Heating and cooling your home make up the biggest chunk of your home's energy costs. But not enough people are considering a heat pump as a solution.The Energy Information Administration data shows 31% of energy consumption comes from air conditioning and space heating. It's no wonder CNET's latest energy cost survey found 78% of Americans are stressed out about their utility bills. While these energy-efficient HVAC systems have gained popularity in recent years -- outpacing gas furnaces for the past three years -- the same CNET survey also showed only 14% of respondents plan to upgrade to a heat pump to help reduce those energy costs.At CNET, we are big fans of heat pumps because of their efficiency and ability to both heat and cool your home by transferring heat rather than generating it. While heat pumps are often advertised as a money-saving home upgrade, the actual savings depend on where you live, electricity rates and the HVAC system you're replacing. So, how much can you really save with a heat pump? We asked home electrification expert and Pennsylvania homeowner Wael Kanj, who is also a senior researcher at Rewiring America, a nonprofit that advocates for home electrification efforts.   A heat pump case study: Pennsylvania Heat pumps are an energy-efficient way to keep your home comfortable year-round. Heat pumps run on electricity and move heat from inside your home to outside to cool it. Then it reverses the process for heating by pumping the heat inside.We spoke with a homeowner in Pennsylvania who tracked their heating and cooling costs for the past nine years. The home was built in the late 1950s and used an air conditioner and heating oil before installing a heat pump in January 2022. Prior to installing a heat pump, the homeowner's electricity costs included air conditioning, lights and home appliances. In 2019, the homeowner completed an energy audit to evaluate the home's efficiency and made weatherization improvements in 2020. We reviewed their energy cost data to assess the overall energy savings from switching to a heat pump compared with using electricity and heating oil. Before installing a heat pump, the homeowner's average electricity bill totaled $138 per month. After the heat pump, their average bill increased to $153. While the homeowner's total electricity costs increased, they saved on total heating and cooling expenses by installing a heat pump. Here's how.Total energy costs The following table displays the total costs for heating and electricity from 2016 to 2024. There's a significant decrease in overall costs after heat pump installation in 2022. YearAnnual energy cost2016$2,8002017$2,7002018$4,0002019$3,0502020$2,1002021$2,5002022$1,7002023$1,9002024$1,850Does a heat pump save you money?The short answer is yes, heat pumps save you money. But how much you save depends on the system you're replacing, how much energy you use and where you live. Your electricity bill might go up because heat pumps use electricity for both heating and cooling. But heat pumps will save money overall because you won't pay for heating fuels. Natural gas is cheaper than delivered fuels, like propane or heating oil. So if you're replacing delivered fuels, you will save more than someone replacing a natural gas heating system. You can determine your home's potential energy savings using the Energy Star calculator or Rewiring America Personal Electrification Planner. Energy savings depend on where you liveAs mentioned, location plays a big role in potential heat pump savings due to the climate, home size, insulation and energy costs. In cold climates where heat is used more frequently, those using delivered fuels will save more money with a heat pump than those using natural gas. However, some are concerned that extreme cold temperatures affect heat pump efficiency."A lot of folks will probably hear heat pumps don't work where it's really cold. And that's just not true," Kanj said. "Many of the modern heat pumps work into negative Fahrenheit temperatures."For example, the Mitsubishi H2i still keeps working down to minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit. Below these temperatures, heat pumps can lose efficiency and need more energy to operate. Electricity costs in your area can also impact how much you save with a heat pump. Homes with poor insulation or drafty doors and windows may use more electricity to maintain indoor temperatures. Kanj recommends a home energy audit to make your home as efficient as possible.Expensive electric bills might be an issue for those in states with high rates, such as Hawaii, Connecticut and Texas. But heat pumps are more efficient than traditional systems, so it may not be as much as you think. For example, the Pennsylvania homeowner's electricity bill increased by only $15 after switching to a heat pump, and they still saved money overall by eliminating heating oil costs.It depends on your heating fuelThe type of fuel you use for heating impacts how much money you can save with a heat pump."If folks are using delivered fuels in their household, then we think there's a high likelihood those would save by switching to a heat pump," Kanj said. "Folks in the southeast and areas with more tempered climates have a higher likelihood of saving money too."The homeowner from the Pennsylvania case study saved $800 in their first year with a heat pump compared with the previous year using air conditioning and heating oil. The estimated annual savings from switching to a heat pump from delivered fuels is $810 more than switching from natural gas. "The savings in natural gas is less, but if you live in a place where you use more air conditioning a heat pump could help you save more," Kanj said. Heat pumps may not drastically reduce your bill if you already have cheap heating fuel, like natural gas. But prices are expected to rise in 2025. So installing a heat pump offers long-term energy efficiency, savings and potential environmental benefits when powered by renewable sources like solar energy. Heat pump savings comparisonHere's how much you could save with a heat pump based on your current fuel type, according to Rewiring America. Fuel typeAnnual estimated savingsDelivered fuels (propane or heating oil)$840Furnace or baseboard heat$780Natural gas$60 How much does it cost to run a furnace and air conditioner?Heating and cooling costs vary, and your heating fuel also plays a major role. Natural gas, electricity, propane and heating fuel are the most popular heating fuels, but usage varies by region. Natural gas is the most common heating fuel, used in Source: https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/from-heating-oil-to-heat-pump-one-homeowners-savings-story/#ftag=CAD590a51e #from #heating #oil #heat #pump #one #homeowner039s #savings #story

