Shark upper jaw showing multiple layers of serrated teeth.Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesShark teeth have long fascinated humans. From your average beach-comber stumbling across one embedded in the sand, to a paleontologist trying to determine their evolutionary significance to scientists studying their role in marine food webs everybody loves a good shark tooth. But for the first time, researchers are looking at them from a different angle one that could help reconstruct the history of ocean oxygen levels.The uranium isotope composition (238U) of seawater is a powerful tool for studying past marine anoxia, or oxygen-depleted conditions, which have been linked to mass extinctions and climate shifts. Typically, carbonates like limestone are used to track these isotope signatures, but they can be altered after deposition, leading scientists to explore alternative archives. Shark teeth, with their hard enameloid made of crystalline fluorapatite, might offer a more stable record. Since uranium readily binds to phosphate, fossilized shark teeth could, in theory, preserve the original seawater uranium isotope signal.To test this idea, Haoyu Li of the California Institute of Technology and a team of researchers analyzed uranium isotopes in 39 fossilized shark teeth from diverse locations, including Banks Island in the Arctic, the Gulf of Mexico, and Perus Pisco Basin. These teeth spanned a wide age range, from the modern era back to the Cretaceous period. The results revealed that modern shark teeth contain negligible uraniumless than one part per billionwhile fossil teeth show significantly higher concentrations, reaching several hundred parts per million. This suggests that uranium is not incorporated into teeth while the shark is alive but instead enters the structure after the shark passes, during burial and fossilization.Fossil shark teeth show promise in recording past oceanic oxygen levels, but post-depositional ... [+] changes may impact their reliability.Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesThe isotope data showed a wide range of 238U values, from -0.72 to +0.57 , and 234U values from -162.1 to +969.7 . Li and the team say this variation suggests two key findings: first, that diagenetic overprinting is common, meaning that the uranium signal in many fossilized teeth does not fully reflect original seawater values. Second, that the uranium isotope ratios are influenced by local depositional environments, meaning shark teeth from different regions may record different chemical signatures based on the conditions in which the animal was buried. Despite these complications, the uranium isotope variations in shark teeth are comparable to those found in marine carbonates, suggesting that some samples those with minimal diagenetic alteration could still provide useful insights into ancient ocean conditions!Lis work highlights both the potential and the challenges of using shark teeth as an archive for reconstructing past ocean oxygen levels. Their mineral composition makes them more resistant to alteration than carbonates, but they are clearly not immune to post-depositional changes. The team suggest that any future research done will need to refine the methods used for identifying teeth that have undergone minimal uranium exchange, and for distinguishing primary seawater signals from diagenetic influences. But if successful, shark teeth could become a valuable tool for studying marine anoxia, helping scientists better understand past climate events and predict future ocean changes in response to global warming.

Key TakeawaysOn Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the new version of its popular AI assistant. Enter Alexa+.This ones powered by GenAI, making it much more conversational, personalized, and smart.Although Alexa+ will typically cost you $19.99 per month, its completely free for Prime users.Amazons Alexa has now gotten a GenAI makeover that makes it more conversational and personalized. This is the biggest update ever to the assistant since its launch in 2014.On Wednesday, Amazon unveiled the new version of its popular AI assistant, which will now be known as Alexa+. The launch event took place in New York, and the first thing that struck me was how conversational the AI assistant has become.For instance, you can now speak to it just the way you speak to your friends and family in informal words and unstructured sentences. Itll still be able to understand you.Its worth noting that early predictions in January stated that the new Alexa might arrive in October, so the company has clearly fast-tracked its development.Alexas PopularityThere are more than 600 million Alexa devices out there. The product already enjoys the markets favor thanks to how easy it makes managing smart homes.Alexa+ takes its predecessors features to a new level. For example, if youre in the bedroom, you can command it to turn on the TV with your favorite show or movie on it in the living room. So, you can just step outside and fall flat on your couch. Your favorite video will already be playing.Similarly, you can also use Alexa+ to access Ring and check whether your package has been delivered or not.On top of