Pelican Press

A new kind of hidden ****** hole may explain the mystery of dark energy A new kind of hidden ****** hole may explain the mystery of dark energy For as long as we have tried to figure out the nature of reality, we have grappled with the concept of empty space. Around 400 BC, when the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus conceived of small, indivisible bodies called atoms, he supposed there must also exist a void surrounding them: a featureless, unchanging vacuum in which they moved. Today, the void remains a potent idea for understanding the universe, but we have come to realise that it is anything but featureless. More than a century ago, Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity revealed that space-time is stretched and warped by the matter it contains. Later, quantum theory introduced the idea of virtual particles, which momentarily appear and disappear in a vacuum, making pure nothingness seem like an intangible, bubbling soup. This alone would surely have shocked Democritus, but I believe we should go further still. I have spent four decades trying to find a way to combine Einstein’s theory of gravity and quantum mechanics. This long journey has led me to a startling conclusion: there is another rich structure hidden within the void, which can be traced to ethereal entities called virtual ****** holes. The influence of these stretches across the entire cosmos, linking space-time in subtle ways that ultimately cause Einstein’s theory to fail – forming a bridge between the smallest scale of the quantum realm and the cosmic one of gravity. Enticingly, I have now begun to grasp how this hidden property of space-time may be the source of dark energy, the mysterious force that is tearing… Source link #kind #hidden #****** #hole #explain #mystery #dark #energy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

********-made DeepSeek AI model records extensive online user data, stores it on China-based servers ********-made DeepSeek AI model records extensive online user data, stores it on China-based servers DeepSeek’s newest R1 large language model has already become notorious after its release cratered AI stocks, and revelations about its privacy policy might raise eyebrows even more. Developed by ******** AI company DeepSeek, R1 is an open-source LLM that boasts cutting-edge performance at a fraction of the computing power. With 671 billion parameters, it’s one of the most significant AI models and only took 2.8 million GPU hours to train. Meta’s Llama 3 required 30.8 million GPU hours, or 11 times more. DeepSeek boasted about these accomplishments over a month ago, but R1 launched on January 20, and the implications were fully appreciated by the stock market only yesterday. The market reacted by selling shares in AI companies like Nvidia. While the spotlight on DeepSeek has raised its profile, many have also reviewed how it handles user privacy, a particularly thorny issue for anything involving AI and software developed in China. Because R1 is open source, it can be run anywhere on any hardware, which is generally good for privacy. However, DeepSeek offers online access to R1 via its website and mobile app, which means the AI company handles online users’ data. Thankfully, DeepSeek is very transparent about what data it collects, where it’s stored, and what it does with it. It details it all in its privacy policy webpage, which reveals that there’s almost nothing the company doesn’t collect. Personal information, including date of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, and passwords, are all fair game, according to DeepSeek. Any content users give to the R1 LLM, from text and audio prompts to uploaded files, may also be collected by DeepSeek. And whenever someone contacts DeepSeek, it says it might keep users’ proof of identity, which presumably means documents like a driver’s license. But that’s not all. DeepSeek records anything related to users’ hardware: IP addresses, phone models, language, etc. Its collection efforts are so thorough that the company notes “keystroke patterns or rhythms.” Cookies, a classic method of tracking users on the Internet, also contribute to user data collection. While it’s common practice for companies with lots of user data to sell that data to interested companies such as advertising firms, something that DeepSeek says it might do, it also admits that “advertisers, measurement, and other partners share information with us about you and the actions you have taken outside of the Service, such as your activities on other websites and apps or in stores, including the products or services you purchased, online or in person.” With all this information at its disposal, it seems that DeepSeek has the potential to know its users very intimately. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. DeepSeek’s “corporate group” also has access to the data it collects to provide “certain functions, such as storage, content delivery, security, research and development, analytics, customer and technical support, and content moderation.” As for where all this information is stored, the privacy policy says it’s all kept inside servers located in China, a point that has the potential to spark serious controversy. Concerns about the personal details of Americans being in the hands of the ******** government was a key factor in the Biden administration’s attempt to ban TikTok, raising the possibility that DeepSeek might come under similar scrutiny. Of course, former President Biden tried to reverse the ban in his final days, and President Trump delayed the app’s fate almost as soon as he was sworn in for his second term. Thus, DeepSeek might also be shown some mercy under the right circumstances. On the other hand, President Trump’s allies include Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and both of them are probably not very happy to see the R1 LLM run circles around their LLMs. Additionally, it’s hard to imagine that DeepSeek has made a good impression on the Republican President by inadvertently causing the stock prices of many American tech companies to fall significantly. Source link #Chinesemade #DeepSeek #model #records #extensive #online #user #data #stores #Chinabased #servers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lawsuit seeks to block Trump funding freeze Lawsuit seeks to block Trump funding freeze U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as reporters ask questions aboard Air Force One during a flight from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Miami, Florida, U.S., January 25, 2025. Leah Millis | Reuters A lawsuit was filed Tuesday seeking to temporarily block a funding freeze ordered by the Trump administration of all federal grants and loans. The lawsuit says the freeze imposed by the Office of Management and Budget is ********. The suit was filed by the National Council of Nonprofits and the American Public Health Association in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #Lawsuit #seeks #block #Trump #funding #freeze Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Italy’s Meloni faces probe for freeing suspected Libyan war criminal – National Italy’s Meloni faces probe for freeing suspected Libyan war criminal – National Descrease article font size Increase article font size Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday she had been placed under judicial investigation following a government decision to release a Libyan police officer wanted by the International Criminal Court. ****** Elmasry Njeem was freed last week and flown home by an Italian state aircraft just days after being detained in the northern city of Turin under an ICC arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity. The ICC has demanded an explanation, saying it had not been consulted over the decision. Meloni said in a message posted on social media that she had been placed under investigation for allegedly aiding and abetting a crime and misuse of public funds. She is under no obligation to resign, and being placed under investigation in Italy does not imply guilt, nor mean that formal charges will necessarily follow. Story continues below advertisement “I will not be blackmailed, I will not allow myself to be intimidated, which may be why I am, let’s say, disliked by those who do not want Italy to change and become better,” Meloni said in a video posted on her Facebook profile. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and the cabinet undersecretary for intelligence matters, Alfredo Mantovano have also been placed under investigation, Meloni said. She said she believed the investigation had been triggered by Luigi Li Gotti, a lawyer who announced last week that he had lodged a complaint over the release of Njeem and the use of an official jet to fly him back to Tripoli. Trending Now Disinformation an ‘existential threat’ to ********* democracy: Hogue As Trump ratchets up Greenland bid, Danish PM says Nordic leaders are united Meloni also said the case was being led by the same prosecutor who investigated Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini in Sicily for allegedly kidnapping 100 migrants aboard a boat that he had blocked at sea for nearly three weeks in 2019. Salvini was acquitted in that case last month. 