“Wherever I go, the wind follows. And the wind smells like rain.” If those words came from the mouth of Humphrey Bogart or Edward G. Robinson in a crime flick from the 1930s or ’40s, they would sound like the cry of a tortured soul, living in the dregs of society. But because they come from the mouth of Nicolas Cage in the movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, they sound like melodramatic jokes, just as silly as anything said by the Looney Tunes-esque Spider-Ham, voiced by John Mulaney. And Cage is now reprising his role as Spider-Man Noir for the upcoming series Spider-Noir. But as the show’s first teaser reveals, the live-action Amazon MGM series has done away with the goofy tone of the movie that preceded it. Presented in black and white, the show is all moody visuals and implications of violence, in which a morally conflicted Spider-Man, still in his fedora and trench coat, does battle with the 1930s criminal underworld. As surprising as this shift may be to those who love the Spider-Verse movies, Spider-Noir is drawing its inspiration from the comics, and that’s a good thing. Marvel’s Great Depression The first issue of the 2008-2009 miniseries Spider-Man: Noir, written by David Hine and Fabrice Sapolsky and illustrated by Carmine Di Giandomenico, sees the police busting into the offices of Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson, only to find Spider-Man standing over him. Images such as this are well-known to fans of the wallcrawler, but this one is different. It’s not just that this scene takes place in 1933, nearly 30 full years before Spider-Man makes his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15. It’s also that Jameson has been shot to death and Spider-Man, dressed in a black trench coat (no fedora here), is holding the gun. Of course Spidey didn’t do it, and the series follows his investigation into Jameson’s murder. But the very shock of the image does underscore the tone of Spider-Man: Noir. Gone is the quippy Spidey, with his relationship problems and lovable hard-luck. In its place is a Spidey who dwells on the edges of society. He’s still Peter Parker, but he now lives among the downtrodden who lost everything in the Great Depression, listening to the socialist speeches delivered by his Aunt May, reimagined here as an Emma Goldman-type figure. Surprising as that description sounds, it follows the original appeal of Marvel Comics, described by Stan Lee as taking place in “the world outside your window.” 1933 was a period of great social change, with the excesses of the Roaring ’20s still enjoyed by some while others were consumed by the ravages of the stock market crash. Hitler has just become the German Chancellor, but a mistrust of the institutions that had failed them and a general nativism and xenophobia kept most Americans from seeing yet another world war on the horizon. Instead most Americans turned their attention to more immediate enemies, which include the upper classes who wanted to cling to Gilded Age power (and the institutions who supported them), as well as immigrants who continue to make their way to the U.S. All of those tensions inform Spider-Man: Noir, making for a more morally complex story than one would expect. The teenage Peter Parker is still the pure-hearted kid we know and love, but the general cynicism of the world gives him no clear moral standing as he fights Norman Osborn, aka the Goblin, and his thugs. Seriously Dark The Spider-Man Noir of Into the Spider-Verse played more like a parody of a film noir, which literally translates to “black film,” as coined by French critics analyzing moody American crime pictures of the 1940s and ’50s made in the wake of this era. In those films, the hero was a a hardboiled cynic, a la the detectives in The Big Heat or The Maltese Falcon. But in Spider-Verse, he’s a buffoon to be laughed at for his melodrama and inability to understand color. It’s a good joke, but not the sort of thing that can sustain an entire television series. So it’s a good thing that Spider-Noir seems to be taking its cues from the comics instead of the movie. Granted, though, that some things need to be changed. Even if Spidey remains masked, Cage sounds every bit like the 61-year-old he is, and no amount of digital de-aging will make him into the young teen from the comics. Thus he can’t quite be the same innocent he was in the comics, nor can he have a firebrand Aunt May. She and Ben would be long gone by the time sexagenarian Spidey is working. However, she could still have been a leftist, perhaps a union organizer or suffragist. More than a matter of political preference, though, the depiction of Spider-Noir’s Aunt May matters because the series cannot be a bunch of winking nods at movies and literature of the ’30s and ’40s. That worked for maybe 10 minutes of screen time in Spider-Verse, but it won’t hold a series—in part because modern audiences don’t know enough about film noir to get the reference. Instead it needs to be a story grounded in a type of reality, especially because it has a fantasy character at the center. Spider-Man: Noir and its sequel miniseries The Eye of the Beholder are a great model for the show and, if this first teaser is any indication, the model that Spider-Noir intends to follow. Spider-Noir will stream on MGM+ in 2026. Source: https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/spider-noir-teaser-retains-the-spirit-of-the-marvel-comics/ #spidernoir #teaser #retains #the #spirit #marvel #comics

MCP-Use is an open-source library that lets you connect any LLM to any MCP server, giving your agents tool access like web browsing, file operations, and more — all without relying on closed-source clients. In this tutorial, we’ll use langchain-groq and MCP-Use’s built-in conversation memory to build a simple chatbot that can interact with tools via MCP.  Step 1: Setting Up the Environment Installing uv package manager We will first set up our environment and start with installing the uv package manager. For Mac or Linux: curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh For Windows (PowerShell): powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex" Creating a new directory and activating a virtual environment We will then create a new project directory and initialize it with uv uv init mcp-use-demo cd mcp-use-demo We can now create and activate a virtual environment. For Mac or Linux: uv venv source .venv/bin/activate For Windows: uv venv .venv\Scripts\activate Installing Python dependencies We will now install the required dependencies uv add mcp-use langchain-groq python-dotenv Step 2: Setting Up the Environment Variables Groq API Key To use Groq’s LLMs: Visit Groq Console and generate an API key. Create a .env file in your project directory and add the following line: GROQ_API_KEY=<YOUR_API_KEY>  Replace <YOUR_API_KEY> with the key you just generated. Brave Search API Key This tutorial uses the Brave Search MCP Server. Get your Brave Search API key from: Brave Search API Create a file named mcp.json in the project root with the following content: { "mcpServers": { "brave-search": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search" ], "env": { "BRAVE_API_KEY": "<YOUR_BRAVE_SEARCH_API>" } } } } Replace <YOUR_BRAVE_SEARCH_API> with your actual Brave API key. Node JS Some MCP servers (including Brave Search) require npx, which comes with Node.js. Download the latest version of Node.js from nodejs.org Run the installer. Leave all settings as default and complete the installation Using other servers If you’d like to use a different MCP server, simply replace the contents of mcp.json with the configuration for that server. Step 3: Implementing the chatbot and integrating the MCP server Create an app.py file in the directory and add the following content: Importing the libraries from dotenv import load_dotenv from langchain_groq