Netflix began streaming new episodes of the popular British preschool series “Peppa Pig” in the U.S. today — and will offer the “World of Peppa Pig” gaming app within the streamer to go with it. The move is one of Netflix’s splashiest to date when it comes to building out not just its video game offering, but specifically its kids and pre-K titles. “When we think about the overall kids game strategy, there’s taking from what we know from film and television and what they’ve learned with kids, which is about focusing on familiarity and focusing on things that kids already know and love,” Netflix kids gaming chief Lisa Burgess told Variety. “And we’ve also seen hints of that with our games portfolio, too. If you focus on bringing things that are familiar over onto our service, it helps our members to understand what we’re offering. So from from the highest level of what kinds of games do we want to select? We want to go after things that are big IP, beloved IP, a connection to Netflix — and Peppa falls to the top of many of those things, big IP, beloved on our service. And then ‘World of Peppa Pig’ has been a great game for many years. And so when we were thinking about all the opportunities, it was one of the very top ones that we wanted to go after.” Related Stories Per Netflix, the “World of Peppa Pig” app will offer users activities including puzzles, mini-games (spot-the-difference, dress-up games and memory challenges) and coloring books. Popular on Variety Burgess describes the “World of Peppa Pig” games as “very approachable” for a two year old and of interest to kids up to eight year olds, with the “sweet spot” being children ages two to five. “It’s less about the age spectrum and more about how much have they been exposed to games before in the past,” Burgess said. “Overall, the strategy is focusing on things that are familiar, and so that familiarity can be an IP, and not necessarily an IP tied with a game,” Burgess said. “And kids at this age are very IP driven. They want to play with their favorite character like that’s their best friend. And so they want nothing more than to be able to engage with those characters. There are a lot of great kids games that are out there right now, ‘World of Peppa Pig’ was one of them. And so I do think we want to think about our strategy of, what is the value add of us being able to bring some of those other great games onto our service that add value for our members? And then in the other dimension, what about IPs that exist but don’t have great gaming experiences around them for kids? And how do we actually build up good experiences and great gaming experiences for that?” Example: On Monday, Netflix announced it had acquired the streaming rights to powerhouse PBS Kids series “Sesame Street” and would be developing video games for both “Sesame Street” and “Sesame Street Mecha Builders.” “A the high level, it’s all about familiar, big IP,” Burgess said. “Some will be existing games that are already built, and some will be games that we’re building up from the ground up, based on big IP.” To date, Netflix says kids and family viewing represents 15% of its total viewership, and the streamer weeks to make its kids gaming offering “an extension of the safe environment parents already trust” that’s included with that subscription. As Netflix builds out its overall games lineup, it’s also laying the groundwork for keeping a user interested in its offering from pre-K through adulthood by having titles targeted to subscribers in each age demographic. “It’s the million-dollar question: how do you actually facilitate through that journey?” Burgess said. “And with kids, there comes a certain point in time where they no longer want to sit at the kids table. And so you cannot design experiences that are labeled for kids, because they’re not going to want to do that anymore. And so finding that line of, how do you start introducing kids to things that are safe and accessible, but not necessarily just for kids, that are more like for all ages?” Burgess says Netflix is able to use its existing data from kids profiles and family viewing habits to adjust the flow from kids games to more adult games the same way it feeds new content to children as they get older. “For every place possible, we’re going to try and take those learnings and apply them to games,” Burgess said, adding: “but we have a lot that we need to do on the overall journey and discovery experience and it’s something that we’re thinking about as we’re scaling out the portfolio of games for kids, and as that diversity gets bigger.”

