Avowed isnt the sort of game that rewrites the playbook for the role-playing genre in any way, shape, or form, but it does know exactly what makes the genre tick. Individually, all of its disparate elements could be described as rote or ordinary, but it all comes together in impressive fashion. From combat and exploration to world-building, storytelling, player choice mechanics, and more, all of the most important elements of the RPG genre just click right off the bat in Avowed.Its another notch on the belt for Obsidian Entertainment.Set in the world of Eora,Avowedtaps into the same vast and fascinating pool or lore and backstory that Obsidian built up with thePillars of Eternitygames. For returning fans, the advantages of keeping the game set in that same universe are instantly clear, not only because of just howmuchthere is to learn about, but also because of how wellAvoweduses all of that content. At the same time, however, it doesnt require players to have any existing knowledge of the setting or the lore. For veteranPillarsfans, theres plenty in here thatll be immensely rewarding, butAvowedstill manages to feel standalone enough that it is able to stand on its own two feet even if you have no idea what Deadfire or Aedyr mean going in."From combat and exploration to world-building, storytelling, player choice mechanics, and more, all of the most important elements of the RPG genre just click right off the bat in Avowed."A lot of that is, of course, down to the fact thatAvowedfocuses on the Living Lands, a part of the world of Eora that has never been previously explored in thePillarsgames. Its effectively a new setting, but one that is tied to an established well of backstory, allowing Obsidian to have its cake and eat it too. It also works out in the games favour because the Living Lands serve as a solid setting in and of themselves. A wild and untamed landmass as it is with a populace of misfits, criminals, exiles, and what have you, the Living Lands are now also being ravaged by a deadly and terrifying plague called the Dreamscourge, which not corrupts the very soul of its victims plants and animals and people of all races alike and turns them into frenzied monsters covered in fruiting fungal bodies.Amidst all of this, you play as an envoy of Aedyrs emperor, sent to the Living Lands to investigate and deal with the Dreamscourge, in order to help the empire solidify its foothold in the region, which it hopes to bring into its own borders. This is whereAvowedsstory hides its most interesting elements. As an envoy and an extension of the emperors authority, you get to make decisions that will inform how the Aedyr empire will approach the Living Lands as a whole.Do you want to support the empires expansionist colonial plans, or would you rather remain focused on dealing with the Dreamscourge and restoring stability to the Living Lands? Its a particularly fascinating question that the game keeps returning to, and its a highlight of the experience, especially with the Living Lands own complex politics and internal conflicts added on top. No,Avowedschoice and consequence mechanics are perhaps not on the same level as Obsidians best, and certainly you shouldnt be expecting anything that comes anywhere close to, say,Baldurs Gate 3sreactivity, but theres enough in here to make you actually pause and think about your actions and what consequences they may have in both the short and long term.Another area whereAvowedimpresses is with its cast of characters. Companion characters in Obsidian RPGs tend to do that more often than not, andAvowed,too, is constantly flexing with its writing, character dialogue and interactions, and more. Each of the core cast are a unique, wonderfully developed, and excellently performed personality, while the supporting cast also routinely contributes with endearing characters every so often. Writing, world-building, and storytelling have long been Obsidians areas of expertise, and the studio doesnt buck that trend withAvowed."Writing, world-building, and storytelling have long been Obsidians areas of expertise, and the studio doesnt buck that trend withAvowed."More surprising at least for me, personally is how enjoyableAvowedscombat is. Dont get me wrong, Obsidian is no Bethesda Game Studios. The developerdoesknow how to make good combat, and has done so several times in the past.Avowed,however, is a level above those past offerings in this particular department. First-person combat in fantasy or medieval settings very rarely works well, but thats definitely not the case here.On a fundamental level, every single hit, block, dodge, and parry just feelstight. Theres an immediacy and satisfying responsiveness to all actions, which means weapons feel appropriately hefty, attacks feel appropriately punchy, and movement feels appropriately responsive. Then theres the sheer variety of