This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.Are friends electric?Thankfully, the difference between humans and machines in the real world is easy to discern, at least for now. While machines tend to excel at things adults find difficultplaying world-champion-level chess, say, or multiplying really big numbersthey find it hard to accomplish stuff a five-year-old can do with ease, such as catching a ball or walking around a room without bumping into things.This fundamental tensionwhat is hard for humans is easy for machines, and whats hard for machines is easy for humansis at the heart of three new books delving into our complex and often fraught relationship with robots, AI, and automation. They force us to reimagine the nature of everything from friendship and love to work, health care, and home life. Read the full story.Bryan GardinerThis story is from the next edition of our print magazine, which is all about relationships. Subscribe now to read it and get a copy of the magazine when it lands on February 26!If youre interested in how technology is influencing our relationships, why not check out these stories:+ Chatbots are rapidly changing how we connect with our spouses, kids, colleagues, friends, and even ourselves. And theyre providing us with everything from argument arbitration tips and emotional support to parenting help and even romance. Read the full story.+ An AI chatbot told a user how to kill himselfbut the company doesnt want to censor it. Read the full story.+ How cuddly robots could change dementia care. Researchers are using AI and technological advancements to create companion robots. Read the full story.+ Technology that lets us speak to our dead relatives has arrived. Are we ready? Digital clones of the people we love could forever change how we grieve.The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 DOGE plans to use AI to decide federal workers fateThe department will feed employees emails into an AI model which will determine whether their jobs are necessary. (NBC News)+ Its part of its cut-first-ask-questions-later approach. (WP $)+ Even Trump appointees are taken aback by how gung-ho Elon Musk is being. (Vox)+ The now-public email address has been inundated with spam. (TechCrunch)2 Ukraine is on the verge of losing its most sophisticated weaponryIf the US pulls military aid, Ukraine and its allies will struggle to cover the shortfall in equipment. (WSJ $)+ Volodmyr Zelensky is one of the few leaders standing up to Donald Trump. (The Atlantic $)+ Meet the radio-obsessed civilian shaping Ukraines drone defense. (MIT Technology Review)3 Anthropic has released a hybrid-reasoning AI modelSome answers dont require extensive, human-like reasoning after all. (Bloomberg $)+ Whats next for AI in 2025. (MIT Technology Review)4 Were probably not going to be hit by an asteroid in 2032But the moon may not be so lucky. (NY Mag $)+ The first asteroid mining company hopes to launch this week. (NYT $)5 Europe has launched a new AI-powered weather prediction systemIt can outperform traditional forecasting methods up to 15 days in advance. (FT $)+ Google DeepMinds new AI model is the best yet at weather forecasting. (MIT Technology Review)6 Elizabeth Holmes conviction has been upheldThe Theranos founders multi-year appeal was rejected. (The Guardian)7 Dating whistleblowers are being targeted by a Telegram networkWomen who warn others in the Facebook group Are We Dating the Same Guy? are being doxxed and harassed. (Wired $)8 Deep sea minings effects last for decadesBiodiversity suffers in previously-mined trenches in comparison to untouched areas. (New Scientist $)+ These deep-sea potatoes could be the future of mining for renewable energy. (MIT Technology Review)9 Nigerias cloud startups are boomingMove over, Amazon and Google. (Rest of World)10 An AI video of Trump sucking Musks toes is being played on US government TVsMaybe not all AI art is bad, after all. (404 Media)Quote of the dayThe vast majority are not drinking the Kool-Aid, they are not activistsbut they are conflicted.Ariella Steinhorn, who runs a whistleblower-supporting media company, explains how most workers at Big Tech firms feel about their bosses aligning themselves with Donald Trump to the Financial Times.The big storyInside NASAs bid to make spacecraft as small as possibleOctober 2023Since the 1970s, weve sent a lot of big things to Mars. But when NASA successfully sent twin Mars Cube One spacecraft, the size of cereal boxes, in November 2018, it was the first time wed ever sent something so small.Just making it this far heralded a new age in space exploration. NASA and the community of planetary science researchers caught a glimpse of a future long sought: a pathway to much more affordable space exploration using smaller, cheaper spacecraft. Read the full story.David W. BrownWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ RIP Roberta Flack, one of the realest to ever do it.+ Very cool: its looking like Bigfoot could become Californias first official cryptid + These portraits concealed within masterpiece paintings are mind blowing.+ Happy birthday to the late, great George Harrison, who would have been 82 today.

