So youve finally beaten Monster Hunter Wilds, having cleared the final High-Rank boss and eager for more challenges. Of course, that was only really the tutorial theres still plenty to do in the end game, whether its weapon crafting, grinding for Decorations, or indulging your fashion sense. Here are 15 things to do after finishing Monster Hunter Wilds that will easily keep you occupied for dozens upon dozens of hours. Spoilers inbound, so beware.Arkveld Armor SetsThis is pretty much a given since the Arkveld and Guardian Arkveld sets are two of three Rarity 8 armor sets in the game. However, you should grind out the Arkveld set as soon as possible because it has a healthy amount of Decoration slots (three level 3, four level 2 and five level 1 for the Beta set) alongside skills like Weakness Exploit and Convert Element (which is ideal for Dragon-focused weapons). It also has Hasten Recovery, which restores health as you keep attacking a monster, though it varies based on the weapon.The Guardian Arkveld set will take a bit more time to obtain and may not seem worthwhile given its lower number of Decoration slots, even on the Beta set. However, it offers Flayer and Weakness Exploit, the former ideal for creating wounds and the latter increasing Affinity for attacks against weak points (with a bonus on top against wounds). You also get Decimator, which restores a good chunk of health when destroying a large monsters wounds.Artian WeaponsThe first Artian Weapon, the lowest rarity, can be crafted before reaching the end-game proper. Unlike Rarity 8 weapons, Artian Weapons require different materials, specifically Blades, Discs, Tubes, and Devices (their state varies depending on the rarity). Though many Artian Weapon types support the same materials, there are some exceptions a Broken Blade cant be used to forge an Artian Hammer, after all. Each material must also be the same rarity no mixing and matching a blue Disc with a purple Blade or Orange Tube.Artian Elements and BonusesBut thats not all, as Artian Materials also have different elements and one of two bonuses Attack Infusion or Affinity Infusion, the former raising the max Attack of the weapon. The latter increases its Affinity or critical hit rate.You can combine materials with the same element to create a purely elemental weapon with a high Affinity, high Attack or some mix of the two. But what happens if you combine a Thunder material with Dragon or Ice? If one of the materials elements differs from the others, only its bonus will be taken into account. Combining two Thunder elemental materials and one Dragon material still produces a Thunder weapon. However, if all three pieces are different elements, then a weapon with no element is produced, which can be ideal for Raw damage.It can seem like a waste, especially with the high costs of reinforcing the Artian Weapons. But if you have wildly differing materials with different bonuses, its not the worst idea. Gather all the different elemental Attack Infusion materials for a high-damage raw weapon, for example (though ensure the Affinity from your gear is high enough). Alternatively, go with three of the same element for maximum elemental damage.Farming Artian MaterialsWhether youre starting the end game or several hours in, farming Artian Materials gets time-consuming, especially if you want specific elements and the highest bonuses. Tempered Monsters are your ticket, but theyre not the same (sorry, Tempered Chatacabra). To obtain the highest rarity Artian Materials, you need to participate in 7-star or higher hunts, which usually means Tempered versions of Gore Magala, Arkveld, Jin Dahaad, Rey Dau, Uth Duna, and Nu Udra.InvestigationsThe most effective way of farming all of these is through Investigations. When these Tempered Monsters appear, hover over the target and save it as an Investigation. This will give multiple copies of the same quest that you can attempt again and again for the same rewards. You can also find Investigations through Field Survey, so ensure you check the tab and spend the Guild Points necessary to unlock your preferred hunt.Target FarmingWhat if youre not quite ready to tackle high-difficulty Tempered Monsters and want to farm lower-rarity Artian weapons instead? What if theres a specific material that you need from a monster? Investigations are once again the answer. Best of all, you can check if the material in question will drop as a reward. Select the Environment Overview and the target in question, then Create Quest and hover over its rewards. It will highlight all the drops and allow you to more efficiently target farm certain materials. Every Investigation, even for the same monster, can yield different rewards, so double-check before spending Guild Points to save the Investigation.Multi-Target HuntsSpeaking of Investigations, keep an eye out for multi-target hunts, even if some are less difficult. They offer tons of rewards, be it Decorations, Artian Materials, or monster materials. The higher-difficulty hunts even provide a nice bump to your Hunter Rank, much more than taking down a single Tempered Monster would.Artian Weapon UpgradesCrafting your ideal Artian Weapon is only the first step you can also reinforce it, further adding to its stat bonuses while increasing elemental damage and even weapon sharpness. It can seem arduous initially since youll need 15,000 points worth of the highest rarity reinforcement material, Oricalcite, to fully reinforce an Artian Weapon. This is where the Smelting Foundry in Oilwell Basin comes into play.By providing materials to the blacksmith, you can exchange materials for the necessary reinforcement materials. The higher the rarity of the material like Rubies and Gems the more reinforcement materials you can obtain in return. Even if youre not swimming in high-level materials, this is still a great place to dump the magnitudes of other resources in exchange for reinforcement ore.Min-Maxing Artian UpgradesWhats the point of obtaining more reinforcement materials if you have the ideal Artian Weapon? Well, remember those bonuses obtained on fully reinforcing a weapon? Those are seemingly randomized. You could thus reroll for better versions of your current weapon, min-maxing for different stats depending on your desire.Upgrading ArmorHeavy Armor Spheres are essential for fully maxing out a high-rarity armor sets defenses. And while obtaining them from hunts seems all too slow, theres a better way. Speak to the Smelting Foundry in Oilwell Basin once more and exchange your monster materials for different kinds of Armor Spheres. Once again, the higher the materials rarity, the more youll obtain, so keep an eye out for those shiny drops.Melding MasterWyverian Melding returns, once again allowing you to exchange Decorations for other Decorations. Its unlocked upon meeting the Melding Pot Master in Suja, the Peaks of Accord, just across from your camp. You can meld specific Decorations or toss in your unwanted jewels for random Decorations Ancient Orb Sword provides Attack-focused Decorations, while Ancient Orb Armor provides Defense-focused Decorations. Its also possible to meld specific Artian Materials to cut down on some of the RNG from hunting.Multi-Skill DecorationsYoure not just after the simple level 1 or 2 Decorations like Critical Eye, Divine Blessing, etc. Instead, multi-skill Decorations are