ChatGPT has surpassed 400 million weekly active users. "We feel very fortunate to serve 5 percent of the world every week," OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap said on X about the new audience stat. This figure is twice the weekly active user count reported by the company in August 2024, which was double the figure it posted in November 2023.The latest milestone for the AI assistant comes after a huge uproar over new rival platform DeepSeek earlier in the year, which raised questions about whether the current crop of leading AI tools was about to be dethroned. OpenAI is on the verge of a move to simplify its ChatGPT offerings so that users won't have to select which reasoning model will respond to an input, and it will make its GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 models available soon in the chat and API clients. With GPT-5 being made available to OpenAI's free users, ChatGPT seems primed to continue expanding its audience base in the coming months.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/chatgpt-reaches-400m-weekly-active-users-203635884.html?src=rss

The $599 iPhone 16e is many things, but don't you dare call it a budget phone. I hesitate to even call it "cheap." As a successor to the $429 iPhone SE, it's hard not to see the 16e as a disappointment. Sure, it's $200 less than the vanilla iPhone 16 (which I argued was a great deal at launch), and the 16e also packs in the latest A18 chip with support for Apple Intelligence. But it's no longer a small phone, and it pushes Apple's cheaper iPhone option well beyond $500. That's something we'll likely never see again. (And it's potentially terrible news for future iPhone pricing, as well.)Given the sheer amount of new hardware in the iPhone 16e including a larger 6.1-inch OLED screen, Apple's first in-house "C1" modem and that aforementioned A18 chip it's easy to make excuses for the price. The 16e is certainly far closer in specs to the iPhone 16 than the third-gen SE was to the iPhone 13. But I'd argue that Apple didn't exactly need an OLED screen for this model, and there are likely other ways to cut down costs. (It's even stranger Apple kept out MagSafe and fast wireless charging, which would have been cheaper to implement, and arguably more useful, than a large OLED display.)AppleAnd while it's nice to have the A18 chip (albeit with one less GPU core) and full Apple Intelligence support, I agree with my colleague Igor Bonifacic that users aren't exactly clamoring for those AI features. If we had to blame one culprit for the iPhone 16e's pricing, though, it's likely Apple Intelligence. After all, Apple is still fighting to prove it isn't too far behind Microsoft, Google and OpenAI. In any other year, Apple might have been able to justify throwing an older chip in the 16e, but that's not possible when it's in the middle of an AI hype war.Mostly, I'm just sad that Apple is once again raising the price of admission to its walled garden without much justification. There's something special noble, even about sub-$500 smartphones. They're a reminder of a saner era of smartphones, when prices were being driven down by phones like the Moto G. These days you're left with Android phones like the Pixel 8a (and potentially the upcoming Pixel 9a), as well as the $400 Samsung Galaxy A35 and $499 Galaxy A55.AppleNow that the dream of a sub-$500 iPhone is well and truly dead, it feels like Apple is just setting the stage for future price jumps. A $600 or $650 iPhone 17e will certainly look like a deal compared to a $850 or $900 iPhone 17. And just wait for the inevitable $2,000 iPhone foldable, which could potentially be specced beyond $3,000.Of course, you could be a smart Apple shopper and opt for used or refurbished iPhones. I recently picked up a refurbished iPhone 14 Plus as an early Mothers' Day gift for $420, and Amazon currently has listings for iPhone 14 Pros right under $500. Those devices won't support Apple Intelligence, but I'd argue sticking to the used market is simply a more useful form of intelligence.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/a-599-iphone-16e-is-a-cruel-joke-200507275.html?src=rss

Yes, the iPhone 16e has similar looks to the iPhone 16, but here's everything that is missing between the two.

Nvidia rival SambaNova claims DeepSeek world record as it delivers industry-first performance with just 16 custom chips.

