A third row of apps has appeared on some user's infotainment systems following the recent iOS 18.4 beta update.

A new rumor suggests that the iPhone 17 family wont get the new Apple C1 cellular modem, with the tech giant opting for a MediaTek 5G chip as Cupertino seeks to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm.

Bybit said it recovered nearly 447,000 ether tokens, replenishing its reserves through a mix of emergency loans and whale deposits.

PayPal Open is designed to unify the payment company's fragmented suite of enterprise solutions under a single brand.

In 2024, Amazon introduced its AI-powered HR assistant, which helps managers with performance reviews and workforce planning. Similarly, Tesla deployed AI personas to assist in real-time production monitoring and supply chain optimization. These advancements showcase how AI personas are becoming essential in business operations, streamlining processes, and enhancing decision-making.As artificial intelligence evolves, were witnessing two interrelated phenomena shaping our future: AI personas and agentic AI. These developments bring both opportunities and challenges.Understanding AI PersonasAI personas are collections of digital elements that combine to form hybrid characters with defined traits and priorities that interact with users in sophisticated ways. They range from professional advisors to creative collaborators and emotional support systems. Their ability to adapt interactions based on user needs makes them powerful tools for organizations.AI personas can be understood through three key dimensions:Function: The specific role and tasks the persona will performEpistemic perspective: The knowledge base and information sources the persona draws uponRelationship type: The mode of interaction that best serves the intended purposeAI personas maintain consistent personality traits while evolving through interactions. For instance, an AI persona might serve as a strategic planning partner in a business context, accumulating knowledge about the organizations goals and culture over time.The Emergence of Agentic AIAgentic AI refers to systems with increasing autonomy and decision-making capability. Unlike traditional AI that processes inputs and generates outputs, agentic AI can initiate actions and pursue objectives independently within defined parameters.The intersection of AI personas and agentic AI creates new collaboration possibilities. Consider these examples:Supply Chain Management: Teslas AI system doesnt just process inventory datait autonomously adjusts production schedules, initiates parts orders, and redirects shipments based on real-time demand and disruption predictions. The system can decide to expedite certain components or switch suppliers without human intervention, though within predefined parameters.Financial Trading: Modern trading algorithms dont simply execute preset rules. They actively monitor market conditions, news feeds, and social media sentiment, making independent decisions to open, adjust, or close positions. JPMorgans AI trading system, for instance, can autonomously modify its strategies based on changing market conditions.Network Security: Darktraces Enterprise Immune System doesnt wait for security teams to identify threats. It learns normal network behavior and autonomously takes action to counter potential attacks, such as quarantining suspicious devices or blocking unusual data transfers.These systems showcase how AI can not only respond to requests but proactively identify opportunities, suggest improvements, and take initiative within defined parameters.Challenges and ConsiderationsHowever, this evolution presents challenges:Authenticity and Trust: As AI personas become more sophisticated, maintaining transparency is critical. Organizations must establish clear guidelines on AI capabilities and limitations.Emotional Engagement: Humans naturally form emotional connections with AI personas, which can enhance interactions but also raise ethical concerns about dependency and manipulation.Autonomy Boundaries: Setting clear limits on what decisions AI personas can make independently versus requiring human oversight is essential.Managing the FutureTo harness these technologies effectively, organizations should focus on:Purposeful Design: AI personas should align with organizational goals, capabilities, and ethical guidelines.Human-Centered Approach: AI should enhance human capabilities rather than replace them.Ethical Frameworks: Transparency, privacy, and clear boundaries must guide AI interactions.Continuous Monitoring: Organizations should track AI behavior to ensure compliance and effectiveness.Implementation FrameworksThe OPEN framework (Outline, Partner, Experiment, Navigate) provides a systematic four-step process for harnessing AIs potential, guiding organizations from initial assessment through to sustained implementation. The CARE framework (Catastrophize, Assess, Regulate, Exit) offers a parallel structure for identifying and managing AI-related risks, that can guide organizations in implementing AI personas effectively:The OPEN framework helps organizations unlock AIs potential through systematic:Outlining of possibilities and goalsPartnership development with AI and stakeholdersExperimentation with different approachesNavigation of evolving capabilitiesThe CARE framework helps manage associated risks through:Catastrophizing to identify potential threatsAssessment of risk likelihood and impactRegulation of risk through controlsExit strategies for when things go wrongLooking ForwardThe future of AI personas and agentic AI offers unprecedented potential for human cognition and collaboration. However, balancing technological advancement with ethical considerations is crucial.AI personas are reflections of human values and culture. Developing better AI personas isnt just a technical challengeits a human one. Organizations must embody values that AI systems can learn and replicate.Success lies in embracing AI with mature optimismleveraging its potential while acknowledging limitations. The goal is to create AI personas that enhance human potential, support relationships, and help individuals become better versions of themselves.This transformation isnt just about building better AIits about fostering a future where artificial and human intelligence thrive together in meaningful ways.

