My.Games said its Castle Duels strategy game has hit $1 million in monthly revenue in both March and April.Read More

Humans need to embrace domains where AI still falters, and where human creativity, ethics and emotion emain indispensable.Read More

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Question: What product should use machine learning (ML)?Project manager answer: Yes. Jokes aside, the advent of generative AI has upended our understanding of what use cases lend themselves best to ML. Historically, we have always leveraged ML for repeatable, predictive patterns in customer experiences, but now, it’s possible to leverage a form of ML even without an entire training dataset. Nonetheless, the answer to the question “What customer needs requires an AI solution?” still isn’t always “yes.” Large language models (LLMs) can still be prohibitively expensive for some, and as with all ML models, LLMs are not always accurate. There will always be use cases where leveraging an ML implementation is not the right path forward. How do we as AI project managers evaluate our customers’ needs for AI implementation? The key considerations to help make this decision include: The inputs and outputs required to fulfill your customer’s needs: An input is provided by the customer to your product and the output is provided by your product. So, for a Spotify ML-generated playlist (an output), inputs could include customer preferences, and ‘liked’ songs, artists and music genre. Combinations of inputs and outputs: Customer needs can vary based on whether they want the same or different output for the same or different input. The more permutations and combinations we need to replicate for inputs and outputs, at scale, the more we need to turn to ML versus rule-based systems. Patterns in inputs and outputs: Patterns in the required combinations of inputs or outputs help you decide what type of ML model you need to use for implementation. If there are patterns to the combinations of inputs and outputs (like reviewing customer anecdotes to derive a sentiment score), consider supervised or semi-supervised ML models over LLMs because they might be more cost-effective. Cost and Precision: LLM calls are not always cheap at scale and the outputs are not always precise/exact, despite fine-tuning and prompt engineering. Sometimes, you are better off with supervised models for neural networks that can classify an input using a fixed set of labels, or even rules-based systems, instead of using an LLM. I put together a quick table below, summarizing the considerations above, to help project managers evaluate their customer needs and determine whether an ML implementation seems like the right path forward. Type of customer needExampleML Implementation (Yes/No/Depends)Type of ML ImplementationRepetitive tasks where a customer needs the same output for the same inputAdd my email across various forms onlineNoCreating a rules-based system is more than sufficient to help you with your outputsRepetitive tasks where a customer needs different outputs for the same inputThe customer is in “discovery mode” and expects a new experience when they take the same action (such as signing into an account):— Generate a new artwork per click—StumbleUpon (remember that?) discovering a new corner of the internet through random searchYes–Image generation LLMs–Recommendation algorithms (collaborative filtering)Repetitive tasks where a customer needs the same/similar output for different inputs–Grading essays–Generating themes from customer feedbackDependsIf the number of input and output combinations are simple enough, a deterministic, rules-based system can still work for you. However, if you begin having multiple combinations of inputs and outputs because a rules-based system cannot scale effectively, consider leaning on:–Classifiers –Topic modellingBut only if there are patterns to these inputs. If there are no patterns at all, consider leveraging LLMs, but only for one-off scenarios (as LLMs are not as precise as supervised models). Repetitive tasks where a customer needs different outputs for different inputs –Answering customer support questions–SearchYesIt’s rare to come across examples where you can provide different outputs for different inputs at scale without ML. There are just too many permutations for a rules-based implementation to scale effectively. Consider:–LLMs with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)–Decision trees for products such as searchNon-repetitive tasks with different outputsReview of a hotel/restaurantYesPre-LLMs, this type of scenario was tricky to accomplish without models that were trained for specific tasks, such as: –Recurrent neural networks (RNNs)–Long short-term memory networks (LSTMs) for predicting the next wordLLMs are a great fit for this type of scenario.  The bottom line: Don’t use a lightsaber when a simple pair of scissors could do the trick. Evaluate your customer’s need using the matrix above, taking into account the costs of implementation and the precision of the output, to build accurate, cost-effective products at scale. Sharanya Rao is a fintech group product manager. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of their company or organization. Daily insights on business use cases with VB Daily If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured.

