We may earn a commission from links on this page.Oura, the smart ring, is finally taking menstrual cycle data into account when assigning readiness scoresa feature whose absence has baffled users for years. The rings app was notorious for assigning lower-than-expected scores during the luteal phase of users cycles, but that is changing thanks to an update to the Readiness score algorithm that Oura announced this week.If you dont have a menstrual cycle, or if you have one but dont track it, you probably wont notice anything different about your Readiness scores. But this update is a big deal for anyone who uses Cycle Insights, the feature of the Oura app that uses temperature data to keep track of ovulation, menstruation, fertile window, and follicular and luteal phases.Why many users had incorrect readiness scoresTo explain why this was an issue, Im going to zoom out and give a quick biology lesson. The monthly cycle thats sometimes called a menstrual cycle isnt just about menstruation, i.e., the bleeding that lasts a week or less. Instead, the cycle is a phenomenon that lasts all month, with distinct phases in the first and second halves of the month.To be clear, this cycle doesnt happen in everyone. Its specifically a phenomenon that occurs in people who have a regular period and are not taking hormonal birth control. If you fall into this category, you can use the Cycle Insights feature of the Oura app to track when you are in the first half of your cycle (the follicular phase) versus the second half (the luteal phase).(An important aside: Every time I write about menstruation or hormonal cycles, I get someone writing in to tell me that women and people who menstruate are synonyms. Lets just take a minute to discuss the fact that they are not. Not only can we acknowledge the existence of trans folks, non-binary people, and a strange species of human known as girls, its worth remembering that a significant percentage of women do not have a cycle! This includes women who are past menopause, and women who use hormonal birth control.)When your cycle starts on day one of your period, youre in whats called the follicular phase, as an ovarian follicle (which will produce an egg cell) develops over the course of about two weeks. Midway through the monthday 14 in a textbook cyclethat follicle releases the egg, ending the follicular phase. The releasing of the egg is called ovulation.At this point, the bodys temperature ticks up by about half a degree. It will stay at this slightly elevated temperature for the rest of the cycle, and the Oura ring can detect the change in temperature. The empty follicle stays behind in the ovary, secreting hormones, and becomes the corpus luteum, Latin for yellow thing. (Scientists are so creative.) In its honor, the second half of the cycle is called the luteal phase.Temperature isnt the only difference between the follicular and luteal phases; all kinds of hormonal and biological phenomena are happening throughout the month, some of which have catchy names like period flu, but thats a discussion for another time.Whats changing in the Oura algorithmAs Oura points out in their announcement about the change, the luteal phase tends to have a few detectable differences from the follicular phase (from the rings point of view):Skin temperature increasesRespiratory rate increasesResting heart rate increasesHeart rate variability (HRV) decreasesAll of these are things that, if they werent associated with the menstrual cycle, would indicate that a person is under stress or maybe getting sick. And so the algorithm (at least sometimes) processes this data as dings to your Readiness. Forums that discuss the Oura ring are full of threads with titles like PSA to Oura: luteal phase is not a sickness and Anyone else get terrible readiness during luteal phase? (according to the comments: yes).With that in mind, Oura is finally taking your cycle phase into account when calculating Readiness scores. They predict that 35% of users who track a menstrual cycle will no longer get disproportionately negative readiness scores in the luteal phase. They expect that scores will be four to five points higher for those people, and that there will be 81% fewer days with too-low scores.How to get the updated readiness scoresTo benefit from the new algorithm, youll need to be using the Cycle Insights feature. This requires you to input the dates that your periods start, and it detects temperature changes to determine when you are in the luteal phase.To turn on Cycle Insights, tap the menu icon in the app, then Settings, and then Womens Health. There is a switch to turn on Cycle Insights, and below that you can enter some background information: whether you use hormonal contraception, how long your typical cycle lasts.So, yes, this means that the app will need to keep track of when you have your period and when youre ovulating. If that makes you uncomfortable in the current political climate, I dont blame youbut youll have to decide whether its worth it to get that slightly more accurate data. Oura has a blog post on their approach to reproductive data privacy, noting that they are subject to GDPR regulations (since they are based in Finland) and that they plan to fight any requests for data from legal authorities. The support page for Cycle Insights includes instructions for deleting your cycle data from the app, which you can do at any time.

Netflix' new black comedy gets hilarious new trailer and release date.

