannot sell his own product, but must constitutionally pass that product through a middle man, then our understanding of the free market system is way off base. The Internet is a worldwide web for trade, not a local instrument for protectionism, wrote then-Republican state Attorney General Charlie Condon in the opinion, which is not binding and an educated guess on what a judge might do if someone sued over the law.Scout officials say using a dealership-only business model would make the vehicles aimed at the under-$60,000 market too expensive and complicate what the company wants to be a seamless experience, from start to finish.Gov. Henry McMaster touts the Scout plant in Blythewood as one of his biggest economic development scores The Republican has been to both the February 2024 groundbreaking of the massive facility and this months ceremony to mark work starting on a new $150 million interstate interchange the state is paying for to help get workers, parts and new SUVs in and out.McMaster recently said he wants to protect dealers, but wants to let Scout sell directly, too.Over the last few years with the Internet and Amazon and all the others customers are looking for their freedom and that ability to order things direct without a middleman, McMaster said.Scout is trying to find a niche in a growing but uncertain U.S. electric vehicle market. President Donald Trumps election could threaten the industry, both through ending tax credits and tariffs that could raise prices.The original Scout Motors made gasoline-powered vehicles for about 20 years when it was owned by International Harvester. Production ended in 1980, but their shape and features continue to influence modern SUVs. Scouts have had a niche fanbase of collectors ever since.The new Scout Motors is trying to tap into a mix of nostalgia and technology. Key to Scouts success will be its app, Scout Vice President of Growth Cody Thacker said.He envisions a Scout buyer scrolling through types and colors, performance and comfort options and hundreds of other choices. Financing, titling, and paperwork would all be handled in minutes instead of the hours it takes at dealerships. That custom SUV could then be delivered to the buyers door.You see the point of contention and the huge opportunity, Thacker said.Scouts plant in Blythewood, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Columbia, is expected to open in 2027 and employ up to 4,000 people if the company can hit its goal of making and selling 200,000 vehicles per year.Scout also wants to build by its plant a center where people could test drive vehicles on a company-owned track and take tours. For it to work, the company wants to be able to sell someone a vehicle after they zoom around the site, Thacker said.South Carolina agreed in 2023 to give Scout more than $1 billion in incentives to land the plant. At the time, the dealership law wasnt on their radar. It came up as executives started looking at their business model, Thacker said.The company doesnt regret choosing South Carolina and still believes it gave them the best workforce, economic climate and infrastructure. And it will move forward if the law isnt changed selling its vehicles through other states where it can get national licenses sending the money and tax benefits out of the state, Thacker said.Jeffrey Collins, Associated Press

Dezeen Showroom: South Korean brand Vobia worked with designer Ungdon Kim to create a kitchen made from stainless steel that gains character over the course of time.The Ark T5 kitchen comprises a stainless steel kitchen island and wall units that are designed around the properties of five-millimetre thick plates.The Ark T5 kitchen is made of textured stainless steelKim focused on infusing life into the material by drawing out its lines to create a bar table on one side, and by embracing a rough surface finish that both disguises and embraces the scratches that come as a result of day-to-day use."Ark T5 is a design that gives rhythm to repetitive machine production by combining it with human handicraft," said Kim. "Vertical machine production creates lines, and human hands create surfaces that are filled with soul."A pull-out shelf adds functionality"The weight of stainless steel expresses simplicity through its lines and depth through its surfaces," Kim continued. "This harmony between lines and surfaces acquires the permanence of time."Study of efficient circulation also informed the design of the Ark T5, which features a pull-out shelf in the centre of its wall unit that shortens the distance between it and the island when desired.Product details:Product: Ark T5Designer: Ungdon KimBrand: VobiaContact: vobia200@naver.comMaterial: stainless steelDimensions: 2748 x 1192 x 915 millimetresDezeen ShowroomDezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.The post Ark T5 kitchen by Ungdon Kim for Vobia appeared first on Dezeen.