Carry1st announced the return of its flagship Call of Duty: Mobile tournament as part of the Carry1st Africa Cup 2025.Read More

At Gamescom Latam, Roblox announced it has broken ground on a new data center in Brazil -- slated to go live in early 2026.Read More

Run Games both announced and launched its new game, Football Heroes League, in early access on PC during Gamescom LatamRead More

RSAC 2025 made one thing clear: AI agents are entering security workflows, but boards want proof they work.Read More

It took more than four years, but Epic Games finally prevailed this week in its antitrust case against Apple, the world’s most valuable company with a market value of $3.2 trillion. And now it’s possible that the floodgates are open to bring competition and financial gains for mobile game companies on iOS. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and his l…Read More

Once again, it shows the importance of incorporating more domains beyond the traditional math and computer science into AI development.Read More

Grand Theft Auto VI is officially no longer releasing in Fall 2025, the release window that Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games has given for the game up to today. Now Rockstar has given its precise release date: May 26, 2026, delayed from its original release window by a significant margin. Rockstar says it will release more information about the game soon. In a message on Rockstar’s website, the developer said, “We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game. With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.” Rockstar dropped the reveal trailer for GTA VI in December 2023, though parts of the game were revealed illegally following a hack in 2022. The trailer revealed the game’s dual protagonists, and its setting in Vice City, but since then neither the developer nor the publisher has revealed much new information. Take-Two’s shares fell by 10% in pre-market trading following the delay announcement. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said in a press release, “We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be a groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience that exceeds audience expectations. While we take the movement of our titles seriously and appreciate the vast and deep global anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI, we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence.” Reportedly, one of the side effects of GTA VI’s chosen release window being this coming fall was that several games other games were cautious about their own launch dates. Rumor has it some publishers were reluctant to commit to launch dates in case they might accidentally fall just before, on or just after GTA VI’s launch. This delay could mean that scheduling a fall release is less complicated, and now other games have a shot at winning the crowds. GB Daily Stay in the know! Get the latest news in your inbox daily Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured.

Lamborghini announced it will be present at DreamHack as a partner as part of its efforts to reach a broader young audience.Read More

Astronomer secures $93 million in Series D funding to solve the AI implementation gap through data orchestration, helping enterprises streamline complex workflows and operationalize AI initiatives at scale.Read More

It is a well-known fact that different model families can use different tokenizers. However, there has been limited analysis on how the process of “tokenization” itself varies across these tokenizers. Do all tokenizers result in the same number of tokens for a given input text? If not, how different are the generated tokens? How significant are the…Read More

Scopely announced today that Monopoly Go! has surpassed $5B in gross bookings, the fastest title in mobile game history to do so.Read More

Gamefam is launching Karate Kid Training Simulator, a title that will immerse players in the world of the upcoming film Karate Kid: Legends, on Roblox.Read More

