Month: May 2024
Twitch replaces Safety Advisory Council with Twitch Ambassadors
As reported by CNBC, Twitch has replaced all nine members of its Safety Advisory Council with Twitch Ambassadors. The company… Continue reading Twitch replaces Safety Advisory Council with Twitch Ambassadors
The post Twitch replaces Safety Advisory Council with Twitch Ambassadors appeared first on ReadWrite.
As reported by CNBC, Twitch has replaced all nine members of its Safety Advisory Council with Twitch Ambassadors. The company is said to have met with members of the former council on May 6 to tell them all existing contracts would end on May 31.
The former members will not be getting paid for the second half of 2024. This comes just a few months after Twitch CEO Dan Clancy declared that the live-streaming platform is not profitable and cut 35% of staff in the same month.
In an email sent to the members, Twitch reportedly said: “The Safety Advisory Council will primarily be made up of individuals who serve as Twitch Ambassadors.”
The streaming platform didn’t specify who these Ambassadors will be, only describing them as people who “positively contribute to the Twitch community — from being role models for their community, to establishing new content genres, to having inspirational stories that empower those around them.”
In a statement shared with The Verge, Twitch trust and safety communications manager Elizabeth Busby said that the new council members will bring “fresh, diverse perspectives” after four years with the same members.
“We’re excited to work with our global Twitch Ambassadors, all of whom are active on Twitch, know our safety work first hand, and have a range of experiences to pull from,” she continued.
What is … or was the Safety Advisory Council?
The Safety Advisory Council was made up of cyberbullying experts, web researchers and community members, founded in 2020 to help draft new policies, develop safety-focused products, and protect marginalized groups on the platform.
Much of its input remained private, seemingly largely focused on policy and internal operations, rather than external features such as advertisements or moderation.
The Safety Advisory Council’s members included: Dr. Sameer Hinduja, co-director of the Cyber Bullying Research Center; Dr. T.L. Taylor, the co-founder and director of AnyKey, an organization that advocates for inclusion and diversity in video games and esports; and Emma Llansó, the director of the Free Expression Project for the Center for Democracy and Technology.
Featured image: Unsplash
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Windows 11’s new Recall feature has been cracked to run on unsupported hardware
Image: Microsoft
Microsoft unveiled its new Copilot Plus PCs last week, designed to usher in a new wave of AI features in Windows that are exclusive to new laptops. Now, less than two weeks later, Windows enthusiasts have managed to crack Microsoft’s flagship AI-powered Recall feature to run on unsupported hardware.
Recall leverages local AI models on new Copilot Plus PCs to run in the background and take snapshots of anything you’ve done or seen on your PC. You then get a timeline you can scrub through and the ability to search for photos, documents, conversations, or anything else on your PC. Microsoft positioned Recall as needing the very latest neural processing units (NPU) on new PCs, but you can actually get it running on older Arm-powered hardware.
Windows watcher Albacore has created a tool called Amperage, which enables Recall on devices that have an older Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, Microsoft’s SQ processors, or an Ampere chipset. You need to have the latest Windows 11 24H2 update installed on one of these Windows on Arm devices, and then the tool will unlock and enable Recall.
This only works on older Windows on Arm hardware right now, but given Copilot Plus PCs are coming from AMD and Intel soon, we’ll likely see this unlocked a lot more broadly in the coming weeks or months. Microsoft has only published its AI components for the Windows on Arm platform now, the limiting factor in getting this running on Intel- and AMD-powered hardware.
here’s the first launch experience for Windows 11’s Recall feature. It can currently be unlocked to work on Windows on ARM devices without a dedicated NPU, so I’d expect we’ll see this unlocked on regular x64 devices soon too pic.twitter.com/YGvOlwVI5u— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) May 31, 2024
You can technically unlock Recall on x86 devices, but the app won’t do much until Microsoft publishes the x64 AI components required to get it up and running. Rumors suggest both AMD and Intel are close to announcing Copilot Plus PCs, so Microsoft’s AI components for those machines may well appear soon. I managed to get Recall running on an x64 Windows 11 virtual machine earlier today just to test out the initial first-run experience.
