YouTube just announced YouTube Labs, which is being described as a “new way for users to take our cutting edge AI experiments for a test drive.” This looks like a YouTube-centric version of the pre-existing Google Labs, which is another place for folks to test out experimental AI tools.

There’s already something new to play with here. YouTube Labs is testing AI hosts for its Music app. These hosts are designed to deepen a listening experience by providing “relevant stories, fan trivia and fun commentary about your favorite music.” This is just the latest music-streaming platform to introduce AI hosts, as Spotify introduced an AI DJ earlier this year.

YouTube Labs is only available for Premium members. Sign-ups are open right now, but just for a “limited number of US-based participants.” We don’t have any data as to how many people will get accepted to join the AI tomfoolery.

Regular YouTube users have probably noticed the proliferation of AI slop on the platform these past several months. It’s becoming a whole thing. While the prospect of virtual music hosts is rather innocuous, it will likely lead to even more AI being forced on the platform.

YouTube recently added a boatload of AI tools for creators, including the ability to turn spoken dialogue into a slop-filled song. It’s also handing over age verification to AI and is testing its own version of Google’s famous (or infamous) AI overviews.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-music-is-testing-ai-hosts-that-present-relevant-stories-trivia-and-commentary-174042191.html?src=rss

alternative_right writes: Americans are more likely to watch newly released movies from the comfort of their own homes instead of heading out to a theater, according to a new poll.

About three-quarters of U.S. adults said they watched a new movie on streaming instead of in the theater at least once in the past year, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, including about 3 in 10 who watched new movies on streaming at least once a month.

Meanwhile, about two-thirds of Americans said that they’ve watched a recently released movie in a theater in the past year, and only 16% said they went at least once a month. The results suggest that, on the whole, American moviegoers are more likely to stream a film than see it in the theaters, a shifting tide that was only accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.

It’s been a tumultuous year and a half for TikTok in the U.S. In April of 2024, President Biden signed a law forcing the app’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its majority stake to an American company, or face a ban in the U.S. ByteDance never did, and so, in January, the app went dark.

It was mostly performative, however. Then President-elect Trump had already assured TikTok that his incoming administration would not enforce the ban, as did the outgoing President Biden. As such, once Trump was sworn in, he signed an executive order kicking the TikTok ban down the road. Trump continued to delay enforcing the ban, which, while legally dubious, allowed the app to continue operating as usual.

It seems, however, this wild ride is coming to a close. On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order that sets the stage for a U.S.-majority stake in TikTok. Nothing is set in stone, but American companies like Oracle, as well as individuals like Larry Ellison (Oracle co-founder) and Rupert Murdoch could be among the newest owners of the app. Curiously, a non-American company, the Abu Dhabi-based MGX investment fund, would also be involved. This joint venture would control a majority of the new American TikTok, while ByteDance would control less than 20%.

Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping has okayed the deal, though no Chinese representatives were present at the order’s signing. Again, nothing is for certain at this point, but we can take a look at the early details to get a sense for how a new “America-approved” TikTok would operate in the U.S.

How would TikTok change in the US?

First things first: the app itself. It’s highly possible you’ll need to download a new app entirely in order to keep using TikTok. This has been a focus of speculation for a couple months now, but as the Washington Post reports, TikTok engineers have been working on a U.S.-version of the app. The new app will likely appear identical to the TikTok experience you already know, and, in fact, might be accessible via a link within the current app. The Post makes the point that the harder it is for users to access the new TikTok app, the higher the chance they leave the platform entirely for alternatives like Instagram and YouTube, so TikTok engineers will no doubt be working on ways to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Then, there’s the famous algorithm. This is what makes TikTok so addictive; the app’s algorithm is so good, it learns what you like and shows you content to keep you scrolling for hours. Without the algorithm, TikTok very well could lose its addictive nature, and, along with it, its users. The Post reports that, at least at this time, the algorithm is staying put, and will be leased out from ByteDance by the new American TikTok venture. Plus, you should still be able to see international content going forward, not just videos posted by Americans. TikTok should, in theory, be as entertaining (and addicting) as ever.

But that’s not the end of the story. According to Trump’s executive order, the algorithm will be “retrained and monitored” by “trusted security partners” of the U.S. That does not necessarily inspire confidence in a neutral algorithm for Americans, especially as Trump says he would make it “100% MAGA” if he could.

Finally, there’s the question of user data. This was a major concern of the U.S. government, and part of why both the Trump and Biden administrations went after the app. It wasn’t without reason either, as we learned ByteDance did in fact store American user data and had used it to obtain the IP addresses of American journalists. According to the executive order, all user data from the U.S. version of TikTok will need to be stored in a cloud environment operated by an American company.

We’ll need to see how both ByteDance and the Chinese government address the executive order and potential divestiture going forward, as things could change. As of now, however, it seems both nothing will change, and everything will change. You’ll still be able to endlessly scroll through your feed as you do now, but you may need to use a new, yet identical version of the app to do so. You may see the same content you do now, or you might start to see some new content, suspiciously aligned with the values of the current administration. And your data will still be controlled by a faceless third-party, only now it’ll be by your own country, rather than a foreign nation.

