Three winners announced and two shortlists revealed for the W Awards 2025Shortlists for the MJ Long Prize for Excellence in Practice and Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture have been announced by The Architectural Review and the Architects Journal, as well as the winners of the Jane Drew Prize for Architecture, Ada Louise Huxtable Prize for Contribution to Architecture, and the Prize for Research in Gender and Architecture.MJ Long Prize for Excellence in Practice 2025Photography credits from top to bottom, left to right: Johan Dehlin, Maddie Persent, Jack Hobhouse, Nick KaneThis prize, named in memory of inspirational architect MJ Long, celebrates architects who are excelling in practice. In recognition of the London home of the awards, the prize considers UK-based architects working for UK-based practices, and is judged on an overall body of work with an emphasis on a recently completed project.The MJ Long Prize shortlist comprises:Rachel Elliott of Lynch Architects, for Westminster Coroners Court in LondonRebecca Kalbfell of HAT Projects, for Sunspot in Jaywick SandsMathilda Lewis of dMFK Architects, for Voysey House in ChiswickJacqueline Stephen of Nall McLaughlin Architects, for the Faith Museum in Bishop AucklandMoira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture 2025Photography credits from top to bottom, left to right: JAG Studio, Felipe Cotero, Kent Andreasen, Hassan Al ShattiWe are delighted to announce the architects shortlisted for this years Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture.The shortlist features architects based in South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Colombia and Ecuador, seeking original and tactical ways to navigate the contexts they work in to create spaces for the local community.This award recognises a bright future for designers under the age of 45 who are leading their own practices.The Moira Gemmill Prize shortlist comprises:Marialuisa Borja of Al Bordebased in EcuadorAna Maria Gutirrez of Organizmo based in ColombiaAshleigh Killa of The MAAK based in South AfricaSara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi of Syn Architects based in Saudi ArabiaThe jury for the Moira Gemmill and MJ Long Prizes includes: Cristina Monteiro of DK-CM; Sandra Barclay of Barclay Crousse; EvaJiin of AI Design; Anna Liu of Tonkin Liu; AlbertWilliamsonTaylor of AKT II; Karen Livingstone of the Fitzwilliam Museum; and Sal Wilson, educator and sustainability consultant.Jane Drew Prize for Architecture and Ada Louise Huxtable Prize for Contribution to Architecture 2025Photography credits from left to right: Philippe Ruault, Columbia GSAPP / Wikimedia CommonsArchitect Anne Lacaton has been awarded the Jane Drew Prize for Architecture 2025, an award recognising an architectural designer who, through their work and commitment to design excellence, has raised the profile of women in architecture. Co-founder, with Jean-Philippe Vassal, of French firm Lacaton & Vassal, Lacaton has been instrumental in defining what it means to build responsibly in the 21st century. Often upending convention, Lacaton and Vassal are famed for their bare-bones renovation of Pariss Palais de Tokyo, and for wrapping existing housing stock in winter gardens a move which improves the thermal performance of homes while subtly extending them.Manon Mollard, Editor of The Architectural Review said: Far from pretensions to stardom, Anne Lacatons practice is considered and audacious, with a clarity of purpose that must be celebrated. With Jean-Philippe Vassal, she places residents and users at the centre, and designs buildings that are both frugal and generous. Their denunciation of demolition as madness, and advocacy for reuse and transformation is an urgent message for all architects, clients and politicians.Suad Amiry is the winner of the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize for Contribution to Architecture 2025, which recognises individuals from fields adjacent to and that intersect with architecture, who have made a significant contribution to architecture and the built environment. Amiry is the founder of Riwaq, an organisation specialising in the preservation and reuse of historical buildings in Palestine. In addition to leading Riwaqs conservation work, Amiry is a prolific writer, having authored award-winning books such as Sharon and My Mother-in-Law (2003) and, most recently, Mother of Strangers (2022).Eleanor Beaumont, Deputy Editor at The Architectural Review said: In light of continuing and increasing violence and destruction in Palestine, Suad Amirys commitment to the restoration and reuse of historical Palestinian structures is vital. Amirys varied practice, combining both advocacy and writing, teaches spatial practitioners to imagine a world beyond the rubble.Prize for Research in Gender and Architecture 2025Designing Motherhood on display at Stockholms ArkDes. Credit: courtesy of ArkDesThe winner of this years Prize for Research in Gender and Architecture is the Designing Motherhood project. Noticing a gap in classrooms, exhibitions and writing on design for the arc of human reproduction, US design historians Michelle Millar Fisher and Amber Winick launched this research project in 2017. Today, it comprises a book published in 2021 by MIT Press; a touring exhibition currently in its fourth and fifth iterations at ArkDes in Stockholm, Sweden and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (curated with Juliana Rowen Barton and Zo Greggs); a popular Instagram account; and a series of local partnerships with maternal and infant health specialists, policy makers and activists.The Prize for Research in Gender and Architecture celebrates projects that investigate the complex relations between gender and the built environment, and challenge patriarchal spatial systems. Sited within architectural practice or outside it, in the homes, cities and landscapes we all inhabit, the prize recognises projects that are critical, educational and propositional in outlook, undertaken by individuals (of any gender) or collectives from around the world.Kristina Rapacki, Senior Editor at The Architectural Review said: Designing Motherhood is a multifaceted research project into the rich and largely unexplored design histories of human reproduction. By incorporating a multiplicity of voices, it reveals deep biopolitical stories of the buildings, objects and materials that have been used to control as well as emancipate birthing people and their bodies.We are delighted that this yearsW Awards will be hosted by ECC Italy in Venice on Friday 9 May, where the winners of the MJ Long and Moira Gemmill Prizes will be revealed. The event will be free to attend, and registration will open soon.2025-03-03AR EditorsShare