We may well see more of Microsoft’s Copilot Plus PC features backported to existing hardware soon, too. Recall being unlocked to run on much older Arm hardware will undoubtedly raise questions about why Microsoft is limiting this and many other AI-powered Windows features to new devices that have an NPU capable of more than 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS).
Microsoft will probably argue that the 40 TOPS requirement sets a baseline for future AI-powered experiences beyond Recall, Image Cocreator, and the other AI features Microsoft demonstrated last week. It also ensures these features are running on a separate NPU instead of taking over the CPU and GPU and killing laptop battery life. But the reality is that Copilot Plus PCs are also designed for Microsoft and its OEM partners to sell new hardware at a time when IDC estimates PC sales will grow this year thanks to the arrival of AI-capable PCs.
Image: Microsoft
Microsoft unveiled its new Copilot Plus PCs last week, designed to usher in a new wave of AI features in Windows that are exclusive to new laptops. Now, less than two weeks later, Windows enthusiasts have managed to crack Microsoft’s flagship AI-powered Recall feature to run on unsupported hardware.
Recall leverages local AI models on new Copilot Plus PCs to run in the background and take snapshots of anything you’ve done or seen on your PC. You then get a timeline you can scrub through and the ability to search for photos, documents, conversations, or anything else on your PC. Microsoft positioned Recall as needing the very latest neural processing units (NPU) on new PCs, but you can actually get it running on older Arm-powered hardware.
Windows watcher Albacore has created a tool called Amperage, which enables Recall on devices that have an older Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, Microsoft’s SQ processors, or an Ampere chipset. You need to have the latest Windows 11 24H2 update installed on one of these Windows on Arm devices, and then the tool will unlock and enable Recall.
This only works on older Windows on Arm hardware right now, but given Copilot Plus PCs are coming from AMD and Intel soon, we’ll likely see this unlocked a lot more broadly in the coming weeks or months. Microsoft has only published its AI components for the Windows on Arm platform now, the limiting factor in getting this running on Intel- and AMD-powered hardware.
here’s the first launch experience for Windows 11’s Recall feature. It can currently be unlocked to work on Windows on ARM devices without a dedicated NPU, so I’d expect we’ll see this unlocked on regular x64 devices soon too pic.twitter.com/YGvOlwVI5u
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) May 31, 2024
You can technically unlock Recall on x86 devices, but the app won’t do much until Microsoft publishes the x64 AI components required to get it up and running. Rumors suggest both AMD and Intel are close to announcing Copilot Plus PCs, so Microsoft’s AI components for those machines may well appear soon. I managed to get Recall running on an x64 Windows 11 virtual machine earlier today just to test out the initial first-run experience.
We may well see more of Microsoft’s Copilot Plus PC features backported to existing hardware soon, too. Recall being unlocked to run on much older Arm hardware will undoubtedly raise questions about why Microsoft is limiting this and many other AI-powered Windows features to new devices that have an NPU capable of more than 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS).
Microsoft will probably argue that the 40 TOPS requirement sets a baseline for future AI-powered experiences beyond Recall, Image Cocreator, and the other AI features Microsoft demonstrated last week. It also ensures these features are running on a separate NPU instead of taking over the CPU and GPU and killing laptop battery life. But the reality is that Copilot Plus PCs are also designed for Microsoft and its OEM partners to sell new hardware at a time when IDC estimates PC sales will grow this year thanks to the arrival of AI-capable PCs.
Perplexity AI launches new tool to turn research into content
Perplexity AI has launched a new tool, Pages, that turns research into visually dynamic content. After gaining backing from Jeff… Continue reading Perplexity AI launches new tool to turn research into content
The post Perplexity AI launches new tool to turn research into content appeared first on ReadWrite.
Perplexity AI has launched a new tool, Pages, that turns research into visually dynamic content.
After gaining backing from Jeff Bezos in January, Perplexity has now turned its hand to creating a new tool called Pages. Geared towards creating, organizing, and sharing information, Pages allows you to turn research into publishable content like reports, articles, and guides.
You can also search for any topic to find similar resources in return and go on to publish your work to the growing library of user-generated content or choose to share it directly with your audience.
There appears to be a heavy emphasis on aesthetics, with various different templates to create a polished effect for the final products. You can see some examples created by the Perplexity team on the company’s announcement blog.