import ChatGroq from mcp_use import MCPAgent, MCPClient import os import sys import warnings warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", category=ResourceWarning) This section loads environment variables and imports required modules for LangChain, MCP-Use, and Groq. It also suppresses ResourceWarning for cleaner output. Setting up the chatbot async def run_chatbot(): """ Running a chat using MCPAgent's built in conversation memory """ load_dotenv() os.environ["GROQ_API_KEY"] = os.getenv("GROQ_API_KEY") configFile = "mcp.json" print("Starting chatbot...") # Creating MCP client and LLM instance client = MCPClient.from_config_file(configFile) llm = ChatGroq(model="llama-3.1-8b-instant") # Creating an agent with memory enabled agent = MCPAgent( llm=llm, client=client, max_steps=15, memory_enabled=True, verbose=False ) This section loads the Groq API key from the .env file and initializes the MCP client using the configuration provided in mcp.json. It then sets up the LangChain Groq LLM and creates a memory-enabled agent to handle conversations. Implementing the chatbot # Add this in the run_chatbot function print("\n-----Interactive MCP Chat----") print("Type 'exit' or 'quit' to end the conversation") print("Type 'clear' to clear conversation history") try: while True: user_input = input("\nYou: ") if user_input.lower() in ["exit", "quit"]: print("Ending conversation....") break if user_input.lower() == "clear": agent.clear_conversation_history() print("Conversation history cleared....") continue print("\nAssistant: ", end="", flush=True) try: response = await agent.run(user_input) print(response) except Exception as e: print(f"\nError: {e}") finally: if client and client.sessions: await client.close_all_sessions() This section enables interactive chatting, allowing the user to input queries and receive responses from the assistant. It also supports clearing the chat history when requested. The assistant’s responses are displayed in real-time, and the code ensures that all MCP sessions are closed cleanly when the conversation ends or is interrupted. Running the app if __name__ == "__main__": import asyncio try: asyncio.run(run_chatbot()) except KeyboardInterrupt: print("Session interrupted. Goodbye!") finally: sys.stderr = open(os.devnull, "w") This section runs the asynchronous chatbot loop, managing continuous interaction with the user. It also handles keyboard interruptions gracefully, ensuring the program exits without errors when the user terminates the session. You can find the entire code here Step 4: Running the app To run the app, run the following command uv run app.py This will start the app, and you can interact with the chatbot and use the server for the session Arham IslamI am a Civil Engineering Graduate (2022) from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and I have a keen interest in Data Science, especially Neural Networks and their application in various areas.Arham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/Implementing an AgentQL Model Context Protocol (MCP) ServerArham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/Implementing An Airbnb and Excel MCP ServerArham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/How to Create a Custom Model Context Protocol (MCP) Client Using GeminiArham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/Implementing Persistent Memory Using a Local Knowledge Graph in Claude Desktop Source: https://www.marktechpost.com/2025/05/13/implementing-an-llm-agent-with-tool-access-using-mcp-use/ #implementing #llm #agent #with #tool #access #using #mcpuse

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More A new report released by the publicly traded market research and intelligence firm SimilarWeb—covering global web traffic patterns for AI-related platforms for 12 weeks through May 9, 2025—offers a helpful look for enterprises and interested users into the current landscape of generative AI usage online. Using proprietary analytics based on site visits, the report tracks trends across sectors including general-purpose AI tools, coding assistants, content generators, and more. It also maps the downstream disruption of traditional sectors like education, search, and digital freelancing. Why this report matters to enterprise technical decision-makers For enterprise AI leaders—particularly those responsible for model deployment, orchestration, or data integration—this report is more than just a consumer trend snapshot. It’s a map of user familiarity and expectation. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, and Grok are what employees are already using at home or experimenting with informally at work. If your internal AI apps or copilots don’t match the baseline experience offered by these tools, you risk user rejection and poor adoption. Moreover, selecting the same models with high external traction for your internal orchestration pipelines or RAG deployments can cut onboarding time and training costs, since your team will already know the interface and behavior. In short, aligning your enterprise stack with the tools dominating usage charts may be the fastest path to trust, usability, and value delivery. Here are five key findings from the report: Developer-focused AI tools are surging in adoption, with traffic to the category up 75% over the past 12 weeks. That growth includes Lovable, which exploded with a jaw-dropping +17,600% spike, and Cursor, which grew steadily month over month. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in IDEs and continuous integration workflows, usage patterns suggest these tools are no longer just experimental—they’re now seen as essential infrastructure for modern software teams. It also helps explain why OpenAI reportedly tried to buy Cursor and has also reportedly finalized a deal to purchase rival AI coding platform Windsurf — as the usage of these tools explodes, OpenAI wants to get a larger cut of the action and revenue, especially since its models are often used as the engine behind-the-scenes for these very users. Two of the fastest-growing AI platforms of the year, Grok and DeepSeek, show just how quickly hype can turn into burnout. Grok traffic skyrocketed more than 1,000,000% in March—driven by its branding as an uncensored yet powerfully intelligent platform and Elon Musk association—before falling more than 5,200% by early May. DeepSeek saw a similar arc, peaking at +17,701% growth before crashing -41%. The takeaway: virality can’t replace retention, especially compared to AI leader OpenAI and also legacy tech brand Google. Once among the most accessible use cases for generative AI, writing and content tools are seeing user fatigue. Category traffic fell 11% overall, with platforms like Wordtune (-35%), Jasper (-19%), and Rytr (-23%) all trending downward. Only Originality.ai bucked the trend with steady traffic gains, likely due to its focus on AI detection rather than generation. This plateau suggests content saturation and possibly growing skepticism over quality or usefulness. Separately from the SimilarWeb report, I think that because chatbots already use a default text input/output field as their main user interface, even for multimodal interactions, the fact is that most users who would be interested in this capability will go to model providers like OpenAI’s website for ChatGPT (and mobile apps), or Google’s Gemini, or even Anthropic’s Claude, directly, rather than seek out a separate AI writing tool. Design-focused AI remains a mixed bag. While overall category usage dipped slightly (-6% over the 12-week window), some platforms made outsized gains. Getimg posted a massive +1,532% surge, while Artbreeder jumped +100%. Others, like Stable Diffusion and Looka, saw double-digit declines. The erratic pattern may reflect a crowded landscape of tools that offer similar functionality but compete on novelty or aesthetics. 