Senior 3D Character ArtistBlizzard EntertainmentBarcelona 08018 Spain2 hours agoApplyTeam Name:Unannounced ProjectJob Title:Senior 3D Character ArtistRequisition ID:R025328Job Description:At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations – only made possible by building a work environment that nurtures the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.As a Senior II - 3D Character Artist you will be responsible for the creation of 3D characters for a new, unannounced game for Blizzard. You will have the opportunity to be a part of a dynamic art team, bringing to life many characters for both core gameplay and meta.You will partner with experienced visual development artists, technical artists, and animators to create extraordinary and unforgettable characters within our game's universe that will be experienced by millions of players around the world. The role will be complex, creative, and fun with loads of opportunities to hone your skills and try new things.We’re an inclusive team that welcomes new members with unique perspectives. We care deeply about the games we build and how we create them. We can't wait to meet you!ResponsibilitiesCreate both high-resolution 3D sculpts and final low-polygon models, LODs, and texture game assets.Review assets and oversee integration into our game engine, ensuring assets meet performance requirements and visual standards.Provide guidance and mentorship to other artists, helping them refine their artistic and technical skills.Help the larger game team with feedback and iterate on game assets with artists and designers via prototyping and group critiques.Support the submission of feedback to external outsource partners, where needed.Minimum Requirements :Highly proficient in crafting high-quality 3D characters and props, encompassing both organic and hard surface modeling techniques as well as the subtleties of the human shape and form.Strong understanding of efficient UV layout, PBR pipeline, and topology.Strong understanding of how to translate 2D concepts into fully realized 3D models, making artistic decisions throughout the process to refine and enhance the final design.Knowledge & SkillsAn in-depth understanding of sculpting form, shape, structure, and silhouette, with an ability to accurately understand the nuances of art styles and commit them to 3D.Ability to couple hand-crafted techniques and PBR workflow to achieve our unique style.Great eye for light, shading, color, and detail, especially for the creation of texture maps.Very knowledgeable in the technical aspects of creating in-game characters, covering the full end-to-end pipeline, and adept at implementing art into a game efficiently, with a focus on clean, structured, and optimized processes.In-depth knowledge of current industry-standard software for the creation of 3D art and any industry-relevant game engine where it can be implemented into game.Ability to provide accurate and valuable visual and technical feedback to artists, both internal and external to the team.Key AttributesA passion for making high-quality games in a cross-discipline, highly collaborative team.Able to work creatively as part of a large or small group.Self-motivated, outstanding communication skills, and a great team-player attitude.Understanding of the playability and visual style of Blizzard, with a passion to push it to the next level.Demonstrates initiative in proactively identifying risks and opportunities within the art pipeline, proposing creative and practical solutions.A natural problem solver, keen to do what’s right for the character art and the game as a whole, with an eye on quality, balanced with a pragmatic approach of spending energy on the right things for the player.Proactively stays up to date and knowledgeable about the latest techniques, tools, and artistic trends in the industry.Nice to HaveExperience with rigging and skinning.Skills in character concept art.Your PlatformBest known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft, 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 innovate 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. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply #senior #character #artist #blizzard #entertainment

May 15, 2025The Hacker NewsCompliance / Penetration Testing Imagine this: Your organization completed its annual penetration test in January, earning high marks for security compliance. In February, your development team deployed a routine software update. By April, attackers had already exploited a vulnerability introduced in that February update, gaining access to customer data weeks before being finally detected. This situation isn't theoretical: it plays out repeatedly as organizations realize that point-in-time compliance testing can't protect against vulnerabilities introduced after the assessment. According to Verizons 2025 Data Breach Investigation Report, the exploitation of vulnerabilities rose 34% year-over-year. While compliance frameworks provide important security guidelines, companies need continuous security validation to identify and remediate new vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. Here's what you need to know about pen testing to meet compliance standards — and why you should adopt continuous penetration testing, if your penetration testing goals go beyond minimum standards. The current state of pen testingCompliance-driven pen testing If your organization is like many, you might conduct penetration tests primarily to satisfy regulatory frameworks like PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, or ISO 27001. But if your pen testing focuses on simply checking off compliance boxes — instead of developing comprehensive security postures — you're creating a dangerous disconnect between security theater and actual threat protection. Limitations Compliance-focused pen testing has several limitations that leave organizations vulnerable. Surface-level security: Compliance-focused penetration testing typically addresses only compliance-relevant vulnerabilities. If your organization focuses its pen testing exclusively on meeting compliance requirements, you're just scratching the surface — and missing the chance to identify vulnerabilities that fall outside the scope of regulatory frameworks. These undetected weaknesses can give attackers an attack vector into your systems, potentially leading to devastating data breaches and operational disruptions. Static nature: Cyber attackers and the digital landscape move fast. Compliance standards? Not so much. During the monthsit takes for regulatory frameworks to catch up with new threats – and the gaps between compliance-focused penetration tests – malicious actors are actively developing exploits for emerging vulnerabilities. By