weapons- daggers, swords, shields, hammers, maces, axes, bows, greataxes, greatswords, pistols, arquebuses, grimoires, two-handed hammers, wands Theres frankly a ridiculous amount of variety on offer, and its not just for show either. Weapons feel appropriately different to use, in terms of everything from attack animations and attack speed to the damage you deal out, how much stamina you use, and more.Things become even more interesting when dual-wielding is thrown into the equation. Other than two-handed weapons,Avowedlets you wield two of any weapon at a time, and you can mix and match however you want. A plain, vanilla sword and shield combo? A mace in one hand and a pistol in the other? An axe and an hammer in each? Maybe a wand in both hands, so that you can blast away at enemies with glee? All of its possible, and more, and yes, it makes combat incredibly fun. Mix in abilities, companions, grenades, and other elements, and every single combat encounter inAvowedends up being way more fun than I personally had expected going on.Progression, sadly, is unable to keep up with the combat side of things. In this department, the game feels a little disappointingly simplistic and straightforward. The triple-A-fication of RPGs has been an issue that has plagued the genre for years at this point (Dragon Age: The Veilguardwas an example just last year), andAvoweddefinitely falls into the trap where its progression mechanics are concerned. Every time you level up, you get to invest in different attributes, as well as multiple skill trees- and its all standard fare. Ultimately, the whole process feels a little too restrictive and railroaded."Avowedlets you wield two of any weapon at a time, and you can mix and match however you want. A plain, vanilla sword and shield combo? A mace in one hand and a pistol in the other? An axe and an hammer in each? Maybe a wand in both hands, so that you can blast away at enemies with glee? All of its possible, and more, and yes, it makes combat incredibly fun."Thankfully, exploration fares significantly better. Obsidian Entertainment decided early in Avowedsdevelopment that it wasnt going to be theSkyrim-sized open world behemoth it was originally envisioned as, instead adopting a smaller, semi-open world structure similar toThe Outer Worlds.For my money, it was absolutely the right call. Theres multiple maps to explore inAvowed,each sufficiently large and boasting impressive environmental variety. More importantly, environments are also impeccably designed.Avowedis excellent at gabbing your attention and distracting you with things in the most organic way possible. It gently nudges you to check out points of interest in your surroundings, side quests, and optional content not by inundating you with markers and compasses and UI elements, but by simply letting the design of the environments speak for themselves. Youll never goo too long without something unique or interesting catching your eye, and chances are, more often than not, the game will reward you for being curious and treading off the beaten path. It helps that movement and traversal inAvowedare also surprisingly fun, with a basic moveset involving sprinting, jumping, and vaulting encouraging players to explore vertical and intricately designed environments that are always hiding a ton of secrets.Theres a lot to do inAvowed,perhaps more so than youd expect going on, and though theres little in it that sets the world on fire or reinvents the wheel or any other tired old adage you can think of, the game is nonetheless remarkably good at identifying the strengths of an RPG and making sure that it adheres to those rules. No, its not the most original, or the most complex, and it doesnt have the reactivity of aBaldurs Gate 3or the depth of aKingdom Come: Deliverance 2.But for those looking for an engaging fantasy action RPG experience,Avowedis an easy game to recommend.This game was reviewed on the Xbox Series X.

While Street Fighter 6s Ken and Chun-Li were announced months in advance for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, SNK has revealed the entirety of Season Pass 1 at EVO. It starts with Andy Bogard and Ken (who likely arrives later) this Summer, followed by Joe Higashi in the Fall.Chun-Li will be available this Winter, while Mr. Big joins the roster in early 2026. Its worth noting that the Season Pass is bundled with Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Special Edition for $59.99. Theres no Standard Edition available, so youre essentially getting all five DLC characters for free.Of course, this is only the beginning, as SNK has three years of DLC planned for the title. If it follows the same pattern as The King of Fighters 15, there may be free characters alongside new features. Stay tuned for updates in the meantime.Launching on April 24th, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. Its open beta runs from February 20th to 24th and includes eight playable characters.

