Hey shower singers, Realize Music has launched its revolutionary singing-wellness app, Realize Music: Sing is now available exclusively on Meta Quest in North America. Realize Music is an odd thing to call a game, but then again it is coming from Mike Wilson, founder of Deepwell and Devolver, and Mark Roemer. Now you can belt out some of your favorRead More

In this tutorial, we explore how to fine-tune NVIDIAs NV-Embed-v1 model on the Amazon Polarity dataset using LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) with PEFT (Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning) from Hugging Face. By leveraging LoRA, we efficiently adapt the model without modifying all its parameters, making fine-tuning feasible on low-VRAM GPUs.Steps to the implementation in this tutorial can be broken into the following steps:Authenticating with Hugging Face to access NV-Embed-v1Loading and configuring the model efficientlyApplying LoRA fine-tuning using PEFTPreprocessing the Amazon Polarity dataset for trainingOptimizing GPU memory usage with `device_map=auto`Training and evaluating the model on sentiment classificationBy the end of this guide, youll have a fine-tuned NV-Embed-v1 model optimized for binary sentiment classification, demonstrating how to apply efficient fine-tuning techniques to real-world NLP tasks.from huggingface_hub import loginlogin() # Enter your Hugging Face token when promptedimport osHF_TOKEN = "...." # Replace with your actual tokenos.environ["HF_TOKEN"] = HF_TOKENimport torchimport torch.distributed as distfrom transformers import AutoModel, AutoTokenizer, TrainingArguments, Trainerfrom datasets import load_datasetfrom peft import LoraConfig, get_peft_modelFirst, we log into the Hugging Face Hub using your API token, set the token as an environment variable, and import various libraries needed for distributed training and fine-tuning transformer models with techniques like LoRA.MODEL_NAME = "nvidia/NV-Embed-v1"HF_TOKEN = "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" # Replace with your actual tokentokenizer = AutoTokenizer.from_pretrained(MODEL_NAME, token=HF_TOKEN)model = AutoModel.from_pretrained( MODEL_NAME, device_map="auto", # Enable efficient GPU placement torch_dtype=torch.float16, # Use FP16 for efficiency token=HF_TOKEN)This snippet sets a specific model name and authentication token, then loads the corresponding pretrained tokenizer and model from Hugging Faces model hub. It also configures the model to use automatic GPU allocation and FP16 precision for improved efficiency.lora_config = LoraConfig( r=16, lora_alpha=32, target_modules=["self_attn.q_proj", "self_attn.v_proj"], lora_dropout=0.1, bias="none", task_type="FEATURE_EXTRACTION",)model = get_peft_model(model, lora_config)model.print_trainable_parameters()With the above code, we configure a LoRA setup with specified parameters (like r=16, lora_alpha=32, and a dropout of 0.1) targeting the self-attention mechanisms query and value projection layers. It then integrates this configuration into the model using PEFT so that only these LoRA layers are trainable for feature extraction, and finally, the trainable parameters are printed.dataset = load_dataset("amazon_polarity")def tokenize_function(examples): return tokenizer(examples["content"], padding="max_length", truncation=True)tokenized_datasets = dataset.map(tokenize_function, batched=True)Here, we load the Amazon Polarity dataset, define a function to tokenize its content field with padding and truncation, and applies this function to convert the dataset into a tokenized format for model training.training_args = TrainingArguments( output_dir="./results", evaluation_strategy="epoch", per_device_train_batch_size=4, per_device_eval_batch_size=4, num_train_epochs=1, save_strategy="epoch", save_total_limit=1, logging_dir="./logs", logging_steps=10, fp16=True, # Mixed precision)trainer = Trainer( model=model, args=training_args, train_dataset=tokenized_datasets["train"], eval_dataset=tokenized_datasets["test"],)trainer.train()With the above code, we set up training parameterslike output directories, batch sizes, logging, and FP16 mixed precisionusing TrainingArguments, create a Trainer with the model and tokenized train/test datasets, and finally initiate the training process.model.save_pretrained("./fine_tuned_nv_embed")tokenizer.save_pretrained("./fine_tuned_nv_embed")print(" Training Complete! Model Saved.")Finally, we save the fine-tuned model and its tokenizer to the specified directory and then print a confirmation message indicating that training is complete and the model is saved.By the end of this tutorial, we successfully fine-tuned NV-Embed-v1 on the Amazon Polarity dataset using LoRA and PEFT, ensuring efficient memory usage and scalable adaptation. This tutorial highlights the power of parameter-efficient fine-tuning, enabling domain adaptation of large models without requiring massive computational resources. This approach can be extended to other transformer-based models, making it valuable for custom embeddings, sentiment analysis, and NLP-driven applications. Whether youre working on product review classification, AI-driven recommendation