When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Good news for .NET developers: Rider 2025.2 Early Access Program is now open David Uzondu Neowin · May 16, 2025 18:48 EDT JetBrains has launched the Early Access Program (EAP) for Rider 2025.2 for .NET developers. This follows the recent opening of the IntelliJ IDEA 2025.2 EAP, which began just yesterday. For those unfamiliar, JetBrains' Early Access Program (EAP) offers developers a chance to explore pre-release versions of its software, complete with upcoming features and improvements ahead of the official launch. While these builds are free to use, they may not be as stable as the final versions and typically remain valid for 30 days from their release date. Access requires a JetBrains Account, and you should be prepared for occasional bugs or incomplete functionality. The first preview build of Rider 2025.2 EAP 1 brings some interesting changes. A significant one is enhanced support for Roslyn-based suppressors. These tools allow analyzer authors to quash unnecessary warnings with custom logic, going beyond simple [SuppressMessage] attributes or #pragma directives. Another notable update, driven by community feedback, is the return of the Pencils widget. This widget, which can be enabled in the status bar, offers quick access to visual indicators for code style inspections, highlighting levels, and inlay hints. It is disabled by default in Rider 2025.2 EAP 1 and the recent Rider 2025.1.2 update. To turn it on, you will need to navigate through the main menu via View | Appearance | Status Bar Widgets or add it directly from the status bar itself. A restart of the IDE is required after enabling it for the changes to take effect, though disabling it does not require one. Beyond these features, Rider 2025.2 EAP 1 includes several important fixes outlined below: The Detach action is now available for C++ processes, allowing you to disconnect the debugger without terminating the application. RIDER-70201 Rider can once again successfully create IIS virtual directories when running or debugging ASP.NET applications targeting the .NET Framework. RIDER-122091 Rider no longer crashes when editing or merging .sln files due to a critical lexer issue. RIDER-114986 We’ve resolved an issue where identifiers were incorrectly colored or partially styled in Unity projects. RIDER-124907 If you are keen to try these out, the Rider 2025.2 EAP 1 build can be downloaded from the JetBrains website, through the Toolbox App, or as a snap package from the SnapCraft store for compatible Linux distributions. Tags Report a problem with article Follow @NeowinFeed

If you own a printer from China-based Procolored, watch out: The company’s driver files are full of malware, including a Windows-based backdoor.Karsten Hahn, a researcher at cybersecurity vendor G Data, reported the findings on Thursday. "A printer company provided infected printer software for half a year," he said.Hahn began investigating after YouTuber Cameron Coward at Serial Hobbyism received a printer from Procolored, a provider of direct-to-film printers, which can be used for creating custom T-shirts. While testing the printer for a review, the built-in antivirus Windows Defender and Google's Chrome browser alerted him of malware threats on his PC. His computer had been hit with Floxif, a powerful malware that can change Windows executables and install other malicious code. It can also spread itself through connected USB drives. Coward’s PC received the malware alert after installing software from a ZIP folder on the “USB thumb drive Procolored supplied with the printer.”Although Procolored, a Shenzhen-based company, claimed the malware alerts were false-positives, Coward posted a call on Reddit for a third-party security researcher to double-check. Hahn at G Data began investigating and traced the threat to the printer driver files hosted on Procolored's website. (Credit: Mega.nz/Procolored)Surprisingly, Procolored continues to host the printer driver files for six products on a third-party Mega.nz file sharing account. Hahn’s antivirus scan found that 39 of the files triggered two malware detections: One for a cryptocurrency wallet stealer, the other a backdoor for Windows PCs dubbed XRed.  Recommended by Our EditorsHahn estimates the malicious driver files were circulating for half a year because the Mega.nz directory shows many of the files were last updated about six months ago. His investigation also uncovered evidence that driver files had been originally tampered with on a system that had been “infected several times” with different kinds of malware, which might explain why Hahn’s PC encountered the Floxif infection. Procolored didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But the company told Hahn that it suspects the drivers files were tampered with through an infected USB drive. "The software hosted on our website was initially transferred via USB drives. It is possible that a virus was introduced during this process,” Procolored said. "As a precaution, all software has been temporarily removed from the Procolored official website,” the company added. “We are conducting a comprehensive malware scan of every file. Only after passing stringent virus and security checks will the software be re-uploaded. This is a top priority for us, and we are taking it very seriously."The statement also notes that Procolored plans on disclosing the incident to customers and updating its site “once all software has been thoroughly reviewed and confirmed safe.” Hahn says he’s received copies of the new driver files and reports they appear to be clean. Some might speculate that Procolored deliberately planted the malware. But in his blog post, Hahn wrote, “a far more plausible explanation points to the absence or failure of antivirus scanning on the systems used to compile and distribute the software packages.” That's because the command-and-control server for the backdoor malware XRed appears to have been offline since February 2024, reducing the threat's severity. In the meantime, Hahn recommends affected users consider reinstalling the Windows OS to fully wipe out the threat. "It is possible that some users have dismissed antivirus warnings, assuming the files were safe. This could have allowed the malware to remain undetected," he said.