that, the new Alexa+ offers much better personalization. Previously, it only stored information about you, but now you can ask it to remember that information and apply it to the suggestions it makes for you.If you tell Alexa that you make really good spaghetti and then ask it for dinner recommendations a few days later, itll give you a bunch of spaghetti recipes.Alexa+ can also take proactive action. For instance, if youve been browsing a product for a while, it will automatically notify you when its on sale.Last but not least, Alexa has been integrated with new-age LLM models, which expands its knowledge base. This makes it one of the smartest AI assistants out there. This integration not only allows you to ask random questions but also helps you in your day-to-day tasks.If you have a test coming up, you can share your notes with Alexa+ and ask it to turn your notes into a quiz. Similarly, you can share your work emails with it and ask it to set up your calendar accordingly.What About Privacy?If a tool knows so much about you, its quite natural to be concerned about your privacy. However, you dont have to worry about that with Alexa+.All personal information you share is centrally stored on the Alexa Privacy dashboard. Plus, the entire system is housed in Amazons secure AWS infrastructure, which provides world-class security and privacy.Theres another piece of good news. While Alexa+ costs $19.99 per month, itll be available for free to all Prime users. Rollout has already started in the US with devices like the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21. Apart from that, you can also access it through the brand-new Alexa+ mobile app thats available on both Android and iPhone.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Amy Clark has extensive knowledge of the SaaS market. She started her journey managing and supporting the content at systeme.io before becoming a writer and then in-house managing editor for Techreport, where she manages the delivery and quality of the content, spanning reviews, comparisons, and buyer guides. When she's not advocating for animal rights, you'll find her lost in the world of video games. View all articles by Amy Clark Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysWhatsApp experienced a temporary outage, preventing users from sending or receiving messages.Meta acknowledged the glitch and fixed the problem within a few hours. This was WhatsApps first major outage in four years, with the last one having occurred in 2021.In the same week, Instagram users reported seeing violent and disturbing content due to an algorithm malfunction. Even accounts with sensitive content filters were affected, raising concerns about Metas content moderation policies.On Friday afternoon, WhatsApp briefly glitched, and users were unable to send or load their messages.Within a matter of a few minutes, there were thousands of reports regarding WhatsApp being down on Downdetector, the tracker website. Several users took to X, too, to complain about being unable to send messages or use the app entirely.While a vast majority of the issues were reported from the UK initially, the outage seems to have been a global experience. Thats because there were more than 8,000 problems logged in the US in a matter of an hour.Besides WhatsApp, there were also reports about Facebook Messenger having issues, but the reports in this case were far fewer than those about WhatsApp.Read more: WhatsApp users targeted by Paragon solutionsMeta took care of this issue quickly, and the platform was back up and working in a matter of a few hours. A Meta spokesperson acknowledged the issues and said that everything has now been fixed.Its worth noting that a downtime on WhatsApp has resurfaced after four long years, with the last outage being a severe 7-hour one across all Meta platforms. It cost the tech company more than $100 million in revenue.Meta Parody of Glitches: Instagram Insensitive Content GlitchWhatsApp downtime isnt the only thing that went wrong in the Meta ecosystem this week. Just a couple of days ago, Metas Instagram suddenly started coughing up gross, violent content for no apparent reason.Even the users who had put a filter on sensitive content were shown reels that had extreme violence or crime involved in them. It seemed to be an algorithm glitch, but it was surely a very concerning one. Unprecedented, too.Good or not, most people open Instagram first thing in the morning. Imagine opening the app and seeing a guy being smashed across his head with a giant rod. Or getting shot at by a terrorist. Certainly a disturbing sight, right? This is what millions of users reported experiencing. Even worse, users less than 18 years old, too, came across such content.This glitch came soon after Instagram revised its policies to give users more freedom on what they want to see. Instagram is known for its stringent content policies and strong regulation systems, but few people consider it a way of content moderation.Keeping those remarks in mind, Instagram changed its content policy and attempted to censor only content that promotes illegal activities. But that clearly doesnt seem to be working efficiently enough.Interestingly, this isnt the first time that a breakout of harmful content has been experienced by the users, with a similar issue happening around the pandemic.Meta apologized for the inconvenience and explained that the glitch happened due to some technical issue. The tech giant is working to make sure that the platform is safe for all users, especially since now it has one of the biggest opportunities to expand amidst TikToks uncertainty in the US.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Techreport's in-house Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency. When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

