Design Director, SystemsBlizzard EntertainmentIrvine California 92618 United States of America1 hour agoApplyTeam Name:Diablo IVJob Title:Design Director, SystemsRequisition ID:R025353Job Description:We Need YouThe minions of hell are growing stronger...Join us as we continue to shape the Diablo universe! Diablo games are action RPG experiences with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot. Come work with us, and together, we’ll create experiences that not only meet but exceed the expectations of those who call Sanctuary home.As a Systems Design Director , you will lead our talented team of designers on Diablo, overseeing high-level game systems, player progression, social engagement features, and overall game balance. You will guide and mentor a group of seasoned lead designers, setting a strategic vision to deliver compelling and balanced gameplay systems to millions of passionate players worldwide.This role offers a flexible hybrid work week, with a mix of remote and on-site days. While hybrid is the standard arrangement, you're also welcome to work on-site full-time if you prefer. Our primary studio locations are in Albany, NY, and Irvine, CA.ResponsibilitiesDevelop and communicate a clear, compelling vision for progression, social, gameplay, and balance systems.Ensure design alignment across multiple teams, fostering consistency and cohesion within the player experience.Coordinate across departments (Art, Engineering, Production, UX/UI, QA, Live Operations) to facilitate smooth and effective cross-team collaboration.Maintain a deep understanding of Diablo’s core mechanics, player motivations, and community expectations to inform system evolution.Lead the creation and refinement of progression and reward structures, social engagement mechanics, competitive leaderboards, and economy systems.Oversee the tuning and iteration of gameplay balance, ensuring fair and engaging experiences at all levels of player skill and progression.Provide mentorship, guidance, and career development to a team of experienced Lead Systems Designers.Represent Systems Design in cross-disciplinary leadership discussions, advocating effectively for team goals and player experience.Minimum Requirements12+ years of professional systems design experience in games, with 4+ years leading design teams.Extensive, hands-on experience developing progression systems, game economies, social features, and balancing complex gameplay ecosystems in live-service games.Deep understanding of the Diablo series, ARPG mechanics, player psychology, and what motivates player retention and satisfaction.Exceptional analytical skills; able to clearly communicate complex systems and balance concepts to both designers and non-designers.Proven track record managing and mentoring teams of experienced designers, demonstrating strong interpersonal and leadership skills.Strong collaboration and communication skills with experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in a highly iterative environment.Demonstrated passion for games, systems design and staying current with industry trends and competitor strategies.Dedication to quality, passion for gameplay, and a deep respect for the player's experience.Commitment to a culture of iteration, transparency, mentorship, and constant improvement.Bonus PointsShipped multiple successful AAA ARPG or RPG titles.Experience navigating large organizations and maintaining clarity of vision across large-scale development efforts.Technical familiarity with data-driven design tools and scripting languages.Your PlatformBest known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. ( www.blizzard.com ), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.Our WorldActivision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush ™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment . We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications ? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com . General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.RewardsWe provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/ .In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $124,400.00 - $230,300.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy. Elon Musk has been the center of the media landscape for the past few hours, courtesy of the near-constant trickling of tantalizing soundbites. Now, the world's richest person has set the proverbial tongues wagging by expressly stating that his political engagements with the Trump White House will continue. ELON INTERVIEW AT QATAR FORUM – FULL VERSION Here's the full interview with Elon Musk at the Qatar Economic Forum a few minutes ago. Timestamps: 0:44 A typical week for Elon 1:40 Tesla’s situation has already turned around3:55 Elon's compensation important to control Tesla… pic.twitter.com/G3SxPgBEdP— ELON CLIPS (@ElonClipsX) May 20, 2025 Elon Musk recently gave an expansive interview on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum. Interestingly, Musk conveyed a sense of optimism around Tesla's demand equation, asserting that the EV giant has "already turned around," with lingering weakness reserved for Europe alone. Bear in mind that Tesla sales declined around 10 percent year-over-year