The Verge·2yIndie studio opens up to share canceled Magic School project
Dinosaur Polo Club, creators of *Mini Metro* and *Mini Motorways*, revealed their canceled project *Magic School* due to the need for a larger team. Despite the cancellation, no employees were laid off and their skills will be redirected to new projects within the *Mini* series. The studio's transparency offers a refreshing change in an industry often secretive about such cancellations.
The Verge·2ySamsung’s new image-generating AI tool is a little too good
Samsung's new 'sketch to image' AI tool on the Fold 6 phone generates impressive and sometimes eerily realistic images from basic sketches. While the feature is entertaining, its accuracy raises concerns about distinguishing real from fake images. The tool's ability to seamlessly integrate AI-generated elements into photos could complicate our understanding of authenticity in imagery, especially with how instinctive it is to use.
The Verge·2yOpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s $27 million mansion is a ‘lemon’ with a leaky pool, lawsuit alleges
Sam Altman’s $27 million mansion in San Francisco is the subject of a lawsuit due to numerous construction issues including a leaky infinity pool and faulty plumbing. The lawsuit alleges that the real estate developer, Troon Pacific, misrepresented the property's condition and conducted subpar workmanship. Repairs are estimated to cost millions and the case highlights ongoing issues with the developer's other projects.
The Verge·2yLogitech’s new CEO wants your next mouse to last forever
Logitech's new CEO, Hanneke Faber, aims to make long-lasting 'forever' mice with upgradable features and reduce the company's carbon footprint significantly by 2031. She discusses moving away from some product lines, like smart home devices, and focusing on core areas like personal workspace, gaming, and video conferencing. The integration of AI in Logitech's products and the potential for subscription-based models are also highlighted. Faber emphasizes the importance of product innovation and organizational simplification to drive growth and sustainability.
The Verge·2yThis $56 Casio watch is a retro step tracking dream
The Casio WS-B1000 is a $56 watch that merges retro design with modern step-tracking capabilities. It offers basic features like step counting, stopwatch, timer functions, alarms, and Bluetooth connectivity to sync time with your phone. While it lacks advanced smartwatch functionalities like heart rate monitoring and contactless payments, it provides simplicity and ease of use, making it ideal for those who prefer minimalist fitness tracking. The watch is lightweight, runs on a coin cell battery lasting around two years, and is perfect for users seeking a low-tech approach to fitness.
The Verge·2yThe ‘godmother of AI’ has a new startup already worth $1 billion
Fei-Fei Li, known as the 'godmother of AI,' has founded a startup named World Labs, already valued at over $1 billion. World Labs aims to develop AI capable of advanced reasoning by processing visual data in a human-like manner. The startup focuses on creating models that understand three-dimensional worlds, which could have applications in robotics, augmented reality, virtual reality, and computer vision. Backed by major investors, World Labs intends to push the boundaries of AI in various industries including healthcare and manufacturing.
The Verge·2yWe experimented with macOS on the iPad, and it was surprisingly good
Apple executives have expressed little interest in preparing iPads for macOS software, but users still desire more from their devices. In a recent video, *The Verge* explores why Apple hasn’t merged its devices, addressing factors like hardware, software, and business. Video director Owen Grove conducts an experiment using iPad Pro with macOS and interviews experts to find answers. Discover the surprising conclusion on YouTube.
The Verge·2yThis HR company tried to treat AI bots like people — it didn’t go over well
Lattice attempted to make AI history by giving digital workers official employee records, onboarding them, and assigning goals and managers. However, after strong backlash, Lattice quickly decided not to pursue this initiative. Responses from HR professionals and AI experts highlighted the shortcomings and premature nature of the effort.
The Verge·2yThere is no fix for Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs — any damage is permanent
Intel confirmed that the instability issues affecting 13th and 14th Gen desktop CPUs due to elevated voltages are not fixable if the CPUs are already damaged. The upcoming patch will prevent future damage but won't repair already affected CPUs. If experiencing instability, users should contact Intel Customer Support for replacements. Intel also identified an oxidization manufacturing issue as another cause of failures. The company has decided not to recall the affected processors or halt sales at this time, advising users to keep their BIOS updated and adhere to default settings until the patch is released.