While there's some time before The Last of Us season 2 arrives in April, HBO has seemingly confirmed the show's third and fourth seasons. Here's what we know about the future of one of the best Max shows.

Prenuvo exploded in popularity because of its $2,500 full-body MRI scan that has been lauded by celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

Apptronik has partnered with NASA and NVIDIA as it works on iterations of robots that rival those of Elon Musk's Tesla Optimus.

The Senate on Thursday confirmedRobert F. Kennedy Jr.as President Donald Trumps health secretary, putting the prominentvaccine skepticin control of $1.7 trillion in federal spending,vaccine recommendationsandfood safetyas well as health insurance programs for roughly half the country.Republicans fell in line behind Trump despite hesitancy over Kennedys views on vaccines, voting 52-48 to elevate the scion of one of Americas most storied political and Democratic families to secretary of the Health and Human Services Department.Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who had polio as a child, was the only no vote among Republicans, mirroring his stands against Trumps picks for the Pentagon chief and director of national intelligence. All Democrats opposed Kennedy.The GOP has largely embraced Kennedys vision to Make America Healthy Again by directing the public health agencies to focus on chronic diseases such as obesity.Kennedy, 71, whose name and family tragedies have put him in the national spotlight since he was a child, has earned a formidable following with his populist and sometimes extreme views on food, chemicals and vaccines.His audience only grewduring the COVID-19 pandemic, when Kennedy devoted much of his time to a nonprofit that sued vaccine makers and harnessed social media campaigns to erode trust in vaccines as well as the government agencies that promote them.With Trumps backing, Kennedy insisted he was uniquely positioned to revive trust in those public health agencies, which include the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes for Health.Last week, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he hoped Kennedy goes wild in reining in health care costs and improving Americans health. But before agreeing to support Kennedy, potential holdoutSen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a doctor who leads the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, required assurances that Kennedy would not make changes to existing vaccine recommendations.During Senate hearings, Democrats tried to prod Kennedy to deny a long-discredited theory that vaccines cause autism. Some lawmakers also raised alarms about Kennedy financially benefiting from changing vaccine guidelines or weakening federal lawsuit protections against vaccine makers.Kennedy made more than $850,000 last year from an arrangement referring clients to a law firm that has sued the makers of Gardasil, a human papillomavirus vaccine that protects against cervical cancer. If confirmed as health secretary, he promised to reroute fees collected from the arrangement to his son.Kennedy will take over the agency in the midst of a massive federal government shakeup, led by billionaire Elon Musk, that has shut off even if temporarily billions of taxpayer dollars in public health funding and left thousands of federal workers unsure about their jobs.On Friday,the NIH announcedit would cap billions of dollars in medical research given to universities and cancer being used to develop treatments for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimers.Kennedy, too, has called for a staffing overhaul at the NIH, FDA and CDC. Last year, he promised to fire 600 employees at the NIH, the nations largest funder of biomedical research.Amanda Seitz, Associated Press