Once again this year, Unreal Fest will take place in multiple locations around the world, from Indonesia and Asia to Europe and the US. Check out the preliminary locations, dates, and times here.

This post contains spoilers for Captain America: Brave New World.After months, if not years, of denying that he was in Captain America: Brave New World, Sebastian Stan does indeed show up in the movie as James Buchanan Bucky Barnes. But his mere presence, giving a pep talk to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) when he needs it most, isnt the most surprising part of Buckys appearance: its that the former Winter Soldier is running for Congress.PlayWait, hold up Can he do that? As Bucky notes in the scene, hes 110 years old at this point in the MCU. While he doesnt offer up any details other than he has speech writers and is heading out on the campaign trail, there are a ton of lingering questions. What district is he running in? Can a 110-year-old even run for Congress? What about an ex-brainwashed KGB assassin with a robot arm who actively fought the US government during the Sokovia Accords (aka the events of Captain America: Civil War)?These arent questions we can answer ourselves, so IGN went directly to the source to find out Specifically the office of Brooklyn Congressman Dan Goldman. While Representative Goldman was busy running the government and representing the 10th district of New York, we were able to hop on the phone with Marvel fan and Senior Advisor to Congressman Goldman, Simone Kanter.Kanter, luckily, was familiar with the history of Bucky Barnes at least up through Avengers: Endgame, which he called one of his most enjoyable theater experiences ever. And he was (end)game to answer some questions about what might be involved in Bucky running for Congress.First, some basic info here on running for office. As laid out in the Constitution, the rules for running for the House of Representatives are pretty simple. You need to be at least 25 years old, a citizen for seven years, and you need to live in the state in which you are aiming to be elected in at the time of your election.So how does that impact Bucky? In the MCU Bucky was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, (not coincidentally where Congressman Goldman is based). And while he wouldnt have to run in Brooklyn, Kanter thought it might be to his advantage. If I were to give him political advice, I would advise that the place you have the strongest roots to are where you should run, as both a moral and necessary imperative, Kanter said. So I would say that if Bucky feels most at home in Brooklyn, that's definitely where he should run.I can't imagine a factor more enticing to want to vote for a member of Congress than a robot arm.That said, given weve seen Bucky in Washington, D.C. with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in the trailer for Thunderbolts, its possible he could be based there now. Maybe he wants to run in the DMV area, Kanter continued, calling out the colloquial name for the Washington Metropolitan Area. He's hanging out in Arlington. Certainly an option. [There are] plenty of federal workers running for office out there. So I think it comes down to where he feels like he can best serve the country.Okay, but what about the age thing? Theres been so much discussion in our culture about aging politicians, that while technically Bucky could run as hes 85 years older than the required age, would that be an impediment to his chances? Not at all, said Kanter, noting that novelty is a bit of an enticing factor.More From Avengers HQSimilarly, the whole robotic arm wouldnt be an issue, either. Personally as a voter, I'd find the robotic arm pretty cool, said Kanter. I can't imagine that there might be a factor more enticing to want to vote for a member of Congress.So far, so good when it comes to Buckys chances!And then theres the whole ex-KGB assassin thing. If youll recall, not only did Bucky attack Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) in broad daylight in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but it was also revealed in Captain America: Civil War that he killed Tony Starks (Robert Downey, Jr.) parents. A track record of confirmed kills of US citizens on behalf of a hostile foreign nation might be a turn-off to certain folks, Kanter said.More murky is the outcome of the Sokovia Accords, and Bucky going on the run with Captain America (Chris Evans). According to Kanter, that would be down to public polling as far as how they view the Accords. He also called out the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, noting that folks would be looking for a little bit more of a tighter leash from their government over some pretty powerful beings.It boils down to how he sells it on the campaign trail.On the other hand, given that Bucky was a war hero before being revealed as The