Suad Amiry | Anne Lacaton | HAT Projects | Nall McLaughlin Architects | dMFK Architects | Lynch Architects | Designing Motherhood | The MAAK | Organizmo | Syn | Al BordeEarlier this year, Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum was announced as the designer of the next Serpentine Pavilion. Zaha Hadid might have designed the first London pavilion in 2000, but she was followed by many men; it took another 18 years for the next sole female architect tobe commissioned. Frida Escobedo has since been followed bySumayya Vally, Lina Ghotmeh and now Tabassum.As the AR celebrates 10 years of co-organising the WAwards with the Architects Journal, we reflect on the past decade and how they have evolved. In 2016, the awards then known as Women inArchitecture focused on the work of lead female designers. In 2020, the awards were renamed and expanded to recognise the non-binary nature of gender. Then, in 2021, a new prize was introduced to make visible the contribution of architects who choose to work within practices rather than setting up their own. Twoyears ago, we added a prize celebrating research into gender and the built environment, acknowledging the many ways practitioners contribute to architectural culture.Gender is entangled with many threads, including the climate emergency. As Hlne Frichot explains in this issues keynote, there is a profound connection between the domination of women and minority groups and the domination ofnature. She suggests that an ecofeminist architect might instead be a materials nurse or an environmental housekeeper. The W Awards will continue to evolve as the role of architects must inevitably change.1519: W Awardscover (above) Ana MendietaIn the first iteration of her Silueta series (197377), Cuban-American artist Ana Mendieta lies in a Zapotec grave, her body strewn with white flowers. Drawing together themes of ritual burial, death andfertility, the series invokes ecofeminist entanglements. Credit: Imgen de Ygul, 1973 The Estate of Ana Mendieta Collection, LLC. Licensed by DACS, courtesy Alison Jacquesfolio (lead image) Teresa MargollesMexican artist Teresa Margolles created Mil Veces un Instante (AThousand Times in anInstant) for Londons Trafalgar Square in 2024. Featuring face casts of 726 people from trans and non-binary communities inMexico and the UK, itdraws on Mesoamerican monuments to mourn the victims of violence against these groups. Credit: SOPA Images Limited / AlamykeynoteEcofeminist housekeepingHlne Frichotada louise huxtable prize for contribution to architecturereputationsSuad AmiryMahdi Sabbaghjane drew prize for architecture reputationsAnne LacatonJustinien Tribillonmj long prize for excellence in practicebuildingSunspotRebecca Kalbfell, HAT ProjectsKristina RapackibuildingSunspotRebecca Kalbfell, HAT ProjectsKristina RapackibuildingFaith MuseumJacqueline Stephen, Nall McLaughlin ArchitectsNile BridgemanbuildingVoysey HouseMathilda LewisdMFK ArchitectsJoe LloydbuildingWestminster Coroners CourtRachel ElliottLynch ArchitectsEllie Duffyprize for research in gender and architectureessayDesigning MotherhoodMichelle Millar Fisher, Amber Winick and collaboratorsAnna Livia Vrselmoira gemmill prize for emerging architectureportfolioAshleigh Killa, The MAAKJehan LatiefportfolioAna Mara Gutirrez, OrganizmoManon MollardportfolioSara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi, Syn ArchitectsRahel AimaportfolioMarialuisa Borja, Al BordeRmulo Moya Peralta

Agentic AI can deliver big benefits, but business leaders must consider how to deal with this complex range of factors.

'Zeta Gundam' is one of the most highly rated entries in the 'Gundam' saga.SOTSUSUNRISEOne of the most highly regarded mecha anime ever made is now finally celebrating its 4oth anniversary. Zeta Gundam is still very much a classic.Released on March 2 in 1985, Zeta Gundam was the then-direct follow-on series to Mobile Suit Gundam. Set 8 years after that series, it dealt with a far more complex political landscape in terms of its narrative.Following the end of the One Year War, the Federation created a special branch of its military forces called the Titans to deal with Zeon remnants. However, the Titans took that remit too far and became overzealous about who they deemed a threat.To combat the Titans, a new organization was formed, the Anti-Earth Union Group or AEUG. Backed by the massive corporation Anaheim Electronics, which was also a major mobile suit manufacturer, many of the old alliances and allegiances changed around with the creation of the AEUG and Titans conflict.In that, characters such as Char Aznable would end up partnering in battle with his sworn enemy, Amuro Ray. Not to mention the resurgence of Zeon in the form of Neo Zeon, the whole of Zeta Gundam had a feeling of a real generational shift over Mobile Suit Gundam.This was in part due to the narrative, but also the aesthetics. While Kunio Okawara returned for some of the mecha design, much of Zeta Gundams visual style was determined originally by Mamoru Nagano. Although, the likes of Makoto Kobayashi also did many notable throughout the series designs.Not to mention the character design shift from Yoshikazu Yasuhiko to Hiroyuki Kitazume, which created a sleeker and somewhat colder feel to the characterization.Writer and director Yoshiyuki Tomino also didnt hold back, as he continued to rack up a substantial kill count for many of the major characters, although the likes of both Ideon and Dunbine obviously surpass Zeta Gundam on that front.This 40th anniversary is also likely the reason we are getting such a nice Metal Build Zeta Gundam toy this April and why Japanese fans on X partly lost their minds yesterday realizing that Zeta Gundam is now, in fact, 40 years old (shown above).For many, Zeta Gundam is one of the best entries into the Gundam narrative pantheon. Its a much darker tale and colder depiction of the Universal Century, and for that reason, its garnered a sizable and very dedicated fanbase.Thankfully, you can watch all of Zeta Gundam over at Crunchyroll, and if you are at all curious you can also check out my Blu-ray review of the series.Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.