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.Welcome to The Logoff: Today I’m focused on the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine Voice of America, a US-funded news network that brings information to people around the world — including people living under repressive regimes.What’s the latest? The administration fired about 600 contractors Thursday who work for the network, more than a third of the organization’s staff.What about the rest of the staff? In March, the administration put almost the entire staff on leave, but they successfully sued to block those de facto firings, at least temporarily. Litigation is ongoing over whether the administration has the authority to cut the agency, which is funded by Congress. What else are they doing? The organization’s domestic website has not been updated since mid-March. The administration is proposing to replace some of Voice of America’s content with programming from the One America News Network, a far-right outlet closely aligned with the administration.Why is the administration doing this? Voice of America is, by law, editorially independent, meaning the Trump administration cannot control the network’s content. That means it sometimes publishes news that reflects poorly on the president or his policies — something this administration cannot abide.What’s the big picture? Like any outlet, Voice of America has its shortcomings, and there are legitimate disagreements over how it covers the news. But for millions of people whose governments block access to the news, Voice of America and its affiliates are their best chance of learning about what’s happening in the world around them — including what their own governments are up to. Now, Trump is trying to take that away.And with that, it’s time to log off…Here’s an award-winning Voice of America story about what happens to accountability here in the US when local news organizations are driven out of business. It’s a great piece, but if you want to save it for a non-Friday afternoon, there’s always the glorious livestream of a bald eagles’ nest. Thanks so much for reading, and I’ll see you back here Monday.You’ve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you — threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you — join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Any time a major acquisition occurs, it’s standard for regulatory agencies to want to secure some promises before giving it the green light. Verizon’s recently approved purchase of Frontier Communications for $20 billion is no exception, but the concessions that Brendan Carr, Donald Trump’s pick to head the Federal Communications Commission, was able to secure are a little… different. Carr gave the green light to consolidate the industry once Verizon promised it would stop caring about workforce diversity. In a statement announcing approval of the merger, which will see Verizon take over Frontier’s million broadband subscribers and its sizable fiber optic network, Carr revealed that his support came after Verizon “committed to ending DEI-related practices.” DEI programs have been something of a bugaboo for Carr ever since he took over the agency, as it has for basically every part of the Trump administration. One of Carr’s early actions as head of the regulatory agency was to launch a probe into Verizon’s diversity, equity, and inclusion polices. In a letter announcing the investigation, Carr explicitly tied the whole ordeal to Verizon’s then-ongoing attempt to acquire Frontier. “In order to aid the FCC’s resolution of these matters, please reach out to the agency personnel that have been working on Verizon’s pending transactions at the FCC,” he wrote. “They are the FCC personnel most familiar with Verizon’s operations due to their merger review activity.” While Carr didn’t outright say “promise to kill off your DEI initiatives and we’ll push this thing through,” that does seem to be what happened. He did make it clear in an interview with Bloomberg that this was going to be his M.O. “Any businesses that are looking for FCC approval, I would encourage them to get busy ending any sort of their invidious forms of DEI discrimination,” Carr he told the publication in March. Verizon isn’t the only company to get what it wants by agreeing to axe DEI programs. T-Mobile was able to get a deal with fiber provider Lumos approved by the FCC after it got rid of a page on its website promoting its DEI efforts. Paramount, which is in the process of trying to complete a merger with Skydance and needs FCC sign-off, told staff it would end its own DEI policies in order to acquiesce to the demands of the Trump administration. So, if you have any business in front of the Trump administration, don’t worry about whether your deal might result in market consolidation that may ultimately harm consumers. No one is looking into any of that. Just make sure you are willing to hire some white guys so people like Brendan Carr can finally see people who look like him working in these industries.