5. AI is eating up legacy tech such as crowdsourcing and search Traditional digital services are showing slow but steady declines across the board—likely the result of AI substitution. Freelance platforms such as Fiverr (-17%) and Upwork (-19%) are losing traffic, possibly as users turn to AI tools for tasks like design, writing, and code. Search engines such as Yahoo (-12%) and Bing (-14%) continue a multi-quarter drop in visits, while consumer EdTech companies like Chegg (-62%) and CourseHero (-68%) are in free fall. The signs point to early-stage AI disruption beginning to erode the utility of some legacy platforms. It also offers a hint to enterprises that either leverage or create such services — the time may be coming to reduce dependency on them, either from a revenue generation, marketing, or overall business perspective. Daily insights on business use cases with VB Daily If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured. Source: https://venturebeat.com/ai/similarwebs-new-ai-usage-report-reveals-5-surprising-findings-including-explosive-growth-in-coding-tools/ #similarwebs #new #usage #report #reveals #surprising #findings #including #explosive #growth #coding #tools

Japanese-inspired architecture has long captivated design enthusiasts with its delicate balance of simplicity, harmony with nature, and ingenious use of space. Whether nestled in bustling metropolises or tranquil natural settings, these structures reveal the timeless wisdom and innovative spirit of Japanese design philosophy. We have curated a collection of ten amazing projects from around the world that showcase the enduring influence and adaptability of Japanese aesthetics in modern architecture. These ten Japanese-inspired architectural designs embody the principles that have made Japanese design admired worldwide—mindful minimalism, deep respect for nature, ingenious use of space, and an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. These stunning designs offer a window into the timeless and transformative power of Japanese aesthetics. 1. The Small House on a Corner Lot In the heart of Tokyo’s dense urban fabric, KOMINORU Design’s Small House on a Corner Lot is a testament to the Japanese principle of making the most out of every inch. Occupying just 30 square meters, this three-story wooden home embodies “Ma”—the concept of negative space—by transforming constraints into opportunities for ingenuity. The architects skillfully navigated Tokyo’s stringent building regulations, leveraging the unique characteristics of a corner lot and maximizing the building’s footprint to create a surprisingly airy and spacious environment. Exposed timber columns and beams, a nod to traditional Japanese craftsmanship, merge with modern fire safety requirements, resulting in interiors that exude both warmth and structural clarity. What we like Exceptionally efficient use of limited urban space, making it ideal for cities with high population density. Beautiful interplay of exposed timber and modern design, delivering warmth and architectural character. What we dislike Limited outdoor space due to the compact footprint, which may not appeal to families or those who desire a garden. The vertical layout may pose accessibility challenges for residents with mobility issues. 2. eONE XL The eONE XL by Escape elevates micro-living to new heights with its Japanese-inspired design and thoughtful layout. Built on a double-axle trailer, this tiny home reinterprets the Japanese tradition of maximizing natural light and space within modest dimensions. The exterior features charred wood cladding—a nod to the ancient Japanese technique of shou sugi ban—that not only protects the structure but also lends a timeless elegance. Expansive windows bathe the interior in daylight, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels much larger than its footprint. Inside, the open-plan kitchen is both spacious and highly functional, equipped with modern, all-electric appliances and generous cabinetry. The emphasis on clean lines, minimal clutter, and efficient storage solutions reflects Japanese design’s focus on harmony, utility, and serenity. The eONE XL is a compelling example of how traditional Japanese principles can be reimagined for contemporary, sustainable living. What we like Bright, light-filled interiors create a sense of spaciousness uncommon in tiny homes. Durable, low-maintenance charred wood exterior enhances longevity and aesthetic appeal. What we dislike Trailer-based design may not suit those seeking a permanent foundation home. Limited customization options for buyers who desire unique layouts or features. 3. Bonzai French firm Baluchon’s Bonzai tiny home distills Japanese space-saving ingenuity into a charming, ultra-compact dwelling. At just 4.5 meters long, Bonzai is even smaller than most tiny homes but manages to feel inviting and functional through clever design choices inspired by Japanese minimalism. The warm red cedar exterior harmonizes with nature, while the aluminum roof and spruce interior create a cozy, yet modern ambiance. Natural materials and efficient insulation, blending linen, hemp, and cotton, ensure comfort throughout the seasons. The compact rooftop deck is accessible via an exterior ladder, providing a peaceful retreat that echoes the Japanese appreciation for blending indoor and outdoor living. Despite its diminutive size, every corner is thoughtfully utilized, demonstrating how Japanese design values efficiency without sacrificing beauty or comfort. What we like Highly portable and space-efficient, ideal for individuals or couples seeking minimal, flexible living. Uses eco-friendly, natural insulation materials for year-round comfort. What we dislike Extremely limited interior space may be challenging for long-term living or entertaining guests. Minimal storage options could be a drawback for those with more belongings. 4. Blue Ocean Dome Shigeru Ban’s Blue Ocean Dome Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka is an inspiring showcase of sustainability and Japanese design philosophy. Constructed from cardboard tubes, laminated bamboo, and carbon-fiber reinforced plastics, the pavilion exemplifies the innovative use of renewable materials—a key tenet of Japanese architecture. The domed structure, with its translucent polycarbonate skin, creates a light-filled, welcoming environment while highlighting the importance of ocean conservation. Ban’s approach emphasizes adaptability, with the lightweight design allowing for easy disassembly and minimal waste post-expo. The use of laminated bamboo and cardboard tubes addresses Japanese building codes and also pays homage to traditional materials in a modern, environmentally responsible context. What we like Exemplary use of sustainable, renewable building materials. Modular and lightweight design allows for easy relocation and minimal environmental impact. What we dislike Temporary nature means it may not provide long-term utility or permanence. Cardboard and bamboo materials may offer less durability compared to conventional construction methods. 