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This past fall, Architecture Research Office (ARO), in collaboration with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW), completed the Frederic Church Center for Art and Landscape on the Olana State Historic Site located in Hudson, New York. Built in 1872, Olana was the home, farm, studio, and designed landscape of Frederic Edwin Church, a preeminent 19th-century artist of the Hudson River School of Landscape Painting. The new building is the first structure built at Olana since Frederic Churchs lifetime and the linchpin of a Strategic Landscape Design Plan (SLDP) completed in 2015 by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP), The Olana Partnership, the LA Group and (NBW).Churchs design for the picturesque, 250-acre site planted thousands of trees, realized a man-made 10-acre lake, open meadows, and over five miles of carriage roads. With NBWs guidance, a location was strategically selected to preserve the crucial elements of Churchs original landscape design. ARO was then chosen to collaborate with NBW on the design of the new Center, a 4,500-square-foot, mass timber structure that welcomes and orients visitors to the Olana New York State Historic Site and Park.The facility is sited so as not to be visible from anywhere within the core historic landscape. (James Ewing/JBSA)The previous visitor center was located within the carriage house, directly adjacent to the main house where Church once resided, now hosting tours and a gallery exhibiting his work. The property, designed by Church in collaboration with architect Calvert Vaux, underwent a major restoration in 2001. The new Center enhances the site, accommodating visitors today and alleviating pressure on the historic house by introducing an array of programmatic options to supplement tours of Churchs residence. The facility is located in a wooded setting adjacent to the main entry to Olana, it is sited so as not to be visible from anywhere within the core historic landscape. This works to engage visitors from the moment they step onto the site and before they enter the historic core.The exterior of the new visitor center consists of red-stained, vertical wood siding with expansive glazing and bird friendly glass. Glue-laminated wood columns and beams were used during construction, along with cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof panels. The Frederic Church Center for Art and Landscape is the first publicly accessible building within the NYS OPRHP system to utilize these materials.The center is clad in red-stained, vertical wood siding. (James Ewing/JBSA)The loft-like interior is clad with wooden beams and filled with ample natural light from skylights that illuminate the lobby in addition to the glass windows lined with thin, black mullions. Over 200,000 annual visitors can enjoy scenic views across the landscape from multiple angles within the structure. The multipurpose room seamlessly transitions into the adjoining outdoor terraces and amphitheater containing paths that connect to Olanas historic carriage road network. Natural light fills the center and blends into the outdoor terrace and amphitheater, which is surrounded by extensive plantings.(James Ewing/JBSA)The new terrace complements the preexisting frames and creates its own composition: an outlook onto the property where the lake is situated in the foreground. In the background, the main house reflects in the lake and completes the view.The Center provides visitors with historic information about the site. (James Ewing/JBSA)All-electric, high performing HVAC systems have initiated the Centers movement toward carbon neutrality. There is also a planned off-site array of photovoltaics to serve its energy demands. Additional climate resilient efforts include strategically located stormwater gardens and native plantings that will reestablish a biodiverse ecological community and fuel woodland wildlife.The Frederic Church Center opened on October 25, 2024 in advance of the 200th anniversary of Churchs birth in 2026. Throughout its celebration, the landmark will reach new audiences while stewarding the historic sites landscape and architectural integrity.