“Perplexity’s mission is to cater to the world’s curiosity,” wrote CEO Aravind Srinivas on X. “We have taken inspiration from Wikipedia with citations.
“We’re excited to take it further by launching Pages, best described as “AI Wikipedia.” The effort of analyzing sources and synthesizing a readable page is now possible with a simple “one-click convert.” Available for all Pro users, and rolling out more widely to everyone.”
Perplexity’s mission is to cater to the world’s curiosity. We have taken inspiration from Wikipedia with citations. We’re excited to take it further by launching Pages, best described as “AI Wikipedia.” The effort of analyzing sources and synthesizing a readable page is now… pic.twitter.com/apqoPvJY4Q
— Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) May 30, 2024
How to try out Perplixity AI’s Pages
You’ll need to have an account to try out Pages for yourself. There’s a free option for the AI research assistant, which gives you five Pro searches a day and unlimited quick ones, as well as access to Pages.
The Pro version costs $20 a month and offers unlimited quick searches and 600 Pro searches per day, alongside greater choice over which AI models you can use.
To try out Pages, head to this section of the Perplexity website and make sure you’re logged into or have created a Perplexity account. Then select ‘Create a Page’ in the library tab, choose your topic, select your audience, and get started.
Featured image: Perplexity
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The MacRumors Show: New iOS 18 Rumors Ahead of WWDC 2024
On this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss some of the latest rumors about iOS 18, including deeper Home Screen customization, AI-generated emojis, and more.
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos
With iOS 18, Siri is expected to undergo a substantial overhaul with improved natural language processing, enabling more conversational interactions and proactive intelligence. The assistant will apparently understand and perform more complex tasks within apps. These tasks range from moving notes between folders and deleting emails to summarizing articles and recent notifications.
Spotlight search will also allegedly see similar enhancements, integrating deeper with system-wide information to provide more intelligent and relevant results. In Messages, AI will suggest responses and create custom emojis based on message content. The Photos app will incorporate AI-powered retouching tools and Apple Music will offer auto-generated playlists and smoother song transitions.
iOS 18 is also expected to introduce a more customizable Home Screen. Users will have the freedom to place app icons anywhere on the grid and change app icon colors.
Safari is expected to gain an Intelligent Search option, summarizing key topics and phrases on web pages, and a new Web Eraser tool, which allows users to remove unwanted portions of websites. The Calculator app will be redesigned to include recent calculations and better unit conversion tools, becoming a universal app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple Maps will introduce custom routes and topographic maps, enhancing navigation and outdoor activities.
Accessibility is another focus area for iOS 18 with new features like Eye Tracking, which uses the front-facing camera to navigate the interface, and Vehicle Motion Cues, designed to reduce motion sickness. Music Haptics will provide tactile feedback in sync with music, and Vocal Shortcuts will enable users to assign custom phrases for Siri to execute complex tasks.
The adoption of the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard should improve messaging between iPhones and Android devices with support for higher resolution photos, audio messages, typing indicators, read receipts, and improved group chat functionality.
iOS 18 is expected to be compatible with all iPhones that support iOS 17, including models as old as the iPhone XR and iPhone XS. However, iPadOS 18 may drop support for older models such as the first-generation 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you’re subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!
You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.
If you haven’t already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about Apple’s new iPad Air and iPad Pro models, the latest rumors about an all new iPhone 17 “Slim” model, and the newly announced Sonos Ace over-ear headphones.
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.Tag: The MacRumors ShowThis article, “The MacRumors Show: New iOS 18 Rumors Ahead of WWDC 2024” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
On this week’s episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss some of the latest rumors about iOS 18, including deeper Home Screen customization, AI-generated emojis, and more.
With iOS 18, Siri is expected to undergo a substantial overhaul with improved natural language processing, enabling more conversational interactions and proactive intelligence. The assistant will apparently understand and perform more complex tasks within apps. These tasks range from moving notes between folders and deleting emails to summarizing articles and recent notifications.