5. 45° TAKUYAHOSOKAI’s 45° Cake Shop & Café in Niigata is a striking example of Japanese architecture’s integration with nature and innovative spatial concepts. Set within an ancient, sprawling forest, the café’s unique layout features rotating spaces oriented at 45-degree angles, creating a dynamic and unexpected experience. Elevated above the ground, the structure takes full advantage of the gentle terrain and dappled sunlight, blurring the boundaries between the built and natural environments. The café’s open design and panoramic views invite visitors to engage with the changing seasons, fostering a deep connection to the landscape. This project encapsulates the Japanese reverence for nature, subtlety in design, and the embrace of non-traditional forms to create memorable, emotionally resonant spaces. What we like Unmatched integration with natural surroundings provides a tranquil, immersive experience. Innovative spatial orientation creates a unique and memorable visit. What we dislike The unconventional layout may challenge accessibility or wayfinding for some guests. Elevated design could complicate construction and increase maintenance needs. 6. Cs Somme Cafe The Cs Somme Cafe in Fukuoka, designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates, is a masterful fusion of safety, beauty, and environmental consciousness. Its star feature is a shimmering web-like mesh canopy, constructed from interlocking steel components that form an earthquake-resistant shell—a vital consideration in Japan’s seismic landscape. The canopy acts as both a protective structure and a design statement, filtering sunlight and reducing solar gain to create a comfortable, energy-efficient interior. Expansive glazing on one side offers panoramic views of lush gardens, while the integration of arches and mesh creates a modern reinterpretation of traditional Japanese forms. What we like Earthquake-resistant design enhances safety in a region prone to seismic activity. Mesh canopy reduces energy consumption and provides stunning visual appeal. What we dislike Complex steel structure may increase initial construction costs. Open mesh design may offer less protection from harsh weather conditions. 7. Yuputira House On the shores of Miyako Island, Mariko Mori’s Yuputira House stands as a sculptural tribute to the ocean and the Japanese spirit of minimalism. The coral-shaped, pure white concrete form echoes the curves and organic shapes found in nature, embodying the concept of “wabi-sabi”—the beauty of imperfection and transience. Circular skylights and sweeping curves fill the interior with daylight, creating a serene, almost ethereal atmosphere that connects residents to the sea. The absence of straight lines and the seamless merging of rooms reflect the Japanese preference for fluidity and harmony. By collaborating with local craftsmen, Mori honors traditional techniques while pushing the boundaries of modern design. What we like Unique, sculptural form creates an inspiring and peaceful living environment. Abundant natural light and ocean views enhance well-being and relaxation. What we dislike Custom, organic shapes may complicate construction and increase costs. The ultra-minimalist layout might not suit those who prefer defined, functional spaces. 8. Ephemeral Bubble MAD’s Ephemeral Bubble installation in Murono Village is a poetic dialogue between the old and the new, merging a century-old wooden house with a futuristic, translucent bubble. Crafted from a lightweight PVC membrane, the bubble seems to breathe alongside the historic structure, offering a temporary, flexible space for performances and ceremonies. The design draws inspiration from nature, mimicking the lightness and impermanence of air, and invites visitors to contemplate the passage of time and the boundaries between inside and out. At night, the installation glows softly, transforming into a lantern and creating an atmosphere of gentle illumination—an effect reminiscent of Japanese paper lanterns. The Ephemeral Bubble exemplifies the Japanese appreciation for temporality, adaptability, and the seamless fusion of tradition with innovation. What we like Striking juxtaposition of historical and contemporary elements encourages cultural reflection. Lightweight, flexible design allows for creative and temporary uses. What we dislike Temporary structure offers limited durability and functional lifespan. PVC material may not align with sustainability goals for long-term projects. 9. Godai Pavilion The Godai Pavilion by Baldó Arquitectura in northern Spain demonstrates the global reach of Japanese design philosophy. Inspired by the five elements of godai—fire, earth, water, wind, and space—the pool house features an overhanging bamboo roof and transparent facades that frame the rural landscape. The use of bamboo slats, arranged according to the Fibonacci sequence, not only references traditional tatami rooms but also modulates privacy and natural light. The design’s gradual transition from solid to void mirrors the Japanese understanding of space as a continuum, not a fixed boundary. Ceilings inspired by origami further enrich the spatial experience, adding layers of texture and meaning. What we like Harmonious blend of privacy, light control, and landscape connectivity. Use of sustainable bamboo and innovative geometries for environmental and visual impact. What we dislike Open, transparent design may reduce insulation and climate control efficiency. Custom bamboo work might require specialized maintenance and care. 10. Ishigaki Earth Ishigaki Earth, designed by Sou Fujimoto, is a visionary retreat that reimagines the relationship between architecture and landscape. Located on Ishigaki Island’s lush coast, the villa’s circular form and undulating green roof dissolve the conventional division between inside and outside. Large roof openings frame expansive views of the sky and sea, fostering a sense of unity with the environment—a hallmark of Japanese design. Fujimoto’s approach draws on the concept of “engawa,” the traditional Japanese idea of a threshold space that connects the built and natural worlds. The villa’s organic curves and green roof enhance aesthetics and also contribute to sustainability by improving insulation and supporting local biodiversity. What we like Seamless integration with the landscape enhances both ecological and emotional well-being. Green roof provides natural insulation and supports local flora. What we dislike Large, custom property may require significant resources and maintenance. Island location could limit access to urban amenities and services. The post 10 Best Japanese-Inspired Designs That Are Redefining Modern Architecture first appeared on Yanko Design. Source: https://www.yankodesign.com/2025/05/13/10-best-japanese-inspired-designs-that-are-redefining-modern-architecture/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-best-japanese-inspired-designs-that-are-redefining-modern-architecture #best #japaneseinspired #designs #that #are #redefining #modern #architecture