in Q1 2025, as the launch of a refreshed version of Model Y idled factory capacity for retooling, and Musk's political role at the White House prompted a partisan backlash. Meanwhile, in Europe, Musk's emphatic support for the far-right AfD in the recent German elections also led to widespread calls for a boycott. Now, additional soundbites from Elon Musk are adding oxygen to the ongoing media frenzy. First, Musk has stated that he still intends to spend "a couple of days" at the White House "every few weeks." This goes against the impression that Musk had conveyed during the Q1 2025 Tesla earnings call, where he implied that his DOGE work was "mostly done." Next, while not completely ruling out the possibility, Elon Musk has denied the presence of any immediate plans to merge Tesla with xAI. This comes as xAI recently acquired the social media platform X in an all-stock deal that valued the former at $80 billion and the latter at $33 billion, inclusive of $12 billion in liabilities. This meant that the deal bestowed a gross valuation of $45 billion on X before factoring in its debt load of $12 billion. Finally, in a nod to NVIDIA's continuing dominance in the AI silicon arena, Elon Musk has declared he expects to buy "a lot" of GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD, going on to note that NVIDIA's offerings are "still better than what we make" in what is an allusion to Tesla's in-house ASICs. Deal of the Day

When the How Often Do You Think About the Roman Empire? meme went viral in 2023, it may have felt like a passing joke — until it became clear that people really do think about it all the time. Ubisoft Mainz has capitalized on that obsession with its next historical city builder, Anno 117: Pax Romana, finally giving fans of the franchise something they’ve longed for: a chance to turn obsessing about the Roman Empire into building an empire of your own.Manuel Reihner, creative director for the game, told IGN, “Rome has been a wish from our fans since forever. Not only our fans but also our team […] because it’s such an iconic and ever-present Empire.”Ubisoft Mainz released a gameplay showcase on Tuesday for the city-builder, along with a wave of first impressions from content creators. This extended preview session was held in style within Rome’s Gardens of Sallust (Horti Sallustiani), which were once previously owned by Julius Caesar (Horti Caesaris).Based on what’s been shown so far, Anno 117: Pax Romana is shaping up to be one of the most exciting entries in the long-running series. Anno 1800, set historically in the Industrial Revolution, fared better than the franchise’s more futuristic titles, Anno 2070 and Anno 2205. And Anno 117: Pax Romana looks to carry that historical torch forward (by going backward 1,683 years).The most immediate improvement from previous installments is the capability of building diagonally. The strict 90-degree-angled grids of past Anno games have been upgraded to allow 45-degree construction of buildings and roads. While this change makes the aesthetics of the city-builder game appear far more organic than before, with more believable winding streets and farms that now occupy every nook and cranny they can, it also opens up more dynamic strategies for constructing cities — especially when combined with Anno 117: Pax Romana’s other changes.Namely, another shake-up to the Anno formula is how production building placements affect their localized area. In Anno 117: Pax Romana, every production building has a local zone that provides buffs and debuffs to nearby residents. This makes building placements a more layered, less formulaic puzzle than before. More additions like brand-new tech trees, tiered citizen upgrade paths, expansion through combat or diplomacy, and a malleable faith system provide new challenges and a better sense of long-term progression. With a highly sought-after setting and a host of welcome changes already showcased, Anno 117: Pax Romana will hopefully scratch that ceaseless itch for those who can’t stop thinking about the Roman Empire.Anno 117: Pax Romana will give players a stab at being a Roman governor later this year, when the game is released on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. In the meantime…See More:

Jawmuncher Crisis Dino Moderator Oct 25, 2017 44,816 Ibis Island As Gamers Express Concern About Borderlands 4 Potentially Costing $80, Gearbox Chief Randy Pitchford Says: ‘If You’re a Real Fan, You’ll Find a Way to Make It Happen’ - IGN Gearbox chief Randy Pitchford has responded to a fan who expressed concern about the prospect of paying $80 for Borderlands 4, saying: “if you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen.” www.ign.com The Quote Here's the exchange: "Randy, this game better not be 80 dollars. Don't take that risk, a lot of gamers aren't gonna pay 80 dollars and feed this notion of constant increase of the price tag. You are the CEO, you have some say with the price when it comes to your publisher." And here's Randy Pitchford's response: "A) Not my call. B) If you're a real fan, you'll find a way to make it happen. My local game store had Starflight for Sega Genesis for $80 in 1991 when I was just out of high school working minimum wage at an ice cream parlor in Pismo Beach and I found a way to make it happen." Click to expand... Click to shrink... Unsure of the price, and it's not his call Last week, during a PAX East panel, Pitchford insisted that he didn't know the Borderlands 4 price but refused to rule out $80. "I'll tell you the truth. I don't know. That is the truth. I'll hit it straight on. It's an interesting time," he said. "On one level, we've got a competitive marketplace where the people that make those choices want to sell as many units as possible and they want to be careful about people that are price-sensitive. There are some folks who don't want to see prices go up, even the ones deciding what the prices are. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Take-Two Boss is open to $80 In a recent interview, IGN asked Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick if the company would go to $80 for its games. Zelnick wouldn't say either way, but did say consumers would be "willing to pay for the very best." "I have said for a long time that we offer enormous value and that that's our job," Zelnick said. "Of course, we certainly believe that compared to other forms of entertainment, whether that's movie tickets or live events or streaming services, the value for our entertainment that we offer is just astonishing, and it's our job. It's our job to deliver much more value than what we charge. That's our goal. We think consumers are willing to pay for the very best. It's our job to make the very best." Click to expand... Click to shrink... More at the Link Firstly, if the game is going to cost $80, I would HOPE that means the Switch 2 version would be on the cart. Game-Key prices are going to garner even more ire when they're used for fully priced titles instead of "cheaper" releases. With that said, 2K was one of the first publishers to instantly jump on the $70 price raise when the PS5/XSX launched, so I would definitely expect $80 to be the new norm in the US for any titles from them and Borderlands 4 being the start wouldn't be a stretch. I am curious to see how the higher base price impacts games where selling a season pass alongside it is a big deal (As DLC for BL has always been a key part of its success). Could just be everything costs more across the board, but I guess we'll see.  Last edited: Today at 10:35 AM Zukkoyaki Member Oct 25, 2017 14,279 I really like Gearbox's games but Randy is a dumbass.   Bucca Member Oct 25, 2017 5,517 fuckin lmao   Kouriozan Member Oct 25, 2017 24,800 Would not be surprised, the industry kept waiting for the moment to increase price (of AAAs) again and Nintendo just opened the way for everyone else, haha.   PlanetSmasher The Abominable Showman Member Oct 25, 2017 132,841 Even if he is technically right (I saved up my allowance for the SNES JRPGs I wanted to play in the 90s) it's really not something you come out and say.   Greywaren Member Jul 16, 2019 13,084 Spain I know there are way worse people out there, but I really, REALLY can't stand this guy. It's something visceral and every time he opens his mouth I dislike him a bit more.   Teenage Fansub Member May 24, 2019 24,228 Finding a way is waiting for it to be free on EGS.   Televoid Uncle Works at Nintendo Member Nov 28, 2024 1,443 I don't think the whole "If it works for Mario Kart and GTA, it'll work for our franchise!" is going to go the way they want it to go.   S1kkZ Member Oct 27, 2017 5,094 sell your body for BL4!   jroc74 Member Oct 27, 2017 34,026 Aaww shit.   Diogo Arez One Winged Slayer Member Oct 20, 2020 20,319 Ok Randy whatever floats your boat, I'll just wait until it's free on PS+ like usual then   ponylegs Member Jun 23, 2024 420 Brazil I'm not going to make it happen   AstralSphere Member Feb 10, 2021 13,106 Sometimes it really is better to not say anything at all. Much, much easier too. Like, before you say something publicly, think to yourself "am I about to say something incredibly out of touch that makes me sound like a prick, even if I really strongly believe it?". Randy and lot of these execs seem to lack that filter.  Kirksplosion Member Aug 21, 2018 2,661 In that case, it seems I'm not a real fan of any franchise or series.   Falchion Member Oct 25, 2017 44,397 Simply make it happen you poors.   ditusjack Member Oct 26, 2017 720 Man, the industry bout to get quite the reality check on theses prices increase.   Squirrel09 Member Nov 4, 2017 1,911 I have all the main borderlands games and never bought any of them. I can wait lol   Dust C H A O S Member Oct 25, 2017 41,028 DURING MY TIMES WE PAID $80 FOR STARFLIGHT ON SEGA GENESIS AND WERE HAPPY GOD DANG IT BOBBY   rodeo_chirb Member Jun 16, 2020 459 PlanetSmasher said: Even if he is technically right (I saved up my allowance for the SNES JRPGs I wanted to play in the 90s) it's really not something you come out and say. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Right? Like believe what you want, but this man is just constantly putting his foot in his mouth. Just end it at "not my call".   kodax_shc Member Oct 27, 2017 7,401 Southern California In 1991, the cost of living was also not insane like it is today. At $80 this game is DoA.  