Author: Michael Comaous

Reviews of Crimson Desert have been mixed, but the bigger issue for the game has been the discovery of what appeared to be AI-generated assets in the final release. Now the developer has acknowledged that AI art was indeed used during the game’s creation, but says that it was intended to be replaced before release. In a statement on X, the company said it was conducting a “comprehensive audit” to identify and replace any AI-generated content.The company apologized for both its inclusion in the final release and for not being more transparent about its use during development. “We should have…

Recent leaks point to Amazon gearing up for a return to smartphones with an AI-focused device. However, analysts aren’t convinced the timing makes sense. According to a new report, industry experts believe this could be “the worst possible time” for Amazon to re-enter the smartphone market, even after adding AI into the mix. Why an Amazon AI phone doesn’t make sense right now Amazon Fire Phone Amazon One of the biggest concerns outlined by the report is the broader state of the smartphone industry. Due to the rising cost of components and the ongoing memory shortage, the market is expected…

According to a column by the New York Times’ Kevin Roose, employees at companies including Meta and OpenAI compete on “internal leaderboards that show how many tokens[…]each worker consumes.” At Meta in particular (and also Shopify), Roose says volume of A.I. used has become a metric that goes into people’s evaluations, with managers “rewarding workers who make heavy use of A.I. tools and chastening those who don’t.” Analogies are tricky here. One is tempted to say it’s like making painters compete to use the most paint, but even if the paint is just being splattered as quickly as possible, it’s…

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro pros and cons Pros Comfortable Incredible sound Great Galaxy integration Cons No upgrades to battery Few notable software upgrades Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.I commented a few weeks ago that Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are boring. And, they are, but that’s not an inherently bad thing. Compared to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro from 2024, the Buds 4 Pro’s most noticeable enhancements are their refined design and the introduction of head gestures, while incremental improvements to noise cancellation, durability, and audio tuning don’t go unnoticed. Some features make a comeback, including 360…

Merino wool is a super fiber. The best merino wool clothing somehow manages to be comfortable in 95-degree heat, and merino base layers keep you warm well below freezing. Unlike synthetic fibers derived from petroleum, merino wool is natural and renewable.Merino wool’s versatility means there’s a bewildering array of blends and options to choose from. Here are our favorite merino wool products that we’ve tested by wearing and washing (usually in cold water, and hung to dry, although we do machine dry them just to see what happens) over the course of months and even years in some cases. Once…

The final gathering In 1980s New York, MacLeod takes on another Immortal. 20th Century Fox In 1980s New York, MacLeod takes on another Immortal. 20th Century Fox A victorios MacLeod absorbs his defeated opponent’s energy 20th Century Fox A victorios MacLeod absorbs his defeated opponent’s energy 20th Century Fox Forensic metallurgist Brenda (Roxanne Hart) finds MacLeod’s vintage sword 20th Century Fox Forensic metallurgist Brenda (Roxanne Hart) finds MacLeod’s vintage sword 20th Century Fox A victorios MacLeod absorbs his defeated opponent’s energy 20th Century Fox Forensic metallurgist Brenda (Roxanne Hart) finds MacLeod’s vintage sword 20th Century Fox The Kurgan gets a…

Shortly after Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced AWS’s groundbreaking $50 billion investment deal with OpenAI, Amazon invited me on a private tour of the chip development lab at the heart of the deal, at (mostly*) its own expense.  Industry experts are watching Amazon’s Trainium chip, created at that facility, for its implications for lower-cost AI inference and, potentially, a dent in Nvidia’s near monopoly.   Curious, I agreed to go.   My tour guides for the day were the lab’s director, Kristopher King (pictured below right) and director of engineering Mark Carroll (below left), as well as the team’s PR person who…

Sonos is no stranger to the occasional sale. The iconic audio company routinely runs sales around Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day, and the Super Bowl, though it’s rare to see substantial discounts on its portable speakers outside of tentpole shopping events. Fortunately, if you have no interest in the Sonos Move 2 or forthcoming Sonos Play, the Sonos Roam 2 is currently available from Amazon, Walmart, and Sonos for $139 ($40 off), which is just $5 shy of its lowest price to date.The original Sonos Roam was by no means a bad speaker, but the quality-of-life updates on the Roam…

After weeks of leaks and teasers, Samsung has officially confirmed the launch date for its next generation of Galaxy A-series smartphones. The Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 will make their official debut on March 25th, 2026, in India at 5:30 PM IST. That’s roughly 8 AM ET / 5 AM PT for those watching globally. While Samsung hasn’t explicitly mentioned the devices in its teasers, every detail in the teaser points to the upcoming mid-range duo. What to expect Samsung While the full specs and features will be revealed at launch, earlier leaks have already revealed plenty of details of…

Elon Musk “would like to offer to pay the salaries” of struggling TSA workers amid the shutdown, he said on his social media site Saturday. I, too, would like to offer to pay them, as it happens. The difference is that I can’t, but Elon Musk’s net worth is a dollar amount beyond reckoning, and without any impact whatsoever on his personal wellbeing, he could easily move some assets around and scrounge up enough liquid cash to make it happen. But, again, Musk “would like to offer” to pay them. He didn’t say “I’m offering to pay them,” or better…