As a former military officer turned sustainability-focused CEO, I often find myself reflecting on the intersection of two worlds that, on the surface, seem unlikely companions. The military and environmental activism may not share much in popular perception, but my time in service fundamentally shaped how I approach mission-driven leadership. It gave me the tools to tackle complex, seemingly insurmountable problems while galvanizing a team toward a higher purpose. If we are to solve the key challenges of our timechallenges as large as protecting our planetleaders will need to adopt three key lessons I learned from the military.Lesson 1: Service before selfThe militarys core ethos revolves around serving a mission greater than oneself. For me, this meant uprooting my life every 2 years, enduring long deployments where my husband was gone for 320 days of the year, and working on classified missions I could never share. These sacrifices werent about personal glory but about contributing to something bigger: protecting the freedoms and safety of others.This same mindset is essential in mission-driven leadership. Building a values-driven company that prioritizes the health of people and the planet is an inherently uphill battle. But this work isnt about personal comfort or short-term wins. Its about serving a mission that has lasting value for future generations.One of the greatest leadership challenges is finding and motivating others who share this sense of purpose. In the military, what binds individuals togethereven in life-or-death situationsis the shared passion for serving the mission. The same is true for leaders of purpose-driven companies. Surround yourself with people who are deeply committed to the cause. Their shared purpose will provide the resilience and determination needed to face setbacks and keep pushing forward.In the U.S., we tend to prioritize individual success over collective progress. For me, military service was a catalyst for this mindset shift, and it continues to shape how I approach sustainability: as a duty to serve the greater good.Lesson 2: Discipline and making excellence a habitAt the United States Air Force Academy, I learned that excellence isnt a singular actits a habit. This lesson was ingrained in me through daily practices like making my bed with hospital corners, ironing uniforms to perfection, and pushing through grueling physical challenges. These seemingly small acts built the discipline to tackle larger, more complex tasks. The ability to consistently show up and meet high standardseven in the face of fatigue, doubt, or hardshipis the secret weapon that has helped me accomplish the greatest challenges in my life, from running a sub-3-hour marathon to leading a purpose-driven company.Shaping businesses that improve our health and planet often feels overwhelming. The statistics alone can make you want to throw up your hands: Humans generates over 400 million tons of plastic waste annually, much of which ends up in landfills or the ocean. So instead, focus on the small things laddering up into larger ones. Consider something as simple as making your bed every day. Its not about the bed itself; its about starting the day with a small win, a signal to yourself that youre committed to doing the work, no matter how small it seems. Discipline drives progress when motivation fadesbecause motivation will fade. For business leaders, building a culture of disciplined habits is critical. Tackling problems at scale requires a disciplined approach and a team thats practiced in the excellence of laddering little disciplines up into larger ones.Are you modeling attention to detail and high standards in your daily work? If not, how can you expect your team to do so when tackling massive societal and environmental challenges?Leadership in the movement for conscious consumer goods and beyond, requires long-term thinking, consistency, and resilienceall of which are forged through disciplined action. Leaders must show up every day, no matter how difficult the path ahead may seem.Lesson 3: Integrity, even when no one is lookingIn the military, integrity isnt just a buzzwordits a core value. We were trained to do what was right, even when it was inconvenient or when no one was watching. This principle was so critical that a breach of integrity, known as an honor violation, could lead to immediate discharge. A friend of mine once faced 6 months of probation because his homework was too similar to his roommates. In the business world, integrity often feels like a luxury rather than a necessity. Capitalism is not built this waycompanies dont just do the right thing to feel good. If it doesnt drive the top or bottom line, it likely wont make the cut, even when they know their actions are harmful to human health or the environment. However, I believe companies have the potential to be inherently good.Many companies treat sustainability initiatives as a cost center, doing the bare minimum to meet regulatory requirements or appease consumers. But real progress happens when sustainability is integrated into the businesss core objectives, showing measurable returns that drive the companys growth. At my company, Novi, we work to build incentive structures that align sustainability efforts with revenue and cost-saving opportunities, ultimately driving both environmental progress, human health, and business success.For business leaders, integrity means pushing for solutions that dont just check a box but create meaningful, measurable impact. Its about holding yourself and your organization accountable to high standardseven when its inconvenient or costlybecause the stakes for our planet are just as high as they are on the battlefield.Build a new kind of leadershipThe Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more.As we face the monumental task of preserving our planet for future generations, leaders across disciplines must embrace a mission-first mindset, build the discipline to tackle daunting problems, and act with integrity, even when its inconvenient. These principles arent just relics of my time in uniform; theyre the guiding forces that help me navigate the complex, high-stakes challenges of mission-driven leadership. The military may have prepared me for battle, but it also prepared me to serve a different kind of mission: protecting the health of people and our planet. And for that, Ill always be grateful.Kimberly Shenk is cofounder and CEO of Novi Connect.