Microsoft is negotiating a more lenient approach for customers who are hesitant to abandon Windows 10. No, Microsoft isn’t extending the support deadline for Windows 10. That’s still October 14, 2025. Instead, Microsoft is saying that if you use the Microsoft 365 Apps platform — Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook — it will still issue security updates well past the Windows 10 expiration date or until October 10, 2028. Microsoft’s updated lifecycle document covering the extension was unearthed by The Verge. Although Microsoft has made it quite clear for years that Windows 10’s support is ending this October, it has made clear that consumers can pay for extended Windows 10 support if they don’t want to make the leap to Windows 11. Extending the Windows 365 apps support window makes it even easier. However, there’s still a catch. You’ll need to have an active Microsoft 365 license, of course. But Microsoft also says that if you raise a support ticket with Microsoft 365 while on Windows 10, and that issue doesn’t occur on Windows 11, don’t expect Microsoft to solve your problem. Instead, it will recommend that you move first to Windows 11 and then maybe provide some troubleshooting assistance. You also can’t log bugs, either. So yes, Microsoft will help, but only to an extent. Microsoft is still pushing you toward Windows 11. Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2780749/microsoft-extends-windows-10-support-but-just-for-microsoft-365.html #microsoft #extends #windows #support #but #only #for #users

Perched on a sun-drenched slope in Bend, Oregon, the Tetherow Overlook House by Hacker is a masterclass in architectural harmony with its environment. Designed as both a personal retreat and a cultural space, the 7,600-square-foot home merges bold form with a serene sense of place, drawing directly from the dramatic topography and textures of Central Oregon’s high desert. The structure unfolds along a sandy bluff, revealing itself through a series of staggered platforms that mirror the land’s natural contours. Rather than dominating its environment, the home gently embeds itself into the terrain, using angular concrete and carefully faceted walls to echo the jagged character of nearby volcanic formations. At the heart of the design are three primary volumes – each wrapped in a uniform skin of coarse wooden slats – that delineate the home’s core functions. These textured structures contain the garage and studio, sleeping quarters, and dining area. Their rhythm and placement offer a shifting spatial experience as one moves between enclosed interiors and open-air zones, where the landscape and sky feel at arm’s reach. Entry into the home begins at the site’s highest elevation, where the approach is marked by a courtyard and a dramatic steel pivot door tucked beneath a cantilevered bedroom wing. Inside, a subtle palette of materials – stone, wood, and metal – extends from room to room and blurs the boundary between interior and exterior. Every element has been chosen to reinforce the residence’s connection to its environment while maintaining a backdrop that complements the owners’ extensive collection of modern art. The exterior design is both rugged and refined. The weathered timber cladding, continuous across walls and windows, pays homage to the region’s fire-scarred forests and weather-beaten tree snags. Carved planes and chamfered edges lend the building a raw monumentality, reflecting the eroded yet resilient geology that surrounds it. To protect against the harsh desert sun and wind, varying types of shelter are factored into the design. The house’s internal organization plays with levels and layers, creating visual and physical flow through its varied floor heights. The living areas unfold in sequence: a lounge, kitchen, and sunken sitting room step down in concert with the hillside. The dining space, elevated slightly above the kitchen, occupies a separate box that projects outward like a lookout post, offering panoramic views of the desert beyond. Above, the top floor serves as a tranquil private domain, featuring a primary suite, guest accommodations, and a workspace, all arranged around a light-filled gallery that overlooks the social spaces below. A refined wooden screen flanks the staircase, providing a visual filter between zones while echoing the vertical exterior cladding. Descending further, a secluded lower level is embedded into the slope, offering a quiet haven for recreation and relaxation with its own entertainment zone and spa area. For more information on the Tetherow Overlook House or Hacker, visit hackerarchitects.com. Photography by Jeremy Bittermann. Source: https://design-milk.com/tetherow-overlook-is-a-sculptural-retreat-in-oregons-high-desert/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tetherow-overlook-is-a-sculptural-retreat-in-oregons-high-desert #tetherow #overlook #sculptural #retreat #oregons #high #desert

We launched the TDS Author Payment Program back in February, and have since announced a major update—with a far more inclusive earning tier—just last month. Today we’re happy to share that the Program, which has already seen dozens of authors receive their first payout, is now a lot more streamlined and user-friendly thanks to a new Stripe integration. Starting this week, both existing and new authors can connect their Stripe account to their author profile on our Contributor Portal. This will ensure payments are more timely, less clunky, and visible in the same place where authors also draft articles, check their stats, and communicate with our team. All other elements of the Program remain the same—including the conditions for eligibility and the specific criteria articles have to meet to earn on TDS (you can always review the details we’ve shared in our announcement post). We’ve already contacted all current participants in the Author Payment Program with instructions on next steps, and everyone joining TDS as a contributor (hey, that could be you!) going forward will also be invited to connect their Stripe account. If you’ve published with us before and joined the Author Payment Program, you can go ahead and complete the process in a few minutes — you’ll find detailed instructions in our FAQs. Finally, a note on the payment schedule: we’ll process payments to our authors on the 15th of each month following their article’s 30-day earning window. For example, if you published an article on April 18, 2025, your earnings window would last until May 18, 2025. At that point you’ll already see the estimated payout in your analytics dashboard, and the payment will be processed in the next payout cycle starting June 15, 2025. You can learn more about our payout cycle here.  We look forward to more and more authors joining and enjoying the benefits of the Author Payment Program; if you ever have any questions about it, feel free to reach out at paidauthorprogram@towardsdatascience.com. The post TDS Authors Can Now Receive Payments Via Stripe appeared first on Towards Data Science. Source: https://towardsdatascience.com/tds-authors-can-now-receive-payments-via-stripe/ #tds #authors #can #now #receive #payments #via #stripe