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) has published its new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy for 2025 to 2027, outlining a plan that seeks to improve access to the profession and raise standards around workplace culture and conduct. The strategy sets out four headline goals. The first two are focused on ARB’s regulatory remit: becoming a more inclusive organisation and increasing access to the register for underrepresented groups. The other two seek to support sector-wide change through collaboration, aiming to create more inclusive workplace cultures and end discrimination and sexual harassment in the profession. According to ARB, the architects register does not yet reflect the diversity of the society it is meant to serve. The new EDI strategy was developed with support from Purpose Union, a consultancy specialising in social impact. The process included a review of ARB’s legal remit, as well as its internal policies and procedures, and an analysis of best practice from other organisations. Purpose Union also held detailed consultations with key stakeholders, including the RIBA. The strategy is further informed by ARB-commissioned research into professional culture and misconduct in architecture, carried out by Thinks Insight & Strategy. Source: ARBAlan Kershaw, chair of the ARB board ARB chair Alan Kershaw said: “This strategy is a bold step toward building a profession that truly reflects the diversity of our society, and a profession where talent and ability, not background or circumstance, determine success.” He added that ARB was already acting on a number of the commitments set out in the document. One of the first steps in the plan is a new research project to find out whether ARB’s recent changes to architectural education are helping more people enter the profession. The education changes removed the need to follow the traditional three-part qualification route and are intended to make it easier for people to qualify through different types of courses and career paths. Other planned steps include more data collection on student demographics and attrition, a new survey of registered architects, and the development of an online resource hub to support those experiencing discrimination. ARB also intends to strengthen guidance through its Code of Conduct and convene a senior leaders’ taskforce to promote greater diversity in decision-making roles. While some goals fall within ARB’s direct powers, the regulator acknowledges that others require broader collaboration across the sector. The strategy states that progress will depend on engagement from architectural practices, educational institutions and professional bodies such as RIBA. Implementation of the strategy is set to begin in 2025. ARB said it does not expect all goals to be achieved within three years, but described the plan as a long-term commitment to reducing barriers to entry and progression across the profession.

About the Role:We’re looking for AI Trainers to join our team. This role will be supporting the development of our innovative gaming experiences. How to Apply:To be considered for a role, please complete one or more screening tests based on your areas of interest or expertise. The introductory questions will gather basic information about your location, work background, and experience before the screener begins: Online Screening: https://app.willotalent.com/invite/EZFsKQ/Logic Assessment: https://forms.gle/mgwdWUPt146gQiGi7Writing Assessment: https://forms.gle/W1bap66kXaRDju8v9Audio Assessment: https://forms.gle/WdLwAUKVL8tRrp4i6Video Assessment: https://forms.gle/hy1P6Jojh8gAyg5d8Please be advised that the screeners will test varying levels of skill, so do not feel discouraged if a few of the questions are difficult. Compensation:Hourly rate: $20 - $30, depending on your role and qualifications.There will be exciting opportunities for growth.Responsibilities:Annotate game content such as dialogues, quests, and character interactions.Ensure accuracy and consistency in the data to optimize players’ gaming experience.Create in-depth world building, comprehensive characters, mini-plots, personality profiles, and other relevant details.Annotate and evaluate model responses against our evaluation rubrics in an effort to improve dialogue and overall interactions to achieve the best user experience possible.Collaborate with our research and product teams to develop state-of-the-art large language models.About You:Have a passion for gaming, especially those experienced in narrative games.Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work.Ability to follow complex guidelines and apply them consistently.Good communication skills; able to give and receive feedback effectively.Nice to Haves:Degree and/or experience in the following fields are a plus: Storytelling, creative writing, or content developmentMedia, film, or narrative designPerforming arts, voice work, or expressive presentationMarketing, communications, or audience engagementPsychology, philosophy, or other fields focused on human behavior and thoughtSTEM disciplines with a strong emphasis on clarity and structurePrevious experience working with AI/ML concepts or working with data analysis, data manipulation, data reporting. We are eager to connect with candidates who have a passion for gaming, especially those experienced in narrative games. If this resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you!Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now Meet JobCopilot: Your Personal AI Job HunterAutomatically Apply to Remote All Other Remote JobsJust set your preferences and Job Copilot will do the rest-finding, filtering, and applying while you focus on what matters. Activate JobCopilot