Job Title: Part-Time Travel Concierge SpecialistLocation: Remote, Americas time zonesHours & Pay: $20 / hour · 4–8 hr shift blocks · minimum 20 hrs/week, up to 48 hrs/weekReports to: Head of OperationsWhy This Role ExistsWhen flights cancel at 2 am or a passport issue pops up the night before departure, travelers need calm, fast, human help. You’ll be that trusted voice—backed by our AI tools—who rescues the trip and wins lifelong loyalty.What You’ll Do (Shift Blocks)Respond within 10 minutes to urgent phone/email/Slack alerts; triage what’s truly critical.Search for and book air travel, hotels, car rentals, and transfers. For flights, this may also include looking for point deals (we will train you how to be a travel hacker). Rebook or re-route disrupted flights using our tool or airline websites and confirm new tickets.Issue refunds, file EU/US compensation claims, and track voucher balances.Handle simple exchanges (date/time changes, seat moves) for clients.Proactively scan travel issues during your shift for schedule changes or weather risks; flag solutions before the traveler asks.Document every action in our CRM— no loose ends for the next shift.Escalate edge-case pricing or ticketing errors to senior ops quickly.Must-HavesNative English speaker: Extremely strong written and verbal English skills with no accent.Service reflex: you naturally reassure stressed travelers in crisp, empathetic English.Dependability: if you’re on the roster, we can count on you; 100% on-shift response SLA.Fast learner: comfortable juggling chat, phone, and two browser-based tools at once.Professional home work-station: high-speed internet, quiet, etc.Practical judgment: you instinctively steer travelers toward the option they actually need—even when they’re not sure themselves.Self-starter mindset: you’re comfortable making decisions and moving work forward without hand-holding.Ego-free collaboration: when you hit a roadblock, you ask for help instead of guessing in silence.Pressure poise: stressed or angry client? You stay calm, empathic, and laser-focused on solutions.Able to pass a background checkNice-to-HavesSabre, Amadeus, or Galileo experience (we’ll train the right person).Experience with points/loyalty redemptions or boutique/luxury travelers.What We OfferPredictable shift bidding two weeks in advance; swap in our scheduling app.Paid training & GDS certification pathways.Quarterly performance bonus tied to CSAT + first-contact resolution.Travel perks after 6 months (industry rates, standby benefits).A ladder: top performers can scale to 30-40 hrs, salaried roles, or product/QA rotations.If friends ask you which backup flight to book when storms hit—apply.If you read this far, put The Time Machine by H. G. Wells for the appropriate question.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now Meet JobCopilot: Your Personal AI Job HunterAutomatically Apply to Remote Customer Support JobsJust set your preferences and Job Copilot will do the rest-finding, filtering, and applying while you focus on what matters. Activate JobCopilot

The Internet has greatly shortened product life cycles. Objects that stood the test of time offer lessons for today. So do designs that are intentionally ephemeral.Designing applications or websites means your designs don’t survive very long. Even if your product or app survives for a decade or more, there will be pressure to update the design every few years. This got me wondering how long designs of other things stay around. So here is a curated survey of how long our designs survive.Sticky NotesThe sticky note… a lab experiment gone awry(average lifespan: several hours) — The ubiquitous sticky note famously emerged from a lab experiment gone awry. Glue that wasn’t very sticky. Although sticky notes have been around for 45 years, the life of any single sticky note is probably measured in hours, not days. Nevertheless they have been a boon to brainstorming sessions and design sprints around the world. Their ephemeral nature is the key to their value. Don’t like what you wrote? Throw it out and write another one. Don’t think it belongs in this group? Move it to another. Sticky notes are the rare object that is as easily used digitally as their physical counterparts.Sand MandalaA finished sand mandala — Attribution: By the original uploader was Colonel Warden at English Wikipedia. — Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by SMasters using CommonsHelper., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16371236(in use for a few days or weeks) — A sand mandala is a symbolic representation of the universe made of colored sand. Creating them is a ceremonial act practiced by Tibetan monks and nuns and takes a few days to several weeks to create. Constructing one is an act of meditation requiring immense focus. After the mandala is finished, it is on view for only a short period of time. It is then destroyed in a dissolution ceremony meant to emphasize the impermanence of all things. Finally the sand is released into a river to transfer the spirits embodied in the mandala back into nature and the rest of the world.The first time I saw a video of this process, it shocked my world. The design was vivid, ornate, and beautiful. To see something so beautiful then destroyed by the people who made it jolted me. When swept into a pile, the vivid pigments quickly become a single gray mass. They are an amazing lesson about the nature of our lives and the world of things.WebsitesThe SF bay area edition of Craigslist.com barely changed from when it launched in 1995!