A little known fact about award-winning director Todd Field is that he got his start not in film, but baseball. Fieldas a teenager coming of age in Portland, Oregonwas a batboy for the Portland Mavericks, a minor league mens baseball team coached by Bing Russell, father of actor Kurt Russell. The story of the Mavericks takes center stage in the 2014 documentary, The Battered Bastards of Baseball. The Portland Mavericks had a great run, albeit a short one; the team left town in 1977 after a three-year stint. That could change, however, pending a successful bid for a professional MLB team underway by a group called the Portland Diamond Project, a coalition thats been trying to bring professional baseball back to PDX since 2017.Portland Diamond Project shared renderings this week with the Portland House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade of a new ball park capable of hosting a professional baseball team, sited in the citys South Waterfront. The venues proposed title is Zidell Yards. It calls for a 32,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof for dealing with the pesky Pacific Northwest rains. The design is by TVA Architects and Populous.Zidell Yards would be built between Tilikum Crossing and the Ross Island Bridge. (Courtesy Portland Diamond Project)Zidell Yards would be built atop a former shipyard due south of Downtown Portland on a 33-acre site overlooking the Willamette River. It would be built between Tilikum Crossing and the Ross Island Bridge.Portland Diamond Project said it reached an agreement to buy the land last September. Renderings show the stadium surrounded by a mixed-use entertainment district, stocked with amenities and open space.An expansive amount of entertainment and public spaces would accompany the stadium. (Courtesy Portland Diamond Project)The estimated construction cost for Zidell Yards is $2 billion. To assuage concerns for tax payers, Portland Diamond Project founder and president Craig Cheek said hes asked legislators to look into a mechanism outlined in Senate Bill (SB) 5, which would finance the stadiums construction without support from the state.Instead of state support, SB 5 would enable the stadium to be financed using state income taxes generated by the future teams payroll. This means that the taxes players pay on their salaries could unlock $150 million for the stadiums construction. Upfront stadium costs would be paid for using bonds paid back by tax revenue generated from the income of home and visiting MLB personnel that make more than $50,000 a year. After the bond is paid off, new tax revenue would go to a general fund.This would not be a new tax on Oregonians, Cheek told local reporters. We look forward to working with the legislature to make Oregon Better with Baseball.The field is close to the water. (Courtesy Portland Diamond Project)Portland Mayor Keith Wilson shares Portland Diamond Projects dream of bring baseball back home. Hes also assured in his administrations ability to do so; Wilson said in November: We feel confident its down to us and one other city. And were making a solid play. MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, has said he hopes to at least start the process to upping the number of teams in the league before he retires in 2029. Other cities tossed around in the expansion rumorsinclude Austin, Salt Lake City, and Raleigh.If the city secures an MLB team, Portland Diamond Project hopes to start construction by 2027.The estimated construction cost for Zidell Yards is $2 billion.

Detail of Seeing Red (2024), porcelain, glaze, china paint, lustre, 9 x 92 1/4 x 92 1/4 inches. All images courtesy of the artist and PPOW, shared with permissionFrom Porcelain Buttercream to Bruises, Jessica Stoller Examines the Gendered BodyMarch 5, 2025ArtGrace EbertThe early 1780s produced a medical training tool that today seems unusually macabre and unsettling: the Anatomical Venus. A waxen model with real human hair and strings of pearls around her neck, the reclined figure appeared incredibly realistic, although pulling back the plate on its abdomen or chest revealed a series of internal organs and systems. As Ian Shank writes, modern viewers see the Anatomical Venus as discordant given the tension between the figures idealized beautyand its inherent sensualityand its function as an educational model. Untitled (crown) (2021), porcelain, glaze, china paint, wood, 24 x 16 x 2 inches. Photo by JSP Art PhotographyJessica Stoller takes this dissonance as a starting point in Seeing Red, a floor-based sculpture of more than 150 individual ceramic objects. Atop the square tableaux are oversized white orbs that overshadow the mottled pink base. Fragmented body parts, seashells, leaves, a bent coat hanger, snakes, pottery shards, and more spread throughout.Reflecting on the continued push to strip protections for bodily autonomy in the U.S., Seeing Red separates the female form into distinctive parts and places them at the lowest position possible. As the oppressive pearls loom over the rest of the components, the unnerving work directly challenges who has a right to self-determination and control over their body.The grotesque and disturbing play an important role throughout Stollers practice as she frequently incorporates human anatomy with porcelain and ceramic traditions. Untitled (close up #3), for example, features delicate pink and purple blossoms that frame what appears to be a series of large, purple bruises.Similarly, Untitled (sugar still life) comprises a sweet spread that stretches across an elaborate display. Tucked in the seemingly saccharine work, though, are unsavory elements like a skeletal hand reaching from piped ribbons and medical devices stabbed into various confections.Seeing Red (2024), porcelain, glaze, china paint, lustre, 9 x 92 1/4 x 92 1/4 inchesRebelling against patriarchal priorities, Stoller continually confronts romanticized notions of the body through surreal, even monstrous compositions. Instead, her works are bold and unabashed as they examine the feminine figure, rooting out stereotypes and historical injustices while emphasizing the potency of the unseemly.Many of the works shown here are on view in New York for Stollers solo show Split, which continues through April 5 at PPOW. Find more from the artist on Instagram.Detail of Seeing Red (2024), porcelain, glaze, china paint, lustre, 9 x 92 1/4 x 92 1/4 inchesSkin to Scale (2023), porcelain, glaze, china paint, wood, 22 1/2 x 14 1/2 x 2 1/2 inchesUntitled (close up #3) (2020), porcelain, glaze, china paint, lustre, wood, 19 x 15 x 2 inchesSilphium (2024), porcelain, glaze, china paint, lustre, 19 x 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inchesYellow Wallpaper (2025), porcelain, glaze, china paint, wood, 23 x 17 1/2 x 3 inchesUntitled (sugar still life) (2018), porcelain, glaze, china paint, lustre, enamel, and wood, 60 x 36 x 22 inches. Photo by JSP Art PhotographyDetail of Untitled (sugar still life) (2018), porcelain, glaze, china paint, lustre, enamel, and wood, 60 x 36 x 22 inches. Photo by JSP Art PhotographyNext article

ZDNET's key takeaways The OnePlus Watch 3 normally retails for $330.Its five-day battery life, durability, rotating digital crown, and superb design make this a compelling smartwatch. However, the OHealth app needs some work, workout data screens are limited, and ECG measurements are not supported. View now at OnePlus The OnePlus Watch 3 is on sale. If you head over to OnePlus' website and enter the code "TIME1010" at checkout, you shave $30 off the wearable's price tag, dropping it down to an even $300.. This discount applies to both the Obsidian Titanium and Emerald Titanium colorways.After the original OnePlus Watch failed in 2021, the company hit it out of the park with the OnePlus Watch 2. Users, like myself, have been very happy with the Watch 2 but did provide feedback to OnePlus, and the company clearly listened as the newest OnePlus Watch 3 improves in some key areas. There are still reasons to consider other Google Wear OS watches, but battery life shouldn't be one of them.Also: I compared the two best Android smartwatches right now - and it was pretty dang closeThat's because OnePlus advertises up to five days of battery life in typical "smart" mode, and I can confirm that is accurate. A five-day battery life for a smartwatch is unheard of when theApple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra are still trailing in the two-day range. The OnePlus Watch 3 now competes with GPS sports watches that have AMOLED displays, so if battery life is your primary factor for a smartwatch, then you can't go wrong with a OnePlus Watch 3. details View at Oneplus This long battery life is achieved through the OnePlus dual-engine architecture and the incorporation of a large 631 mAh battery that uses the OnePlus Silicon NanoStack Battery, similar to what is found in the battery king OnePlus 13.Also: Finally, I found an Android phone that can replace my $3,500 Sony cameraPrevious OnePlus Watch 2 owners were disappointed in the digital crown button serving only as a button, so OnePlus took that feedback, and now the digital crown is larger, has some texture on it, and spins to navigate through menus. The crown also rotates in the app launcher to provide a slick experience where the watch face zooms in and out of the apps to help you read the app label or zoom out to see everything you have installed.Another criticism of the Watch 2 was the lack of compelling watch faces. That is no longer the case with some fantastic options from OnePlus, including one of my favorites, Metric Matrix, which provides eight functional complications and a host of color options. One of the coolest options available on the Watch 3 is the Moments in Motion watch face, which plays a video when you tap on it and can even loop the video, although that will significantly decrease the battery life. The OnePlus Watch 3 (left) and the Watch 2 (right). Matthew Miller/ZDNETSelect a video or GIF, and then the editing tool in the OHealth app will help you customize the video watch face. I have one with the Hover drone circling me as I test an e-bike, and it is slick. People I have shown it to are very impressed with this watch face option, and you can have a lot of fun creating custom watch faces. Matthew Miller/ZDNETThe dual-frequency GNSS chip has proven to provide accurate location tracking when exercising outside. While the watch supports more than 100 sports modes, the data screens that appear in these various sports are not customizable and are limited to some default standard metrics. After you finish your workout, a vast amount of data is shown in the eHealth app, including running dynamics, heart rate, running power, and much more. So even though the watch isn't showing you much while you work, the data is collected and can be used afterward.Also: I finally found a smartwatch with a timeless analog look - and the features I needThe watch is