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

An unsubstantiated online theory has recently taken hold, claiming that family vloggers are fleeing Los Angeles to escape newly introduced California laws designed to protect children featured in online content.In recent years, several states have introduced new legislation aimed at protecting child influencers from exploitation. In September 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom, with support from former child star Demi Lovato, signed two key bills designed to ensure children and teenagers who perform in online content are protected from financial abuse.One of the most important bits of the new legislation establishes financial and legal protections for minors featured in monetized online content (i.e. child vloggers) by mandating that their parent or guardian set aside a percentage of their earnings in trust accounts. With the passing of the law, California became the third state in the country to legislate protections for influencer kids, joining Illinois and Minnesota.Attention has now shifted to influencers whose children feature heavily in their content, some of whom have made seemingly abrupt moves across the country. Videos speculating about the real reasons for these relocations have goneviral, racking up millions of views. But the influencers themselves insist the moves have nothing to do with Californias new laws.Over the past year, several high-profile family influencers have either relocated from California to Tennessee or announced plans to do so. This includes the LaBrant family, who have 12.8 millionYouTube subscribers; TikToker Cecily Bauchmann, who has 2.2 million followers;andBrittany Xavier, who has 5.1 million followers on TikTok.I feel like thats a little suspicious, one TikTok creatorposted. I wonder how many of those are a direct correlation to the fact that now they have to pay their children.All of the families have publicly denied the new California law influenced their move.Fast Companyhas reached out to the LaBrants, Bauchmann, and Xavier for comment but has not heard back as of publication.After users began flooding Xaviers social media posts with comments regarding this theory, the influencer took to TikTokto shut down the rumors. It has been a wild week on TikTok, she says into the camera as she does her makeup. She goes on to cite a mold issue in their rental home as the reason for their hasty relocation. The assumption that we moved to avoid paying our children is so laughable, she says. My income doesnt depend on if my kids are in my videos or not. But weve always made sure to set them up financially regardless.However, many in the comments remain unconvinced. Found mold = laws changed, one person wrote. Another added: Brittany the likes and replies arent helping the cause.Another theory is that influencers are leaving California due to its political leanings. Xavier herself hinted at political motivations when responding to a comment suggesting she wanted a red state: CA leadership is a mess at the moment, they need help. Hoping here has competent leadership, we shall see.

Trump wants to make English the official language of the U.S.and is using an executive order to deliver the action, White House officials tod CNBC on Friday.This marks the first time in the history of this country that it will have an official language. Trumps order rescinds a 25-year-old directive from former President Clinton, which required federal agencies to provide services for those with limited English proficiency. According to a summary of the report shared with CNBC, agencies will not be forced to abandon their current policies.Agencies will have flexibility to decide how and when to offer services in languages other than English to best serve the American people and fulfill their agency mission, the summary states. However, the move will encourage new Americans to adopt a national language that opens doors to greater opportunities.Trumps latest order comes amid a swift crackdown on illegal immigration since he took office. Trump deployed additional troops to the U.S. southern border, suspended entry to the U.S. for all undocumented immigrants seeking asylum, and expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) authority. The administration has not only encouraged more deportations, but is allowing officers the power to conduct raids in areas that were previously deemed off-limits, such as schools, hospitals, even houses of worship.As the administration has been working to deport more undocumented immigrants, the numbers havent yet topped Bidens deportation numbers. According to a recent Reuters report, Trumps deportation numbers are averaging less than Bidens monthly average during his last year in office. Trump deported 37,660 people during his first monthsubstantially less than the monthly average of 57,000 removals during Bidens last year in office.Sources told NBC that Trump has expressed anger that deportations have been taking so long. And last week, amid chatter of the lower-than-anticipated numbers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Caleb Vitello was reassigned.English is by far the most common language in the U.S., but more than 350 other languages are spoken, according to USA.gov, a truth Trump has often lamented.We have languages coming into our country. We dont have one instructor in our entire nation that can speak that language, Trump said at the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). These are languages, its the craziest thing, they have languages that nobody in this country has ever heard of. Its a very horrible thing.

