The video game industry is experiencing something that most consumer-facing businesses would consider remarkable: organized online campaigns from players are actually forcing studios to cancel projects or publicly walk back any association with AI-generated content.

Running With Scissors, the publisher behind the Postal shooter franchise, recently scrapped a title after players accused its trailer of containing AI-generated graphics. Goonswarm Games, the developer behind the canceled project, subsequently shut down entirely and cited six years of lost work alongside what it described as a flood of threats and accusations.

Sandfall Interactive’s “Obscur: Expedition 33” had its Indie Game Awards Game of the Year honor rescinded after the developer said it had considered AI-generated images, even though the final release contained none. Larian Studios, the developer behind Baldur’s Gate 3, faced immediate backlash after CEO Swen Vincke mentioned in an interview that the company was using generative AI to “explore ideas” for an upcoming release. Vincke later clarified on X that artists use AI only for reference images the way they would use “art books or Google,” and Larian executives eventually stated on Reddit that AI would play no role in final artwork.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Duolingo, no matter how you feel about it, accomplishes one thing: It makes practicing a skill every day easy. The application focuses on language, but it also offers math, music, and even chess lessons if you dig around a bit. There are many other subjects worth learning, though, and many ways you can use gamification to learn new skills and generally improve your life. Here are five I found:

Learn geography with Globo

Credit: Justin Pot

I love traveling and learning about the world, but I’ll admit there are some regions I don’t know well. Globo is an iOS and Android app that quizzes you on flags, capitals, and more, all while teaching you trivia along the way. There are courses for all the continents, if you want to focus on a specific region, or you can take the combined global course and work your way through the whole planet.

I’ve been playing with this for about a week and enjoying it for the most part. I like the way questions I answered wrong show up in future quizzes. It does feel like I’m going to run out of content fairly quickly, which is disappointing, but given that the application is free with no in-app subscriptions, I think it’s worth checking out.

Learn art history with Learn Art

Credit: Normand Martin

Learn Art is a free iPhone and iPad application by developer Normand Martin. With it, you’ll find a slideshow of classic art from European history. To learn the history of the piece, tap the screen. You can also take an interactive quiz on art history.

I’m going to be honest: Art history is very much not my subject. In playing with this for a couple days, though, I find myself able to identify more artists than I did before, and if nothing else, it’s nice to have access to high resolution scans of so many classic works of art right on my iPad. If you’re at all curious about art history, I’d say give it a spin. The app is free but there is an in-game currency you can earn either by answering questions correctly or spending money. In my testing this wasn’t too much of a burden.

Learn instruments with Yousician

Credit: Justin Pot

I’ve been meaning to get back into playing guitar for a while, so I’ve been testing various apps. Yousician seems like a great starting point, assuming in-person instruction isn’t an option. This application uses the microphone on your device so you can use a real instrument to learn actual songs. The guitar version, which I tried for a few days, combines video instruction with Guitar-Hero style practice sessions. There’s even a backing track during the early lessons, which might help anyone who’d prefer to play along to an actual song. This makes the early stages of learning an instrument, which can be a drag, feel fun.

There are also courses for piano, ukulele, bass, and singing. If you want to get a feel for it, there is a limited free version, but you might need to tap the “X” on the prompt to enter your credit card number if you don’t want to pay. Plans start at $7.49 per month.

Learn typing with TypingClub

Credit: Justin Pot

Wish your typing was faster, or more accurate? The free website TypingClub is perfect for this. It offers touch typing lessons starting from the very basics with tests to work your way up. Lessons unlock as you go. If the early lessons are too easy for you, you can always take a test to earn a higher placement.

Memorize anything with Anki’s flash cards

Credit: Justin Pot

I didn’t grow up in the U.S., meaning I didn’t learn the state capitols and locations as a kid. At one point I was tired of not knowing where anything is, so I downloaded Anki. This is an open source application for every platform that makes it easy to learn using flash cards. The system is all about self accountability: You report how easily you were able to come up with the right answer. The system is set up to keep exposing you to the things you find hard. You can design your own decks, if you want, or you can use any of the thousands of decks offered on the website. I, having mastered U.S. states, am moving on to learning the Mexican ones. I’m sure there’s something you’re interested in memorizing, too.

