With a track records that touts beloved modern classics likeA Way OutandIt TakesTwo, Josef Fares-led Hazelight Studios has earned itself a healthy amount of goodwill, and now, excitement is climbing ever higher for the teams next outing.Split Fictionwas formally unveiled just a handful of weeks ago, but the co-op title is already right around the corner- and looking increasingly promising as launch approaches. To prepare ourselves (and hopefully you) forSplit Fictionsimminent release, here, well be going over a few key details that you should know about the game.STORYSplit Fictionwill see players playing as Zoe and Mio, two authors visiting the HQ of Rader Publishing as the game kicks off. Things at Rader, however, are shadier than ideal, and the two find themselves caught in simulations of each others fictional worlds, all while Rader works to steal their ideas behind-the-scenes. Now, Zoe and Mio must work together in order to foil Raders plans and find a way to escape back to reality.LEADING DUOZoe and Mio might both be writers, but theyll differ from each other in fundamental ways. Zoe, played Elsie Bennet, is a fantasy author, and described by Hazelight as a cheerful, optimistic, and charismatic extrovert. On the other hand, we have Mio, played by Kaja Chan, whos a decisive, reserved, introverted realistic. The two protagonists getting to know each other and learning how to trust one another will be a crucial part of the story.LEVELSHazelight Studios has built its reputation on outstanding gameplay and level variety, and sure enough, the developer is making similar promises withSplit Fiction. With Mio and Zoes fictional worlds serving as the levels throughout the game, players will find themselves in a variety of different environments. Mios sci-fi expertise will bring levels set in cyberpunk cities and outer space, while Zoes love for fantasy will allow players to explore all manner of fantastical worlds, ride atop dragons, and more.GAMEPLAY DETAILSSplit Fictionis being billed as an action-adventure experience, which means players should expect a little bit of everything as far as combat, platforming, and puzzles are concerned (not to mention boss fights), not unlike It Takes Twobefore it. But while the core mechanics will remain constant, the game is promising to keep things fresh with major new mechanics introduced with each level. Speaking of whichABILITIESEach new level inSplit Fictionwill not only take players to a new world, it will also bring with it new central abilities. Mio and Zoe will both have a completely new ability in each level that players will use for everything from combat to traversal to solving puzzles. Thatll include shapeshifting into fairies, deftly jumping around as a cyberpunk ninja, dual-wielding laser guns, and more. This being a Hazelight join, co-op gameplay will obviously be front and center at all times, which means Zoe and Mio will also have to use their abilities in conjunction to get past unique challenges.SIDE STORIESSplit Fictionis going to be a largely linear experience thatll constantly have you moving forward, though there will still be optional content scattered throughout the game for players to seek out. This will come in the form of side stories, which youll be able to access through portals- anomalies designed by the simulation Zoe and Mio are stuck in to steal their unfinished creative ideas. Each side story will bring new locations, gameplay mechanics and ideas, and story tidbits.MORE ON SIDE STORIESAs ever with Hazelight, variety is the name of the game inSplit Fiction,as weve already touched on, and thatll be reflected in its side stories as well. Conceived of by Zoe and Mio in their respective childhoods, these unfinished stories and their backdrops are described by Hazelight as truly weird, wonderful, and chaotic. Across these optional levels, players can expect to climb a giant-filled mountain, snowboard down a mountain while taking fire, explore outer space, chase enemies while water skiing, and even turn into pigs (only to be turned into sausages, seemingly).CO-OP OPTIONSLike with its previous titles, Hazelight Studios will allow players to playSplit Fictionone of two ways. A couch co-op option will of course be available, with the studio long having championed local co-op as the best way to play its game. Additionally, those who wish to play online co-op will also have the option to do so.FRIENDS PASSHazelight Studios and publisher EA offered a Friends Pass with both A Way OutandIt Takes Two,and theyll do so withSplit Fictionas well. For those unaware, a Friends Pass allows two players to play the game together through just one purchased copy.CROSS-PLAYHeres a major improvement thatSplit Fictionis touting with its Friends Pass, with full cross-play supported. WhereIt Takes TwoandA Way Outboth only allowed players to play with other players on the same platform (and, inIt Takes Twoscase, across generations),Split Fictionwill let PlayStation, Xbox, and PC players play with each other without any restrictions.PC REQUIREMENTSThose hoping to playSplit Fictionon PC probably wont run into too many issues, courtesy of largely modest requirements. On minimum settings (for 1080p and 60 FPS gameplay), youll need either an i5-6600K or a Ryzen 5 2600X, along with