Blue-greens are interior design's perfect paradox: statement-making but soothing, trendy but timeless. They're the colors that clients request when they can't quite articulate what they want, but know they need something "not boring" and "actually livable." They’re equally at home in a sun-drenched beach house as they are in a moody Manhattan apartment, and they shift their personality with the light while maintaining their inherent sophistication. Below, we've tapped our network of designers and color experts to reveal their go-to blue-green paint colors.Jack Pine by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“Jack Pine is a gentle green with a hint of blue underneath. It feels calm and timeless,” Ariel Darmoni of 123 Remodeling tells us. “I’ve used it in living rooms and bedrooms, especially when clients want color without going too bold. It works with both classic and modern styles, and it looks beautiful with wood furniture or warm lighting.”Paint Color: Jack Pine by Benjamin Moore (692)Sea Salt by Sherwin-WilliamsCourtesy Sherwin-Williams“One of my favorites if you're after something a little more soft and more on the green side is 'Sea Salt' by Sherwin-Williams,” interior designer Courtney Cole tells us. “It's great for traditional homes, but will look particularly great if you want to create a coastal-style aesthetic.” Paint Color: Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams (SW 6204)Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowWellfleet by Portola PaintsJoyelle West Photography“I love Wellfleet by Portola Paints,” Hannah Oravec, owner at Lawless Design says. “It's a deep hued limewash paint that subtly changes throughout the day. We used it in a dining room, which creates a calming, moody aesthetic.”Paint Color: Wellfleet by Portola PaintsTwilight by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“This jewel-toned shade strikes the perfect balance between calming blue and invigorating green, giving it a rich, sophisticated feel. We recently used this color in a child’s bedroom, knowing it would grow with him for years to come,” Malka of Think Chic Interiors tells us. “The dynamic hue shifts beautifully with the light, reading as either blue or green depending on the time of day.”Paint Color: Twilight by Benjamin Moore (2058-10)Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowSage Wisdom by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“I love the name and the color! It is beautifully complex, feeling both uplifting and soothing at the same time,” interior designer Gala Magriñá says. “I would use it on a focal wall in a WFH office or the living room for a fun, creative grounded mood boost.”Paint Color: Sage Wisdom by Benjamin Moore (CSP-775)Studio Blue Green by Sherwin-WilliamsCourtesy Sherwin-Williams“For a more bold, moody space, Studio Blue Green is gorgeous,” interior designer and certified True Color Expert Leigh Ann Raines says. “It's not overly saturated, so it can easily be continued onto the ceiling making the room both playful and soothing simultaneously.”Paint Color: Studio Blue Green by Sherwin Williams (SW 0047)Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowBoca Raton Blue by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“This color brings a soft, grounded feel to any space, making it perfect for rooms where you want to unwind,” says Isfira Jensen, CEO and principal interior designer at Jensen & Co. Interiors. “One of my absolute favorites!”Paint Color: Boca Raton Blue by Benjamin Moore (711)Oval Room Blue by Farrow & BallCourtesy Farrow & Ball“I love this for formal dining rooms, paneled libraries, or bedrooms with antique brass and deep walnut,” says interior designer Rachel Blindauer. “It carries history in its tone, but feels utterly modern.”Paint color: Oval Room Blue by Farrow & Ball (No. 85)Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowCastle Walls by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“I love using Benjamin Moore Castle Walls on bedroom walls—it has just the right amount of color saturation combined with hints of gray for a sophisticated and calming look,” Jennifer Jones, principal designer of Niche Interiors says.Paint Color: Castle Walls by Benjamin Moore (1573)Palladian Blue by Benjamin MooreCourtesy Benjamin Moore“One of the first colors I fell in love with as a child was the iconic Tiffany Blue. So it’s no surprise that my more refined, grown up palette has landed on Benjamin Moore’s Palladian Blue as a new favorite,” Elena DeStefano of Atelier Interiors tells us.Paint Color: Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore (HC-144)Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand's social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.