Bardeh Member Jun 15, 2018 3,838 Damn. Guess I'm not a real fan, sorry Randy   gary! Member Jan 17, 2024 220 Will be discounted fast   CognitiveAtrophy Member Oct 27, 2017 2,520 Or just wait a month and get it for half of that. Plus the patches it will inevitably need. There's absolutely no benefit to buying games day one.  ElectricBlanketFire What year is this? Member Oct 25, 2017 34,681 Real fans have money.   SunBroDave "This guy are sick" Member Oct 25, 2017 15,112 You really have to almost admire his unearned confidence, where the hell does he get all that from and how do I get a piece of it   Kyrios Member Oct 27, 2017 19,035 PlanetSmasher said: Even if he is technically right (I saved up my allowance for the SNES JRPGs I wanted to play in the 90s) it's really not something you come out and say. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yeah I came in thinking he was going to say some stupid shit as usual but it really is just him saying the quiet part out loud. Still a dumb thing to say publicly, but yeah.  Arsene no Kiseki Member Oct 25, 2017 5,623 Canada Yeah I'm going to wait until its in a bundle, BL3 and Tiny Tina tanked in price fast.   FizzMino Shinra Employee Member Sep 15, 2022 5,004 Colorado, USA I mean it probably isn't his call. And what do you want him to say? "Yeah $80 sucks don't buy the game my team just spent 5 years making"?  Nemesis121 Member Nov 3, 2017 16,364 Not a real fan ain't paying $80 for a game..   julia crawford Took the red AND the blue pills Member Oct 27, 2017 40,550 this man really is talking about boots and straps   VilleEricson Member Oct 27, 2017 301 Sweden Randys comments makes me think of: "We have a console thats offline, it's called the Xbox 360" Or whatver that stupid idiot said. Same vibe. And I don't like it.  akilshohen Member Dec 8, 2017 1,439 With how borderlands 3 crashed my Xbox to reset, I think not.   Dust C H A O S Member Oct 25, 2017 41,028 He is right in that diehards will pay for sure anything.   Reedirect Member Oct 27, 2017 2,410 He always finds a way to say something dumb.   thankyoumerzbow Prophet of Truth Member Dec 8, 2020 12,202 having 70 trillion guns is really a steal for 80$   Diogo Arez One Winged Slayer Member Oct 20, 2020 20,319 ElectricBlanketFire said: Real fans have money. Click to expand... Click to shrink... At this point the gaming industry might as well forbid you from playing videogames if you aren't a CEO of a company swimming in money   Ouroboros Member Oct 27, 2017 16,117 That big "there's an xbox for you, its called the 360" energy.   ClickyCal' Member Oct 25, 2017 65,438 FizzMino said: I mean it probably isn't his call. And what do you want him to say? "Yeah $80 sucks don't buy the game my team just spent 5 years making"? Click to expand... Click to shrink... It's alienating people that may indeed be long time fans of the series, but can't afford to fork over $80 to Pitchfork.   Xando Member Oct 28, 2017 37,627 Can't wait to hear all these guys whine about how their games didn't meet expectations   SilverX Member Jan 21, 2018 15,762 $80 game and probably $50 seasons lol. Fuck off Gearbox   JakeNoseIt Catch My Drift Verified Oct 27, 2017 4,751 imagine being this addicted to own goaling yourself   maze001 Member Sep 18, 2024 644 He's right but it sounds obnoxious to say that out loud lmao. Borderlands is a series whose games are always packed with content and post-launch support so it's not like these guys are trying to sell you a 15 hour game that you'll play once and then never touch again. For games like this the value proposition is still high even at $80   Beelzebufo Member Jun 1, 2022 5,860 Canada Do Borderlands fans wake up and think "no, I can't play BL4 today"? No, they get up and make it happen!   Rosebud Two Pieces Member Apr 16, 2018 51,186 lmao, I'll wait for Humble Bundle   OP OP Jawmuncher Crisis Dino Moderator Oct 25, 2017 44,816 Ibis Island kodax_shc said: In 1991, the cost of living was also not insane like it is today. At $80 this game is DoA. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Always find it funny how that element is just ignored a lot of the time. Games used to cost $80-$100! Ignoring the fact that having a roof over your head was vastly cheaper to acquire among other things.  Gavalanche Prophet of Regret Member Oct 21, 2021 25,858 Yes, my way of making it happen is wait for a sale. There are so many games coming out, and most of tem aren't $80. For that price, I can probably buy three indies that I want. So I am patient, I will wait.  Philippo Developer Verified Oct 28, 2017 8,824 Typical Randy L. What a fucking asshole of an answer, god.  HououinKyouma The Wise Ones Member Oct 27, 2017 9,097 Am I going crazy or are gamers kinda willing this shit into existence? All these "can't wait to pay $100 for GTA6" posts are so bizarre and are becoming more and more frequent. (This is the closest I'll come to a gaming conspiracy theory lol) (Oh and this also doesn't excuse companies from milking their customers dry)  barjed Project Lead Verified Aug 31, 2018 1,802 You can't make this shit up, lol   Pancakes R Us Member Oct 27, 2017 9,280 Hah, get a second job, lads. Also, this is one of those games that'll get a discount so hold out to avoid paying the higher price if you feel 80 is too much. 