either a GeForce GTX 970 or a Radeon RX 470. Meanwhile, on recommended settings (to run the game at 1440p and 60 FPS), youll need either an i7-11700k or a Ryzen 7 5800X, along with either a GeForce RTX 3070 or a Radeon 6700 XT. On either setting, youll also need 16 GB of RAM and 85 GB of free storage space.STEAM DECK COMPATIBLESteam players hoping to playSplit Fictionportably will be able to do so. EA and Hazelight have confirmed on the games official FAQ page that it will be Steam Deck compatible at launch. Whether that means itll be fully optimized with the Verified tag hasnt yet been explicitly confirmed, though.POTENTIAL SWITCH 2 RELEASE?A Way Outnever made its way over to the Nintendo Switch, butIt Takes Twoeventually did- so which of the two willSplit Fictionfollow in the footsteps of? Its unlikely that itll come to the Switch, given that its not even releasing for PS4 and Xbox One- though a Switch 2 release might not be off the table. In fact, speaking to Danny Pea, director Josef Fares seemed to suggest that Hazelight may have been working with the upcoming console behind-the-scenes. Fares said, I know obviously a lot about it [Switch 2], but you know, theres a lot of secrecy behind everything so I cant say anything yet, but you will all know soon. Hopefully that means a Switch 2 version of the game will be announced soon- perhaps at the Nintendo Direct on April 2?CONSOLE FRAME RATE AND RESOLUTION TARGETSAs perSplit FictionsXbox store page, the co-op title will feature support for native 4K and 60 FPS+ on Xbox Series X, which presumably means we can expect the same (or similar) on PS5 as well. What we dont know yet is whether itll have multiple graphics modes available, or what to expect from its resolution and frame rate targets on PS5 Pro or Xbox Series S.PRICEAt $49.99 on all platforms, Split Fictions launch price will be a tad higher than bothIt Takes Two($39.99) andA Way Out($29.99) upon their respective releases. It will, however, include a Friends Pass, as mentioned previously, so theres that.

While Assassins Creed Shadows unfortunately suffered leaks almost four weeks before launch, Ubisoft continues to reveal new details. That includes the action RPGs Steam Achievements, which is the same as the PS5s Trophies and the Xbox Achievements.As the development team notes, it wanted the Achievements to cover different content, from the main story to the side activities. It even added puns and references to other titles in the franchise (and games like BioShock). Of course, some Achievements lack a description to avoid spoilers, and theyll remain hidden until the player unlocks them.Regardless, the notable ones include Make it Personal for engraving your first weapon, Just Your Shadow when using bells to distract the same enemy three times, Adept Shinobi for your first assassination, and more. The list also denotes various statuses players can afflict, like Daze, Poison, and Bleed, while confirming a tournament to partake in.Check out the list below. Assassins Creed Shadows launches on March 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with reviews allegedly going live on March 18th.Visible AchievementsArt of Ninjutsu Master the way of the shinobiArt of Kenjutsu Master the way of the samuraiMake it Personal Engrave your first weaponSometimes Perform a landing rollReeding is Fundamental Escape conflict by using a breathing reed to hide in shallow waterJust Your Shadow Distract the same enemy 3 times with shinobi bellsHook, Line, and Swinger Stay airborne by swinging from one grappling hook point to anotherAcrobatics Perform a Leap of Faith from a grappling hook swingAdept Shinobi Perform your first assassinationMaster Shinobi Assassinate an enemy through a shoji doorUnseen Perform 5 assassinations in a row without being noticed or entering combatGiant Slayer Assassinate a powerful guardian in one goAdept Samurai Perform your first Finisher as YasukeMaster Samurai Parry an incoming projectileUnstoppable Use Samurai Stand before performing a Finisher on an enemyThis is Japan, Actually Kick an enemy from a high placeOverdesign III Perform a Finisher on an enemy that is both Poisoned and DazedFinal Hearing Sheath your weapon immediately after an enemy dies from BleedAdventurer Shoot an enemy in the knee with an arrowTest Your Might Defeat the final enemy in the tournamentKofun Raider Complete your first kofunGood Form Complete your first kataZen Master Complete all kuji-kiriA Rare Occurrence Complete all legendary sumi-eSole Sanctum Unlock the HideoutChase the Morning Add a sumi-e to the HideoutAgainst Wood and Stone Fully upgrade a building in the HideoutEverybody Benefits! Adopt a petHappy Place Reach the highest point on the mapPathfinder Visit every province on the mapScouting Mission Gather information using a scoutWould You Kindly? Complete a contract in each provinceHidden AchievementsPrologueA New League RisesAn Oath FulfilledFall of the ShinbakufuEpilogueDeath BlossomThe ThiefThe Toxin MasterThe Eager AssassinThe RoninThe Warrior MonkThe SharpshooterBuild Your LeagueFront of the PackBetter than a BucketLimitlessIn Case of TroubleSuture SelfLeap of FailMortal ReminderCollectorMade You Look