Five years after Photoshop landed on the iPad, Adobe has finally brought its popular photo editing software to the iPhone.Photoshop comes to iPhoneYes, you're reading that right. Starting today, Adobe Photoshop is available on the iPhone. That means you can now edit images with Photoshop from wherever you are.With a completely overhauled UI designed for mobile interfaces, using Photoshop on iPhone is as easy as using it on iPad. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Susan Kare, one of the original Mac team members, is selling silver and gold keycaps and pendants using her icon-based artwork you can wear or adorn your keyboard with.Esc Keys keycaps - Image Credit: Asprey Studio/Susan KareA designer who worked on the icons used on the original Macintosh, Susan Kare actively continues to work as an artist. In her latest offering, she is selling keycaps as well as pendants bearing images created in the low-res bitmap style.The series, titled Esc Keys, consist of 32 icon-style images, ranging from lightbulbs with faces and birds on a wire, to waves, books, and the word "Panic!" None of the icons are directly Mac-related, but the styling isn't a million miles away. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.Don Draper was undoubtedly a flawed man, but unlike his moral compass, his taste in interiors (and two-piece suits) was rarely in question. Fans of the 2010s AMC series Mad Men will likely recall the stunner of a mid-century East-Side apartment that the advertising creative director, played by actor Jon Hamm, shared with his wife Megan from Season 5 onward. The swoon-worth penthouse was decked out with all the old favorites, walnut veneer, grasscloth wallpaper, the obligatory Eames chair and ottoman, and of course, the star of the show, the sunken lounge pit, complete with brown sectional and thick white carpet. This particular design feature was a staple of the 60s.Decades later, that drop in the floor, a place where cocktails were poured and secrets were spilled, is becoming a fan favorite. Back on the mood boards of architects and interior designers everywhere and far from being a mere nostalgia trip, the lowered lounge arrangement is proving itself a relevant reflection of modern living as people increasingly host casual gatherings at home and crave environments that encourage conversation and authenticity.The Gables by Patalab Architecture, London, United KingdomIt would be unfair to credit Draper for starting the trend. In reality, the conversation pit owes its mainstream breakthrough to the 1957, Miller House in Columbus, Indiana, built by the Finnish American architect and industrial designer Eero Saarinen. Saarinen, also known for the Womb chair, the arching Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the winged TWA Flight Center in New York, approached furniture design as an extension of architecture with material, form and function being intrinsically linked to the building a piece was occupying.By the late 1960s, conversation pits were the epitome of cool, popping up regularly in design magazines and the homes of the fashion forward. Bold color schemes, thick, fuzzy carpeting and low-hanging pendant lamps typified the style. Over time, however, shifting tastes, the rise of open-plan living and changes in building codes made the sunken lounge a passing novelty. Many boarded over their drop-down floors in the name of minimalism, relegating conversation pits to the design archives until now.Today, a blend of changing social habits and tightening budgets has revived desire for the sunken lounge. Rather than spending on pricey dinners and noisy bars, many people are choosing to host at home. Themed cocktail nights, craft sessions, board-game marathons and watch parties are taking over living rooms. While grocery subscription boxes are making even the most wary cook try their hand in the kitchen, grazing boards are regularly a trending topic on social media. One of the challenges in these scenarios is ensuring guests remain together. No one wants to be sat in a line on the sofa, especially if youre the one on the end, craning your neck as you try to keep track of the conversation.Villa Alley by DALL OFFICE, Ghalat, IranBy lowering a section of the floor, a conversation pit creates an intuitive boundary no walls needed. Everyone settles at roughly the same eye level, invited into the same circle of chatter and shared snacks. Lounge pits mean no perching on mismatched stools, without a place to sit your plate or glass and less chance of satellite groups drifting off into separate corners and conversations.However, bringing a conversation pit into a contemporary home requires thoughtful planning. Structural layout can cause big issues. Unsurprisingly, its not easy to cut a hole into your floor that wasnt designed to be there. Some projects will face limitations. There may be hidden ductwork or load-bearing beams that restrict how low one can realistically go. New builds have an advantage