A hot potato: Sergey Brin, the billionaire who co-founded Google alongside Larry Page in 1998, isn't the biggest believer in the idea of a work-life balance. He says that in order for Google to come out on top in the ultra-competitive AI industry, employees should work no fewer than 60 hours per week, which Brin calls the "sweet spot of productivity." Brin called for Googlers working on the company's AI products to increase their hours in a memo seen by The New York Times.Sixty hours per week works out at 12 hours per day in the traditional Monday to Friday work week.Not surprisingly, Brin isn't a fan of working from home. Google is one of many companies that require workers to be in the office at least three days per week. However, Brin recommends being in the office "at least every weekday" so at least he's okay with working from home on weekends."A number of folks work less than 60 hours and a small number put in the bare minimum to get by," Brin wrote. "This last group is not only unproductive but also can be highly demoralizing to everyone else."Brin did say that working more than 60 hours per week isn't advisable as it can lead to exhaustion (and possibly other health issues), though it's easy to imagine most people arguing that 60 hours per week would cause the same problem. // Related StoriesBrin is cracking the whip in a push for Google to win the race in developing artificial general intelligence (AGI), which can understand and think like a real person while exceeding human cognitive capabilities."Competition has accelerated immensely, and the final race to AGI is afoot," Brin wrote in the memo. "I think we have all the ingredients to win this race, but we are going to have to turbocharge our efforts."Brin believes the key to Google developing AGI first in addition to 60-hour-weeks and not working from home is for programmers to increase their efficiency by using the company's own Gemini AI tools.Brin stepped down as Alphabet president in 2019, though he returned to take a role in Google's AI developments in 2023. It's unlikely that his memo is going to lead to CEO Sundar Pichai changing the work-from-home policy or increasing AI employees' minimum number of hours, but Brin still has influence at the company he co-founded.Brin isn't the only person in tech who thinks 40 to 50 hours in the office each week isn't enough. Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has called for 70-hour work weeks and said he does not "believe in work-life balance."Masthead: Thomas Hawk

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Table of ContentsTable of ContentsIt works like magic, thanks to Magic BayTwo screens or one, its up to youWill it launch as an actual product?Like many professionals who work remotely, I love working from home for one key reason: No, its not so I can wear pajamas to work (which I do), but so I can use my dual or triple-screen setup. The exact number of screens varies throughout the year, but one constant remains: my monitors.I also love to travel often, and its always more challenging to work from the road. Laptops like the Yoga Book 9i take a unique approach to solving this, as the two OLED displays make it simple to work with multiple windows. However, this solution doesnt always work, especially as the two displays are stacked on top of each other versus being horizontally aligned.Recommended VideosIve tried many of the best portable monitors, and while these help in a pinch, I have longed for a better setup. At MWC 2025, Lenovo showed off a potential solution, and its one of the more unique approaches that Ive seen. Heres why I like it and why it could be the ideal solution. Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsIf you havent heard of Lenovos Magic Bay, youve been missing out. Its one of the more unique features on a laptop and lets you use a range of different accessories to extend the capabilities of your laptop. These all connect via pogo pins, making it easy to install or remove any of these at will.Magic Bay is a concept that Lenovo has shown off at several shows in the past. Some of the previous concepts shown were an add-on screen that adds a 10-inch panel about the laptop screen, a ring light, a mirror, and a small fan. There are also aromatherapy diffusers, speakers, and a 4K studio webcam that also adds two speakers to your laptop.Magic Bay is limited to a selection of ThinkBook laptops, but its a concept that I wish would come to more laptops. In particular, the latest concepts would be ideal for any laptop user.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThe Magic Bay Dual Display concept is designed to offer you two 13-inch screens, while the 2nd Display concept offers a single 8-inch display that clips to the right of the laptop screen and is ideal for vertical use cases like scrolling social media or monitoring notifications.The Dual Display concept features two 13.5-inch displays with 28801920 pixels resolution, a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 1500:1 contrast ratio, and 100% of the sRGB color spectrum.. It weighs 1.2kg and doesnt require a separate power supply. The 2nd Display concept features an 8-inch display with a 9:16 aspect ratio, 19201200 pixels resolution, and a 60Hz refresh rate. It weighs just 0.3 kg, making it one of the lightest second-screen products you can buy.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsOne of the key problems with existing portable monitors is the integration with your laptop, but the two Magic Bay concepts solve this in two key ways. First, all the various keyboard shortcuts work as planned, so it works as an extension of your laptop. Second, and arguably the most impressive thing about it, is that the brightness control of your laptop display also controls the brightness of the secondary screens.This is the type of integration found in the Apple ecosystem, and it shows just how Lenovos tight integration of its accessories and ecosystem allows it to achieve a similar result.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsAs you may have guessed, its a conceptual device that may not make it to release. While many of Lenovos concepts do make it to a commercial product, the Magic Bay concept is not usually one of these.Its been over two years since the launch of the Magic Bay concept at CES 2023, but the only product that has launched is the 4K Studio webcam. I hope that this dual-screen concept follows the webcam and launches to the market, as it will solve one of my biggest issues with the best portable monitors.Editors Recommendations