Google's latest artificial intelligence (AI) feature in Search, AI Mode, is now getting multiple new capabilities. Announced at Google I/O 2025 on Tuesday, the Mountain View-based tech giant is now making the AI-powered end-to-end search experience more capable and useful. The mode is getting new features such as a reasoning mode, Live Search, agentic capabilities to reserve a table at a restaurant, and new shopping tools. The AI Mode in Search and the new features will currently only be available in the US.AI Mode in Search Gets SmarterIn a blog post, the tech giant detailed the new features coming to AI Mode. It is a comprehensive version of AI Overviews, where users can ask complex queries which would otherwise require running multiple searches. AI Mode uses a query fan-out technique, where it breaks down user queries into subtopics and runs multiple search queries simultaneously to find and show the relevant information.Google said that starting this week, AI Mode and AI Overviews in the US will be powered by a custom version of Gemini 2.5. While AI Mode does not require a sign-up process in the US, these new capabilities will only be available to select users via Search Labs. Notably, the company plans to add features and capabilities from AI Mode into the core Search experience.A new Deep Search feature is being added to AI Mode, which will allow users to receive “even more thorough responses.” Using deep research capabilities, it can run hundreds of search queries, collate the information, and create “an expert-level fully-cited report in just minutes.”Another interesting new feature is Search Live. This version of Search lets AI Mode access the camera of a device, and based on what it sees, it can answer queries verbally in real-time. Users can conversationally ask for information about objects, landmarks, and places as long as they appear in the camera feed.Google is also bringing Project Mariner's agentic function to AI Mode. With this, the AI-powered search experience can assist users with purchasing event tickets, making restaurant reservations and booking appointments. For instance, if a user wants to book tickets for a sporting event, the tool will analyse ticket options, look at real-time pricing, fill out forms, and show users relevant ticket options. Users can then confirm the details and manually make the purchase. Google is working with Ticketmaster, StubHub, Resy and Vagaro for this feature.AI Mode in Search is also becoming more personalised. Google said the Gemini-powered tool will soon offer suggestions based on the user's past searches. Users can also connect AI mode with other Google apps to help it gain more context about their preferences. This capability can be turned off at any time.Shopping Features in AI ModeApart from the abovementioned capabilities, AI Mode in Search is also introducing multiple new features to improve the shopping experience of users. It now shows visual search results, helps users virtually try on new clothes, and uses AI agents to help users buy a product when it is retailing at their preferred price.By combining Gemini with Google's Shopping Graph, the new AI mode can sort through 50 billion product listings to find relevant options for users. Whenever users make a product query, it will show a browsable panel of images and product listing, which is personalised to their preferences.The tech giant says that users can make highly specific and complex requests, and the AI Mode will still be able to narrow down the options to find products that fit the description. This means even if users do not know the technical term for the product they're looking for, the AI tool can still pinpoint it using its visual description.Just by uploading a full-length photo of themselves, users can now virtually try on billions of apparel listings. Google says the feature is powered by a custom fashion-based image generation model that understands the human body and how clothes fold, stretch, and drape on different bodies.Finally, AI Mode is also getting a new agentic checkout system that helps users in purchasing products. Whenever a user is on the checkout page of a product (within the AI Mode interface), they will see a “track price” option. Tapping it will allow them to see a slider with the minimum and maximum price of the product and a recommendation for the ideal price. Users can set the slider as per their preference, and the AI will notify them whenever the product is retailing for said price.Then, users can just tap the “buy for me” button in the notification, and AI Mode will automatically add the item to their cart on the merchant's website and complete the checkout process by paying via Google Pay. This agentic checkout feature will be rolling out in the coming months in the US. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: Google IO 2025, AI Mode, Google Search, Google, AI, Artificial intelligence, AI Agent Akash Dutta Akash Dutta is a Senior Sub Editor at Gadgets 360. He is particularly interested in the social impact of technological developments and loves reading about emerging fields such as AI, metaverse, and fediverse. In his free time, he can be seen supporting his favourite football club - Chelsea, watching movies and anime, and sharing passionate opinions on food. More Related Stories

Nature, Published online: 20 May 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01424-1African scientists must find ways to mobilize alternative resources to maintain hard-won gains.