In Osaka, a new chapter in global innovation has begun as World Expo 2025 officially welcomes visitors from around the globe. With 160 countries and regions showcasing their achievements, sustainability takes centre stage through groundbreaking exhibits, eco-friendly technologies, and visions for a better tomorrow. Sustainability takes centre stage, with initiatives and exhibits focusing on eco-friendly solutions, renewable energy, and sustainable development. The Expo aims to unite people and ideas from around the world to tackle pressing global challenges. Spanning six months from April 13 to October 13, 2025, the Expo is expected to welcome around 28 million visitors from across the globe. In this spirit of innovation, several pavilions are pushing the boundaries of sustainable design and creativity, reimagining how architecture and technology can serve the planet. From plant-covered structures to recycled materials and carbon-neutral designs, here are the standout pavilions leading the charge towards a greener future. The Grand Ring The Grand Ring is a gridded wooden structure encircling the Expo, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest wooden architectural structure, covering 61,035 square metres. This 2-kilometer ring on Yumeshima island blends traditional Japanese joinery, such as nuki joints, with modern engineering. Reflecting the Expo’s theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” it embodies “Diversity in Unity.” With an inner diameter of 615 meters, an outer diameter of 675 meters, and heights ranging from 12 to 20 meters, it seamlessly merges cultural heritage with innovation. Designed with sustainability in mind, the modular structure can be dismantled, repurposed, or preserved after the Expo to minimize waste. France Pavilion The France Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is guided by the theme “A Hymn to Love,” offering a sensory journey that engages all five senses. Its sleek, modern façade, facing the Expo’s main entrance, resembles an open theatre stage, inviting visitors to explore freely. The side façades are fully screened, and every space reinforces the Pavilion’s core message. Sustainability is central to the design, with the plant-covered roof, visible from the surrounding Grand Ring, creating a natural microclimate, improving rainwater management, and helping reduce the urban heat island effect. Built with a focus on low environmental impact, the Pavilion showcases how architecture and nature can work together for a more sustainable future. German Pavilion The German Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, “Wa! Germany,” highlights sustainability, smart design, and the circular economy. Built entirely from reusable materials, the LAVA Architects-designed pavilion features six round exhibition spaces with green roofs, using 132 tonnes of steel and 140 tonnes of wood for easy disassembly and future use. Eco-friendly materials like fungal mycelia, loam, and hempcrete add to its sustainable character. Through four exhibition areas and a rooftop garden, visitors are invited to experience and actively engage with ideas of circular living and innovative climate-conscious design. Netherlands Pavilion The Netherlands Pavilion at Expo 2025, themed “Common Ground: Creating a New Dawn Together,” is an open and inclusive space that encourages connection, collaboration, and innovation. Designed by RAU Architects, its circular structure features a striking “man-made sun,” symbolizing a hopeful future powered by clean, accessible energy. The pavilion is fully circular and acts as a material bank, with all building components registered in Madaster—a digital platform that tracks and documents materials for future reuse, making it a sustainable structure. Showcasing eco-friendly technologies, including water-based energy solutions, it highlights how smart design can tackle climate change, food security, and global health. Philippines Pavilion The Philippines’ Woven pavilion, designed by Carlo Calma Consultancy Inc. with Cat Inc., highlights sustainability through tradition and innovation. Inspired by Filipino weaving, the pavilion uses over 1,000 rattan threads and 212 handwoven panels crafted by local artisans, symbolizing resilience and unity. Emphasizing Nature, Culture & Community, it showcases the country’s mega biodiversity and promotes the transformation of natural and waste materials into sustainable products. Blending eco-conscious design, sustainable materials like rattan and bamboo, and engaging exhibits, the pavilion honours Filipino creativity and inspires a commitment to protecting the environment for generations to come. Portugal Pavilion The Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025, designed by Kengo Kuma, honors the ocean through sustainable design. Using recycled nets and suspended ropes, the pavilion forms a dynamic, wave-inspired structure that symbolizes Portugal’s strong bond with the sea. The design incorporates natural elements like sunlight and wind, showcasing the country’s commitment to the circular economy and minimizing waste. With the theme “Ocean, The Blue Dialogue,” the pavilion underscores the ocean’s vital role in sustainability, supporting SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). It offers an immersive experience that highlights Portugal’s dedication to a sustainable future. Saudi Arabia The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025, designed by Foster + Partners, blends cultural storytelling with a strong focus on sustainability. Situated on