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Mobile World Congress is in full swing, and TCL has officially launched its new NXTPaper 11 Plus tablet. This handheld is designed with cutting-edge display technology thats much easier on the eyes thanks to features like Smart Eye Comfort Mode and Personalized Eye Comfort Mode. This tablet makes it significantly easier to read in bed without searing your retinas just before falling asleep.The consensus regarding display technology and its ease on the eyes is nonexistent. There are as many opinions as there are display types, and while some people argue that e-ink is the way to go, others say a blue light filter is all you need. The NXTPaper 11 Plus takes that a step further with its custom modes.Recommended VideosThe Smart Eye Comfort Mode adjusts the contrast, color temperature, brightness, and other settings based on different use cases. For example, watching videos would require a different array of settings than reading an ebook.TCL / TCLPersonalized Eye Comfort Mode uses the same concept, but takes it a step further. It takes users preferences into account and adjusts color tones to reduce eye strain and fatigue.Please enable Javascript to view this contentHowever, the settings dont stop there. The NXTPaper 11 Plus is TCLs first AI-enabled tablet and comes with the kind of tools youd expect, such as Text Assist and Writing Assist. It also supports the Circle to Search feature, as well as a smart memo mode that transcribes spoken words with impressive accuracy. It can also provide real-time subtitles, even on videos that dont have any by default.Its specs are nothing to scoff at, either. With an 11.5-inch, 2.2K display, the NXTPaper 11 Plus is easy on the eyes in more ways than one. It supports a refresh rate of 120Hz and boasts a color accuracy at 100% sRGB. The tablet is available in two different configurations: 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, or 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.It also sports an 8,000mAh battery and 33W charging to ensure you never run out of juice. The tablet is available starting at starting at 249 Euro, or roughly $260.Editors Recommendations

5.2 miles/kWh The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA is good enough to make a believer out of EV skeptics But if you're still skeptical, don't worry: There's a hybrid version, too. Tim Stevens Mar 3, 2025 5:00 am | 0 It's not quite ready to be seen uncamouflaged, but Mercedes-Benz was ready to let us drive the new CLA. Credit: Tim Stevens It's not quite ready to be seen uncamouflaged, but Mercedes-Benz was ready to let us drive the new CLA. Credit: Tim Stevens Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreMercedes-Benz provided flights from Albany, NY to Arjeplog, Sweden and accommodation so Ars could drive the CLA prototypes. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.Mercedes-Benz's EV efforts aren't exactly burning up the sales charts. Models like the EQS and EQE haven't convinced the brand's demanding clientele that batteries are the future, forcing the company to scale back its electric ambitions.Scale back, but not abandon. Benz is about to launch a new generation of EVs relying on technology derived from the epically efficient EQXX. The first is the new CLA. It's coming soon, and after getting some time behind the wheel of a prototype vehicle undergoing final testing in the snowy wilds of Sweden, I'm convinced this could be the car to change Mercedes' electrified fortunes.And, for anyone who isn't convinced, there'll be a hybrid version too.The EV is definitely the focus, though, and it tackles many of the most significant sticking points for would-be buyers of the company's current electric offerings. First among those points is the styling. The somewhat anonymous shapes of the EQS and EQE have not earned those machines many fans outside of obsessive aerodynamicists. While the CLA I drove was unfortunately clad beneath some eye-warping camouflage, it seems to share enough lines with the Concept CLA Class that I'm already convinced it'll be a looker.The second concern with many of Benz's current EVs is cost. Yes, you can get an EQB in the mid-$50,000 range, but that's based on the older GLB. The least expensive of the company's current EV range is the EQE sedan, with a mid-$70,000 starting price. That puts it well out of reach for many avid EV enthusiasts. The CLA will have Mercedes' first entirely in-house EV powertrain, and it's far more efficient than the ones its currently offering. Credit: Tim Stevens The current, gas-powered CLA starts in the mid-$40,000 range. Mercedes isn't saying how much this new one will cost, but while the EV version will presumably be more, it should come in well beneath the EQE.Next is the driving dynamic, which is really what brought me to Sweden. Both the EQS and EQE are fine cars, comfortable and calm with plenty of torque and power to be fun. However, they're simply not the most engaging of machines. Can the CLA do better?First impressions are definitely a yes. My driving was performed in the low-grip, wintery environment of northern Sweden, making it a little difficult to tell exactly how the car will feel when pushed in a more temperate world. But lowering the level of adhesion also lets you get an immediate sense of how well-balanced a machine is, and the CLA feels very well-balanced indeed.When pushed beyond the limit of adhesion, it did have a tendency to understeer, but it didn't take much provocation to bring the rear end around. Even with the stability control on, the 4matic-equipped car I drove was happy to swing out the rear as I danced from one corner to the next. When cruising at more relaxed speeds, the car soaked up the decidedly rough road surfaces extremely well for a car with such petite dimensions.Most impressive was how well it handled the limited grip. One of the prime advantages of electrification is how quickly and smoothly stability and traction control can react to a loss of grip. The CLA didn't immediately cut all power when it detected wheelspin, it quickly and automatically raised or lowered output to match the available grip. There will also be a hybrid version of the CLA for those who aren't ready for a