Spotlight search will also allegedly see similar enhancements, integrating deeper with system-wide information to provide more intelligent and relevant results. In Messages, AI will suggest responses and create custom emojis based on message content. The Photos app will incorporate AI-powered retouching tools and Apple Music will offer auto-generated playlists and smoother song transitions.
iOS 18 is also expected to introduce a more customizable Home Screen. Users will have the freedom to place app icons anywhere on the grid and change app icon colors.
Safari is expected to gain an Intelligent Search option, summarizing key topics and phrases on web pages, and a new Web Eraser tool, which allows users to remove unwanted portions of websites. The Calculator app will be redesigned to include recent calculations and better unit conversion tools, becoming a universal app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple Maps will introduce custom routes and topographic maps, enhancing navigation and outdoor activities.
Accessibility is another focus area for iOS 18 with new features like Eye Tracking, which uses the front-facing camera to navigate the interface, and Vehicle Motion Cues, designed to reduce motion sickness. Music Haptics will provide tactile feedback in sync with music, and Vocal Shortcuts will enable users to assign custom phrases for Siri to execute complex tasks.
The adoption of the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard should improve messaging between iPhones and Android devices with support for higher resolution photos, audio messages, typing indicators, read receipts, and improved group chat functionality.
iOS 18 is expected to be compatible with all iPhones that support iOS 17, including models as old as the iPhone XR and iPhone XS. However, iPadOS 18 may drop support for older models such as the first-generation 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you’re subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:
You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.
If you haven’t already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about Apple’s new iPad Air and iPad Pro models, the latest rumors about an all new iPhone 17 “Slim” model, and the newly announced Sonos Ace over-ear headphones.
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
This article, “The MacRumors Show: New iOS 18 Rumors Ahead of WWDC 2024” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
The brutal ‘Demon’s Souls’ PS5 remake is 57% off at Amazon
As of May 31, get the PS5 remake of ‘Demon’s Souls’ for $29.99 at Amazon. That’s a 57% discount.
SAVE $40: As of May 31, get the PlayStation 5 remake of Demon’s Souls at Amazon for $29.99. That’s 57% off its normal price of $69.99.
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If you have a PlayStation 5 and want a great game to check out, Demon’s Souls is a classically challenging adventure you won’t want to miss. The PlayStation 5 update is a remake of the original 2009 version on the PlayStation 3, with a number of improvements in terms of gameplay, visuals, and more – mostly making it available to a brand new audience on the then-just released PS5. If you’ve yet to try out the remake, today’s your lucky day.
As of May 31, you can get Demon’s Souls on PS5 from Amazon for just $69.99. That’s $40 off its normal price of $29.99 and a discount of 57%. This particular discount isn’t available directly from PlayStation as part of its current Days of Play sale lineup, so if you’ve been looking forward to giving it a try, Amazon has swooped in to save the day with this sale.
Demon’s Souls originally debuted in 2009 on PlayStation 3, and this update overhauls much of the title with quality of life improvements, additions to make the game a bit more accessible to newcomers, and significant graphical improvements. It’s now the definitive version of the game, if you’re a Souls fan, and it received universal acclaim from critics on release, currently sitting at a 92 on Metacritic.
Be sure to snag your copy now as it’s likely to sell out at this price quickly. And for more PlayStation deals, check out the Days of Play sale for plenty of other money-saving deals.
Exclusive: iOS 18 to Add Text Effects to iMessage
Apple plans to add a new text effects feature to the Messages app on iOS 18, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
While it is already possible to send iMessages with bubble effects or full-screen effects, such as invisible ink or confetti, the text effects would allow you to add animations to individual words within a message. With the Messages app set to gain RCS support on iOS 18, it is possible the text effects will also work with green bubbles.
In addition to the text effects and RCS support, the Messages app on iOS 18 will reportedly gain an AI-powered autocompletion tool.
As a refresher, RCS support will provide an improved messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices compared to the current SMS standard. Just like iMessage, RCS features higher-resolution photos and videos, audio messages, typing indicators, read receipts, the ability to send messages over a Wi-Fi network, and better functionality for group chats.
iOS 18 is set to be unveiled during the WWDC keynote on June 10, and the first beta should be made available to members of the Apple Developer Program immediately after the presentation. The first public beta of iOS 18 will likely follow in July, and the update should be widely released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September.