Fresh off Jimmy Kimmel returning to TV to warn that Donald Trump’s attacks on free speech would not end with censoring comedians critical of his administration, Trump signed an executive order to “save” TikTok, while supposedly joking that he’d like to censor influencers by tweaking the algorithm so that content is “100 percent MAGA.”

“Everyone is going to be treated fairly,” the president added—seemingly covering his tracks as critics warn that TikTok under US ownership could soon carry a right-wing bias, perhaps going the way of Twitter after Elon Musk took over and rebranded it as X.

On Sunday, Trump told Fox News that media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan, the CEO of Fox Corporation, would likely be part of the investor group taking over TikTok’s US operations. That deal—which Trump claimed Thursday was tentatively approved by Chinese President Xi Jinping—was set up to ensure that TikTok complies with a law banning majority ownership of the app by a foreign adversary in order to protect Americans from spying or foreign influence on the algorithm.

Read full article

Comments

The biggest trees in the Amazon are growing larger and more numerous, according to a new study that shows how an intact rainforest can help draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and sequester it in bark, trunk, branch and root. From a report: Scientists said the paper, published in Nature Plants on Thursday, was welcome confirmation that big trees are proving more climate resilient than previously believed, and undisturbed tropical vegetation continues to act as an effective carbon sink despite rising temperatures and strong droughts.

However, the authors warned this vital role was increasingly at risk from fires, fragmentation and land clearance caused by the expansion of roads and farms. “It is good news but it is qualified good news,” said Prof Oliver Phillips from the University of Leeds. “Our results apply only to intact, mature forests, which is where we are watching closely. They suggest the Amazon forest is remarkably resilient to climate change. My fear is that may count for little, unless we can stop the deforestation itself.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.

Earlier this month, we saw a new running world record—more specifically, running backwards. In heels. Christian Roberto López Rodríguez claimed the fastest 100m backwards in high heels with an impressive time of 16.55 seconds.

I may not be setting that sort of record, but I do see running backwards crop up time and time again as a trendy idea for the average runner. Sometimes called “reverse running,” it’s exactly what it sounds like: runners literally turning around and jogging backwards. But does running backwards genuinely help improve forward running performance, or is it simply another fitness fad destined to fade?

Does running backwards actually help?

From a physiological perspective, backwards running fundamentally alters how your body moves and which muscles bear the workload. Physiotherapist Alex Lee explains the dramatic shift that occurs when you reverse direction: “Your quadriceps do the majority of the job of slowing your body down. Your hamstrings work differently too because they aren’t pushing you forwards. This variation alleviates stress from the knee joint, specifically the ACL.” He further explains how running backwards also causes your ankles to “move with greater dorsiflexion,” which trains balance and body awareness, known as proprioception.

As any runner can attest, going easy on the knees is a major draw. Lee notes additional advantages when he trains athletes, explaining how he incorporates running backwards to “shield their knees, develop leg strength, and enhance coordination.”

Supplemental, not essential

While the biomechanical benefits are real, running coach Will Baldwin offers a more measured approach to backwards running’s place in training programs. “I think the biggest benefit from running backwards is it helps you engage some of your posterior chain and muscles that aren’t typically recruited in forward running, like your glutes, some hamstring, and it helps with your pushback a little bit,” Baldwin explains.

However, he’s quick to temper expectations about performance gains: “I don’t think it makes runners faster. It’s probably a good supplemental tool. I don’t even think it’s a necessity in training, but it definitely can wake some muscles up and can be a fun, different type of coordination skill to work on that’s still similar to running.”

Baldwin’s perspective highlights a crucial consideration in training philosophy—the principle of specificity. “The law of specificity applies here. If we want to get better at a skill, we need to practice that skill in the specific way we want to compete. We’ve got to be careful with how much time we waste, especially for busy people. That could be time better spent doing core work or some specific strength training.”

For most recreational runners juggling work, family, and training, Baldwin suggests backwards running falls into the “nice to have” rather than “must have” category: “You’d really have to be someone with a lot of extra time to experiment and play around with things like this.”

Getting started safely

Running backwards is awkward at best, and genuinely risky at worst. You could fall, and it’s easy to twist an ankle or pull something because you can’t see where you’re landing. If you’d like to experiment with backwards running, start conservatively. Baldwin suggests beginning with walking: “If someone wanted to try it, I’d start with walking backwards. Especially uphill, on a treadmill or outside, it can really engage, work, and stretch certain muscles. It can be a fun skill to play with, but I’d definitely start with walking before running backwards.”

This gradual approach allows your body to adapt to the different movement patterns while minimizing injury risk. Treadmills provide an ideal controlled environment for initial backwards movement practice, eliminating the hazard of unseen obstacles.

The bigger concerns, according to Baldwin, relate to training efficiency: “Wasted time and lack of specificity are probably the bigger ones, but again, not major.” For time-strapped runners, the opportunity cost of backwards running sessions might outweigh the supplemental benefits.