After our initial analysis of the Radeon RX 9000 series announcement yesterday and the potential performance implications, let's put pricing aside and focus on some of the other interesting aspects of RDNA 4.Based on AMD's performance claims, the RDNA 4 architecture is more optimized for higher resolutions than lower ones. While the Radeon 9070 XT is claimed to be 42% faster than the 7900 GRE at 4K Ultra settings, at 1440p, it is 38% faster. The relative uplift at 1440p is 3% lower than at 4K, which isn't a massive difference but is still worth noting.Of course, the biggest and most important feature announcement AMD has made alongside RDNA 4 is FSR 4, which introduces an ML-based upscaling solution.Currently, FSR 2.2 and FSR 3.1 upscaling are not competitive with DLSS 4, so for AMD to compete, FSR 4 needs to be a major step up. With an AI-based upscaling algorithm, AMD now has a much better chance of delivering a competitive solution.We can't fully analyze FSR 4 until the RDNA 4 review embargo lifts, but expect dedicated coverage after the GPU reviews go live. However, we saw FSR 4 in action at CES and can confirm that, based on what was shown, FSR 4 is a significant improvement over FSR 3.1. // Related StoriesIn the CES demo, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was shown running in both FSR 3.1 and FSR 4 performance modes. FSR 4 was noticeably better at upscaling from low render resolutions, particularly in performance mode, which has historically struggled with image quality in previous FSR versions.Managing expectations for RDNA 4Alongside the RDNA 4 announcement, AMD provided a few additional image comparisons, mostly still images showcasing fine detail differences. While these examples don't fully demonstrate overall image quality improvements, our CES preview of FSR 4 was impressive. At first, we didn't even realize FSR 4 was running in performance mode until an AMD representative pointed it out and this was later confirmed in the settings.The biggest question we can't yet answer is: How close does FSR 4 get to DLSS? Are we looking at DLSS 2-level quality? DLSS 3? DLSS 4? We don't know yet. DLSS 4 has made significant strides in reducing TAA blur and improving image stability, so AMD has its work cut out to match Nvidia's offering.However, there are several wins AMD can achieve with FSR 4:A significant image quality boost over FSR 3.1 Based on what we've seen, this seems like a given.Better upscaling at lower resolutions like 1440p and 1080p These are critical resolutions for gamers.Making FSR 4 "usable" Even if it doesn't match DLSS 4, if it can deliver DLSS 3-level quality with acceptable artifacting, that would be a huge improvement.Matching or exceeding DLSS 4 quality This would be an outstanding result, though AMD is coming from far behind, so expectations should be realistic.Also read: DLSS 4 Upscaling at 4K is Actually Pretty AmazingEven if not all of these wins are achieved immediately, closing the significant gap in upscaling quality would be a major step forward especially since upscalers are one of the biggest reasons gamers choose GeForce GPUs.How FSR 4 WorksFSR 4 leverages FP8 processing, a new accelerated capability introduced in RDNA 4. This new architecture also improves the performance of other AI-relevant data formats, such as INT8 and FP16, but FSR 4 specifically relies on FP8. As a result, FSR 4 is exclusive to RDNA 4 GPUs and will not work on RDNA 3, at least initially.AMD has left the door open for a potential FSR 4 variant for older Radeon GPUs, but if that happens, it would likely be a separate, watered-down model similar to Intel's XeSS, where the better XMX version runs on Arc hardware, while a weaker DP4a version runs on other GPUs. However, AMD has not confirmed whether this will happen.FSR 4 integration and game supportFSR 4 will initially be integrated at the driver level. It hooks into the FSR 3.1 API and replaces the upscaling pass with the FSR 4 algorithm whenever FSR 3.1 is enabled in a game. On day one, all FSR 3.1-supported games will be upgraded to FSR 4 via the driver. Older FSR versions (FSR 3.0, FSR 2.2, etc.) must be upgraded to FSR 3.1 within the game to access FSR 4.A native implementation of FSR 4 is expected in the future, but at launch, all FSR 4 titles will use the driver upgrade path similar to Nvidia's DLSS override feature. However, FSR 4 does not improve frame generation quality over FSR 3.Frame generation remains single-frame-based, and AMD is not attempting multi-frame generation to match Nvidia's DLSS 4 frame generation.Performance uplift and benchmarksAMD has provided performance data comparing FSR 4 upscaling and FSR 4 + Frame Generation. The FSR 4 upscaling mode used in benchmarks is 4K Performance Mode, which AMD claims offers a 65% performance uplift over native 4K rendering across seven tested games.For comparison:In our DLSS 4 investigation, DLSS 4 Performance Mode delivered a 74% performance improvement on the RTX 580 when compared to native TAA at 4K.At lower frame rates, where the upscaler overhead is lower, FSR 4 achieved up to a 2X boost in some cases.Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart saw a 100% performance increase (2X boost).Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered showed a 38% performance uplift, similar to DLSS 4 Performance Mode.These results are very promising.At launch, FSR 4 will be available in 30+ games, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Spider-Man 2, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and while this is more than previous FSR launches, DLSS 4 already supports far more titles.Nvidia has used an upgradeable DLSS DLL for much longer, so GeForce users can upgrade over 70 games via the DLSS override in the Nvidia App or through unofficial DLL swaps. Upgrading FSR 2.2 titles to FSR 4 will be significantly harder, creating a major gap in official and unofficial game support at launch.For FSR 4 to succeed, AMD needs to build a strong ecosystem and expand game support significantly over time. Having 30 games at launch, including big-name titles, is a step in the right direction certainly better than FSR 3's launch, which had only two titles.However, closing the gap with DLSS 4 both in quality and adoption will take a long-term effort. Hopefully, AMD is making major investments into upscaling and committing to sustained support in the coming years.

WTF?! Citigroup, one of the world's largest financial institutions, narrowly avoided a colossal error that would have sent ripples through the banking industry. Last April, the bank inadvertently credited a client's account with an astounding $81 trillion when it intended to transfer a mere $280. This monumental mistake, previously unreported, has come to light at a critical time for Citigroup. The bank is currently striving to convince regulators that it has addressed long-standing operational issues, and this incident may undermine those efforts.The erroneous internal transfer occurred due to oversights and system quirks. An internal report of the event, obtained by the Financial Times, notes that the error slipped past two staff members. A payments employee made the initial mistake. A second bank official overlooked the error when verifying the transaction. Fortunately, a third auditor caught the mega-blunder after detecting an anomaly in the bank's account balances 90 minutes after the transaction posted to the account.An unnamed source familiar with the incident said a combination of human error and a cumbersome user interface in the bank's backup system caused the mistake. In mid-March, the bank posted the payment to a customer's escrow account in Brazil, but a screening process blocked it over a sanctions violation. Although quickly cleared, the payment remained stuck in the bank's system.To resolve this, Citigroup's technology team instructed the payments processing employee to manually input the transactions into a rarely used backup system. However, its interface had a peculiar quirk: the amount field automatically pre-populated with 15 zeros, which the employee should have deleted before entering the correct amount but didn't.Despite the magnitude of the error, a Citigroup spokesperson pointed out that the internal controls quickly identified and rectified the mistake. The auditor caught the mistake within 90 minutes and reversed the transaction. The spokesperson stressed that no funds ever left the bank. // Related StoriesA person knowledgeable of the matter noted that Citigroup disclosed this "near miss" to the Federal Reserve and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency shortly after it occurred. This transparency comes when the bank is under intense regulatory scrutiny. The incident is part of a broader pattern of operational challenges at Citigroup.An internal report revealed that the bank experienced 10 near misses of $1 billion or more in the past year, slightly down from 13 in the previous year. Speaking anonymously, several former regulators and bank risk managers told FT that near misses of this scale are unusual across the U.S. banking industry.This series of near misses underscores Citigroup's ongoing struggle to resolve operational issues, nearly five years after a high-profile $900 million mistaken payment related to cosmetics group Revlon. That incident led to significant consequences, including the departure of then-CEO Michael Corbat, substantial fines, and regulatory consent orders mandating fixes to these issues.Jane Fraser, who succeeded Corbat as CEO in 2021, has made addressing these regulatory concerns her "top priority." However, the bank struggles to make progress, as evidenced by a $136 million fine imposed last year by regulators for failing to correct problems in risk control and data management.