one of the big chase items in Monster Hunter Wilds. You could obtain a Decoration that grants three points in Critical Element but a multi-skill Decoration that also provides one point in Slugger for 20 percent more stun power? Its even ideal for maxing out elemental damage on weapons while also having another skill for quality of life. Of course, you dont want to miss out on Decorations like the Mastery Jewel since preventing sharpness loss during critical hits is massive.Rarity 8 Weapon CraftingThe highest rarity Artian Weapons come with three level 3 slots, providing incredible customization. So why even go for Rarity 8 weapons when some of them like Guiding Artorius only have one level 3, one level 2 and one level 1 slot? For starters, the base attack and Dragon element damage are much higher than an Artian Weapon. Furthermore, it has Guard Level 3, ideal for decreasing stamina depletion against attacks (like, say, Arkvelds Big Bang Attack). The use case scenario will vary depending on certain fights, but the regular weapons are by no means rendered obsolete by the Artian class.FishingOkay, but how about a break from all the hunting? Why not engage in some fishing? After you get the Fishing Rod, speak to Kanya in the Scarlet Forest Base Camp. Complete her quest which involves catching any fish, and youll receive Sushifish Scale and Honey. Additional side quests will provide new lures for catching other fish. On top of different materials and items, they can also be cooked in meals. And given the changes to fishing this time, its a fun side activity.Layered ArmorWhat good are all these armor sets without a transmog feature? Thankfully, Layered Armor returns in Monster Hunter Wilds, unlocked by crafting High Rank armor sets. Once this is done, go to the Appearance tab and select Equipment Appearance to assign different helms, chest pieces, gloves, and so on without affecting your equipped armor skills.

Anthropic launches upgraded Console with team prompt collaboration tools and Claude 3.7 Sonnet's extended thinking controls, addressing enterprise AI development challenges while democratizing prompt engineering across technical and non-technical teams.Read More

Hidden Variable sues Skullgirls publisher Autumn Games for $1.2m in unpaid paymentsHVS says it is "no longer involved" with Skullgirls Mobile, 2nd Encore, or "other Skullgirls IP-related efforts" News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on March 6, 2025 Hidden Variable has announced that as of January 21, 2025, it was "no longer involved in the development on Skullgirls Mobile, 2nd Encore" due to a "dispute with Autumn Games."In a statement, Hidden Variable said the dispute had now been formally lodged with the Los Angeles County Superior Court.Court papers intimated Hidden Variables is suing Autumn Games for alleged breach of contract and anticipatory breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and for goods and services rendered.Hidden Variables believes it has satisfied the demands of its contract, but Autumn has not, withholding a $131,500 payment expected in November 2024, then again on November 15, December 1, December 15, January 1, and January 15, as well as around $15,000 in expenses.$139,000 was also anticipated on February 1 and again on February 15, March 1, and March 15, 2025.Hidden Variables is now suing for the $1,227,308.98 it says it is owed, as well as interest.HVS said it gave Autumn Games until January 21, 2025, to settle its payments. When the payments did not come, however, Hidden Variables "provided Autumn with all of the account login information required to continue providing community support for the game [...] so as not to cause damage to the game.""All of us at HVS are incredibly proud of the 10+ years weve invested in Skullgirls in all its forms, including creating and supporting Skullgirls Mobile, bringing new characters and platforms to Skullgirls 2nd Encore, supporting the competitive community via the Skullgirls Championship Series, and helping fans new and old fall in love with the IP through the Skullgirls Webtoon and countless other partnerships," the statement said."Most of all, were grateful to have been able to celebrate and support the incomparable Skullgirls community - many of whom weve been fortunate to meet in person over the years at various events."The team then said it would not be able to comment further on the matter until the dispute was resolved.In response, Autumn Games' Jason Donnell said: "First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the concerns surrounding recent announcements. Skullgirls has always been more than just a game - it's a passion project, a living work of art, and a world shaped by the love of its creators and players alike."After thanking players for supporting the game, the statement acknowledged Autumn Games had "not been delivering on our promise to" fans, which is "why we are making changes now.""We are not a massive corporation stepping in to take over; we are game developers, storytellers, and passionate fans, just like you," Autumn Games added.Although the statement made no explicit mention of Hidden Variables, Autumn's statement did confirm it would be launching Guilds later this year, saying the feature was "now actually in development since [Autumn] have taken over in the last few months."

EVE Online developer CCP Games has brought on Icelandic economist Stefn rarinsson to serve as its new head of economy.rarinsson will help the studio "refine and legitimize" in-game player economies for its space survival game, EVE Frontier, and ensure the system "operate with the same diligence and analysis applied to real-world economies.""His appointment advances our goal toward building a truly open financial system within a virtual world," wrote CEO Hilmar Veigar Ptursson. "By removing currency controls and fostering emergent value systems, EVE Frontier will redefine virtual nation-building, offering insights into both digital and real-world economies.""Virtual economies are living, evolving financial systems that demand serious study," wrote rarinsson. "We aim not just to simulate a wide variety of economic activity but to study, refine, and validate how virtual economies function at scale; EVE Frontier will set the standard for how these systems can be structured, regulated, and understood."EVE Online's economy has been largely player-driven and operates on supply and demand. In 2007, CCP hired economist Eyjlfur Gumundsson to oversee the game's economy, a first-time event for the industry. After his exit in 2014, CCP hopes Frontier and rarinsson can continue the first game's "landmark work" in this regard and help its overall goal of "providing valuable insight into digital finance and decentralized economic systems."In hand with rarinsson's hiring, Frontier is getting a number of economy-related updates, the first of which focuses on monetary inflation, data gathering on players' decision-making and economic adaptation. Later updates will be done through CCP's Founder membership tier, providing a "fully controlled environment to model, predict, and optimize how virtual economies function under different conditions."Those results, said CCP, will "inform both the development of EVE Frontier and the broader conversation about how digital economies can be examined, structured and sustained in the future."