1:11 Tripoli sees gunfire, blasts ring out as deadly battles erupt in Libyan capital Source link #Italys #Meloni #faces #probe #freeing #suspected #Libyan #war #criminal #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WWE 2K25 Preorders Are Live At Amazon – Get 5 Bonus Wrestlers For MyFaction WWE 2K25 Preorders Are Live At Amazon – Get 5 Bonus Wrestlers For MyFaction WWE 2K25 is now available to preorder ahead of its March 14 release, with Roman Reigns serving as the cover star. The latest entry in the annual wrestling sim series will feature a slew of quality-of-life updates as well as brand-new game modes. Most notably, 2K is introducing The Island, an online world where you can interact and compete with other players. WWE 2K25 sounds like it could be one of the most expansive wrestling sims to date. If you’re interested in stepping into the ring on launch day, you can get a handful of cool bonuses by preordering your copy early. From the basic standard edition to the premium Bloodlines Edition that grants one-week early access, here’s a look at what’s included with every version of WWE 2K25 WWE 2K25 Preorder Bonuses Regardless of which version of WWE 2K25 you preorder, you’ll get the Wyatt Sicks DLC pack, which comes with five playable Superstars for the card-collecting MyFaction mode. Here are the five Persona Cards you’ll get with your preorder: Uncle Howdy Dexter Lumis Nikki Cross Joe Gacy Erick Rowan If you’re playing on PS5 or Xbox Series X, you’ll get Uncle Howdy and Nikki Cross mask cosmetics for The Island. And if you preorder a digital version, the WWE 2K24 Cross-Gen base game is also included with your purchase. $70 Featuring Roman Reigns as the cover star, this edition of the game gets you the base game plus any eligible preorder bonuses. It includes dual entitlement across PS5 and PS4 or Xbox Series X and Xbox One. Physical preorders are live at Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop, while digital copies can be found on the PS Store, Xbox Store, and Steam. $100 Featuring The Undertaker as its cover star, this version is loaded with digital goodies. Along with the Wyatt Sicks DLC pack, here’s what else is included with the Deadman Edition: Mattel Elite “Greatest Hits” Undertaker Original Undertaker Mattel Elite “Greatest Hits” Undertaker Persona Card Original Undertaker Persona Card Useable Urn Object Undertaker ’95 Mask Brother Love Manager Season Pass (Unlocks 5 Characters) 15,000 VC $130 It’s not cheap, but this premium version of WWE 2K25 includes heaps of DLC content plus the Ringside Pass. You’ll also gain early access to the game on March 7 instead of March 14. Along with everything in the above versions, here’s what else is part of the Bloodline Edition. Ringside Pass (Season Pass plus Superstar Mega-Boost) The Rock Nation of Domination Pack: Persona Card and Playable Character Mattel Elite Series 114 Jey Uso Persona Card Mattel Elite “Greatest Hits” Roman Reigns Persona Card Mattel Elite Series 114 Jey Uso Mattel Elite “Greatest Hits” Roman Reigns Family Above All Hoodie (PS5 and Xbox Series X) OTC Shirt (PS5 and Xbox Series X) Yeet Tank Top (PS5 and Xbox Series X) Yeet Sunglasses (PS5 and Xbox Series X) 32,500 VC (Steam) WrestleMania 41 Arena WrestleMania 41 Main Event Superstars Persona Cards WrestleMania 41 Playable Characters Much of the WrestleMania 41 content details are yet to be announced, though it’ll likely be a fantastic inclusion and a good reason to snag the Bloodline Edition. We’ll update this when official details on playable characters are announced. Source link #WWE #2K25 #Preorders #Live #Amazon #Bonus #Wrestlers #MyFaction Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

M87 ****** Hole: Turbulent Plasma Dynamics and Feeding Process Revealed M87 ****** Hole: Turbulent Plasma Dynamics and Feeding Process Revealed The supermassive ****** hole M87*, located 55 million light-years away in the Messier 87 galaxy, continues to intrigue astronomers with its dynamic and chaotic behaviour. Observations from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) have revealed notable turbulence in the accretion flow—the stream of gas and plasma that feeds the ****** hole. The ****** hole, which has a mass equivalent to 6.5 billion suns, has been found to rotate along an axis pointing away from Earth. These findings, based on data from April 2017 and April 2018, have deepened understanding of the processes near its event horizon. Significant Findings Through Multi-Year Analysis According to a study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, the 2017 and 2018 observations enabled researchers to develop an enhanced picture of the plasma dynamics around M87*. This iterative process, combining observations with advanced simulations, highlighted changes in the ****** hole’s bright plasma ring. The brightest section of the ring shifted counterclockwise by around 30 degrees between the two years, attributed to turbulence in the gas flow. The research was supported by experts such as Eduardo Ros, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, who emphasised the importance of continuous data integration in unveiling ****** hole dynamics in a statement. New Insights Into Feeding Mechanisms As reported by space.com, the study also indicated that the ****** hole’s feeding process involves gas spiralling inward, sometimes moving against the direction of its rotation. The EHT team utilised three times the data from 2017 to better model this behaviour. These findings align with earlier observations made using other advanced telescopic arrays. Christian M. Fromm, a member of the EHT theory group, told in a statement to space.com, that combining multi-epoch data with refined models offers a more detailed perspective on the environment surrounding M87*. Further analysis of data collected in subsequent years is expected to provide deeper insights into the turbulent plasma flow and its interaction with the ****** hole’s spin. Researchers remain focused on exploring the complex processes governing supermassive ****** holes like M87*. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Chorus Waves Found Far From Earth Raise Concerns for Space Exploration Airtel Revises New Voice and SMS-Only Recharge Plans: Check Updated Prices Source link #M87 #****** #Hole #Turbulent #Plasma #Dynamics #Feeding #Process #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Where IT comes from: Pure Storage’s lean Czech assembly Where IT comes from: Pure Storage’s lean Czech assembly As with Pure Storage’s research and development (R&D) efforts, its final product assembly also rests on a three-site system. Flash arrays put together at regional sites – two in Texas and one in Czechia – cater for regional demand. We visited its European assembly location in Pardubice, Czechia, to see how it works. Pure occupies a small part of a site run by Taiwanese contract manufacturing giant Foxconn, which is Czechia’s second largest exporter after Skoda and employs 4,500 people in the country. Its relationship with Pure stretches back 10 years at the Pardubice site, which is built in part of a former Tesla (the Czech electronics company) factory that dates to 1964. The facility covers a vast area devoted to Pure Storage FlashArray and FlashBlade assembly, of which 30 and four are produced per shift respectively. Pure’s Pardobice operation forms one third of its global assembly capacity, with arrays made to order on a lead time of less than two weeks from customer order to fulfilment. The plant also produces upgrade components for customers on the Evergreen subscription model, as well as replacement units. Ordinarily, it runs only one eight-hour shift, but can take up the slack from Pure’s other two facilities should the need arise, as part of its business continuity/disaster recovery provision, by running three shifts. Components come in as sub-assemblies, such as controllers and power supplies, and components, such as central processing units and memory, from plants in Vietnam, Mexico and the US, by air. China is not on the supplier list, says Pure Storage supply chain manager Jiri Černy, or at least it won’t be soon. “We’re working to have zero from China, because of the geo-political situation,” he says. Production is “almost just-in-time”, says Černy, referring to the tight timescales used to deliver components directly to production. In Pure’s case, a larger warehouse on the Foxconn site – “thousands of pallets’ worth” – but some distance away holds stocks of parts that are delivered to the assembly area twice a shift, with two days’ worth held there. Work in the facility runs on lean manufacturing principles, and the kind of upstream-downstream information flows that implies. “Six Sigma and lean are built-in to make sure we learn from mistakes,” says Černy. “It’s OK to make mistakes, but stupid to do it twice or three times.” Loyal and valued staff Shopfloor staff “are not skilled”, says Černy, but he is keen to emphasise they know the job well and are valued. And it’s an environment with strict controls on static electricity owing to the risk to damage to componentry. “They are mostly women,” he says. “I think that’s good. They are sensitive. They know the value of the product. We have long retention periods – they’ve been here years – and are multi-level operators that know every [assembly] station.” Six Sigma and lean are built-in to make sure we learn from mistakes. It’s OK to make mistakes, but stupid to do it twice or three times Jiri Černy, Pure Storage “They’re even so experienced that they can work directly with the engineers and give good feedback,” adds Černy. Production is tightly monitored, with component and assembly barcodes tracked through their production lifecycle. Assembly staff work to instruction manuals viewed via on-bench monitors. Not because they don’t know their work well enough, but because it constantly changes as equipment configurations change due to feedback received from the field. Each workstation is monitored by CCTV, not to keep an eye on staff, says Černy, but to provide evidence if damage or faults are discovered down the line. “We can see who built what, and when, and whether anything went wrong, with processes monitored matched to parts serial numbers,” says Černy. “So, if something happens, we can say it is not at the Foxconn site. We’ve had cases where there has been damage and have proved it didn’t happen here.” After assembly, arrays go through rigorous testing, for general base configuration (“vanilla”) and customer-specified configurations (“chocolate”). The plant runs a constant temperature of 24°C to mimic datacentre temperatures, while there are also 35°C “burn in” chambers where hardware is stress tested beyond temperatures normally encountered. This happens to all FlashBlade arrays due to their higher performance levels, and the first 1,000 of any new configuration of an array. At the end of the line, arrays are fully inspected and packaged for shipment to customers. That’s not the end of the story, however. As we’ve seen, testing of systems built to replicate customer setups can continue for years after at Pure’s R&D centres. Meanwhile, components and sub-assemblies are also refreshed for those that pay for Pure products via their Evergreen subscription model. All of which, arguably, contributes to lean principles in its operations. Source link #Pure #Storages #lean #Czech #assembly Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wily Rashid inspires England to first win of 2025 Wily Rashid inspires England to first win of 2025 Legspinner Adil Rashid has guided