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Business spending on AI surged 500% this year to $13.8 billion, says Menlo Ventures Business spending on AI surged 500% this year to $13.8 billion, says Menlo Ventures Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Business spending on generative AI surged 500% this year, from $2.3 billion in 2023 to $13.8 billion, according to data released by Menlo Ventures on Wednesday. The report also found that OpenAI ceded market share in enterprise AI, declining from 50% to 34%. Anthropic doubled its market share from 12% to 24%. The results came from a survey of 600 enterprise IT decision-makers from companies with 50 or more employees, per the report. Menlo is an investor in Anthropic. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tim Tully, a partner at Menlo Ventures, told CNBC in an interview that the power shift is thanks in part to the advancement of Claude 3.5 and because the majority of companies are using three or more large AI models. Although OpenAI and Anthropic dominated companies’ AI model use, he said, people are “juggling models” and that habit is “not a well-understood piece of data.” “Developers are pretty savvy — they know how to go back and forth between models fairly quickly,” Tully explained. “They’re choosing the model that fits their use case best… and that’s likely Claude 3.5.” Meta‘s market share stayed at 16% and Cohere’s share remained at 3%. Google’s rose from 7% to 12%, and Mistral’s lost one percentage point, declining to 5% in 2024. Foundation models — such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude and others — still dominated enterprise spend, the report found, with large language models receiving $6.5 billion in enterprise investment. Menlo’s report was bullish on AI agents, a leading AI trend and area of investment in 2024. Google, Microsoft, Amazon, OpenAI and Anthropic are pursuing the technology. AI agents are viewed as a step beyond chatbots. They can perform multistep, complex tasks on a user’s behalf, and generate their own to-do lists, so that users don’t have to walk them through the process step-by-step. “The agent stuff is real — it’s not hype,” Tully told CNBC. “I don’t think it’s going to cure *******, necessarily, but is it going to make people more productive and help companies generate revenue? Yes.” The report found code generation is the leading use case for generative AI, with more than half of survey responses naming that as a dominant use. Support chatbots came next, at 31%, followed by enterprise search and retrieval, data extraction and transformation, and meeting summarization. Source link #Business #spending #surged #year #billion #Menlo #Ventures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******* officials demand right to strike Hezbollah in any Lebanon ceasefire deal – National ******* officials demand right to strike Hezbollah in any Lebanon ceasefire deal – National ******** officials demanded Wednesday the freedom to strike Lebanon’s Hezbollah as part of any cease-***** deal, raising a potential complication as a top U.S. envoy was in the region attempting to clinch an agreement. The development came as an airstrike hit the historic Syrian town of Palmyra, ******** 36 people, according to Syrian state-run media, which blamed the ******* on *******. The ******** military declined to comment. ******** Defense Minister ******* Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar each said ******* sought to reserve the right to respond to any violations by Hezbollah under an emerging proposal, which would push the militant group’s fighters and ******** ground forces out of a U.N. buffer zone in southern Lebanon. There have been signs of progress on the cease-***** deal, with Hezbollah’s allies in the Lebanese government saying the militant group had responded positively to the proposal. Story continues below advertisement “In any agreement we will reach, we will have to maintain our freedom to act if there will be violations,” Saar told dozens of foreign ambassadors in Jerusalem. “We will have to be able to act in time, before the problem will grow.” Katz, in a meeting with intelligence corps officers, said “the condition for any political settlement in Lebanon” was the right for the ******** military “to act and protect the citizens of ******* from Hezbollah.” Amos Hochstein, the Biden administration’s point man on ******* and Lebanon, has been working in recent days to push the sides toward agreement. He has been meeting this week with officials in Lebanon and said Wednesday he would travel to ******* in an attempt to “try to bring this to a close if we can.” 0:19 Katz says ******* has ‘defeated’ Hezbollah, ******** of Nasrallah was ‘crowning achievement’ On Tuesday, Hochstein said an agreement to end the *******-Hezbollah conflict is “within our grasp.” Story continues below advertisement The emerging cease-***** deal would push Hezbollah and ******* out of southern Lebanon Hezbollah began ******* into ******* on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with ****** after its ******* on southern ******* that sparked the conflict in the Gaza Strip. ******* has been responding with strikes in Lebanon, and dramatically escalated its bombardment in late September by launching a ground invasion just inside the border. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. In the more than a year of exchanges, more than 3,500 people have been ******* in Lebanon, most in the past month, the Health Ministry reported, and over 1 million people have been displaced. It’s unknown how many of the ***** were Hezbollah fighters. In *******, more than 70 people have been ******* by Hezbollah *****, and tens of thousands have fled their homes. 2:02 Hezbollah chief says indirect truce talks possible only if ******* stops attacks on Lebanon Hochstein’s proposal is based on U.N. resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and *******. The resolution stipulates that only the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers should operate in southern Lebanon. Story continues below advertisement Still, after 2006, Hezbollah never fully ended its presence in the south. Lebanon accuses ******* of also violating the resolution by maintaining hold of a small, disputed border area and conducting frequent military flights over Lebanon. ******* says that since then, Hezbollah build up a military infrastructure throughout villages and towns in southern Lebanon. The proposal currently being discussed would include an implementation plan and a monitoring system to ensure each side follows its obligations to fully withdraw from the south. That could involve the U.S. and France, but details are still unclear. There’s been progress, but the deal isn’t done yet The ******** ministers did not outline what *******’s demand to maintain freedom of operation would entail. Since the 2006 war, ******* has struck Hezbollah on the few occasions when border ********* did flare up, but any larger scale response could push the region back into turmoil. Story continues below advertisement It is also unlikely that Lebanon would agree to a deal that permits ******** violations of its sovereignty. Trending Now Canada echoes U.S. warning over carrots in deadly E. coli outbreak Trump taps Dr. Oz to lead U.S. health insurance programs in next cabinet And although the proposal attempts to nail down an implementation mechanism, the ******** to fully implement the U.N. resolution after the 2006 war could point to the difficulties in getting the sides to uphold a sustainable cease-***** that would bring long-term quiet. ******* has continued to pound Hezbollah throughout the cease-***** attempts, and rockets have continued to rain down on northern *******. Any perceived escalation could derail the talks. The conflict in Gaza would grind on even if ******* and Hezbollah cease ***** Even if a cease-***** between ******* and Hezbollah is reached, the conflict in Gaza grinds on into its 14th month. ******* is still battling ****** there, sending the ****** toll soaring to nearly 44,000 ***** — over half of them women and children, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their count. Story continues below advertisement While Hezbollah throughout the conflict in Gaza said it wouldn’t stop ******* at ******* until the fighting in the ************ territory ends, that condition was dropped in September after ******* intensified its offensive on the militant group, ******** its top leadership and degrading its military capabilities. That leaves Gaza waiting for a cease-***** of its own, as people there continue to endure a humanitarian crisis that has displaced much of the territory’s 2.3 million people and prompted widespread hunger, especially in the north, where the U.N. says virtually no food or humanitarian aid has been delivered to for more than 40 days because of the ******** military’s siege there. 1:57 New ******** airstrikes pound southern Beirut International mediation efforts have stalled repeatedly over disagreement between ******* and ****** over whether the conflict should end as part of a cease-***** deal, with ******* insisting it wants to maintain troop presence in certain areas. Story continues below advertisement ****** ignited the conflict in Gaza when its fighters stormed into ******* on Oct. 7, 2023, ******** some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of them believed to be *****. Other tumultuous areas of the Middle East won’t likely be affected by a Hezbollah-******* cease-*****, including Syria. ******* frequently targets military sites and facilities associated with Iran-linked groups in Syria but rarely acknowledges the strikes. The ****** toll from Wednesday’s strike in Palmyra was unusually high. The Syrian news agency SANA said that along wit the 36 *******, the strike on Palmyra also wounded more than 50 people and caused “significant material damage to the targeted buildings” and the surrounding area. Palmyra is known for the historic Roman temple complex nearby, but it was not immediately clear if the ruins were damaged. The temple complex already suffered significant damage years ago from the Islamic State group in its rampage across Syria. —Chehayeb reported from Beirut. More on World More videos Source link #******* #officials #demand #strike #Hezbollah #Lebanon #ceasefire #deal #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