Editors note: Apple recently announced a new entry-level iPad and an M3-powered iPad Air. Both tablets launch on March 12th, and well be updating this guide with our impressions in the coming weeks.There are no bad iPads. Thats the best news about Apples tablet lineup: 15 years after Steve Jobs first debuted the device, the iPad is the best tablet on the market, and its not particularly close. Apples App Store is enormous and filled with great apps, Apples performance and battery life are consistently excellent, and the iPad is still the companys most versatile device. Thats one easy answer to your question: yes, if you want a tablet, you should buy an iPad. Even last years iPad, or heck, last-last years iPad, is still a solid device. Buying an older but better device last years Pro instead of this years Air, for instance is a tried-and-true iPad formula.But which of all those good iPads should you buy? Thats never been more complicated. Apple sells six different iPads the Pro in two sizes, the Air in two sizes, the Mini, and the regular ol iPad all of which come with different specs and accessory options. Its all too much.In this articleIve tested every iPad currently on the market and have been an iPad user and reviewer since the very first model. (Im pretty sure I got a job in 2010 because I had a brand-new iPad with me at the interview, but thats another story.) After using all these tablets and all these accessories, I think I can help you make the choice.What to consider when buying an iPad:iPads are incredibly versatile gadgets, so we test them in as many real-world ways as possible. We use them for video chats, we play high-end games and casual ones, we edit complex video, we fall asleep on the couch watching Netflix. We pay close attention to performance, battery life, durability, and compatibility with important apps and accessories. Weve reviewed every iPad on the market, along with their most important competitors, and track software updates closely as they change the devices appeal.Yes, this is obvious, but its good to know how much you want to spend before shopping otherwise, you risk succumbing to Apples incredible ability to always get you spending just a little more. You can get a new iPad for as little as $350, or you can spend well over $1,000 for a top model. Knowing how much you want to pay will guide you to the right models. It might even guide you to older models; sometimes the last-gen iPad, at a steep discount, can be the one to buy.The most common iPad size these days has a roughly 11-inch screen. This is probably the right size for most people: 11 inches is ideal for a wide variety of things and is flexible for both holding in your hands and using with a keyboard. If you primarily plan to use your iPad for reading, you might want to go with something smaller; if you intend to replace a laptop with an iPad, you might want a bigger model. Be warned, though: a 13-inch iPad is a truly humongous thing.Apples accessory compatibility is somewhat fragmented across its iPad lineup. It has four different Pencil stylus models, three different keyboard attachments, and a wide variety of case options. While some iPad models share accessories with others, not all of them do, so if you want to use a specific accessory with your iPad, its important to make sure both are compatible before you buy them.Your iPad buying journey starts with one crucial question: what kind of iPad user are you? There are, broadly speaking, two types. The first and most common iPad user mostly uses it like a larger iPhone: its a bigger screen on which to send emails, do the crossword, watch Netflix, and do other fairly casual activities. The second type of iPad user, on the other hand, uses it like a touchscreen Mac: its for video editing, 3D modeling, creating presentations, crushing spreadsheets, and generally Doing Work of all sorts. Youll also email and Netflix, of course, but you want your iPad to be a primary computing device. I think I can safely assume most people fall into the first category. (Honestly, I also think a lot of people who believe they fall into the second category mostly dont.) For them, the choice is actually simpler than youd think:The best iPad for most people7Verge Score2022 iPad (64GB, Wi-Fi)$260$34926% off$260The GoodThe cheapest iPad by farComes in lots of fun colorsPlenty capable for casual useThe BadThe worst screen in the lineupNo Pencil Pro supportHow we rate and review productsScreen: 10.9-inch, 2360 x 1640 resolution / Processor: Apple A14 Bionic / Storage: 64 or 256GB / Port: USB-C / Cellular: 5G (optional) / Speakers: stereo / Compatible accessories: Apple Magic Keyboard Folio, Apple Pencil (USB-C)If every iPad is a good iPad, the cheapest iPad is the obvious place to start. Apples base tablet is still a really solid tablet and a really good deal: you could buy the $349 tablet and the (wildly overpriced but still very nice) $250 Magic Keyboard Folio for the price of the iPad Air. The 10.9-inch screen is the right size for most iPad things, the camera is good and located in the right place, it supports the Apple Pencil though not the newer Pencil Pro and even its now-outdated A14 Bionic chip is plenty for most casual iPad users. All the other iPads do have slightly nicer screens, particularly the antireflective coating that helps mitigate glare, but thats almost certainly not worth the additional price.The only thing the base iPad is missing these days is Apple Intelligence. But theres not much to miss there, at least not yet.RelatedAll that said, though: if you do want a base iPad, you shouldnt buy it right now. The last model came out in October 2022, and Apple recently announced a new entry-level iPad. Its just a spec bump, but that means it will last you much longer. (It also means the existing model will likely drop in price in the coming months, if you choose to go that way.)The best iPad, period8Verge Score13-inch iPad Pro M4 (Wi-Fi)$1099$129915% off$1099The GoodOutrageously powerfulGorgeous screen and designFull accessory supportThe BadOutrageously expensiveLike, MacBook Pro-level expensiveHow we rate and review productsScreen: 11-inch, 2420 x 1668 resolution 120Hz OLED; 13-inch, 2752 x 2064 resolution 120Hz OLED; nano-texture glass optional / Processor: Apple M4 / Storage: 256GB2TB / Ports: USB-C / Cellular: 5G (optional) / Speakers: four / Compatible accessories: Apple Magic Keyboard,If youre not worried about price tags, this is easy: the latest iPad Pro is my favorite tablet of all time. The Tandem OLED screen is bright and crisp, the tablet is barely thicker than its USB-C port, its light, its thin, and its about as well made as you could expect a tablet to be. The M4 chip is plenty fast even for high-end games and ultra-complex creativity apps. It supports the new, lighter, better Magic Keyboard case and the Pencil Pro. I have plenty of qualms about how powerful an operating system iPadOS is, and the limits it places on just how powerfully you can use an iPad, but the M4 Pro is everything youd want in a tablet.But oh boy, the price. The Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model, and if you want a keyboard, a Pencil, and even a single storage upgrade, youre quickly looking at a $2,000 purchase. If were just talking