The bottom line

Backwards running offers legitimate benefits—improved proprioception, reduced knee stress, enhanced muscle activation patterns, and increased coordination.

However, for the average recreational runner seeking to improve their forward running times, backwards running is more of a fun bonus activity, rather than a true game-changer. The time investment might be better allocated to proven training methods like tempo runs, interval training, strength work, or simply building up more forward-running mileage.

Backwards running sits comfortably in the category of “helpful but not essential” training methods. It’s not the revolutionary breakthrough some social media posts might suggest, but it’s also not entirely without merit. Like many fitness trends, the truth lies somewhere between.

So, for runners with specific needs—such as rehabilitation from knee injuries, athletes requiring enhanced proprioception, or those simply seeking variety in their training routine—backwards running can serve a valuable purpose. For everyone else, it remains an interesting option worth considering if time and safety conditions permit, but not a priority that should displace more fundamental aspects of training.

Most guns are tools for doing harm, but a team of American and Korean scientists has developed one that does the opposite, helping to patch up bone injuries. It comes a bit short of the Medigun from Team Fortress 2 or Ana’s Biotic Rifle, which featured in Overwatch. But it’s probably one of the first shots we have at making healing guns real.

3D printing on the fly

In more complex bone problems like severe, irregular fractures or resections done as part of bone cancer treatment, the bone won’t heal on its own. The most common means of stabilizing the injured site and making recovery possible is metal-based grafts, implants usually made with titanium alloys.

The problem with such implants is that they are difficult and expensive to manufacture, and it’s very hard to make them patient-specific. “3D printing has been highlighted as a novel approach to make such personalized implants, but this also requires substantial time and money,” said Jung Seung Lee, a biomedical engineering researcher at the Sungkyunkwan University in Korea. So his team wanted to find a way to make bone implants that would be faster and cheaper than a 3D printer.

Read full article

Comments

The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is on sale for almost half off and is at the lowest price we’ve ever seen for this model. Normally retailing for $150, the smart doorbell is on sale for $80, a discount of 47 percent. This aggressive sale comes ahead of another Prime Day that runs October 7-8.

The Battery Doorbell Plus offers a 150-by-150-degree “head to toe” field of vision and 1536p high-resolution video. This makes it a lot easier to see boxes dropped off at your front door since it doesn’t cut off the bottom of the image like a lot of video doorbells.

This model features motion detection, privacy zones, color night vision and Live View with two-way talk, among other features. Installation is a breeze since you don’t have to hardwire it to your existing doorbell wiring. Most users report that the battery lasts between several weeks and several months depending on how users set up the video doorbell, with power-heavy features like motion detection consuming more battery life.

With most video doorbells today, you need a subscription to get the most out of them, and Ring is no exception. Features like package alerts require a Ring Home plan, with tiers ranging from Basic for $5 per month to Premium for $20 per month. You’ll also need a plan to store your video event history.

Ring was acquired by Amazon in 2018, and now offers a full suite of home security products including outdoor cameras, home alarm systems and more. This deal is part of a larger sale on Ring and Blink devices leading up to Prime Day.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-battery-powered-ring-doorbell-is-47-percent-off-ahead-of-prime-day-154508654.html?src=rss

The long-awaited sidescroller Possessor(s) will be available on November 11 for PC and PS5. It’s a horror-tinged action game with Metroidvania elements. It also happens to look extremely beautiful.

The game was developed by Heart Machine, which is the same company behind Hyper Light Drifter and its prequel Hyper Light Breaker. Publishing duties fall to Devolver, which has had a hand in a boatload of recent indie hits from Enter the Gungeon to Cult of the Lamb. The developer just dropped a launch date trailer for Possessor(s) and it’s filled with both gameplay and story elements.

As for that story, the game’s set in a quarantined metropolis that’s been invaded by ghostly forces. Exploration will slowly unravel what happened to the city. There’s an open-ended narrative with multiple paths and plenty of characters to meet.

The combat looks really slick, with lots of melee using found objects. The protagonist can also slide down long corridors and swing from a grappling hook. Weapons can be upgraded and there looks to be a skill tree of some kind.

We only have around five weeks until we can get our hands on this one. Pre-orders on both platforms are up right now, but there’s no price yet.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/horror-tinged-sidescroller-possessors-hits-pc-and-ps5-on-november-11-152851427.html?src=rss

Raspberry Pi has launched the Raspberry Pi 500 Plus for $200, more than doubling the $90 price of the standard model. The keyboard computer now includes an M.2 2280 SSD socket alongside the SD card slot, 256GB of storage and 16GB of LPDDR4x-4267 RAM instead of 8GB. The company added Gateron KS-33 Blue mechanical switches, replaceable low-profile keycaps finished to allow RGB lighting to shine through and an RP2040 microcontroller running QMK firmware.

The 500 Plus retains Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet, two micro HDMI ports, three USB-A ports, and USB-C power from the base model. A $220 Desktop Kit bundles necessary cables, power supply, and mouse.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.