here. Designers can incorporate a pit from the start, ensuring that the foundation, framework and any underfloor utilities are accounted for.Or, if thats not an option, many modern iterations follow the fake-it-til-you-make-it line of design, steps up, and then back down to give the impression of a sunken floor without any structural modifications. While some furniture manufacturers are making modular sofas that can be configured like a lounge pit saving the need for any permanent modifications.House Boogertby Borren Staalenhoef Architects, Epe, Netherlands | Photos by Pieter KersBeing an invention of the 60s, conversation pits thrive on tactile and inviting materials. Wool-blends, suede and corduroy are all classics. But a bold, retro pattern will always work well in a lounge pit. Open-plan homes can suffer from acoustic reverberations, so dropping the floor encloses the space while the seating acts as sound baffles, meaning conversation stays clear and intimate. Large, overstuffed cushions can help with this too, not only encouraging extended lounging but also helping absorb and dampen sound.Many critics call them dangerous hazardous and awkward. Now, of course, no one wants their guests or children tripping into a pit. However, the best designs address this by installing broad, shallow steps and lighting them with discreet, warm LEDs. An unassuming timber rail or a raised wraparound ledge can double as a safety feature while also working as a makeshift side table. If accessibility is a concern, designers might integrate ramps or wider landing pads so that everyone, including those with wheelchairs or limited mobility, can enter and exit comfortably.House L011 by Stephan Maria Lang Architects, Munich, GermanyThis is particularly important in public settings. Though famed for its role in private homes, the sunken lounge is making inroads in hospitality and work environments, too. Hotels, keen to cater to a wide variety of guest needs through day into night, can incorporate pits in their lobbies or lounge bars, giving visitors a cozy corner to converse over coffee or linger over drinks. Equally, co-working studios that typically look to be flexible in their seating offerings can also be seen regularly devoting a recessed seating area to help facilitate informal meetups.Mostly, the comeback of the conversation pit highlights our collective desire to reconnect in person. Digital entertainment dominates daily life, and yet people still crave face-to-face interaction. A slightly dropped seating area, ringed in plush, enveloping and textured cushions, prompts everyone to lean in and talk. There is no corner seat left out of the loop, no wide gap between participants. It is a small tweak in spatial planning but one that can profoundly change how a group interacts.It would be easy to dismiss the lounge pit as a piece of 1960s nostalgia, best left to Don Draper and his questionable after-hours conduct. Yet its reappearance suggests it addresses genuine needs in modern life: the push for intimate social zones that do not eliminate the open flow of contemporary homes. By lowering a section of the floor instead of throwing up partition walls, designers preserve the sense of a spacious layout while carving out a natural space for social interaction to refocus our attention and bring people together.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post The Conversation Pit Comeback: Why Architects Are Revisiting This Mid-Century Feature appeared first on Journal.

After last years successful Silent Hill 2 remake, Bloober Team and Konami have confirmed the continuation of their partnership. The two companies are now working on a new title based on Konamis IP. Though further details have not been revealed, Konami will serve as the publisher.Per Bloober Team, the trust built upon the success of Silent Hill 2 resulted in the foundation for signing another agreement for a new project. It also aligns with the developers plan to expand its internal development division within a first-party framework.CEO Piotr Babieno added that working with Konami has been incredibly fruitful. By sharing knowledge and experience, we have been able to create high-quality production together. Of course, we cant reveal too many details at this time, but we are confident that fans will be just as excited about our collaboration as we are. We cant wait to share something truly special with players when the time is right.Silent Hill 2 remake launched in October for PS5 and PC. It would sell over one million copies in its first three days and passed two million sold as of last month. There was also significant critical praise check out our review for more details on why its so good.Alongside this new project, Bloober Team is also working on Cronos: The New Dawn, a sci-fi horror title launching this year. It also has Project M in the works (previously co-developed with Serial Cleaners developer Draw Distance) and Project R with Skybound Entertainment.

