Startups in the cybersecurity sector are facing a daunting market environment, contending with decreased valuations and increasing pressure to sell while competing for vital funding and collaborations. In a progressively saturated market, these startups need to reevaluate their strategies and wisely distribute resources to remain competitive and sustainable amidst the demands of investors and well-established competitors. Moreover, they must prioritize innovation and agility to differentiate themselves from many companies offering similar cybersecurity solutions. By fostering partnerships, developing unique products and services, and continuously refining their business models, these startups can navigate the market challenges and prove their value to potential investors and customers.

Rapid expansion, increased competition, and a daunting market environment

The rapid expansion of the cybersecurity sector in recent years has led to a constant need for novel and inventive solutions to tackle constantly evolving threats. As a result, the market has become flooded with numerous startups vying for the interest of investors and collaborations with established entities. This competitive landscape has driven these emerging companies to push the boundaries of innovation and develop cutting-edge technologies that can address even the most sophisticated cyber-attacks. Consequently, businesses and governments increasingly rely on these startups to protect their digital assets and ensure the security of sensitive data from potential breaches.

Challenges in securing investments

The intensified competition has made it increasingly challenging for cybersecurity startups to stand out and convince investors that their technology offers the best solution for current and impending threats. Consequently, some startups have faced struggles securing investments, resulting in down rounds where their valuations decline between funding rounds. To stand out, many cybersecurity startups focus on providing unique, cutting-edge solutions, such as artificial intelligence-driven threat recognition and zero-trust security frameworks. Additionally, these startups are building strategic partnerships and collaborations to build investor trust and showcase the practicality of their innovations.

Consequences of down rounds

Down rounds can significantly hinder a startup’s growth, limiting its capacity to draw in talent, damaging its credibility, and causing difficulties for future investments. Additionally, these down rounds can decrease employee morale, as they may dilute shares or pay cuts, affecting the overall work environment. Startups must navigate through these financial challenges carefully and strategically to maintain a positive image and continue their growth trajectory.

In addition to these obstacles, cybersecurity startups also confront escalating pressure to sell, potentially curtailing their progress and innovation. This pressure often stems from investors seeking a quick return on their investments and larger companies wanting to acquire these startups to bolster their own security offerings. Consequently, this intense focus on short-term gains may lead to stagnating the cybersecurity industry’s growth, as emerging companies may prioritize profit over developing groundbreaking solutions.

Targeting specific sectors and challenges

To surmount these hurdles, cybersecurity startups need to focus on targeting specific sectors or addressing distinctive challenges, which can allow their technology to shine in a competitive marketplace. These startups can demonstrate their expertise and efficacy in addressing unique security concerns by specializing in niche areas, ultimately increasing trust and credibility among potential clients. Furthermore, this targeted approach helps differentiate them from larger, more established competitors, enabling these innovative companies to carve out a significant market share within their chosen domain.

Overcoming challenges in the cybersecurity landscape

Cybersecurity startups must traverse a complicated landscape while dealing with intense competition, down rounds, and the urge to sell. They must remain vigilant and adaptive to the rapidly changing threat landscape, updating their solutions to tackle new and evolving cyber threats. Equally important is establishing trust and credibility with customers, investors, and partners, as these relationships will be critical to their overall success and longevity in the industry.

To succeed in this setting, these companies must concentrate on their core competencies and establish their own specialty within the industry. By focusing on their unique strengths, these organizations can create a niche for themselves, allowing them to stand out among competitors and attract a loyal customer base. Additionally, this specialization will enable them to continually innovate and enhance their area of expertise, ensuring sustained growth and longevity in the market.

By doing so, they can obtain the investments and partnerships needed to continue creating innovative solutions to combat ever-changing threats in the cybersecurity realm. Building these strong relationships with investors and partners provides financial support and leads to exchanging knowledge and expertise from various sectors. This collaborative environment plays a crucial role in staying ahead of cyber criminals to protect valuable data and systems.

Featured Image Credit: RF._.studio; Pexels

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As gamers we all want a cool-looking gaming space we can call our own, but what does that look like? A nice gaming chair? An adjustable gaming desk like one from Flexispot? Copious amounts of LEDs and lighting solutions like the ones from Nanoleaf? But how do we stand out from the crowd – especially if you want to become a streamer or just want your friends to see you have something they can’t?

3D print things yourself that’s how. There are an absolute ton of 3D printable models out there, some free, some paid for and if you have a 3D printer, or are thinking of getting one, you can set to work creating your own bespoke gaming artwork for your room.

Which 3D printer?

For this project, we are going to use the new Bambu Lab A1 which recently came out at the end of last year. With its multi-material AMS Lite add it can print in multiple colors on the same print easily, which, while you can do on other printers, the AMS makes it so much easier.

Having said that, in the main, we are going to print our models in a single color and attempt to paint them to a standard that looks half-decent. Because of this, we can print them in any old filament we have lying around that we maybe don’t use that much.