Ctenosaura similis, commonly known as the black iguana or the black spiny-tailed iguana, is a species of iguanid lizard native to Mexico and Central America. It has been reported in some Colombian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, and has been introduced to the United States in the state of Florida. The largest species in the genus Ctenosaura, it is commonly found in areas such as grasslands and forests. This C.similis lizard was photographed on a tree branch near the Macal River, in Cayo District, western Belize.Photograph credit: Charles J. SharpRecently featured: Wangath temple complexGeorgeI RkcziNational Library of PolandArchiveMore featured pictures

Hugging Face's new FastRTC library enables Python developers to build real-time voice and video AI applications in just a few lines of code.Read More

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreElevenLabs, the highly-valued AI voice cloning and generation startup from former Palantir alumni, today launched Scribe v1, a new speech-to-text model that reportedly achieves the highest accuracy across multiple languages. Users can try it here.According to the companys benchmarks, it outperforms Googles Gemini 2.0 Flash, OpenAIs Whisper v3 and Deepgram Nova-3 in accurately converting spoken speech into text on the web, achieving new record-low error rates.The company claims that Scribe delivers state-of-the-art transcription accuracy in 99 languages, including improved performance in previously underserved languages such as Serbian, Cantonese and Malayalam.As Flavio Schneider, ElevenLabs lead researcher wrote on X, Scribe is the smartest audio understanding model released by ElevenLabs yet.Scribe doesnt just transcribe it understands audio, Schneider continued in a thread. It can detect non-verbal events (like laughter, sound effects, music and background noise) and analyze long audio contexts for accurate diarization, even in the most challenging environments.Diarization is the name given to the process of separating speakers by their vocal qualities on a recording.In fact, ElevenLabs documentation states Scribe can distinguish and isolate up to 32 different speakers in the same audio file. While ElevenLabs cautions that Scribe is best used when high-accuracy transcription is required rather than real-time transcription, the company also plans to introduce a low-latency version soon, expanding its use for real-time applications.Lowest word error rates (WER)Scribe is designed to handle real-world audio challenges with precision. According to benchmark results from FLEURS and Common Voice, it records the lowest word error rates (WER) for many languages, including Italian (98.7%) and English (96.7%). Key features include:Speaker diarization to differentiate speakers in multi-speaker recordings.Word-level timestamps for detailed transcription accuracy.Detection of non-speech events, such as laughter and background noises.Structured transcript output for seamless integration via API.Pricing and availabilityScribe is available now through the ElevenLabs website and API. Pricing is set at $0.40 per hour of input audio, with a 50% discount for the next six weeks. A low-latency version for real-time applications is also in development.What it means for enterprisesFor enterprise decision-makers, Scribe presents a tool for scalable, high-accuracy transcription, making it useful for industries relying on automated documentation, meeting transcription and content accessibility.The models ability to handle diverse languages with high precision also benefits multinational businesses, media companies and customer support applications.Scribes pricing structure makes it competitive for businesses that require high-volume transcription services, and its API-based integration allows for seamless adoption in enterprise workflows. Additionally, the upcoming low-latency version could position Scribe as a viable option for real-time communication tools.Coming the same day as rival Humes opposite text-to-speech model OctaveTiming is everything, and ElevenLabs chose to launch Scribe the same day as rival Hume AI unveiled Octave, an LLM-powered text-to-speech model that allows users to customize AI-generated voices with adjustable emotions.It is designed for content creation, including audiobooks, podcasts and video game voiceovers. Unlike standard TTS systems, Octave considers context beyond individual sentences, adjusting tone, rhythm and cadence dynamically to sound more natural.Hume AI positions Octave as a direct competitor to ElevenLabs text-to-speech offerings, highlighting that Octaves pricing is about half the cost of ElevenLabs current AI voice services. While Scribe and Octave serve different functions, their development reflects the growing competition in AI-driven audio models. ElevenLabs is prioritizing precise, multi-language speech recognition, while Hume AI is advancing expressive AI-generated speech. For enterprises, this means more specialized solutions for both transcription and synthetic voice applications, enabling more efficient content production, customer engagement and accessibility tools.Scribe is now live, and ElevenLabs is hosting a virtual event next week with the team behind its development. More details, benchmarks and API documentation are available in the official blog post.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.