the time these weaknesses appear on compliance checklists, attackers may have already compromised countless systems. False sense of security: Organizations often mistake compliance for security, believing a passing audit score means they're sufficiently protected. But the reality is that compliance certifications represent minimum standards that sophisticated attackers can easily bypass. Companies with successful audits may lower their guard when they should be working on strengthening their defenses beyond basic requirements. The importance of continuous pen testing Embracing continuous security testing offers organizations numerous benefits. Beyond compliance: Proactive and continuous penetration testing can reveal vulnerabilities that scheduled compliance checks might miss. Skilled human testers can uncover complex security flaws in business logic, authentication systems, and data flows, while automated scans keep an eye on any changes that might happen over the development cycle. By implementing regular, comprehensive testing, your organization can stay ahead of attackers rather than merely satisfying auditors. You'll be doing much more than passing the next compliance review — you'll be developing a resilient security posture capable of withstanding more sophisticated threats. Continuous improvement: Security threats constantly change, forcing organizations to adopt ongoing testing instead of point-in-time assessments. And regular penetration tests can expose vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. For example, Pen Testing as a Servicehelps organizations achieve continuous security validation without overwhelming internal teams. With PTaaS, your organization can detect new threats in time and quickly take steps to remediate them. Instead of reacting to breaches after they occur, PTaaS lets you stay a step ahead of attackers by using real-world testing to continuously strengthen your security. Key components of a pen testing strategy with security in mind To implement penetration testing that truly helps safeguard your systems, focus on these key strategic components: Regular or continuous testing To effectively address vulnerabilities in real time, your organization should regularly conduct penetration tests — including after significant system changes and before major deployments. Ultimately, your ideal pen testing frequency and depth will depend on your assets — their complexity, criticality to your business operations and external exposure. For example, if you have an online store that holds critical customer data and payment information — and is regularly updated with changes and plugins — you may want to employ continuous testing. On the other end of the spectrum, your marketing department's fall-campaign microsite may only need quarterly or annual assessments. Integration with other security measures Want to maximize your organization's security effectiveness? Combine penetration testing with External Attack Surface Management. By identifying your digital footprint and testing critical applications based on the latest threat data, your team can prioritize high-risk vulnerabilities while ensuring no internet-facing assets remain unmonitored, unprotected or untested. Customization and threat-led penetration tests Your organization faces unique security challenges based on your industry, technology stack, and business operations. By tailoring penetration testing, you can focus on your business's specific threat profile — testing the areas where breaches are most likely to occur based on the most active threat actors and those that would cause the most damage — rather than wasting time and resources on cookie-cutter assessments. Overcoming challenges Despite the clear benefits, many organizations struggle with common penetration testing implementation challenges related to resources and culture. Resource allocation Resource issues — including budget constraints and shortage of qualified security personnel — prevent many organizations from implementing adequate penetration testing programs. But PTaaS and combined discovery and testing services like Outpost24s CyberFlex service solve these challenges by providing access to certified testers through a predictable subscription model, eliminating budget spikes and the expense of maintaining specialized in-house expertise. Cultural shift To move beyond compliance-driven security, your organization's leadership must champion a cultural shift prioritizing continuous testing and proactive risk management. When security becomes embedded in your organizational culture, pen testing transforms from a periodic checklist item into an ongoing process of discovering and addressing vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. Taking action with integrated solutions For the greatest level of security, your organization must know every application in your environment and test each one thoroughly. And a combined solution like Outpost24's CyberFlex can help. Integrating EASM and PTaaS on a platform level, allows cybersecurity experts to identify all internet-facing applications, use detailed categorizations to prioritize risks, and test business-critical applications with flexible, human-led assessments. By shifting to proactive penetration testing, your organization can prevent attacks before they happen — and satisfy compliance requirements. Ready to go beyond compliance and elevate your application security? Request your CyberFlex live demo today. Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE     #pen #testing #compliance #only #it039s

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters. When we think about homes, we tend to picture familiar ideas: comfort, privacy, function — spaces designed to suit many people at once. But sometimes, architects are asked to design something more specific: a place shaped not by broad assumptions, but by one particular life, habit or need. Across settings and scales, the homes in this collection respond to unusual briefs with equal parts function and imagination. Some are built around creative work, like a house organized entirely around a vlogger’s daily routines. Others offer comfort through significant life transitions, from aging in place with Alzheimer’s to carving out a personal retreat in the wake of loss. From spaces where dogs and humans live as equals to playful structures prioritizing a child’s sense of freedom, each project shows how architecture can leave generalizations behind and create homes that fit real lives — quirks included! Vlogger Aguai’s Home By LZA, Baoshan, Shanghai, China Popular Choice Winner, 12th Annual A+Awards, Residential InteriorsThis home rethinks the boundary between living and working to meet the needs of a growing online career. Centered