England to a 26-run win over India in Rajkot to keep their five-match T20 series alive. Source link #Wily #Rashid #inspires #England #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Division 2’s Next DLC Has Been Delayed The Division 2’s Next DLC Has Been Delayed · · January 28, 2025 Ubisoft has announced the delay of the next scheduled DLC for Tom Clancy’s The Division 2. In a post on social media on Tuesday, the game’s developers said that the upcoming DLC won’t be happening as part of Year 6 of the game. “Our team is dedicated to continuing to build the future of The Division 2,” the statement starts. “We have exciting updates in store including the new season we can’t wait for you to play starting on February 25th.” Then came the bombshell. PODCAST: Xbox Developers Direct Us: Insider Gaming Weekly Podcast “We know you are eagerly awaiting the release of the upcoming DLC,” Ubisoft said. “To ensure we deliver the best possible experience, we’ve decided to take a little extra time to refine it, therefore the DLC will not ship during Year 6. “Thank you for your patience and support. Stay tuned—more updates are headed your way soon!” The new story DLC was part of announced revitalization of the game. It was originally scheduled to release in 2024 before it was delayed to 2025. There was no mention in Ubisoft’s announcement if the DLC will be part of Year 7 later in 2025 or be pushed into 2026. The news of the delayed DLC comes just one day after the company announced the closure of one studio along with the layoffs of 185 total people. In an internal memo—acquired by Insider Gaming—sent to those within Ubisoft reads that the company made the decision as part of efforts to “[find] more efficient operating models and to ensure our long-term success.” What do you think of The Division 2’s next DLC being delayed out of Year 6? Let us know down below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, check out our exclusive on two titles set to come to Xbox Game Pass in February and what NASCAR series is making its console game debut in iRacing’s NASCAR 25. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Division #DLC #Delayed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia calls DeepSeek an ‘excellent AI advancement’ and praises the ******** AI app’s ingenuity Nvidia calls DeepSeek an ‘excellent AI advancement’ and praises the ******** AI app’s ingenuity After DeepSeek’s surge in popularity, Nvidia is commenting on the AI newcomer Nvidia calls DeepSeek an ‘excellent AI advancement’ Nvidia hints that its GPUs are still critically important If you hadn’t heard the fuss about DeepSeek over the weekend, there is a good chance you’ll at least have heard the term by now. It rose to fame because it provided a genuine competitor to ChatGPT at a fraction of the price, and it has caused turmoil in the stock market, seeing tech share prices plummet. Nvidia in particular suffered a record-breaking $600 billion share price drop, the largest share price drop in history. Released by a ******** startup of the same name, DeepSeek is a free AI chatbot with ambitions to take on the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. There are also new models with some multimodal capabilities, mainly in image creation and analysis. It has taken the AI world by storm and is still the number one app in Apple’s App Store in the United States and the United Kingdom. The app and website proved popular, with DeepSeek experiencing an outage and a reported ‘malicious attack’ the same day it rose to fame. While Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief executive, responded, we also heard from Nvidia, arguably the global leader in AI chips, which has risen in prominence as the AI wave has continued to grow. In an emailed statement to TechRadar, Nvidia wrote, “DeepSeek is an excellent AI advancement and a perfect example of Test Time Scaling. DeepSeek’s work illustrates how new models can be created using that technique, leveraging widely-available models and compute that is fully export control compliant. Inference requires significant numbers of NVIDIA GPUs and high-performance networking. We now have three scaling laws: pre-training and post-training, which continue, and new test-time scaling.” (Image credit: Adobe Stock) It’s certainly strong, calling DeepSeek “an excellent AI advancement,” which speaks to the performance of DeepSeek’s R1 model. It also confirms what we knew: new models can be established using existing models and chips rather than creating entirely new ones. Nvidia clearly wants to remain a key part, noting that this type of rollout requires a lot of Nvidia GPUs and plays off the fact that DeepSeek used China-specific Nvidia GPUS. Reading between the lines, it also hints that DeepSeek will need more of its chips … at some point. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. DeepSeek claims it used an innovative new training process to develop its LLMs using trial and error to self-improve. You could say it trained its LLMs in the same way that humans learn, by receiving feedback based on their actions. It also utilized an MoE (Mixture-of-Experts) architecture, meaning it activate only a small fraction of its parameters at any given time, significantly reducing the computational cost, making it more efficient. Sam Altman also praised DeepSeek’s R1 model, “particularly around what they’re able to deliver for the price.” He reiterated that OpenAI will “obviously deliver much better models,” but he welcomed the competition. Nvidia seems to be keeping its future cards closer to its chest. It’s still a waiting game of sorts to see when DeepSeek AI will turn back on new sign-ups and get back to full performance, but if you’re curious about its staying power, read my colleague Lance Ulanoff’s – TechRadar’s Editor-at-Large – thoughts on its chances of sticking around in the United States. As well as our hands-on of DeepSeek AI versus ChatGPT from John-Anthony Disotto, one of TechRadar’s AI experts. You might also like Source link #Nvidia #calls #DeepSeek #excellent #advancement #praises #******** #apps #ingenuity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk is working with Boeing to deliver Air Force One replacements Elon Musk is working with Boeing to deliver Air Force One replacements First Lady Melania Trump laughs as she watches US President Donald Trump cut with a saber into a cake representation of the new Air Force One design during the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, on Jan. 20, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images Boeing is working with Trump advisor Elon Musk on ways to deliver delayed, overbudget Air Force One replacements sooner, CEO Kelly Ortberg said Tuesday. The pair of Boeing 747s that will serve as the next Air Force One aircraft are more than $2 billion over budget and years late, which the company has attributed to design changes, labor constraints and supply chain problems. President Donald Trump struck a deal for the aircraft during his first term, after threatening to “cancel order!” before he took office in 2017, complaining about high costs. “We’ve been engaged with Elon” on the Air Force One program to eliminate costs and deliver the aircraft earlier, Ortberg said in an interview with CNBC’s Phil Lebeau on “Squawk on the Street” on Tuesday, after releasing full-year results and its 2025 outlook. It is not clear whether the aircraft will be delivered before Trump’s current term is up. An Air Force spokesperson told CNBC that an updated delivery schedule from Boeing is expected in the spring. Trump cut a cake adorned with a model of Air Force One — in a new paint scheme — with a sword at his Jan. 20 inaugural ball. Read more CNBC airline news Musk, whose company SpaceX competes with Boeing’s space unit, has worked closely with Trump in recent months. The billionaire is also heading Trump’s commission that he tasked with reducing government spending. Musk and the White House didn’t immediately comment. “The president wants those planes sooner so we’re working with Elon to see what can we do to pull up the schedule of those programs,” Ortberg said. Boeing in the last quarter took $1.7 billion in pretax charges in its defense and space unit, including for the Air Force One program. Ortberg, who became CEO in August, replaced the head of that business in September with an internal, interim leader. Source link #Elon #Musk #working #Boeing #deliver #Air #Force #replacements Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

******** Warns About the Risks of Artificial Intelligence ******** Warns About the Risks of Artificial Intelligence The ******** called for constant oversight of artificial intelligence on Tuesday, warning about the potential for “the shadow of evil” in the technology, which it said offered “a source of tremendous opportunities but also profound risks.” In a new document meant to advise the Catholic faithful, the church warned that the technology should be used to complement human intelligence, “rather than replace its richness.” The document was approved by Pope Francis, who has repeatedly warned that the application of artificial intelligence should be grounded in ethical and moral considerations. “In all areas where humans are called to make decisions, the shadow of evil also looms here,” the ******** said in the paper. It added, “The moral evaluation of this technology will need to take into account how it is directed and used.” The paper “is a synthesis of a lot of the existing materials that have been developing organically over the last while,” drawing on Francis’s past statements and writings to look at A.I.’s effect on relationships, education, warfare and work, said the Rev. Paul Tighe, one of the people who worked on it. The paper was written over six months by a ******** team in consultation with various experts, including those in A.I. The paper tries to map out “an understanding of what it is to be human that in a sense gives shape to the ethical concerns,” said Father Tighe, who is the spokesman for the ******** department of culture and education. The paper warned of A.I.’s potential to destroy the trust on which societies are built because of its potential to spread misinformation. “A.I.-generated fake media can gradually undermine the foundations of society,” the document said. “This issue requires careful regulation, as misinformation — especially through A.I.