The iPhone 16E is everything I love and hate about iOS. FaceTime at your fingertips. A reliable camera. Simplicity. Familiarity. Theyre the pillars of the iPhone experience, and Apples newest phone has em.My husband picked up the 16E, concerned that he would have to learn something new to use it. He swiped around for a second and said, Oh. Its just like my phone. It is just like his phone a six-year-old iPhone XR only updated with a few essential improvements (a faster processor, nicer screen, and a modern camera, that kind of thing) and little else.Thats the other pillar of the iPhone experience: You get exactly what Apple gives you and nothing more. On Android, you can buy a $500 phone with a fast refresh-rate screen, two rear cameras, seven years of software support, and wireless charging. On iOS, you can buy this $599 phone with one rear camera, a standard 60Hz screen, wireless charging (but no MagSafe), and an ample but unstated amount of software support. Apple has no competition when it comes to phones running iOS. The company can gatekeep these conveniences behind a higher price tag, and thats simply the way things will be. Im looking at you, ProMotion.7Verge ScoreiPhone 16E$599$599The GoodReliable performanceGood, if limited, camera systemIts the cheapest new iPhone you can buyThe BadNo MagSafe$599 feels like $100 too muchNo ultrawideHow we rate and review productsThis is the world the iPhone 16E enters. Its Apples cheapest phone, but its not cheap probably for the aforementioned lack of competition reasons. Its an iPhone that does iPhone things, but its probably missing at least one major feature for any given buyer, whether thats an extra camera or the convenience of a MagSafe ring. If youre clinging desperately to an older model and want a new iPhone for the least possible money, the 16E is the one to get. Thats the job of the 16E: be the path of least resistance to blue bubbles. But for a more discerning customer the answers not as clear-cut.The iPhone 16E is the spiritual successor to the iPhone SE, though Apple would rather you not think of it that way. The SE was the companys budget-friendly line, a kind of close-out bargain bin offer on last generations chassis with upgraded internals. The design was wildly outdated by the end, but, hey, it only cost $429. That line appears to have ended with the 16E, which is fully a member of the iPhone 16 series. Instead of an older design thats a really good deal, we have a modern design thats only kind of a dealBut instead of an older design thats a really good deal, we have a modern design thats only kind of a deal. Its $200 cheaper than the $799 iPhone 16 and has a similar 6.1-inch OLED screen. Theres no Dynamic Island just a notch. And instead of two rear lenses, you get just one: a 48-megapixel main camera and no ultrawide to go with it. You get wired charging, but no MagSafe. The Action Button, but no Camera Control. This, not that. And so on.Theres a kind of equation that can help determine how much you should care about this list of missing features. How old is your current phone? Do other people in your household use MagSafe accessories that you want to share? Do you even know what MagSafe is? Would you like to follow sports scores at the top of your screen while you do other things on your phone, or are you a Seattle Mariners fan? (Love hurts, guys.) I dont know what that exact formula is because I barely scraped by in calculus, but just bear it in mind as you read the rest of this review.The notch lives.The 16Es screen is very likely a version of the iPhone 14s screen, complete with a notch housing the Face ID and front-facing camera array. The regular 16s screen gets just a little brighter in theory, but in practice they look about the same to me, brightness-wise. The 16Es screen doesnt go down to one nit like the 16s can, which is too bad because its honestly cool as hell and handy when youre trying not to wake up your spouse with a bright phone screen. The notchs existence also means no Dynamic Island thats the pill-shaped cutout Apple introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro, which houses tiny bits of timely info you might want to see at a glance. All that time-sensitive information, like live sports scores and the proximity of your incoming Uber, is still presented on the 16Es lock screen. But the Dynamic Island keeps it at the top of your screen while you do other things on your phone. Its handy, and having gotten used to it, I missed it on the 16E. The extra visual confirmation is nice when you have a timer or screen recording in progress. The Dynamic Island probably wont be a great loss if youre used to a phone without it, though.MagSafe might be another case of if youve never had it then you wont miss it, but Im a little less inclined to shrug off its absence on the 16E. Sure, theres still Qi wireless charging. And you can always use a case with magnets as a workaround if you want to