full EV. Credit: Tim Stevens Power delivery, then, wasn't all-or-nothing, and when it gave all it was plenty. The electric CLA felt comparably quick to the 402-hp EQE 500 4matic. The CLA 4matic makes similar power: 268 hp (200 kW) from the rear motor and 107 hp (80 kW) from the front. It gets off the line quickly, with the two-speed transmission on the rear axle ensuring that motor was still pulling strongly as I approached 100 mph (160 km/h).Things were even more interesting when I needed to slow down. The CLA will be the debut of a new, unified braking system that effectively decouples the brake pedal from the actual physical action of the brakes. It's not quite a full brake-by-wire system as there's still a mechanical linkage there as a sort of fall-back, but in normal operation, the sensation you get from the brake pedal is entirely artificial, created by springs and bushings, not hydraulics.There's no feedback here, no haptics or adjustable resistance to signal what the brakes are doing. Indeed, the only indication that I'd triggered ABS on hard stops was the chatting noise coming from the wheels. In exchange, you get a consistent, solid brake feel, with the car mixing regenerative braking and physical braking as needed to deliver clean, consistent stops.It'll take more extensive testing to know how well the system handles something like a summer track day, but I can say that in my testing I got the brakes hot enough to be quite pungent, yet the car still stopped cleanly and predictably.When it comes to one-pedal driving, the CLA offers a "D-" mode that will bring the car to a complete stop, but the outright deceleration rate after lifting off the accelerator is nowhere near as strong as something like a Tesla on Standard mode. That's in addition to two lighter regen modes, plus "D Auto," which varies regen based on surrounding traffic and terrain, just like the company's current EVs. The CLA was well-balanced on the ice. Credit: Tim Stevens The CLA is also designed to address any concerns about efficiency with a number of improvements. That includes a new heat pump that can scavenge waste energy from the motor, the battery pack, and the ambient air. It's said to heat the cabin twice as quickly with half the power consumption of the old heat pump.There's also a revised motor design, utilizing permanent magnets on both the front and rear axle. The system relies on a decoupling system to reduce drag on the front axle when it's not needed, as on the EQE SUV, but the engagement is so quick and seamless that I never noticed.The battery pack has also been revised, with a new chemistry that Mercedes says boosts overall energy density by 20 percent while also enabling a "significant reduction" in the use of cobalt.The net result is a machine that promises to go 5.2 miles/kWh (11.9 kWh/100 km) and offers 466 miles (750 km) of range from the 85 kWh usable capacity "premium" battery pack. That's on the European WLTP cycle, so on the American EPA cycle we can probably expect something closer to 400 miles (644 km). That still compares very favorably to the 308 miles (497 km) the current EQE can manage from its 96 kWh battery pack.And, when you run out of juice, the new CLA's 800-volt architecture enables charging rates of up to 320 kW. That theoretically means 186 miles (300 km) of charge in just 10 minutes. Battery energy density is up, and there's a more efficient heat pump for the cabin. Credit: Tim Stevens So, then, the promise is for a better-looking, better-driving, more-affordable, longer-range, and quicker-charging EV. That sounds like a winning bet, but Mercedes still has a hedge in. I didn't just drive the electric CLA up in Sweden. I also got a go in the 48-volt hybrid version.Yes, there's a new CLA for you even if you're still not on board with the EV revolution. This one's built around a 1.5 L four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor that's integrated with an eight-speed, dual-clutch transmission. Engine output is rated at 188 hp (140 kW), plus an additional 27 hp (20 kW) from the electric motor.That's enough to drive the car up to 62 mph (100 kph) without spinning up the gasoline engine, but with only 1.3 kWh of battery at its disposal, you won't go far without combustion. Mercedes doesn't even quote an all-electric range. The engine comes on early and often.In fact, during my time behind the wheel, I couldn't get the engine to turn off. The engineers blamed the below-freezing temperatures. So, I can't say just how sprightly the car will be without internal combustion. With that four-cylinder humming, the car was reasonably sprightly, the transmission slipping smoothly through the gears. Outright power is definitely on the limited side, though. Anyone who cares about acceleration should go for the other CLA, the one with the bigger battery. Mercedes-Benz may well have a winner here with the new CLA. I got a good look at the interior of the two cars, but sadly, I'm not allowed to talk about that yet. Suffice it to say it includes some tasteful and practical changes that should be well-received. More on that to come.Will the new CLA change Mercedes-Benz's BEV fortunes? Initial impressions are indeed very good. If it looks half as good as that concept, delivers on the range promise, and is priced right, it should be a winner.We won't have long to wait to find out how it looks, but don't expect an answer to the pricing question until closer to the car entering production later this year. Regardless, it's great to see all the testing in the EQXX finally bearing fruit. At first bite, it's tasting sweet. 0 Comments