Winter Soldier, and there are even exhibits in Washington D.C. paying tribute to him as part of Captain Americas story, that could help balance things out. This country especially has a soft spot for underdog stories and war heroes, Kanter added. We've seen a lot of appetite for forgiveness in the American electorate recently It boils down to how he sells it on the campaign trail.Well, lets talk about hitting that campaign trail. We glimpsed Buckys new look in the Thunderbolts trailer, and hes sporting the same in Brave New World: stringy hair, cut down to his chin, and a beard thats more than stubble. Would his whole style be a dealbreaker? Back in the day when politicians were supposed to be clean-cut, sure. Now? Theres a very specific precedent for why Buckys whole lewk might not be an issue. Or rather, a vice-precedent.I think Vice President JD Vance has brought back the beard, Kanter said. Apparently. I'm not sure how I personally feel about it. There's about half the country that's willing to vote for it, so I wouldn't call it a nonstarter.PlayKanter had a better suggestion, though, for what Bucky should have on his face: I think you should bring back the mask from Winter Soldier; [hes] way cooler with that on, Kanter said.Is it surprising to think about a masked candidate running for office? Dont worry Kanter had already thought this one through.Honestly, I was thinking about this, but then I did a double take when I thought about possible alternatives, Kantor said. And I really do think if Spider-Man threw his hat in the ring for any House seat in New York, he'd win with 80% of the vote. You hear that, Marvel? You just found your plot for Spider-Man 4. And hey, maybe Peter Parker can take some tips on running for office from Bucky if he wins.Top image credit: Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images

Everyone has a different definition of what a perfect or dream desk setup for them would be. Some people need five external displays; some only need one. Other people need a mechanical keyboard, while others find the clickiness distracting. I have even seen people consider just a laptop on the move as their ideal setup, while others need a dedicated office space. So I wanted to share some of my ideal desk setup accessories that I have recently added that have helped create my personal perfect M4 Mac mini and M4 iPad Pro desk setup. Be sure to leave links to your favorite accessories in the comments!In this article, I am going to highlight some of the newer accessories I added that I absolutely love, but if you want to see a rundown of every single aspect, then check out the video below!Ugmonk Gather CollectionThis group of accessories is what really inspired me to completely change the look and feel of my desk. Ugmonk is known for making premium, minimalistic, and highly functional desk and productivity accessories. The Gather collection was the perfect new base for what I wanted to do. Every product in the collection is aesthetically pleasing, extremely well-built, multifunctional, and modular, and my favorite part is using magnets!The centerpiece is the Large Monitor StandMade of powder-coated steel and lined with wool feltSolidmaple woodHolds up to 35lbsToolless assemblyFour different color combinations (White/Maple shown below)As I mentioned, this is the centerpiece, but I also included a few pieces from the collection to help complete the look. Below are some of the other items I went with. Keep in mind that all these have the same fit, feel and finish. I cannot recommend this brand enough. I was a bit hesitant at first due to the price point of some of the products. But once you get the products and feel the material, you instantly realize why the price is what it is. It is also all made in the US. So, if you are looking to add some form and function to your desk setup, I recommend checking out Ugmonk, from their smaller productivity accessories to the entire collection. BlueAnt SoundbladeI have my Sonos Ace headphones, which are currently $100 off, for when I need to lock in and block out noise, but if I wanted to play something out loud, I needed something. I wanted to avoid the usual stereo speaker setup. That is where the Soundblade comes in. The form factor is extremely unique. It was meant to be used with the iMac as a monitor riser and speaker combo, but for my setup, it fits perfectly on my Ugmonk monitor riser. Here are the specs:Power Output:120 watts peak powerSound configuration:2.1 channel soundSubwoofer:1 x Built-in 80mm Neodymium subwooferDrivers:2 x Full range dual voice coil, dual Neodymium magnet driversConnectivity Options:USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3 & AUX connectivitySwitch between PC USB-C connectivityOne-touch control on the unitcomes with remote controlIt is so easy to just plug in and play. I use it connected to my Mac mini via USB-C but it can