use MagSafe accessories, even if its not an elegant solution. But the beauty of MagSafe is the simplicity, and if youre a case-hater like me then its a handy way to add a Pop Socket or a low-profile wallet to your phone without committing to a case. Aside from the SE, every iPhone from the 12-series onward has MagSafe. It feels like a standard feature now, and its hard to understand why Apple left it out.Spend more money, get more cameras.The iPhone 16Es rear camera uses a 48-megapixel sensor that combines pixels to help it better gather light, and it delivers nice images in most situations. Theres no ultrawide camera and therefore no macro photography either. I missed the ultrawide more than once when stepping backward to frame a wide shot wasnt possible. Theres a decent portrait mode, though its the older version where you cant change the focus point after the fact. Photographic Styles are available to help dial in color reproduction, though theyre also the previous-gen version and you cant tweak undertones. This is a camera system most people will be perfectly happy with. If youre the least bit inclined photographically and want more flexibility both in focal range and processing options then consider an iPhone 16 or 16 Pro. But its a good camera for a general audience. Theres excellent 4K video recording, optical image stabilization, and reliable color reproduction. A more advanced phone camera would offer better chances of capturing moving subjects in dim light, but this one keeps up in most situations.1/13Much of the 16E is familiar, but there is one entirely new component: Apples C1 modem. This is its debut appearance, and the road to Apples first in-house modem was reportedly full of setbacks and delays. Ive used it for the past week to make FaceTime calls, upload large video files in crowded places, and stream YouTube on the bus. I tested it alongside a regular iPhone 16 equipped with a Qualcomm-made modem both on Verizon and I didnt see any consistent difference in performance between the two.Every time I thought the iPhone 16 was faring better with video call quality or upload speeds, Id try the same test again and the 16E would come out ahead. If I were none the wiser, I wouldnt have given the modem a second thought as I used the phone. Given the difficulty Apple seemingly encountered building this thing and the complexity of a cellular modem, it seems fine is actually a great outcome for the C1.Apple claims switching to its own modem has allowed it to squeeze a little more battery life out of the 16E, offering the best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone, according to its press release. Battery life certainly seems good. I spent an afternoon out of the house using a lot of navigation, streaming a podcast, testing connectivity, and watching YouTube. I clocked about five hours of screen time and was only down to 41 percent by the end of the day. Im confident that most people could get through a day comfortably on this battery, but thats not my biggest concern. Im more curious about long-term battery health Apples recent track record here is spotty and theres just no way of knowing that after a week of testing.The 16E only comes in black or white, but at least this fuchsia case is hot.The other upgrade here is Apple Intelligence. Maybe youve heard of it? Or seen it on a billboard? Or in a commercial a few dozen times? Apple would like us to think of its AI as a marquee feature on the 16E, but Apple Intelligence just doesnt feel like one not yet, anyway. But its all here: the AI writing tools, Image Playground, notification summaries, and the updated Siri with a ChatGPT extension. Its all pretty forgettable right now. Case in point: it took me several days to notice that Apple Intelligence wasnt running on the 16E I was testing, despite having the Apple Intelligence option turned on. I sorted it out I guess something about the way I set it up prevented the necessary AI models from downloading but this says a lot about how useful Apple Intelligence is right now. The most interesting stuff is yet to come, and the 16E will be ready for it, which is nice. But I definitely wouldnt let Apple Intelligence be a deciding factor in picking this phone versus, say, an iPhone 15.The 16E makes more sense if you think Apple Intelligence is an essential feature. That highlights where Im stuck trying to figure out the 16E. If youre coming from an older iPhone like an 11, dont want to spend a lot, and dont care about MagSafe or an ultrawide camera, then the 16E kind of makes sense. But a hundred dollars more will get you a new iPhone 15 with MagSafe, the Dynamic Island, and an ultrawide camera, though theres no Apple Intelligence or action button.The 16E feels like it should offer the essentials, but its hard to say whats an essential iPhone feature and whats not. Its probably more like a combination of features, and for some people, the 16E likely offers a combination