elegant, with a stainless steel casing, a titanium bezel, and a sapphire crystal display. The vibrant AMOLED display is 1.5 inches in diameter with a 466 by 466-pixel resolution and up to 2,200 nits of brightness. It's a bit heavy at 81 grams, and only one size is available, so those with smaller wrists may not appreciate the watch size.The 60-second health check-in is a handy feature that allows you to check your heart rate, blood oxygen level, stress level, wrist temperature, sleep quality, and vascular age by placing your finger on the bottom right button. However, OnePlus has not gained FDA approval, so ECG measurements are not provided in the US or Canada. Matthew Miller/ZDNETThe OHealth smartphone app is useful for showing all of the details of the data captured by the OnePlus Watch 3, but I don't like that you cannot customize the Home screen tiles. Stress measurements are not appearing from me, and I don't use OnePlus earbuds, so I would like to remove those tiles from the page and reorder others I want to see at the top. The health insights are also fairly limited.Also: Oura's CEO wants its smart ring to be the doctor in your pocketThe running form and advanced measurement data that appear on the Fitness tab are excellent, though, and provide more insights than others. For example, running dynamics details are shown in addition to a table that shows what you need to achieve to move to the next highest level. OnePlus also provides details about those metrics so that you can understand how to improve them and whether that is possible for your running style. Matthew Miller/ZDNETThe OnePlus Watch 3 is a Google Wear OS 5 watch, so all of the apps you're familiar with across similarly-operating wearables are available to you. However, there are still reasons that the Google Pixel Watch is better from an app's perspective. For example, with the Google Home app on the Pixel Watch 3, I can view my various cameras, and on the OnePlus Watch 3, a display appears that directs me to open the app on my phone.ZDNET's buying adviceOnePlus continues to improve its wearable offerings with the OnePlus Watch 3. Several improvements have been made to the hardware, and the battery life is the best we have seen on a smartwatch. The watch is also built to withstand the elements, with IP68 and 5ATM ratings, along with MIL-STD-810H certification. It's a beautiful, functional smartwatch that is available for a reasonable price.Unless Google and Samsung, or a surprise manufacturer, break new ground this year, I don't see why the OnePlus Watch 3 wouldn't be the best option for Android users.Featured reviews

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Society has always influenced how we navigate lifeespecially when it comes to love and settling ... [+] downby measuring our progress against a social clock."gettyDo you feel a sense of control over your time, or has it been dictated for you throughout your life? A 2018 study in Socius found that many elite, college-educated women follow a structured life timelinefocusing on self-growth, then feeling ready for commitment and eventually rushing to find a partner. Despite prioritizing their career and personal development, societal forces push them toward marriage and family.Many people, predominantly female, feel trapped by the expectation to meet the right person, marry and start a family within a narrow window. The relentless ticking of the biological clock and the ideal of a two-parent household only add to the urgency.From a young age, were conditioned to follow an invisible social clock, or the expectation that life milestones (marriage, career success and parenthood) should happen at certain, predetermined points in time. This timeline can subtly coerce people into enduring unfulfilling relationships or rush into commitment before theyre truly ready.However, when women think they are falling off-schedule, they may struggle with regret, self-doubt and even judgment from others. Friends and family might even view their lives as incomplete or unsuccessful, reinforcing the burdensome idea that theres a right time for everything.Here are four ways to break free from the social clock mindset when it comes to finding love, marriage and relationships.1. Redefine Your Sense Of TimeSociety often dictates a rigid, structured timeline for major life milestoneswhat researchers call circumscribed time. This view treats time as linear, measurable and something we must keep up with, reinforcing a standardized social clock that pressures people to follow a specific sequenceeducation, career, marriage and parenthood within a set timeframe.But time isnt always rigidly structured. Adopting a mindset that redefines time as porousfluid, interconnected and shaped by individual rhythms and obligationscan offer a new perspective.Embracing porous time allows us to move at our own pace, focusing on genuine connections rather than arbitrary deadlines. Once you reframe what commitment in love means to you, it gets easier to reframe your thoughts around what it means to be left behind.Its easy to feel like youre falling behind when friends and peers seem to be hitting relationship milestones before you. But instead of thinking, I should be married by now, try shifting your perspective to I deserve a relationship that truly fulfills me.Love doesnt come with an expiration date. Many fulfilling relationships begin later in life, and research suggests that late marriages can be more stable due to greater