about a Netflix and email machine, were long past the point of diminishing returns. But if you dont care, and you just want the best thing money can buy? Here it is. You wont be disappointed.The best iPad Mini6Verge Score2024 iPad Mini (Wi-Fi)$399$49920% off$399The GoodIdeal for one-handed useWorks with the Pencil ProThe BadMissing some accessory supportCameras in the wrong spotHow we rate and review productsScreen: 8.3-inch, 2266 x 1488 resolution 60Hz Mini LED / Processor: Apple A17 Pro / Storage: up to 2TB / Port: USB-C / Cellular: 5G (optional) / Speakers: quad / Compatible accessories: Apple Pencil Pro, Pencil USB-C, Smart FolioYoure either an iPad Mini person or youre not. I very much am: Ive used a Mini for years as my device for reading in bed, watching movies on airplanes, and playing games on the go. The latest Mini is a bit of a disappointment, with a slightly underpowered processor and an old design that could have used smaller bezels and a relocated camera. But its still the iPad Mini, and its still good enough for most tablet things. If you want an iPad Mini, this is it.An aside on specs and extrasOnce youve picked an iPad model, you still have a bunch of decisions to make. And many of them are about specs and features that will cost you hundreds of dollars. Here are my recommendations for some of the things youll encounter:Cellular coverage: You probably dont need this. Unless you live in a really remote area, Wi-Fi is available in most places. That said, Ive found that I use cell-equipped iPads far more often when I can just pull them out and know theyre connected theres something about busting it out in the park or on the subway that just feels great. Plus, its a really useful hotspot for other devices. This isnt the first place Id spend my money, though.Storage: This is the first place Id spend my money. The 10th-gen iPad comes with 64GB of storage, which is fine in a pinch but will fill up really fast. The others including the two forthcoming models start with at least 128GB, which is better, but I even recommend springing for 256GB if you can afford it.Engraving: Dont do this. It screws up returns and makes selling or giving it away harder. Just dont do it.Apple Pencil: As much as Id love for this to be an all-purpose accessory, its really not. Buy it (either the USB-C or the Pro) if you plan to handwrite or draw a lot. Otherwise, skip it.Magic Keyboard: This is the first accessory Id recommend to most people most people type a lot on their iPads, and its also a handy stand and dock for the tablet. You can find cheaper keyboard docks than Apples, but I havent found one I like better. Its expensive no matter which model you buy, though.Theres one other thing to consider as you shop for an iPad, which is that your tablet is almost certainly going to last you a long time. In normal use, you should expect your tablet to work well for at least five years, and even limp along for a few more years after that. (Its 2025, and I know multiple people still using the iPad Air 2 from 2014 even though it doesnt get software updates anymore.) My gadget shopping advice is always to buy the best thing you can afford and hold onto it for as long as possible, and thats more doable with an iPad than almost any other device category. If you have the extra $100 to spend on storage, do it. If you want to upgrade because you think AI will get more powerful in the next few years, go for it! Just make sure you know which kind of iPad user you really are, and get the best one youll actually make use of.Whats coming nextEarlier this week, Apple announced an 11th-gen iPad and new iPad Air with an upgraded M3 chip. The forthcoming tablets are set to arrive on March 12th, though never is a drastic overhaul of existing models.The latest entry-level iPad starts at $349 and features an upgraded A16 processor the same chip used in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Pro along with twice as much base storage as the previous model (128GB versus 64GB). Notably, its the only new iPad to lack support for Apple Intelligence, though its likely going to remain the best iPad for most people even if it doesnt offer any AI-powered features.The new iPad Air is also a minor spec bump. It comes in four colors and two sizes: an 11-inch configuration that starts at $599 and a larger 13-inch variant that starts at $799. It supports Apple Intelligence and features an upgraded M3 chip, not an M4, though Apple says its still twice as fast as the M1-powered Air and the A14 Bionic-powered Air. Other than that, the only real change comes in the form of a new Magic Keyboard attachment, which now includes an extra row of function keys, a redesigned hinge with USB-C, and a larger trackpad.Update, March 6th: Adjusted pricing/availability and added a new section on Apples latest entry-level iPad and the new M3 iPad Air. Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.See More:

Running large language models (LLMs) presents significant challenges due to their hardware demands, but numerous options exist to make these powerful tools accessible. Todays landscape offers several approaches from consuming models through APIs provided by major players like OpenAI and Anthropic, to deploying open-source alternatives via platforms such as Hugging Face and Ollama. Whether youre interfacing with models remotely or running them locally, understanding key techniques like prompt engineering and output structuring can substantially improve performance for your specific applications. This article explores the practical aspects of implementing LLMs, providing developers with the knowledge to navigate hardware constraints, select appropriate deployment methods, and optimize model outputs through proven techniques.1. Using LLM APIs: A Quick IntroductionLLM APIs offer a straightforward way to access powerful language models without managing infrastructure. These services handle the complex computational requirements, allowing developers to focus on implementation. In this tutorial, we will understand the implementation of these LLMs using examples to make their high-level potential in a more direct and product-oriented way. To keep this tutorial concise, we have limited ourselves to closed source models only for the implementation part and in the end, we have added a high-level overview of open source models.2. Implementing Closed Source LLMs: API-Based SolutionsClosed source LLMs offer powerful capabilities through straightforward API interfaces, requiring minimal infrastructure while delivering state-of-the-art performance. These models, maintained by companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, provide developers with production-ready intelligence accessible through simple API calls.2.1 Lets explore how to use one of the most accessible closed-source APIs, Anthropics API.