Related Roundup: iOS 18Tag: MessagesThis article, “Exclusive: iOS 18 to Add Text Effects to iMessage” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple plans to add a new text effects feature to the Messages app on iOS 18, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
While it is already possible to send iMessages with bubble effects or full-screen effects, such as invisible ink or confetti, the text effects would allow you to add animations to individual words within a message. With the Messages app set to gain RCS support on iOS 18, it is possible the text effects will also work with green bubbles.
In addition to the text effects and RCS support, the Messages app on iOS 18 will reportedly gain an AI-powered autocompletion tool.
As a refresher, RCS support will provide an improved messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices compared to the current SMS standard. Just like iMessage, RCS features higher-resolution photos and videos, audio messages, typing indicators, read receipts, the ability to send messages over a Wi-Fi network, and better functionality for group chats.
iOS 18 is set to be unveiled during the WWDC keynote on June 10, and the first beta should be made available to members of the Apple Developer Program immediately after the presentation. The first public beta of iOS 18 will likely follow in July, and the update should be widely released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September.
This article, “Exclusive: iOS 18 to Add Text Effects to iMessage” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
New AI-powered tool Showrunner lets you create your own TV shows
Users of a new tool, Showrunner, from Fable Studios can direct, star in, and actually earn money from their own… Continue reading New AI-powered tool Showrunner lets you create your own TV shows
The post New AI-powered tool Showrunner lets you create your own TV shows appeared first on ReadWrite.
Users of a new tool, Showrunner, from Fable Studios can direct, star in, and actually earn money from their own AI-generated TV shows.
AI production company Fable Studios today announced its new app, Showrunner, currently in its Alpha stage. The company is releasing the first two episodes of a new animated series made on the platform called Exit Valley. It appears to be created in the style of South Park or Rick and Morty, evoking the same dark satirical comedy.
ANNOUNCING SHOWRUNNER
We believe the future is a mix of game & movie.
Simulations powering 1000s of Truman Shows populated by interactive AI characters.
Welcome to Sim Francisco & Showrunner!
SOUND ON!
Link to Signup in Bio pic.twitter.com/yptMocqOfW
— The Simulation (@fablesimulation) May 30, 2024
How does Showrunner work?
Viewers will be able to use prompts to generate their own episode of the series, selecting everything from the characters and storylines to the angles and shots. The best user-generated episodes could even one day become an official part of the series.
Although two episodes have been made so far, the plan is to create 20 more, following the Gold Rush-era ancestors of Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, and the Winklevoss twins. Just like their descendants would one day fight over Facebook, the men fight to death over a valuable commodity.
“The next Netflix won’t be purely passive; you will be at home, describe the show you’d like to watch and within a minute or two start watching,” Fable Studios CEO Edward Saatchi said in a statement. “Finish a show that you enjoy and make new episodes, and even put yourself and your friends in episodes — fighting aliens, in your favorite sitcom, and solving crimes.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen work from Fable Studios, having grabbed people’s attention last year with a batch of AI-created South Park, used to act as an experiment and form the basis of a research paper. The show’s characters, animation style, and even some voices, despite no involvement from creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, were used – and the episodes generated a massive eight million views on X.
“Our South Park episodes were a research project that took on a life of their own,” Saatchi said. “Seeing the huge desire of people to make their own episodes of TV, we’ve built Showrunner as a Netflix of AI to power original works of art that can stand the test of time, and to let people bring their stories to life.”
Announcing our paper on Generative TV & Showrunner Agents!
Create episodes of TV shows with a prompt – SHOW-1 will write, animate, direct, voice, edit for you.
We used South Park FOR RESEARCH ONLY – we won’t be releasing ability to make your own South Park episodes -not our IP! pic.twitter.com/6P2WQd8SvY
— The Simulation (@fablesimulation) July 18, 2023
AI is becoming more and more widely available to the general public, from being able to create your own chatbots to consumer-focused devices with AI built into their design.
Featured image: Fable Studios
The post New AI-powered tool Showrunner lets you create your own TV shows appeared first on ReadWrite.
Why Have Brand-New Home Sales Suddenly Tripled? I Put on a Hard Hat to Find Out – CNET
With home prices holding high, building a new home can be more affordable right now.
With home prices holding high, building a new home can be more affordable right now.