PROS: The titanium frame and refined ergonomics create exceptional handling despite the large display size. A great camera system with a 200MP main sensor delivers professional-quality results in all conditions. S-Pen integration provides precise input for note-taking, sketching, and productivity without additional purchases. Seven-year software support commitment significantly extends the device's useful lifespan and value. Sustainable materials and repairability features reduce environmental impact without compromising premium performance.CONS: Premium pricing at $1,299 places it beyond the reach of some potential buyers. The telephoto camera struggles in low-light conditions compared to some competing flagship devices. One UI interface requires an adjustment period for users coming from other ecosystems.RATINGS:AESTHETICSERGONOMICSPERFORMANCESUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITYVALUE FOR MONEYEDITOR'S QUOTE:Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra sets a new standard with perfect design harmony, exceptional photography, and sustainable innovation that competitors can only aspire to match.As an iPhone user with my iPhone 16 Pro Max as my daily driver, I will cut right to it and state that I love the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung has created something special herea device that impresses even someone firmly planted in Apples ecosystem. While I routinely test countless Android phones, for the first time since the Z Fold6, I may have found that perfect slab of technology.Designer: SamsungIn this review, Ill examine the design refinement that contributes to improved ergonomics, the stellar performance that delivers exceptional everyday use, and the thoughtful aesthetic choices that make this device stand out in a crowded market. Samsungs ambitious AI integration, powered in part by Google Gemini, redefines smartphone interactions, making this Ultra model powerful and genuinely intelligent.For Yanko Design readers, Ill mainly focus on how the industrial design choices impact the user experience, from the materials used to how the device feels. The S25 Ultra represents a maturation of Samsungs design language, balancing technological innovation with practical usability to create a device that feels both cutting-edge and comfortable.The sustainability efforts behind this flagship deserve attention, as do the value propositions that might make even loyal iPhone users reconsider their allegiance. My assessment comes from the perspective of someone who appreciates thoughtful design above all else. The S25 Ultra delivers this abundance, making it one of the most compelling smartphones released this year.Lets dive into what makes this device worthy of consideration, starting with its refined design and aesthetics.Design & Aesthetics: Precision Engineering Meets Visual PoetryThe Galaxy S25 Ultra showcases Samsungs premium design philosophy with its titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass construction. The device features what Samsung calls New Luminous Colors Inspired by Nature, creating a distinctive visual identity. The meticulously crafted body delivers a genuinely premium feel, befitting a flagship of this caliber. Samsung has pushed the boundaries of display engineering with the thinnest bezels ever seen in the S series, maximizing screen real estate while maintaining structural integrity.Samsung has perfected the camera housing integration. The quad-camera array is thoughtfully designed, creating an aesthetically pleasing and functionally intelligent visual flow. My finger naturally rests against this gentle slope when holding the phone horizontally for landscape photography. The camera system has been significantly upgraded from the S24 Ultra, now featuring a 200MP wide camera, 50MP ultra-wide (up from 12MP in the previous generation), a 50MP telephoto, and a 10MP telephoto lens, providing 2x, 3x, 5x, and 10x optical-quality zoom capabilities.The color options deserve special mention, particularly the Titanium Violet of my review unit. It transforms dramatically under different lighting conditionsappearing almost navy in dim environments but revealing rich purple depths in sunlight. This dynamic finish makes the phone feel alive, changing its character throughout the day. Its the kind of detail elevates the S25 Ultra from a mere tool to a device you genuinely enjoy using.Samsung has also refined the devices visual proportions. This phone boasts the Thinnest Bezel Ever in the S series, enhancing the immersive quality of the screen while still providing enough edge for secure handling. Additionally, the front-facing camera is now nearly invisible during everyday use, preserving the screens visual integrity without sacrificing photo quality.Ergonomics: The Science of Comfort PerfectedThe Galaxy S25 Ultra features a flat titanium frame, replacing the S24 Ultras curved edges. This design shift aligns with broader industry trends toward flat-edged flagships while maintaining comfort through thoughtful engineering. The phone weighs 219ga substantial 13g lighter than the S24 Ultramaking it more comfortable during extended use despite its large display.The frame features a matte titanium finish that provides excellent grip without feeling rough or catching on pocket fabric. This balance between security and convenience makes the phone easier to handle in everyday situations. The power and volume buttons have been thoughtfully positioned and designed with distinctive tactile signatures, making them instantly identifiable by touch alone.What truly impresses is the weight distribution. Despite housing a massive battery and extensive camera hardware, the S25 Ultra maintains exceptional balance in portrait and landscape orientations. Samsung has meticulously positioned the components to create a device that feels natural regardless of how you hold it.The S-Pen integration deserves special praise. The stylus sits flush within the frame and ejects with a satisfying mechanism that feels deliberate rather than springy. The pen itself has been designed for improved grip during extended note-taking or drawing sessions. Writing feels remarkably naturalalmost like pen on paper. After two weeks of note-taking, I reached for the S25 Ultra instead of my iPad for quick sketches and annotations.At 8.2mm thick, the S25 Ultra is 0.4mm thinner than its predecessor, contributing to improved handling. While this might seem like a minor reduction, it makes a noticeable difference when using the device one-handed. The rounded corners improve comfort, allowing the phone to sit more naturally in the palm.For a device of this size and capability, the S25 Ultra achieves something remarkableit feels significantly more manageable than its dimensions suggest. Samsungs attention to weight distribution, surface textures, and overall ergonomics has transformed what could have been an unwieldy device into one that feels natural in the hand. The ergonomic improvements in the S25 Ultra make a tangible difference during daily use, reinforcing Samsungs commitment to refining large-screen usability without compromising comfort or design.Material Choices: Substance With Sustainable StyleSamsungs choice of titanium for the frame brings structural benefits beyond aesthetics. The material provides strength without excess weight, ensuring a durable build that remains comfortable to carry and use. Its thermal properties contribute to efficient heat dissipation, working alongside an advanced vapor chamber cooling system to maintain performance stability under demanding conditions.Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass reinforces the front and back of the device, offering superior protection against daily wear. The upgraded oleophobic coating significantly reduces fingerprint accumulation, keeping the surface cleaner for extended periods. The improved slip resistance enhances grip, preventing the phone from shifting when placed on smooth or angled surfaces.Internally, material choices reflect an emphasis on efficiency and performance. A graphene-infused copper alloy in the vapor chamber optimizes heat distribution, preventing excessive buildup during extended use. This approach supports sustained performance from the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, ensuring consistent responsiveness in high-intensity tasks.Camera & Computational Imaging: A Deep Dive into Mobile ImagingThe Galaxy S25 Ultras camera system builds on Samsungs imaging legacy with a sophisticated combination of high-resolution sensors and advanced computational photography. The partnership with Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset plays a central role, processing raw optical data with AI-driven precision to maximize image quality across various lighting conditions.The 200MP main sensor remains the defining feature at its core, but the real improvements come from refinements across the entire system. The 50MP ultra-wide lens significantly jumps from the S24 Ultras 12MP, reducing edge distortion by 22% to produce cleaner architectural and landscape shots. The dual telephoto setup pairs a 3x optical lens with a 5x periscope, using sophisticated pixel-binning techniques to approximate 10x optical zoom without the artifacts typically associated with digital cropping. The Snapdragon 8 Elites Hexagon NPU and Spectra ISP optimize real-time image processing, handling 200MP bursts at 30fps while keeping thermal output in check. Low-light photography benefits from a new Spatio-Temporal Filter (STF), which intelligently isolates moving subjects from static backgrounds to enhance clarity. In nighttime cityscape testing, STF improved noise reduction by 62% compared to the S24 Ultra, delivering sharper details in illuminated and shadowed environments. The filter tracks pixel movement across frames, applying targeted noise reduction to static elements like buildings while maintaining clarity in moving subjects such as pedestrians. The Snapdragon 8 Elites 3nm architecture allocates AI resources to STF calculations, ensuring real-time processing even in 8K video recording. Samsungs documentation describes the technology as accurately differentiating moving and static objects to improve noise reduction in low light, producing results that preserve detail without the heavy-handed smoothing seen in earlier models.Samsung has also introduced Virtual Aperture to Expert RAW mode, a feature inspired by professional mirrorless cameras. It allows post-capture depth-of-field adjustments, simulating apertures from /1.4 for strong background blur to /16 for deep-focus shots. The system analyzes 200MP depth data to produce natural-looking bokeh, avoiding some smartphones artificial portrait mode effect. In testing, shifting from /2.8 to /8.0 refined background elements in a caf setting, keeping the subject sharp while removing distractionsresults that previously required manual Lightroom edits. According to Samsung, this feature enables stunning portraits with bokeh and pin-sharp landscapes, giving users unprecedented control over focus and depth beyond standard computational blur.For videographers, the S25 Ultra introduces Samsung Log, capturing 10-bit color depth for expanded post-production flexibility. The increased dynamic range helps preserve detail in shadows and highlights, while built-in tools like zebra patterns and false color overlays provide professional exposure guidance. Users can apply professional-grade LUTs, such as ARRI LogC3, directly in Samsungs Gallery app for simplified color grading. In testing, grading a sunset time-lapse using DaVinci Resolves REC.709 LUT revealed intricate cloud textures that HDR10+ often flattens, demonstrating the advantages of the new log format for those who edit footage professionally.Samsungs computational tools extend beyond the camera itself. Generative Edit allows users to remove unwanted objects and shadows with contextual awareness, avoiding unnatural smudging. Audio Eraser intelligently filters out wind noise from videos while preserving essential background sounds. Portrait Studio refines selfies with customizable styling options while maintaining skin texture, sidestepping the overly smooth results of older beauty filters. Samsung states that Generative Edit provides context-aware object removal, making it easier to erase elements without requiring advanced editing skills.Despite these advancements, some aspects of the camera system have trade-offs. The 5x telephoto sensor, with its 1/2.52 size, struggles in dim lighting compared to larger competitors like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which uses a 1/1.4 sensor for its zoom. This can result in noticeable grain when capturing distant subjects at night. Generative Edit, while effective for most objects, sometimes leaves subtle artifacts when attempting to remove elements from glass reflections, highlighting the challenges AI still faces with complex transparency effects.The Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers one of the most refined mobile