systems, or domain-specific search engines, this method allows you to fine-tune large-scale models on a budget efficiently.Here is the Colab Notebook for the above project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitterand join ourTelegram ChannelandLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our75k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite| + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Moonshot AI and UCLA Researchers ReleaseMoonlight: A 3B/16B-Parameter Mixture-of-Expert (MoE) Model Trained with 5.7T Tokens Using Muon OptimizerAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Stanford Researchers Introduce OctoTools: A Training-Free Open-Source Agentic AI Framework Designed to Tackle Complex Reasoning Across Diverse DomainsAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/SGLang: An Open-Source Inference Engine Transforming LLM Deployment through CPU Scheduling, Cache-Aware Load Balancing, and Rapid Structured Output GenerationAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Stanford Researchers Developed POPPER: An Agentic AI Framework that Automates Hypothesis Validation with Rigorous Statistical Control, Reducing Errors and Accelerating Scientific Discovery by 10x

Nows the time to grab some Pokmon TCG deals before theyre gone. Prices have dropped, and some rarer illustration cards have increased in value. If youre after a Lugia V Alternate Art from Silver Tempest (easily fetching over 200 in mint condition), Charizard ex from Obsidian Flames, or the gold Giratina VSTAR from Crown Zenith, these boxes are worth a look.UK Deals: Discounted Pokmon TCG Boxes And BlistersCracking open packs is always a gamble, but its fun. That goes for collecting and playing, these deals are solid. They wont last forever though, so if youre thinking about it, nows the time to grab one. Pokmon Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Build & Battle StadiumPokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletObsidian Flames Triple PackEeveePokmon TCG: Crown Zenith Regidrago V CollectionPokmon TCG: Armarouge ex Premium CollectionPokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletPaldea Evolved Triple Pack Pokmon Sword & Shield Silver Tempest Build & Battle Stadium Pokmon Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Build & Battle StadiumSilver Tempest has some solid hits, and this set gives you 12 booster packs, two pre-built decks, and some extras to get you going. Lugia V Alternate Art is still one of the most sought-after cards, with raw copies still selling for well over 200. If youre lucky enough to pull one, youre sitting on a gem. Even if you dont hit a Lugia, this set is packed with Trainer Gallery cards and Radiant Pokmon that make it a fun rip.Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames Triple Pack EeveePokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletObsidian Flames Triple PackEeveeThis ones a cheap way to try your luck with Obsidian Flames. You get three boosters and an Eevee promo card, and theres always a chance to pull something big like the Charizard ex, which is creeping up in value. Other notable pulls from this set include the Special Illustration Rare Pidgeot ex (13) and the Illustration Rare Scizor (13.50). This is a good pick if youre on a budget but still want to rip some packs.Pokmon TCG: Crown Zenith Regidrago V CollectionPokmon TCG: Crown Zenith Regidrago V CollectionCrown Zenith is loaded with good pulls, including gold Legendaries, full-art Trainer Gallery cards, and some of the best Sword and Shield era artwork. Giratina VSTAR gold card alone can go for around 170 ungraded, while other big pulls include the Mewtwo VSTAR (100), Arceus VSTAR (105), and the stunning Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR (85). With nearly 20% off, this is a cracking deal.Pokmon TCG: Armarouge ex Premium CollectionPokmon TCG: Armarouge ex Premium CollectionThis set gives you six booster packs and three foil promo cards for just over 30. Its not the most hyped collection out there, but its a decent buy. Plus, it includes booster packs from Paradox Rift, which has been a big hit with some valuable cards. If youre chasing valuable pulls, youll want to look out for Roaring Moon ex (Special Illustration Rare) at around 50, Groudon (Illustration Rare) pushing 85, and Iron Valiant ex (Special Illustration Rare) at around 30. Other solid pulls include Garchomp ex (40), Altaria ex (60), and Professor Sadas Vitality (10). Whether youre after competitive cards like Iron Hands ex or stunning collectors pieces, this set is worth diving into.Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Paldea Evolved Triple PackPokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletPaldea Evolved Triple PackPaldea Evolved has some epic illustration rares, and this triple pack is an easy way to grab a few boosters without spending much. Some of the standout cards from this set include the Special Illustration Rare Tinkaton ex (24), the ever-popular Iono (50+), and the stunning Illustration Rare Magikarp (190+). If youre looking for a chance to pull something valuable, this set is worth considering.Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