-controlled or -influenced media — can spread unintentionally, fueling political polarization and social unrest. “Such widespread deception is no trivial matter; it strikes at the core of humanity, dismantling the foundational trust on which societies are built.” It decried the “harmful sense of isolation” that A.I. could generate, as well as “specific challenges” for children, “potentially encouraging them to develop patterns of interaction that treat human relationships in a transactional manner, as one would relate to a chatbot.” The document cited concerns that A.I. could be used to advance what the pope has described as the “technocratic paradigm,” a belief that the world’s problems could be solved through technological means alone. “Technological developments that do not improve life for everyone, but instead create or worsen inequalities and conflicts, cannot be called true progress,” the document stated, citing Francis’ 2024 World Day of Peace message. When it comes to work, the document said, “the goal should not be that technological progress increasingly replaces human work, for this would be detrimental to humanity.” It should also never “reduce workers to mere ‘cogs in a machine,’” as the “dignity of laborers and the importance of employment for the economic well-being of individuals, families and societies, for job security and just wages, ought to be a high priority for the international community” as A.I. spreads. The paper also repeated concerns about using the technology in remote-controlled weapons that result in “a lessened perception of the devastation” from their use and “an even more cold and detached approach to the immense tragedy of war.” The paper warned about “the concentration of the power over mainstream A.I. applications in the hands of a few powerful companies.” Those companies could exercise “forms of control as subtle as they are invasive, creating mechanisms for the manipulation of consciences and of the democratic process,” the document stated, citing a 2019 document by Francis. Francis has increasingly raised concerns about A.I. In an address to political, economic and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week, Francis wrote that A.I. raised “great concerns about its impact on the role of humanity.” And at a Group of 7 meeting in Italy last year, Francis told world leaders that A.I. “represents a true cognitive-industrial revolution, which will contribute to the creation of a new social system characterized by complex epochal transformations.” This month, the ******** released a document with guidelines for the use of A.I. inside its own walls, regulating its application. Source link #******** #Warns #Risks #Artificial #Intelligence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Parallel Experiment is a mind-bending co-op puzzle thriller arriving on mobile later this year Parallel Experiment is a mind-bending co-op puzzle thriller arriving on mobile later this year Parallel Experiment is an upcoming co-op crime thriller puzzler hitting Steam this March But it’s also set to see its hit demo release on mobile this year, with a proper release hopefully soon Solve the mystery of a ruthless killer as detectives Ally and Old Dog in Parallel Experiment As we head into 2025, we’re already lining up some highly anticipated releases for the year. And not least among them is the upcoming co-op puzzle crime thriller Parallel Experiment from developer Eleven Puzzles. Confirmed to be landing on Steam this March it’s also planned to receive a proper iOS and Android demo later this year! If you’re familiar with co-op puzzlers like Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, you’ll already get the gist of what Parallel Experiment is about. Playing as detectives Ally and Old Dog, each player will often find themselves in two independent locations needing to communicate clues and work together even when apart to solve puzzles. Coming with over 80 individual puzzles, an in-game notebook to keep track of the clues (how retro), cooperative dialogue, a noir comic book style and even different ways to annoy each other like knocking on windows or poking your fellow detective to add to the fun. What’s in the booox?! Before you ask, yes there will be crossplay. Which I think is the most ingenious part of this release. After all, working together via multiplayer can be pretty simple on desktop what with the luxury of Discord, but having the other person in the same room as you might be just as much an avenue for creative ways to distract and communicate with your partner; that is, as much as it may be a way for some more boring people to just play on both devices. And while the co-op puzzle gimmick is not a new one, that also means there’s been plenty of trial and error testing across the world of gaming to ensure that we’re (hopefully) getting the best experience when Parallel Experiment does hit mobile. Meanwhile, if you want to keep Ahead of the Game then you don’t just need to check our news. Why not take a gander at our regular feature of the same name to find out what we thought of the upcoming multiplayer dungeon crawler Gold & Glory? Source link #Parallel #Experiment #mindbending #coop #puzzle #thriller #arriving #mobile #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ISRO to Launch 100th Satellite NVS-02 Boosting India’s NavIC System ISRO to Launch 100th Satellite NVS-02 Boosting India’s NavIC System The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to achieve a major milestone with the launch of its 100th satellite on January 29 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The GSLV-F15 mission will place the NVS-02 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. The satellite, weighing 2,250 kg, is equipped with advanced navigation payloads in L1, L5, and S bands and a ranging payload in the C-band. The mission highlights ISRO’s ongoing commitment to enhancing India’s space capabilities. Details of the NVS-02 Satellite As reported by the Times of India, according to ISRO, the NVS-02 satellite is part of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, designed to provide precise Position, Velocity, and Timing services across India and an area extending 1,500 km beyond its borders. Built on the I-2K platform, it replaces the IRNSS-1E at the 111.75°E orbital slot and features a combination of indigenous and procured atomic clocks for time accuracy. This satellite will augment NavIC’s base layer constellation with additional capabilities to ensure service continuity. GSLV-F15 and Mission Significance The GSLV-F15, featuring an Indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage, marks the 17th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 8th operational flight with this technology. The rocket will lift off from the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota. ISRO has stated that the mission underscores advancements in navigation satellite systems and aims to improve accuracy and reliability for users within the coverage area. Satellite Development and Collaboration ISRO confirmed that the NVS-02 satellite was designed and integrated at the U R Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, with contributions from other ISRO centres. The NavIC system, comprising NVS-01 through NVS-05 satellites, is expected to offer enhanced navigation features, supporting diverse applications in fields such as transportation, maritime activities, and disaster management. This historic mission reinforces ISRO’s role as a key player in advancing India’s independent space capabilities. Source link #ISRO #Launch #100th #Satellite #NVS02 #Boosting #Indias #NavIC #System Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Android XR comes out swinging with our first look at Samsung Project Moohan, but the VR headset just makes me want AR glasses more Android XR comes out swinging with our first look at Samsung Project Moohan, but the VR headset just makes me want AR glasses more We’ve got our first proper look at Samsung’s Project Moohan MKBHD has shown us Android XR fetaures too Gemini looks like it would be awesome on AR glasses Thanks to a video on his YouTube channel, MKBHD, Marques Brownlee has given us our best look yet at Samsung and Google’s VR headset prototype Project Moohan – and the Android XR platform as a whole. It does some exciting stuff, but there’s some important questions (*cough* price *cough*) that we still need answered. Starting with the hardware, and we got to see some key headset design details – though bear in mind that this design of this prototype might not match that of the consumer version set to launch later this year. As it stands, though, similarities with the Apple Vision Pro go beyond the device’s silhouette. There’s no over-the-head strap, but rather a single Meta Quest Pro-like adjustable strap round the back. Brownlee says that this, combined with the differently shaped facial interface, means that it’s comfortable without one (unlike the Vision Pro). Just like Apple’s headset, the device relies on an external battery pack. One difference here is you can connect the USB-C cable into either the official battery or any battery pack you choose (although there may be risks if you use an unofficial pack). I was expecting this subtle design upgrade; it allows you to decide if you want a sleeker pack or a bulkier battery with a much longer battery life, based on your needs. I Tried Samsung’s Secret Android XR Headset! – YouTube Watch On Speaking of the Meta Quest Pro, Moohan borrows its optional light blockers. These add-ons allow you to block out light for a more immersive VR experience. Alternatively, you can take them off to see more of your actual surroundings – ideal for mixed reality, as you have a better connection with the real world. On that topic, the mixed reality quality looked solid, though it’s hard to say too much on it as Brownlee appeared to be in a very bright room (an ideal environment for MR) and as I’ve seen first-hand with the Meta Quest 3 headsets, the recording of your passthrough cameras is higher quality than what the wearer experiences. So we’ll have to test it first hand to understand how good it is for mixed reality. Lastly, we learnt Project Moohan lacks your typical VR controllers and instead relies solely on hand tracking (sort of – more on that in a moment). This could change, but the hand tracking seemed reliable enough. It closely matches the hand tracking style used by Meta’s Quest headsets, which has you reach out to touch and point a little more than the Apple Vision Pro. This should help app creators port their XR apps from Meta systems to Android XR. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Meta could face some competition (Image credit: Meta) Gemini is made for AR glasses This is a good point to segue into software. Brownlee focuses on Android XR’s Gemini integrations, which in fairness seem neat. This XR version of Gemini Live is just as smart as your smartphone version, with many of the same features – you can talk to it, and it can even take inspiration from the real world around you. Brownlee demoed one interesting trick, where he held up a book to the headset’s cameras and asked it “Can you take me to here?” To which Moohan responded “Sure, that looks like Wadi Rum in Jordan” before opening up the Google Maps app at the rough location of where the picture was taken (even Rainbolt isn’t able to escape the AI uprising). It also comes with in-built circle to search, allowing Brownlee to use the AI to try and search the web for examples of the shoes he was wearing or of the art on the wall in the room. He also highlighted how Gemini allows you to open up apps with your voice, which makes for a less physically taxing way to interact with XR. Overall, though, I’m a little disappointed. Gemini is a fun include for the device, but I could see it working a lot better on glasses compared to a headset – as you’re unlikely to be walking around with Moohan on in your day-to-day, unlike AR smart glasses. The other software teases – XR versions of existing Android apps – didn’t light my world on fire either. Android XR smart glasses would be fantastic with Gemini (Image credit: Meta) This is where the Apple Vision pro fell down. It’s not showing us much more utility from Moohan than your regular smartphone and pair of the basic smart glasses such as the Xreal Air 2s, which project your screen in front of you. That said, it’s still early days. Samsung and Google might still be able to convince XR developers to create exclusive and more meaningful uses for Moohan that your other devices can’t mimic. Obviously a lot of this critique hinges on Moohan’s price – which Samsung is remaining tight lipped on. If that changes, we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop. You might also like Source link #Android #swinging #Samsung #Project #Moohan #headset #glasses Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

There’s more market pain to come near term, says Canaccord Genuity There’s more market pain to come near term, says Canaccord Genuity Market volatility is likely to continue moving forward, according to Canaccord Genuity, and the S & P 500 could see more near-term pressure ahead as a result. Analyst Michael Welch said that because there are plenty of market-influencing events unfolding the rest of this week, with roughly 97 S & P 500 companies expected to report through Friday and Wednesday’s Federal Reserve interest rate decision, uncertainty is likely to persist. “Given the lack of oversold conditions in our indicators and the likelihood of heightened volatility due to the potential catalysts this week, we continue to expect some near-term downside for the SPX,” Welch wrote in a Tuesday note. The broad market index has pulled back nearly 1% so far this week. .SPX 1D mountain The S & P was slightly higher on Tuesday. The analyst also listed Thursday’s reading of the fourth-quarter U.S. gross domestic product and Friday’s Personal Consumption Expenditures price index report as other important data points for the market this week. Artificial intelligence and overall market bellwether Nvidia plummeted nearly 17% on Monday, dropping nearly $600 billion in market capitalization. The chip giant’s decline occurred amid a broader rout in the technology sector that saw the S & P 500 lose 1.5%. The sell-off was sparked by the emergence of ******** AI startup DeepSeek. The company unveiled a free open-source large language model last month, saying that it took less than $6 million to build. On Monday, DeepSeek also unseated OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most-downloaded free app in the U.S. on Apple’s App Store. The development spooked investors and raised questions around the amount of money tech giants in the U.S. have devoted toward AI. To be sure, Welch added that Monday’s market moves were less of a broad sell-off and more of a rotation into other sectors. He said that investors turned to value stocks and moved out of growth names, with the the S & P 500 Value Index outperforming its growth counterpart by 460 basis points. The move away from momentum stocks, he noted, also benefited the S & P 500 Equal Weight index, which closed slightly higher on Monday. NVDA 5D mountain Nvidia stock. Stocks were higher on Tuesday, as investors looked for a rebound and snapped up shares of tech companies amid renewed confidence in the AI trade. Source link #market #pain #term #Canaccord #Genuity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

JetBlue CEO on earnings: Q1 is a trough quarter for us and that's what we're seeing JetBlue CEO on earnings: Q1 is a trough quarter for us and that's what we're seeing Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue CEO, joins ‘Money Movers’ to discuss the company’s quarterly earnings results, if the brand’s JetForward strategy is working, and much more. Source link #JetBlue #CEO #earnings #trough #quarter #that039s #we039re Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LVMH (LVMH.PA) earnings Q4, full-year FY24 LVMH (LVMH.PA) earnings Q4, full-year FY24 A Louis Vuitton storefront in San Diego, California. Kevin Carter | Getty Images News | Getty Images The world’s largest luxury company LVMH on Tuesday reported better-than-expected full-year sales, in the strongest sign yet of a potential turnaround in the high-end sector. The owner of brands including Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon and Hennessy posted revenues of 84.68 billion euros ($88.27 billion) for 2024, versus the 84.38 billion euros forecast by LSEG analysts. The full-year figure equates to organic growth of 1% versus the previous year, the company said. Sales also rose more than expected in the fourth quarter to December, after falling for the first time since the pandemic in the three months prior. “In 2024, amid an uncertain environment, LVMH showed strong resilience. This capacity to weather the storm in highly turbulent times — already illustrated on many occasions throughout our Group’s history — is yet another testament to the strength and relevance of our strategy,” Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH, said in a statement. The French luxury goods giant is seen as a bellwether for the wider luxury industry, which has faced significant pressure over recent years amid declining China sales and broader macroeconomic headwinds. Luxury shares were buoyed earlier this month when Cartier owner Richemont reported its “highest ever” quarterly sales figure as consumers returned to stores over the festive shopping *******. British fashion house Burberry on Friday also reported a shallower-than-expected dip in the fiscal third-quarter sales amid an ongoing strategic overhaul. However, Jefferies analysts said in a note Monday that LVMH’s results would provide a “better indicator of broader luxury trends,” given the group’s reach across a broad array of categories including wines and spirits, fashion and leather goods, watches and jewelry, and cosmetics and perfume. Shares in LVMH are currently up around 18% year-to-date, having fallen more than 13% in 2024. Earlier this month, the group surpassed Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk to regain the title of Europe’s most valuable company. Source link #LVMH #LVMH.PA #earnings #fullyear #FY24 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Raptors sign Robinson to 10-day contract Raptors sign Robinson to 10-day contract By Staff The ********* Press Posted January 28, 2025 12:21 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors have signed Orlando Robinson to a second 10-day contract, the NBA team announced Tuesday. The six-foot-10, 235-pound centre from Las Vegas appeared in three games with the Raptors during his first 10-day contract with the Raptors. Related Videos 1:32 Toronto Raptors players surprise students in Kahnawake Previous Video Next Video He averaged 2.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 11 minutes over that span, which ended in Toronto’s 113-104 win over visiting New Orleans on Monday. Story continues below advertisement The 24-year-old has posted averages of 2.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 7.5 minutes in 12 games this season with Toronto and Sacramento. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. He was waived by the Kings on Jan. 7. Trending Now ‘This is insane s—‘: Bill Gates criticizes Elon Musk for far-right support The winter ‘quademic’? You may be sick with one of these 4 viruses The Raptors (14-32) have won four games in a row and six of their last seven heading into a game Wednesday at Washington. This report by The ********* Press was first published Jan. 28, 2025. &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Raptors #sign #Robinson #10day #contract Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cheating in VALORANT Spiked During Riot’s Holiday Break Cheating in VALORANT Spiked During Riot’s Holiday Break In the the weeks before and after the start of 2025, when Riot Games employees are taking their annual holiday rest, recorded instances of cheating in VALORANT doubled across all regions. While the rise in cheating is now under control, the spike shows that it is a never-ending battle between developer and cheater. But how did cheating in VALORANT get so bad during the holiday break? The head of VALORANT’s anti-cheat explained in a lengthy post yesterday. Cheating in VALORANT Reached Historic Levels in Brazil According to head of VALORANT anti-cheat Phillip “mirageofpenguins” Koskinas, Riot’s holiday break opened the door for cheaters to take advantage. During this time, with less resources and people available to detect cheaters and roll out fixes, “the cheaters that weren’t immediately detected started multiplying.” Image via @deteccphilippe on X. From the days before Christmas through the first week of January, the percentage of matches with a cheater detected rose in all regions, but none as dramatically as Brazil. In Brazil, which already had the highest percentage of cheaters of any region, the percentage of matches with a cheater spiked from just under 5% to around 12%. According to Riot, Brazil cheaters regularly use a “pixelbot” that reads the screen, identifies enemy outlines and heads, and then submits mouse events to the OS that points the cheater towards that enemy. The pixelbot cheats popular amongst Brazil cheaters are supposedly cheap and easy to install, but Riot says they’re also easy to spot. Once the Riot holiday break ended and normal anti-cheat detection resumed, the cheater percentage in Brazil (and other regions) dropped dramatically to a lower level than it was before the break. Riot says the the January 10-13 weekend featured its “highest sustained ban velocity on record, with almost seven suspensions occurring every minute.” In yesterday’s post, Riot admitted that the fight against cheaters will never end. Because VALORANT is free and there’s little to no barrier to entry, no cheater can be truly permanently exiled. While Riot team remains committed to disrupting cheaters, they also plan to implement ranked rollback in the next act, which restore rank rating to players that lost against caught cheaters. Did you notice a spike in cheaters when you played VALORANT during the holiday? Let us know in the comments below or on our community forum! For more esports news, check out our coverage of an esports org CEO embezzling thousands from his organization. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Cheating #VALORANT #Spiked #Riots #Holiday #Break Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Astronomers Capture Supermassive ****** Hole Plasma Jets at Birth Astronomers Capture Supermassive ****** Hole Plasma Jets at Birth For the first time, astronomers have directly observed a supermassive ****** hole ejecting a jet of plasma traveling at one-third the speed of light. This rare phenomenon, located 270 million light-years away in the constellation Draco, centers around the ****** hole at the heart of galaxy 1ES 1927+654, which holds a mass 1.4 billion times that of the Sun. The discovery provides groundbreaking insights into the formation and behavior of ****** hole jets, previously unseen at their inception. Study Published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, details how researchers observed jets emerging after a significant radio flare in the galaxy’s core in 2023. Data collected by the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) revealed highly ionized plasma jets erupting from the ****** hole’s poles. Initially obscured by dense gas, the jets broke through by early 2024, each extending about half a light-year. Lead researcher Dr. Eileen Meyer, an astrophysicist at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, emphasised the uniqueness of capturing such an event in real time, in a statement by an official press release from NASA. A Rare Insight into ****** Hole Jet Formation As reported by space.com, supermassive ****** holes in active galaxies often eject twin jets of plasma propelled by intense magnetic fields. While these jets, sometimes stretching millions of light-years, have been studied extensively, their formation remained elusive. This observation offers a rare opportunity to investigate the mechanisms by which ****** holes channel material from their accretion disks into high-speed outflows. Significance of the Discovery The ****** hole in 1ES 1927+654 first garnered attention in 2018 due to unusual outbursts in multiple wavelengths of light. After a dormant *******, activity resumed in 2023, leading to this unprecedented observation. By capturing the jet’s emergence, the study provides valuable data to refine models of ****** hole activity and better understand the role of magnetic forces in generating these massive, high-energy jets. Source link #Astronomers #Capture #Supermassive #****** #Hole #Plasma #Jets #Birth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The value of AI: How Microsoft’s customers and partners are creating differentiated AI solutions to reinvent how they do business today The value of AI: How Microsoft’s customers and partners are creating differentiated AI solutions to reinvent how they do business today Organizational leaders in every industry around the world are evaluating ways AI can unlock opportunities, drive pragmatic innovation and yield value across their business. At Microsoft, we are dedicated to helping our customers accelerate AI Transformation by empowering human ambition with Copilots and agents, developing differentiated AI solutions and building scalable cybersecurity foundations. At Microsoft Ignite we made over 100 announcements that bring the latest innovation directly to our customers and partners, and shared how Microsoft is the only technology leader to offer three distinct AI platforms for them to build AI solutions: Copilot is your UI for AI, with Copilot Studio enabling low-code creation of agents and extensibility to your data. Azure AI Foundry is the only AI app server for building real-world, world-class, AI-native applications. Microsoft Fabric is the AI data platform that provides one common way to reason over your data —no matter where it lives. All three of these platforms are open and work synchronously to enable the development of modern AI solutions; and each is surrounded by our world-class security offerings so leaders can move their AI-first strategies forward with confidence. As we look ahead to what we can achieve together, I remain inspired by the work we are doing today. Below are a handful of the many stories from the past quarter highlighting the differentiated AI solutions our customers and partners are driving to move business forward across industries and realize pragmatic value. Their success clearly illustrates that real results can be harnessed from AI today, and it is changing the way organizations do business. To power its industrial IoT and AI platform, ABB Group leveraged Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to create Genix Copilot: a generative AI-powered analytics suite aimed at solving some of the most complex industrial problems. The solution helps customers analyze key functions in their operations —such as asset and process performance, energy optimization and emission monitoring — with real-time operational insights. As a result, customers are seeing up to 35% savings in operations and maintenance, and up to 20% improvement in energy and emission optimization. ABB also saw an 80% decrease in service calls with the self-service capabilities of Genix Copilot. Serving government healthcare agencies across the US, Acentra Health turned to Microsoft to help introduce the latest AI capabilities that maximize talent and cut costs in a secure, HIPAA-compliant manner. Using Azure OpenAI Service, the company developed MedScribe — an AI-powered tool reducing the time specially trained nursing staff spend on appeal determination letters. This innovation saved 11,000 nursing hours and nearly $800,000, reducing time spent on each appeal determination letter by about 50%. MedScribe also significantly enhanced operational efficiency, enabling nurses to process 20 to 30 letters daily with a 99% approval rate. To ease challenges for small farmers, Romanian agribusiness group Agricover revolutionized access to credit by developing MyAgricover. Built with help from partner Avaelgo, the scalable digital platform utilizes Microsoft Azure, Azure API Management and Microsoft Fabric to automate the loan process and enable faster approvals and disbursements. This has empowered small farmers to grow their businesses and receive faster access to financing by reducing loan approval time by 90 percent — from 10 working days to a maximum of 24 hours. Building on its status as a world-class airline with a strong Indian identity, Air India sought ways to enhance customer support while managing costs. By developing AI.g, one of the industry’s first generative AI virtual assistants built on Azure OpenAI Service, the airline upgraded the customer experience. Today, 97% of customer queries are handled with full automation, resulting in millions of dollars of support costs saved and improved customer satisfaction — further positioning the airline for continued growth. BMW Group aimed to enhance data delivery efficiency and improve vehicle development and prototyping cycles by implementing a Mobile Data Recorder (MDR) solution with Azure App Service, Azure AI and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). The solution achieved 10 times more efficient data delivery, significantly improved data accessibility and elevated overall development quality. The MDR monitors and records more than 10,000 signals twice per second in every vehicle of BMW’s fleet of 3,500 development cars and transmits data within seconds to a centralized cloud back end. Using Azure AI Foundry and Azure OpenAI Service, BMW Group created an MDR copilot fueled by GPT-4o. Engineers can now chat with the interface using natural language, and the MDR copilot converts the conversations into KQL queries, simplifying access to technical insights. Moving from on-premises tools to a cloud-based system with faster data management also helps engineers troubleshoot in real time. The vehicle data covered by the system has doubled, and data delivery and analysis happen 10 times faster. Coles Group modernized its logistics and administrative applications using Microsoft Azure Stack HCI to scale its edge AI capabilities and improve efficiency and customer experience across its 1,800 stores. By expanding its Azure Stack HCI footprint from two stores to over 500, Coles achieved a six-fold increase in the pace of application deployment, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and enabling rapid innovation without disrupting workloads. The retailer is also using Azure Machine Learning to train and develop edge AI models, speeding up data annotation time for training models by 50%. Multinational advertising and media company Dentsu wanted to speed time to insights for its team of data scientists and media analysts to support its media planning and budget optimization. Using Microsoft Azure AI Foundry and Azure OpenAI Service, Dentsu developers built a predictive analytics copilot that uses conversational chat and draws on deep expertise in media forecasting, budgeting and optimization. This AI-driven tool has reduced time to media insights for employees and clients by 90% and cut analysis costs. To overcome the limitations of its current systems, scale operations and automate processes across millions of workflows, Docusign created the Intelligent Agreement Management (IAM) platform on Azure. Using Azure AI, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Logic Apps and AKS, the platform transforms agreement data into actionable insights to enhance productivity and accelerate contract review cycles. IAM also ensures better collaboration and unification across business systems to provide secure solutions tailored to diverse customer needs. For example, its customer KPC Private funds reported a 70% reduction in time and resources dedicated to agreement processes. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) transformed its manufacturing operations by leveraging a hybrid environment with Azure Arc, Azure Stack HCI and Azure Kubernetes Service. This digital manufacturing platform resulted in 86% cost savings for AI image and video analytics and a 13-fold improvement in AI response times. The seamless hybrid cloud architecture has enhanced EGA’s operational efficiency and agility, supporting its Industry 4.0 transformation strategy. EY collaborated with Microsoft to enhance the inclusivity of AI development using Azure AI Studio. By involving neurodivergent technologists from EY’s Neuro-Diverse Centers of Excellence, they improved the accessibility and productivity of AI tools, resulting in more inclusive AI solutions, fostering innovation and ensuring that AI tools unlock the potential of all users. With an estimated 20% of the global workforce identifying as neurodivergent, inclusive AI solutions are crucial for maximizing creativity and productivity. Neurodivergent EY technologists also collaborated with Microsoft developers to make Azure AI Foundry more inclusive and help all users work productively to create innovative AI solutions. Colombian household appliance manufacturer Haceb integrated AI to optimize processes, reduce costs and improve service quality. Using Microsoft Copilot Studio and Azure OpenAI Service, the company created a virtual technical support assistant, saving its 245 technicians 5 minutes per visit — a total of 5,000 minutes saved daily. This AI solution has enhanced efficiency and boosted customer satisfaction by allowing for faster issue resolution. Haceb’s AI adoption has also empowered employees, boosted productivity and positioned the company as a leader in AI innovation in Colombia. To better serve its global patients, Operation Smile — in collaboration with partner Squadra — leveraged Azure AI, Machine Learning and Microsoft Fabric to develop an AI-powered solution to predict surgical outcomes and optimize resource allocation. This innovation resulted in a 30% increase in surgical efficiency, a 90% reduction in translation errors and improved patient outcomes. Additionally, report generation is now up to 95% quicker, and repeated medical events have decreased by 15%, enabling Operation Smile to provide better care to more children worldwide. Ontada — a McKesson business dedicated to oncology data and evidence, clinical education and point-of-care technologies — needed a way to generate key insights across 150 million unstructured oncology documents. Using Microsoft Azure AI and Azure OpenAI Service, Ontada developed a data platform solution called ON.Genuity to provide AI-driven insights into the patient journey, enhance patient trial matching and identify care gaps. The company also implemented large language models to target nearly 100 critical oncology data elements across 39 ******* types, enabling the company to analyze an estimated 70% of previously inaccessible data, reduce processing time by 75% and accelerate product time-to-market from months to just one week. As the ***’s largest **** care company, Pets at Home sought a way to combat fraud across its retail operations — particularly as its online business continued to grow. Working closely with its fraud team, it adopted Copilot Studio to develop an AI agent that quickly identifies suspicious transactions. The agent autonomously gathers relevant information, performs analysis and shares it with a fraud agent to enable a manual, data-intensive investigative process while ensuring a human remains in the loop. With this low-code agent extending and seamlessly integrating into existing systems, the company’s fraud department can act more quickly; what used to take 20 to 30 minutes is now handled by the AI agent within seconds. The company is identifying fraud 10 times faster and is processing 20 times more cases a day. Now, the company can operate at scale with speed, efficiency and accuracy — with savings expected to be in the seven figures as it continues to build more agents. Revenue Grid, a technology company specializing in sales engagement and revenue optimization solutions, partnered with Cloud Services to modernize its data infrastructure and develop a unified data warehouse capable of handling unstructured, semi-structured and structured data. By migrating to Microsoft Fabric, Revenue Grid can now deliver data-powered revenue intelligence, driven by a unified platform, elastic scalability, enhanced analytics capabilities and streamlined operations. Revenue Grid has reduced infrastructure costs by 60% while enhancing its analytical capabilities to improve real-time data processing, empowering sales teams with accurate and diverse data. To better manage and integrate employee data across diverse regions and systems, UST built a comprehensive Employee Data platform on Microsoft Fabric. In under a year, UST migrated 20 years of employee data with all security measures to enhance data accessibility and employee productivity. The Meta Data Driven Integration (MDDI) framework in Fabric also helped the company cut data ingestion time by 50% so employees can focus more on analysis than preparation. As a result of this implementation, the company has seen an increase in collaboration and innovation from employees, helping put its values into action. The Microsoft Commercial Marketplace offers millions of customers worldwide a convenient place to find, try and buy software and services across 140 countries. As a Marketplace partner, WeTransact is helping independent software vendors (ISVs) list and transact their software solutions — and find opportunities for co-selling and extending their reach to enterprise customers through development of the WeTransact platform. Powered by Azure OpenAI Service, the platform is changing the way partnerships are being built by using AI pairing to facilitate a “plug and play” reseller network. More than 300 ISVs worldwide have joined the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace using the WeTransact platform, cutting their time to publish by 75%. The opportunity for AI to create value is no longer an ambition for the future — it is happening now, and organizational leaders across industries are investing in AI-first strategies to change the way they do business. We believe AI should empower human achievement and enrich the lives of employees; and we are uniquely differentiated to help you accelerate your AI Transformation responsibly and securely. Choosing the right technology provider comes down to trust, and I look forward to what we will achieve together as we partner with you on your AI journey. Tags: AI, Azure, Azure AI, Azure AI Foundry, Azure AI Studio, Azure Arc, Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Stack HCI, Copilot, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Ignite 2024 Source link #Microsofts #customers #partners #creating #differentiated #solutions #reinvent #business #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Dreamy Riviera Maya Escape A Dreamy Riviera Maya Escape Visitors to the Playa del Carmen region of Mexico have their choice of luxury accommodations. But none are quite like the St. Regis Kanai Resort. Located within the exclusive 1,235-acre Kanai community that also includes Etéreo, an Auberge Resort, and The Riviera Maya Edition, St. Regis Kanai seems to rise organically from the lush, whispering mangroves—its stark white, circular architecture gracefully contrasting with the deep jungle greens surrounding it. The design is modern and futuristic, yet it is deeply rooted in ancient Mayan history. More than simply a place for rest and relaxation, the resort offers an immersive experience that seamlessly blends nature, culture, and luxury. Few resorts in Riviera Maya are designed like St. Regis Kanai Architect Michael Edmonds designed the resort to subtly echo key elements of Mayan cosmology, spirituality, and culture, particularly through the repeated use of circles and circular motifs—considered powerful symbols of the cosmos and the infinite. Mayans viewed time as cyclical, not linear, with recurring patterns and natural cycles governing everything from agriculture to spiritual practices. The recurring circular patterns throughout the property pay homage to the Mayans, and thus, an atmosphere of timelessness, of being deeply connected to both the land and history, permeates. One needn’t be a cultural historian to feel it, which I most certainly did. Here’s how I enjoyed a recent St. Regis Kanai resort stay: St. Regis Kanai Resort’s grand lobby I arrived just in time to witness one of St. Regis’ most compelling rituals—the evening Champagne sabering. Every evening at sundown, at every St. Regis hotel around the world, the dramatic, ceremonial sabrage takes place, welcoming the transition from day to night. Guests are provided a sampling from the sabered bottle—a perfect and celebratory start to my stay. My butler (yes, every St. Regis guest has their own butler) then led me to my room, which featured a plunge pool overlooking the mangroves, around which the hotel is structured. One of the resort’s outstanding design elements is the way it respects the surrounding environment, carefully maintaining the integrity of the local ecosystem. The grounds are dotted with native flora and fauna, over which walkways flow from the lobby to the sugar-sand beach. Guest rooms and suites overlook the mangrove forest towards the Caribbean Sea Bathrooms feature large soaking tubs And that beach…it is expansive and pristine, with cushy chaises lounge lined up perfectly