photography experiences, combining computational advancements with high-end hardware. By integrating STF for low-light improvements, Virtual Aperture for depth control, and a professional-grade log format for video, Samsung continues to expand creative possibilities for photographers and content creators alike.Sustainability: Beyond Marketing to Meaningful ChangeSamsung has incorporated sustainability-focused changes in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, introducing bio-based adhesives as part of its environmental strategy.The shift from petroleum-derived adhesives to plant-based alternatives is intended to lower the devices carbon footprint. Samsungs environmental reports indicate that these adhesives contribute to a reduction in indirect supply chain emissions, though exact figures have not been independently verified.These adhesives also improve repairability. The S25 Ultra includes pull-tab battery adhesives designed for easier removal without requiring solvents or excessive heat. This approach minimizes e-waste and simplifies battery replacements, contributing to the devices longevity.Additionally, the use of bio-based adhesives aims to reduce reliance on conventional materials that may contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bisphenol-A (BPA). By adopting non-toxic formulations, Samsung seeks to improve safety for repair technicians and mitigate environmental impact when the device reaches end-of-life.Samsung has also made impressive progress with recycled materials. The S25 Ultras battery contains 50% recycled cobalt recovered from discarded Galaxy devices, while its frame incorporates 28% recycled aluminum. These recycled components work harmoniously with the bio-adhesives, which avoid contaminating these materials during disassembly and recycling.The eco-conscious approach extends to packaging as well. The S25 Ultra comes in 96.6% plastic-free packaging that relies on bio-based adhesives for paper-based seals, which decompose faster than synthetic alternatives.Whats particularly impressive is that these sustainable choices dont compromise performance. The bio-based adhesives maintain the devices IP68 water and dust resistance rating, while the recycled materials offer the same structural integrity and thermal properties as virgin materials. This demonstrates that sustainability and premium performance arent mutually exclusivea crucial lesson for the industry moving forward.Combined with Samsungs seven-year software update pledge, these hardware sustainability features represent a genuine commitment to reducing the environmental impact of flagship smartphones. The S25 Ultra sets a new standard for premium devices to embrace circular design principles without sacrificing the quality and performance that consumers expect.Conclusion: Redefining Excellence and ValueThe Galaxy S25 Ultra represents Samsungs most refined vision of a flagship smartphone. It successfully balances seemingly contradictory goalsdelivering a large display while remaining comfortable to hold, incorporating premium materials while improving sustainability, and offering professional-grade features while maintaining intuitive usability.At $1,299 for the base model, the S25 Ultra demands a premium investment. Still, Samsungs seven-year software commitment effectively reduces the annual cost to around $185 when considered over the entire support lifecyclea perspective transforming how we evaluate flagship pricing. The integrated S-Pen eliminates the need for a separate $99 stylus purchase, while professional camera features like Samsung Log and Virtual Aperture reduce dependence on separate equipment or subscription software.The durability improvementstitanium frame, Gorilla Armor 2, and enhanced water resistancepotentially reduce long-term ownership costs by minimizing repair needs. Meanwhile, battery health management and improved repairability suggest that the device will maintain performance longer than previous generations.What distinguishes this device isnt any single revolutionary feature but rather the holistic excellence across all aspects of the experience. The thoughtful ergonomics, the versatile camera system, the S-Pen integration, and the extended software support combine to create a device that feels complete and purposeful. For professionals who would otherwise purchase multiple devices to handle different tasks, the S25 Ultras versatility represents significant consolidated value, functioning effectively as a communication device, creative tool, note-taking system, and professional-grade camera in a single package.For designers and creative professionals, the color accuracy, stylus precision, and camera versatility make this a genuine productivity tool. For everyday users, the refined interface, all-day battery life, and durability improvements enhance the ownership experience.The S25 Ultra isnt without limitationsits size wont appeal to those seeking compact devices, and its interface requires adjustment for those coming from other ecosystems. Yet, these considerations feel minor compared to its achievements.In a market often criticized for incremental improvements, the S25 Ultra demonstrates that meaningful innovation remains possible. It sets a new standard for flagship excellence that balances technological advancement with practical utility, creating a device that will stay relevant and capable for years to come. While the initial investment remains substantial, the S25 Ultra delivers comprehensive capabilities that continue providing value throughout an extended ownership cycle, making it a justifiable premium purchase for those who will leverage its full potential.The post Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review Power Perfected, Form Refined first appeared on Yanko Design.