Gillette and EA Sports FC have partnered in a global brand deal aimed at elevating how fans experience the game of soccer on and off the pitch. The deal unites Gillette, a 115-year-old men’s grooming brand, and EA Sports FC, a sports gaming brand with 30 years of history. The deal comes a day after news surfaced that EA is doing layoffs at its Respawn Entertainment division. The partnership kicked off in January with EA Sports FC 25 featuring Gillette as part of in-game LED ad banner signage and is now moving to the next level offering Football Ultimate Team packs, available to redeem for a limited time. To elevate this experience, Gillette is partnering with global content creators to showcase their “razor-sharp” skills on and off the pitch. Together, Gillette and EA Sports FC aspire to inspire athletes, fans, and gamers everywhere to feel sharp and play sharp. Building on Gillette’s storied legacy as a brand supporting sports, recently strengthened by their three-year licensing partnership with the UEFA Champions League and New England Revolution jersey sponsorship, this collaboration further elevates Gillette’s global presence across gaming and football. Gillette has consistently grown its presence in soccer and is dedicated to fostering the growth of the sport at all levels. “This partnership with EA Sports FC represents a defining moment for Gillette as we celebrate the momentum and continued growth of the brand’s presence in football on and off the pitch globally,” said Daniel Ordoñez, vice president for Gillette global brand franchise, in a statement. “As we build upon our commitment to the sport, we’re excited to deepen our roots while connecting with the next generation of men and engaging the larger global football community in authentic ways.”Gillette’s dedication shines through the precision-engineering of its products, crafted to deliver an unparalleled grooming experience. This collaboration shows how the value of Gillette’s superior performance and precision extends beyond grooming for its consumers, but also to its partnership like EA Sports FC 25. When fans feel their best, they play their best. “We’re thrilled to partner with Gillette in EA SPORTS FC 25, as their commitment and impact continues to grow in football,” said Charlie Villiers, Sr. Director, Franchise Marketing EA SPORTS FC. “Through thiscollaboration, we’re able to celebrate our shared passion for the world’s game and create innovativeand authentic ways to engage with both the Gillette and EA SPORTS FC communities.”Connecting hundreds of millions of football fans through console, mobile, online, and esports products, EA Sports FC boasts a big global audience. This partnership represents a strategic step for Gillette, leveraging EA Sports FC’s dedicated player community to further connect with gamers. By aligning with EA Sports FC, Gillette is deepening its integration in both sports and gaming, amplifying its brand presence, and reinforcing its commitment to engaging consumers in innovative and meaningful ways. GB Daily Stay in the know! Get the latest news in your inbox daily Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured.

The Qwen2.5-Omni-3B model is licensed for non-commercial use only under Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen Research License Agreement.Read More

UiPath's agent orchestration layer Maestro moves prompts through three layers: the agent, a human and the robotic process automation system.Read More

The Gamescom Latam Big Festival 2025 awards kicked off today in Sao Paulo, Brazil, starting with a lifetime achievement award for Shu Yoshida, who championed indies at Sony’s PlayStation division during his decades of work at the company. Rodrigo Terra, CEO of Abram Games, the Brazilian game association, presented the award to Yoshida, who wi…Read More

A federal district court judge found that Apple willfully violated a court order in Epic Games vs. Apple antitrust case.Read More

AI visionaries predict an 'Era of Experience' where AI learns autonomously, and it will have important implications for application design.Read More

Bring It On said its Big Cash Bingo game is one of the fastest growing skill games on the market with more than $500,000 in monthly revenues.Read More

Many organizations may also begin shifting toward open-source alternatives that they can host and tune themselves.Read More