around a custom scrapbooking workbench, the layout branches outward, organizing both private life and professional activity in one flexible environment. Curved pathways guide movement through the house, reflecting the layered flow of daily routines and creative work. Materials and spaces are carefully chosen to support content creation: the studio incorporates Aguai’s hobbies into its design, incubating inspiration and offering a welcoming backdrop for videos and workshops. By merging personal passion with professional needs, the home supports both focused work and relaxed living without drawing a hard line between them. Dog / Human By EKAR, Thailand Designed to nurture the relationship between dogs and humans, this house in Thailand adapts both its scale and function for its four-legged residents. A low, agricultural-style roof signals zones for walking, sitting and resting, while wide column bases are shaped to fit sleeping dogs. The house includes a dog hotel and salon, allowing other dogs to share the facilities and creating a social space for both pets and owners. Swimming pool steps are carefully sized for dogs to easily climb in and out; the roof intentionally lets rainwater fall freely to the ground. Every detail is shaped by mutual respect between species — a place where dogs and people live, grow and connect. Light Path By Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Pennsylvania  Built for longtime clients preparing to age in place with Alzheimer’s, this home prioritizes clarity, safety and connection to nature. A simple cross-shaped layout helps with orientation and memory by offering clear, predictable pathways. Wide hallways, accessible bathrooms and same-level entry anticipate future mobility challenges. A 92-footskylight and expansive windows flood the interiors with daylight, aiding wayfinding and stabilizing circadian rhythms. Natural materials like reclaimed pine and bluestone create a low-contrast, familiar environment, reducing visual confusion. Custom door handles and lowered counters offer easier grip and access, supporting physical independence as needs change over time. The Nearby House By Asooarch Company, Garmsar, Iran The Nearby House creates a shared meeting point for a brother and sister living apart, providing a simple, playful space between their homes. Set in an orchard, the tiny house is shaped by the needs of short visits and childlike exploration — from its curved brick walls that bend around existing trees to the blue-tiled water features that invite play. Every element is designed to support connection, whether through picking fruit, chasing light and shadow or gathering around shared spaces. The architecture remains low, tactile and open to nature, offering a familiar backdrop for memory-making. Rather than formal programs, the design prioritizes casual, spontaneous moments of togetherness, giving the siblings a place that belongs equally to both. Softie By OPA, Mill Valley, California Softie transforms a strict Modernist house into a place of private release, responding to a client’s wish for a free, light and untethered environment. Rather than reworking the structure, the architects introduced a series of soft, cloud-like forms that drift through the home. These interventions dissolve the rigid grid with curved entries, softened stairs and floating shapes that blur traditional spatial boundaries. Materials and details are kept deliberately fluid and irregular, allowing movement through the house to feel loose and intuitive. Even the terrace holds a “trapped cloud” above it, creating small, unexpected encounters with softness. By scattering these moments throughout all three levels, the design makes space for variation, daydreaming and quiet escape from external pressures. LÂM’s home By AD+studio, Vinh Long, Vietnam This project was created as a midday retreat for a mother and daughter, designed around a child’s sense of freedom and play. Built on a narrow 10-by-33-footplot, the house uses a single structural element—the “tree”—to anchor the design. The branching structure carries floors, forms stairs, shades the interior and creates spaces for small tasks, all while maximizing openness. Communal areas are prioritized to strengthen the bond between mother and daughter, with flexible spaces that shift between play and daily routines. Combining functions rather than dividing them makes the house feel expansive despite its size. The light, playful structure echoes the daughter’s name, Lâm and the spirit of movement and growth it represents. Mourning Dovecote By S^A | Schwartz and Architecture, Sonoma, California Created as a quiet retreat for a homeowner navigating grief and change, this 390-square-foot addition focuses on intimacy, memory and connection to nature. Designed to support a slower, more reflective way of living, the compact space draws on simple, tactile materials and close ties to its surroundings. Openings frame the landscape while muffled sounds, like the calls of nearby doves, filter in to mark the passing hours. Rather than expanding outward, the design turns inward, offering a personal, enduring refuge. Built during the pandemic and following personal loss, the project prioritizes familiarity, ritual and small, everyday moments over formal gestures or size. Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters. The post Oddly Specific: 7 Homes Designed for Very Particular Client Briefs appeared first on Journal. #oddly #specific #homes #designed #very

Warner Bros. Games has announced and released Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition, which it described as "the most extensive version" of the gory fighting game. But for fans, the release of the Definitive Edition has sparked significant concern that NetherRealm has now moved on from the game, and that it won’t see any new DLC characters or significant content updates. The Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition offers the main game packaged together with previously released downloadable content, including the Khaos Reigns story expansion, Kombat Pack 1, and Kombat Pack 2.The Definitive Edition also adds new character skins for Johnny Cage, Kitana, Scorpion, and Shao Khan “inspired” by the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 film, the Mortal Kombatmovie character skin for Sub-Zero; and the tournament themed character skinfor Liu Kang.PlayFor fans, The Definitive Edition feels like a line has been drawn under Mortal Kombat 1. While Warner Bros. is known for its definitive and ultimate editions, and indeed NetherRealm games tend to get them, this time there is a sense of finality to the release. And with no announcements forthcoming about a Kombat Pack 3 or anything else meaningful for Mortal Kombat 1, fans believe that March 2025's release of the T-1000 guest character will go down as the game's final content drop.If true, it’s a big disappointment for hardcore Mortal Kombat 1 fans, who had hoped for significantly longer term support for the game. Indeed, many are now pointing to a September 2024 tweet from NetherRealm development chief Ed Boon, who at the time moved to reassure fans already concerned that the studio had moved onto its next game by saying: “NetherRealm is still fully committed to supporting Mortal Kombat 1 for a long time to come.”"The game is done, it’s their way of saying ‘Goodbye! Come back the next year or two for another overly priced game bloated with guest characters!’ " said a clearly disgruntled redditor.“MK1 officially has a shorter content lifespan than the f***ing Texas Chainsaw Massacre game lmao,” said another.For context, in July 2021, NetherRealm announced it had started work on its next projectand, as a result, there would be no further DLC for Mortal Kombat 11. That announcement came two years and three months after the release of the game. NetherRealm is yet to make a similar announcement for Mortal Kombat 1.Mortal Kombat 1 enjoyed something of a resurgence in January with the secret fight with Floyd, the pink ninja developer Ed Boon had been teasing for years. That sparked a fun community-wide effort that breathed new life into the game. But that was a rare bright spot for what has, overall, been a disappointing release for many core Mortal Kombat fans.T-1000 Terminator was the final DLC character added to Mortal Kombat 1 as part of the Khaos Reigns expansion, and follows playable fighters Cyrax, Sektor, Noob Saibot, Ghostface, and Conan the Barbarian. Fans have wondered for some time now whether developer NetherRealm plans a third set of DLC characters, or a Kombat Pack 3, amid questions about Mortal Kombat 1’s sales success.Parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has indicated, however, that it still believes in the Mortal Kombat franchise. In November, CEO David Zaslav said that on the games side of things, the company plans to double down on just four titles, one of which is Mortal Kombat.Most fans of the studio’s work expect it to release a third game in its DC fighting game franchise, Injustice, although neither NetherRealm nor Warner Bros. has yet to confirm that. The first game in the series, Injustice: Gods Among Us, launched in 2013, with its sequel, Injustice 2, coming out in 2017. NetherRealm released Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019 and for a time it seemed like the studio would alternate between Mortal Kombat and Injustice games, but it went on to release another Mortal Kombat, the soft reboot that is Mortal Kombat 1, in 2023 instead.In an interview with IGN in June 2023, Boon spoke in vague terms about this decision. "There were a number of factors, some of which I can talk about, some of which I probably shouldn't," Boon said.Two reasons Boon was willing to discuss were the unfortunate onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the team's choice to switch to a newer version of the Unreal game engine."But we did go to a new graphics engine, Unreal," Boon said. "We really wanted to be careful with COVID and all that stuff and everybody staying safe. So there were a bunch of variables involved that eventually we realized, 'Okay, let's do another Mortal Kombat game and hopefully we'll get back to the Injustice games.' "Just to be sure, we wanted to confirm with him directly that the door was not closed on the Injustice franchise."Not at all," Boon answered.Mortal Kombat 1 has sold 5 million copies, with the franchise now up to 100 million. Mortal Kombat 11 became the best-selling game in the franchise by passing Mortal Kombat X's nearly 11 million units sold worldwide. By 2022, Mortal Kombat 11 had sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. Clearly, Mortal Kombat 1 has underperformed compared to previous games in the series.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me. #mortal #kombat #definitive #edition #release

As the UK’s Online Safety Actcontinues to make its way through the implementation process - with a deadline of 24 July for affected companies to complete their child safety assessments - I’ve been thinking a lot about a quote from the US natural scientist E.O. Wilson: "The real problem of humanity is we have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and god-like technologies." I’m not inferring that Ofcom, the regulatory body for overseeing the implementation of OSA, is medieval, just making the point about whether it will be agile enough to really call the god-like technology companies to account. Time after time the social media giants have avoided censure or legal challenges by citing Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act, which prevents companies from being held liable for content posted on their platforms. But there may be sunshine on the horizon - although in tragic circumstances - with a groundbreaking legal challenge in the US. The progress of the case is the subject of a compelling documentary by Bloomberg Originals, Can’t look away: The case against social media. Bloomberg followed the work of the Social Media Victims Law Centreled by lawyer Matthew Bergman and his colleagues in the lead-up to their first court appearance to try to move the case to the discovery phase. On one side of the courthouse were the amassed families who had lost their children to suicide, self-harm, drugs and sexual exploitation through their use of social media. On the other, Jessica Grant, the legal representative for Snap Inc, owner of Snapchat. The bereaved families held up pictures of their dead children while Grant took to the floor and addressed the judge with some chilling remarks: “Section 230 immunises internet service providers like Snap from any claim whether product liability, negligence or any other public nuisance”. Given that the SMVLC had described the case as representing “the voices of the children coming back from the grave holding these companies to account,” her statement seemed particularly hostile, cloth-eared and egregious. But the reason this case is groundbreaking and historic is that it’s the first time a case is being brought not on the grounds of platform versus content and Section 230, but rather on the grounds of product design – that is, that these companies are not just publishing user-generated content but are actively designing algorithms to push harmful content at pre-teens and adolescents to deliver greater engagement and growth. These child victims are not searching for this content, it is being pushed into their feeds and streams with disastrous consequences. Their parents are completely unaware of what their