Leading up to the PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S release of Monster Hunter Wilds later this week on February 28, Capcom has released a new live action trailer for the game. This trailer shows off not only some in-game hunts, but also some real people hopping into the game to take down massive monsters. Check it out below.While the latest trailer doesnt reveal anything new about Monster Hunter Wilds, it does give us a great look at some of the games roster of monsters, newcomers like Lala Barina and returning ones like Nerscylla. Along with this, the trailer also places quite a bit of emphasis on the nature of balance between monsters, the humans that live alongside them, and hunters.This echoes what director Yuya Tokuda has said about the games story earlier this month, where he said that it was inspired by the relationship between people, nature, and monsters, and what exactly is a hunters role in a world like that.We wanted to illustrate that not just through the gameplay, but a very deep story, he said. There are many other things we have planned down the line that are aligned to the concept of Monster Hunter Wilds, and were confident this game was able to achieve what we wanted to express with it.On the other hand, players that would prefer to ignore the story in favour of jumping into the games loop of taking down massive monsters quicker can also just skip the cutscenes and dialogue. Tokuda does warn that this will lead to players missing out the titles various character arcs and general story.We have various people living in that world, like Nata, who had his hometown destroyed by a monster, and Olivia, who wants to correct that, he said. There are many people with different perspectives living all together. And we also wanted to illustrate how the hunter would feel in a world like that. What would they feel? How would they think? Everybody is different, so we decided to add those kinds of elements to Monster Hunter Wilds.In keeping with the Monster Hunter tradition since the release of World, Capcom has confirmed that Wilds will be getting post-launch support in the form of Title Updates that bring with them new content. The first one of these, slated for release in Spring, will bring Mizutsune to the games roster of monsters, along with a host of other content like new Event Quests.At launch, Monster Hunter Wilds will feature both new monsters as well as returning ones from older titles. Some of the newer ones in the game include Chatacabra, Doshugama, Nur Udra and Akrveld. Fans of older Monster Hunter titles will be happy to see the return of several monsters, including Yian Kut-Ku, Congalala, Nerscylla, and Gypceros. Franchise mascots Rathalos and Rathian will also be part of the roster in Wilds.For more details about Monster Hunter Wilds, check out our review. And while were at it, check out 10 things we cant wait to do when the game is finally out.

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreQualcomm unveiled its new Qualcomm Dragonwing brand for its products in the industrial, embedded IoT, enterprise and networking markets.Don McGuire, chief marketing officer at Qualcomm, said the designer of semiconductor chips already has its Snapdragon brand, but now it is breaking out another brand in Dragonwing that represents a significant step in its journey to empower businesses and industries to scale to new heights.As we continue to diversify, the core components of our platforms and solutions AI, computing, and connectivity are relevant to more industries than ever before, McGuire said. From industrial robots to cameras, to industrial handhelds and drones, and more, this portfolio deserves a brand identity worthy of the technology innovation delivered across categories. Dragonwing, however, isnt just a name; its our promise to drive transformation and elevate industry growth.In a world where companies face the daunting challenge of transforming and growing with new technologies and digital systems, the Dragonwing portfolio empowers company growth, productivity and competitivenessat a global scale, McGuire said.This is a new brand focused on business transformation, said Ignacio Contreras, VP of product marketing at Qualcomm, in a press briefing. Given the broad variety of segments that we serve, now its time to introduce a new way to articulate and clarify the value position that we give to many products and many offerings beyond our Snapdragon brand, Contreras said. The brand focused on industrial, IoT, enterprises and networking business audiences reflects our diversification and commitment to development of products that transform industries, Contreras said. This marks a significant step in our journey to empower industries to scale to new heights with the Qualcomm Dragonwing brand. It will sit and stand shoulder to shoulder with Snapdragon, while Snapdragon, as you know, offers premium experiences for consumers on mobile, automotive, wearables, PCs and other categories. Dragon wing is focused on business transformation.Qualcomms Dragonwing brand represents our industrial and embedded IoT, enterprise and networkingsolutions.The Dragonwing brand represents Qualcomms industrial and embedded IoT, enterprise and networking solutions. Leading edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity are built into custom hardware, software, and service offerings designed for speed, scalability, and reliability.With Dragonwing products, companies can unlock smarter decision-making, increased operational efficiency, and faster time-to-market. This is crucial for industries like energy and utilities, retail, supply chain, manufacturing, and telecom, enabling businesses to expand into new opportunities, extend their competitive edge and win in evolving markets.An industrial-oriented brandThe name Dragonwing and its stylized dragon icon symbolizes ascension, power, and acceleration. The brands color palette includes an influential purple, which fuses Qualcomms innovative blue and Snapdragons bold red.Together, Dragonwing and Snapdragon create a strong, purpose-built portfolio, strengthening leadership in both consumer and industrial segments, McGuire said. We know the future of technology because we create it. With Dragonwing, we help businesses take a leap and accelerate their digital transformation with speed and confidence, McGuire said.The Dragonwing brand will make its debut at MWC (March 3-7) and Embedded World (March 11-13). This Qualcomm Dragonwing brand will encompass our industrial and embedded IoT products, wireless networking, such as solutions for Wi Fi access points and server infrastructure offices, offerings such as those for OpenRan, Contreras said. Dragonwing means business growth with applications across a vast range of industries, from energy utilities, retail, telecom and much more. One important consideration is that horizontal technologies are building blocks that span across Dragonwing and Snapdragon platforms.He noted that at Mobile World Congress, Qualcomm will have products that focus on AI workloads, particularly inferencing, which will be running across devices, edge systems and cloud data centers.You can think about connectivity as the oxygen that brings our digital experiences to life, and just like oxygen, when connectivity is lacking for expand quality, we all suffer here, Contreras said. Daily insights on business use cases with VB DailyIf you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI.Read our Privacy PolicyThanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.An error occured.