the Yumeshima waterfront, its design draws inspiration from traditional Saudi urban landscapes, featuring winding streets, a central courtyard, and immersive installations that reflect the Kingdom’s heritage and future vision. Built with low-carbon materials, energy-efficient lighting, and rooftop solar panels, the pavilion is designed for easy disassembly and reuse—minimising environmental impact. Targeting the highest CASBEE S rating- Japan’s top green building certification, the pavilion will operate at net zero carbon, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s dedication to sustainable innovation and lasting legacy. Singapore Pavilion Designed by DP Architects with Kingsmen Exhibits, the Singapore Pavilion is thematically centred around “Where Dreams Take Shape.” The pavilion explores Singapore’s culture, culinary traditions, and innovations for a sustainable future. Shaped as a 17-metre-high Dream Sphere clad in vibrant Dream Discs made from recycled materials, it symbolizes Singapore’s collective spirit and commitment to sustainability. Located on a 900-square-metre plot on Yumeshima Island, the pavilion spans three levels, featuring immersive multimedia art by artists Ashley Yeo, Jerrold Chong, Melissa Tan, and Zul Mahmod. At the top, the Dream Forest features dense native planting, inspired by ecological restoration and celebrating Singapore-Japan ties. Inspired by Singapore’s nickname, the Little Red Dot, the pavilion invites visitors on a multi-sensory journey of hope, dreams, and positive change. Swiss Pavilion The Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2025, themed “From Heidi to High-Tech,” showcases Switzerland’s journey from Alpine traditions to global innovation. Heidi, a well-loved figure in Japan, serves as the mascot, connecting heritage and progress. Designed by Manuel Herz Architekten, NUSSLI, and Bellprat Partner, the pavilion features four lightweight, connected spheres with a membrane structure for sustainable construction. Inside, five zones — Augmented Human, Life, Planet provide a sensory experience that showcases Switzerland’s creativity, technology, and innovation. A rooftop viewing platform adds a social space. The design aligns with the Expo’s theme, focusing on a sustainable future. Blue Ocean Dome The Blue Ocean Dome champions marine conservation through sustainable architecture and innovation. Supporting the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision to eliminate additional marine plastic pollution by 2050, the pavilion features three interconnected domes built with eco-friendly materials. Dome A uses laminated bamboo, a durable, carbon-sequestering material, and serves as the pavilion’s media hub. Dome B, the largest, is the world’s first structure made entirely of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Dome C, crafted from recycled paper tubes, offers a fully recyclable space for live broadcasts and interaction. The pavilion highlights ocean conservation, sustainable marine industries, and the urgent need for environmental action to protect future generations. Osaka Expo 2025 stands as a remarkable showcase of sustainability in action, where eco-innovations from around the world converge to inspire and shape the future. From cutting-edge technologies to sustainable architectural designs, the Expo exemplifies how global collaboration and forward-thinking solutions can address the pressing environmental challenges of our times.The post Eco-Innovation in Action: Sustainability Stars of Osaka Expo 2025 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Between collections resuming, courts blocking student loan programs and layoffs at the Education Department, borrowers might be confused about the status of their student loans.Recently, the Education Department announced it would start involuntary collections on defaulted loans, meaning the roughly 5.3 million borrowers who are in default could have their wages garnished by the federal government.At the center of the turmoil are the government’s income-driven repayment plans, which reduce monthly payments for borrowers with lower incomes. Those plans were temporarily paused after a federal court blocked parts of the plans in February.“There’s so much confusion, they’ve made it very complicated,” said Natalia Abrams, president and founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center.At the same time, some borrowers are struggling to get their loan servicers on the phone, making it hard to find answers to their questions, said Abrams.If you’re a student loan borrower, here are some answers to your questions. What if I want to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan? Applications for income-driven repayment plans are open, but they’re taking longer than usual to process.The applications were temporarily shut down earlier this year after a federal court in Missouri blocked the SAVE plan, a Biden administration plan that offered a faster path to loan forgiveness. The judge’s order also blocked parts of other repayment plans, prompting the Education Department to pause income-driven applications entirely.Amid pressure from advocates, the department reopened the applications on May 10.Borrowers can apply for the following income-driven plans: the Income-Based Repayment Plan, the Pay as You Earn plan and the Income-Contingent Repayment plan.Abrams expects applications will continue to be approved but at a slower pace than before the application pause.Borrowers currently enrolled in an income-driven plan should be receiving notifications about recertification, said Khandice Lofton, counsel at the Student Borrower Protection Center. Recertification is required annually to update information on family size and income, and dates are different for each borrower.To review income-driven repayment plans, you can check the loan simulator at studentaid.gov. What if I applied to the SAVE plan? Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan have been placed in forbearance while a legal challenge is resolved. That means they don’t have to make payments and interest is not accruing. Time in forbearance normally does not count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness.The Education Department will notify borrowers with updates on payments and litigation.“We don’t know for sure when the SAVE forbearance is going to end,” Abrams said.While the future of the SAVE plan is decided in court, Abrams encourages borrowers to explore their eligibility for other income-driven repayment plans. What if I want to consolidate my student loans? The online application for loan consolidation is available again, at studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation. If you have multiple federal student loans, you can combine them into one with a fixed interest rate and a single monthly payment.The consolidation process typically takes around 60 days to complete. You can only consolidate your loans once. What if my loan was forgiven? It would be difficult for the Education Department to reinstate loans that were canceled during President Joe Biden’s administration. So far, it isn’t believed to be happening, Abrams said. What about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program? Nothing has changed yet.President Donald Trump wants to change the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to disqualify workers of nonprofit groups deemed to have engaged in “improper” activities. He signed an executive order to that effect, but it has yet to be enforced.Borrowers enrolled in PSLF should keep up with payments to make progress toward loan forgiveness, said Sarah Austin, policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.“There could be some changes coming in regards to PSLF but at this current time PSLF is still functioning and there is still loan forgiveness being processed under the PSLF provision,” said Austin.An income-driven repayment tracker has disappeared from the federal student loan website for many borrowers, said Abrams. For keeping track of their status, Abrams is recommending that borrowers take screenshots of their payments. What if I can’t get a hold of my loan servicer? Contacting your loan servicer is crucial to managing and understanding your student loans. Due to the large number of people trying to get answers or apply for programs, loan servicers are taking longer than usual to respond.Abrams recommends borrowers prepare for long wait times.“We’ve heard borrowers being in hold for three or four hours, then being transferred to a supervisor and then being hung up on, after all that wait time. It’s incredibly frustrating,” Abrams said. What can I do if I’m delinquent on my student loans? If you’re delinquent, try to get back on track. Borrowers who don’t make their payments for 270 days go into default, which has severe consequences.“If you’re delinquent but have not defaulted yet, do whatever you can do to avoid going default,” said Kate Wood, a student loans expert at NerdWallet.Borrowers who are delinquent on their student loans take a massive hit on their credit scores, which could drop 100 points or more, Wood said. A delinquency stays on your credit report for seven years.Wood recommends contacting your servicer to ask for options, which can include forbearance, deferment or applying for an income-driven repayment plan. What if I’m in default on my student loans? The Education Department is recommending borrowers visit its Default Resolution Group to make a monthly payment, enroll in an income-driven repayment plan or sign up for loan rehabilitation.Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute for Student Loan Advisors, recommends loan rehabilitation.Borrowers in default must ask their loan servicer to be placed into such a program. Typically, servicers ask for proof of income and expenses to calculate a payment amount. Once a borrower has paid on time for nine months in a row, they are taken out of default, Mayotte said. A loan rehabilitation can only be done once. What happened to Fresh Start? The Fresh Start program was a one-time temporary program that helped borrowers get out of default. This program ended Aug. 31, 2024. The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. —Adriana Morga, Associated Press

As I look back on my first year as global inclusion lead at Unity, I’m proud of the progress we, as a company, have made. I am a firm believer that inclusion and diversity are not “nice to have” programs for companies, or something to put on the backburner during challenging times. Rather, it’s during challenging times that businesses should double down on inclusion and diversity initiatives, because these are key enablers of continued success.I shared a little bit about myself on our company blog when I first joined Unity. I was attracted to Unity’s approach to inclusion, which grounds everything in empathy. Empathy is an important starting point for everyone as they advance on their inclusion and diversity journeys. Rooting my professional life and work in inclusion is personal for me, and I’m committed to ensuring that as many people as possible are