theyll be happy with. Specifically, I mean people like my husband and anyone else with an old iPhone who is uninterested in learning what MagSafe is, rarely takes pictures, and just wants a dang iPhone. The 16E covers those essentials. For someone who wants more flexibility from their smartphones camera or its system of accessories, this isnt the iPhone for you.Id rather have a cool magnetic accessory system and a neat quick-glance display feature built into my phone than Apple Intelligence, especially for $600. It doesnt quite add up for me, but maybe the math looks a little different for you.Agree to continue: Apple iPhone 16E, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro MaxEvery smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it contracts that no one actually reads. Its impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But were going to start counting exactly how many times you have to hit agree to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people dont read and definitely cant negotiate.To use any of the iPhone 16 models, you have to agree to:The iOS terms and conditions, which you can have sent to you by emailApples warranty agreement, which you can have sent to you by emailThese agreements are nonnegotiable, and you cant use the phone at all if you dont agree to them.The iPhone also prompts you to set up Apple Cash and Apple Pay at setup, which further means you have to agree to:The Apple Cash agreement, which specifies that services are actually provided by Green Dot Bank and Apple Payments Inc. and further consists of the following agreements:The Apple Cash terms and conditionsThe electronic communications agreementThe Green Dot Bank privacy policyDirect payments terms and conditionsDirect payments privacy noticeApple Payments Inc. licenseIf you add a credit card to Apple Pay, you have to agree to:The terms from your credit card provider, which do not have an option to be emailedFinal tally: two mandatory agreements, seven optional agreements for Apple Cash, and one optional agreement for Apple Pay.See More:

The Framework Laptop 12.The moment Vjeran and I got to the demo room at Frameworks San Francisco event, we knew right away the mint and pink version of the Framework Laptop 12 was the one I wanted to touch, the one he wanted to photograph and film. @verge Could a modular repairable laptop look great and be cheap? Thats the goal of the Framework Laptop 12 which is also the companys first laptop with a touchscreen, its first with a stylus, and its first convertible 2-in-1 tablet PC. We havent seen its insides, and we dont know its price, only that itll cost less than $750 when it arrives mid-year. #framework #laptop #repair #tech #techtok #todayimtoyingwith original sound The Verge One of the women standing next to the demo stations thanked us for saying that out loud, because she wasnt initially sure mint and pink would make the cut! She introduced herself as Esther Yen, the senior industrial designer of this entire laptop and says they were the colors she had asked for.Yesterday, Framework announced the 12-inch convertible notebook as its first attempt to fix budget laptops, by making them modular and repairable. (Its kind of Frameworks thing, but this is its …Read the full story at The Verge.

LatestMachine LearningExploring LoRA as a Dynamic Neural Network Layer for Efficient LLM Adaptation 0 like February 26, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Shenggang Li Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Photo by Jakub erdzicki on UnsplashLLMs need constant updates legal AI must learn new laws, finance chatbots need fresh market data, and medical models should adapt to new research. But traditional fine-tuning is expensive. LoRA helps, but most versions are static, using a fixed rank for updates. I propose a smarter approach: a dynamic LoRA that adjusts rank based on data complexity, making fine-tuning more efficient.I start with full fine-tuning, move to LoRA theory, and introduce Rank-1 Sum LoRA. Instead of one fixed low-rank matrix, I sum multiple rank-1 updates and prune unnecessary ones, making training smarter and more efficient:This lets me selectively activate only the most useful updates, pruning the rest. By leveraging retrieval confidence or gradient signals, LoRA can learn more intelligently.Traditionally, fine-tuning an LLM involved unfreezing all weights in a pre-trained model, a process known as full fine-tuning. While this isnt the primary focus of this paper, understanding it provides valuable context for how LoRA fine-tuning operates.Suppose I have a neural network NN1 that was already trained on some large dataset. Mathematically, it has a parameter set:where n is the total number of parameters (weights, Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