Europe is probing Elon Musk’s X for failing to take action to prevent the spread of AI-generated sexually explicit images including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), regulators said in a press release. The European Commission’s investigation could result in “further enforcement steps” against X, not long after it levied a $140 million fine against the platform.

“Sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation. With this investigation, we will determine whether X has met its legal obligations under the DSA [Digital Services Act], or whether it treated rights of European citizens — including those of women and children — as collateral damage of its service,” said the Commission’s executive VP, Henna Virkkunen in a statement.

The EU said that it will assess whether X took measures to reduce risks around the dissemination of illegal content when it deployed Grok onto the platform. Those risks include manipulated sexually explicit images including content that may amount to CSAM. “These risks seem to have materialized, exposing citizens in the EU to serious harm,” the Commission stated.

On top of the new inquiry, the EC is also expanding its 2023 investigation of X over its recommendation algorithm and tools used to prevent the spread of illicit content.

The investigation is coming at a delicate time for Europe, which is already in the Trump administration’s crosshairs over its scrutiny of American tech companies. And the EU would also be going up against Musk, who is the owner and has the biggest megaphone on X. After X was hit with a 120 million euro ($140 million fine) for breaching Europe’s Digital Services Act, Musk called the EU “the fourth Reich” and said in a post on X that it should be “abolished.”

In response to the inquiry, X reiterated previous comments it has made about Grok. “We remain committed to making X a safe platform for everyone and continue to have zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, nonconsensual nudity and unwanted sexual content,” a spokesperson told The New York Times.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-eu-is-investigating-grok-and-x-over-potentially-illegal-deepfakes-134506678.html?src=rss

This week, young people are looking at the recent past through rose-colored glasses, living their best lives by filming harmless classroom pranks, and, hopefully, protecting their futures by not swallowing too many chia seeds or roasting themselves with heating pads.

What does 2016 nostalgia mean?

A few weeks ago, I posted about the online trend of millennial optimism which was focused on the years around 2010, but things have gone further: Young people are nostalgic specifically for 2016. This probably sounds bizarre to you. 2016 saw the deaths of Muhammad Ali, David Bowie, and Prince, and levels of political and social upheaval many of us had never experienced, leading many to regard 2016 as the worst year ever (little did we know).

So why are younger people nostalgic for it? First, because if you were a young person, the edges of societal breakdown weren’t really on your radar. 2016 was the year of Pokemon Go, Snapchat, and the bottle-flipping trend. You were watching this awesome new show called Stranger Things and hanging out with your friends, on an internet that didn’t feel like an algorithm-driven hellscape. Nostalgia is a personal thing; if you’re a young adult in 2026, 2016 is your childhood, and things went so far south afterwards with the pandemic and the continued erosion of “normal” civic life that 2016 would understandably feel like the last normal year. Coming of age during a collapse is not a picnic, and I don’t begrudge anyone a little nostalgia; look at the world we left them. But don’t take my word for it. Check out some of the 2.2 million nostalgia videos on TikTok’s #2016 to draw your own conclusions.

Viral videos of the week: absurdist classroom pranks

I don’t think there’s a name for the kind of viral videos I’m featuring this week, so I’m calling them “absurdist classroom pranks.” They’re videos where kids/teens in a school do something absurd but harmless, while trying to keep themselves from cracking up. These documents of good-hearted acts of stealth rebellion are both hilarious and youth-affirming. Like this Instagram reel from @avamonpere with five million views of a couple dudes meticulously arranging a charcuterie board in the middle of a lecture:

View this post on Instagram

Or the ongoing series “bringing random items to school,” in which Instagram’s @eli6666k and his boys do just what the title says: pull the weirdest things they can from their backpacks, while trying to keep from laughing. I wasn’t even able to do it while watching. Here’s a couple:

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

But check out the source. The series is ongoing so there’s more to come.

Dangers from the internet

In part 4,034 of my 36,321 part series, we have a trio of things that people online are doing that no one should actually do in real life, ever.

• The fire challenge: A Chicago-area mom offers a warning on behalf of her badly burned daughter: Do not participate in a “a viral social media trend” called “The Fire Challenge”; that is, covering your hands with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer and setting them on fire. This is a tragic story, but like most media reports of injuries from online challenges, I can’t actually find any evidence of any videos like this on social media, so People calling it a “viral social media trend” seems inaccurate. Maybe those videos are out there, but they’re hardly viral or a trend. There’s a “tiktokfirechallenge” hashtag, with 34 videos, none of which depict anything dangerous. While #firechallenge contains some videos warning against the fire challenge, but none that show it actually happening.