be used via Bluetooth or even AUX cable. Sotsu Elite 16I recently made a video comparing this Sotsu Elite 16 vs the Espresso 17 Pro to see which was the best portable monitor out right now. Both are great options, but right now, I am actually using this Sotsu monitor as a vertically oriented secondary display. I am a big fan of the look, aesthetic, and overall build. Essentiall looks like a 16in iPad on a stand that Apple might have made. Since there are magnets on the monitor riser, the Sotsu display can be magnetically held down. 4k 16:10 display450 nit brightness1200:1 contrast ratio100% of DCI-P3 color gamut60HzSingle cable solutionNo external power is needed925g in weight2 USB-C ports, mini HDMI and SD card slotThis is currently under pre-order, with shipments coming in March!Satechi M4 Mac mini hubThis was a new and highly anticipated addition to the desk setup. Satechi recently released their M4 Mac mini hub that adds a few more ports that were removed from this new M4 Mac mini design. These are the added ports:Host cable USB-C 3.2 Gen 2SD Card Reader up to 312 MB/s (4.0 UHS-II)2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 up to 10GbpsUSB-A 2.0 up to 480MbpsM.2 NVMe SSD enclosure up to 10Gbps2230/ 2242/ 2260/ 2280 SSDsIt is well-built, fits the Apple aesthetic, and just fits flawlessly under the monitor stand. Orbit Key Desk MatThis desk mat is truly a game changer, offering multiple functions. First off, it features high-quality vegan leather that not only elevates your workspace but also provides a smooth surface for all your peripherals, making mouse movements easy. There is also this clever railing along the top of the mat, which includes a magnetic divot for securely holding your Apple pencils so they never get lost, plus a magnetic cable organizer. The design extends to its layered construction, with a felt bottom that protects your desk from smudges while giving you a handy spot to store loose-leaf items like brochures and printouts. Its cool how companies continue to innovate with something as simple as a desk mat. It comes in multiple colors and sizes as well!Final thoughtsAs I stated in the beginning, desk setups are never really finished. There is always a new, faster hub, nicer mouse, or better lighting that will tempt you and eventually get added to your setup. The important thing is how you use these accessories and how it makes you feel to sit down and get your work done. Every morning, when I get to my desk, I am excited to get to work because everything is set up how I want it. So hopefully these accessories are something you can take a look at and maybe add just one to your current space.What is your favorite accessory on your desk? What is something you can live without? I would love to know what you have going on!Add 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

Pretty neat!The combustion engines in gas-powered cars can produce a lot of power by burning dead dinosaurs, but they're surprisingly inefficient at it, with most of the energy they consume an estimated three quarters of it getting lost as heat off the engine and through the tailpipe. That raises an obvious question: what if you could recover some of those wasted thermal emissions and put them to use, recapturing the lost power to greatly increase vehicles' efficiency?It's an idea that scientists have long been chasing, with limited progress as far as practical implementations go in vehicles, in part due to cost-effectiveness challenges.But now, a team of researchers say they've created a device that can do just that turn exhaust heat into electricity with a relatively simple design that can be added to an existing car's tailpipe, or even the exhaust vents of other vehicles like helicopters.As detailed in a study published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, the prototype thermoelectric generator was able to produce a maximum power output of 40 Watts, which is enough to power a lightbulb and that's just in their limited experiments so far.Thermoelectric generators rely on temperature gradients to work. In essence, when one of these devices is placed near or on something producing waste heat, electrons are drawn from the hot side to the cold side, creating an electric current.In this case, the researchers say they used a semiconductor made of bismuth-telluride to facilitate this process. But the main challenge is maintaining that temperature difference. Without intervening, the cold part of the generator would start to heat up, too, and you'd lose the current.Some solutions, as the researchers note, use water cooling. That introduces a lot of complications, though, and makes a device more complex and bulky. What they were going for was meant to be adaptable and practical.So instead, they used a clever but relatively simple heatsink design using a cylinder with fin-like protrusions that wraps around a tailpipe, providing additional surface area to let off heat via forced convection or in other words, moving, ambient air carrying away the heat. And in a fast vehicle, that comes naturally.When simulating high-speed environments, the researchers found that their thermoelectric system could produce up to 56 Watts of power when traveling at the speed of a car. And for helicopters, it was nearly thrice that: 146 Watts."These results could potentially pave the way toward the integration of TE devices into complex system designs for practical applications," the authors concluded.Share This Article