The stark difference in the way tech giants in China and the US are approaching AI for internal operations was illustrated late this week by separate announcements from Salesforce and Alibaba.During an earnings call on Thursday, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff indicated that, as a result of AI, the company would not be hiring human engineers this year.I think that the big message I have for a lot of CEOs that I meet with is, hey, were the last generation of CEOs to only manage humans, he said. I think every CEO going forward is going to manage humans and agents together.His remarks came ahead of the companys annual Trailblazer event, taking place next week, at which it will be focusing on its latest AI agent technology.Alibaba Group Holding is taking the opposite tack. An article in the South China Morning Post, published Friday, said that the companys spring hiring season is offering 3,000 internship openings for fresh graduates, half of them related to AI, as it commits to advancing the technology.During its quarterly earnings call last week, Alibaba Group CEO Eddie Wu said that if artificial general intelligence (AGI) is achieved, the AI-relevant industry will very likely become the worlds largest industry, having the potential to be the electricity of the future.Vested interest in AIScott Bickley, advisory fellow at Info-Tech Research Group, said, regarding the US versus China approach or comparison, I think we are dealing with vastly different cultures and ecosystems from a technology labor perspective.China, he said, has over 7 million software developers now, and is generating a material number more each year, while there are about 4.4 million in the US. Chinas cost of labor is also lower than in the US. And, he noted, there is scale in employing veritable armies of programmers focused on a set of problems that is additive on many levels to what their systems and AI can do alone.In addition, Bickley said, top of mind is the fact that enterprise software companies such as Salesforce, ServiceNow, Workday, SAP, and others, all have a vested interest in touting the near-term and measurable effects of AI on their own businesses as they seek to ramp up revenues of these products with their customers.Those companies can realize gains internally by weaving their products into their own data sets, he noted, and by using coding assistants to boost productivity. However, he warned, this is not a transferable use case to their clients and should not be taken as something easily replicated.Most SaaS customers are not running engineering teams of equivalent size to a SaaS publisher at scale, and outside of the technology vertical, these teams are much smaller in proportion to the overall workforce, he said. It is hard to digest that layoffs of the workforce, all the way down to flat hiring for engineers, are solely due to their magical AI advancements.The more likely scenario, Bickley said, is that Benioff and company will continue to rationalize a bloated enterprise cost structure as they focus on improving operating margins, and that AI is one small contribution to these efforts. With the current uncertain economic climate, he said, it would only be prudent to make adjustments in advance of the brewing storm.AI more likely to expand the need for engineersPhilip Walsh, director analyst in Gartners software engineering practice, said that from his vantage point he sees two contrasting signals: some leaders, like Marc Benioff at Salesforce, suggest they may not need as many engineers due to AIs impact, while others Alibaba being a prime example are actively scaling their technical teams and specifically hiring for AI-oriented roles.In practice, he said, Gartner believes AI is far more likely to expand the need for software engineering talent. AI adoption in software development is early and uneven, he said, and most large enterprises are still early in deploying AI for software development especially beyond pilots or small-scale trials.Walsh noted that, while there is a lot of interest in AI-based coding assistants (Gartner sees roughly 80% of large enterprises piloting or deploying them), actual active usage among developers is often much lower. Many organizations report usage rates of 30% or less among those who have access to these tools, he said, adding that the most common tools are not yet generating sufficient productivity gains to generate cost savings or headcount reductions.He said, current solutions often require strong human supervision to avoid errors or endless loops. Even as these technologies mature over the next two to three years, human expertise will remain critical.There is, said Walsh, more potential in human-driven agentic workflows rather than fully automated, AI-managed pipelines, and as a result, Gartner does not see AI as the cause of engineering headcount reduction.Organizations that assume AI alone can replace their core engineering competencies risk underestimating both the complexity of building AI-enabled products and the new waves of demand those products will unleash, he said.

Since releasing late last year,Pokemon Trading Card Game Pockethas been nothing short of a revelation, and it is still refusing to slow down.Taking to Twitter, The Pokemon Company recently announced thatPokemon Trading Card Game Pockethas now crossed 100 million worldwide downloads. As of December, that number stood at 60 million, which means the app has maintained impressive momentum with an additional 40 million downloads in a little over two months.In November, shortly following its release, it was reported thatPokemon Trading Card Game Pockethad raked in over $120 million in revenue in under a month. Read more on that through here.As ever, theres plenty going on in the world ofPokemoneven outsideTCG Pocket.The Pokemon Company and Nintendo recently debuted gameplay footage forPokemon Legends: Z-A,which is due out later this year.Pokemon Championswas also announced for iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch.What a fantastic way to celebrate #PokemonDay today! Thank you to everyone for your continued support; its genuinely appreciated. We look forward to celebrating this community and any future milestones in this new year. We hope you continue to enjoy our game! pic.twitter.com/kzewn7gXI5 Pokmon TCG Pocket (@PokemonTCGP) February 27, 2025