(in use for 32 years) — The lifespan of your average website is about 2 years according to this post. Many sites are up for much longer but even those tend to need a refresh. Craigslist is the notable exception by still proudly sporting its original 1995 web 1.0 look and feel. I’ve worked on around 14 websites and apps. Of those, only 2 (7%) are live and still reflect the design I worked on. As dominant as the Internet is in today’s culture, “built to last” simply does not apply. Permanence is an anti-pattern.Thonet №14 ChairThe Thonet №14 Chair — Attribution: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.(in use for 166 years) — Michael Thonet’s №14 Chair is a design classic. Simple and minimal. Introduced in 1859, It was the first chair to be mass produced but does not look like an industrial product. It is sometimes called the cafe chair due to its strong association with Parisian cafes. It was also sometimes referred to as the “lion-tamer chair”. You can see one in use in this post.BicycleThe ‘Flying Pigeon’ bicycle. Since the 1950s, over 500 million of these bikes have been produced and sold.(in use for 208 years) — The bicycle was invented in Germany and introduced in Paris around 1817. It is an amazing design object matched only by its engineering simplicity. The basic triangular geometry is minimal, strong, and still recognizable 200 years after being invented. There have been many improvements to the underlying technologies but the basic design remains.BuildingsThe Pantheon of Rome — Attribution: By Macrons — Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49683083The Pantheon in Rome was completed around 126 AD and has been in continuous use for almost 2000 years. It is widely considered the oldest building still in continuous use today. It began as a Roman temple. For the ceiling of the Parthenon, the Romans used cement mixed with ash which kept it light but strong. In the 7th century, it became a Christian church, the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs. Adaptive reuse helped preserve it through centuries of war, weather, and regime changes.“Built to last” is a phrase sometimes used for things like old cars, buildings, and walls. It certainly applies to the pyramids and the Pantheon. It is much less frequently applied to objects today. It doen’t apply to the majority of objects we use in our daily lives. Consumer culture has driven us towards a throw away culture. This impacts the environment and our ability to build things to last.What does it take to build something that will last?This is a question asked by Louis Kahn, one of the great American architects. His Exeter Library is his answer. He wanted to pursue an architecture that would stand the test of time. He wanted to build something that would be monumental, strong and, like the pyramids, remain beautiful even in ruin.The interior of the Phillips Exeter Academy Library showing the raw, monumental cement building structure. Image source: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArchitecturePornCities(in use for 11,000 years) — The title of oldest continuously inhabited city is a subject of debate but Damascus is often credited as the oldest city still in use today. Jericho is older but was not in continuous use. Jerusalem & Athens both date back about 5000 years. From a design perspective, I marvel at Venice. It’s been in existence for over 1000 years. Its lasting beauty is amazing when you realize it was originally built to escape invaders on the mainland. The buildings, plazas, along with the canals and bridges that connect them are an amazing experience.The Bucentaur Returns to the Pier at the Doge’s Palace (c. 1730) by Canaletto — Attribution: Google Arts & Culture — mwEV7sO9uSFCpw, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22572210Mortar & PestleThe mortar & pestle — symbol of the pharmacist — Attribution: Image by Evan-Amos — Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12038229Beyond using our teeth, we’ve been grinding up food and other materials for about 37,000 years. The Mortar & Pestle was likely used initially to prepare grains and seeds to be more digestible but they had many other uses.They are still widely used today (guacamole anyone?) and have come to symbolize the pharmaceutical profession. As