children are consuming. One of the cases being represented by the SMVLC is that of Michael Brewer, who was 11 when he joined Snapchat. Snapchat has a feature called Quick Add which incentivises young people to add as many followers as possible. Of course, they have no idea who any of these new followers are. At age 13, shortly after using Quick Add, Michael was contacted by an individual who asked, “What do you want?” When Michael asked, “What do you mean?” within an hour he was sent a photograph of a comprehensive drug menu. Thereafter he testified he was receiving these drug menus in six out of 10 of his stories on the hour. He eventually went looking for Adderall, but was told by the drug dealer he could have Percocet instead. The pill was delivered by the dealers straight to his home courtesy of SnapMap which allows followers to see your location in real time. Except it was not Percocet, it was a fake pill laced with fentanyl. The consequences were tragic. Within an hour of consuming the pill he was in a life-threatening situation - he eventually died but was resuscitated with unbearable consequences. Michael is now wheelchair bound with a significant brain injury. Even more heartbreaking is hearing from SMVLC lawyers that Michael is unique in their fentanyl-related social media cases - he is the only one still alive. During the course of the Bloomberg documentary, it also charts evidence given by the CEOs of the social media giants in a landmark Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on 31 January 2024. Meta, TikTok and Snap all gave evidence on the impact of social media on young people. With the bereaved families in attendance, it was astounding to hear Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg say, “There is no scientific evidence that use of social media has any impact on mental health”. This was quite something given evidence to the contrary from within his own company. We know this from documents revealed by the whistleblower Frances Haugen, who confirmed that Facebook prioritised engagement and profit over safety and hid these facts from legislators and the public. But if Zuckerberg needed any more information on the havoc his products and those of the other social media giants are wreaking on young people, he might do well to spend time reading the excellent book The anxious generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who has done intensive research in this area. His book links the explosion in mental health problems for young people today to the launch of smartphones and the rise of social media, particularly Instagram in 2012. But his book is not just about individual harms - it’s about the complete cognitive rewiring of young people’s minds, particularly as they are joining before the age of 13 when their pre-frontal cortexhas not yet fully developed. The PFC governs a huge range of essential areas for normal brain development such as decision making and reasoning, executive functions, personality and social behaviour, working memory and attention, speech and language, emotional processing and motor control. To put all that in context, the PFC manages complex cognitive processes including decision-making, impulse control, emotional regulation, social behaviour and working memory to name but a few. This means that parents who are totally unaware of what their children are witnessing on their phones are allowing a complete rewiring of their children's cognitive abilities at their most vulnerable developmental stages. Or to use Haidt’s words: "Children born in the late 1990s were the first generation in history who went through puberty in the virtual world. It’s as though we sent Gen Z to grow up on Mars when we gave them smartphones in the early 2010s in the largest uncontrolled experiment humanity has ever performed on its own children.” People power In the US there has been an attempt to introduce a similar bill to the UK OSA, but the Kids Online Safety Acthas stalled. Despite passing the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2024, it has been blocked from progressing further by Republicans worried social media companies might censor conservative viewpoints. So in the end it looks like good-old people power might be the only thing that will force a change. As of now the SMVLC is representing 4000 US families with a growing number joining the fight every day. Their resources are completely limited compared to the vast and endless resources of the tech companies, but it is the justice system not the regulatory frameworks that is levelling the playing field so these ordinary families can be heard in a court of law. A decision to proceed to discovery phase was granted to the SMVLC and the families in January with a ruling confirming that social media companies like Meta, YouTube, Snap and TikTok could not use Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to shield themselves from liability, allowing discovery and the lawsuits to move forward. All being well this will lead to bellwether trials later this year. In Anxious generation, Haidt comments on the fact that so many parents he talks to are resigned to their adolescents' use of social media, given that all their friends are on social media and to restrict their child's use would make them socially isolated. His response is wisely a societal one not an individual one. We need to work together to change these norms and to re-establish the real-life, real-world conditions necessary for the healthy cognitive development of young people that’s essential for them to grow into happy and thriving adults. If you are a parent, an aunt, uncle, a friend or employer I strongly urge you to watch Can’t look away at a cost of - which goes to the film-makers. It's nothing in terms of the vitally important knowledge the documentary imparts. And buy a copy of The anxious generation and give as many away as you can to as many parents as you know - or refer them here to the official website of the book which has lots of free resources and insights. The cavalry is not coming to save our children from these serious and life-threatening harms on social media, so it’s time we began looking out for each other - working collectively as the societal custodians of the next generation. Together we can resist and fight back with the help of the strong arm of the law. about online safety Government and Ofcom disagree about scope of Online Safety Act - MPs heard different views from the online harms regulator and the UK government about whether and how the Online Safety Act obliges platforms to deal with disinformation. UK and US pledge closer working on children’s online safety - In their first agreement on the subject of children’s online safety, the UK and US governments have said they will create a new working group to boost cooperation. Schools go smartphone-free to address online harms - Schools are implementing smartphone-free policies in an attempt to curb students’ exposure to online harms, but teachers and parents are worried the Online Safety Act will only partially address concerns. #can #039godlike #technologies039 #prevented #harming