# First, install the Anthropic Python library!pip install anthropicimport anthropicimport osclient = anthropic.Anthropic( api_key=os.environ.get("YOUR_API_KEY"), # Store your API key as an environment variable)2.1.1 Application: In Context Question Answering Bot for User Guidesimport anthropicimport osfrom typing import Dict, List, Optionalclass ClaudeDocumentQA: """ An agent that uses Claude to answer questions based strictly on the content of a provided document. """ def __init__(self, api_key: Optional[str] = None): """Initialize the Claude client with API key.""" self.client = anthropic.Anthropic( api_key="YOUR_API_KEY", ) # Updated to use the correct model string format self.model = "claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219" def process_question(self, document: str, question: str) -> str: """ Process a user question based on document context. Args: document: The text document to use as context question: The user's question about the document Returns: Claude's response answering the question based on the document """ # Create a system prompt that instructs Claude to only use the provided document system_prompt = """ You are a helpful assistant that answers questions based ONLY on the information provided in the DOCUMENT below. If the answer cannot be found in the document, say "I cannot find information about this in the provided document." Do not use any prior knowledge outside of what's explicitly stated in the document. """ # Construct the user message with document and question user_message = f""" DOCUMENT: {document} QUESTION: {question} Answer the question using only information from the DOCUMENT above. If the information isn't in the document, say so clearly. """ try: # Send request to Claude response = self.client.messages.create( model=self.model, max_tokens=1000, temperature=0.0, # Low temperature for factual responses system=system_prompt, messages=[ {"role": "user", "content": user_message} ] ) return response.content[0].text except Exception as e: # Better error handling with details return f"Error processing request: {str(e)}" def batch_process(self, document: str, questions: List[str]) -> Dict[str, str]: """ Process multiple questions about the same document. Args: document: The text document to use as context questions: List of questions to answer Returns: Dictionary mapping questions to answers """ results = {} for question in questions: results = self.process_question(document, question) return results### Test Codeif __name__ == "__main__": # Sample document (an instruction manual excerpt) sample_document = """ QUICKSTART GUIDE: MODEL X3000 COFFEE MAKER SETUP INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Unpack the coffee maker and remove all packaging materials. 2. Rinse the water reservoir and fill with fresh, cold water up to the MAX line. 3. Insert the gold-tone filter into the filter basket. 4. Add ground coffee (1 tbsp per cup recommended). 5. Close the lid and ensure the carafe is properly positioned on the warming plate. 6. Plug in the coffee maker and press the POWER button. 7. Press the BREW button to start brewing. FEATURES: - Programmable timer: Set up to 24 hours in advance - Strength control: Choose between Regular, Strong, and Bold - Auto-shutoff: Machine turns off automatically after 2 hours - Pause and serve: Remove carafe during brewing for up to 30 seconds CLEANING: - Daily: Rinse removable parts with warm water - Weekly: Clean carafe and filter basket with mild detergent - Monthly: Run a descaling cycle using white vinegar solution (1:2 vinegar to water) TROUBLESHOOTING: - Coffee not brewing: Check water reservoir and power connection - Weak coffee: Use STRONG setting or add more coffee grounds - Overflow: Ensure filter is properly seated and use correct amount of coffee - Error E01: Contact customer service for heating element replacement """ # Sample questions sample_questions = [ "How much coffee should I use per cup?", "How do I clean the coffee maker?", "What does error code E02 mean?", "What is the auto-shutoff time?", "How long can I remove the carafe during brewing?" ] # Create and use the agent agent = ClaudeDocumentQA() # Process a single question print("=== Single Question ===") answer = agent.process_question(sample_document, sample_questions[0]) print(f"Q: {sample_questions[0]}") print(f"A: {answer}\n") # Process multiple questions print("=== Batch Processing ===") results = agent.batch_process(sample_document, sample_questions) for question, answer in results.items(): print(f"Q: {question}") print(f"A: {answer}\n")Output from the modelClaude Document Q&A: A Specialized LLM ApplicationThis Claude Document Q&A agent demonstrates a practical implementation of LLM APIs for context-aware question answering. This application uses Anthropics Claude API to create a system that strictly grounds its responses in provided document content an essential capability for many enterprise use cases.The agent works by wrapping Claudes powerful language capabilities in a specialised framework that:Takes a reference document and user question as inputsStructures the prompt to delineate between document context and queryUses system instructions to constrain Claude to only use information present in the documentProvides explicit handling for information not found in the documentSupports both individual and batch question processingThis approach is particularly valuable for scenarios requiring high-fidelity responses tied to specific content, such as customer support automation, legal document analysis, technical documentation retrieval, or educational applications. The implementation demonstrates how careful prompt engineering and system design can transform a general-purpose LLM into a specialised tool for domain-specific applications.By combining straightforward API integration with thoughtful constraints on the models behavior, this example showcases how developers can build reliable, context-aware AI applications without requiring expensive fine-tuning or complex infrastructure.Note: This is just a basic implementation of document question answering, we have not delved deeper into the real complexities of domain-specific things.3. Implementing Open Source LLMs: Local Deployment and AdaptabilityOpen source LLMs offer flexible and customizable alternatives to closed-source options, allowing developers to deploy models on their own infrastructure with complete control over implementation details. These models, from organizations like Meta (LLaMA), Mistral AI, and various research institutions, provide a balance of performance and accessibility for diverse deployment scenarios.Open source LLM implementations are characterized by:Local Deployment: Models can run on personal hardware or self-managed cloud infrastructureCustomization Options: Ability to fine-tune, quantize, or modify models for specific needsResource Scaling: Performance can be adjusted based on available computational resourcesPrivacy Preservation: Data remains within controlled environments without external API callsCost Structure: One-time computational cost rather than per-token pricingMajor open source model families include:LLaMA/Llama-2: Metas powerful foundation models with commercial-friendly licensingMistral: Efficient models with strong performance despite smaller parameter countsFalcon: Training-efficient models with competitive performance from TIIPythia: Research-oriented models with extensive documentation of training methodologyThese models can be deployed through frameworks like Hugging Face Transformers, llama.cpp, or Ollama, which provide abstractions to simplify implementation while retaining the benefits of local control. While typically requiring more technical setup than API-based alternatives, open source LLMs offer advantages in cost management for high-volume applications, data privacy, and customization potential for domain-specific needs.Here is the Colab Notebook. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitterand join ourTelegram ChannelandLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our80k+ ML SubReddit. Mohammad AsjadAsjad is an intern consultant at Marktechpost. He is persuing B.Tech in mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Asjad is a Machine learning and deep learning enthusiast who is always researching the applications of machine learning in healthcare.Mohammad Asjadhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/mohammad_asjad/Thinking Harder, Not Longer: Evaluating Reasoning Efficiency in Advanced Language ModelsMohammad Asjadhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/mohammad_asjad/CoSyn: An AI Framework that Leverages the Coding Capabilities of Text-only Large Language Models (LLMs) to Automatically Create Synthetic Text-Rich Multimodal DataMohammad Asjadhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/mohammad_asjad/Why Do Task Vectors Exist in Pretrained LLMs? This AI Research from MIT and Improbable AI Uncovers How Transformers Form Internal Abstractions and the Mechanisms Behind in-Context Learning (ICL)Mohammad Asjadhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/mohammad_asjad/Scaling Language Model Evaluation: From Thousands to Millions of Tokens with BABILong Recommended Open-Source AI Platform: IntellAgent is a An Open-Source Multi-Agent Framework to Evaluate Complex Conversational AI System' (Promoted)

OpenAI Invests $50M in NextGenAI Research Consortium 0 like March 6, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Get The Gist Originally published on Towards AI. Plus: Amazons New AI Model Challenges OpenAI & AnthropicThis member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Welcome to Get The Gist, where every weekday we share an easy-to-read summary of the latest and greatest developments in AI news, innovations, and trends all delivered in under 5 minutes! In todays edition:Amazons New AI Model Challenges OpenAI & AnthropicGoogle Enhances Online Shopping with AI-Powered ToolsAmazon to Establish New Division Focused on Agentic AIAnd more AI news.Image by: OpenAIThe Gist: OpenAI is launching a $50 million initiative to fund AI research at 15 universities and institutions, aiming to advance AI applications and prepare the next generation of AI leaders.Key Details:Partner institutions include Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and the University of Michigan.Research will focus on AI applications in healthcare, education, and digital literacy.Harvard and Boston Childrens Hospital will use AI to improve rare disease diagnoses.Texas A&M will develop AI literacy programs for students.Image by: AmazonThe Gist: Amazon is developing an advanced AI model under its Nova brand, designed for hybrid reasoning balancing quick responses with more complex problem-solving.Key Details:Expected to launch by June 2025, competing with OpenAIs and Anthropics latest models.Uses a hybrid reasoning approach to improve long-form problem-solving.Aims to be more cost-efficient than competitors like Claude Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Author(s): Towards AI Editorial Team Originally published on Towards AI. Good morning, AI enthusiasts! Ever since we launched our From Beginner to Advanced LLM Developer course, many of you have asked for a solid Python foundation to get started. Well, its here!Im excited to introduce Python Primer for Generative AI a course designed to help you learn Python the way an AI engineer would.Most Python courses teach syntax. Thats not enough. You need to think, build, and solve problems like an engineer right from day one.In this course, you wont just go through Python fundamentals. Youll build projects, use LLMs as coding assistants, and develop the problem-solving mindset that AI development demands.Heres what youll get:Learn Python by building real AI applications Every concept is tied to a practical, real-world use case.Use LLMs as your personal coding assistants Learn how to ask the right questions and speed up your learning.Think like an AI engineer Develop problem-solving skills that go beyond just writing code.Join the Course and start coding today!Already comfortable with Python? You can jump straight into LLM development with From Beginner to Advanced LLM Developer. Or, if youre ready to go all in, bundle both courses and save over $125! Louis-Franois Bouchard, Towards AI Co-founder & Head of CommunityLearn AI Together Community section!Featured Community post from the DiscordAbdibrokhim shared a dataset containing brain MRI samples. It includes real observations and conclusions from hospitals. This might come in handy if you are building something in MedTech or trying out a project in healthcare. Check it out on GitHub and support a fellow community member. If you have any questions or suggestions, reach out to him in the thread!AI poll of the week!It seems fairly evenly distributed, with the biggest use cases in coding and research. What interests you most about agents? Tell me your thoughts on this!Collaboration OpportunitiesThe Learn AI Together Discord community is flooding with collaboration opportunities. If you are excited to dive into applied AI, want a study partner, or even want to find a partner for your passion project, join the collaboration channel! Keep an eye on this section, too we share cool opportunities every week!1. Ayanb1827 is working on a fully open-source personal study app/time management project and is looking for individuals with experience in AI agents, LangChain, agentic reasoning, RAG, and similar technologies within a React application. If you have experience in these areas and want to share some insights or chat, contact them in the thread!2. Lisz.a is working on identifying novel biomarkers for different disorders with the help of informatics and is looking for people to help him with his ethical AI research. If this sounds interesting, connect with him in the thread!Meme of the week!Meme shared by ghost_in_the_machineTAI Curated sectionArticle of the weekLangGraph + DeepSeek-R1 + Function Call + Agentic RAG (Insane Results) By Gao Dalie ()This article outlines building a multi-agent chatbot using LangGraph, DeepSeek-R1, function calling, and Agentic RAG to enhance information retrieval and response generation. It explains how Agentic RAG improves traditional retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) by incorporating autonomous decision-making, enabling the chatbot to handle complex queries efficiently. It details the integration of research and development databases, using vector embeddings for document retrieval, and creating a workflow to manage query processing, document retrieval, and response generation. It addresses challenges like DeepSeek-R1s lack of function call support and demonstrates solutions through text-based commands. The article also demonstrates the chatbots ability to autonomously plan actions, improving real-time decision-making and content generation for business or personal use.Our