Here's an example of how a savvy, experienced industrial design consultancy can help established companies find success in new market segments. When Bernzomatic sought to expand from the construction sector into the consumer market, they tapped ID firm Thrive.EMPOWERING PROPANE EXPERTS TO MEET NEW CONSUMER MARKETSLeveraging Bernzomatic's professional-grade propane know-how in an untapped consumer market required the brand to rethink how it kindled new fans.We engineered the world's first no-assembly-required patio heating system. Bringing the Heat to Untapped MarketsBefore Thrive stepped in, Bernzomatic was known only for its propane expertise in the construction industry, having no share in the "outdoor living" consumer market. We changed this by creating a product that homeowners felt safe assembling on their own and were happy to use on chilly evenings.Designing from the Ground UpPropane cylinders were unfamiliar (and a little scary) to the home market. To solve this, we re-thought the entire category, working from the ground up to engineer new propane and gas flow regulators, a new propane nozzle, burner assembly and jets, and a unique heat distribution system. We then packed it all inside a never-before-seen "nested" design that made it easier to ship.Collapsible Heater Requires No Assembly Getting Technical While Addressing the EmotionalDespite the prevalence of gas-powered grills in backyards, our research revealed that the typical homeowner was pretty frightened of gas appliances and lacked confidence when it came to assembling them. So, we started from scratch here too, designing a sleek heater that required zero assembly. Buyers simply unboxed the unit, pulled up on the top, and then locked everything into place with a twistone step, no tools, no worries.Twist and extendGas rail & burner assemblyHeat deflector assembliesRaising the Bar for CompetitorsThough Bernzomatic was new to the consumer market, it entered with a serious spark thanks to our expertise in fluid dynamics, structural engineering, material science and manufacturing, as well as our emphasis on consumer-optimized safety, heat output and shipping costs. In short, by rethinking every aspect of what made an ideal patio heater, we made sure that our product stood out, and competitors could not rely on quick fixes to match it.You can see more of Thrive's work here.

After briefly shutting down due to the L.A. wildfires, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has opened its doors again. They're hosting an exhibition called "Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema," which explores the enduring popularity of the genre, particularly its visuals. On show will be production materials, costumes, props and of course concept art from movies like "Ghost in the Shell," "Tron," "The Matrix" and "Blade Runner." (I'm assuming there will be a fair bit of Syd Mead renderings.) "Cyberpunk: Envisioning Possible Futures Through Cinema examines the global impact and lasting influence of the science fiction subgenre cyberpunk on cinema culture. Featuring near-future scenarios set in worlds that resemble our own, cyberpunk films juxtapose technological advances with social upheaval, ecological crisis, and urban decay. Central to these stories are outcasts and rebellious characters who fight against corrupt political systems, technology gone haywire, global mega-corporations, and colonialism." This component of the exhibition may be old hat to industrial designers, but may still be worth a look: They're featuring a mixed reality exhibition demonstrating how they do the visual worldbuilding, by scanning structures like the Bradbury Building and going from wireframe to fully-textured environment. The exhibition runs until April 12, 2026.