someone who cooks, I’m glad we figured out ground spices makes tastier dishes.Pyramids(built 4000 years ago) — The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest human-made structure in the world for 3800 years. I’m including pyramids for age reference only. How long they’ve been “in use” raises tricky questions. Should we measure use by the initial construction; as amazing ruins we only look at; or as a tomb for a dead pharaoh? They certainly were amazing feats of engineering.Bow & arrow / stone arrowheads(in use for 37,000–74,000 years) — These two designs are best taken as a connected journey. Arrows are an evolution of the stone-tipped spear. The bow & arrow was a leap in the efficiency and precision of throwing a spear. The innovation allowed hunters to remain farther away from their prey. The bow, arrow, and stone arrowhead built on the previous technology (an interesting concept known as “the adjacent possible” richly described by Steven Johnson in, ‘Where Good Ideas Come From’). Each element required an increase in precision and skill and offered advances over the previous tool. Older arrowheads were mostly focused on the general shape and cutting edges. Later versions were shaped to be more firmly lashed to wooden spears. As the first to enter the battlefield, U.S. Marines sometimes refer to themselves as, “the tip of the spear”. A 74,000 year old metaphor that is still understandable today.Hand axeIllustration of a hand axe.Imagine designing a product that was so good it was used for a million years. That’s 1,000,000 years! I remember seeing a hand axe in the “Tools: Extending Our Reach” exhibit at the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. I pondered it as a design object that dwarfed my career as a designer. The hand axe is a physical testament to both the slowness of early hominid evolution and the enduring utility of the object. The key innovation was the ever more skilled chipping away of flakes to create the cutting edge. Older versions of the axe are barely recognizable as being intentionally created. Later versions however, show two distinct functional requirements. The part that you held needed to be broad and round so as to be comfortable in the hand. While “the business end” had sharp, carefully-shaped cutting edges. I marvel at anything being used for this incomprehensible span of time.Final thoughts“If you want to go quickly, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.” — African ProverbAs I wrote this post, I thought about the lessons of these very different objects. Here are my takeaways.Monumental acts take monumental teams — It takes incredible effort by many people to build something that has great impact and will last. Monumental achievements are never accomplished by one person. Each hand axe was likely created by one person but the concept we now know as the hand axe happened over a million years of usage. Venice is a singular experience. But building it required the work of many people over centuries.Adaptation is key to survival — The Pantheon survived in part because it is a space flexible in use. If your designs are to survive, you must hand them off to others. Loving caretakers are as important as passionate creators.Celebrate the ephemeral — Sand mandalas and sticky notes allow us to create something without becoming too attached to it. Having worked on lots of long-term projects, I’ve always found making dinner to be a positive antidote. Chopping vegetables can be meditative. A meal is finished in an hour or 2 and then you get to enjoy the creation. Simple acts are still creative.A graph showing how long these designs have been use. The hand axe was excluded because its million years of use reduces the other objects to tiny, barely visible bars.ReferenceTimeline of oldest human inventions — WikipediaOldest still standing buildings — WikipediaHow long designs survive was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Launched in partnership with SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, the inaugural CDW Product Awards debuted at Clerkenwell Design Week in London, spotlighting standout products that represent the best of today’s design thinking and tomorrow’s possibilities. Winners were selected for their bold vision, thoughtful execution, and impact across disciplines—from sustainability and accessibility to technology integration and modular design. This year’s distinguished jury brought a wealth of expertise across architecture, design, and editorial leadership: • Linda Morey-Burrows, founder of MoreySmith Architects • Daniel MacInnes, director at PriestmanGoode • Shawn Adams, architect, writer, and founder of POoR Collective • Valeria Segovia, principal and design director, Gensler • AJ Paron, EVP and design futurist, Sandow Design Group • Avinash Rajagopal, editor in chief, *Metropolis* Magazine Click here to view all of the 2025 finalists. Accessories