The 97th Academy Awards are on Sunday, March 2, and its no surprise if theyve got you in a movie night mood. Over the years, the Oscars have largely reserved the most prestigious awards for dramas and romances, but as sci-fi storytelling has grown more provocative and prescient, sci-fi flicks have slowly permeated beyond the technical awards and into the Best Picture category. Case in point: Dune: Part Twowas nominated for five awards, including Best Picture.Streaming services have made it easier than ever to see the Oscar nominees before the big night, but theyve also provided a great resource to enjoy Oscar winners of years past. Whether youre a sci-fi aficionado or youre simply in the mood, these are 5 great Oscar-winning sci-fi movies you should stream right now.Recommended VideosRelatedEditors Recommendations

HP EliteBook X G1a Score Details The HP EliteBook X G1a is a businessperson's business laptop.ProsExcellent build qualityUnderstated but attractive aestheticExcellent productivity performanceEnterprise-friendly management and securitySpectacular OLED displayConsExpensiveBattery life suffers without IPS displayTable of ContentsTable of ContentsSpecs and configurationDesignKeyboard and touchpadConnectivity and webcamPerformanceBattery lifeDisplay and audioExactly what businesses are looking forI took a first look at the HP EliteBook X G1a a few weeks ago, and without having a chance to test the laptop, found it to be a solid new addition to the field of best business laptops. Its attractive, well-built, and generally looks and feels a lot like the kind of laptop business users are looking for.Recommended VideosNow that Ive tested it, Im happy to say that it lives up to my original billing. Its very fast and offers up a host of commercial-friendly features. I tested it with its excellent OLED display option, but if youre looking for the best battery life, youll want to select the IPS panel instead.RelatedHP EliteBook X G1aDimensions12.29 x 8.45 x 0.52 inchesWeight3.3 poundsDisplay14.0-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS, 60Hz14.0-inch 16:10 2.8K (1880 x 1800) OLED, 120HzCPUAMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360AMD Ryzen AI 9 PRO 375GPURadeon Graphics 880MRadeon Graphics 890MMemory16GB32GB64GBStorage512GB SSD1TB SSDPorts1 x USB-C2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 41 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 11 x HDMI 2.11 x 3.5mm headphone jackCamera5MP with infrared camera for Windows 11 HelloWi-FiWi-Fi 7 and Bluetoth 5.4Battery74.5 watt-hourOperating systemWindows 11Price$2,099+There are several configurations available for the EliteBook X G1a. If you visit HPs web store, youll find several configuration that are on sale, such as my review configuration that is currently on sale for $2,599, down from a list price of $3,949. That configuration includes an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 chipset, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14.0-inch 2.8K OLED display. The base configuration is $2,099 list, with a Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 14.0-inch FHD+ IPS panel.However, these prices wont be what a business will pay. Rather, prices will be most relevant when the laptop is purchased on a contract that will be a lot more attractive.Mark Coppock / Digital TrendsTheres no doubt that HP knows how to make a solid laptop. The EliteBook X G1a feels incredibly robust, with zero bending, flexing, or twisting in the lid, keyboard deck, or chassis. That makes sense, because the laptop is aimed at a commercial market that demands reliability.In terms of its aesthetic, the EliteBook X G1a is just about perfect that is, if youre a businessperson who wants a laptop that doesnt stand out but still comes across as attractive. HP toned down some of the design flourishes youll find on its consumer lineup, like the most recent OmniBook machines, while still giving the EliteBook enough smooth lines and cohesiveness that you wont feel like youre carrying the usual business machine.While the display bezels arent the smallest Ive seen, the laptop is still reasonably sized in width and depth. Its very thin at just 0.52 inches, not too far off from the insanely thin MacBook Air 15 thats 0.45 inches, while its not terribly light 3.3 pounds. Thats heavy enough that the EliteBook X G1a has a dense feeling to it, which does make it a little less comfortably portable.Mark Coppock / Digital TrendsHP has been making great keyboards for several years now, first in their Spectre lineup and now in their OmniBook and EliteBook machines. This one builds