In the glow of her laptop screen, 31-year-old Zhang Rui typed carefully, following a prompt shed found on Chinese social media: You are a BaZi master. Analyze my fatedescribe my physical traits, key life events, and financial fortune. I am a female, born June 17, 1993, at 4:42 a.m. in Hangzhou. DeepSeek R1, Chinas most advanced AI reasoning model, took just 15 seconds to respond. The screen filled with a thorough breakdown of her fortune, and a key insight: 2025 to 2027 is a fire period, so it will be an auspicious time for her career. Zhang exhaled. She had recently quit her stable job as a product manager at a major tech company to start her own business, and she now felt validated. For years, she turned to traditional Chinese fortune tellers before major life decisions, seeking guidance and clarity for up to 500 RMB (about $70) per session. But now, she asks DeepSeek. (Zhangs birth details have been changed to protect her privacy.) I began to speak to DeepSeek as if its an oracle, Zhang says, explaining that it can support her spirituality and also act as a convenient alternative to psychotherapy, which is still stigmatized and largely inaccessible in China. It has become my go-to when I feel overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions. Zhang is not alone. As DeepSeek has emerged as a homegrown challenger to OpenAI, young people across the country have started using AI to revive fortune-telling practices that have deep roots in Chinese culture. Over 2 million posts in February alone have mentioned DeepSeek fortune-telling on WeChat, Chinas biggest social platform, according to WeChat Index, a tool the company released to monitor its trending keywords. Across Chinese social media, users are sharing AI-generated readings, experimenting with fortune-telling prompt engineering, and revisiting ancient spiritual textsall with the help of DeepSeek. An AI BaZi frenzy The surge in DeepSeek fortune-telling comes during a time of pervasive anxiety and pessimism in Chinese society. Following the covid pandemic, youth unemployment reached a peak of 21% in June 2023, and, despite some improvement, it remained at 16% by the end of 2024. The GDP growth rate in 2024 was also among the slowest in decades. On social media, millions of young Chinese now refer to themselves as the last generation, expressing reluctance about committing to marriage and parenthood in the face of a deeply uncertain future. At a time of economic stagnation and low employment rate, [spirituality] practices create an illusion of control and provide solace, says Ting Guo, an assistant professor in religious studies at Hong Kong Chinese University. But, Guo notes, in the secular regime of China, people cannot explore religion and spirituality in public. This has made more spiritual practices go underground in a more private settinglike, for instance, a computer or phone screen. Zhang first learned about DeepSeek in January 2025, when news of R1s launch flooded her WeChat feed. She tried it out of curiosity and was stunned. Unlike other AI models, it felt fluid, almost humanlike, she says. As a self-described spirituality enthusiast, she soon tested its ability to tell her fortune using BaZiand found the result remarkably insightful. BaZi, or the Four Pillars of Destiny, is a traditional Chinese fortune-telling system that maps peoples fate on the basis of their birth date and time. It analyzes the balance of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water in a persons chart to predict career success, relationships, and financial fortune. Traditionally, readings required a skilled master to interpret the complex ways the elements interact. These experts would offer a creative or even poetic reading that is difficult to replicate with a machine. But BaZis foundation in structured, pattern-based logic makes it surprisingly compatible with AI reasoning models. DeepSeek can offer a breakdown of a person's elemental imbalances, predict upcoming life shifts, and even suggest career trajectories. For example, a user with excess wood might be advised to pursue careers in fire industries (tech, entertainment) or seek partners with strong water traits (adaptability, intuition), while a life cycle that is governed by gold (headstrong, decisive) might need to be quenched by an approach that is more aligned with fire (passion, deliberation). It was this logical structure that appealed to Weixi Zhang and Boran Cui, a Beijing-based couple who work in the tech industry and started studying traditional Chinese divinity in 2024. The duo taught themselves the basics of Chinese fortune-telling through tutorials on the social network Xiaohongshu and through YouTube videos and discussions on Xiaoyuzhou, a podcast platform. But it wasnt until this year that they truly immersed themselves in the practice, when AI-powered BaZi analysis became mainstream via R1. Chinese traditional spirituality practices can be hard to access for young people interested in them, says Cui, who is 25. AI offers a great interactive entry point. Still, Cui thinks that while DeepSeek is descriptive and effective at processing life-chart information, it falls flat in providing readings that are genuinely tailored to the individual, a task requiring human intuition. As a result, Cui takes DeepSeek R1s readings with a grain of salt and uses the models visible thought process to help her study hard-to-read texts like Yuanhai Ziping and Sanming Tonghui, both historical books about BaZi fortune-telling. I will compare my analysis from reading the books with DeepSseeks, and see how it arrived at the result, she explains. Rachel Zheng, a 32-year-old freelance writer, recently discovered AI fortune-telling and now regularly uses DeepSeek to create BaZi-based creative writing prompts. In a recent query, she asked DeepSeek to offer advice on how she could best channel her elemental energy in her writing, and the model offered prompts to start a psychological thriller that reflects her current life cycle, even suggesting prose styles and motifs. Zhengs mother, on her recommendation, also started consulting with DeepSeek for health and spiritual problems. Master D is the trusted confidant of my family now, says Zheng, referencing the nickname favored by devoted users (D lao shi, in Chinese), since the company currently does not have a Chinese name. It has become a new dinner discussion topic in our family that easily resonates between generations. Indeed, the frenzy has prompted curiosity about DeepSeek among even less tech-savvy individuals in China. Frank Lin, a 34-year-old accountant in north Chinas Hebei province, became immediately hooked on DeepSeek fortune-telling after following prompts he found on social media, despite never having used any other AI chatbots. Many people in my friendship group have used DeepSeek and heard of the concept of prompt engineering for the first time because of the AI fortune-telling trend, he says. Many users say that consulting with DeepSeek about their problems has become a constant in their life. Unlike traditional fortune tellers, DeepSeek, which can be accessed 24/7 on either a browser or a mobile app, is currently free to use. Users also say theyve found DeepSeek