You can now stream some Xbox games you own, but you still need Game Pass Ultimate You can now stream some Xbox games you own, but you still need Game Pass Ultimate Microsoft has announced a long-anticipated feature for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Starting today, you’ll be able to stream select games that you own on TVs and Meta Quest VR headsets, as well as supported browsers on phones, tablets and PCs in every country where Xbox Cloud Gaming is available. Microsoft plans to expand the feature to Xbox consoles and the Windows Xbox app next year. You’ll still need to be an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member to use this feature, but it means that you’re no longer limited to streaming only the games that are on that service. The “stream your own game” option includes support for 50 titles at the outset, with more to be added later. You can stream the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, Stray, The Witcher 3, Balatro, Animal Well, NBA 2K25, Baldur’s Gate 3 and several Final Fantasy games. Just look for the “stream your own game” section on Cloud Gaming. An Xbox spokesperson confirmed to Engadget that “streaming the games you own requires a digitally purchased game.” So, you won’t be able to stream a physical copy of, say, Farming Simulator 25 via this feature, but if you have the disc in your Xbox Series X, remote play is still an option. Although it’s broadly good that people have more ways to play their games, this move lines up with Xbox inching toward an all-digital future — one in which gamers without access to fast, reliable Internet connections may be left behind. This also lets Xbox expand its cloud gaming offerings without having to necessarily pay third-party developers and publishers big bucks to get their projects on Game Pass proper. The stream your own game initiative also ties into Microsoft’s new ad campaign about all kinds of devices being an Xbox when they are, in fact, not. The rollout comes a day after Sony started publicly testing a cloud gaming option on PlayStation Portal, a feature that the device should have had from the beginning. Update November 20, 1:41PM ET: Added clarification from Xbox that only digitally purchased games, and not physical copies, are eligible to stream. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Source link #stream #Xbox #games #Game #Pass #Ultimate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

IBM entangled two quantum chips to work together for the first time IBM entangled two quantum chips to work together for the first time An artist’s impression of IBM’s Eagle quantum processing unit IBM IBM has made a significant advance on the road to larger and more powerful quantum computers by linking two such devices together and performing calculations beyond the capabilities of either alone. The result is a positive sign that the company’s bet on a modular approach to scaling up quantum computers is feasible. Quantum computers promise to be able to solve certain problems much faster than conventional devices, but major hurdles remain, including making the computers large enough while reducing errors. Various research groups and companies are taking different approaches to… Source link #IBM #entangled #quantum #chips #work #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** Friday Monitor Deals Live 2024: Best Sales on Displays, Updated All Day ****** Friday Monitor Deals Live 2024: Best Sales on Displays, Updated All Day 2024-11-20T18:05:33.107Z Dell G2724D Gaming Monitor Deal (Image credit: Dell) Another cracking deal over at Dell has the 27-inch Dell G2724D on ***** for $149, in a limited-time deal that will evaporate as soon as more people become aware of this great offer. Going for a substantial $50 less than the $200 MSRP, the Dell G2724D is a great pick for a budget gaming setup or as a second display. Although only costing $149 the Dell G2724D comes with a fast IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 (QHD) pixel resolution, a pixel-per-inch density of 109PPI, and a delightfully speedy 165Hz refresh rate over DisplayPort, and 144Hz over HDMI. The panel is flat with a 1000:1 contrast ratio, a 1ms gray-to-gray response time, and a 99% sRGB ****** gamut. The screen measures 27 inches and has a thin bezel on three sides – great for placing close to a second monitor for a multi-screen setup. It’s hard to find a similar monitor with these specs and also have the added bonus of Dell’s great reputation when it comes to monitors, build quality, and support. 2024-11-20T15:17:20.921Z Alienware AW2725DF OLED Gaming Monitor Deal (Image credit: Dell) One of our favorite OLED gaming monitors, the Alienware AW2725DF picked up 5 stars when we had the chance to review and benchmark this fantastic monitor. This resulted in the monitor also receiving one of our coveted Editor’s Choice awards for being a standout example of a great product. The Alienware AW2725DF has a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution (111PPI), a phenomenally fast 360 Hz refresh rate, and a rich QD-OLED panel that enables It to fill 110.10 percent of the DCI-P3 ****** gamut for amazing contrasting ******* and eye-popping colors. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) This is a superb gaming monitor pick for the ********* gamer who wants esports-levels of performance, matched with the latest OLED tech to help bring your games and media to life on your screen. When we reviewed the Alienware AW2725DF we were impressed by the speed of the monitor, first with its 360Hz refresh rate and secondly, the 0.03ms response time which delivers perfect motion resolution without needing strobing or overdrive. The picture is stunning, with a larger ****** gamut than other OLED monitors we’ve reviewed. The AW2725DF doesn’t include internal speakers or an analog headphone jack, but these aren’t really deal breakers in the scheme of things. Currently, you can pick up the Alienware AW2725DF at Dell for $699, a savings of $200 on the usual MSRP price of $899. As for all of these ****** Friday deals, we aren’t sure how long they will last or the availability of stock. Source link #****** #Friday #Monitor #Deals #Live #Sales #Displays #Updated #Day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft, Apple are the most under-owned megacap tech stocks: Morgan Stanley Microsoft, Apple are the most under-owned megacap tech stocks: Morgan Stanley Microsoft emerged as the most under-owned megacap stock among institutional investors, signaling a rebound could be on the horizon, according to Morgan Stanley. The Wall Street firm looked at new regulatory filings from the 15 largest tech companies in its coverage and then figured out each firm’s average weighting within the top 100 actively managed institutional portfolios. Morgan Stanley thinks that stocks tend to experience a technical pull higher when active ownership is much lower than their weightings in the S & P 500, and vice versa. The gap between Microsoft’s S & P 500 weighting and institutional ownership stood at 2.08% by the end of the third quarter, making it the most under-owned Big Tech name, Morgan Stanley said. Shares of Microsoft have underperformed the broader market significantly this year, up about 10% versus the S & P 500’s nearly 24% advance in 2024. The company recently released a forecast that called for slower growth than expected. Outside suppliers are late in delivering data center infrastructure to Microsoft. This means the company won’t be able to meet demand in the fiscal second quarter. After Microsoft, Apple is the second-most under-owned megacap tech stock coming out of the third quarter. The iPhone maker has also lagged the broader market this year with an 18% gain. On the flip side, the most over-owned tech stock at the end of September is software company Intuit , which could see a technical downward pull soon, according to Morgan Stanley. Intuit, which makes the TurboTax tax filing software, saw its shares fall more than 5% on Tuesday after a report said President-elect Donald Trump ‘s government efficiency team is considering creating a free tax filing app. The stock is up just 3% in 2024. Adobe is another tech name embraced by institutions. The company’s shares took a beating in September after Adobe released fourth-quarter guidance that came up short. The stock is down nearly 17% this year. Source link #Microsoft #Apple #underowned #megacap #tech #stocks #Morgan #Stanley Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** Boissonnault out of cabinet amid business dealings controversy ****** Boissonnault out of cabinet amid business dealings controversy ****** Boissonnault is out of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet after months of controversy surrounding his former medical supply business. In a brief statement Wednesday, Trudeau said Boissonnault “agreed … (to) step away from cabinet effective immediately.” 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. “Mr. Boissonnault will focus on clearing the allegations made against him,” Trudeau’s office said. Those allegations, first reported by Global News, involve Boissonnault’s former business Global Health Imports, co-founded with Stephen Anderson in early 2020 after Boissonnault lost his seat in the 2019 election. Trending Now Global News reported on Tuesday that Edmonton police are now investigating allegations of ****** allegations against GHI and Anderson. More to come. More on Canada More videos Source link #****** #Boissonnault #cabinet #business #dealings #controversy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