emotional maturity and self-awareness. Instead of focusing on arbitrary deadlines, prioritize the quality of your relationship. True connection and compatibility matter more than meeting societal expectations.Your timeline is your own, and finding love isnt a raceits about what feels right for you.2. Embrace Uncertainties In Your PathIf you want to work on your well-being and build a fulfilling romantic relationship, try adopting a flexible mindset. The ability to adapt to changing situations, stay open to experiences and manage emotionsknown as psychological flexibilitycan help you maintain greater emotional well-being. In turn, this could lead to stronger, more satisfying relationships.However, if you rigidly follow a timelineexpecting to get engaged by a certain age or waiting for a partner to propose because it should happen at a specific timeyou might feel frustrated if things dont go as planned.Psychological flexibility helps you embrace uncertainty and find joy in the present, rather than tying happiness to external timelines. By staying open to change, you not only enhance your own emotional well-being but also improve your relationship from crumbling under the pressure of the social clock.Instead of stressing over whether things are happening on time, you can focus on building a strong connection with your partner, appreciating the relationship for what it is rather than what its supposed to be.3. Avoid Constant Comparison With OthersTheres something about those black-and-white retro wedding photos on Instagram that tugs at the heart. They have dreamy, timeless qualitylike a love story frozen in time. And if youre single or still figuring things out, staring at them can make you feel like youre falling behind.While some are picking out wedding venues, others are just trying to navigate their careers or even living with their parents. Life doesnt move at the same speed for everyone, but when youre constantly reminded of where others are, its hard not to feel like youre playing catch-up.Social media magnifies this feeling. People tend to share their highsgraduations, engagements, new jobsbecause those moments are celebrated. But the lowsbreakups, financial struggles, doubtsare usually kept private or shared only in small, trusted spaces. So, what we see is a highlight reel, not the full picture.In some cultures, as outlined in research published in PNAS, this pressure to keep up is even stronger. Collectivist societies, which value harmony and belonging, emphasize fitting in. Here, comparison isnt just a personal habitits a cultural norm.Youre expected to measure yourself against others, not just to compete, but to ensure youre keeping pace with whats expected. Milestones like marriage, homeownership and career success are markers of social approval. Not meeting these expectations can feel like failure, even when youre carving your own path.On the other hand, individualistic cultures encourage a different kind of comparison. Instead of asking, Am I where I should be? people might ask, Am I doing better than others? The focus shifts from fitting in to standing outstill a form of pressure, just in a different way.Breaking free from this cycle starts with awareness. Pay attention to when and why you compare yourself to others. What triggers it? Is it a particular type of post? A certain time of day? Write these thoughts down, and you might start noticing patterns. Take intentional breaks from social mediasometimes, just stepping back can change your perspective.Instead of measuring yourself against others, focus on your own strengths and progress. After all, the best milestones are the ones that feel right for you, not the ones that look good on a timeline.4. Prioritize Self-CompassionOne way to break free from social pressure is by focusing on what truly fulfills you and being kind to yourself. What brings you happiness versus what gives you purpose do not necessarily align, so its important to discover what is important to you.Research published in The Journal of Positive Psychology in 2013 suggests that our overall happiness stays relatively stable over time, shaped more by our personality than by specific events. Meaning, on the other hand, comes from weaving together our past, present and futureoften through acts of service, long-term goals or personal growth.Interestingly, finding meaning doesnt always lead to happiness. Take parenting, for exampleit can be stressful and exhausting, yet many still choose to raise children because it adds a deeper sense of purpose to their lives.Ultimately, those who carve out their own path rather than following societys expectations tend to experience greater long-term fulfilment. By embracing your unique journey, you cultivate a lasting sense of purpose and contentment.Whether youre single, in a relationship or redefining love on your terms, your fulfilment matters more than arbitrary deadlines. So, ask yourselfwould you rather follow someone elses timeline or forge your own path?Are you satisfied with how your current relationship is going or feeling rushed by the social clock? Take this science-backed test to find out: Relationship Satisfaction Scale