Image by Getty / FuturismNeuroscience/Brain ScienceMark Zuckerberg's Meta says it's created a device that lets you produce text simply by thinking what you want to say.As detailed in a pair of studies released by Meta last week, researchers used a state-of-the-art brain scanner and a deep learning AI model to interpret the neural signals of people while they typed, guessing what keys they were hitting with an accuracy high enough to allow them to reconstruct entire sentences."As we've seen time and again, deep neural networks can uncover remarkable insights when paired with robust data," Forest Neurotech founder Sumner Norma, who wasn't involved in the research, told MIT Technology Review of the work.But, as Tech Reviewcautions, don't expect the potentially game-changing gizmo to hit the market ever.That's because the platform's built on a prohibitively large and expensive magnetoencephalography scanner, which detects the magnetic signals in your brain. The upside is that it can peer into your mind without having to place a device, like a brain computer interface, inside your skull an invasive approach favored by other mind-typing techniques.But the downside is that it's as unwieldy as an MRI machine, weighing about half a ton and costing $2 million. Not only that, but the scanner can only work in a shielded room that dampens the Earth's magnetic field, which would otherwise blow out our puny brain signals from being detected. And while it's being used, the subject can't move their head at all, or the signal is kaput.That's a lot of caveats too many and too significant to let the device become commercial. And yet, it's an undeniably impressive achievement, and Meta thinks it can use what it's learned here to give it a leg-up in the development of other AI models."Trying to understand the precise architecture or principles of the human brain could be a way to inform the development of machine intelligence," Jean-Rmi King, leader of Meta's Brain & AI team, told Tech Review. "That's the path."According to the researchers' findings, the system is able to correctly detect what keys a "skilled" typist hit as high as 80 percent of the time. That's not flawless, but it's accurate enough to construct full sentences from brain signals, the researchers said.This is facilitated through Meta's deep-learning system called Brain2Qwerty, which can learn what keys a user is pressing after observing them for several thousand characters.With an average error rate of 32 percent, it's far from perfect. But Meta says this is the most accurate brain typing system using a full keyboard that reads brain signals from outside the skull, per MIT. Another one of the most promising approaches boasts an accuracy rate as high as 99 percent, but it relies on placing a neural implant directly on the brain.Still, Meta's system isn't likely to provide direct pathway to practical applications of the tech. The researchers are stoked, though, that what they've found seems to confirm the theory that our mind forms language signals hierarchically, which could be a boon for AI research."Language has become a foundation of AI," King told MIT. "So the computational principles that allow the brain, or any system, to acquire such ability is the key motivation behind this work."More on brain tech: Paralyzed Man Can Now Fly Drone Using Brain ImplantShare This Article

It's not great news, but you still shouldn't panic about it: Astronomers spotted a near-Earth asteroid that has a roughly 1% chance of impacting Earth on Dec. 22, 2032. Space agencies are monitoring the newly discovered asteroid and still learning more about it, so don't pencil that into your calendar as doomsday just yet.The asteroid, designated 2024 YR4, was first reported to the Minor Planet Center on Dec. 27. The MPC, part of the International Astronomical Union, maintains an official catalog of near-Earth objects like asteroids and comets. It reports, names and numbers new discoveries. The asteroid was spotted by multiple observatories.The European Space Agency placed 2024 YR4 at the top of its asteroid risk list. Similarly, the space rock now has the top spot on NASA's Sentry risk list. The Sentry list contains all known near-Earth asteroids with a non-zero probability of striking Earth.Rating asteroids and their