-
Everything is better with pickles… except Windows
A Windows PC displaying a Wendy’s advert in Vancouver appeared to suffer a software error involving Microsoft’s Phone Link application, creating an incongruous scene beside promotion for a Dill Pickle Chicken Sandwich. The incident matters chiefly as a light-hearted example of public digital signage relying on general-purpose Windows software, which can expose glitches to customers.…
-
Elden Ring does this better than anyone else
The article argues that FromSoftware, particularly in Elden Ring, uses clothing exceptionally effectively as a storytelling tool. It highlights how garments’ shapes, textures and movement convey character, mood and world-building within the studio’s sombre fantasy settings. Presented by Polygon’s Patrick, the video examines the close attention paid to cloth across FromSoftware’s games. Rather than treating…
-
Twitch is training AI on livestreams, says it’s an opt out feature as “nobody would opt in”
Twitch has announced plans to train generative AI models using livestreams on its platform, with the setting enabled by default and creators required to opt out. The decision has prompted strong opposition from streamers, who argue that training should require explicit permission; it matters because it raises concerns about creator control, consent and how major…
-
I spent 18 months testing the best video doorbells – here are my favourites
After testing 11 video doorbells over 18 months, the reviewer recommends models aimed at different budgets and smart-home setups. The guide highlights that image quality, motion detection, alert speed and subscription costs are the main factors separating the products. – Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (£219.99): best overall, praised for strong day-and-night footage and pre-roll video,…
-
‘I feel like I’m at war’: are we losing the battle against machine-made music?
Fenix Flexin’s charting single Rubberz became a focal point in the debate over AI-made music after the rapper initially denied, then later acknowledged, using artificial intelligence in its creation. The dispute illustrates how machine-generated tracks can reach mainstream audiences while remaining difficult to identify, raising concerns about authenticity, consent and the future role of human…
-
America needs thousands of blue-collar workers to manufacture our AI future
Technology companies are investing heavily in artificial-intelligence data centres, but the article argues that shortages of construction workers, electricians and factory technicians could constrain their plans. It presents the AI boom as a major opportunity for skilled trades, rather than one driven solely by software engineers and coders. Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon are expected…
-
There’s a Fatty Liver Epidemic. AI Could Help Get Ahead of It
Fatty liver disease affects about 30 percent of adults worldwide and often remains undetected until severe liver damage becomes life-threatening. Researchers believe artificial intelligence could help identify high-risk patients earlier by analysing large volumes of routine health records and laboratory results, potentially allowing treatment before the disease progresses. Early-stage liver damage can often be reversed…
-
The mythic origins of Elden Ring’s spooky scary skeletons
The article examines how Elden Ring turns the familiar video-game skeleton into a memorable, irritating enemy, arguing that FromSoftware has refined the design of these seemingly basic foes. It places the game’s skeletons within a much older cultural tradition, showing that their appeal and symbolism extend far beyond modern role-playing games. It notes that players…