• Do not eat too many chia seeds: Chia seeds are a whole thing with young people. They make “chia water,” mix ’em up with apples and make “pudding,” and make super gross AI videos about the supposed health benefits of just raw-dogging a handful of seeds. That last one is a problem. Chia seeds are a good source of fiber, but according to nutritionists, you shouldn’t eat them without soaking them in liquid first. They absorb fluids, and eating raw seeds could result in intestinal blockage and choking.

• Toasted skin syndrome: This one unlocked a phobia I never knew I had: If you routinely use a heating pad on its highest setting, you can literally slow roast your own flesh. It’s called toasted skin syndrome or “erythema ab igne” in medical parlance, and it’s caused by long-term exposure to personal heat sources like heating pads, electric blankets, space heaters, or even a laptop on your thighs. TikTok user @teezubal raised awareness by posting a video of her friend’s alarmingly mottled back flesh that has been viewed over 50 million times in a week. Her friend insists, “it’s fine, I promise” but it’s not fine. Milder cases can take months to resolve, and if you keep it up, the discolored flesh can supposedly stay like that forever. The solution: If you use a heating pad, keep it set to “low.”

It’s that time of year where a great pair of headphones double as earmuffs and a current sale will ensure you get a great quality — and good looking — option. One of our favorite wireless headphones for 2026 is available for 35 percent off. 

Amazon is offering the first-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones for $279, down from $429. Since coming out last April, they’ve become our choice for best noise-canceling wireless headphones. Notably, the sale is only available in the headphone’s nice limited edition Deep Plum model. 

We gave the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones an 86 in our review, thanks, in part, to their incredible active-noise cancellation (ANC) — an industry-lead Bose has held for years. They also offers improved audio, producing a warmer and clearer sound than other Bose headphones. Plus, they live up to their name, remaining comfortable even after hours and hours thanks to cushioning inside the headband and earpads. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-are-35-percent-off-130020033.html?src=rss

A good home theater setup goes beyond just having the right TV (although that certainly does help a lot). Getting the right sound for your space, the right lighting and making sure your streaming gear is up to date are all things that can go a long way to making your setup feel premium.

And don’t think that just because you’re not hosting movie night every weekend that a good home theater setup is a waste. Whether your family is full of cinephiles, you love playing video games with your kids or you plan on hosting friends to watch Super Bowl 2026, the right home theater equipment can make your experience much better. We test a ton of that technology here at Engadget; if you’re looking to make some changes to your setup, we’ve collected some of our favorite home theater gear here to make your shopping list a bit easier to compile.

Best home theater gear

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/the-best-gear-to-upgrade-your-home-theater-setup-130000755.html?src=rss

The 2026 tax filing season—for 2025 returns—begins on Jan. 26, which means scammers are ramping up efforts to steal taxpayers’ information and money. These are a few of the tax-related schemes to watch out for this year.

‘Tax resolution’ scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is alerting consumers to a phone scam currently circulating in which callers claim to be from the “Tax Resolution Oversight Department,” “Tax Mediation and Resolution Agency,” or some similar official-sounding (but fake) government organization. They will claim that you owe back taxes and say they will help you apply for an “IRS liability reduction program” (also fake).

The scammers’ aim here is to collect your Social Security number (SSN) and possibly an upfront payment for their services. They will likely pressure you and create a sense of urgency with lines like “this may be our only attempt to reach you.” Don’t fall for it. If you do actually owe back taxes, the IRS will send you a notice via mail, and you’ll have options to settle that debt directly with the agency.

Tax-related phishing scams

A common type of tax scam is the fraudulent text or email that appears to be from the IRS but is actually a phishing campaign. The FTC’s most recent alert reminds consumers that any message that asks you to verify your identity in order to receive your refund is a scam. You may get a text or email “from” the IRS or your state tax authority notifying you that they’ve processed your refund, and all you have to do is provide some information via the link provided in order to claim it.

As with any phishing scam, doing so hands your information directly to bad actors. Neither the IRS nor your state tax office will contact you via text, email, or social media message, and you should never click links in unsolicited communication.