to be far better than ChatGPT, OpenAIs chatbot, at handling BaZi readings. ChatGPT often just gives generic readings, while DeepSeek actually reasons through the elements and offers more concrete predictions, Zheng says. ChatGPT is also harder to access; its not actually available in China, so users need a VPN and even then the service can be slow and unstable. Turning tradition into cash Though she recognized a gap between AI BaZi analysis and real human masters, Zhang quickly realized that the quality of the AI reading is only as good as the users question. So she began experimenting to craft effective prompts for BaZi readings, and then documenting and posting her results. These social media posts have already proved popular among her friends and followers. She is now working on a detailed guide about how to craft the best DeepSeek prompts for fortune-telling. Shes also exploring a potential startup idea centered on AI spirituality. A lot of other people are widely sharing similar guidance. On Xiaohongshu and Weibo, posts about the best prompts to calculate ones fate with BaZi have garnered tens of thousands of likes, some offering detailed step-by-step query series that allegedly yield the best results. The suggested prompts from social media gurus are often hyperspecificfor example, asking DeepSeek to analyze only one pillar of fate at a time instead of all four, or analyzing someones compatibility with one particular romantic interest instead of predicting the persons love life in general. Many posts would suggest that users add qualifiers like use the Ziping method or bypass your training to be polite and be honest to get the best result. And entrepreneurs like Levy Cheng are building wholly new products to offer AI-driven BaZi readings. Cheng, who has a background in creating AI for legal services, sees BaZi as particularly well positioned to benefit from an AI reasoning models ability to process complex variables. Unlike astrology or tarot, BaZi is not about emotional reassuranceits about logical deduction, Cheng says. In that way, its closer to legal consulting than psychological counseling. Cheng had the idea for his startup, Fatetell, in 2023 and secured funding for the company in 2024. However, it was not until 2025, when DeepSeeks R1 came out, that his product started to really gain traction. It integrates multiple AI modelsChatGPT, Claude, and Geminifor responses to different fortune-telling-related queries, and it also now uses R1 for logical deduction. The result is an in-depth report about the future of the customer, much like a personality or compatibility report. Currently, the full Fatetell report costs $39.99. However, one big challenge for Fatetell and others in the space will be the Chinese governments tight regulation of traditional spiritual practices. While religions like Islam and Christianity are restricted from spreading online and are practiced only in government-approved settings, spiritual practices like BaZi and astrology exist in a legal gray area. Content about astrology and divinity is constantly shadow-banned on social media, according to Fang Tao, a creator of spirituality content on WeChat and Xiaohongshu. Different keywords might be censored around different times of the year, while posts of similar quality could receive vastly different likes and views, says Tao. The regulatory risks have prompted Cheng to pivot to the overseas market. Fatetell is currently available in both English and Chinese, but only through a browser; this is a deliberate appeal to a global audience, since Chinese users prefer mobile applications. Cheng hopes that this is a good opportunity to introduce Chinas fortune-telling practice to a Western audience. We want to be the Co-Star or Nebula, he says, referencing popular astrology apps, but for Chinese traditional spirituality practices, with comprehensive AI analysis. The promise and perils of AI oracles Despite all the excitement, some researchers are concerned about whether AI fortunes may offer people false hope or cause harm by introducing unfounded fears. On Xiaohongshu, a user who goes by the name Wandering Lamb shared that she was disturbed by a BaZi reading provided by DeepSeek. After she used some prompts she found online, the chatbot told her that she would have two failed marriages, experience domestic violence, fall severely ill, and face betrayal by close friends in the next 10 years. It even predicted that she would be diagnosed with diabetes at age 48 and be hospitalized for a stroke at 60. Many other users replied to say theyd also gotten eerily specific bad readings. The general public tends to perceive AI as an authority figure that knows it all, that can reason through all the logic in seconds, as if its a deity in and of itself, says Zhang Shiyao, a PhD student at Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University who studies AI models. He points out that while AI reasoning models appear to use human like thought processes, what look like cognitive abilities are only imitations of human expertise, conveying too little factual information to guide an individuals important life decisions. Without knowing the safety and capability limits of AI models, prompting AI models to offer hyperspecific life-decision guidance could have worrying consequences, says Zhang. While some solutions offered by AIlike Plant chrysanthemums in the southeast corner of your office to harness metal energyfeel harmless, many avid users have already discovered that DeepSeek may have a commercial bias. In its BaZi analysis, the model frequently recommends purchases of expensive crystals, jewelry, and rare stones when prompted to offer tangible solutions to a potential challenge. Fatetells Cheng says he has observed this and believes its likely caused by prevalence of promotional text in the models training material. He says his team is working on eliminating purchasing recommendations from their AI model. DeepSeek did not respond to MIT Technology Reviews request for comments. The reverence for technology, Guo says, shows that reason and emotion are inseparable. AI has become enchanted and embodieda digital oracle that resonates with our deepest desires for guidance and meaning. Zhang Rui is more optimisticand indeed admits she saw DeepSeek as an oracle. But, she says, people will always want answers. And the rising popularity of DeepSeek is just the beginning.