Last week, multi-hyphenate billionaire and White House operative Elon Musk made a gigantic $97.4 billion bid to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI.Musk cofounded the ChatGPT maker alongside current CEO Sam Altman in 2015, but ragequit four years later after growing frustrated with its direction.Ever since, Musk has maintained that OpenAI needs to "return to the open source, safety-focused force for good it once was," as he told the Wall Street Journal in a statement earlier this month.While OpenAI's board has since rejected the offer, the actions of Musk's competing xAI startup highlight a glaring double standard.Specifically, while Musk has repeatedly excoriated OpenAI and its leadership for refusing to open source its AI models, his own AI company has yet to do the same. As ZDNet points out, the startup has only open sourced its first AI model, dubbed Grok 1, back in March, roughly four months after its initial release.All subsequent models, including Grok 3, which was released earlier this week, remain closed source, demonstrating Musk's hypocritical stance on the matter.Musk made four separate legal filings against OpenAI in 2024 alone, accusing it of losing track of its open source roots, and instead becoming a "closed-source de facto subsidiary" of investor Microsoft while ignoring its promise of developing a "safe" AI that "benefits all of humanity."The definition of "open source" has shifted significantly over the last few of years. The term once indicated that a given program's source code was available to the public.In the age of AI, however, companies have instead started releasing their models' "weights," which are parameters that determine the strength of connections between neurons of an artificial neural network.The shifting definition of open source has remained the subject of much debate, especially considering the release of Chinese AI startup open source DeepSeek's R1 reasoning model, which blasted a hole in the Western tech sector by demonstrating that capable models can be run at a tiny fraction of the cost of power players like OpenAI.Despite the growing embrace of open source AI, the majority of xAI's models remain a "black box," much like the ones trained by its competitor OpenAI.In other words, Musk's xAI is exactly the kind of entity he has accused OpenAI of turning into in his lawsuits.Whether its conventional, closed-source approach means that the richest man in the world's AI company is behind the times remains to be seen. It's nonetheless a glaring instance of Musk's unwillingness to hold himself to the same standards that he demands of others.Share This Article

Amid a terrifying spate of plane crashes and increasing public interest and political visibilityaround unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings an uptick inmysterious objects and crafts seen by airline pilotsseems to be making plane travel even more anxiety-inducing.According to the English-language Turkish outlet Turkiye Today, air traffic was temporarily suspended at an airport in Gaziantep Turkey's sixth-largest city after a pilot spotted a bizarre unidentified flying object at roughly 10,000 feet in the sky.The UFO in question was lit up and did not appear on radar, the news site indicated. In a video purporting to show the strange object, a strange pulsating light is seen hidden behind overcast clouds. Though an unnamed aviation expert toldTurkiye Today that it could have been a drone, the aviation account that posted the video noted in a translation of the post text that there hasn't been any additional information released about the source of the mysterious lights.The Gaziantep Airport flight suspensions came less than a month after multiple UFO sightings in the airspace above Istanbul raised alarms among aviators, Turkiye Today also reported and similarly strange sightings have occurred in recent months, all over the world.Back in December,Newsweek reported that two pilots saw strange crafts "zipping" through the night sky above Oregon. According to leaked cabin audio heard by the magazine's reporters, an air traffic controller advised one of the pilots to "maneuver as necessary... to avoid the UFO out there." When Newsweek contacted the Federal Aviation Administration for verification, the agency admitted that a pilot did report "seeing unidentified lights" while flying near Seattle.Just a few weeks prior, the Daily Mail reported that pilots with both American and Spirit Airlines said they saw strange, fast, and bright objects moving near their planes as they flew into the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) airport and as with the recent sighting in Turkey, the UFOS did not show on anyone's flight radar."We are following these two lights that are up above us that are kind of jogging back-and-forth, left and right, for the past, like, half hour," the American Airlines pilot told air traffic controllers at the DFW airport, per audio leaked to the Daily Mail. In another clip shared with the site, the Spirit pilot made similar claims and said they had been "watching [the objects] for about an hour or two in the northwest sky.""The lights were quite a bit above us on the horizon," the AA pilot later explained to theDM. "My first thought was satellites, but they kept getting super bright and [going] away over and over."The Spirit pilot, meanwhile, told the air traffic controllers that the UFOS he saw were moving "real quick" and seemed to be roughly "100 miles out in space."In that instance as well as the others, there's still no official explanation for what the heck was going on. It's obvious that pilots are spooked by what's going on out there and if the professionals in charge of ferrying us to and from our destinations are getting scared, that's major cause for concern.Share This Article