If youre a deals-minded games aficionado, Ive got the only article you need to read today. This weeks lineup of discounts is packed with must-have titles and hidden gems across all platforms. Personally, Im all about Gris being available for a mere four bucks. Thats an absurd price for an artistic masterpiece whose watercolour visuals were inspired by Spanish artist Conrad Rosets distinct style. Its just the tip of the top deals spear, though; get scrolling to start saving on more.This Day in Gaming Today I'm raising a mid-morning vodka martini to the 21st birthday of Everything or Nothing, the best Bond game this side of GoldenEye 007. Considered a continuation of Die Another Day and technically the last mission of Pierce Brosnan's Bond, this third-person cover shooter boasted actual appearances from Judi Dench as M, John Cleese's Q, and, weirdly because we last saw him in 1979, Richard Kiel's Jaws. I also have very fond memories of smashing out the bespoke 2-player split-screen co-op campaign with a chum. Remaster worthy.His name is Jaws. He kills people.Aussie bdays for notable games- Sonic Battle (GBA) 2004. eBay- James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (GC,PS2,XB) 2004. eBay- God Hand (PS2) 2007. eBay- Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (X360/O) 2014. GetContentsNice Savings for Nintendo SwitchSwitch Lite HyruleGet ready to embark on a legendary adventure with the new Nintendo Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition, celebrating the first-ever journey of Princess Zelda in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Bravely Default II (-34%) - A$52.89Shin Megami Tensei V (-24%) - A$60.59Crash Team Racing Nitro (-35%) - A$45.54Darksiders Warmastered (-17%) - A$41.52Gris (-80%) - A$3.59Transistor (-80%) - A$5.79Expiring Recent DealsLego Marvel Super Heroes 2 (-90%) - A$8.99Persona 5 Royal (-29%) - A$71.34Rune Factory 5 (-26%) - A$55.46Persona 5 Tactica (-44%) - A$52.78Maneater (-25%) - A$45.19Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.Switch Console PricesHow much to Switch it up?Switch OLED + Mario Wonder: $539 $499 | Switch Original: $499 $448 | Switch OLED Black: $539 $448 | Switch OLED White: $539 $448 | Switch Lite: $329 $312 | Switch Lite Hyrule: $339 $335See itBack to topPurchase Cheap for PCMonster Hunter Wilds Del.Monster Hunter Wilds smooths out the already excellent process of turning big scary dragons into silly little hats to be faster, more flexible, and less fiddly than ever before. 8/1-, great.Stray (-40%) - A$26.97Sonic Frontiers (-70%) - A$28.48Lies of P (-40%) - A$53.97Fight'N Rage (-95%) - A$1.47Loop Hero (-75%) - A$5.48Expiring Recent DealsKingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning (-75%) - A$17.48The Pathless (-75%) - A$14.98Soma (-80%) - A$8.79Outlast (-80%) - A$4.59Amnesia: Dark Descent (-70%) - A$8.89Little Nightmares (-75%) - A$6.79Or just get a Steam Wallet CardPC Hardware PricesSlay your pile of shame.Official launch in NovSteam Deck 256GB LCD: $649 | Steam Deck 512GB OLED: $899 | Steam Deck 1TB OLED: $1,049See it at SteamBack to topExciting Bargains for XboxStarfield Constellation Ed.Well, I can't recall seeing this collector's edition much cheaper than this. It's light years away from the the 500 bucks it debuted at. So if you like funky sci-fi watches, get in its orbit.Metaphor: ReFantazio (-17%) - A$95.04Destroy All Humans! 2 (-53%) - A$25.57Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (-19%) - A$89.00SpellForce III Reforced (-44%) - A$35.57Xbox OneFinal Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (-37%) - A$50.01Hot Wheels Unleashed (-29%) - A$39.10Persona 3 Reload (-50%) - A$53.98Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (-50%) - A$57.47Expiring Recent DealsHarry Potter: Quidditch Del. (-60%) - A$24.00No More Heroes 3 (-24%) - A$57.13Lego Harry Potter Col. (-43%) - A$34.00Wild Hearts (-74%) - A$29.00Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (-76%) - A$23.92MotoGP 23 (-38%) - A$43.60TopSpin 2K25 (-80%) - A$24.00Or just invest in an Xbox Card.Xbox Console PricesHow many bucks for a 'Box? Series X: $799 $749 | Series S Black: $549 $545 | Series S White:$499 $498 | Series S Starter: N/ASee itBack to topPure Scores for PlayStationHadesHades is a one-of-a-kind rogue-lite that sets the bar for creatively combining wildly different genres together and using their strengths to complement each other in unexpected ways. 9/10, amazing.Space Marine 2 (-31%) - A$75.00Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (-11%) - A$89.00Crisis Core FFVII Reunion (-21%) - A$66.95Lego Horizon Adventures (-14%) - A$95.04PS4Battlefield 4 (-95%) - A$1.24Battlefield V (-95%) - A$2.99Battlefield Hardline Ultimate Edition (-90%) - A$5.99Expiring Recent DealsGhost of Tsushima Dir. (-50%) - A$62.47Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (-31%) - A$79.00Granblue Fantasy: Relink (-29%) - A$59.95Lego Harry Potter Col. (-43%) - A$34.00PowerWash Simulator (-30%) - A$21.80Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin (-58%) - A$42.02Castlevania Anniversary