These deals are just your type: save big in Logitech’s massive ****** Friday keyboard ***** These deals are just your type: save big in Logitech’s massive ****** Friday keyboard ***** ****** Friday is bringing us all kinds of deals and discounts, and Logitech didn’t want to be left out of the fun. There are some outstanding price cuts on Logi keyboards at Amazon US and *** that drop many of them to the lowest prices ever. Whether you want something quality for under $50 that’ll get the job done and look pretty doing it, or a premium wireless board with all the bells and whistles for over $100 off, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been covering reviews, deals, and buying guides on keyboards and mice for over five years, and these are some of the best deals I’ve seen on Logitech peripherals to date. Today’s best Logitech keyboard deals in the US Today’s best Logitech keyboard deals in the *** Logitech is running some outstanding deals on more than just keyboards – you can also find Logitech webcam deals, an enticing price cut on the ever-popular G PRO X Lightspeed, and even a decent discount on the G29 racing wheel if you’re into driving sims. Be sure to check back in with TechRadar for more ****** Friday deals as they go live; our experts are constantly scouring retailers for the best discounts ahead of the big day. More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the US Amazon: TVs, smart home & air fryers from $12.99 Apple: AirPods, iPads, MacBooks from $89.99 Best Buy: $1,000 off 4K TVs, laptops & headphones Cheap TVs: smart TVs at Best Buy from $69.99 Christmas trees: top-rated trees from $54.99 Dell: best-selling Inspiron & XPS laptops from $279.99 Dreamcloud: mattress deals from $349 + free shipping Holiday: decor, lights, Christmas trees & PJs from $10.99 Home Depot: 40% off tools, appliances & furniture Lowe’s: holiday decor, appliances & tools from $17.31 Nectar: up to 50% off all mattresses Nordstrom: 46% off boots, coats, jeans & jewelry Samsung: $1,500+ off TVs, phones, watches & appliances Target: save on furniture, tech & clothing Walmart: cheap TVs, ****** vacs, furniture & appliances More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the *** Amazon: up to 68% off toothbrushes and TVs AO: savings on games consoles and appliances Argos: up to 50% off toys, Lego, TVs and gifts Boots: up to 50% off Dyson, *****-B and Philips Currys: early deals on TVs, appliances, laptops Dell: laptops, desktops, monitors from £299 Dyson: up to £150 off Ebay: up to 50% off refurbished tech EE: up to £600 off Samsung and Apple John Lewis: up to £300 off appliances and TVs LG: £1,000 or more off TVs and appliances Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and tablets Very: up to 30% off phones, appliances & clothing Source link #deals #type #save #big #Logitechs #massive #****** #Friday #keyboard #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Corporate insiders are selling shares at a record pace in the fourth quarter Corporate insiders are selling shares at a record pace in the fourth quarter Corporate insiders are taking advantage of the stock market’s postelection ***** to all-time highs, unloading shares at record levels. The ratio of unique sellers-to-buyers among S & P 500 companies is 23.7-to-1 in the fourth quarter — the highest level since digital disclosures of insider trades were first mandated back in 2004, according to data from VerityData. The full-quarter record so far is 23.6-to-1 reached in the second quarter of 2021. The average since 2004 is just under 12-to-1. The data includes trades made under preplanned 10b5-1 trading plans. There are three main reasons for the increase in sales postelection, according to Ben Silverman, director of research at VerityData. First, executives are bound by trading restrictions ahead of company earnings reports. The election came near the beginning of the bulk of companies reporting their third quarter earnings, so postearnings sales have jumped as trading windows have opened. Second, market performance has major indexes hitting record levels, and many executives want to lock in gains ahead of any near-term volatility. Plus, many 10b5-1 trading plans are price-triggered meaning that executives select levels at which to sell shares. Lastly, the election results could be spurring executives to sell, Silverman said. Executives at private education firm Grand Canyon Education have sold an aggregate $2.3 million worth of shares in the fourth quarter, per Verity. More than $1.3 million of the total comes from a single ***** by CEO Brian Mueller on Nov. 12. Grand Canyon Education gained 14.6% on Nov. 6 following the election and is up 13.2% quarter to date. It’s on pace for its sixth straight quarterly gain, which would be a record going back to its IPO in 2008. Reid Hoffman’s Greylock Partners sold a total of $80.6 million worth Aurora Innovation since the beginning of November. The firm makes software for self-driving cars and is seen as a beneficiary of President-elect Donald Trump’s policies surrounding self-driving vehicles. Aurora shares are up more than 20% since Tump was elected. Big Palantir ***** Palantir CEO Alexander Karp has sold a whopping $1.05 billion in company shares since the beginning of November, all via 10b5-1 trading plans. Silverman of Verity pointed out that trading plans made under the rule have mandatory 90-day cooling-off periods between plan adoption and their first transactions, so these plans would have to have been enacted at least back in August. Daniel D’Aniello, chairman emeritus at private equity giant Carlyle Group , sold $25.5 million in company shares on Nov. 12. The transaction filing indicates the shares were held in trust. Verity pointed out that D’Aniello’s prior ***** of Carlyle stock at $48.40 in August and November 2021 came before shares dropped in value. They fell as low as $22.70 in October 2022. Two Tesla directors exercised options on an aggregate of more than $60 million worth of shares: Kathleen Wilson-Thompson sold $34.6 million in company shares on Nov. 11, pursuant to a 10b5-1 trading plan adopted Aug. 12. Robyn Denholm sold $35.3 million worth of shares on Friday, as part of a trading plan adopted in July and intended to liquidate options expiring in 2025. Insiders at Trump Media sold $16.3 million in shares in the days immediately following the election: CFO Phillip Juhan sold $11.9 million in a pair of transactions on Nov. 8 and Nov. 11, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Director Eric Swider sold $3.8 million in shares on 11/8. Nucor CEO Leon Topalian sold $1.9 million in shares the day following the election at an average price of $169.11. Shares bounced following the vote, gaining 16% on the day to close at $167.74. Insiders at industrial supply firm Fastenal have sold around $22.3 million in shares so far this quarter, including a $3.4 million ***** by CFO Holden Lewis on Nov. 7 and $2.7 million in shares by CEO Daniel Florness on Nov. 11. — CNBC’s Jesse Pound contributed reporting Source link #Corporate #insiders #selling #shares #record #pace #fourth #quarter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xbox Cloud Gaming now lets players stream select games they own Xbox Cloud Gaming now lets players stream select games they own Microsoft has expanded its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offering by enabling subscribers to play select games they own via cloud streaming. 