must-read articles1. Exploring LoRA as a Dynamic Neural Network Layer for Efficient LLM Adaptation By Shenggang LiThis article explores a dynamic approach to Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) for efficiently fine-tuning large language models (LLMs). Traditional fine-tuning updates all model parameters, which is computationally expensive. LoRA addresses this by freezing the base model and adding low-rank trainable updates. The author proposes an enhanced method, Rank-1 Sum LoRA, which decomposes updates into multiple rank-1 matrices and dynamically prunes unnecessary components based on data complexity. This approach reduces memory usage and improves adaptability. It includes theoretical insights, practical implementation with GPT-2, and results demonstrating LoRAs efficiency in domain-specific tasks like medical Q&A fine-tuning.2. Create Your Own AI Assistant: A Practical Guide to Multimodal, Agentic Chatbots for Everyday Use By Prisca EkhaeyemheThis article provides a step-by-step guide to building a multimodal, agentic chatbot capable of planning vacations, fetching real-time flight data, generating city images, and providing audio responses. Using Python, the author integrates abilities like OpenAIs GPT-4o-mini for conversational AI, DALL-E for image generation, and SerpAPI for flight data retrieval. The chatbot is designed to handle complex tasks, such as suggesting travel destinations, providing cost estimates, and generating visual and audio outputs. It also demonstrates how to set up APIs, manage ability interactions, and create a user-friendly Gradio interface, making it accessible for those with basic programming skills.3. Comprehensive Report on Model Context Protocol (MCP) with an Introduction to Cursor Rules By Don LimThis article provides a detailed overview of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Cursor Rules, highlighting their role in enhancing AI-assisted software development. MCP standardizes interactions between large language models (LLMs) and external abilities, offering a modular, secure, and scalable framework for integrating diverse resources like databases, APIs, and file systems. It emphasizes human-in-the-loop controls, robust error handling, and extensibility, making it ideal for managing large-scale software projects. Cursor Rules, on the other hand, enable developers to define project-specific coding standards, ensuring AI-generated code aligns with workflows. MCP and Cursor Rules streamline development, improve productivity, and enhance code quality.4. Quantum AI Computing By Mirko PetersThis article explores the transformative potential of quantum computing, focusing on its foundational concepts like qubits, superposition, and entanglement. It highlights how quantum systems differ from classical computers, offering exponential computational power for applications such as cryptography, drug discovery, and climate modeling. The article also examines challenges like qubit stability, error correction, and decoherence, while showcasing advancements by companies like Google, IBM, and Microsoft. With real-world applications across industries and ethical considerations in focus, the article underscores quantum computings role in reshaping technology and its implications for the future.If you are interested in publishing with Towards AI, check our guidelines and sign up. We will publish your work to our network if it meets our editorial policies and standards.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AI

Not many games in the past decade have generated as much buzz in the zeitgeist as FromSoftwares Elden Ring. In a time when board games based on video games are becoming commonplace, it was only a matter of time before FromSoftwares behemoth made its way to the tabletop. Steamforged Games creators of other major video game adaptations like Resident Evil, Monster Hunter World, and FromSoftwares Dark Souls took up the flask to do just that. Now, after a highly successful crowdfunding campaign in 2022, Elden Ring: The Board Game (referred to as just Elden Ring going forward) is nearly in the hands of backers and available for preorder for everyone else. Rise, Tarnished. It is time to fight once more.Elden Ring: The Board GameSee it at Steamforged GamesElden Ring is a campaign board game, meaning you and your fellow players progress through a series of scenarios, leveling up and improving your characters as you play through the story. Steamforged Games has created three of these campaigns for prospective Tarnished to choose from Realm of the Grafted King, The Weeping Peninsula, and Stormveil Castle with Grafted King serving as the larger base game and the other two as standalone expansions. These expansions can be tackled on their own or played after Grafted King, allowing you to carry over your characters and continue their adventure, growing ever stronger in the process. Depending on which box you purchase, you will have access to different classes, including the Vagabond, Samurai, Astrologer, and Prophet in the Grafted King (base game) box; the Hero, Prophet, Astrologer, and Bandit in Weeping Peninsula; and the Confessor, Prisoner, Samurai, and Vagabond in the Stormveil Castle box.This game is an imposing thing, arriving in large boxes filled with fearsome-looking monster miniatures, hundreds of cards, cardboard tokens, tiles, and a plethora of books containing rules, combat maps, and scenario guides. Its one of the most intimidating games in my collection, made even more terrifying by the fact that I only own one of the campaigns I have yet to get the other two boxes or any of the bonus boss sets that can be added in. For such a large game, Steamforged has knocked Elden Ring out of the park in terms of production value, featuring some of the most detailed miniatures Ive seen, along with great-feeling cards and sturdy cardboard components.Scenarios come in a handful of varieties that do a good job of keeping things fresh, so youre not doing the same thing back-to-back. However, not every scenario type lands as well as others. Narrative scenarios ask you to read paragraphs of story, choose different actions to take (potentially making skill checks), and then draw the appropriate card to see what happens. While these are well-written and I appreciate the inclusion of skill checks, this type of scenario didnt do much for me if I wanted to do a bunch of reading or storytelling, Id simply read a book or play Dungeons & Dragons.By far, my favorite are Exploration scenarios, which excellently capture the spirit of discovery and the feeling of never knowing what lies beyond the next hill something that almost defines the source material. In these scenarios, you and the other players explore a region of the map, flipping and placing random tiles as you work to complete various quests. Tiles can contain enemies, items, Sites of Grace, or other surprises for you to uncover and take advantage of. Im a big fan of the grow as you go approach to map creation in board games whether its in Betrayal at House on the Hill or Clank! Catacombs as it enhances both the sense of discovery and the games replayability due to the random nature of tile placement. These scenarios offer a balanced mix of everything Elden Ring has