on that, with large keycaps, bold lettering, and plenty of key spacing. The switches are consistent across the entire keyboard and have a light, snappy feel. Its one of the best Ive used, right up their with my usual favorite, Apples Magic Keyboard.The touchpad isnt quite as good, as a mechanical version where Im starting to see more haptic touchpads in premium laptops. Its big enough and the button clicks are quiet and confident, but a haptic touchpad would have been welcome here. HP makes a great version thats on some of its OmniBook laptops, and I would have liked to see it make it to the EliteBook.Mark Coppock / Digital TrendsTheres plenty of connectivity, with a nice selection of modern and legacy ports. That makes sense, given the laptops commercial focus, and that includes the fastest wireless connectivity. Id like to see an SD card slot, which is becoming less and less common. Im also surprised theres no option for always-connected internet, which is available on some other commercial machines.Mark Coppock / Digital TrendsThe webcam is HPs high-resolution 5MP version, which provides a sharp, clear image that benefits from a host of AI-powered enhancements. The laptop is a Microsoft Copilot+ PC, and HP offers a number of conferencing benefits via the Poly Camera Pro software. Theres a Spotlight feature, excellent background blur and replace, filters, and auto framing. Its all powered by a fast Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that provides fast and efficient on-device AI processing.Mark Coppock / Digital TrendsThe EliteBook X G1a is available with one of several AMD Ryzen AI 7 and 9 chipsets, and I reviewed it with the highest-end Ryzen AI 9 HX 375. The PRO versions of the chipsets enables the kind of security and manageability that enterprises demand, and then theres the option of the sheer power of the Ryzen AI 9 chipset. Its a 12-core/24-thread chipset running at up to 5.1GHz and consuming a default of 28 watts configurable up to 54 watts.It also offers faster on-device AI thanks to an NPU that runs at up to 55 tera operations per second (TOPS). Thats faster than any other chipset available today, and that means faster AI processing with the efficiency of the NPU compared to using the GPU.HP is introducing its AI Companion software that enables a variety of AI features above and beyond what Microsofts Copilot+ PC initiative provides. AI Companion includes Analyze that lets you dig into files, along with a variety of other custom AI features. All of them run on-device, keeping things theoretically safer and more private and using the NPU to maintain efficiency.HP also updated its SmartSense feature to use AI to better manage performance and fan speed. Now, there are just two options available SmartSense and Best Performance meaning that users wont need to spend as much time managing the EliteBook X G1as performance, heat, and noise. Well have to wait until we can run benchmarks to determine how effective the new software is in managing things.Finally, as a member of HPs business lineup, the EliteBook X G1a has Wolf Security for enhanced security and privacy. Its so locked down that there were extra hoops I had to run through in running some of our standard benchmarks.The EliteBook X G1a was a strong performer for demanding productivity users, coming in at the top in our comparison group of thin and light laptops in multi-core processing speed. Some other chipsets, like Intels Lunar Lake and Apples M3 chipset, are faster in single-core performance. The AMD Radeon 890M integrated graphics are the second fastest in this group, but the EliteBook X G1a doesnt make for a strong gaming laptop or creative workstations.Cinebench R24(single/multi)Geekbench 6(single/multi)Handbrake(seconds)3DMarkWild Life ExtremeHP EliteBook X G1a(Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 / Radeon 890M)109 / 10952769 / 14786607236Acer Swift 14 AI(Ryzen AI 9 365 / Radeon 880M)110 / 8772795 / 14351565669Acer Swift 14 AI(Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)121 / 5252755 / 11138925294HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14(Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)116 / 5982483 / 10725997573Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition(Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)109 / 6302485 / 10569885217Asus Zenbook S 14(Core Ultra 7 258V / Intel Arc 140V)112 / 4522738 / 107341137514HP OmniBook X(Snapdragon X Elite / Adreno)101 / 7492377 / 13490N/A6165MacBook Air(M3)141 / 6013102 / 120781098098Mark Coppock / Digital TrendsI reviewed the EliteBook X G1a with its high-resolution