50 titles are currently supported and the feature is available on PC, phone, tablet, handheld, and most devices with access to a web browser. “This includes Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon ***** TV devices, Meta Quest headsets as well as other browser supported devices like PCs, smart phones, and tablets,” Microsoft said on Xbox Wire. More cloud-playable games will be added over time and support for the feature will come to Xbox consoles and the Xbox app for PC in 2025. Supported titles at launch include Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Modern Warfare 2, Final Fantasy XIV, Hogwarts Legacy, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Star Wars Outlaws and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. The feature, which also works with titles not included with Game Pass Ultimate, is available in all 28 countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming is available. The full line-up of currently supported games: Microsoft recently confirmed the next wave of titles coming to Xbox Game Pass for console, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Headline additions to the service in the second half of November include Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, which was released on Tuesday, and Stalker 2, which came out today. Source link #Xbox #Cloud #Gaming #lets #players #stream #select #games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mountain Lions in Los Angeles Are Turning Nocturnal Due to Humans Encroaching Their Habitat, Study Finds Mountain Lions in Los Angeles Are Turning Nocturnal Due to Humans Encroaching Their Habitat, Study Finds Mountain lions in Greater Los Angeles are becoming increasingly nocturnal as a response to human recreational activities, according to a study published on November 15 in the Biological Conservation journal. The research highlights how these large predators, also known as pumas or cougars, are adapting their natural activity patterns to minimise encounters with humans who frequent their habitats for hiking, cycling, and jogging. These behavioural shifts show and highlight the challenges faced by wildlife coexisting with urban populations. Study Reveals Shifts in Activity Patterns The study, led by Ellie Bolas, a doctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis, analysed data collected from 22 GPS-collared mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains between 2011 and 2018. Using exercise activity data from the online platform Strava, the team compared human recreational patterns with the movements of the collared mountain lions. The findings revealed that mountain lions in areas with higher human activity shifted their peak activity times from dawn and dusk to night. This behavioural flexibility allows the predators to avoid human presence while continuing to hunt and carry out other essential behaviours. Broader Implications for Wildlife and Coexistence The phenomenon of animals becoming more nocturnal to evade humans is not exclusive to mountain lions. There have been similar trends observed before globally among other mammals. Research conducted in 2019 indicated that even the sound of human voices could deter mountain lions, demonstrating the deep-seated wariness of humans among these animals due to historical persecution. Mountain lions in urban areas like Los Angeles face additional pressures, including habitat fragmentation, wildfires and low genetic diversity. The study highlights recreational activities as a potential stressor, affecting the energy they expend on hunting and survival. Bolas emphasised the importance of recognising these adaptations, stating that coexistence relies on the flexibility exhibited by wildlife. Despite the challenges, mountain lions continue to adjust to human activity, demonstrating resilience in shared landscapes. Source link #Mountain #Lions #Los #Angeles #Turning #Nocturnal #Due #Humans #Encroaching #Habitat #Study #Finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bjorn is a Raspberry Pi-powered Tamagotchi-like network pen-testing tool Bjorn is a Raspberry Pi-powered Tamagotchi-like network pen-testing tool All models of Raspberry Pi are incredibly useful gadgets that are also really fun to play with. No one seems to understand that better than Infinition who’s put together a really cool project called Bjorn. This clever creation works as a useful network tool for ************ (pen) testing and the like but it also doubles as a fun experience thanks to its game-like user interface. Bjorn is a full-fledged network assessment system but it’s also the name of the little Viking character that appears on the display. As you perform certain tasks, he has various graphics that correspond with the features. Bjorn also levels up as you continue to use the system based on what you do with the system. Outside of the Tamagotchi-like user interface, it’s been programmed with a handful of useful features. You can use Bjorn to scan networks for open ports and check for vulnerabilities. It can also carry out system attacks by brute forcing a myriad of protocols like FTP, SSH, etc. Bjorn can also ransack networks and steal their loot—or rather it can implement file stealing using vulnerabilities detected in the network. (Image credit: Infinition) According to the official documentation, Bjorn is designed to work with the Raspberry Pi Zero W or Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. While the compatibility works with both the older and new model Pi Zero, it’s necessary to have aboard with wireless support. That said, we’ve seen evidence of other makers successfully running Bjorn on a Raspberry Pi 3B+. Infinition recommends connecting the Pi to a Waveshare 2.13-inch e-Ink display hat for visual output. If you’re excited about this creation — you should be and you’re in luck! Infinition has decided to make the project entirely open source, so you can recreate it yourself at home with your own Raspberry Pi. If you’d like to see more about how it works and play with it first hand, you can check out the official Bjorn project page over at GitHub. This is definitely one of the more unique Raspberry Pi projects we’ve come across and it’s cool to see something so useful get a fun interface. It’s important to note, however, that the tools provided by Bjorn should be used with serious discretion and are intended for ethical hacking purposes. Do not use this tool for ******** or immoral activities. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Bjorn #Raspberry #Pipowered #Tamagotchilike #network #pentesting #tool Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Corporate insiders are selling shares at a record pace in the fourth quarter Corporate insiders are selling shares at a record pace in the fourth quarter Corporate insiders are taking advantage of the stock market’s postelection ***** to all-time highs, unloading shares at record levels. The ratio of unique sellers-to-buyers among S & P 500 companies is 23.7-to-1 in the fourth quarter — the highest level since digital disclosures of insider trades were first mandated back in 2004, according to data from VerityData. The full-quarter record so far is 23.6-to-1 reached in the second quarter of 2021. The average since 2004 is just under 12-to-1. The data includes trades made under preplanned 10b5-1 trading plans. There are three main reasons for the increase in sales postelection, according to Ben Silverman, director of research at VerityData. First, executives are bound by trading restrictions ahead of company earnings reports. The election came near the beginning of the bulk of companies reporting their third quarter earnings, so postearnings sales have jumped as trading windows have opened. Second, market performance has major indexes hitting record levels, and many executives want to lock in gains ahead of any near-term volatility. Plus, many 10b5-1 trading plans are price-triggered meaning that executives select levels at which to sell shares. Lastly, the election results could be spurring executives to sell, Silverman said. Executives at private education firm Grand Canyon Education have sold an aggregate $2.3 million worth of shares in the fourth quarter, per Verity. More than $1.3 million of the total comes from a single ***** by CEO Brian Mueller on Nov. 12. Grand Canyon Education gained 14.6% on Nov. 6 following the election and is up 13.2% quarter to date. It’s on pace for its sixth straight quarterly gain, which would be a record going back to its IPO in 2008. Reid Hoffman’s Greylock Partners sold a total of $80.6 million worth Aurora Innovation since the beginning of November. The firm makes software for self-driving cars and is seen as a beneficiary of President-elect Donald Trump’s policies surrounding self-driving vehicles. Aurora shares are up more than 20% since Tump was elected. Big Palantir ***** Palantir CEO Alexander Karp has sold a whopping $1.05 billion in company shares since the beginning of November, all via 10b5-1 trading plans. Silverman of Verity pointed out that trading plans made under the rule have mandatory 90-day cooling-off periods between plan adoption and their first transactions, so these plans would have to have been enacted at least back in August. Daniel D’Aniello, chairman emeritus at private equity giant Carlyle Group , sold $25.5 million in company shares on Nov. 12. The transaction filing indicates the shares were held in trust. Verity pointed out that D’Aniello’s prior ***** of Carlyle stock at $48.40 in August and November 2021 came before shares dropped in value. They fell as low as $22.70 in October 2022. Two Tesla directors exercised options on an aggregate of more than $60 million worth of shares: Kathleen Wilson-Thompson sold $34.6 million in company shares on Nov. 11, pursuant to a 10b5-1 trading plan adopted Aug. 12. Robyn Denholm sold $35.3 million worth of shares on Friday, as part of a trading plan adopted in July and intended to liquidate options expiring in 2025. Insiders at