to offer combat, story, and exploration without feeling overwhelming.The remaining three scenario types are strictly combat-focused: Gauntlet, Dungeon, and Boss scenarios. Gauntlets throw you into incredibly difficult encounters with mobs of enemies and special rules sprinkled in. Dungeons are similar but culminate in a strong boss at the end. Finally, Boss scenarios where you and your friends square off against the games true threats are the ultimate test of your builds and teamwork. Between these scenarios and the encounters you stumble upon while exploring, Elden Ring is a combat-heavy experience, which isnt a bad thing considering that the combat is really solid.Combat takes place on grids formed from ring-bound notebooks included with the game. Some fights require multiple books to be laid out in a multi-page spread, creating a battlefield where players and enemies move strategically in their struggle to defeat one another. Attacks with spells and weapons have specified ranges, but depending on the row youre standing in, players can gain additional boons such as dealing extra damage, modifying turn order, or blocking more effectively. My friends and I frequently found ourselves deep in deliberation over positioning, trying to survive the onslaught of incoming attacks. Alas, even our best-laid plans often led to our demise because the enemies in this game are TOUGH.Basic enemies each have a card displaying their actions, with symbols indicating attack placement, movement, and other mechanics. It takes some time to get used to what all the symbols mean, but its manageable. Once an enemy has taken its listed actions or passed if it cant fulfill all the steps its turn ends. That's straightforward and relatively easy to manage. Bosses, however, are terrifying. They have entire decks of actions, each with its own place in the initiative order. Sometimes, you get lucky and their attacks land last. Other times, they pounce on your party before you can react. Its brutal and unforgiving, but thanks to scalable health pools based on player count, the fights never felt unfair. Every boss battle was exciting and full of tense moments where we held our breath, hoping to stagger the boss or dodge a devastating attack. Despite just being miniatures moving on a grid, the combat offers surprising depth and strategy that makes it shine.Elden Ring forgoes dice entirely, opting instead for a card-driven deck-building experience.One aspect that may surprise players is that Elden Ring forgoes dice entirely, opting instead for a card-driven deck-building experience. Players play cards from a deck dictated by their equipped weapons, skills, and gear. However, damage dealt and mitigated along with special effects like Bleed are determined by a separate Attribute deck. Different Attribute cards contain symbols representing Strength, Dexterity, and other stats, with attack and defense decks favoring certain symbols over others.Character progression is a core component of campaign board games, and Elden Ring is no different. Similar to the video game, not only can you level up your class for new abilities, but you can also customize your character by swapping weapons, armor, accessories, and Attribute cards, as well as increasing overall stats through Trait cards. This is all managed via the Rune system, which functions as an equipment load limit. Your total Rune count increases as you progress in the campaign, allowing more customization. However, the tracking method is lacking Steamforged provides small Rune cards to track your total, but they arent abundant enough for every player and add to the card clutter. A simple tracker, like the one used for health, would have been far more effective. As it stands, the best method is to track Runes on paper, which feels clunky. Hopefully, a better solution will emerge from the community or Steamforged itself.Despite Elden Rings strengths, my initial experience was frustrating not due to the game itself, but because I started with Stormveil Castle, the third campaign. While technically a standalone expansion, it assumes your characters have completed earlier quests and starts with adjustments to gear, runes, and decks. This made it overwhelming to set up for fresh players. I strongly urge anyone interested in this game to start with Realm of the Grafted King.Where to BuyGet it at Steamforged GamesMore Board Games Based on Video Games: Resident Evil 2: The Board GameSee it at AmazonBloodborne: The Board GameSee it at AmazonSlay the Spire: The Board GameSee it at AmazonPac-Man: The Board GameSee it at AmazonStardew Valley: The Board GameSee it at AmazonDoom: The Board GameSee it at Amazon

Back in 2023, a live-action series featuring the grown-up Powerpuff Girls was canceled at The CW following a number of reported troubles with the project. Now, a new teaser video has surfaced online showcasing what the show might have been like, and it's...interesting, to say the least.The video was made available this morning on the YouTube channel "Lost Media Busters" but has since been struck with a copyright takedown from Warner Bros. Entertainment. The three-and-a-half-minute trailer establishes the premise of the series: Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup have grown into young adults and left home, with Blossom (played by Chloe Bennet) becoming stressed and burnt out, Bubbles (Dove Cameron) turning to drinking, and Buttercup (Yana Perrault) becoming generally rebellious and expressing distaste of gender norms.Official images of the three Powerpuff Girls from CW's live-action effort: Dove Cameron, Chloe Bennet, and Yana Perrault.In the trailer, the three inadvertently kill a human named Mojo and flee Townsville, before returning home years later to visit their father, Professor Utonium (Donald Faison). There, they encounter Mojo's now-adult son, Jojo, who has become mayor of Townsville, brainwashed the citizenry, and is seeking revenge. The trailer is peppered with "edgy" humor, including Bubbles making a quip about juggalos and Buttercup suggesting Jojo has a "hate-boner" for Blossom.CW has confirmed to Variety that the footage is real, but that this particular trailer was not official nor intended for public view at any point.The live-action Powerpuff Girls show was first reported on back in 2020, but was canceled in 2023 after a number of setbacks, including a "miss" of an initial pilot and the departure of Bennet from the project.The reason you do pilots is because sometimes things miss, and this was just a miss," said CW chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz of the scrapped pilot at the time. "We believe in the cast completely. We believe in Diablo [Cody] and Heather [Regnier], the writers. We believe in the auspices of Greg Berlanti and Warner studios. In this case the pilot didnt work. But because we see theres enough elements in there, we wanted to give it another shot. So thats why we didnt want to go forward with what we had. Tonally, it mightve felt a little too campy. It didnt feel as rooted in reality as it mightve felt. But again, you learn things when you test things out. And so in this case, we felt, lets take a step back and go back to the drawing board.Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.