When OpenAI launched the Sora 2 video generator last week, the company wrote that it was taking measures to “block depictions of public figures” by default. But creators and viewers of Sora 2 videos are finding that prohibition has a rather large loophole, allowing for videos of public figures that happen to be dead.

Examples of celebrities being posthumously inserted into Sora 2 video creations are not hard to find all over social media these days. Tupac Shakur chatting with Malcolm X. Bruce Lee running a “dragon energy” DJ set. Michael Jackson doing kitchen-based standup comedy. Stephen Hawking’s wheelchair wiping out on a giant skateboard ramp. Mister Rogers doing a cameo on Jackass. Kurt Kobain stealing KFC chicken fingers. Martin Luther King Jr. stuttering through a major speech. The list goes on and on.

OpenAI places a moving Sora watermark over each generated video, which limits the risk of viewers being fooled by fake footage of real people. Still, seeing these deceased celebrities used as props by an AI tool can obviously be upsetting to their living relatives and fans.

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OpenAI has signed about $1 trillion in deals this year for computing power to run its AI models, commitments that dwarf its revenue and raise questions about how it can fund them. From a report: Monday’s deal with chipmaker AMD follows similar agreements with Nvidia, Oracle and CoreWeave, as OpenAI races to find the computing power it thinks it will need to run services such as ChatGPT.

The deals would give OpenAI access to more than 20 gigawatts of computing capacity, roughly equivalent to the power from 20 nuclear reactors, over the next decade. Each 1GW of AI computing capacity costs about $50bn to deploy in today’s prices, according to estimates by OpenAI executives, making the total cost about $1tn. The deals have bound some of the world’s biggest tech groups to OpenAI’s ability to become a profitable business that can meet its increasingly steep financial obligations.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Amazon Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.

• Follow our live blog to stay up to date on the best sales we find.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.

I enjoy tackling new DIY projects around my house, but there’s one aspect of home ownership that I have hated since I was a kid being forced to do it by my parents: yard work. Trimming grass and branches, raking up the trimmings and fallen leaves, and fighting nature’s tendency to be wild? No thanks. It’s sweaty, thankless work.

Then I found the Ego Power+ cordless trimmer and blower, and, well, yard work still kind of sucks, but it’s a lot easier now. I didn’t realize how much worse power cord management made the job, for one thing—being cordless is magic when you’re walking around an outdoor space filled with obstacles and plants. The battery life is advertised at 75 minutes, though in my experience it’s closer to an hour, which is still more than enough, and the battery recharges in under half an hour so you can get back to it quickly if you do run it down. And having a blower that a) doesn’t require gas, b) doesn’t spew exhaust in my face, and c) lets me forget I own a rake is just as good.

EGO POWER+ Combo, Cordless Trimmer and Blower, 15″ Trimmer for Weeds and Grass with POWERLOAD and Cordless Electric 670 CFM Blower, Includes 56V 4.0Ah Battery and Charger – ST6703LB

$299.99
at Amazon

$409.99
Save $110.00

$299.99
at Amazon

$409.99
Save $110.00

This combo deal is the trimmer, the blower, a battery, and a charger (plus two attachments for the blower)—all for $299.99, which is 27% off the regular price. If you’ve got an unruly outdoor space you want to whip into shape without having to run a hundred feet of extension cord or deal with leftover gas, jump on this deal.

Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime.

• Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+.

• Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member.

• Target’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free.

Smartphone processor and modem maker Qualcomm is acquiring Arduino, the Italian company known mainly for its open source ecosystem of microcontrollers and the software that makes them function. In its announcement of the acquisition, Qualcomm said that Arduino would “[retain] its brand and mission,” including its “open source ethos” and “support for multiple silicon vendors.”

“Arduino will retain its independent brand, tools, and mission, while continuing to support a wide range of microcontrollers and microprocessors from multiple semiconductor providers as it enters this next chapter within the Qualcomm family,” Qualcomm said in its press release. “Following this acquisition, the 33M+ active users in the Arduino community will gain access to Qualcomm Technologies’ powerful technology stack and global reach. Entrepreneurs, businesses, tech professionals, students, educators, and hobbyists will be empowered to rapidly prototype and test new solutions, with a clear path to commercialization supported by Qualcomm Technologies’ advanced technologies and extensive partner ecosystem.”

Qualcomm didn’t disclose what it had paid to acquire Arduino. The acquisition also needs to be approved by regulators “and other customary closing conditions.”

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Amazon Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.

• Follow our live blog to stay up to date on the best sales we find.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.