impact hazards Enlarge Image The Torino Impact Hazard Scale rates potential asteroid and comet impacts. The newly discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 sits in the middle of the yellow zone with a 3 rating. White is no hazard; red is the most hazardous. NASA Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. The asteroid is rated at a 3 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, a tool used for categorizing potential impacts. That means 2024 YR4 merits attention from astronomers, the public and public officials since its potential impact is less than a decade away. "An object that reaches this level is not uncommon; there have been several objects in the past that have reached this same rating and eventually dropped off as more data have come in," NASA said in a statement on Jan. 29.The highest level on the Torino Scale is a 10, which indicates a certain collision capable of catastrophic damage on a global level.Current data shows 2024 YR4 is the only known large asteroid with an impact probability above 1%. NASA reminds people that there's a roughly 99% chance the asteroid won't impact our planet. Those are strong odds in our favor.Size estimates of asteroid 2024 YR4The asteroid is estimated to be between 130 and 300 feet wide. For scale, the Statue of Liberty (pedestal included) is about 300 feet tall. That's worrisome for an asteroid, but it's not a "planet killer.""An asteroid this size impacts Earth on average every few thousand years and could cause severe damage to a local region," ESA said in a statement. The agency dialed in the probability of impact at an estimated 1.2%. Enlarge Image An illustration of NASA's DART spacecraft NASA/John Hopkins APLSpace agencies and organizations are coordinating efforts to track the asteroid and better understand its trajectory and size.The space rock is currently on the move away from Earth. ESA is planning a series of observations that will include the use of the powerful Very Large Telescope in Chile."It is possible that asteroid 2024 YR4 will fade from view before we are able to entirely rule out any chance of impact in 2032," ESA said. "In this case, the asteroid will likely remain on ESA's risk list until it becomes observable again in 2028."NASA and other space agencies have been working on planetary defense options in the case of a dangerous asteroid. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Testmission successfully redirected an asteroid moonlet by smashing a spacecraft into it in 2022. ESA suggested a spacecraft-based response may be explored if 2024 YR4 turns out to be a serious threat.A lot of new information could emerge about the asteroid over the next few months. In the best-case scenario, it will be downgraded from "uh-oh" to "everything's fine, no need to worry."

Amazon is expected to tease a majorAI-poweredupgrade for itsvoice assistant Alexalater this month, and it could change how we interact with the smart home tech. Amazon has sent out media invites for a Feb. 26 event in New York, where Amazon's Devices and Services team lead Panos Panay will be speaking.Panay joined Amazon in 2023 after spending decades at Microsoft, where he helped shape the Surface product line.The event is expected to preview Alexa's long-rumored generative AI voice capabilities, which could significantly enhance its ability to engage in more natural, contextual conversations and complete multistep tasks.If announced, this would mark Alexa's most significant evolution since its debut in 2014. Although Amazon has long been a leader in the AI assistant space, the landscape is rapidly shifting. Companies like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic are rolling out increasingly sophisticated AI assistants capable of multitasking and completing complex requests.Alexa currently processes one command at a time. Last month, OpenAI introduced a new AI agent called Operator, which aims to handle everyday tasks like making dinner reservations, ordering groceries and filling out forms. Amazon told CNET that the event will highlight the latest innovations from the Alexa team but did not provide further details.With more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in homes worldwide, a generative AI upgrade could reshape how users interact with voice assistants, and potentially introduce a paid tier for more advanced capabilities. Reuters reported that Amazon has considered charging between $5 and $10 per month for the service, while keeping the original version of Alexa free.Apple is also rumored to ramp up its smart home efforts with a Siri-powered, wall-mounted display designed to control household devices such as thermostats, lights and appliances.Predicted to launch in March, the device is expected to be part of Apple's push to compete more aggressively in the smart home market, where it has historically trailed Google and Amazon.