OLED display, which counters the reasonably sized 74.5 watt-hour battery. The AMD chipset isnt particularly efficient, and I saw just 7.5 hours of video looping with the EliteBook and 1.5 hours of running the Cinebench R24 benchmark as a demanding test.Thats not great, and in fact falls well short of laptops with more efficient chipsets like Qualcomms Snapdragon X and Intels Lunar Lake. Youll get much better battery life with the available FHD+ IPS display, and this configuration is for people who demand the best display quality. HP estimates battery life at greater than 17 hours with IPS, and thats a reasonable expectation.Mark Coppock / Digital TrendsThere are two display options with the EliteBook X G1a. I reviewed the 14.0-inch 16:10 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED display that runs at up to 120Hz. Its a gorgeous display with more than enough brightness, dynamic colors, and inky blacks. It also means youll take a hit on battery life. If thats a concern, then you can opt for the FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS display instead. I love OLED and 2.8K is just sharp enough for me, so I would opt for this one if I were making the purchase.According to my colorimeter, this is a very good OLED panel. Its plenty bright at 404 nits, well above our 300-nit threshold thats bright enough to use in anything but direct sunlight. Blacks are near-perfect, with a 28,280:1 contrast ratio. And colors are wide at 96% of AdobeRGB, 100% of sRGB, and 100% of DCI-P3, which phenomenal accuracy at a DeltaE of 0.59 (anything 1.0 or less in excellent for all uses).Choose the OLED display, and youll be set for any kind of use. Choose the IPS option if youre mainly doing productivity work and battery life is most important to you.Mark Coppock / Digital TrendsYoull enjoy the four-speaker setup, with two upward-firing tweeter and two downward-firing woofers. Laptop audio has gotten a lot better lately, and the EliteBook X G1a produces plenty of volume, clear mids and highs, and more bass than usual. Its up there with the best, including the Apple MacBook Air that also has a four-speaker configuration.The EliteBook X G1a success admirably at its objective of providing a laptop that will keep businesses happy. It offers a number of management and security features that large enterprises demand, along with a build quality that will hold up to the rigors of travel.Its also very fast and takes Microsofts Copilot+ PC AI initiative a step further with some nifty HP exclusives. If you want better battery life, youll want to opt for the more power-efficient display. But this is an easy laptop to recommend for all but budget-conscious consumers.Editors Recommendations

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced his candidacy for New York City mayor.Cuomo is challenging Mayor Eric Adams.Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 after several sexual harassment allegations.Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched a bid for New York City mayor."Our city is in crisis. That's why I am running to be Mayor of New York City," Cuomo said in a social media announcement on Saturday. "We need government to work. We need effective leadership."New York elected Cuomo governor in 2011. He served a decade before resigning in 2021 after he was accused of sexual harassment.In a 17-minute video posted on X, Cuomo outlined his concerns about New York City, which he said feels "threatening, out of control, and in crisis.""We know that today, our New York City is in trouble. You feel it when you walk down the street and try not to make eye contact with a mentally ill homeless person, or when the anxiety rises up in your chest when you're walking down into the subway," Cuomo said, speaking over soothing piano music. "You see it in the empty storefronts, the graffiti, the grime, the migrant influx, the random violence."Cuomo blamed all this on the "lack of intelligent action by many of our political leaders."His announcement comes after New York City's current mayor, Eric Adams, was federally charged with bribery and conspiracy in September. Adams has since faced calls to resign but has so far resisted.Cuomo's resignation in 2021 followed an inquiry from New York Attorney General Letitia James. An investigation from her office found that Cuomo had harassed 11 women, including some of his own staff.Cuomo's decision to step down cleared the way for then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul to become the first female governor of New York, a position she still holds.