The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more.Carter G. Woodson is the reason we celebrate Black history this month, and every February.Not many people know him, but he was a scholar, a journalist, and an activist who decided in the early 1900s to document how formerly enslaved Africans and the broader African diaspora contributed to the prosperity and growth of this country and beyond.At the time, our nations narrative assumed that African Americans had no history or impact on the trajectory of the United States. Despite known and demonstrable evidence to the contrary, even among former enslavers, a national narrative asserting the biological and inherent inferiority of anyone with one drop of Black blood had to assert that Black people lacked any significant history or claim on shared humanity. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal except for Black men and women. This narrative added further justification for the evils of Jim Crow segregation and decades of policy and actual violence to African Americans.Hidden figuresWoodson and his colleagues changed all that. Together, they detailed the history of African-descended people in the Americas and beyond. Woodson educated the broader population about the Black contributions to their daily lives. Inventors like Thomas Jennings, the first African American to receive a patent, for a new form of dry cleaning. And, Lewis Howard Latimer, who worked with Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, where he improved the process for making carbon filaments in light bulbs and later invented a precursor to air conditioning. And, Granville T. Woods, who improved the operation of telegraphs. And, Alice H. Parker, who designed the first central heating system powered by natural gas.These hidden figuresand so many morehad been and would have been forgotten by history if not for Woodson and his colleagues. He began publication of the Journal of Negro History, now The Journal of African American History, in 1916, and it has been continuously publishing ever since, documenting the history of African American life and their contributions to society.After founding the Journal, Woodson decided to go further and start Negro History Week in 1926. He timed this for the second week in February, to coincide with the birthdays of both Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, this grew into the Black History Month we now recognize every year.Contributions should be honoredAs we face current attempts at historical erasure, we recall that Woodson and his colleagues did not enjoy broad support. Policy violence and deep rhetorical contempt against Black Americans catalyzed the rise of attacks and intimidation by the KKK and other hate groups. Thus, Woodson strived without the accolades or endorsements from establishment leaders. He and his colleagues, many white, understood that in the shared understanding of all peoples contributions to civilization lay the seeds for a more fully flowering democracy. Woodsons efforts certainly helped to raise the consciousness of Black Americans. It also gave whites the opportunity to cast aside the toxic mythology of white supremacy.Woodson became one of the leaders of the Black intellectual and cultural movements in the 20s and 30s, such as the Harlem Renaissance and the international Black Consciousness Movement led by individuals like Marcus Garvey. His work helped Black people all over the country and throughout the African diaspora recognize our contributions and envision our full potential in a society unfettered by racial hate, segregation, and discrimination.Black History Month rests on a big and bold legacy that Woodson created for us. We now have many different history months that celebrate all aspects of our nations heritage, not just a sanitized version. We have Womens History Month; Jewish American History Month; Hispanic Heritage Month; LGBTQ+ Pride Month; and so much more. Because of the tireless work of Woodson, we can have a full picture of this countrys history. With a better understanding of our past, we can better navigate the future.Build on the legacyAs we reflect on all of this work that brought us here, I want to ask: What is the work we are willing to do to build upon this legacy? What can we do to make the most of where we are now, every single day?Woodson was driven not by a desire for accolades or recognition. He wanted his people, and all people, to better connect with a rich history, rather than have that history erased. We are at a similar moment in time in our nations history where we risk losing the truth of how we got close to, and how we might strive to fulfill the promise of a more perfect union.How can we follow Woodsons lead and do the work necessary to remember our past, and create a better future where all can thrive?Joe Scantlebury, JD, is CEO of Living Cities.