Garmin’s Venu X1, its high-end watch that launched a few months ago, is enjoying its first-ever sale to coincide with October’s Prime days. Today it’s $699.99, a full $100 off the regular price. 

Garmin® Venu® X1, Thin and Lightweight GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, Advanced Health and Fitness Features, Black with Slate Titanium Caseback and Black ComfortFit Nylon Band

$699.99
at Amazon

$799.99
Save $100.00

$699.99
at Amazon

$799.99
Save $100.00

The X1 is a large, rectangular watch aimed toward lifestyle and recreational fitness. (If you want a large, round watch geared toward runners and athletes, check out the Fenix line. Here’s a 51-millimeter Fenix 8 for over $1,000—unfortunately not on sale today.)

Besides Garmin’s biggest screen, the X1 boasts a few premium features that help it to earn its price tag. It’s got an LED flashlight, built-in maps, a scratch-resistant sapphire lens, and a speaker and microphone that you can use for calls or a voice assistant. 

It comes with coaching for running, cycling, and strength, plus all the usual Garmin health and fitness tracking and analytics. It goes without saying that Garmin watches tend to have excellent GPS accuracy and reliable heart rate readings. 

The battery on the X1 lasts up to eight days, and the screen is 41 x 46 millimeters, giving it a two-inch diagonal measurement. Besides the usual activity profiles and running-specific training data, the X1 also supports other sports including motorcycling and rock climbing, and has extra features for golfing.

Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime.

• Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+.

• Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member.

• Target’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Amazon Big Deal Days is October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.

• Follow our live blog to stay up to date on the best sales we find.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.

There are tons of big-ticket items for less on sale right now. But if you’re looking to spend less and still score a bargain, there are all kinds of deals for you. I scoured all my resources to find the best Prime Day tech deals that are under $25:

Apple EarPods Wired Headphones With Lightning Connector

$15.96
at Amazon

$19.00
Save $3.04

$15.96
at Amazon

$19.00
Save $3.04

Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds, 10mm Drivers with Big Bass, Bluetooth 5.3, 30H Long Playtime, Water-Resistant, 2 Mics for AI Clear Calls, 22 Preset EQs, Customization (White)

$17.99
at Amazon

$39.99
Save $22.00

$17.99
at Amazon

$39.99
Save $22.00

Apple AirTag

$19.99
at Amazon

$29.00
Save $9.01

$19.99
at Amazon

$29.00
Save $9.01

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K AI-Powered Streaming Stick

$24.99
at Amazon

$49.99
Save $25.00

$24.99
at Amazon

$49.99
Save $25.00

Amazon Echo Pop Alexa Smart Speaker (2023)

$24.99
at Amazon

$39.99
Save $15.00

$24.99
at Amazon

$39.99
Save $15.00

INIU Portable Charger

$18.69
at Amazon

$29.99
Save $11.30

$18.69
at Amazon

$29.99
Save $11.30

BolaButty Portable Speaker

$19.99
at Amazon

$26.99
Save $7.00

$19.99
at Amazon

$26.99
Save $7.00

COOSPO Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap, Bluetooth ANT+ Heart Rate Monitor Chest Sensor with 400H Battery, HRM Works with Strava/Wahoo Fitness/Polar Beat/Peloton/DDP Yoga App

$26.39
at Amazon

$32.99
Save $6.60

$26.39
at Amazon

$32.99
Save $6.60

Apple and Anker earbuds

Wired earbuds are very early 2000s, but on the other hand, they never run out of batteries. If you’re still rocking an iPhone 14 Plus or below (or an iPhone SE 3rd generation), you’ll be able to pick up some official Apple EarPods Headphones with a Lightning connector for $15.96 (originally $19), or one with USB-C connector for a few cents more.

If you prefer wireless earbuds but don’t want to pay too much for something you might end up losing, the Soundcore by Anker P20i are a solid pair with some impressive features for their $17.99 price (originally $39.99). You get Bluetooth 5.3, 30 hours of battery, water resistance, and a full EQ with its companion app.

AirTags

You don’t need to be a spy to use tracking devices. As an Apple user, you can let AirTags use Find My to track anything that you can put these devices on. Right now, Amazon has single AirTags for $19.99 (originally $29) or a four-pack for $64.99 (originally $99), bringing the cost of each to $16.25.

Fire TV Sticks and Echo Pops

If you have a TV that isn’t smart, or you don’t like its OS, you can get the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K for $24.99 (originally $49.99). It supports Dolby Atmos audio, almost all the HDR formats, Amazon Luna and Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming, Wi-Fi 6, and you can install Kodi to virtually watch anything for free.