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More A new report released by the publicly traded market research and intelligence firm SimilarWeb—covering global web traffic patterns for AI-related platforms for 12 weeks through May 9, 2025—offers a helpful look for enterprises and interested users into the current landscape of generative AI usage online. Using proprietary analytics based on site visits, the report tracks trends across sectors including general-purpose AI tools, coding assistants, content generators, and more. It also maps the downstream disruption of traditional sectors like education, search, and digital freelancing. Why this report matters to enterprise technical decision-makers For enterprise AI leaders—particularly those responsible for model deployment, orchestration, or data integration—this report is more than just a consumer trend snapshot. It’s a map of user familiarity and expectation. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, and Grok are what employees are already using at home or experimenting with informally at work. If your internal AI apps or copilots don’t match the baseline experience offered by these tools, you risk user rejection and poor adoption. Moreover, selecting the same models with high external traction for your internal orchestration pipelines or RAG deployments can cut onboarding time and training costs, since your team will already know the interface and behavior. In short, aligning your enterprise stack with the tools dominating usage charts may be the fastest path to trust, usability, and value delivery. Here are five key findings from the report: Developer-focused AI tools are surging in adoption, with traffic to the category up 75% over the past 12 weeks. That growth includes Lovable, which exploded with a jaw-dropping +17,600% spike, and Cursor, which grew steadily month over month. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in IDEs and continuous integration workflows, usage patterns suggest these tools are no longer just experimental—they’re now seen as essential infrastructure for modern software teams. It also helps explain why OpenAI reportedly tried to buy Cursor and has also reportedly finalized a deal to purchase rival AI coding platform Windsurf — as the usage of these tools explodes, OpenAI wants to get a larger cut of the action and revenue, especially since its models are often used as the engine behind-the-scenes for these very users. Two of the fastest-growing AI platforms of the year, Grok and DeepSeek, show just how quickly hype can turn into burnout. Grok traffic skyrocketed more than 1,000,000% in March—driven by its branding as an uncensored yet powerfully intelligent platform and Elon Musk association—before falling more than 5,200% by early May. DeepSeek saw a similar arc, peaking at +17,701% growth before crashing -41%. The takeaway: virality can’t replace retention, especially compared to AI leader OpenAI and also legacy tech brand Google. Once among the most accessible use cases for generative AI, writing and content tools are seeing user fatigue. Category traffic fell 11% overall, with platforms like Wordtune (-35%), Jasper (-19%), and Rytr (-23%) all trending downward. Only Originality.ai bucked the trend with steady traffic gains, likely due to its focus on AI detection rather than generation. This plateau suggests content saturation and possibly growing skepticism over quality or usefulness. Separately from the SimilarWeb report, I think that because chatbots already use a default text input/output field as their main user interface, even for multimodal interactions, the fact is that most users who would be interested in this capability will go to model providers like OpenAI’s website for ChatGPT (and mobile apps), or Google’s Gemini, or even Anthropic’s Claude, directly, rather than seek out a separate AI writing tool. Design-focused AI remains a mixed bag. While overall category usage dipped slightly (-6% over the 12-week window), some platforms made outsized gains. Getimg posted a massive +1,532% surge, while Artbreeder jumped +100%. Others, like Stable Diffusion and Looka, saw double-digit declines. The erratic pattern may reflect a crowded landscape of tools that offer similar functionality but compete on novelty or aesthetics. 5. AI is eating up legacy tech such as crowdsourcing and search Traditional digital services are showing slow but steady declines across the board—likely the result of AI substitution. Freelance platforms such as Fiverr (-17%) and Upwork (-19%) are losing traffic, possibly as users turn to AI tools for tasks like design, writing, and code. Search engines such as Yahoo (-12%) and Bing (-14%) continue a multi-quarter drop in visits, while consumer EdTech companies like Chegg (-62%) and CourseHero (-68%) are in free fall. The signs point to early-stage AI disruption beginning to erode the utility of some legacy platforms. It also offers a hint to enterprises that either leverage or create such services — the time may be coming to reduce dependency on them, either from a revenue generation, marketing, or overall business perspective. Daily insights on business use cases with VB Daily If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured. Source: https://venturebeat.com/ai/similarwebs-new-ai-usage-report-reveals-5-surprising-findings-including-explosive-growth-in-coding-tools/ #similarwebs #new #usage #report #reveals #surprising #findings #including #explosive #growth #coding #tools

Editor’s note: As of June 1, 2023, the Unity 2022 LTS is now available.When I talk to our partners, customers, and those of you who work day to day with Unity’s Editor and runtime, one thing that keeps popping up is the desire to be more ambitious with your game design. You want tools that enable you to create with fewer constraints, delivering player experiences that wow and cause wonder.Unity 2022 LTS is designed to give you that power. You’ll discover that you can rely on the new LTS release to create sophisticated DOTS-powered games, multiplayer experiences, immersive HD environments, and visuals that perform great on any platform you target. And we remain committed to ensuring you have wide platform support with amazing tools for any device in this release.So, I couldn’t wait any longer to tell you about the Unity 2022 LTS release, which is just around the corner.On June 22, 2023, we’ll host a multi-hour livestream diving into some of our favorite features, so be sure to join us then by signing up to get notified. But if you’re like me and are waiting with bated breath to hear about the new features, I’ve got some inside knowledge for you right here.Let’s dive into some of the highlights from this release that I’m particularly excited about.Yes, DOTS is here! The team, led by Laurent Gibert and Joe Valenzuela, has delivered the first fully supported-for-production version of our Entity Component System (ECS), so you can now build with the full Data-Oriented Technology Stack (DOTS) solution – Burst compiler, C# Jobs System, and now ECS for Unity.Your most challenging projects require a game engine that provides power and flexibility. ECS for Unity offers the ability to gain greater control and determinism over data in memory and better runtime process scheduling. ECS is integrated into the Editor, so you can leverage your existing GameObject-based experience and use the power of Entities-based code when it’s beneficial.We’ll have more information about how