Trump Media sold $16.3 million in shares in the days immediately following the election: CFO Phillip Juhan sold $11.9 million in a pair of transactions on Nov. 8 and Nov. 11, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Director Eric Swider sold $3.8 million in shares on 11/8. Nucor CEO Leon Topalian sold $1.9 million in shares the day following the election at an average price of $169.11. Shares bounced following the vote, gaining 16% on the day to close at $167.74. Insiders at industrial supply firm Fastenal have sold around $22.3 million in shares so far this quarter, including a $3.4 million ***** by CFO Holden Lewis on Nov. 7 and $2.7 million in shares by CEO Daniel Florness on Nov. 11. — CNBC’s Jesse Pound contributed reporting Source link #Corporate #insiders #selling #shares #record #pace #fourth #quarter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate seeks evidence in Matt Gaetz FBI **** trafficking probe Senate seeks evidence in Matt Gaetz FBI **** trafficking probe Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is seen outside a meeting of the House *********** Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images The Senate Judiciary Committee asked the FBI on Wednesday for its “complete evidentiary file” of a prior investigation into the alleged **** trafficking of an underage girl by Matt Gaetz, who has been tapped as the next U.S. attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump. The Judiciary panel’s request says that “the grave public allegations against Mr. Gaetz speak directly to his fitness to serve as the chief law enforcement officer for the federal government.” The committee’s Democratic majority, in a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray, noted that Gaetz’s associate Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty in 2021 “to the **** trafficking charge for which Mr. Gaetz was also investigated.” “The Senate has a constitutional duty to provide advice and consent on presidential nominees, and it is crucial that we review all the information necessary to fulfill this duty as we consider Mr. Gaetz’s nomination,” the letter says. The Department of Justice ended its probe of Gaetz last year without filing charges. The 42-year-old ***********, who until last week represented a Florida district in the House of Representatives, has denied all wrongdoing. If the Senate confirms him as attorney general he would lead the DOJ. Read more CNBC politics coverage Gaetz is a Trump loyalist who became notorious in Congress for incendiary remarks and attention-grabbing actions. The House Ethics Committee was investigating Gaetz for alleged ******* misconduct and other behavior until he resigned last week, removing him from the panel’s jurisdiction. That committee is scheduled to meet in private on Wednesday to discuss whether to publicly release a report on its probe, according to NBC. Gaetz’s selection by Trump as the nation’s top law enforcement officer has stoked outrage and panic from Trump’s critics and caused concern among some of his Senate allies, whose support is needed to confirm the nomination. Trump has urged GOP senators to let him avoid the Senate confirmation process by allowing him to make recess appointments. But Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia — who is set to be the fourth-ranking *********** in the next Congress — predicted Wednesday after a “big discussion” with her colleagues that the push to bypass the Senate through recess appointments will lose steam. “I think the issue of recess appointments will probably go away, and it won’t be an integral part of how the president’s going to get his Cabinet through,” Capito said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” Source link #Senate #seeks #evidence #Matt #Gaetz #FBI #**** #trafficking #probe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

“Well, should we have waited…”: It Took Todd Howard 1 Year to Realize the Real Reason Starfield: Shattered Space DLC ******* “Well, should we have waited…”: It Took Todd Howard 1 Year to Realize the Real Reason Starfield: Shattered Space DLC ******* While there are a few in the community who love Starfield‘s Shattered Space DLC, the general consensus on it has mostly been negative in terms of user and critic reviews. The space-RPG got its first major DLC back in September 2024. (Image via Bethesda) The DLC takes players on a brand-new adventure to a mysterious planet featuring unique weapons and space suits. There are many reasons behind the DLC’s failures, and one of them was so troubling that it took Bethesda’s CEO Todd Howard one whole year to realize. Todd Howard’s Theory Why Starfield Shattered Space DLC was a Flop If you’ve forgotten, Bethesda gave us the REV-8 update for Starfield in August 2024 after a whole year of waiting. It was a massive step for the studio, which had never released a game on its infamous Creation engine with player-controlled vehicles. It was truly an impressive feat that enhanced gameplay, but players couldn’t help but wonder why it wasn’t introduced in the base game. While chatting with Game File, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer opened up about various topics and recalled one of his recent conversations with Todd Howard. While talking about the reaction to the criticism surrounding Shattered Space DLC, Howard questioned if Bethesda should’ve delayed buggies for the DLC instead. Well, should we have waited to put buggies out? Well, there’s no denying the fact that if Howard and his team saved the REV-8 for Shattered Space, it would’ve added to the DLC’s overall offerings. However, it’s highly unlikely that gamers would’ve been convinced with even this addition, as the DLC had many other core issues. Bethesda made the right choice by releasing the vehicle as part of a free DLC rather than locking it behind a $30 expansion no one wants to bother experiencing. Even though the DLC wasn’t Bethesda’s finest creation, the studio hasn’t given up on the title. It’s still bringing big updates for the game, fixing various bugs and glitches. What’s even surprising is that Howard and his team are already eyeing a sequel for the game. Starfield 2 Might Happen Down the Line Starfield might receive a sequel treatment from Bethesda. (Image via Bethesda) If you’ve played any Bethesda game, you’re probably familiar with the name Bruce Nesmith. As a game designer, he played a massive role in all Elder Scroll games, as well as the Fallout series, including many projects. Even though he took an exit from the company in 2021, he still contributed to Bethesda’s space RPG. In an interview, Nesmith stated that Starfield will prove to be a great template for a future RPG. According to him, the first few entries in any franchise tend to come with issues but show flashes of brilliance and eventually hit their stride later on. He believes it will be the same case for Starfield. While Nesmith knows that fans have to deal with various issues in Starfield, he expects that the sequel will fix a lot of these things and bring a game that’ll revolutionize the genre. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the sequel for this IP is still years or decades away as Bethesda is currently developing The Elder Scrolls 6 and will head to the Fallout IP after that. With that said, what do you think was the main issue in Shattered Space DLC? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #waited #Todd #Howard #Year #Realize #Real #Reason #Starfield #Shattered #Space #DLC #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

James Webb Space Telescope Finds First Evidence of Einstein Zig-Zag Phenomenon In a Distant Quasar James Webb Space Telescope Finds First Evidence of Einstein Zig-Zag Phenomenon In a Distant Quasar A recent study utilising data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has confirmed the existence of an unusual cosmic effect termed the “Einstein zig-zag.” This rare phenomenon occurs when light from a distant quasar traverses two distinct regions of warped space-time, producing multiple mirrored images. Six duplicates of a luminous quasar, identified as J1721+8842, were found, providing a new perspective on gravitational lensing and potentially addressing critical challenges in cosmology. Discovery of J1721+8842’s Unique Configuration The quasar J1721+8842 was first identified in 2018 as four mirrored points of light billions of light-years from Earth. Initially, these were attributed to gravitational lensing, where light from a distant object bends due to the immense gravity of a lensing galaxy. However, subsequent observations in 2022 revealed two additional faint points of light, suggesting a complex structure involving multiple lensing objects. Recent reanalysis using JWST data has shown that all six images originate from a single quasar, as per a new study published in arXiv. The light bent around two massive lensing galaxies forms a faint Einstein ring alongside the mirrored points. The unique path taken by the light, bending in opposite directions around the lenses, led researchers to coin the term “Einstein zig-zag” to describe this configuration. Implications for Cosmology Gravitationally lensed objects like J1721+8842 are invaluable for understanding the universe’s fundamental properties. The zig-zag effect allows for precise measurements of the Hubble constant, which determines the rate