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian envisions AI moderating future social media platforms.Ohanian said AI would allow users to set tolerance levels for content.Reddit has prioritized AI, signing deals with Google and OpenAI for content data sharing.The Reddit moderator is something of a near-mythical creature.They are anonymous and unpaid, and some of them wield significant power over the flow of information. However, in the age of artificial intelligence, they might not be long for this world.Alexis Ohanian, who cofounded the popular internet forum site in 2005, thinks AI is the future of social media moderation.At a recent conference in Qatar, he said AI could even "unlock" a system where people use "sliders" to "choose their level of tolerance" about certain topics on social media."I'd imagine another wave of social media platforms building this way, and probably the incumbents adopting versions of it as well," Ohanian told a CNBC reporter at the conference.Reddit itself has made AI a top priority over the past year.The company signed a licensing deal to train Google's AI models using Reddit content for $60 million a year in February 2024. Then in May, Reddit signed another massive content data-sharing deal with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to train its AI models.Reddit also introduced several new AI-powered tools last year, including an AI-powered search tool that generates answers from the site's content and translation features that use AI to deliver content in different languages.Reddit hasn't said if AI moderators are also on their way. Ohanian sold his stake in Reddit in 2006 and is no longer involved in operations. His cofounder, Steve Huffman, is now CEO.When he helped found Reddit in 2005, Ohanian said the company implemented a set of rules about content that he considered "federal laws" for the site.Restrictions on some content like banning revenge porn in 2014 were "no brainers" that gave Reddit moderators a system of rules to work within so content moderation on the site remained consistent in individual communities, Ohanian said at the conference.Ohanian said that for companies like Meta and X to move to a community notes model is a reasonable approach because mass fact-checking is unfeasible. Meta replaced its third-party fact-checkers with community notes last month."It is impossible to do fact-checking at scale, let alone in real time, as Facebook was trying to do," Ohanian said. "So, in many ways, I think they were just winding back something that was a bad idea from the start, because it was untenable."Ohanian said at the conference that he thinks social media will "eventually get to a place where we get to choose our own algorithm.""We're all incentivized to have the best possible algorithm, not because of anything sinister, but because we want to keep people engaged," Ohanian said. "It drives revenue. It does all those things, but I think the next iteration of it is to actually let us choose the weights and levers of those algorithms so that we have a bit more agency and ownership."

Daredevilwill be Born Again next week, but information on its next season is already trickling out, including cast additions. Per Deadline, Matthew Lillard will show up in the second season. Born Againmarks his MCU debut, and another part of his ongoing renaissance in recent years. Along with the upcoming Five Nights at Freddyssequel, the actor is expected to make an appearance of some kind as Stu Macher in 2026sScream 7; hes also part of AmazonsCrossand Mike FlanagansLife of Chuck. Whats Lillard doing in Daredevils neck of the woods? Thats under wraps, but let the speculation commence. Production onBorn Againssophomore seasonwhich will run eight episodes, as opposed to the first seasons nineis expected to begin in the next few days. The show was already locked in for two seasons when it was announced, but its a question of whether Marvel will let it continue beyond that initial order: TV head Brad Winderbaum recently said the studio wanted to have more yearly shows like Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, but its also not keen to continue every seriesunder its belt. During the shows press circuit, Charlie Cox teased to Collider what hes read of season two has some of my favorite stuff Ive read. [] What [showrunner Dario Scardapane] done so far with this new season isso cool and so different and so sinister, and Im really, really excited about it. First, we need to see the first season of Daredevil: Born Again,which starts on March 4. Expect our thoughts on the show soon. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.