given equitable opportunities to succeed.Though I have only been around for the last year, Unity has been on its inclusion journey for quite some time. Along the way, the company has made mistakes, but there have also been some wins, like the implementation of the Empathy, Respect, and Opportunity (ERO) inclusion framework and the creation of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).2022 was a year focused on understanding our current state, where we have gaps, and putting strong foundations in place from which to build and drive long-term, meaningful change. So, what are we working toward?Our “north star” is to embed inclusion and diversity into every aspect of our business – from how we recruit, treat, and empower our employees to the ways we design and share tools for the creators and communities we serve.To achieve that vision, we’re focused on four key pillars: workplace (culture), workforce, customers, and community. A diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce and workplace are the foundations for effective marketplace inclusion and strong business outcomes.In my first year, we:Pinpointed our largest demographic gaps and pain points across levels and designed targeted interventions and programs to address those gaps.Invested heavily in our ERGs as drivers of inclusion by adding new groups (we now have nine), assigning executive sponsors to each group, creating charters, and sharing data to inform strategies, all of which included designing a continued investment plan.Implemented a robust methodology for setting inclusion and diversity goals and created inclusion data dashboards for more consistent tracking and advancement of those goals, while also assessing areas to strengthen data collection.Created opportunities to drive employee awareness of and engagement in inclusion efforts by hosting an internal Inclusion Summit and launching company-wide inclusion training modules.

OpenAI CEO and Sam Altman believe Artificial General Intelligence could arrive within the next few years. But the speculations of some technologists "are getting ahead of reality," writes the New York Times, adding that many scientists "say no one will reach AGI without a new idea — something beyond the powerful neural networks that merely find patterns in data. That new idea could arrive tomorrow. But even then, the industry would need years to develop it." "The technology we're building today is not sufficient to get there," said Nick Frosst, a founder of the AI startup Cohere who previously worked as a researcher at Google and studied under the most revered AI researcher of the last 50 years. "What we are building now are things that take in words and predict the next most likely word, or they take in pixels and predict the next most likely pixel. That's very different from what you and I do." In a recent survey of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, a 40-year-old academic society that includes some of the most respected researchers in the field, more than three-quarters of respondents said the methods used to build today's technology were unlikely to lead to AGI. Opinions differ in part because scientists cannot even agree on a way of defining human intelligence, arguing endlessly over the merits and flaws of IQ tests and other benchmarks. Comparing our own brains to machines is even more subjective. This means that identifying AGI is essentially a matter of opinion.... And scientists have no hard evidence that today's technologies are capable of performing even some of the simpler things the brain can do, like recognizing irony or feeling empathy. Claims of AGI's imminent arrival are based on statistical extrapolations — and wishful thinking. According to various benchmark tests, today's technologies are improving at a consistent rate in some notable areas, like math and computer programming. But these tests describe only a small part of what people can do. Humans know how to deal with a chaotic and constantly changing world. Machines struggle to master the unexpected — the challenges, small and large, that do not look like what has happened in the past. Humans can dream up ideas that the world has never seen. Machines typically repeat or enhance what they have seen before. That is why Frosst and other sceptics say pushing machines to human-level intelligence will require at least one big idea that the world's technologists have not yet dreamed up. There is no way of knowing how long that will take. "A system that's better than humans in one way will not necessarily be better in other ways," Harvard University cognitive scientist Steven Pinker said. "There's just no such thing as an automatic, omniscient, omnipotent solver of every problem, including ones we haven't even thought of yet. There's a temptation to engage in a kind of magical thinking. But these systems are not miracles. They are very impressive gadgets." While Google's AlphaGo could be humans in a game with "a small, limited set of rules," the article points out that tthe real world "is bounded only by the laws of physics. Modelling the entirety of the real world is well beyond today's machines, so how can anyone be sure that AGI — let alone superintelligence — is just around the corner?" And they offer this alternative perspective from Matteo Pasquinelli, a professor of the philosophy of science at Ca' Foscari University in Venice, Italy. "AI needs us: living beings, producing constantly, feeding the machine. It needs the originality of our ideas and our lives." Read more of this story at Slashdot.