Quantum Machines has raised $170 million in funding to accelerate quantum computing and improve its advanced quantum control solutions.Read More

Amazon Appstore to close on Android in August 2025Virtual currency Amazon Coins will also be discontinuedImage credit: Amazon News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Feb. 25, 2025 Amazon has announced it will be discontinuing its Android Appstore on August 20, 2025.As reported by TechCrunch, the company said it wants to focus on supporting the Appstore for its own devices as "that's where the majority of our customers currently engage with it."The Amazon Appstore will remain available on Fire TV and Fire Tablet devices.A notice was sent to developers on February 20, stating that from that date new apps targeting Android devices would be eligible for submission. Updates are still permitted until the cut off date.Customers in Japan "will no longer be able to make in-app purchases on the Amazon Appstore for Android devices," but it will continue to be available for other marketplaces until August 20.As stated on the Appstore's support page, its virtual currency Amazon Coins will also be discontinued on August 20. Any coins remaining in customers accounts will be refunded after this date.

Chinese conglomerate NetEase has told Game Developer it will continue to support its myriad of overseas studios, but warned that structural changes will be a 'necessary part' of ongoing growth.The Marvel Rivals developer has reiterated its stance after Bloomberg reported the company laid off hundreds of workers across its studio network and canceled multiple projects.The publication claimed NetEase, under the leadership of CEO William Ding, had pulled back on international investments to refocus on a smaller portfolio of evergreen, mass market tiles like Eggy Party.NetEase has previously established and invested into a huge number of international studios such as Jar of Sparks, Ouka Studios, Bullet Farm, Worlds Untold, Skybox Labs, Rebel Wolves, Anchor Point, and more.Some of those entities, such as Skybox Labs and Ouka Studios, have reportedly laid off workers in recent months. Others like Rebel Wolves and Anchor Point recently issued statements explaining they remain unaffected by the purported business pivot.As for NetEase itself, responding to Bloomberg's reporting and the statements issued by its studios, a company spokesperson told Game Developer the firm remains committed to its global expansion plans but acknowledged "business evaluations" have been taking place.NetEase chose to lay off multiple Marvel Rivals developers in the United States after one such evaluation. That decision was made after the multiplayer hero shooter topped 40 million players within months of launch."As far as overseas business efforts are concerned, NetEase has not wavered in its global expansion plans. Our 'two-pronged' approach (combining self-research and investments to explore global markets), is still actively progressing and yielding positive results," explained a NetEase spokesperson."As part of our investment strategy, every decision was based purely on business evaluations and was not influenced by other factors. Our studios in North America, the UK, Spain, France, and Japan all continue to refine and develop their ongoing game projects."NetEase said it's actively recruiting and nurturing talent across its global business, but added that "organizational structure changes aimed at improving performance are a necessary part of our ongoing growth.""Mr. Ding stated on the recent earnings call that NetEase is committed to supporting really high quality studios and master creators," added the company."That is the companys strategy, and there is no change in this plan. For any studio globally, it behooves us as a responsible commercial business to frequently evaluate the progress, viability and potential for success of our products and teams."