of cosmic expansion and the influence of dark energy. Thomas Collett, astrophysicist at the University of Portsmouth, noted that this discovery could clarify inconsistencies in current cosmological models, although extracting definitive data could take over a year. This observation offers a critical opportunity to refine our understanding of the universe’s structure and expansion, potentially resolving ongoing challenges like the Hubble tension. While further analysis is needed, the Einstein zig-zag provides a promising avenue for breakthroughs in cosmology. Source link #James #Webb #Space #Telescope #Finds #Evidence #Einstein #ZigZag #Phenomenon #Distant #Quasar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode lands in your desktop browser – and it’s a big step towards its rumored Operator agent ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode lands in your desktop browser – and it’s a big step towards its rumored Operator agent OpenAI is rolling out ChatGPT Advanced Voice mode in the browser Only paying subscribers will get access for now It’s a vital first step towards browser-based AI agents for ChatGPT It’s been a busy time for ChatGPT and OpenAI. Hot on the heels of rumors that ChatGPT Advanced Voice mode (the ability to have a free-flowing conversation with the AI) is about to get the ability to ‘see’, and rolling out the ChatGPT Windows app to all free users last week, it has just announced that Advanced Voice mode is now available in the browser-based version of ChatGPT, for paid subscribers only. So, if you’re a ChatGPT Plus or Teams subscriber, a visit to ChatGPT.com (or the newly purchased Chat.com domain) will soon give you access to the Advanced Voice mode option that has previously only been available only in the app versions of ChatGPT. ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode was released in September on mobile and was recently added to the desktop apps. The browser release is described as “rolling out”, so you might not see the Advanced Voice mode when you log in with ChatGPT (we currently don’t have access), but that should change in the coming days. Free users will eventually get access to Advanced Voice Mode too. In a post on X.com, which also contains a video that shows how ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode works in a browser, Kevin Weil, CPO of OpenAI said, “We’ll look to roll to free users in the coming weeks.” Rolling out to ChatGPT paid users this week: Advanced Voice Mode on web! We launched Advanced Voice Mode in our iOS and Android apps in September, and just recently brought them to our desktop apps ( we’re excited to add web to the mix. This means… pic.twitter.com/HtG5Km2OGhNovember 19, 2024 AI Operators ChatGPT Advanced Voice mode is a vital first step towards the rumored ChatGPT Operator Agent, a tool that might change the way we interact with our computers and technology in general. ChatGPT Operator Agent is an AI Agent that can interact directly with your computer on your behalf. Agents aren’t unique to OpenAI – everybody from Anthropic to Google and Microsoft is also developing autonomous AI agents that can see what’s on your screen and interact with it. You could, for example, get an AI Agent to pay your bills, or book a holiday for you, taking the virtual assistant model to the next level. Voice control in the browser will be a necessary first step for using an AI Agent since the majority of its work will be browser-based. Don’t expect the announcements from OpenAI to slow down before the end of the year. We’re still expecting ChatGPT search, which launched recently for paid users, to be made available to users on the free tier any day now. It launched with the note, “We’ll roll out to Free users over the coming months.” Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. You might also like… Source link #ChatGPTs #Advanced #Voice #Mode #lands #desktop #browser #big #step #rumored #Operator #agent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thanksgiving meals may be cheaper in 2024 as turkey prices drop Thanksgiving meals may be cheaper in 2024 as turkey prices drop Filadendron | E+ | Getty Images Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones, to show gratitude for life’s abundance — and, of course, to eat. And when it comes to Thanksgiving food, it seems Americans are getting relief on their grocery bills this year following a few years of escalating costs. A “classic” Thanksgiving feast for a party of 10 will cost $58.08 in 2024, on average — down 5% from 2023 and down 9% from 2022, according to the ********* Farm Bureau Federation, a trade group for farmers and ranchers. Its analysis includes turkey, cubed stuffing, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, frozen peas, fresh cranberries, celery, carrots, pumpkin pie mix and crusts, whipping cream and whole milk. Prices for this food basket were at a record high in 2022, at $64.05, the Farm Bureau said. Households that add ham, russet potatoes and frozen green beans into the mix would pay $77.34 in 2024, on average — an 8% decrease from 2023, the Farm Bureau said. The annual decline in prices will be welcome news to many households: Nearly half, 44%, of people hosting Thanksgiving this year are concerned about the cost of the event, according to a recent Deloitte survey. The decrease is largely due to various supply-and-demand dynamics driving down prices for key staples — turkey, most importantly — and an overarching decline in U.S. food inflation, according to economists. More from Personal Finance: Act now for $7,500 EV tax credit How Trump’s win could change your health care Remote work is helping Americans take longer trips “Food inflation has been pretty tame,” said Robin Wenzel, head of the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute. “You’re seeing some good relief there.” That said, a classic Thanksgiving meal is still 19% pricier than it was in 2019, according to the Farm Bureau. “Declines don’t really erase the dramatic increases we had,” said Bernt Nelson, a Farm Bureau economist. Turkey has been a ‘curious item’ Turkey price movements had “definitely the biggest impact” on the overall cost of a Thanksgiving meal this year, Nelson said. That’s because a 16-pound bird accounts for 44% of the overall Thanksgiving grocery bill, he said. The national average cost for a 16-pound turkey is down 6% from 2023, according to the Farm Bureau. Overall turkey prices have decreased about 4% in the past year, according to the consumer price index. Turkey has been a “curious item this year,” Nelson said. On one hand, turkey supply is down “significantly,” he said. Farmers raised about 205 million turkeys in 2024, down 6% from 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s the lowest figure since 1985, Nelson said. Monty Rakusen | Digitalvision | Getty Images Largely, that’s because of the impact of bird flu, a lethal and contagious ******** among birds that has contributed to the deaths of about 14 million turkeys since 2022, he said. Lower supply would tend to raise prices, all else equal. But consumer demand has decreased as well. To that point, turkey consumption per capita has fallen by about one pound this year, he said. The aggregate impact has been lower turkey prices. Weather and labor impacts Meanwhile, prices fell notably — by 14% — for whole milk, a staple ingredient in pie and other recipes, Nelson said. That’s largely attributable to “favorable” weather conditions in the U.S. for dairy cattle — both in terms of their overall wellbeing and for crops they eat — thereby helping boost milk production, Nelson said. Of course, not everything is cheaper. Prices for processed products like dinner rolls and cubed stuffing increased more than 8% from 2023, for example, the Farm Bureau said. That’s primarily attributable to non-food-related inflation such as labor costs, pushing up prices “for partners across the food supply chain,” the group said in its analysis. Food inflation has been pretty tame. You’re seeing some good relief there. Robin Wenzel Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute Aside from labor costs, there were many contributors to fast-rising grocery prices during the pandemic era. For example, in 2022, food prices grew faster than any year since 1979, partly due to a bird-flu outbreak that affected egg and poultry prices, while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “compounded other economy-wide inflationary pressures such as high energy costs,” according to the USDA. Higher costs for energy such as gasoline and diesel fuel translate into higher prices across the food supply chain, such as to distribute groceries to store shelves, experts said. “Food price growth slowed in 2023 as wholesale food prices and these other inflationary factors eased from 2022,” the USDA said, and it has declined further in 2024. How to trim Thanksgiving costs Consumers looking to save money on their Thanksgiving meal in 2024 can do so by toggling between store brands and name brands for certain grocery items, according to Wenzel of the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute. A menu of completely store-brand items to feed 10 friends and family members would yield a total savings of $17, according to a Wells Fargo analysis. Consumers often pay a premium for name-brand items, but that’s not true in all cases this year. For