Unpopular opinion, if NASA had to collaborate with a footwear brand, I think its best bet really would be Crocs. Not Nike, not Adidas, not any sports brand, but Crocs. Crocs make some of the most popular shoes that everyone loves to hate, because of their odd design. Their weird design is almost reminiscent of aliens, with the weird shapes and the holed exteriors so who better than a literal space agency to collaborate over outer-space-themed footwear??These concept kicks were designed as a part of Vadim Sadovskis AI exploration series (yeah, Im sad theyre AI too). Its difficult to say what Sadovskis prompts were, but clearly hes taken some unique directions, from creating almost parametrically designed shoes to the classic Clogs-style shoes but with craters on them.Designer: Vadim SadovskiVadims reinterpretations of the original Crocs shoes are by far my favorites. The shoes are famous (or rather infamous) for the holes on the top, which Vadim had the AI reinterpret as craters. The surface of the shoe becomes the surface of the moon, and you can immediately see its imperfect rocky, sandy surface thats dotted with craters caused by meteorites hitting the surface because of the lack of an atmosphere.Apart from the rocky mottled surfaces of the shoes, Vadim also experimented with sole designs, bringing an anti-gravity aspect into the shoes form. Im a proud Crocs wearer myself, and if theres one thing I love about them, its that theyre comfortable and flexible. The soles are essentially a part of the shoes, which are molded from EVA foam so the idea of having a separate outsole is a pretty nice deviation from the Crocs standard.Other experimentations ventured into a more different territory, alien to both Crocs and NASA. Shoes created using parametrically modeled surfaces with Voronoi-style textures and holes (beware if youre trypophobic). The use of white and black enhance the space-theme of the shoe, which clearly looks like its made for wearing on the ISS or maybe on a colony on Mars.The final experiment leans more towards astronaut footwear on the Crocs-to-NASA spectrum. With a design that seems almost pressurized and made to deal with the effects of outer space, the final shoe below could really be worn with a space-suit. Metal laces fix the shoe to your foot, and over a dozen valves replace the holes you would otherwise see on the top of the shoe. Both the Crocs and NASA logo feature on all footwear, really sealing the brand collab even if its totally unofficial.Sadly, these shoes will probably never see the light of day because theyre all AI-generated. Vadim doesnt specify which AI tool he uses, although it feels like a combination of multiple GenAI tools like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and maybe some Photoshop Generative Tools too. Which one would you love to see a real prototype of?The post These NASA x Crocs Collab Shoes Look So Good We Wish They Were Real (Theyre Actually AI) first appeared on Yanko Design.

Alloy Development, an architecture studio and developer based in New York, has unveiled plans for One Third Avenue a 63-story skyscraper that will adhere to Passive House standards. Set to become the second tallest building in Brooklyn, this impressive structure will soar to 220 meters (725 feet). The skyscraper will house 583 apartments on floors 11 through 60, with 152 units designated as affordable housing. The buildings lower levels will also feature six floors dedicated to office space.The design features a cubic tower distinguished by its gridded facade. At its base, a darkly clad podium is present, hosting a street-level restaurant and a terrace above. One Third Avenue will stand alongside the adjacent 505 State Street tower, forming part of the larger Alloy Block in Downtown Brooklyn. This mixed-use development is poised to become the boroughs most sustainable block, including two new branches of New York public schools.Designer: Alloy DevelopmentAlloy Development today announced the second phase of the Alloy Block in Downtown Brooklyn and the tallest Passive House building in the world, One Third Avenue, said Alloy. Alloy CEO Jared Della Vale says since the One Third Avenue will be built to Passive House standards, this could be quite incredibly challenging.One Third Ave will raise the bar for sustainable urban development, said Valle. Developing a Passive House building at this scale will be incredibly challenging, but the payoff will be significant with high-quality living that remains environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The second phase of the Alloy Block will demonstrate new possibilities to the industry and stand as an example of a solution that helps stall climate change.The building is designed to incorporate large operable windows, along with an airtight, well-insulated building envelope, and will offer filtered fresh air, critical features in meeting Passive House standards. These elements are designed to optimize energy efficiency and sustainability, significantly enhancing indoor air quality.Both the residential and office spaces within the skyscraper will share energy resources, a strategy implemented by Alloy to reduce waste heat and improve overall resource efficiency. An interior rendering reveals a living room with modern concrete ceilings and substantial square windows, emphasizing the buildings sleek and contemporary design.Once completed, One Third Avenue will stand as the second tallest skyscraper in Brooklyn, surpassed only by the 325-meter-tall Brooklyn Tower designed by SHoP Architects. This impressive structure will redefine the boroughs skyline while contributing to its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.Construction will commence in the summer of 2025, and the skyscraper is expected to be completed in 2028. This will also mark the completion of the large Alloy Block since the other buildings on the site are open. The block includes two historic buildings that have been transformed into retail spaces and two schools accommodated in a building by the local studio Architecture Research Office.The post The Worlds Tallest Passive House Skyscraper Is Set To Be Completed In Brooklyn By 2028 first appeared on Yanko Design.

The ad-supported service is home to the biggest content library of any streamer. So why is Tubi still considered a social punching bag?

Breeze Liu has been a prominent advocate for victims. But even she struggled to scrub nonconsensual intimate images and videos of herself from the web.