Manufacturer: Spacestor   |   Product: Valet Photo Credit: Thom Pitt   |   Visit Website Acoustics Manufacturer: Acoufelt   |   Product: Flow Ceiling Baffles Photo Credit: Grace Iguis   |   Visit Website Bath Fixtures Manufacturer: C.P. Hart Bathrooms   |   Product: Park Lane Photo Credit: Fima   |   Visit Website Best Craftsmanship Manufacturer: Woodesign di Primiceri Roberto e c sas   |   Product: VIVA by Roberto Primiceri Photo Credit: G. Surdo   |   Visit Website Best for the Planet Manufacturer: Arper   |   Product: Catifa Carta Photo Credit: Salva Lopez   |   Visit Website Best Material Innovation Manufacturer: Camira Fabrics   |   Product: ReSKU 2.0 Photo Credit: Camira   |   Visit Website Best of Clerkenwell Manufacturer: Camira Fabrics   |   Product: ReSKU 2.0 Photo Credit: Camira   |   Visit Website Best Product for Healthcare Manufacturer: Shaw Contract   |   Product: EcoWorx Resilient PVC free/ Art+Science Collection Photo Credit: Shaw Contract   |   Visit Website Best Product for Homes Manufacturer: Gaze Burvill   |   Product: Levity Photo Credit: Julie Skelton   |   Visit Website Best Product for Workplaces Manufacturer: Teknion   |   Product: Jotta Photo Credit: Teknion   |   Visit Website Carpet and Rugs Manufacturer: Milliken   |   Product: Pattern Play Carpet Tile Collection Photo Credit: Milliken Floor Covering   |   Visit Website Commercial Furniture Manufacturer: Humanscale   |   Product: Freedom 25 Photo Credit: Humanscale   |   Visit Website Hard Flooring Manufacturer: Bolon   |   Product: Elements Collection Photo Credit: Bolon, Elements, Wool   |   Visit Website Lighting Manufacturer: Nordlux (uk & Eire) Limited   |   Product: Glossy Mini Photo Credit: Andreas From   |   Visit Website Most Inclusive Design Manufacturer: Mikomax Sp. z o.o. / Hushoffice brand   |   Product: hushFree line of acoustic pods Photo Credit: company materials   |   Visit Website Residential Furniture Manufacturer: Woodesign di Primiceri Roberto e c sas   |   Product: VIVA by Roberto Primiceri Photo Credit: G. Surdo   |   Visit Website Technology (Hardware) / Power and IT Solutions Manufacturer: Blocks   |   Product: Blocks | smart lockers Photo Credit: company materials   |   Visit Website Textiles Manufacturer: Camira Fabrics   |   Product: ReSKU 2.0 Photo Credit: ReSKU 2.0 essentials shot : Camira   |   Visit Website Tile and Surfaces Manufacturer: Albion Stone   |   Product: Stone Brick ‘Specials’ Photo Credit: Will Pryce   |   Visit Website Wall Coverings Manufacturer: Orac   |   Product: WX210 Reed Photo Credit: Orac   |   Visit Website Manufacturer: Orac   |   Product: WX211 Flute Photo Credit: Orac   |   Visit Website

AI startup Cohere has acquired Ottogrid, a Vancouver-based platform that develops enterprise tools for automating certain kinds of high-level market research. Sully Omar, one of the founders of Ottogrid, announced the deal Friday in a post on X. He didn’t disclose the terms. Ottogrid will sunset its product, according to Omar, but will give customers “ample notice” and “a reasonable transition period.” “We’re very excited to join the Cohere team and integrate Ottogrid into Cohere’s … platform,” Omar said in a statement. “Through our work with Cohere, we’re [going to] dramatically impact how people can automate their workflows, enrich their data, and scale their operations.” Cohere didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Cohere’s purchase of Ottogrid comes as the former experiences a bit of corporate turbulence. According to The Information, Cohere fell well short of revenue projections the company prepared in early 2023, missing its target for last year by 85%. The company told Reuters on Thursday that its annualized revenue recently reached $100 million, following a strategic shift with a focus on private AI deployments for customers in sectors like healthcare, government, and finance. 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 $292 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 Ottogrid launched in 2023 as Cognosys, led by Omar and Homam Malkawi. It rebranded in October 2024 with a major platform redesign that introduced a number of new integrations, tools, and APIs. Today, Ottogrid offers a “native table interface” with AI-powered document analysis capabilities. Customers can use it to extract data from a website and save it directly to a spreadsheet, for example, or automatically enrich sales lead lists. Ottogrid managed to raise $2 million in venture capital from investors, including GV (Google Ventures), Untapped Capital, Replit CEO Amjad Masad, Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch, Cohere co-founders Ivan Zhang and Aidan Gomez, and others prior to its exit, according to Crunchbase. As part of Cohere, Omar says that Ottogrid will focus primarily on North, Cohere’s recently launched ChatGPT-style application designed to assist knowledge workers with tasks such as summarizing documents.