'Power abusers' and bots shaped Alberta election discourse, report saysSmall group of abusive users shifted online conversations during 2023 Alberta election, researchers sayBrett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Feb 13, 2025 4:37 PMA small number of 'power abusers' skewed online political conversations during the 2023 Alberta general election, researchers say.Pexels A small group of abusive users shifted online political conversations during the 2023 Alberta general election, and these "power abusers"were likely assisted by bot accounts, researchers say.The Samara Centre for Democracys SAMbot initiative uses machine learning tools to monitor abusive sentiment during Canadian elections.In the 18 days leading up to Albertas last general election, SAMbot tracked 188 official party and candidate accounts on X, recording 12,502 abusive tweets and 15,376 candidate mentions containing abusive content.Twelve per cent of these abusive tweets came from just 50 accounts.This small numberof high-volume toxic accounts, dubbed "power abusers," have an outsized impact on civic conversation, and a chilling effect on our democracy, says Beatrice Wayne, research director at the Samara Centre for Democracy.We understand that they are shaping Albertans sense of their own political identity. When they see users that they think represent more Albertans than is actually the case, it shifts public understanding of what is acceptable civic discourse and what people feel, what Albertans feel, about their politics, Wayne said.Though it is hard to say with complete certainty whether there is an actual person behind a given X account, their research shows evidence of likely widespread and inauthentic engagement in the form of potential bot accounts, Wayne said, which further distorts perceptions of what Albertans believe.While LGBTQ+ rights werent a major part of election campaigns or leadership debates, posts related to LGBTQ+ issues generated some of the biggest spikes in engagement and online abuse. Previous SAMbot deployments have found the same exaggerated levels of activity around anti-LGBTQ+ content during national, provincial, and municipal elections.One of the recommendations made by Wayne and the other report authors is to recognize anti-LGBTQ+ discourse as a democratic threat.Democracy can only function in tandem with the upholding of human rights, allowing people of all identities to participate in society safely and earnestly. It becomes increasingly difficult for LGBTQ+ Canadians to participate in public life as anti-LGBTQ+ hate is emboldened, the report says.The report also calls for more supports to be given to first-time candidates, who were frequently the target of online abuse. Of the 20 candidates who received the most abuse, eight were running for the first time at the provincial level.This is just a condition of work for somebody newly entering politics. They have to expect to receive abuse online as part of their experience on the campaign trail, Wayne said.The normalization of this abuse risks driving quality candidates out of politics or stopping them from running in the first place.They won't want to contribute. And because we know that levels of abuse disproportionately affect marginalized people, we're going to have a lack of diversity amongst our political representatives, Waynesaid.Perhaps the most worrying outcome of a handful of motivated users and their automated accomplices setting the tone of political conversations is the influence it has on policymakers, shesaid.Politicians are very online. We know this. If the most information they are getting about their constituents, if the way that they are learning or thinking they understand the feelings of their constituents is through their interactions online, then their understanding and their approach to policy is being shaped by a small number of users, she said.We could see actual Canadian policy being shaped by a small number of people that are misrepresenting the feelings of politicians constituents.When Canadians think about foreign interference, there is a tendency to imagine high level spies compromising politicians. But the potential of there to be foreign influence that is shaping and distorting our civic culture is really strong, Wayne said.The Samara Centre for Democracy report also made recommendations to introduce platform regulations, support legislation that safeguards researchers access to social media data, and raise public awareness about what inauthentic online behaviour and foreign interference could look like.This has been shared 0 timesRead moreComments More Local News