YouTube made its pitch to advertisers on Wednesday, accompanied by a flashy performance from Lady Gaga and special appearances from popular YouTubers like Brittany Broski and MrBeast.  During its Upfront presentation, YouTube executives introduced new ad formats coming to the platform, including an enhanced shoppable connected TVoffering that includes a new interactive product feed. The move is strategic for YouTube, as it recognizes that viewers often watch videos on the big screen while also using their phones to scroll through social media or shop online. The new shoppable format allows advertisers to display products on the right side of the TV screen during ads. The interactive feed acts as a storefront for brands where viewers can easily browse multiple products using their remotes. When a viewer selects an item, they’re prompted to scan a QR code with their smartphone to get a direct link for purchase.   Additionally, there’s a button for viewers to press and hold, allowing them to send the link to their phones to shop for all the products at once.  Image Credits:YouTube YouTube has become a dominant force in TV viewing. Nielsen reported that it has been the top platform for streaming watch time in the U.S. for over two years, surpassing streaming giants Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. In the first quarter of 2025, TVs were the primary device for YouTube viewing in the U.S., according to internal data from the company. Notably, the company pointed to a Kantar survey, indicating that U.S. participants ranked YouTube as the No. 1 platform for seeking out information about brands. The company also said YouTube campaigns on CTV generated over 50 million monthly average conversions in the fourth quarter. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW Shoppable ads have gained traction among streaming services and advertisers in recent years. Just this week, Amazon announced a new interactive shoppable ad format on Prime Video that highlights Amazon deals, user reviews, and Prime shipping details. #youtube #introduces #interactive #product #feed

After reviewing almost 500 projects, we’re excited to share the winners of the 2023 Unity for Humanity Grant. All of the social impact creators receiving funding this year are using real-time 3D to drive change in truly innovative ways.Projects were judged based on vision, impact, inclusion, and viability. Winners will receive a bespoke grant from a pool of USD, plus mentorship and technical support to help bring their projects to life. If you have a project you’d like to submit in the future, sign up to the Social Impact mailing list for updates about when next year’s grant will open.What’s the project?X-Ray Fashion is a VR documentary by Denmark-based XR studio MANND that uses immersive storytelling to educate audiences about issues within the fashion industry. The project combines virtual reality with corresponding physical elementsto create a truly sensory experience that takes viewers through the various stages of a typical garment’s production process, from the sweat shop all the way to the catwalk.What’s the purpose?The fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world. It accounts for 10% of all global carbon emissions, and a huge 60% of textiles are thrown away within one year of being made. On top of that, a single pair of denim jeans requires 10,000 liters of water to make.The creators of X-Ray Fashion recognize that our habit of constantly changing our wardrobes and disposing of clothes we no longer like is having a big impact. Their goal is to use this immersive experience to change consumer behavior by helping viewers understand the impact that their wardrobes have on the environment and people working in the industry. Ultimately, the project encourages lifestyle changes such as buying second-hand garments, taking better care of what we already own, and minimizing our overall fashion consumption.What’s the project?Trying to put how you’re feeling into words when experiencing complex emotions and mental health issues can often be difficult. Sarah Ticho encountered this challenge when trying to describe her grief and mental state to a doctor during a time when she needed help. The experience led her to collaborate with experience designer Niki Smit to develop SoulPaint, a VR project in which participants create artwork on an avatar that expresses their inner world using color, shapes, movement, and imagery.What’s the purpose?According to Harvard Medical School, miscommunication is at the heart of most medical errors. SoulPaint is a unique experience that aims to transform the way we communicate our emotions with others, remove the stigma around mental health, and trigger impactful conversations by creating a shared exhibition experience in public spaces worldwide. It will also ultimately provide a tool that allows patients to improve communication with health care professionals.What’s the project?Quantum’s Pursuit is a game by Limbitless Solutions that lets children with bionic limbs play the limb-different grandchildren of Dr. Quantum, a tech genius and wizard who has developed renewable energy. Dr. Quantum has been kidnapped by evil Galacdorks trying to steal his invention, and it’s the player’s goal to journey through the levels, defeat the boss, and save Dr. Quantum.The game allows hospitals to teach children how to use their new bionic limbs in a fun, engaging, and stress-free way, while also gaining insight into the needs of each child based on their muscle strength – information that is usually difficult to ascertain.What’s the purpose?Limbitless Solutions provides free bionic arms, training, and even covers travel costs for patients and their families. This incredible project can vastly improve the quality of life of children with limb differences and ease the transition to a bionic limb during an otherwise difficult time.What’s the project?Using VR, Follow the Investigation: Inside the ICC shows International Criminal Courtcases at various stages of the judicial process. The experience provides valuable insight into how the ICC system works to bring those responsible for crimes against humanity – including war crimes and genocide – to justice.Viewers witness testimonies from survivors of past ICC cases, visit field investigation sites, process evidence in ICC forensic labs, and sit in on courtroom proceedings drawn from a variety of