See at Peacock Watch the EPL in the US from $8 a month Peacock See at Peacock See more details See at ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming ExpressVPN See at ExpressVPN See more details See at Now Watch the Premier League in the UK from 15 with Now Now See at Now See more details See at Fubo Watch the Premier League in Canada from CA$30 per month Fubo Canada See at Fubo See more details See at Optus Watch the Premier League in Australia from AU$7 a month Optus Sport See at Optus See more details Table of Contents Liverpool will work to open up an uncatchable 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League as it goes in search of a win against a wounded Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.The Reds have won just one of their last four matches across all competitions, but have the opportunity to capitalize on second-place Arsenal's defeat against West Ham on Saturday.They face a Man City team still nursing its wounds from a midweek exit from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.Manchester City takes on Liverpool on Sunday, Feb. 23, at Etihad Stadium, with kickoff set for4:30 p.m. GMTlocal time in the UK. That makes it a 11:30 a.m. ET or 8:30 a.m. PTstart in the US and Canada, and a 3:30 a.m. AEDTkickoff in Australia early Sunday morning.Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world. Trent Alexander-Arnold earned Liverpool a draw with his second-half strike against Aston Villa last weekend. Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesHow to watch Man City vs. Liverpool in the US without cableSunday's Man City vs. Liverpool match is streaming onPeacock. You'll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus account to catch the game live. Peacock/CNET Peacock offers two Premium plans, and after the recent price increases, the ad-supported Premium plan costs $8 a month and the ad-free Premium Plus plan is $14 a month. See at Peacock How to watch the Premier League 2024-25 season from anywhere with a VPNIf you find yourself unable to view EPL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games -- that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions. James Martin/CNET 2024 Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year)Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 35% speed loss in 2025 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN isour current best VPN pickfor people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month.Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. See at ExpressVPN Livestream Man City vs. Liverpool in the UKThis Sunday afternoon kickoff at Etihad Stadium is exclusive to Sky Sports, showing on its Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and UHD channels. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the game via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account and a Now Sports membership to stream the game. Now TV Sky subsidiary Now offers streaming access to Sky Sports channels with a Now Sports membership. You can get a day of access for 15, or sign up to a monthly plan from 35 per month right now. See at Now Livestream Man City vs. Liverpool in CanadaIf you want to stream this EPL game live in Canada, you'll need to subscribe to Fubo Canada. The service has exclusive rights to every Premier League fixture once again this season. Fubo Fubo is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the EPL this season, with exclusive streaming rights to every match. It costs CA$30 a month, though you can save some cash by paying quarterly or annually. See at Fubo Livestream Man City vs. Liverpool in AustraliaFootball fans down under can watch EPL matches live on streaming service Optus Sport, which is showing every single Premier League fixture of the 2024-25 season live in Australia. Optus With exclusive rights to stream all EPL matches live this season, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.If you're already an Optus network customer, you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price, with discounts bringing the price down to as low as AU$7 a month. If you're not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25. See at Optus Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPNWith four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- your experience and success when streaming EPL matches may vary.If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommendBrave.