you can harness the power of DOTS when Unity 2022 LTS is released, but you can engage with the team who actively participate in our forums here.With Unity 2022 LTS, we’re excited to support multiplayer games with a rapidly growing end-to-end ecosystem of creation workflows and cloud services. This is possible by tight integration between the Unity game engine and multiplayer services provided through Unity Gaming Services (UGS).We’re shipping the Netcode for Entities package with Unity 2022 LTS, fully supported for production. Netcode for Entities is a powerful networking feature to boost a game’s performance and capabilities. You’ll be able to increase the number of players, interactable objects, and backend server-side entities in competitive action games like first-person shooters and massive multiplayer online games.More than any other genre, multiplayer games rely on successful ongoing operations for live titles. That’s why we have a suite of multiplayer-specific services as part of UGS. Matchmaker, Friends, Leaderboards, and User-Generated Content are designed to simplify the implementation of multiplayer capabilities, while services like Relay, Lobby, Game Server Hosting (Multiplay), and Voice and Text Chat (Vivox) round out capabilities for your live game.To see our multiplayer functionality in action, we will also be releasing our new Megacity multiplayer sample in June, which is built on ECS for Unity and features UGS tools for hosting, matchmaking, authentication, and voice chat between players. This demo demonstrates how you can bring our powerful tools together in a fast-paced, competitive, third-person shooter that supports 64+ players.Immerse your players in beautiful, physically based environments with High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP). Unity LTS 2022 includes numerous features to enhance your game worlds for an even richer player experience.Introduce advanced procedural fog and volumetric effects using Volumetric Materials and Shader Graph to create atmospheric game environments such as haunted forests, desolate landscapes, or misty valleys.The new Water System enables you to add oceans, rivers, and underwater effects to your game environments. You can create realistic waves, ripples, foam, and more, as well as simulate underwater environments with advanced caustics, refraction, and reflection effects.Improvements to Cloud Layers with dynamic lighting and Volumetric clouds allow you to create even more realistic skies with clouds that change and move based on weather conditions, simply blending between different weather effects such as sunny and cloudy skies.A new update to the Spline package helps you procedurally generate paths, roads, or fences in your environments with greater precision for more organic and varied game environments with less manual work.The Universal Render Pipeline (URP) provides a scalable solution for high-quality graphics across platforms. Upgrades in this release allow you to create more realistic lighting in your scenes and achieve higher-quality visuals that scale across devices.Forward+ Rendering eliminates the light limit count so you can use more lights in a scene while maintaining performance. This feature is particularly useful if you want to achieve high-quality real-time lighting in your scenes.LOD crossfade which produces smoother graphic transitions as objects move closer or further away from the camera. Temporal Anti-aliasing (TAA) reduces aliasing problems such as pixelated and flickering edges to improve the overall visual quality of game scenes.Decal Layers allow you to add extra texture details in your scenes with control. You can use Decal Layers to filter and configure how different objects get affected by different Decal Projectors in a Scene.Customize your rendering experience with features like Shader Graph Full Screen Master Node and custom screen space effects. These allow you to create unique visual effects in games such as distortion or other types of post-processing, and they’re available in both URP and HDRP.Shader Variant Prefiltering significantly improves build time and memory optimization, reducing the build time and improving games’ overall performance.Finally, the Built-in Converter helps you to move existing projects from the Built-in Render Pipeline to URP, making it easier for you to take advantage of URP’s performance and scalability benefits.With Unity 2022 LTS, you can optimize your games for the latest platforms across mobile, console, desktop, and XR, with added performance and stability for key features.Maximize platform potential with increased performance and stability using the DirectX 12 graphics API on Windows and Xbox®. You can also experiment with the latest ray tracing support for Xbox® Series X|S and PlayStation®5, which allows for more realistic real-time lighting and reflections in game scenes.Iterate faster with the latest incremental player build process for Xbox®, iOS, PlayStation®5, and Nintendo Switch™*, which improves deployment efficiency, reducing time to market and improving overall game quality.Dig deeper into the performance of Android games with access to low-level data through the System Metrics Mali package from ARM. Games on Samsung devices can now take advantage of Adaptive Performance 4.0 with support for visual scripting. Better manage WebGL memory usage and gain native C++ multithreading along with support for touch controls and texture compression on web builds for mobile devices.Unity 2022 LTS expands your reach in XR with an updated XR Interaction toolkit (XRI) to enhance build times for PlayStation®VR2 and Meta Quest 2. Ensure your VR games run well across a variety of performant devices with late latching and motion vectors and improved graphics performance for games using Vulkan. These updated tools enable you to build immersive, high-fidelity XR experiences that can be deployed across multiple platforms.With a minimum of two years development and testing, Unity 2022 LTS has relied on user feedback and testing. Many of you have joined us on the journey through beta and Tech Stream releases, and I want to personally thank you for partnering with us to deliver the most stable Unity release in the 2022 cycle. And remember, LTS releases are supported for at least two years through biweekly updates, so we have you covered.Learn more about our 2022 LTS and the 2023.1 Tech Stream release in our GDC 2023 roadmap session.Wherever you are in your production process, Unity 2022 LTS offers resources to help you bring your project to the finish line and beyond. Get notified when LTS 2022 is available on release day by signing up for email updates.We hope this overview of the Unity 2022 LTS has given you a good idea of the powerful features and tools available in this release. We’re always eager to hear your feedback, questions, and ideas, so please keep the conversation going.Interact with other Unity creators and experts in our forums or directly through our platform roadmap. Catch our live streams on Twitch, and be sure to follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest news and announcements. We look forward to hearing what you think.*Nintendo Switch is a registered trademark of Nintendo. Source: https://unity.com/blog/engine-platform/unity-2022-lts-is-coming-in-june #unity #lts #coming #june