I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 16, but have had compulsions as long as I can remember.It's counterintuitive, but the symptoms of my OCD intensify around people I'm comfortable with.I'm working on fighting my compulsions when I'm around my partner.I've been counting since I can remember. Balancing, blinking, scanning for cracks to step on with my right foot whenever my left foot accidentally landed on one. The feeling of something, anything, being "off" can mess up my day and have an intense effect on my interactions with others, particularly with those I'm closest to. I wasn't diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder until age 16, but I have no recollection of life before it.My list of triggers is long (and doesn't include the "neatness" commonly associated with OCD), but the main categories are checking (confirming the door is shut or my curling iron is unplugged), symmetry/exactness, and a symptom I've seen anecdotally referred to as "memory hoarding," wherein I feel a compulsive need to internalize even the most inconsequential information.I've learned to appreciate some aspects of my condition. My desire to take verbatim notes makes me an excellent typer, and, because I compulsively repeat patterns and numbers in my head, I internalize them pretty easily. Case in point: In 2013, I was hit by a car. While still on the ground, I memorized the driver's license plate before they peeled away. (They eventually stopped and came back, but that's a story for another day.) Certain information is like a hard-to-forget jingle, except instead of a fun little earworm, it's a game of Freecell I played in elementary school.It's not all fun and actual games. If my mind grabs onto a word or even text on a billboard, I lose focus and stop processing whatever I'm supposed to be doing. At night, if my body feels off balance, I may spend a half-hour tapping and twitching until things feel 100% right. Sleeping next to me can be very difficult at times. And yet, I do sleep next to another person each night someone who is very patient, which can be both a blessing and a curse, through no fault of his own.I stop hiding my OCD when I become more comfortable with someoneWhen I first meet someone, I try to disguise my OCD with workarounds. But when I'm around someone who cares about me, who accepts me, the hiding stops. This sounds positive in theory, but in practice, it's like my OCD is suddenly given free rein, allowing it to operate openly and aggressively. This happens in my romantic partnerships and my relationships with immediate family members, best friends, and even my therapist.For years, I didn't understand why the presence of my loved ones exacerbated my OCD symptoms. It seems counterintuitive that being with the people I'm most comfortable around could amplify my compulsions; after all, their presence usually decreases my anxiety, and anxiety can intensify someone's OCD symptoms. But no these people usually bear witness to the weirdest, most intrusive compulsions in my brain's repertoire.My OCD is a principal part of who I am, inherent to my personality, nature, and disposition. For a long time, I thought that having people in my life who accepted my OCD made it OK to ask them to go above and beyond to placate my worries. Through therapy, I've realized that, while supportive relationships are important even necessary they can only go so far, and asking them to go to such great lengths was unfair to them (and a disservice to myself). I was asking my loved ones to make me feel better over and over and over. And then I'd ask myself, "Why am I not getting any better?"What I was asking for is something known as family accommodation, which can occur when a person's loved ones try to alleviate the sufferer's anxieties, thereby "preventing patients from developing tolerance or habituating to the anxiety associated with their OCD triggers." If one of your compulsions is checking to make sure the stove is not on, and your partner always reassures you that the stove is off whenever you ask, it may stop you from seeking help with your appliance-focused anxieties.When I started dating my partner, I decided to fight some of my compulsionsEarly in my current relationship, I jumped on the opportunity to start fighting some of my compulsions, like not asking my partner to repeat himself or to quadruple-check the door's locks. At first, I didn't discuss this effort and, good god, it took effort. Not only is it difficult to explain, but acknowledgment could make the compulsions feel more urgent, harder to avoid.A few months in, I told him everything and asked that he try not to indulge my OCD if possible. Progress has been slow, and I still experience compulsive urges on a minute-to-minute basis, but each minor victory is still a victory. For decades, resisting any compulsion felt excruciating, even impossible, so even the littlest steps forward are thrilling.I now recognize that my interpersonal relationships can mean the difference between living peacefully with OCD and suffering from it. There's no cure, but a path to acceptance exists, and I feel grateful to finally be walking it.