News Health & Medicine FDA significantly limits access to COVID-19 vaccines The agency is restricting new shots to people ages 65 and up or with underlying conditions FDA is restricting access to new COVID-19 vaccines, limiting options for younger people who want to get the shots. South_agency/Getty Images By McKenzie Prillaman 7 seconds ago The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is changing its policy on who should get COVID-19 shots, potentially limiting access to new vaccine formulations as they enter the market. New and updated jabs will be approved only for people ages 65 and up, as well as those between 6 months and 64 years with at least one medical condition that heightens their risk for severe outcomes, according to the new FDA framework unveiled May 20 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Between 100 million and 200 million Americans would still be covered through this approval method, the framework authors say. Sign up for our newsletter We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

Male stolon (right hand side): one of the independent reproductive units of a branching marine worm, growing at the tip of a branch of the worm’s body. It has sprouted eyes and will go swimming free to find a stolon of the opposite sex with which to reproduce. CREDIT: Maria Teresa Aguado/Guillermo Ponz-Segrelles. Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Even among the numerous gnarly animals swimming, crawling, and “flying” through the world’s oceans, the branching marine worm (Ramisyllis kingghidorahi) has a very interesting reproductive style.  Named after Godzilla’s three-headed nemesis, King Ghidorah, the worm lives inside of sea sponges in the Sea of Japan and reproduces by growing multiple body branches within the host sponge. Each of these tails can then produce separate living reproductive units called stolons—which can grow eyes. The stolons themselves do not live too long and break off from the branches to swim away to mate.  Close-up of a female stolon–one of the independent reproductive units–from the worm Ramisyllis kingghidorahi. It has already sprouted eyes and is swimming free to find a stolon of the opposite sex with which to reproduce. Total length of the stolon: approx. 1.5 millimetres. CREDIT: Maria Teresa Aguado/Guillermo Ponz-Segrelles. How this spindly animal can coordinate sexual reproduction with so many stolons across so many branches has puzzled scientists since its discovery in 2021 and 2022. We may have an answer though. The genes that control eye formation might be particularly active in Ramisyllis, which helps make more stolons, according to a study recently published in the journal BMC Genomics.  In the new study, the team analyzed the gene expression across the different body regions on male, female, and juvenile specimens. This created a complete genetic activity map–or transcriptome. With this genetic activity map in tow, the team saw some clear patterns. The differences in gene activity were more pronounced between the different body regions in the same worm than they were between the sexes. When comparing males with females, the stolons had the most distinctive genetic signatures. This likely reflects the stolons’ specialized role in gamete production and metamorphosis.  “We were surprised to find that the head of the worm, which was previously thought to house a sex-specific control system, didn’t show the dramatic differences we expected between males and females,” Guillermo Ponz-Segrelles, a study co-author  and neuroscientist with the Autonomous University of Madrid, said in a statement. “Instead, the stolons emerged as the true hotspots of gene activity during sexual development.” When looking into what’s behind the stolon eyes, the team found that there is upregulation of the genes related to eye development. Upregulation is the process by which genes are activated and produce more of the proteins corresponding with a certain gene’s function. This genetic upregulation could help Ramisyllis develop more of the eyes on their many stolons.  There could also be partial genome duplication in Ramisyllis, which may help explain why this worm has such a complex anatomy and reproductive system. Either way, it is equipped with a very unique genetic toolkit.  “This worm and its surreal, tree-like body made headlines around the world in 2021 and 2022, yet it continues to amaze us,” added Thilo Schulze, a study co-author and PhD candidate at Göttingen University in The Netherlands.” It challenges our understanding of how animal bodies can be organized, and how such strange forms of reproduction are orchestrated at the molecular level.”  Since numerous parts of branching worms’ reproductive biology remain a mystery, the team hopes the genetic tree from this study will help show how life evolves in some of the ocean’s hidden spots.