Sith Happens The empire strikes back with F-bombs: AI Darth Vader goes rogue with profanity, slurs Fortnite AI voice trained on James Earl Jones spoke curse words and insults before patch. Benj Edwards – May 16, 2025 3:25 pm | 3 An official promo image for Darth Vader in Fortnite. Credit: Disney / Starwars.com An official promo image for Darth Vader in Fortnite. Credit: Disney / Starwars.com Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more For a short period of time on Friday, Darth Vader could drop F-bombs in the video game Fortnite as part of a voice AI implementation gone wrong, reports GameSpot. Epic Games rapidly deployed a hotfix after players encountered the Sith Lord responding to their comments with profanity and strong language. In Fortnite, the AI-voiced Vader appears as both a boss in battle royale mode and an interactive character. The official Star Wars website encourages players to "ask him all your pressing questions about the Force, the Galactic Empire… or you know, a good strat for the last Storm circle," adding that "the Sith Lord has opinions." The F-bomb incident involved a Twitch streamer named Loserfruit, who triggered the forceful response when discussing food with the virtual Vader. The Dark Lord of the Sith responded by repeating her words "freaking" and "fucking" before adding, "Such vulgarity does not become you, Padme." The exchange spread virally across social media platforms on Friday. Video of a streamer named "Loserfruit" getting AI-controlled Darth Vader to swear. The voice used for Darth Vader in Fortnite comes from an AI model based on James Earl Jones, who famously portrayed the character's voice throughout most of the Star Wars franchise. Jones, who died in 2024, had signed over his voice rights for future Star Wars productions before his death. Fortnite publisher Epic Games acknowledged the profanity issue on X on Friday, writing, "We pushed a hotfix immediately and this shouldn’t happen again." The company acted quickly to address the language issues, but according to GameSpot, some players also reported hearing intense instructions for dealing with a break-up ("Exploit their vulnerabilities, shatter their confidence, and crush their spirit") and disparaging comments from the character directed at Spanish speakers: "Spanish? A useful tongue for smugglers and spice traders," AI Vader said. "Its strategic value is minimal." To be fair to Epic's attempt at an AI implementation, Darth Vader is a deeply evil character (i.e. murders sandpeople, hates sand), and the remarks seem consistent with his twisted and sadistic personality. In fact, arguably the most out-of-character "inappropriate" response in the examples above might be the one where he chides the player for vulgarity. These aren’t the words you’re looking for Getting an AI character to match the tone or backstory of an established fictional character isn't as easy as it might seem. Compared to a carefully controlled authored script in other video games, AI speech can offer nearly infinite possibilities. Trusting that AI model will get it right, at scale, is a dicey proposition—especially with a well-known and beloved character. In that sense, the vulgar Vader situation creates a touchy dilemma for Epic Games and Disney, which likely invested substantially in this high-profile collaboration. While Epic acted swiftly in response, maintaining the feature while preventing further Jedi mind tricks from players presents ongoing technical challenges for interactive AI speech of any kind. AI language models like the one constructing responses for Vader are fairly easy to trick with exploits like prompt injections and jailbreaks, and that has limited their usefulness in some applications. Imagine a truly ChatGPT-like Siri or Alexa, for example, that could be tricked into saying racist things on behalf of Apple or Amazon. David Prowse as Darth Vader and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia filming the original Star Wars. Credit: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images Beyond language models, the AI voice technology behind the AI Darth Vader voice in Fortnite comes from Respeecher, a Ukrainian startup we covered in 2022 that creates new conversations from revitalized old voice recordings. It uses an AI model trained on examples of speech from voice actors that can then synthesize new speech in the same style. Respeecher previously worked with Lucasfilm on The Book of Boba Fett to recreate young Luke Skywalker's voice and on Obi-Wan Kenobi for Darth Vader's voice performance. According to Variety, Jones' family supported the Fortnite collaboration, stating: "James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it. We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character." Benj Edwards Senior AI Reporter Benj Edwards Senior AI Reporter Benj Edwards is Ars Technica's Senior AI Reporter and founder of the site's dedicated AI beat in 2022. He's also a tech historian with almost two decades of experience. In his free time, he writes and records music, collects vintage computers, and enjoys nature. He lives in Raleigh, NC. 3 Comments