example, name-brand cranberries are cheaper than the store brand, on average, Wenzel said. “When shopping this year, it really comes back to doing a little bit of research,” Wenzel said. Source link #Thanksgiving #meals #cheaper #turkey #prices #drop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ofwat rules out customers paying £195,000 Thames Water boss bonus Ofwat rules out customers paying £195,000 Thames Water boss bonus A £195,000 bonus awarded to the boss of Thames Water should not be paid for by customers, regulator Ofwat is expected to say on Thursday. The BBC understands the regulator will say that any bonuses paid should be borne by owners and lenders to the company rather than paid by customers. Thames Water chief executive Chris Weston previously warned that the company only has enough cash to survive till next May but many think it will run out of money by Christmas. The announcement will come as part of an Ofwat update into executive pay and financial resilience across the sector. Ofwat has new powers to prevent bonuses being funded from customer bills if the company is judged to have missed environmental or performance targets. Weston, a former British Gas executive, was hired in January this year to try and turn around the fortunes of a company drowning in debts of £18bn. Over the summer it emerged that he had been awarded a bonus of £195,000 for his first three months at the company, taking his total pay for the ******* to £437,000. It’s not clear whether the bonus has in fact been paid out, but the regulator will insist that it is not paid by the operating company, and must be borne by the company owners. Thames Water declined to comment. In expectation of this approach other companies – including debt laden Southern Water – have already said shareholders rather than customers would pay bonuses to executives. But the problem for Thames is that it effectively has no shareholders. Earlier this year, Thames Water owners refused to follow through with a promised cash injection for the troubled company after Ofwat indicated it was not prepared to accept requests for bill rises of 44% above inflation over the next five years. In a preliminary decision, Ofwat said it would allow bill rises of 21% above inflation, which the shareholders did not accept. They walked away, effectively leaving the company under the control of its lenders. The majority of the lenders to Thames have offered to throw it a financial lifeline loan of up to £3bn if Ofwat agrees to customer bill rises of around 50% above inflation over the next five years. The lenders are currently finalising proposals for a restructuring of the company which would involve them taking a discount on the money they are owed, bringing in new operational expertise, and exploring the possibility of a break up and or public listing of the company. Yesterday, environment secretary Steve Reed, who was appearing before MPs, once again ruled out the nationalisation of Thames. In the past he has said it would cost taxpayers billions of pounds and take years. Reed said he believed the problems in the sector as a whole were ones of “regulation and governance” and he recently commissioned Sir John Cunliffe, former deputy governor of the bank of England, to conduct an independent review of the sector. That review is not due to report back until June of next year. The final determination of how much water companies can charge their customers for the next five years is expected on 19 December. Source link #Ofwat #rules #customers #paying #Thames #Water #boss #bonus Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Review in Progress STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Review in Progress For fans of ********* shooters or punishing post-apocalypse games, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is truly incomparable. Unfortunately, due to a litany of bugs, it’s the greatest game you shouldn’t play right now. Give it some time, and this will be one of the best survival experiences you’ll ever play – but until then, only the series’ biggest fans should take the plunge. Source link #STALKER #Heart #Chornobyl #Review #Progress Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Einstein’s Theory of Relativity Passes Its Biggest Test After Observations From Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Einstein’s Theory of Relativity Passes Its Biggest Test After Observations From Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument In a new study published on Tuesday, researchers from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) project suggest that the mysterious force known as dark energy might not remain constant over time, challenging existing assumptions in cosmology. While the findings hint that dark energy, believed to drive the universe’s accelerated expansion, may be waning, the study simultaneously upholds the validity of general relativity, Albert Einstein’s foundational theory of gravity. Published on the DESI project’s website and on arXiv, the study builds on an April report from the same collaboration that had indicated a similar outcome. DESI’s Expansive Galaxy Mapping Efforts The DESI project, conducted at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, has created an unprecedented 3-D map of galaxies, which allows scientists to explore the structure and growth of cosmic formations over time. Unlike previous analyses, which primarily examined baryon acoustic oscillations — sound waves from the early universe that are still detectable — the latest study includes data on how galaxy formations evolve. Cosmologist Dr Dragan Huterer of the University of Michigan noted that these structural shifts are highly responsive to the effects of dark energy and potential modifications in gravity. Evidence Points Toward Variable Dark Energy The consistency between the recent findings and those from earlier analyses has been highlighted by cosmologist Dr Pauline Zarrouk of the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France, who explained that matching conclusions were essential given the shared dataset. DESI’s analysis also incorporated information from other astronomical observations, including the cosmic microwave background, the universe’s oldest observable light. The study’s results suggest a potential variation in dark energy’s density, reinforcing previous indications that cosmologists may need to revise their models if these findings continue to hold. Upcoming DESI Results May Shed New Light While general relativity ******** largely unchallenged, the DESI findings have introduced uncertainty into the field. Physicist Dr Daniel Scolnic of Duke University remarked that such discoveries often dissipate quickly, but the DESI team continues to stand by its data. The results present no evidence for modified gravity theories, which propose an alternative view of gravity that could explain dark energy and dark matter. DESI’s upcoming findings, expected in 2025, will reveal insights based on three years of data collection, testing the robustness of the variable dark energy hypothesis and potentially reshaping our understanding of the cosmos. Source link #Einsteins #Theory #Relativity #Passes #Biggest #Test #Observations #Dark #Energy #Spectroscopic #Instrument Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia’s Blackwell AI GPU overheating issues are seemingly overhyped — semiconductor analysts reveal cooling issues have been mostly addressed Nvidia’s Blackwell AI GPU overheating issues are seemingly overhyped — semiconductor analysts reveal cooling issues have been mostly addressed Reports of Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72 server racks overheating have purportedly been exaggerated. Business Insider reports that Blackwell’s cooling design faults have already been addressed. Dylan Patel, chief analyst at Semianalysis, purportedly told Business Insider that Blackwell’s design issues, which have been present for months, have been largely addressed, stating that the overheating issues are largely overblown. Semianalysis’ five analysts monitoring the semiconductor industry reported that the cooling system issues triggering “reworks” from several suppliers were a “minor” change. Blackwell’s cooling faults have been specifically problematic with Nvidia’s massive 72-chip server rack, which can consume up to 120kW. Design flaws in the rack’s design have forced Nvidia to reevaluate its design multiple times due to the GPUs inside overheating. This has setback shipments of Nvidia’s GB200 hardware, causing additional delays due to the required design changes. Nvidia’s B200 GPUs are the most potent processing chips for AI workloads. The GB200 superchip, for instance, has a configurable TDP in the thousands of watts, with a peak rating of up to 2,700 watts. These absurdly high power figures make air cooling virtually impossible to use in the constraints of a standard rack mount form factor. (Image credit: Nvidia) This physics problem has forced Nvidia to require liquid cooling on its latest Blackwell GPUs. It also requires data centers to revamp their server farms to accommodate the infrastructure needed to support liquid-cooled servers. Nvidia could solve this problem by creating slower air-cooled GPUs — which the GPU manufacturer still does, in the form of GPUs such as the H200 NVL. However, to remain at the bleeding edge of the AI GPU arms race, Nvidia is prioritizing performance no matter the cost, which is why the company has opted to make GPUs that require thousands of watts of power at the expense of air-cooling. The good news is that Nvidia’s 72-chip Blackwell cooling issues are apparently minor and have been largely addressed already. In addition, only Nvidia’s flagship 72-chip server rack is having the problem. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Nvidias #Blackwell #GPU #overheating #issues #seemingly #overhyped #semiconductor #analysts #reveal #cooling #issues #addressed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia earnings are on deck. Here’s what Wall Street is watching for Nvidia earnings are on deck. Here’s what Wall Street is watching for Expectations are high for Nvidia’s earnings. Nvidia is expected to report fiscal 2025 third-quarter results Wednesday after the close. Analysts see the darling chipmaker reporting a profit of 75 cents per share on revenue of $33.16 billion, per LSEG. Both figures represent more than 80% growth from the year-earlier *******. The report will likely have implications for the broader market, given Nvidia’s massive size. The semiconductor giant has a market capitalization of more than $3.6 trillion, making it the most valuable U.S.-listed company. But just as key as the results themselves will be is what Nvidia says about the demand behind its latest Blackwell graphics processing unit, or GPU, which is designed to meet the heavy processing needs for AI capabilities and often sold to large tech hyperscalers. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia performance this year. Momentum behind Nvidia’s Blackwell ramp Wall Street majors view Nvidia’s Blackwell platform — which should be generally available in the January quarter — as a multibillion dollar revenue opportunity for the chipmaker. Nvidia had said in August that it expected about “several billion” in Blackwell sales during the January quarter. According to Piper Sandler analyst Harsh Kumar, Nvidia could deliver between $5 billion and $8 billion of Blackwell revenues in the January quarter. “We are making NVDA our top large-cap pick given the company’s dominant positioning in AI accelerators and the upcoming launch of the Blackwell architecture,” Kumar said in a Nov. 11 note, putting a $175 price target on the stock. “We think that demand for H100 and 200 will continue to be spread between cloud/enterprise and sovereign, however the initial allocation of Blackwell in the January and April quarters will likely be met with supply to hyperscalers.” Goldman Sachs and Citi are similarly bullish on Nvidia’s Blackwell sales, but their analysts believe a successful transition to Blackwell chips will be more visible in the first quarter of next year. Goldman maintained its $150 price target, while Citi hiked its target by $20 to $170. Both shops have a buy rating on the stock. “Although we expect FY1Q (April) to be the true ‘break out’ quarter in which the ramp of Blackwell coupled with improved supply-side conditions drives meaningful positive EPS revisions, we expect FY3Q (Oct) results, FY4Q (Jan) guidance and management commentary on the earnings call to support our constructive thesis on the stock,” Goldman analyst Toshiya Hari said in a Nov. 5 note to clients. “We believe the stock is set up well to sustain its outperformance.” Analysts are also largely undeterred by recent concerns about a recent report from The Information that Nvidia’s Blackwell NVL-72 server racks are experiencing issues with overheating. Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya wrote Sunday that the company is poised for a “solid” 2025 despite concerns about the thermal issues and anticipating a slowdown in AI scaling. He kept his $190 price target on shares, one of the Street’s most bullish forecasts — suggesting more than 35% potential upside from Tuesday’s close. “We believe both concerns are noteworthy but unlikely to derail NVDA’s CY25 momentum as every cloud customer needs to deploy as much as AI capacity (Hopper and/or Blackwell) to address surging demand,” he said. “Concerns re slowdown in AI scaling are also ********** in our view as the industry is still in its infancy.” Citi analyst Atif Malik similarly modeled a ******* quarterly beat and raise beginning in the April quarter, expecting Nvidia’s ****** margins to improve on the Blackwell transition. HSBC said Blackwell supply chain concerns have “subsided” and expects upside in the company’s fiscal year 2026 data center momentum, which it thinks the market has not yet fully priced in. What about the quarter overall? Many analysts expect strong results from the chipmaker, thanks in part to strong sales of its Hopper GPU. Goldman’s Hari sees revenue up 90% year over year at more than $34 billion, with earnings of 79 cents per share also exceeding expectations. “We expect strong demand for Nvidia’s Hopper-based GPUs (i.e. H100 and particularly the H200) and Spectrum-X (i.e. Ethernet-based Networking product) to drive strong double-digit (%) Data Center revenue growth,” Hari wrote. Wells Fargo’s Aaron Rakers sees earnings coming in at 73 cents per share, slightly below the LSEG estimate. That said, he maintained his overweight rating on the stock earlier this month, citing “expanding AI opportunities” around autonomous driving health care and robotics. He also pointed to what he believes could be a multi-billion dollar opportunity for Nvidia: its work with Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI . Nvidia announced last month that its Spectrum-X Ethernet networking platform made possible the system behind xAI’s Colossal supercomputer that is being used to train xAI’s Grok family of large language models. Colossal comprises 100,000 Nvidia Hopper GPUs, and xAI is in the process of doubling that, per Nvidia’s Oct. 28 release . He also sees data center revenue growth of 99% at $28.9 billion. Stifel analyst Ruben Roy, who has a buy rating on the stock, said Monday he expects earnings per share of 75 cents for the company, matching the consensus. “A broad set of industry commentary, coupled with our checks, suggests a consistent set-up relative to prior quarters,” said Roy in a note. “For fiscal 4Q, we are, again, expecting revenue guidance above the current consensus estimate.” Source link #Nvidia #earnings #deck #Heres #Wall #Street #watching Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meet the TikTokers filming destroyed homes Meet the TikTokers filming destroyed homes As people are displaced by the ******** air strikes pounding the Beirut suburb of Dahieh, two TikTokers are filming the damage for families who have fled. Ali Baydoun and Adam Kassak post videos online documenting the scale of damage to buildings for those who have been forced to abandon their homes at short notice. Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold, has come under heavy ***** from the ******** force in recent weeks. Source link #Meet #TikTokers #filming #destroyed #homes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CSR Racing 2 adding new custom vehicle as Zynga partners with top designer Sasha Selipanov CSR Racing 2 adding new custom vehicle as Zynga partners with top designer Sasha Selipanov CSR Racing 2, Zynga’s flagship racer, is set to collab with another one-of-a-kind car Sasha Selipanov’s NILU, custom-made design, will appear exclusively in CSR Racing 2 The hypercar has only been showcased once before at an exclusive Los Angeles event If there’s one thing you can say about CSR Racing 2, Zynga’s flagship racer, it’s that they always find new and interesting vehicles to add. Most recently it was a set of custom cars that went head-to-head as part of their Toyo Tires partnership, and now Zynga is partnering with Sasha Selipanova to bring another one-of-a-kind vehicle to CSR Racing 2! For a very particular niche of our audience, the name Sasha Selipanov will be instantly recognisable as the relatively young designer is credited with designing many top-of-the-range cars. Little surprise then that the debut of his one-of-a-kind NILU hypercar at a private event in Los Angeles this August translated into this collaboration. Unlike the Toyo Tires collaboration, you won’t need to vote to see the NILU in-game, as it’s already available to race. You’ll be able to experience this innovative design that few if any will be able to drive in real life! Drive hard Considering the fairly limited pool of vehicles available in the world which meet the kind of speed requirements you’d want in something like CSR Racing 2, I do find it interesting how Zynga always seem able to find something fresh to add to their lineup. It’s especially interesting considering that the NILU is a real one-of-a-kind and not even based on customising an existing vehicle, meaning that for many this will be the only way they can experience this car! If you’re looking to jump into CSR Racing 2 to experience the NILU, don’t forget to check in on our ultimate guide to get you started! And if that’s not enough we’ve also recently updated our overall ranking of the best cars in CSR Racing 2, meaning that you’ll be prepped with the best lineup of vehicles to take you roaring past the finish line! Source link #CSR #Racing #adding #custom #vehicle #Zynga #partners #top #designer #Sasha #Selipanov Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]