IRS impersonation scams

Next, there’s the general category of IRS impersonation scams. Both of the above could be included here, but there’s also the fake IRS letter that—with great urgency—demands sensitive personal information or payment for taxes owed. Sometimes, these letters request said payment via gift card, which is always a red flag. Letters may also say something about an unclaimed refund and request photos of your identification.

Scammers have also been known to call people about their tax bill or refund while claiming to represent the IRS or another agency that provides government benefits. They may also claim that your information is being used in some type of crime. If a caller threatens you or demands payment, hang up immediately.

Tax prep scams

If you’re hiring a tax professional to help you with your return, you should vet them before handing over your information. At best, a tax preparer may lack the proper credentials and experience—at worst, they may falsify your return or pocket your refund. A “ghost” tax professional will scam you by not signing your return after they’ve prepared it.

You are legally responsible for your taxes, so do your due diligence and review your return carefully before signing your own name. Don’t pay for services in cash, and always get a receipt.

Tax identity theft scams

This scam typically involves a scammer filing a tax return using your name and SSN and pocketing the refund—and you may not realize that you’re a victim until after you’ve filed your real return and received a notice from the IRS about the duplicate. To prevent this, set up an identity protection PIN with the IRS. This six-digit number changes every calendar year, and no one can file a return under your SSN or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) without it. Note that the IRS will never ask for your IP PIN, so any communication requesting it is (also) a scam.

IRS support scams

Finally, scammers may contact you and offer paid services for something you can do for free. For example, you can easily create an IRS account online and do not need to pay someone to do it for you or hand over your personal information to a third party in the process. Anyone who offers unsolicited help to set up your account, negotiate your tax debt, or otherwise manage your return or refund (especially for a fee) is a scammer.

How to protect yourself from tax scams

As we’ve mentioned, stay vigilant to common scam tactics, such as unsolicited communication, a sense of urgency, and a demand for money or information. The IRS has specific ways of contacting taxpayers, and you should know how to verify that mailed notices and other forms of communication are real. You can always call the IRS directly to confirm if what you’re being told is legitimate. Don’t click links in texts, emails, or social media messages—instead, go directly to the IRS.gov website and access your account there.

When it comes to your return, if you’re not taking the DIY route, choose a qualified tax professional, and request an IP PIN to protect your SSN against fraudulent filing. Consider filing early and electronically, which will also get your refund processed sooner.

Friday 72-year-old Richard Stallman made a two-hour-and-20-minutes appearance at the Georgia Institute of Technology, talking about everything from AI and connected cars to smartphones, age verfication laws, and his favorite Linux distro. But early on, Stallman also told the audience how “I despise DRM…I don’t want any copy of anything with DRM. Whatever it is, I never want it so badly that I would bow down to DRM.” (So he doesn’t use Spotify or Netflix…)

This led to an interesting moment when someone asked him later if we have an ethical obligation to avoid piracy.. First Stallman swapped in his preferred phrase, “forbidden sharing”…

“I won’t use the word piracy to refer to sharing. Sharing is good and it should be lawful. Those laws are wrong. Copyright as it is now is an injustice.”

Stallman said “I don’t hesitate to share copies of anything,” but added that “I don’t have copies of non-free software, because I’m disgusted by it.” After a pause, he added this. “Just because there is a law to to give some people unjust power, that doesn’t mean breaking that law becomes wrong….

“Dividing people by forbidding them to help each other is nasty.”

And later Stallman was asked how he watches movies, if he’s opposed to DRM-heavy sites like Netflix, and the DRM in Blu-ray discs? “The only way I can see a movie is if I get a file — you know, like an MP4 file or MKV file. And I would get that, I suppose, by copying from somebody else.”

“Sharing is good. Stopping people from sharing is evil.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Crew members traveling to the lunar surface on NASA’s Artemis missions should be gearing up for a grind. They will wear heavier spacesuits than those worn by the Apollo astronauts, and NASA will ask them to do more than the first Moonwalkers did more than 50 years ago.

The Moonwalking experience will amount to an “extreme physical event” for crews selected for the Artemis program’s first lunar landings, a former NASA astronaut told a panel of researchers, physicians, and engineers convened by the National Academies.

Kate Rubins, who retired from the space agency last year, presented the committee with her views on the health risks for astronauts on lunar missions. She outlined the concerns NASA officials often talk about: radiation exposure, muscle and bone atrophy, reduced cardiovascular and immune function, and other adverse medical effects of spaceflight.

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