There's every reason to believe that 'Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4' will be among the most ... [+] well-received games of the year, and probably the best remaster but it has form on its side.ActivisionAfter being the worlds worst-kept gaming secret for weeks, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 has finally been confirmed for general release on July 11. Ive never been so convinced that itll be among the most well-received games of the year and maybe even the best remake but it has form on its side.I dont often make eat my hat statements (especially as I have about 55 baseball caps on hand to chew through if Im wrong), but THPS 3 + 4 will deliver what its target audience wants, needs, and expects. No-one can even guess if we can say the same about the other massive remake frontrunner, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, helmed by an unpredictable Konami and supported by Virtuos, whose contributions are to games as varied in quality as Horizon Forbidden West, 2023s Modern Warfare 3, Outcast: A New Beginning, and South Park: Snow Day!.When I covered THPS 1 + 2 back in September 2020, I said it was the best-ever remake to date. Nearly five years later, it felt like it needed to be put into context. It dropped during COVID, when anything vaguely positive seemed like the most exciting thing ever; I also grew up with the originals. Even I wondered in retrospect that I mightve been a bit glassy-eyed and overnostalgic.All it took was replaying Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2 for a few hours last weekend. Its just as fun, satisfying, effortless, and respectful of its source material nearly five years on. We always knew 3 + 4 would follow, but after nearly half a decade, the trailer will have put thousands of viewers on the edge of happy tears it certainly did for me.The launch announcement was limited, but it already sounds like its doing everything right. First and foremost is the tremendous and entirely unsurprising news for Xbox One/Series and PC owners that Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 will be on Game Pass from day one the first Activision-Blizzard launch-day drop that isnt a Call of Duty. Of course, its also coming to PS4, PS5, Steam, Battle.net, and Nintendo Switch.If youre buying, all pre-orders of any game edition will get access to a Foundry Demo in June, as well as a Wireframe Tony Shader at launch (Alexa, insert Alan Partridge shrug GIF). Things get a bit spicier with digital deluxe and collectors editions.Buying either of these grants three-day early access from July 8 a bonus Ill never understand but the additional content kinda seems good and might be worth the money to some. In true crossover fashion, it gives a DOOM-themed pack featuring Doomguy and Revenant characters, an Unmakyr board and, perhaps most importantly, music from the series. The Collectors Edition takes things one step further, with a limited-edition full-size Birdhouse skateboard deck with a printed Tony Hawk autograph. If I wasnt in my late 30s, I mightve fallen for that one.Ticking three massive boxesThen, theres excellent news for the big three: music, skaters, and levels.Confirmed throwback tracks include Ace of Spades by Motorhead, Amoeba by Adolescents, Mass Appeal by Gang Starr, 96 Quite Bitter Beings by CKY, Not the Same by Bodyjar, and KRS-Ones Outta Here, alongside new songs. Hopefully, Activision also got the rights to Fight Like a Brave, Blitzkrieg Bop, Cut Chemist Suite, TNT, and My Adidas, but a mix of old and new keeps the Tony Hawk legacy alive, introducing all players to something different.Then, theres everyone you want on the board, and more: alumni include Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, Chad Muska, Bucky Lasek, Kareem Campbell, Steve Caballero, Geoff Rowley, Andrew Reynolds, Elissa Steamer, Eric Koston, Rodney Mullen, Jamie Thomas, and Rune Glifberg; new skaters include Rayssa Leal, Chloe Covell, Jamie Foy, Zion Wright, and Yuto Horigome. Interestingly, theres no mention yet of Forbes 2024 30 Under 30 Tyshawn Jones, who revealed in the Breakfast Club podcast that he was part of a new THPS title; his name was conspicuously absent on initial release materials.The Waterpark level is the first of several all-new skate levels included in the game.ActivisionFinally, on top of all the returning levels, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 introduces new ones (plural), including the abandoned-looking Waterpark, shown in the reveal trailer; set in the Mojave Desert, it looks about as safe as the ill-fated real-life Action Park, but at least you can respawn after suffering a serious injury. It leaves the door wide open for DLC, too though if Waterpark is seemingly free, maybe well get lucky.Just one more thingDespite all this excitement, all is not quite guaranteed, as theres one small snag to report in the development and perhaps a reason as to why its nearly five years since this sewn-on sequel.THPS 1 + 2 was Vicarious Visions last-ever solo project under its old moniker; the studio has since been consumed by Blizzard and now works on Diablo IV. Instead, Iron Galaxy Studios, a game porting specialist that worked on the Windows release of Tony Hawk 1 + 2 is seamlessly picking up the slack though that presumably means theyre working with the same engine, which is a very good thing to hear.While Ill still inventorize my hat collection from least to most chewy in case of an unforeseen calamity, theres every reason to believe that Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 will relive the glory days in the same way THPS 1 + 2 did: with arcadey, silly self-awareness, new objectives, punishingly fun challenges, a banging soundtrack, and the airport many of us have spent more time inside than any other.