Careful of spoilers, assassins - some fans are playing Assassin's Creed Shadows earlyShadow ban.Image credit: Ubisoft / Eurogamer News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 23, 2025 Brace yourself, Assassin's Creed fans - it looks like early copies of the upcoming instalment, Assassin's Creed Shadows, have broken the street date.Unsubstantiated reports are beginning to circulate that not only have some fans been able to download the full game early from the PlayStation Store, physical copies have been prematurely sold, too.There may be light spoilers after this point, so only proceed if you're happy to be spoiled!To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Assassin's Creed Shadows - is it good?Watch on YouTubePerhaps most notably, Assassin's Creed YouTuber The Hidden One recently revealed that he knows someone playing the full game on PS5 "because the PlayStation Store made a mistake".Admitting that he could neither prove it or compel anyone to believe him, The Hidden One then revealed that in the leaked footage, he saw that Animus anomalies are back - something not previously confirmed for Assassin's Creed Shadows."In the video [the friend with early access] showed me, the player encounters something Animus in the world," he said."A pop up appeared that read: 'Animus systems breached. Stabilise anomalies and gain data fragments to advance your active strand'."The player was then prompted to "press touchpad to open the Animus menu".Assassin's Creed Shadows physical copies being sold before launch byu/Ajxtt inGamingLeaksAndRumoursTo see this content please enable targeting cookies.Over on the Gaming Leaks and Rumours subreddit it goes even further, with reports that physical copies have similarly been sold early.While, as yet, there doesn't seem to be early footage popping up on Twitch or YouTube, now may be a good time to mute key words on your favourite social media apps, just in case...Last week, Ubisoft signalled its expectations for Assassin's Creed Shadows in its latest quarterly financial results, in which it describes pre-orders for the game as "solid".While the company did not divulge exact pre-order numbers, it said they were "in line with those of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the second most succesful entry of the franchise".Our Katharine said Assassin's Creed Shadows was "the biggest shake-up of the series in years" during our recent hands-on time with the game, and praised its dual protagonist gameplay. "If Ubisoft can stick the landing on this one, it will be worth the extended wait," she wrote.

Fallout 2's Drill Sergeant Arch Dornan and Gears of War's Dizzy voice actor dies aged 80"Rest easy, brother."Image credit: Bethesda News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 23, 2025 Peter Jason - a Hollywood stalwart known to most gamers as Fallout 2's Drill Sergeant Arch Dornan in Fallout 2 and Gears of War's Dizzy - has died aged 80.As first reported by Variety, Jason died in his West Hollywood home on Thursday.In a tribute posted to Gears of War's social media accounts, the team said: "'Got your back like a buttcrack'."A legend. Peter Jason, the voice of Dizzy, has moved on. Rest easy, brother." To see this content please enable targeting cookies."Peter Jason, one of the great character actors in cinema, has died," added horror master, John Carpenter. "His first movie was Howard Hawks' RIO LOBO. He was a dear friend and I'll miss him terribly." To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Beyond games, Jason is perhaps best-known for his roles in Deadwood, 48 Hrs, and Prince of Darkness, although you'll also spot him in movies like Rio Lobo, Impulse, Brewster's Millions, They Live, and Alien Nation. He also guest starred on Murder, She Wrote, The Golden Girls, Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories, and Mad Men.Thanks, PC Gamer.