Most of the electronics that we currently find in the market have the usual black, gray, or white colors. Thats well and good for those who love monochromatic and color-minimalist devices in their spaces. But for someone like me that love to have a lot of colors whether in accessories, clothes, and gadgets, theres just a few options to choose from. Lexon is one brand that is known to play around with colors in their electronics and speakers. Having fun shades on their devices is a requirement and not just a fad. Now they have found the perfect color companion for some of their most famous devices. Designer: Lexon x PantonePantone is of course pretty familiar to anyone who has ever played around with colors as they categorize all kinds of shades of colors for printing and for products. The Lexon x Pantone collaboration brings the two brands together and as a result, we get even more fun and colorful devices that we can add to our probably already colorful collection of stuff at home. Five of the Lexon classic devices will now come in six distilled colors (three of which were Pantone Colors of the Year): Mimosa (2009 Pantone of the Year), Classic Blue (2020 Pantone of the Year), Rose Quartz (2016 Pantone of the Year), Sand Dollar, Pastel Green, and 2035 (a vivid red). Each of the gadgets come with the iconic white band with Pantone branding, with the color code and name indicated there.Mino+ is a portable mini Bluetooth speaker that can fit in the palm of your hand but still gives you powerful audio. You can actually enjoy listening to music and podcasts for 3 hours straight when fully charged. The Pantone colors make this tiny speaker even cuter. Flip Classic is a reversible touch-sensitive LCD alarm clock that you just flip over to turn it on or off. Any of the colors in the collection will make your nightstand or bedside table more vibrant. Mina M is a mid-sized LED lamp with a white lampshade and water-resistant casing. The color will light up the lamps body, adding creativity to your bedside. Tykho 3 is their iconic Bluetooth speaker that brings together a round speaker grill, game console-like controls, and a classic antenna to give you a retro feel. Add to it these Pantone colors and you get an even bolder speaker that creates a warm and dynamic sound ambience. Lastly, Orb is a portable lamp that gets its inspiration from the ball and ball game and has a removable magnetic head and just one button to turn it on and off, change LED colors, and adjust brightness. You can carry this colorful lamp with you in and out of the house. You can even get a gift box that contains four items from this Lexon x Pantone collection: Mino+, Flip Classic, Mina M, and Tykho 3. So all you need to do is get the matching or a different colored Orb to complete your collection. The post Lexon x Pantone collection brings you colorful gadgets to brighten your home first appeared on Yanko Design.

Cabinets are loosely defined as vertically oriented furniture that holds things, usually on shelves or containers inside. The definition doesnt exactly mention anything about the height of the cabinet, its mounting, its material composition, or even if it should have doors or not. Granted, those doors are often what distinguish cabinets from open shelves, but its mostly a tradition rather than a hard rule.That said, there is also no rule that dictates what those doors should be made of, or if they even need to be in the same material as the rest of the cabinet. This design takes advantage of that leeway, offering a different kind of door that can hardly be called a door. In exchange for eschewing a standard mechanism, you are given a visual and tactile experience that is playful and engaging, piquing your curiosity and sense of fantasy.Designer: Elliat RichThe doors of a cabinet usually serve two purposes, one to protect the contents inside and the other to hide them from view. If people wanted to show off the items, theyd usually opt for an open shelf or at least a cabinet with glass panels. Other than these, however, its anyones game what the designs of those doors are, or whether they can even be considered traditional doors in the first place.The Weaver Cabinet challenges traditional cabinet designs with doors that probably dont offer much protection if a cat suddenly jumped through them. Rather than a single solid piece of material like a wooden board, It uses a curtain of hand-dyed UV-stable nylon fringes to cover the perimeter of the oval-shaped cabinet from top to bottom. They can still effectively hide the items inside unless the fringes are blown by a gust of wind or even a gentle breeze.The design offers a rather interesting twist to this staple of furniture design, presenting an unorthodox interpretation of what a cabinet can be. Admittedly, the design wont easily match any interior decor, but it would look striking in nature-inspired interiors, especially with plenty of plants around or walls and floors with earthy tones. It will do especially well in areas with tropical or forest themes, as the fringes might remind one of the grass skirts worn by local dancers.Despite its head-turning design, the Weaver Cabinet could present some practical problems in its use and upkeep. Accessing objects inside will require pushing the fringes aside, and those objects could get snagged when you pull them out. The fringes themselves could get tangled, and untangling them will be quite a chore. The weaves also do a rather poor job of protecting the contents inside from dust or other elements, not to mention pets, so you might want to take those factors into account when deciding on such a piece of furniture.The post Door-less cabinet will make you dream of tropical island getaways first appeared on Yanko Design.

AI, RGB lighting and powerful internals will appeal.

The announcement has added to fears of a video games crash.