In context: Some of the implications of today's AI models are startling enough without adding a hyperrealistic human voice to them. We have seen several impressive examples over the last 10 years, but they seem to fall silent until a new one emerges. Enter Miles and Maya from Sesame AI, a company co-founded by former CEO and co-founder of Oculus, Brendan Iribe. Researchers at Sesame AI have launched a new Conversational Speech Model (CSM). This advanced voice AI has phenomenal human-like qualities that we have seen before from companies like Google (Duplex) and OpenAI (Omni). The demo showcases two AI voices named "Miles" (male) and "Maya" (female), and its realism has captivated some users. However, good luck trying the tech yourself. We tried and could only get to a message saying Sesame is trying to scale to capacity. For now, we'll have to settle for a nice 30-minute demo by the YouTube channel Creator Magic (below).Sesame's technology uses a multimodal approach that processes text and audio in a single model, enabling more natural speech synthesis. This method is similar to OpenAI's voice models, and the similarities are apparent. Despite its near-human quality in isolated tests, the system still struggles with conversational context, pacing, and flow areas Sesame acknowledges as limitations. Company co-founder Brendan Iribe admits the tech is "firmly in the valley," but he remains optimistic that improvements will close the gap.While groundbreaking, the technology has raised significant questions about its societal impact. Reactions to the tech have varied from amazed and excited to disturbed and concerned. The CSM creates dynamic, natural conversations by incorporating subtle imperfections, like breath sounds, chuckles, and occasional self-corrections. These subtleties add to the realism and could help the tech bridge the uncanny valley in future iterations.Users have praised the system for its expressiveness, often feeling like they're talking to a real person. Some even mentioned forming emotional connections. However, not everyone has reacted positively to the demo. PCWorld's Mark Hachman noted that the female version reminded him of an ex-girlfriend. The chatbot asked him questions as if trying to establish "intimacy" which made him extremely uncomfortable."That's not what I wanted, at all. Maya already had Kim's mannerisms down scarily well: the hesitations, lowering "her" voice when she confided in me, that sort of thing," Hachman related. "It wasn't exactly like [my ex], but close enough. I was so freaked out by talking to this AI that I had to leave." // Related StoriesMany people share Hachman's mixed emotions. The natural-sounding voices cause discomfort, which we have seen in similar efforts. After unveiling Duplex, public reaction was strong enough that Google felt it had to build guardrails that forced the AI to admit it was not human at the beginning of a conversation. We will continue seeing such reactions as AI technology becomes more personal and realistic. While we may trust publicly traded companies creating these types of assistants to create safeguards similar to what we saw with Duplex, we cannot say the same for potential bad actors creating scambots. Adversarial researchers claim they have already jailbroken Sesame's AI, programming it to lie, scheme, and even harm humans. The claims seem dubious, but you can judge for yourself (below).As with any powerful technology, the benefits come with risks. The ability to generate hyper-realistic voices could supercharge voice phishing scams, where criminals impersonate loved ones or authority figures. Scammers could exploit Sesame's technology to pull off elaborate social-engineering attacks, creating more effective scam campaigns. Even though Sesame's current demo doesn't clone voices, that technology is well advanced, too.Voice cloning has become so good that some people have already adopted secret phrases shared with family members for identity verification. The widespread concern is that distinguishing between humans and AI could become increasingly difficult as voice synthesis and large-language models evolve.Sesame's future open-source releases could make it easy for cybercriminals to bundle both technologies into a highly accessible and convincing scambot. Of course, that does not even consider its more legitamate implications on the labor market, especially in sectors like customer service and tech support.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsWhat is AI Mode for Google Search?A rich history of risksThis is not the Search evolution I seekGoogle is pushing forward with more AI into how internet search works. Remember AI Overviews, which essentially summarizes the content pulled from websites, and presents it at the top of the Google Search page?That error-prone feature is now expanding to the US market, powered by the new Gemini 2.0 AI models. It no longer requires a Google account sign-in, and has opened to users across all age groups. While that is a risky move in itself, Google is giving a similar blanket treatment to the whole Search page with a new AI Mode.Recommended VideosCurrently available as a Lab experiment, AI Mode essentially turns the traditional Google Search experience with website links into a