Welcome toAI Decoded,Fast Companys weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every weekhere.Vances Paris speech shows a brash American exceptionalism for the AI ageVice President JD Vances speech to world leaders at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit was by turns warm and conciliatory, and strident to the point of offensiveness. Vance emphasized that AI has the potential to bring significant benefits to the world, and its risks can be effectively managedprovided that the U.S. and its tech companies take the lead.Vance argued that the U.S. remains the leader when it comes to developing cutting-edge AI models, and suggested that other countries should collaborate with the U.S. on AI rather than competing against it. (Vance also said AI companies shouldnt try to dictate the political tenor of content or dialog their models will accept, citing the Google Gemini models failed attempt at generating correct images that resulted in a Black George Washington and female popes.)This administration will ensure that AI developed in the United States continues to be the gold standard worldwide, he said. And key to the U.S.s approach, according to Vance: leaving tech companies to regulate themselves on safety and security issues.Vances view that the U.S. should take a collaborative and open approach to AI with other Western countries, but stressed that the world needed an international regulatory regime that fosters the creation of revolutionary AI technology rather than strangles it. Vance went on to criticize the E.U. for its more intrusive regulatory approach. It would be a terrible mistake for your own countries if they tightened the screws on U.S. tech companies, he advised the assembly.But not everyone agrees: Every country attending the Paris summit signed a declaration ensuring artificial intelligence AI is safe, secure, and trustworthyexcept for the U.S. and the U.K.Vance said that his administration will take a different approachusing protectionist tactics to favor U.S. AI companies. The White House will continue the Biden-era chip bans, which restrict the sale of the most advanced AI chips to other countries. (The goal right now for the Trump administration is to hinder Chinese companies like DeepSeek.) Its possible that a Trump administration could tighten these restrictions further or explore additional measures to slow down foreign AI competitors.To safeguard Americas advantage, the Trump administration will ensure that the most powerful AI systems are built in the U.S. with American designed and manufactured chips, he said.OpenAIs models will no longer shy away from sensitive topicsIn his Paris speech, JD Vance said his administration believes that AI companies shouldnt try to restrict speecheven disinformation or outright propagandafrom their models and chatbots. Thats music to Silicon Valley bigwigss ears, many of whom dont love the expensive and demanding and human-intensive work of content moderation. Two days after the speech, OpenAI announced that its pushing a new, more permissive code of conduct (a model spec) into its AI models. Going forward, its models will be less conservative about what they will and wont talk about.The updated Model Spec explicitly embraces intellectual freedomthe idea that AI should empower people to explore, debate, and create without arbitrary restrictionsno matter how challenging or controversial a topic may be, the company said in a blog post published Wednesday. As an example, OpenAI said that an AI model should be kept from outputting detailed instructions for building a bomb or violating personal privacy, but should be trained not to default to simply saying I cant help you with that when given politically or culturally sensitive questions. In essence, weve reinforced the principle that no idea is inherently off limits for discussion, the blog post said, so long as the model isnt causing significant harm to the user or others (e.g., carrying out acts of terrorism).This policy shift sounds very much in line with the permissive posture adopted by right wing sites such as Gab and Parler, then by X, then, recently, by Metas Facebook. Now OpenAI is getting in on Big Techs vibe shift on content moderation. Stay tuned for the results.PwC Champions Agentic AI as the Next Major Workplace DisruptorThe professional services firm PwC recently released a report asserting that AI agents could dwarf even the transformative effects of the internet. PwC predicts these agents will reshape workforce strategies, business models, and competitive advantages, while combining with human creativity to form augmented intelligence, enabling unprecedented innovation and productivity. The report emphasizes collaboration between humans and AI: While AI agents offer remarkable autonomy, an effective model is one of collaboration and dynamic oversight. This principle of human-at-the-helm can guide the development of clear protocols that define the boundaries of AI autonomy and enable appropriate human intervention.PwC warns that businesses must reimagine work to adapt to this agentic world. But, the PwC authors stress, that shift is a necessary one, as evidenced by AI agents successful deployment in areas like software development and customer service. To facilitate this transition, PwC suggests a five-step approach: strategize, reimagine work, structure the workforce, help workers redefine their roles, and unleash responsible AI. The question is, the report states, have you transformed to become a winner in the age of AI-enhanced work, or are you racing and perhaps too late to catch up?More AI coverage from Fast Company:Instagrams AI bots are often sexually suggestiveand sometimes underageChatGPTs latest feature is a transformative leap for web researchAre you AI literate? Schools and jobs are insisting on itand now its EU lawZooms CEO explains the video conference giants next actWant exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium.

This excellent Avants project is by Industrial Design student Juliette Masson. Done as her diploma project at ECAL, the project expores the use of more environmentally-friendly materials for technical clothing. "Synthetic fibers are now a common feature of sportswear, including in the hiking world. These are popular for their technical properties: lightness, elasticity, low absorbency, and wrinkle resistance, among others. However, the environmental impact of these materials is significant, both during manufacture and throughout their life cycle." "In response to this issue, Avants propose an alternative hiking outfit made from natural materials: Linen, selected for its thermo-regulating and hypoallergenic properties; waxed cotton, known for its durability and water-repellent qualities, chosen to provide protection against rain and abrasion." "The design of these outfits drew inspiration from historical garments and their fastening systems, while being adapted for contemporary and functional use."

British industrial designer Sebastian Bergne designed this Candloop way back in 1999. Made of stainless steel wire and aluminum for the candle holders, it's a simple way to turn a wine bottle into a candelabra. This is low-tech '90s design, when design was still fun. It's recently been brought back into production by German housewares brand Details Produkte. They run 20/$20 a pop.