A Texas pipeline companys lawsuit accusing Greenpeace of defamation, disruptions, and attacks during protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline goes to trial in North Dakota on Monday, in a case the environmental advocacy organization says threatens free speech rights and its very future.The lawsuit stems from the protests in 2016 and 2017 over the oil pipelines planned Missouri River crossing, upstream from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes reservation. The tribe has long argued that the pipeline threatens its water supply. Of the thousands of people who protested the project, hundreds were arrested.Energy Transfer and its subsidiary Dakota Access allege trespass, nuisance, defamation, and other offenses by Netherlands-based Greenpeace International and its American branch, Greenpeace USA. The lawsuit also names the groups funding arm, Greenpeace Fund Inc.The jury trial in state court in Mandan, North Dakota, is scheduled to last five weeks.What are details of the case?Dallas-based Energy Transfer alleges Greenpeace tried to delay construction of the pipeline, defamed the companies behind it, and coordinated trespassing, vandalism, and violence by pipeline protesters. The lawsuit seeks millions of dollars in damages.The Dakota Access Pipeline was completed and has been transporting oil since June 2017.Greenpeace International said it shouldnt be named in the lawsuit because it is distinct from the two U.S.-based Greenpeace entities, operates outside the U.S., and its employees were never in North Dakota or involved with the protests.Greenpeace USA said the plaintiffs have failed to back up their claims in the years since the protests.Earlier in February, a judge denied motions by Greenpeace to throw out or limit parts of the case.What is Greenpeaces position?Representatives of the environmental organization founded over 50 years ago said the company just wants to silence oil industry critics.This trial is a critical test of the future of the First Amendment, both freedom of speech and peaceful protest, under the Trump administration and beyond, Greenpeace USA Interim Executive Director Sushma Raman told reporters. A bad ruling in this case could put our rights and freedoms in jeopardy for all of us, whether we are journalists, protesters, or anyone who wants to engage in public debate.Greenpeace USA helped support nonviolent, direct-action training on safety and de-escalation at the protests, Senior Legal Adviser Deepa Padmanabha said.Energy Transfer is arguing that anyone engaged in a training at a protest should be held responsible for the actions of every person at that protest, Padmanabha said. So its pretty easy to see how, if successful, this kind of tactic could have a serious chilling effect on anyone who might consider participating in a protest.Earlier in February, Greenpeace International filed an anti-intimidation suit in the District Court of Amsterdam against Energy Transfer, saying the company acted wrongfully and should pay costs and damages resulting from its meritless litigation.What does Energy Transfer say?An Energy Transfer spokesperson said the lawsuit is about Greenpeace not following the law.It is not about free speech as they are trying to claim. We support the rights of all Americans to express their opinions and lawfully protest. However, when it is not done in accordance with our laws, we have a legal system to deal with that, Energy Transfer spokeswoman Vicki Granado said in a statement.The company filed a similar case in federal court in 2017, which a judge dismissed in 2019. Soon after, Energy Transfer filed the state court lawsuit now headed to trial.Energy Transfer launched in 1996 with 20 employees and 200 miles (320 kilometers) of natural gas pipelines. Today the 11,000-employee company owns and operates over 125,000 miles (200,000 kilometers) of pipelines and related facilities.Jack Dura, Associated Press

Design writer Dominic Bradbury has been working on Mid-Century Modern Designers, "an homage to the design pioneers who defined the Mid-Century aesthetic through their work in furniture, glassware, ceramics, and textiles," according to Phaidon, the publisher. "Featuring 300 of the finest designers from around the world in an accessible A - Z format, this book reveals their stories, which are told together for the first time."Ward Bennett, Scissor Chair, 1968. Image credit: Courtesy of Geiger (page 33) Kenji Ekuan, Soy sauce pouring bottle for Kikkoman, 1961. Image credit: Kikkoman Corporation (page 101) Dieter Rams, TP1, 1959. Image credit: Gerhardt Kellermann (page 258) Ricardo Fasanello, Esfera Lounge Chair, 1968. Image credit: Credit de la photo Atelier Tamowski Fasanello (page 109) "The book sheds light on the modern masters who embraced this philosophy, including Alvar Aalto, Lina Bo Bardi, Lucienne Day, Tony Duquette, Charles and Ray Eames Jean Gillon, Arne Jacobsen, Carlo Mollino, Charlotte Perriand, Lucie Rie and Sori Yanagi, as well as many lesser-known heroes of the movement."Henry Dreyfuss, Trimline Telephone, 1964. Image credit: Photo: Bukowskis Auctions (page 92) Jens Quistgaard, Fjord Flatware, 1954. Image credit: Photo Morten Rasmussen from Jens Quistgaard: The Sculpting Designer by Stig Guldberg, Phaidon Press 2023 (page 254, right) Eero Saarinen, Tulip Table and Chairs, 1956/57. Image credit: Photo: Bukowskis Auctions (page 272) Walter Dorwin Teague, Boeing 707, interior design, 1956. Image credit: Teague (page 304) "Detailed texts about each designer appear alongside hundreds of images of post-war designs, from furniture to glassware, lighting to textiles, ceramics to tableware, revealing the vibrant cross-pollination of ideas among the designers who defined the era's aesthetic."Joe Colombo, Tube Chairs, 1969. Image credit: Studio Joe Colombo (pages 74-75) Jacob Jensen, Beogram 4000 record player, 1972. Image credit: Designed by Jacob Jensen for Bang & Olufsen A/S (page 162) Richard Sapper, Hairdryer, 1959. Image credit: Courtesy of Richard Sapper Archives (page 279) Florence Knoll, Model 1206 Sofa, 1954. Image credit: Eric Laignel Photography (page 175) The book features some 350 images and will retail for $90. It starts shipping on April 10th, and they're taking pre-orders here.