infamous global cases.What’s the purpose?This project serves as a somber reminder of and education about the work of the ICC and the process of seeking justice, helping to raise awareness of atrocities and the experiences of survivors to ensure continued global support for their recovery and the work of the ICC. The project also offers an impactful way for victims of horrific crimes to better understand the legal processes that relate to their own cases.What’s the project?In World Reborn, the world’s first activism adventure game, your goal is to save the world after a cataclysmic event fractures it into multiple realities. The mobile game uses AR to combine actions in the real world with choices in the virtual world, encouraging players to make a difference in both. Real-world actions that help you progress through the game include donating money, picking up trash, completing breathing exercises, and more.What’s the purpose?90% of the 72 million teenagers in the U.S. play video games. Having grown up with an awareness of pressing global issues – including climate change, mental health, and racial injustice – they want to make a difference, but often feel powerless to do so. The founders of Wicked Saints, creators of World Reborn, worked for the world’s largest peacebuilding organization and trained young movement leaders all over the world. They saw how many lives were transformed using an approach called Common Ground Activism – attacking the problem, not the person. Now, they’re building World Reborn to empower young people with CGA skills and drive change through incremental steps in the real world. Join their Discord community to get special access and be part of building the game.What’s the project?“What would the children of the future think about the mistakes of our past?” is the question that Team Gramps sought to answer with A Week at Belisamas Lake. This narrative-based mobile fishing game follows young Lotus and their grandmother Pearl as they recover 21st-century trash from a local lake in a future where humanity has overcome the climate crisis – and profoundly changed in the process. Using gyroscopic controls, you fish for items, inspect them, and listen as Pearl sheds light on relics of the past.What’s the purpose?Through a wholesome, optimistic narrative, A Week at Belisamas Lake shines a light on the possibility of a future society in a post-climate change world. Weaving together intergenerational relationships and items of the present day, the story examines just how drastically things might change if we don’t take action now, and how meaningful climate action will ultimately change us.Trigger warning: griefWhat’s the project?Drawing on the 17-year life cycle and symbolism of the Brood X cicadas, this virtual reality experience follows a mother’s journey to find meaning after the loss of her son. Using personal audio files, music, and images, the player is taken on a journey through the mother’s narrative, interacting with the experiences of passing time and grief.What’s the purpose?Year of the Cicadas is a mother’s reflection on the power of finding meaning in the most tragic of stories, and how that meaning transforms over time. The goal of this experience is to provide a window into the life-long journey of meaning-making after child loss for those who may know or work with bereaved parents and family members.Trigger warning: sexual assault, child abuseWhat’s the project?This mobile game is designed for parents who suspect their child may be the victim of sexual abuse or who want to talk to their children about topics like consent. Patito uses minigames to show a young character realizing he is a victim, providing a sensitive approach to educating children and parents on these difficult topics.What’s the purpose?According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, over 4.5 million children are victims of sexual abuse every year in Mexico. Pink Bear Games have created Patito to raise awareness of this issue and help give parents an effective way to communicate about sexual abuse and consent with their children. Their goal is to provide the app for free in an effort to help prevent future cases.Congratulations to all of this year’s winners – we can’t wait to share more of their projects with you. If you’re a social impact creator, join the Unity for Humanity Community Discord to meet like-minded creators. #changing #world #with #rt3d #meet

News Blades of Fire Demo Goes Live on May 15th The demo lets players experience the initial hours of MercurySteam's next title, with progress transferring when it launches on May 22nd. Posted By Ravi Sinha | On 15th, May. 2025 After promising to release a demo “soon” for Blades of Fire, MercurySteam has confirmed that it will be available on May 15th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. According to the developer on BlueSky, it includes the first few hours of the hack-and-slash action RPG. Your progress will also transfer to the game when it launches next week, which means this is based on the final product. Blades of Fire is available on March 22nd for consoles and PC and focuses on Aran de Lira as he embarks on a quest to defeat Queen Nerea. The latter ascended the throne after her father’s passing and has been on a reign of terror, cursing the kingdom’s steel into stone. Wielding a mystic Forge hammer, Aran can create his own weapons to fight back. The blacksmithing portion is more than just a crafting exercise. It’s a full-fledged system that deeply influences combat and tactics. Head here for more details and check out our feature on the tile. Tagged With: Elden Ring: Nightreign Publisher:Bandai Namco Developer:FromSoftware Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PCView More DOOM: The Dark Ages Publisher:Bethesda Softworks Developer:id Software Platforms:Xbox Series X, PS5, PCView More Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Publisher:Sony Developer:Kojima Productions Platforms:PS5View More Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out! Blades of Fire Demo Goes Live on May 15th The demo lets players experience the initial hours of MercurySteam's next title, with progress transferring wh... Sand Land, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy, and More Coming to PS Plus Extra/Premium Other titles include Soul Hackers 2, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Humankind, Five Nights at Freddy's: Help... EA Motive is Hiring a Level Designer to Create “Major Single-Player Levels” For Iron Man The job listing also reaffirms that Iron Man is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, asking for the applican... Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition is Out Now for It includes the base games, Kombat Pack 1, Khaos Reigns, all Kameo Fighters, Shang Tsung, the Premier skins, a... Helldivers 2 is Seemingly Getting a Major Update on May 20 The update, reportedly dubbed Heart of Democracy, revolves around Super Earth being in danger and Helldivers h... Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link Cancelled, Square Enix “Hard at Work” on Kingdom Hearts 4 "It would be difficult for us to offer a service that players would find satisfactory over a long period," the... View More #blades #fire #demo #goes #live