Chairs are fundamentally designed for sitting. But sometimes, a chair transcends its basic function, becoming a canvas for artistic expression, a focal point for design, or a catalyst for interaction. The Indikator, a modular mobile installation designed by Anders Hellsten Nissen in collaboration with Can Touch This Studio for the Playtronica collective, falls firmly into this category. Its not just a place to rest; its an interactive sonic experience.Designer: Anders Hellsten Nissen and Can Touch This Studio for Playtronica collectiveThe Indikator is a sonic bench designed for public spaces. While offering a place to sit, its primary purpose is to transform human touch into sound, creating an engaging and dynamic auditory experience. Imagine a public bench that hums, sings, and responds to your touch thats the essence of the Indikator. Visually, the Indikator defies traditional chair conventions. Its form is more akin to a modern side table than a conventional seat. This design choice, inspired by the geometric grids of Berlin bus stops, gives it a clean, contemporary aesthetic. The speaker casing, drawing inspiration from the iconic Globe of Science and Innovation at CERN in Geneva, adds a touch of scientific wonder to the piece. This blend of urban practicality and scientific inspiration creates a visually compelling object that invites interaction.The magic of the Indikator lies in its interactivity. Integrated with Playtronicas TouchMe device, a pole-like element attached to the seat becomes a touch-sensitive interface. As users interact with the bench whether by sitting, leaning, or simply touching the device it generates unique sonic patterns. The sounds are not pre-programmed; they emerge dynamically based on the nature and location of the touch, creating a constantly evolving soundscape. The Indikators modular design allows it to adapt to a variety of public settings. From parks and museums to plazas, exhibition spaces, and special events, the bench can be easily relocated and reconfigured to suit the environment. This flexibility makes it a versatile tool for enhancing public spaces and fostering engagement.The intention behind the Indikator goes beyond simply providing a novel seating experience. It aims to spark curiosity and encourage participation. The act of touching the bench and creating sound becomes a playful exploration, inviting people to interact with their surroundings and with each other. The resulting soundscapes can foster social interaction, creating a shared sensory experience in public spaces. In essence, the Indikator transforms a mundane object into a catalyst for sensory engagement and social connection, turning a simple act of sitting into a playful exploration of sound and space. Its an invitation to play, to listen, and to connect.The post Interactive chair installation lets you create sound through human touch first appeared on Yanko Design.

If all the keyboards youve seen are on laptops or office-issued equipment, youll probably be shocked at the wide variety of designs available for them. Not even counting sizes and switches, keyboard designs span a very wide range of aesthetics, from brutalist to psychedelic to retro-futuristic. Some even use wooden materials that completely change the personality of these tools.Some keyboards, however, go beyond simply providing a tool to type on, adding features like modular components or even a screen like the Kwumsy K2. Yes, theyre not essential, but they add a bit of flavor to your everyday computing experience. If the latter is more to your taste, you can easily make your own without having to break the bank or burn your fingers.Designer: Work From HypeAlmost all of us have, at one point in our lives, had a design that we wished we could turn into reality. Not too long ago, that would have been next to impossible, but the introduction of 3D printing and affordable electronics has really made some dreams come true. DIY projects are no longer the exclusive domain of artisans, craftsmen, and professionals. Now almost anyone can create the device of their dreams, especially if it doesnt involve complicated steps like soldering wires.Screen Board is one such project and its name says it all. Its a keyboard with an attached screen, or at least visually attached. Youd get the same effect as having a tiny second monitor sitting at the back of your keyboard, but it wouldnt look as impressive, nor would it feel like a single product.What makes this DIY project accessible is that almost everything can be bought off the shelf and used as is, with no soldering or modding required. You do need access to a 3D printer or a 3D printing service, and youll need to carefully measure the size of the keyboard and the ultra-wide mini monitor youll be using. Other than that, however, all you need to do is place them in the enclosure, set up the screen as a second monitor for your keyboard, and enjoy the retro-futuristic typing experience.This design allows for a lot of flexibility beyond picking out keycaps. You can design your own chassis since the original isnt being provided, and you can pick out your mechanical keyboard of choice. Of course, it defeats the purpose of a cheap and affordable Screen Board if you go all out, but at least you have the choice to take that risk.The post Screen Board combines a keyboard and a screen and you can make your own first appeared on Yanko Design.

The source code for the new Department for Government Efficiencys official US government website points to X as its primary source of authority while sharing links to the site sends users to x.com.