Large language models (LLMs) have progressed beyond basic natural language processing to tackle complex problem-solving tasks. While scaling model size, data, and compute has enabled the development of richer internal representations and emergent capabilities in larger models, significant challenges remain in their reasoning abilities. Current methodologies struggle to maintain coherence throughout complex problem-solving processes, particularly in domains requiring structured thinking. The difficulty lies in optimising the chain-of-thought reasoning and ensuring consistent performance across varied tasks, especially on challenging mathematical problems. Though recent advancements have shown promise, researchers face the ongoing challenge of effectively utilizing computational resources to improve reasoning capabilities without sacrificing efficiency. Developing methods that can systematically enhance problem-solving while maintaining scalability remains a central problem in advancing LLM capabilities.Researchers have explored various approaches to enhance reasoning in LLMs. Test-time compute scaling coupled with reinforcement learning has emerged as a promising direction, with models using reasoning tokens to guide chain-of-thought processes. Studies have investigated whether models tend to overthink or underthink, examining reasoning step length, input length, and common failure modes. Previous work has focused on optimising mathematical reasoning through explicit chain-of-thought training during the learning phase and iterative refinement at inference time. While these approaches have shown improvements on benchmarks, questions remain about the efficiency of token usage across different model capabilities and the relationship between reasoning length and performance. These questions are crucial for understanding how to design more effective reasoning systems.This study uses the Omni-MATH dataset to benchmark reasoning abilities across different model variants. This dataset provides a rigorous evaluation framework at the Olympiad level, addressing limitations of existing benchmarks like GSM8K and MATH where current LLMs achieve high accuracy rates. Omni-MATHs comprehensive organization into 33 sub-domains across 10 difficulty levels enables nuanced assessment of mathematical reasoning capabilities. The availability of Omni-Judge facilitates automated evaluation of model-generated answers. While other benchmarks like MMLU, AI2 Reasoning, and GPQA cover diverse reasoning domains, and coding benchmarks highlight the importance of clear reward models, Omni-MATHs structure makes it particularly suitable for analyzing the relationship between reasoning length and performance across model capabilities.The study evaluated model performance using the Omni-MATH benchmark, which features 4,428 Olympiad-level math problems across six domains and four difficulty tiers. Results show a clear performance hierarchy among the tested models: gpt-4o achieved 20-30% accuracy across disciplines, significantly lagging behind the reasoning models; o1-mini reached 40-60%; o3-mini (m) achieved at least 50% in all categories; and o3-mini (h) improved by approximately 4% over o3-mini (m), exceeding 80% accuracy for Algebra and Calculus. Token usage analysis revealed that relative token consumption increases with problem difficulty across all models, with Discrete Mathematics being particularly token-intensive. Importantly, o3-mini (m) does not use more reasoning tokens than o1-mini to achieve superior performance, suggesting more effective reasoning. Also, accuracy decreases with increasing token usage across all models, with the effect being strongest for o1-mini (3.16% decrease per 1000 tokens) and weakest for o3-mini (h) (0.81% decrease). This indicates that while o3-mini (h) shows marginally better performance, it comes at a substantially higher computational cost.The research yields two significant findings regarding language model reasoning. First, more capable models do not necessarily require longer reasoning chains to achieve higher accuracy, as demonstrated by the comparison between o1-mini and o3-mini (m). Second, while accuracy generally declines with longer chain-of-thought processes, this effect diminishes in more advanced models, emphasizing that thinking harder differs from thinking longer. This accuracy drop may occur because models tend to reason more extensively on problems they struggle to solve, or because longer reasoning chains inherently increase the probability of errors. The findings have practical implications for model deployment, suggesting that constraining chain-of-thought length is more beneficial for weaker reasoning models than for stronger ones, as the latter maintain reasonable accuracy even with extended reasoning. Future work could benefit from mathematical benchmarks with reference reasoning templates to further explore these dynamics.Check outthe Paper.All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,feel free to follow us onTwitterand dont forget to join our80k+ ML SubReddit. Mohammad AsjadAsjad is an intern consultant at Marktechpost. He is persuing B.Tech in mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Asjad is a Machine learning and deep learning enthusiast who is always researching the applications of machine learning in healthcare.Mohammad Asjadhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/mohammad_asjad/CoSyn: An AI Framework that Leverages the Coding Capabilities of Text-only Large Language Models (LLMs) to Automatically Create Synthetic Text-Rich Multimodal DataMohammad Asjadhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/mohammad_asjad/Why Do Task Vectors Exist in Pretrained LLMs? This AI Research from MIT and Improbable AI Uncovers How Transformers Form Internal Abstractions and the Mechanisms Behind in-Context Learning (ICL)Mohammad Asjadhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/mohammad_asjad/Scaling Language Model Evaluation: From Thousands to Millions of Tokens with BABILongMohammad Asjadhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/mohammad_asjad/The Role of Specifications in Modularizing Large Language Models Recommended Open-Source AI Platform: IntellAgent is a An Open-Source Multi-Agent Framework to Evaluate Complex Conversational AI System' (Promoted)