As generative AI continues to redefine digital workflows across industries, SimilarWeb’s ‘AI Global Report: Global Sector Trends on Generative AI’offers a comprehensive snapshot of shifting user engagement patterns. The data-driven report highlights notable growth in coding agents, disruptive impacts on EdTech, and an unexpected downturn in Legal AI platforms. Here are five findings that stand out from the report’s multi-sectoral analysis. 1. AI-Powered Coding Tools Witness Sustained Momentum Among the highest-performing categories, DevOps & Code Completion tools recorded a 75% year-over-yearincrease in traffic. This growth reflects rising developer adoption of AI assistants that support code generation, error detection, and workflow automation. Two platforms stood out: Lovable, with a remarkable 207% YoY growth, and Cursor, which registered a 62% increase. These tools are gaining traction due to their ability to integrate seamlessly with IDEs and DevOps pipelines, reducing cognitive overhead for developers and enhancing velocity in iterative software engineering environments. 2. General-Purpose LLMs Disrupt Traditional EdTech Models Chat-based LLMs such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Grok have emerged as central tools for self-directed learning and on-demand tutoring. DeepSeek, in particular, experienced exponential traffic spikes—at one point surpassing 17,000% YoY growth—before moderating in May. This surge coincides with a marked decline in traditional education platforms. The EdTech category experienced a 24% YoY traffic drop, with legacy players Chegg and CourseHero posting sharp declines of -62% and -68%, respectively. The data suggests that LLMs are effectively displacing static repositories with conversational, real-time educational support—especially for STEM and writing tasks. 3. Legal AI Tools Enter a Downturn Amid Usage Fatigue In contrast to the buoyancy of coding tools, the Legal AI segment faced a significant contraction, with a 73% YoY drop in traffic. This decline may reflect saturation in a niche market where generative AI’s value proposition—contract summarization, legal drafting, compliance automation—has yet to fully mature into robust, enterprise-grade deployments. The data implies that while early interest in legal AI was strong, retention and continued usage remain challenges. Legal practitioners may be holding off on broader adoption until tools demonstrate better alignment with real-world legal reasoning, jurisdictional nuance, and auditability requirements. 4. Video Generation Tools Deliver Mixed Signals The Video Generation sector showed only a -5% YoY change overall, but this average masks notable platform-specific variances. Kling.ai and RunwayML saw traffic declines of 5% and 15%, while Heygen recorded a 25% increase—likely attributable to its focus on solving specific commercial use cases such as synthetic avatars for business communications. This divergence underlines a broader trend: video synthesis platforms that do not address a clear market need or lack intuitive UI/UX are struggling to retain user interest. In contrast, those aligned with enterprise storytelling or content automation are seeing more durable engagement. 5. Freelance Platforms Feel the Pressure of AI Automation The report also highlights a 17% YoY decline in traffic to Digital Freelance platforms. Fiverr and Upwork were particularly affected, down 15% and 19%, respectively. The underlying driver appears to be generative AI’s growing ability to automate traditionally freelance-driven tasks—copywriting, basic design, SEO analysis, and transcription—thus shifting demand away from manual labor. The freelance economy may be entering a transition phase where success depends on human-AI collaboration. Freelancers who adapt by offering AI-enhanced services or specialize in domains requiring nuanced judgment may find new opportunities as others contract. Conclusion The SimilarWeb’s ‘AI Global Report: Global Sector Trends on Generative AI’ eveals a bifurcation in generative AI adoption: platforms that address domain-specific challenges with measurable productivity gains—especially in development and operations—are thriving. In contrast, tools that either lack differentiation or have not yet demonstrated practical reliability are witnessing attrition. As AI continues to integrate more deeply into professional toolchains, user engagement is increasingly driven by clarity of purpose and return on investment. This is not just a technological shift—it’s a redefinition of digital productivity landscapes across sectors. Download the report. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also, feel free to follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to join our 90k+ ML SubReddit. The post Coding Agents See 75% Surge: SimilarWeb’s AI Usage Report Highlights the Sectors Winning and Losing in 2025’s Generative AI Boom appeared first on MarkTechPost. #coding #agents #see #surge #similarwebs

After promising to release a demo “soon” for Blades of Fire, MercurySteam has confirmed that it will be available on May 15th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. According to the developer on BlueSky, it includes the first few hours of the hack-and-slash action RPG. Your progress will also transfer to the game when it launches next week, which means this is based on the final product. Blades of Fire is available on March 22nd for consoles and PC and focuses on Aran de Lira as he embarks on a quest to defeat Queen Nerea. The latter ascended the throne after her father’s passing and has been on a reign of terror, cursing the kingdom’s steel into stone. Wielding a mystic Forge hammer, Aran can create his own weapons to fight back. The blacksmithing portion is more than just a crafting exercise. It’s a full-fledged system that deeply influences combat and tactics. Head here for more details and check out our feature on the tile. ⚔️ Things to know about our upcoming demo! ⚔️🔥 We're launching on May 15th!🔥 We've packed a lot in! Experience the first few hours of #BladesofFire.🔥 Your save data and progress will carry over to the main game at launch! 💬 We can't wait to hear what you think. #ForgeYourLegend— Blades of Fire2025-05-13T16:03:54.413Z #blades #fire #demo #goes #live