The Amazon Echo Pop is Amazon’s most budget-friendly smart speaker. You can use the multi-room music feature if you have multiple speakers in different rooms, so grab a few: You can get one for $24.99 right now (originally $39.99).

This portable phone charger

I recently lost my Iniu Portable Charger while traveling in Europe. Fortunately, it was at the end of my trip, and it had served its purpose well, saving my phone’s battery (and therefore my life) multiple times. You can get one now for $18.69 (originally $29.99).

This portable outdoor speaker

If you’re looking for a cheap portable outdoor speaker that can get wet, consider the BolaButty Portable Speaker, currently going for $19.99 (originally $26.99). It’s waterproof with an IPX5 rating and will last 20 hours before running out of juice.

This heart rate monitor

Okay, I cheated a little bit. The best chest strap for monitoring your heart rate, the CooSpo chest strap, is not in fact under $25; it’s $26.39 (originally $32.99), but it’s so good that Lifehackers Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki uses it to get a baseline when she tests other fitness gadgets. If monitoring your heart is a priority, don’t sleep on this chest strap.

Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime.

• Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+.

• Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member.

• Target’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Amazon Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.

• Follow our live blog to stay up to date on the best sales we find.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.

Not only is my house pretty small, it’s also pretty old, so my wife and I have learned to get creative (and a bit minimalist) to handle the challenge of where to put our stuff—but there’s one area that has been particularly challenging: My love affair with DIY projects around the house. I love diving into repairs and upgrades, learning how to do stuff like tiling or basic plumbing, and saving loads of cash by not hiring contractors every time the lights flicker.

But those projects require bulky tools, and materials, and I have zero space to store them. So I am always on the lookout for something small and efficient that gives me the ability to do bigger projects. One thing I really needed for a long time was a work table—a sturdy space where I could cut, measure, clamp, and spread out tools and other materials. But there’s nowhere in this house to fit a workroom, and there’s no garage, so I wasn’t sure what to do. Until I found this folding work table from Worx.

Worx Pegasus Multi-Function Work Table and Sawhorse

$108.99
at Amazon

$159.99
Save $51.00

$108.99
at Amazon

$159.99
Save $51.00

It’s perfect. It’s durable and sturdy (it can handle up to 300 pounds, so if I can lift it up there, it can hold it). It has built-in clamps, which is really useful, and it transforms into a sawhorse in seconds, so I can cut and rip boards as needed, then immediately proceed to the next step in the project.

But most importantly, for me: It folds up. It goes flat, so I can lean it against the wall of the closet I call a tool room, or hang it up on the wall if I decide I need to reclaim that small amount of space. And that means it’s also easily portable (it only weighs about 30 pounds), so I don’t have to cut boards in one location and transport them to another. If you don’t have a lot of space to store tools, this is the perfect solution—and it’s 32% off right now for Prime Day, so this is your moment.

Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime.

• Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+.

• Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member.

• Target’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free.

AmiMoJo writes: The Irish Government’s basic income scheme for artists is set to become a permanent fixture from next year, with 2,000 new places to be made available under Budget 2026. Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan has secured agreement with other government departments to continue and expand the initiative, which had previously operated on a pilot basis. Participants in the scheme receive a weekly payment of $379.50.

The pilot programme, launched in 2022, provided basic income support to 2,000 artists and creative arts workers across Ireland. It aimed to support the arts sector’s recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, during which many artists experienced significant income loss due to restrictions on live performances and events. The scheme provides unconditional, regular payments to eligible artists and creative workers, allowing them to focus on their practice without the pressure of commercial viability. It is not means-tested and operates independently of social welfare payments. An independent evaluation of the pilot, published earlier this year, found that recipients reported increased time spent on creative work, reduced financial stress, and improved well-being.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

California has passed a law to ban loud commercials on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu.

This is great news for people who don’t want to wake the neighborhood up when a streaming show suddenly turns into an aggressively loud ad for migraine medication.

Governor Gavin Newsom just signed the law and the ban goes into effect on July 1, 2026. On that date, streaming services won’t be allowed to “transmit the audio of commercial advertisements louder than the video content the advertisements accompany.”

Newsom said that California is “dialing down this inconvenience across streaming platforms, which had previously not been subject to commercial volume regulations passed by Congress in 2010.” He’s referring to the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, which barred the audio of TV commercials from being broadcast louder than the TV program being aired. California’s new law makes streaming platforms comply with those same volume regulations.

The bill was authored by State Senator Tom Umberg, who said it was inspired by “every exhausted parent who’s finally gotten a baby to sleep, only to have a blaring streaming ad undo all that hard work.” The full text of the bill is available right here.