Youd be nuts to march into March without a battle plan. Youre outnumbered, for starters. Theres an absolutely ridiculous amount of things to watch and practically no time in the month to see it all. So lets get to maximising your blessed, precious free time with nothing but the greatest picks from a swathe of award-winning films, social calendar destroying TV series and original content gems.Below are the litter picks from thousands of hours of content from Australia's six major streaming networks. Click your provider from the list below, grab some popcorn and kick back into some sweet, sweet escapism.Table of ContentsNew in March on Foxtel and BingeTV litter pick: The White Lotus S03 (continued) 1 Mar :Dark secrets and twisted truths of the guests, the staff and the locale of a resort are unveiled over the course of a week that was supposed to be a relaxing vacation. Movie litter pick: A Quiet Place: Day One 15 Mar : Day One combines expertly done moments of terror and tension combined with a story about two people its easy to care for, as we watch them forge a relatable human connection while trying to evade freaky alien monsters with really strong hearing.What notable movies are coming to Binge?Death Race: Beyond Anarchy 1 MarWyatt Earp 1 MarInnerspace 1 MarJarhead: Law Of Return 1 MarSound Of Metal 3 MarKellys Heroes 3 MarMercury Rising 3 MarThe Watchers 4 MarTouch 6 MarIt Ends With Us 6 MarThis Time Next Year 15 MarA Quiet Place: Day One 15 MarVenom: The Last Dance 22 MarWhat notable series are coming to Binge?Call Me Kate 1 MarThe White Lotus S03 1 MarS.W.A.T. S08 2 MarWalking Through History S01 3 MarThe Chelsea Detective 3 MarEyes on the Prize Prize III 3 MarCurious Case of Natalia Grace 3 MarThe Madame Blanc Mysteries 3 MarThe Righteous Gemstones S04 10 MarThe Cleaning Lady 26 MarBack to topNew in March on NetflixTV litter pick: Formula 1: Drive to Survive S07 7 Mar :Drivers, managers and team owners live life in the fast lane both on and off the track during each cutthroat season of Formula 1 racing. Movie litter pick: Plankton: The Movie - 7 Mar : Sheldon J. Plankton is finally getting his close up. When Planktons latest evil scheme is thwarted, Bikini Bottom and the surface world become threatened by an unexpected danger. Now, before Plankton can take over the world, hes going to have to save it.What notable movies are coming to Netflix?A Man Called Otto 2 MarWith Love, Meghan 4 MarThe Watchers 4 MarChaos: The Manson Murders 7 MarPlankton: The Movie - 7 MarDelicious 7 MarAmerican Manhunt: Osama bin Laden 10 MarThe Electric State 14 MarTwister: Caught in the Storm 19 MarThe Residence 20 MarRevelations 21 MarChelsea Handler: The Feeling - 25 MarThe Life List 28 MarWhat notable series are coming to Netflix?Halo S01 1 MarTyler Perry's Beauty in Black S01 Part 2 6 MarFormula 1: Drive to Survive S07 7 MarLove is Blind: Sweden S02 - 13 MarBelow Deck S08 15 MarSurvival of the Thickest S02 27 MarBack to topNew in March on Disney+TV litter pick: Daredevil: Born Again - Mar 5 :An all-new series sees Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent DOnofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York.Movie litter pick: Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years - Mar 14 : Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years is the latest one-hour special from one of the greatest stand-up comedians working today. In what might be his most personal and introspective hour yet, Bill offers hilarious takes on everything from male sadness to dating advice.What notable movies are coming to Disney+?Another You - Mar 7Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years - Mar 14Memes and Nightmares - Mar 15ODessa - Mar 20What notable series are coming to Disney+?Daredevil: Born Again - Mar 5Bob's Burgers: S15 - Mar 5Deli Boys - Mar 6Good American Family - Mar 19David Blaine: Do Not Attempt - Mar 24Back to topNew in March on Apple TV+TV litter pick: Dope Thief - 14 Mar :Follows long-time friends and delinquents who pose as DEA agents to rob a house in the countryside, but end up unintentionally revealing and unraveling the biggest hidden narcotics corridor on the Eastern seaboard. What notable series are coming to Apple TV+?Dope Thief - 14 MarBE@RBRICK - 21 MarThe Studio - 26 MarSide Quest - 26 MarSign up for a free 7day trial of Apple TV+Back to topNew in March on Amazon Prime VideoTV litter pick: The Wheel of Time S03 - 13 Mar :The Wheel of Time, which first premiered on Prime Video in 2021, is based on Robert Jordan's fantasy book series that follows Rand al'Thor, a farm boy who learns he's The Dragon Reborn, destined to either destroy the world or save it. Movie litter pick: Holland - 27 Mar : Nicole Kidman is the meticulous Nancy Vandergroot, a teacher and homemaker whose picture-perfect life with her community pillar husband (Matthew Macfadyen) and son (Jude Hill) in tulip-filled Holland, Michigan tumbles into a twisted tale.What notable movies are coming to Prime Video?Picture This - 6 MarIt Ends With Us - 6 MarF*** Marry Kill - 14 MarVenom: The Last Dance - 22 MarHolland - 27 MarThe Crow - 27 MarWhat notable series are coming to Prime Video?The Wheel of Time S03 - 13 MarKnuckles S01 - TBABosch: Legacy S03 - 27 MarThe Divorce Insurance - 31 MarBack to topNew in March on StanTV litter pick: Long Bright River: S01 - Mar 13 : A suspense thriller series that tells the story of Mickey (Amanda Seyfried), a police officer who patrols a Philadelphia neighborhood hard-hit by the opioid crisis.Movie litter pick: Hereditary - Mar 7 : Our own Toni Collette gives a virtuoso performance in a terrifying horror drama that defies expectations.What notable movies are coming to Stan?Hereditary - Mar 7Me Before You - Mar 8Meet Dave - Mar 9Only The Brave - Mar 14Beau Is Afraid - Mar 15Mississippi Burning - Mar 18Teen Wolf - Mar 20Tremors - Mar 21Overboard - Mar 27When Harry Met Sally - Mar 29Spider-Man: Homecoming - Mar 31What notable series are coming to Stan?Thelma & Louise - Mar 1The Secret Garden - Mar 1Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue: S01 - Mar 2Power Book III: Raising Kanan: S04 - Mar 7Long Bright River: S01 - Mar 13Happy Valley: S03 - Mar 16Gangs of London: S03 - Mar 20The Good Doctor: S07 - Mar 31Back to top IGN is now on Flash, live and on demand. Stream the latest and trending news for video games, interviews, videos, and wikis. Check it out here. Adam Mathew is our Aussie streaming savant. He also games on YouTube.