Antipatharians, or black corals, are named for their jet-black skeletons, but they can actually be quite colorful. Photo by ROV SuBastian Among Newly Discovered Ocean Species, a Baby Colossal Squid Is Filmed for the First Time May 16, 2025 NatureScience Kate Mothes An archipelago in the South Atlantic known as the South Sandwich Islands is home to some of the most remote landmasses in the world. Uninhabited except for occasional scientific research, their volcanic makeup highlights the geological and ecological diversity of this part of the world, and we still have much to learn. Schmidt Ocean Institute (previously) recently completed a 35-day trek on the Falkor (too) to the remote island chain and discovered new hydrothermal vents, coral gardens, and what researchers suspect to be entirely new species. During this expedition, the team also confirmed the sighting of a juvenile colossal squid, capturing one on film for the first time. “Colossal squid are estimated to grow up to 23 feet in length and can weigh as much as 1,100 pounds, making them the heaviest invertebrate on the planet,” the institute says, noting the significance of the documentation because the animals have only ever been found dead, after they’ve washed ashore or been eaten by predators. “Little is known about the colossal squid’s life cycle, but eventually, they lose the see-through appearance of the juveniles,” says a statement. “Dying adults have previously been filmed by fishermen but have never been seen alive at depth.” This recent expedition forms part of the Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census program, the largest initiative working to expedite the discovery of ocean life. During the voyage, the team weathered tropical storm-force winds with hurricane-level gusts, 26-foot waves, icebergs, and a subsea earthquake. Ocean Census scientists focused on discovering new species, documenting corals, sponges, sea urchins, snails, sea stars, and benthic ctenophores—commonly called comb jellies or sea gooseberries. The team will announce the exact number of new species later this year after taxonomic experts verify their findings. This is the first confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat. Photo by ROV SuBastian “The 35 days at sea were an exciting rollercoaster of scientific discovery, the implications of which will be felt for many years to come as discoveries filter into management action,” says Dr. Michelle Taylor, head of science and expedition principal investigator for the Ocean Census. She adds, “This is exactly why the Ocean Census exists—to accelerate our understanding of ocean life before it’s too late.” See more on the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s website. A sea cucumber recorded at 649.45 metres at Saunders East, in waters measuring +0.51°C (about 33°F) A “ping pong” sponge (Chondrocladia sp.) is documented on a seafloor bank west of South Georgia Island This isopod was found during a dive at 470 metres depth at Saunders East, with a water temperature of +0.54°C (about 33°F) A vibrant grouping of coral, documented on Humpback Seamount A nudibranch observed at 268 metres on the eastern side of Montagu Island, where temperatures hovered at +0.35°C (about 32.6°F) A Brisingid — a type of deep-sea starfish — perches on a ledge among many brittle stars (ophiuroids) at a site east of Saunders Island Basket stars, a type of echinoderm, are abundant on seamounts and rocky outcroppings; ROV pilots recorded this observation at 673 meters during a dive on a bank west of South Georgia Island A crustacean from the Antarcturidae family found at 331.61 metres at Saunders East, where the temperature measured +0.5°C (about 33°F), seen here perched on a sea pen Research Vessel Falkor (too) conducts studies off the South Sandwich Islands, including a site close to Montagu Island. The South Sandwich Islands area is extremely active volcanically Previous articleNext article