conversational dialogue, just the way AI chatbots give you answers. Its a delicious convenience, but could prove to be dramatically erroneous, if history of AI Overviews is anything to go by. GoogleThe overarching idea is to give users all the information they need pulled from indexed websites and save the hassle of clicking on sources and reading through webpages to find the answers. You can ask follow-up queries in a natural language format, instead of a keyword-stuffed search, and even provide the details that would otherwise require a few more follow-up search requests.It uses a query fan-out technique, issuing multiple related searches concurrently across subtopics and multiple data sources and then brings those results together to provide an easy-to-understand response, explains the company.Google, however, warns that it may not always get it right with AI mode, even though its internal tests have delivered encouraging results. In scenarios where the AI Mode is not confident about the summarized response, it will simply show a list of web search results, like the traditional Google Search experience.GoogleIn its current avatar, it can provide answers as a wall of text or neatly formatted tables, but down the road, images and videos will also be included. AI mode is currently available only for Google One AI Premium subscribers, and will roll out as an opt-in experience.Its a bad omen for any person reliant on Google Search, especially if we are talking about accuracy. Heres an example. I looked up whether we are living in the year 2025. Googles AI Overview said it is the year 2024. The first source it cited for that information was Wikipedia, which explicitly says the current year is 2025.The idea behind AI Mode for Google Search is theoretically rooted in user convenience. However, the fundamental tech stack behind it is still dealing with a few problems that the entire AI landscape is yet to fix. One of them is AI hallucinations, which is essentially an AI tool making up information and confidently presenting it as a fact.Googles AI Overviews are the best example of those missteps, and the mistakes continue to pop up to this day. Take for example this evidence, which was shared merely a few hours ago on Reddit, in which the AI Overview confidently lied about a right-side driving rule in India.Reddit / Digital TrendsThats a false statement, and yet, at no point, the language of the AI Overview text suggests that the user should fact-check this information. Its so inaccurate and so buggy that Im surprised it even exists, says another report detailing its sheer inaccuracy.AI Overviews only appear as a condensed nugget of information, served at the top of the Google Search page. Now, imagine a whole page that is presented to users as a long presentation, with a few source links interspersed through the wall of text.Google says AI Overviews will excel at coding, advanced math and multimodal queries. Yet, not too long ago, it fumbled facts and turned history on its head, especially with the kind of natural language queries that are being hyped for AI mode.When asked whether astronauts met cats on the moon, it confidently agreed that it was true, adding that astronauts even took care of those lunar cats.Virginia Tech digital literacy expert, Julia Feerrar, remarked that AI doesnt actually know the answers to our questions, citing an example where Google AI overview confidently mentioned Barack Obama as the first Muslim President.https://t.co/W09ssjvOkJ pic.twitter.com/6ALCbz6EjK SG-r01 (@heavenrend) May 22, 2024The consequences of AI misinformation could be disastrous, especially when it comes to health and wellness-related queries. In an analysis of over 30 million Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), SerpStat found that health-related search is the most popular category where AI Overviews appear.This is the same tool that suggested a person should eat at least one rock per day, adding one-eighth cup of glue to pizza, drinking urine to pass out kidney stones, and mentioned that a baby elephant can fit in a human palm as of 2025.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsDespite Googles assertions about how the AI models have evolved, the situation hasnt improved dramatically. Less than a day ago, Futurism spotted AI Overviews confidently claiming that MJ Lenderman has won 14 Grammy awards.It even got the year wrong, when I asked something as simple as is it 2025 in the Google Search box. No, it is not currently the year 2025. The current year is 2024, said the AI Overview.Going a step further, it explained how 2025 is a common year that starts on a Wednesday, adding a bunch of non-related information discussing everything from national celebrations to UN declarations that have absolutely nothing to do with my query.Now, I am not entirely against AI. On the contrary, I extensively use tools like Gemini Deep Research, and often rely on the latest Gemini 2.0 Flash AI model for creative ideas when my brain cells are not firing off at peak capacity.However, pushing an error-prone AI overhaul to a source of information as indispensable as Google Search is a risky proposition. Digital Trends has reached out to Google and will update this story once we get a response.Editors Recommendations