Given the popularity of indoor gardening these days, theres no shortage of indoor planter designs that come our way. Many of these are appliances, consumer electronics that try to automate most of the process of taking care of greens, flowers, herbs, and even veggies. Theyre definitely useful and convenient, but only a few can be considered nice to look at. Even fewer can sit on your table to give your desk or your dining space a much-needed touch of nature.This desk pot planter is less technological and more aesthetic, but it isnt completely bereft of some smart design, even if there are no electronics involved. 3D printed so you can make your own at home, Eve offers not only a greener view but also a more intimate experience in taking care of a plant by making you an agent of growth rather than just a spectator. And with its rather unique design, it might even make you feel like a force of nature itself, bringing a gentle shower to keep your plant alive. Designer: Elle STVDIOKeeping an indoor plant is both simple and complex. You really only need a few basic pieces of equipment to get started, but the intricacies of taking care of a plant can be mind-blowing. Thats why some prefer to offload most of the work to smart indoor gardening appliances that automatically water plants and even mimic sunlight. They are definitely convenient and useful, but they also take you out of the picture until its time to refill the water tank or harvest their produce.At the same time, you dont need to go completely old-school just to get your hands dirty, figuratively speaking only. Having a desk pot planter that doesnt rely even on batteries takes a good chunk of the complexity out of the equation and gives you a chance to have a hands-on role in taking care of the plant. What makes this 3D printed vase special, however, is you water the plant, providing a striking visual that adds to the rather calming aesthetic of the potted plant.The base of the planter is a typical tapered cylinder, but one side has a strip of material that gently spirals upward, leading to what looks like a small basin. When you put water inside that receptacle, the water doesnt simply fall but drips drop by drop, like a gently falling shower. This gives the image of a plant being watered by Mother Nature itself, creating a peaceful and Zen-like atmosphere on your desk.Eve is also 3D printed, so you can make your own provided you have access to the files and, of course, a 3D printer. It comes in three distinct parts, including the removable top basin, the vase itself, as well as a drip tray that collects water and residue at the bottom. The vase is made from PLA material typical of 3D printers, though it might be even more fitting if it could be made using more sustainable materials.The post 3D printed desk vase brings a little rain to your tabletop plant first appeared on Yanko Design.

You would think that two very different things would not have anything in common. But if you look closely enough, you can actually find similar characteristics in most things that are around us. Rock climbing and chairs are probably two things that are not associated with each other as the former is active while sitting is mostly associated with inertia and rest. But for designer Junho Kang, he was able to find a similarity so that the former inspired his design for the latter.Designer: Junho KangWhen youre rock climbing, you support your body weight just by using one or both of your hands. When youre sitting on a chair, whats supporting you are the legs. So in creating a design for a stool called Cling, Kang used the idea of the shape of the hands that are suspended between cracks in the rock wall that rock climbers go up in. Meanwhile, the seat is inspired by the irregular curves anad straight lines that you can see in the angular forms of the rock surfaces.What you get is a steel stool that comes with a carabiner and rope, as if youre going up a wall. But instead, you can rest on it and trust that it can hold your weight, just like you trust your hands when you go up that wall. The three legs of the Cling holds the sitters weight evenly while the seat has a soft triangular shape with three rounded seats. Both the legs and seat are made from stainless steel. The spaces between the fingers as you climb are a design feature as well. The carabiner and rope are not there just for the aesthetic. There are two hoops on each of the legs to create a hanger so that you can hang objects on your chair. This means you can place things like a water bottle, a magazine, or a book (if you dont mind hanging it on a rope). It doesnt seem to be the most comfortable stool but if you need something to sit on that seems sturdy, and if youre into the rock climbing aesthetic, then this is something that will interest you. Ultimately, Kangs Cling stool serves as a compelling reminder that design inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places. By bridging the seemingly disparate worlds of rock climbing and furniture, hes crafted a functional piece that not only supports the body but also sparks a conversation about the beauty of form and the power of observation.The post Stainless steel stool gets inspiration from rock climbing first appeared on Yanko Design.

The virus has spread in areas with low vaccination rates, and most of those affected are minors.