California holds some major sway in the entertainment industry, so here’s hoping that this type of legislation will come to other states. Americans don’t agree on much, but everyone hates loud ads.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/california-bans-loud-commercials-on-streaming-platforms-155809660.html?src=rss

Changes are coming to the Play Store in spite of a concerted effort from Google to maintain the status quo. The company asked the US Supreme Court to freeze parts of the Play Store antitrust ruling while it pursued an appeal, but the high court has rejected that petition. That means the first elements of the antitrust remedies won by Epic Games will have to be implemented in mere weeks.

The app store case is one of three ongoing antitrust actions against Google, but it’s the furthest along of them. Google lost the case in 2023, and in 2024, US District Judge James Donato ordered a raft of sweeping changes aimed at breaking Google’s illegal monopoly on Android app distribution. In July, Google lost its initial appeal, leaving it with little time before the mandated changes must begin.

Its petition to the Supreme Court was Google’s final Hail Mary to avoid opening the Play Store even a crack. Google asked the justices to pause remedies pending its appeal, but the court has declined to do so, Reuters reports. Hopefully, Google planned for this eventuality because it must implement the first phase of the remedies by October 22.

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The sequel to 2022’s surprisingly engaging first-person clean-‘em-up, PowerWash Simulator, finally arrives on October 23.If you enjoyed the first game (along with the other 17 million people it got its hooks into), it looks like you’re in for even more shockingly dirty locations on which you can unleash your trusty power washer.

A new release date trailer shows off a variety of tools you can use to get the job done, as well your own customizable home base that you’re free to decorate, cover in muck and clean to your heart’s content. There are also cute cats to play with, a very knowing reference from the developers to this being a 2025 video game, which means you must be able to pet an animal of some description.

The latest trailer doesn’t focus on it, but PowerWash Simulator 2 also introduces split-screen co-op. The original quickly cemented itself as the ultimate chillout game, so you can now kick back and clean twice as effectively with the help of a buddy. You can also share campaign progress when playing online with friends.

PowerWash Simulator 2 hits the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and PC on October 23, and it’s coming to Game Pass, for those still hanging around those parts after Microsoft’s recent price hike. Here’s hoping for an eventual DLC add-on as good as the first game’s (slightly random) Shrek tie-in.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/powerwash-simulator-2-arrives-on-october-23-154854867.html?src=rss

We’re generally fans of the new windowed multitasking features in iPadOS 26—for people who want to use their iPads more like traditional laptops, the new system is more powerful, flexible, and predictable than the old Stage Manager, and it works on a wider range of iPads.

But some users on Reddit and elsewhere objected to Apple’s wholesale removal of the old multitasking mode, Split View (which allowed two apps onscreen at a time with a handle for adjusting the amount of screen they took up) and Slide Over (which allowed a small window to be swiped over top of your screen and then quickly dismissed when you were done with it).

Split View was reasonably easy to recreate with the new system, but users who had relied on Slide Over bemoaned the lack of an equivalent feature in iPadOS 26. Apple apparently agrees because the second developer beta of the upcoming iPadOS 26.1 adds Slide Over support back into the operating system (as reported by MacRumors). Like the old Slide Over window, the new one sits on top of all your other apps and can be invoked and dismissed whenever you want.

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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

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Amazon Big Deal Days is on October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools.

• Follow our live blog to stay up to date on the best sales we find.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.

I take my post-workout recovery seriously. I’ve tried all kinds of different massage guns and non-gun gadgets, and it’s no exaggeration to say that these kinds of devices have changed my life. TheraBody is probably the most well-known household name in massage guns, and right now, the TheraBody TheraGun Prime—normally priced at $319.99—is available for $219.99 on Amazon during Prime Day.

TheraBody TheraGun Prime

$219.99
at Amazon

$319.99
Save $100.00

$219.99
at Amazon

$319.99
Save $100.00

The Theragun Prime really stands out because it’s seriously quiet compared to most massage guns out there. A lot of cheaper models sound like you’re using a power tool on your muscles, but Theragun’s QuietForce Technology keeps things nice and low-key. You can actually use it while watching TV or without bothering everyone around you. Plus, the signature triangular handle design comes in handy, especially when you need to reach those awkward spots on your back and shoulders without contorting yourself or asking someone for help. The battery life is another huge plus—you get about two hours per charge, which means you’re not constantly hunting for the charging cable.

What’s really cool is that it connects to your phone via Bluetooth. The Therabody app walks you through different routines and shows you how to target specific sore spots, which is super helpful if you’re not totally sure what you’re doing. The Prime has four speed settings that go from 1,750 to 2,400 percussions per minute, so you can keep it gentle for a warmup or really dig in deep after a tough workout. It’s versatile enough that beginners won’t feel overwhelmed, but it still packs enough punch for serious athletes.

Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime.

• Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+.

• Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member.

• Target’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law banning excessively loud advertisements on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime that could become a de facto national standard. From a report: The new California law is aimed at addressing what the Federal Communications Commission has called a “troubling jump” in TV ad noise complaints, fueled by streamers airing commercials louder than the shows and movies they accompany.

It’s modeled off a federal law passed in 2010 that caps ad volumes on cable and broadcast TV, but doesn’t apply to streaming services. Given the Golden State’s massive sway in the entertainment industry, the new law may strong-arm streamers into shushing commercials nationwide. “We heard Californians loud and clear, and what’s clear is that they don’t want commercials at a volume any louder than the level at which they were previously enjoying a program,” Newsom said in a statement. “California is dialing down this inconvenience across streaming platforms.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The New York Times: John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics on Tuesday in Sweden for showing that two properties of quantum mechanics, the physical laws that rule the subatomic realm, could be observed on a system large enough to see with the naked eye. They will share a prize of 11 million Swedish kroner, or around $1.17 million.

“There is no advanced technology today that does not rely on quantum mechanics,” Olle Eriksson, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physics, said during the announcement of the award. The laureates’ discoveries, he added, paved the way for technologies like the cellphone, cameras and fiber optic cables.

It also helped lay the groundwork for current attempts to build a quantum computer, a device that could compute and process information at speeds that would not be possible with classical computer. Martinis worked at Google from 2014 to 2020 to build a quantum computer and led the quantum supremacy experiment in 2019. Devoret is cited in Google’s recent breakthrough where its Willow quantum chip solved a problem in five minutes that the world’s most advanced supercomputer could never solve.

The three laureates conducted experiments with electrical circuits that demonstrated quantum mechanical tunneling and quantized energy levels in systems large enough to hold in the hand. Clarke is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Devoret joined his research group in the 1980s and is now at Yale University and UC Santa Barbara. Martinis also joined the group in the 1980s and is currently at UC Santa Barbara and co-founded Qolab, a startup developing utility-scale superconducting quantum computers.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

OpenAI has disclosed that a now-banned account originating in China was using ChatGPT to help design promotional materials and project plans for a social media listening tool. OpenAI says that this work was purportedly done for a government client. The tool was a “probe” that could crawl social media sites like X, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, TikTok and YouTube for specific political, ethnic or religious content as defined by the operator. The company said it cannot independently verify if the tool was used by a Chinese government entity. OpenAI disrupted similar efforts earlier this year.

The company also says it banned an account that was using ChatGPT to develop a proposal for a tool described as a “High-Risk Uyghur-Related Inflow Warning Model” that would aid in tracking the movements of “Uyghur-related” individuals. China has long been accused of alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the country.

OpenAI began publishing threat reports in February 2024, raising awareness of state-affiliated actors using large language models to debug malicious code, develop phishing scams and more. The company’s latest blog post serves as a roundup of notable threats and banned accounts over the last quarter.

The company also caught Russian-, Korean- and Chinese-speaking developers using ChatGPT to refine malware, as well as entire networks in Cambodia, Myanmar and Nigeria using the chatbot to help create scams in an attempt to defraud people. According to OpenAI’s own estimates, ChatGPT is being used to detect scams three times as often as it is to create them. .

This summer, OpenAI disrupted operations in Iran, Russia and China that were using ChatGPT to create posts, comments and to drive engagement and division as part of online influence campaigns. The AI-generated content was used on various social media platforms in both the originating nations and internationally.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-has-disrupted-more-chinese-accounts-using-chatgpt-to-create-social-media-surveillance-tools-142538093.html?src=rss

It’s been nearly four years since Vampire Survivors debuted in early access and developer Poncle is still adding new features to the hit game. A fall update will introduce an online co-op mode to the PC and console versions. The studio brought couch co-op to the auto-shooting roguelike back in 2023, and soon you and your buddies will be able to lay waste to thousands of enemies together without needing to be in the same room.

Online co-op will use a system where you create a lobby and share a code with friends so they can join, or vice-versa. You can go monster hunting with up to three of your buds, or even let them take care of the dirty work while you roam the map in search of secrets.

Poncle says there are four more announcements to come over the next several weeks. The studio teased that, next week, it “might finally answer a burning question that has been asked thousands of times.” My money is on that being “will you ever add vampires?”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/vampire-survivors-will-soon-offer-online-co-op-141430146.html?src=rss