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Facebook parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. has officially launched its own, free standalone Meta AI app, a move aimed at delivering a more personal and integrated AI experience across mobile devices, the web, and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. The app is available on iOS through the Apple App Store and on the web — with no mention of when an Android version could come. Powered by a version of its new, divisive quasi open source Llama 4 mixture-of-experts and reasoning model family, the new Meta AI app focuses on learning user preferences, maintaining conversation context, and providing seamless voice-first interaction. It requires a Meta products account to log in, though users can sign-in with their existing Facebook or Instagram profiles. It comes ahead of the kickoff of Llamacon 2025, Meta’s first AI developer conference taking place this week at its office campus headquarters in Palo Alto, California, centered around its Llama model family and general AI developer tools and advances. With the rise of more AI model challengers in the open source and proprietary domains — including everyone from OpenAI with ChatGPT to Google with its Gemini 2.5 model family and lesser-known (at least, to Western audiences) brands like Alibaba’s new Qwen 3 — Meta is keen to show off the power and capabilities of its own, in-house Llama 4 models. It is also seeking to make the case to third-party software developers that Llama 4 is a powerful and flexible open(ish) source model family they can trust to build their enterprise products atop of. However, with this new Meta AI app launch, I’m not sure it is the most successful example. More on that below. Text, image, and voice out-of-the-box — with document editing coming The Meta AI app represents a new way for users to interact with Meta’s AI assistant beyond existing integrations with WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. It enables users to have natural, back-and-forth voice conversations with AI, edit and generate images, and discover new use cases through a curated Discover feed featuring prompts and ideas shared by the community. Alongside traditional text interaction, Meta AI now supports voice functionality while multitasking. An early full-duplex voice demo allows users to experience natural, flowing conversations where the AI generates speech directly, rather than simply reading text aloud. However, the demo does not access real-time web information and may display occasional technical inconsistencies. Voice features, including the full-duplex demo, are currently available in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. On the web, meta.ai has been revamped to mirror the mobile experience, offering voice interaction, access to the Discover feed, and an improved image generation tool with enhanced style, mood, and lighting controls. The web version seems especially powerful and capable for image creation, with many pre-set styles and aspect ratios to choose from. In my brief hands-on tests with the mobile app, the image creation tools seemed far more limited and I wasn’t able to find a way to switch the aspect ratio. In both formats, the image quality was far lower than dedicated and rival AI image generators such as Midjourney or OpenAI’s GPT-4o native image generation. Meta is also testing a rich document editor and document analysis features in select countries. Discover what other users are doing and creating with AI A standout feature of the app is its “Discover” section, available by swiping up from the main chatbot interface, where users can browse and remix prompts, ideas, and creative outputs shared by others. This feed highlights how people are using Meta AI to brainstorm, write, analyze social media content, create stylized images, and explore playful concepts — such as designing pixel-art scenes or seeking AI-generated companions. Posts from creators include both text-based prompts and image results, giving others a starting point to experiment with the AI in new ways. It also coincides with tech journalist Alex Kantrowitz’s (Big Technology) recent observation in a LinkedIn post that AI is steadily replacing social media as a means of entertainment and content discovery for a growing number of users. This peer-sharing dynamic aligns with Meta’s intent to make AI not only useful but culturally engaging, offering a social layer to what is traditionally a one-on-one assistant interaction. Seeing the future For users of the augmented reality Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the Meta AI app replaces the former Meta View app. Existing device pairings, settings, and media content will migrate automatically upon updating. This integration enables users to move from interacting with their glasses to the app, maintaining conversation history and access across devices and the web, although conversations cannot yet be initiated on the app and resumed on glasses. Memory and personalization Personalization stands at the core of the new Meta AI experience. Users can instruct Meta AI to remember certain interests and preferences, and the assistant also draws from user profiles and engagement history on Meta platforms to tailor responses. This feature is currently available in the U.S. and Canada. Users who link their Facebook and Instagram accounts through the Meta Accounts Center can benefit from deeper personalization. When I downloaded the app to try it, it automatically suggested and pre-filled my Instagram account login. Quick hands-on test My initial tests of the Meta AI app interface reveal both the impressive functionality of Llama 4 and its current limitations in everyday tasks. On the one hand, the assistant is capable of generating helpful responses, offering analysis and advice, and generating images rapidly. However, some interactions expose severe limitations that have been mostly solved in other AI apps and the large language models (LLMs) powering them behind the scenes. In one case, Meta AI initially miscounted the number of ‘M’s in the word “Mommy,” correcting itself only after being prompted to review its answer. A similar pattern occurred when counting the letter ‘R’ in “Strawberry,” where it first responded with 2 before correcting to 3 after further clarification. Another response incorrectly evaluated which number is larger between 9.11 and 9.9, a task involving basic decimal comparison. These moments underscore the model’s limitations when it comes to attention to detail in short factual reasoning tasks — a known area where even advanced language models can falter. The assistant’s ability to acknowledge mistakes, explain its reasoning, and offer transparent corrections reflects progress toward more interactive and self-correcting AI experiences. But overall, I can’t recommend it being used for workplaces right now. Speaking about the broader strategy in a video and audio interview with AI focused YouTuber and podcaster Dwarkesh Patel, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that personalization and seamless, low-latency interaction are priorities for the company’s AI development. “If you fast-forward a few years, I think we’re just going to be talking to AI throughout the day about different things we’re wondering about,” Zuckerberg said. He highlighted the company’s focus on building systems that are quick, natively multimodal, and integrated deeply into daily life. Zuckerberg also discussed Meta’s approach to open-source AI, noting that Llama 4 models are designed to balance efficiency, intelligence, and accessibility. He reinforced that Meta’s commitment to open-source AI development aims to ensure broad innovation while maintaining American leadership in AI model standards, particularly in securing values and system integrity. Everyday AI? As Meta positions itself to compete in the increasingly crowded personal AI market, the launch of the Meta AI app marks a significant step toward making intelligent, personalized assistants part of everyday life for millions of users worldwide. With active user feedback and a growing repository of shared use cases through the Discover feed, Meta is clearly investing in an ecosystem where AI evolves in tandem with community engagement and real-world demands. While the Meta AI app is designed first and foremost for consumers, its launch carries broader implications for businesses across every sector. Meta, with an audience of nearly 4 billion users globally across its apps and hardware products, has the scale to fundamentally shift public expectations around technology. Even if only a small fraction of its users download and engage with the Meta AI app, it will introduce millions — possibly hundreds of millions — of non-technical consumers to regular, casual interaction with AI, and showcase the possibilities for conversational interaction in text and voice, rapid image generation, and problem solving. This mainstream exposure will likely accelerate a shift in what people expect not just from consumer apps, but from workplaces, service providers, retailers, and every kind of merchant or vendor they interact with. When individuals grow accustomed to personalized, conversational AI that can understand context, anticipate needs, and assist with creative or informational tasks, they will expect and demand similar functionality everywhere — from their own workplaces and those businesses and enterprises they purchase from. Businesses that do not offer accessible, responsive AI-driven experiences risk feeling outdated or unresponsive compared to what consumers increasingly take for granted. In effect, Meta’s new app may not simply compete with other AI offerings; it could redefine the baseline for digital interaction standards across industries. Enterprises, regardless of size or sector, will need to rethink how they incorporate AI into customer experiences, service channels, and even internal operations if they want to meet the new cultural expectations this widespread consumer familiarity with AI is about to establish. Daily insights on business use cases with VB Daily If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured.