By AJ Dellinger Published February 21, 2025 | Comments (145) | Elon Musk raising an eyebrow Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Look, sure its not ideal that decisions that the federal government is being gutted agency by agency, stripped of purpose, funding, and staffing by Elon Musk and a team of 20-something-year-old edgelords who were sourced from a network of tech bro crypto-fascists and boost the messaging of white nationalists in their free time, but at least none of them are directly related to anyone deeply involved in the intelligence apparatus of a foreign adversary. Now, let me take a big sip of water and check out journalist Jacob Silvermans latest report So, you know that DOGE staffer who goes by Big Balls, otherwise known as 19-year-old Edward Coristinean alleged former member of online cybercriminal organization The Com and a cybersecurity worker who reportedly got fired from his job for leaking company secrets? Well, turns out theres another layer to his dubious background. According to independent journalist Jacob Silverman, Coristine is the grandson of Valery Martynov, a former KGB spy. Per Silvermans research, Martynov was an officer in the technical espionage division of the Russian intelligence agency back in 1980, when he was sent to the United States to serve as an undercover agent at the Soviet Embassy in Washington, D.C. About two years into his stay, Martynov got flipped by the FBI and started to feed the US government Soviet secrets. Martynov was eventually identified as compromised by KGB counterintelligence officer Victor Cherkashin, who had himself successfully developed sources within the US intelligence agencies. In order to get Martynov back to Russia without him suspecting that he was found out, Cherkashin was asked to escort another Soviet spy back home (its a long story that Silverman explains in detail). As soon as the plane touched down, Martynov was arrested and ultimately executed. His widow eventually moved to the United States permanently, where she and her children would settle, marry, and have kidsincluding Edward.Edward started at DOGE working on the General Services Administration, where he reportedly would call employees to make them explain code they had written and justify their jobs, according to Wired. Earlier this month, he wasnamed a senior adviser in the State Departments Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, where a significant amount of sensitive data related to American diplomatic operations is stored. The Washington Post reported that his role could give him the ability to obtain unauthorized access to classified material and to compromising information on other countries and foreign activities. So anyway, a former KGB agents grandkid who seemingly did not have to undergo a background check has unprecedented access to sensitive State Department data. Thats just a thing that is happening now. Is it a big deal? I have no idea. Its just one of those details that you hear and youre like, Yeah that sounds like a likely thing to happen with these guys.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Thomas Maxwell Published February 21, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published February 21, 2025 By Matthew Gault Published February 21, 2025 Adam Kovac and George Dvorsky Published February 21, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published February 20, 2025 By Matt Novak Published February 20, 2025

Pro-ve YourselfWas making the PS5 Pro so expensive a mistake? It's probably still too early to tell, but the pace of sales have apparently fallen behind the PS4 Pro'sNot an ideal start for the mid-gen upgrade.Image credit: VG247 News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Feb. 23, 2025 The PS5 Pro was seemingly off to a good start, but recent sales data has apparently put its pace behind the PS4 Pro around the same time after launch.I originally got my PS5 about two years after everybody else, primarily because, well, I write about games for a living so figured I should catch up, and despite thinking the platform didn't have many exclusives to help make it worth it, I figured they'd come down the line. That didn't really happen, as more and more developers are moving towards multiplatform releases, including Xbox, which might even bring titles like Halo to rival platforms. Then, last September, Sony announced the PS5 Pro, a $700 console that doesn't come with a disc drive, and, oh yeah, you'll have to pay even more if you want one. It was a ridiculous thing to witness, but I knew this was for a select group of people that didn't include me (and not just because I couldn't afford something like that).To see this content please enable targeting cookies. I still couldn't help but wonder how well it would do, and in November, the launch month for the upgraded piece of hardware, Sony even said that the price point didn't seem to have a negative impact on sales. That might still technically be true for all we know, but over on BlueSky games industry analyst Mat Piscatella from Circana shared that as it stands, the "PS5 Pro has fallen behind PS4 Pro's pace" in terms of sales three months in. To be clear, I don't think that the price is necessarily the reason behind that slowing pace, but I do think the general state of things might be.PS5 Pro has fallen behind PS4 Pro's pace.Digital SKUs accounted for 49% of PS5 HW units in Jan and 88% of XBS units. Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) February 21, 2025 at 2:29 PMTo see this content please enable targeting cookies.Prices are up across all industries compared to a few years ago, people just have less money to spend, particularly on a console where big tentpole games keep getting cancelled, and where the platform creator hosts showcases with next to no first-party exclusives (all of which will come to PC, albeit a shabby state, eventually anyway). It's always possible the PS5 Pro could pick up pace again further down the line, but Piscatella also noted that hardware sales are down across the board, with PS5 spending down 38%, Xbox by 50%, and Switch by 53%. That last one is probably because of the imminent Switch 2, but we're still yet to learn about a price for that one.Honestly, let's just hope pointless mid-gen hardware upgrades die with this generation, especially when some of the tech you use is called PSSR, for heaven's sake.