Col. (-80%) - A$5.99Hogwarts Legacy: Del. (-67%) - A$39.95Grand Theft Auto Tril. (-76%) - A$24.00The Last of Us Part II (-21%) - A$47.09Jurassic World Evolution 2 (-29%) - A$59.95PS+ Monthly FreebiesYours to keep from Feb 4 with this subscriptionPayday 3 [PS5]High on Life [PS4/5]Pac-Man World Re-Pac [PS4/5]Or purchase a PS Store Card.What you'll pay to 'Station.PS5 Slim Disc:$799 $798 | PS5 Slim Digital:679 $678 | PS5 Pro $1,199 | PS VR2: $872 | PS VR2 + Horizon: $1,099 | PS Portal: $329See itBack to topLegit LEGO DealsCity: Red Sports CarA simple set going for next to nothing. Goes faster than the one in the Blue Sports Car set.3in1 Wild Safari Animal (-30%) - A$69.95Star Wars C-3PO (-27%) - A$169Harry Potter: Charms Class (-27%) - A$22Expiring Recent DealsBack to top Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

Panther Vision, a purveyor of hands-free LED lighting products, is offering a 30% off sitewide coupon code "FEB30" with very few exclusions. Combine it with free shipping on orders over $60. They sell a wide assortment of practical and portable gear that would serve you well during emergencies or the great outdoors, including LED flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, lighted beanies, and hand warmers. They're also available on Amazon and, depending on the product, may be less expensive there even with the coupon code applied.Flateye Rechargeable FRL-280 FlashlightFlateye Rechargeable FRL-280 FlashlightPanther Vision's most affordable flashlight features a "flateye" design which makes it much easier to fit in your pocket and a respectable 280 lumen max output from its four LED array. Three intensity settings let you step down to a dimmer mode for up six hours of battery life on a single charge. Speaking of which, the battery is rechargeable via Micro USB.Flateye Rechargable FRL-2100 FlashlightFlateye Rechargeable FRL-2100 FlashlightOn the other end of the spectrum, if only the most eye-searing light output will do, check out Panther Vision's most potent offering. The FRL-2100 belts out a mean 2,100 lumens of light for those times when you need to turn night into day. Fortunately, there are two lower settings to conserve battery life and prevent thermal throttling. In addition to the standard light output, the FR-2100 has an on-body dual color (red and white) light that can double as a lantern.Powercap 3.0 Lighted Headlamp BeaniePowercap 3.0 Lighted Headlamp BeanieThe Powercap 3.0 lighted beanie will keep your noggin warm while lighting up the way with a built-in LED headlamp rated for up to 150 lumens at max output. If you prioritize longevity over intensity, the 15-lumen setting will last up to 10 hours.Powerpaw 602R Electric Hand WarmerPowerpaw 602R Electric Hand Warmer and Power BankIf you suffer from cold appendages, the Panther Vision 602R rechargeable hand warmer is small enough to fit in your jacket pocket. It offers three different heat settings depending on how numb your fingers are, boasts an IP67 waterproof rating, and can even double up as a 5,000mAh USB Type-C power bank for emergencies.Other inexpensive lights on sale todaySofirn SC31T 2,000-Lumen Pocket LED Flashlight for $25.34Sofirn SC31T 2,000-Lumen Rechargeable Pocket LED FlashlightAmazon is offering this Sofirn SC31T 2,000-lumen pocket LED flashlight for only $25.34. There's a 15% coupon code that's automatically applied when you go through the landing page, and then clip another 20% off coupon on the product page. Sofirn is a well-known and reliable seller of affordable LED flashlights. This model uses a single powerful SST-40 LED that delivers 2,000 lumens of light with a 6,500K color temp and up to a 206-meter range. It has 6 different intensities all the way down to 1 lumen to extend your battery life. The battery is rechargeable over USB Type-C.2-Pack LED EDC Flashlights for $62-Pack Hausbell A100 LED EDC FlashlightsThis is a good deal to jump on if you need some cheap flashlights for emergencies. Amazon has this 2 pack of Hausbell flashlights for only $5.99 after you clip a 40% off coupon. These LED flashlights take three AAA batteries and feature five different light modes (three different intensities, SOS, and strobe), retractable zoom lens, and IPX6 water resistance.Olight Sphere Smart Night Light for $13.99Amazon Prime Members OnlyOlight Sphere Smart Night LightAmazon has dropped the price of the Olight Sphere from $20 to $13.99 for Amazon Prime members. The Olight Sphere is a tiny portable light that can be controlled via on-board buttons or mobile app. This is an RGB light that's capable of standard white or warm white lighting as well as a wide range of colors. It's not particularly powerful (it's rated for 75 lumens), but it works great as an ambient night light or a portable emergency light that you can carry around with you. You don't need to swap out batteries, because it recharges quickly over USB Type-C.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.