Developer Three Bees announced recently that it’s bringing its point-and-click adventure game Perfect Tides: Station to Station to Nintendo Switch alongside its other launch platforms later this year. Station to Station is the sequel to Three Bees’ New York Game Awards-nominated previous title, Perfect Tides, which launched on PC in 2022. The new game doesn’t have specific launch date, but it’s due out sometime in 2025 on PC and Mac as well as the Switch. The original Perfect Tides is the story of a young writer named Mara, a period drama set in 2000 about her life, family and friends. Station to Station picks up the story three years later, in 2003, and follows the now-adult Mara as she attempts to navigate independence and her new life in the city. The title comes from the fact that Mara spends most of her time on the city’s mass transit system, on which players can help her develop her skills and guide the trajectory of her life. Three Bees founder Meredith Gran is the writer behind the Perfect Tides games, as well as the Octopus Pie webcomic. Gran said of the new game, “The city’s mass transit system is where Mara does a lot of her thinking. ringing Perfect Tides: Station to Station to the Nintendo Switch felt appropriate – players will be able to take it on the go as they experience their own journeys through life.” Station to Station’s development began in 2022, when Three Bees launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund it (Perfect Tides was also funded via the same platform). The campaign page calls the sequel “a further meditation on the early years of adulthood, of moments both scarring and sublime.” GB Daily Stay in the know! Get the latest news in your inbox daily Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured.

Mastercard is working with AI companies and banks to allow AI platforms and agents to facilitate transactions.Read More

Meta partners with Cerebras to launch its new Llama API, offering developers AI inference speeds up to 18 times faster than traditional GPU solutions, challenging OpenAI and Google in the fast-growing AI services market.Read More

Respawn has laid off yet more staff and canceled two early-stage projects, the latest of multiple round of layoffs at EA studios.Read More

Tripp launched Kōkua AI, a mental wellness guide designed to deliver real-time, personalized emotional support across multiple platforms.Read More

Upheaval Games, founded by industry veterans from Blizzard, Tencent, and Unity, announced early access to The Dreamer Portal.Read More