in two rows, overlooking the turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea. The precision is echoed by the nearby grove of palm trees that sway softly in the breeze, several of which feature hammocks. Flanking the beach are the resort’s two swimming pools, as well as canopied seating areas. The entire effect is tropical perfection, and I imagine few beaches in this region match the flawless aesthetic. (This might be why Orlebar Brown, the stylish men’s division of parent company Chanel, chose the St. Regis and its beach for its Riviera Maya pop-up boutique location.) To get to the beach, guests traverse one of two wooden walkways that float atop the expanse of mangroves—tropical trees that thrive in salty, coastal waters, and that provide an essential habitat for thousands of species. Posted signage alerts guests to the wildlife within; this region is a veritable panoply of creatures: birds, turtles, raccoons, spider monkeys, and iguanas, all of which live harmoniously with the humans. The spotting of such creatures, and the melodious sounds of various birdcalls, are de rigueur and enhance the vibe. Chaises lounge line the expansive sugar-sand beach. Photo by Fran Miller Orlebar Brown, a division of Chanel, chose the St. Regis Kanai beach for its Riviera Maya pop-up Morning heralded the arrival of my butler-delivered coffee, just as I’d ordered, and which I enjoyed upon my terrace where I witnessed a spectacular sunrise. I enjoyed breakfast at Chaya, located within the airy, three story, indoor/outdoor lobby. Surrounded by flowing water features, I had my choice of a traditional ******** meal of corn tamales and pork tostadas, or items more traditionally American. Later that morning, I enjoyed a hosted tasting of ******** coffee varietals within the urbane Library, and that afternoon, learned all about the making and history of tequila during a private tasting with one of the St. Regis Kanai’s knowledgeable bartenders. I pledged to return later to sample the bar’s bespoke Bloody Mary. The iconic ********* was originally concocted decades ago at the St. Regis New York, and every St. Regis in the world has their own version. Here, it’s the Kanai Mary, made with ingredients from the ancient Maya diet including corn, peppers, and cucumber. One of two swimming pools at St. Regis Kanai Resort After an afternoon spent at the resort’s immaculate spa and its many thalassotherapy pools, I ventured to Toro, the signature restaurant helmed by famed Chef Richard Sandoval where I enjoyed a memorable al fresco dinner of Latin and Asian-influenced dishes, served in the shadow of a spectacular sunset. The immaculate spa features a series of thalassotherapy pools A stunning sunset, viewed from Toro. Photo by Fran Miller While I felt no need to venture beyond the resort, excursion options abound. Guided tours can be arranged to the Mayan ruins of Tulum, the temples of Chichén Itzá, and the less-visited Cobá cenotes, natural sinkholes where swimming or scuba diving is an experience apparently like none other. For something more adventurous, nearby Cozumel Island offers epic snorkeling within crystalline waters. Simply put, my time at the St. Regis Kanai Resort was a beautiful blend of indulgence and authenticity. With its unique design, seamless blend of luxury and nature, world-class service, and luxe culinary experiences, the resort provides sumptuous immersion into the essence of Riviera Maya. Photos courtesy of St. Regis Kanai Resort, unless otherwise noted Source link #Dreamy #Riviera #Maya #Escape Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

66-Million-Year-Old Fossilized Vomit Is Found in Denmark 66-Million-Year-Old Fossilized Vomit Is Found in Denmark Let’s be candid here. Vomit is something you want to get rid of. You don’t want it hanging around for a day, or an hour, or even a few minutes. And certainly not for 66 million years. And yet, scientists say, vomit that old has been found in the Cliffs of Stevns, a white chalk cliff and UNESCO World Heritage site on the Danish island of Zealand. Sometime in the Cretaceous *******, a shark, or perhaps another kind of fish, made a meal of some sea lilies. But sea lilies “aren’t that great to eat, because they are almost only skeleton,” said Jesper Milàn, the curator of the Geomuseum Faxe. “So they took what they could and threw up the rest.” And then the vomit was lost to the mists of time. Until last November, when an amateur fossil hunter, Peter Bennicke, split a piece of chalk and discovered it. For decorum’s sake, we had now better switch to a formal scientific name for fossilized vomit: regurgitalite. Ah, no, let’s just stick with “vomit.” Dr. Milàn speculated that the source of the vomit could have been a bottom-dwelling shark, one with crushing teeth, not sharp teeth. If that hypothesis is correct, the closest living relative would be the Port Jackson shark, found in Australia in modern times, he said. Though 66-million-year-old vomit is very old vomit, it falls short of a record. Dr. Milàn knows of finds from Germany dating back 150 million years. This was, however, the first find of its kind in Denmark, he said. The upchuck has attracted attention from all over, including China, Russia and the Arab world, Dr. Milàn said. And why does he think it has already gained such renown? “Journalists are big boys,” he said. “They like a story about vomit.” And he added, “With the world situation, this is a funny story the world can relate to.” Now you may be laughing, too. Fine, go ahead. ***** is so funny. Ha-ha. But fossilized vomit can be informative to scholars, because it can reveal who ate what when. And this particular sample of vomit has been officially classified as “danekrae,” a designation saved for Danish objects of “exceptional natural historical value.” That means the vomit belongs to Denmark, not the finder, and must be turned over to a natural history museum. This vomit with “exceptional value” will be displayed in the Geomuseum Faxe, in the town of Faxe, about 48 miles by car south of Copenhagen, over the winter holiday. As Dr. Milàn said, with perhaps more solemnity than you might expect, “This is the most famous piece of ***** in the world.” Source link #66MillionYearOld #Fossilized #Vomit #Denmark Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

E-Day Will Bring Back a Beloved Theme From the Original Games E-Day Will Bring Back a Beloved Theme From the Original Games It’s been months since the first reveal of Gears of War: E-Day and gamers can’t wait to get their hands on the title. The long-awaited glimpse into the events that ended up setting the franchise in motion has made fans excited and itching to know more. Gears of War: E-Day will help the franchise gain relevance again. (Image via The Coalition) There are a lot of expectations for The Coalition to meet as it’s one of the most important games in the history of the series, and if it isn’t handled properly, Gears of War might not be a thing going forward. Thankfully, it seems the developers have cracked the code as they’re planning to bring back one of the most beloved parts of the franchise. Gears of War: E-Day is learning from the franchise’s past success ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ ⛶ Gears of War: E-Day has a lot of lore aspects that need to be retconned. | Credit: The Coalition ⛶ In an interview with IGN, Brand Director Nicole Fawcette and Creative Director Matt Searcy talked about The Coalition’s approach to Gears of War: E-Day and how they’re planning to unravel an “intimate story” that tells what happened to the people in one of Sera’s cities. While chatting, Searcy reflected on what gamers have always loved about the Gears of War franchise, things such as its dark, horror-like, and scary moments. It’s these aspects that helped the franchise reach the heights it did back in the golden days of gaming. We looked back at what people felt like when they played Gears of War or any of the Gears – Gears 4 included. he said. “But when people tell you what they remember playing, the things that stood out to them, the feelings, a lot of it is about these, kind of dark, almost horror-esque, scary moments.” The development team knows about the series’ main theme and will be making it a major part of the Gears of War: E-Day. By putting the Locust as terrifying monsters that come from the underground, the story will give us tension and eventually explain to us how these creatures are a part of something more dangerous. The Coalition is making use of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5 to bring back the horror elements by presenting the Locust as realistic and incredibly horrifying. Even the developers know that things that were scary in 2006 might not hold up today, but they’re hoping to raise the fear factor to stay true to the franchise and fans. When is Gears of War: E-Day coming out? Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel to the original game. | Credit: The Coalition It’s great that Gears of War: E-Day is finally returning to the roots of the franchise. However, gamers can’t help but wonder when they’ll be able to play this incredible title. Unfortunately, it seems like there’s going to be quite a lot of waiting. Gears of War: E-Day still doesn’t have a release, but according to The Verge’s Tom Warren, Xbox is planning to release Gears of War: E-Day right before the upcoming Fable game that’s set to release sometime around October to December 2024. Tom Warren via their latest Notepad article: •“Sources tell me Microsoft is currently targeting Fable to release between October and December 2025.” •“Few months back, I’d heard Gears of War E Day was targeting a release in 2025, ahead of even Fable.”#Xbox pic.twitter.com/kNjYTipeB4 — Rebs Gaming (@Mr_Rebs_) June 13, 2024 Considering the fact the game was initially revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, which featured tons of games we’re going to see in 2025, it’s fair to assume that the title should be released sometime late this year. However, it’s crucial to take all this information with a grain of salt as Xbox or The Coalition still hasn’t said anything officially. Things can always change, as we’ve seen with Ubisoft and Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Are you excited for Gears of War: E-Day? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #EDay #Bring #Beloved #Theme #Original #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]