Another reason we are using the A1 here is because, right now, we don’t want to tinker and play around with settings. For the most part, the A1 just works out of the box. Many other 3D printers need fine-tuning and tweaking to get the best out of them, even keeping a watchful eye to make sure nothing goes wrong. Unless you are unlucky the A1 should let you print and return later when it’s done (although it is good practice to regularly check on what’s happening, just in case.)

Our model here is this excellent chibi version of classic gaming hero Duke Nukem from 3DXM. Because we are going to paint him, we are just going to use some green filament we don’t mind using up.

Popping the model into Bambu Studio – the slicer software that comes with all Bambu Labs printers, sizing it to the size you want for your desk or shelf, adding supports, and slicing it ready to print should take only a minute or so.

From there you can send it over wi-fi to the A1, choose the color you want to print in if you have the AMS Lite, hit print, and sit back. This Duke Nukem took around five hours to print at 100% but had we pushed the printer into Sport or even Ludicrous mode it would have been much faster.

If you are new to 3D printing you should know that any part of the model that hangs suspended in mid-air will need supports while it prints. Your A1’s nozzle can’t just make things appear in mid-air. This means that this support material is a) a waste of filament and b) needs to be removed when the print is complete. It should be a case of just pulling it off, but it can be sharp and you can cut yourself so maybe pop on a pair of gardening gloves or even washing up gloves for a little protection. Having said that you haven’t lived until you have got your blood all over that nice model printed in white filament that you just spent nine hours printing.

As you can see from the picture the supports pulled away nicely, leaving a great-looking model., even if at this stage he looks a bit like the Hulk because of the color.

At this stage, you can choose to lightly sand him down to smooth out the lines between the layers and remove any anomalies from the printing process. For this feature, we didn’t bother but you can spend as long on this section as you like until you are happy.

With the print of the model complete and the A1 having performed admirably we set it going on our next model for our room, a free Jigglypuff Pokemon from Makerworld. While this is printing in just over two and a half hours we can hit our Duke Nukem with a couple of coats of white primer to ready it for painting. We used Army Painter Matt White but any light primer will do. We specifically use white because we are going to paint him with Army Painter Speedpaints 2.0 which works best on a white primer.

Because of the green filament used, we ended up needing three light coats of primer to cover out the green completely

After letting Duke dry we took him over to the workbench and used a base coating brush for the most part to apply speedpaints for a (very, apologies) down-and-dirty paint job so you can see what is possible in around half an hour. Obviously, you can spend much more time on your painting if you like.

By now you can see the Pokemon Jigglypuff was complete and the Bambu Lab A1 did a fantastic job and came up with a really smooth ball shape. There was a small amount of stringing for no obvious reason but you can remove that by hitting it with a lighter for a second or two to burn it away. Now, you can just paint it and have a print of something else going while you do.

By the end of a day of printing, you could have a shelf full of really great models from about half a roll of filament (which will cost about $22.

Is the Bambu Lab A1 the best 3D printer for beginners?

On this project, we just wanted great-looking models as part of our Games Room redesign. We didn’t just want to go out and buy the same Funko Pops everybody has so we needed a frustration-free method of getting our game characters out. Because the A1 rarely seems to have issues – at least in our experience – you can set a model going and head off out if you need to.

If you have more experience with a more hobbyist rather than beginner printer you might be able to do the same, but if you are new to the 3D printing maker space then the ability to just get out of the printer what you expected is a boon.

The A1 is not a large format printer and the size of models and busts you can print might be a hindrance. We will be looking at the impressive Elegoo Neptune 4 Max soon, which is a helmet-class printer that needs a little more attention to get great results, but if you want to print a lifesize version of the guy from Fortnite for the corner of your room, you will need to up the size of your printer.

Bambu Lab A1 settings for Bambu Studio

If you want higher quality prints you should change your layer height from 0.2 down to something like 0.12 or even 0.08. This will give you finer detail but will take significantly longer to print.

You could also invest in a 0.2mm nozzle to swap out the base 0.4mm that comes with the A1. They only cost about $15 from Bambu Labs, can be swapped in seconds unlike other printers, and it is always good to have in your printing arsenal.

Hopefully, you have been inspired to make some of your own game room decorations or even to pick up a 3D printer for the first time. We will be bringing you more features to help you level up your gaming space in the future.

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The Sci-Fi fantasy robots of the future have gotten a little closer to becoming a reality with record funding announced for 1X Technologies.

The Oslo-based company closed a Series B round with a notable investment of $100 million.

The Norwegian company, backed by Open-AI and Tiger Global, raised $23.5 million in April 2023. This initial Series A2 round of funding paved the path to the recently announced investment milestone.

With the Series A2 and Series B funding rounds closed, the overall backing of the AI and robotics company is an impressive $125 million in less than 12 months.

Sweden’s EQT Ventures led the round alongside global investors such as Samsung NEXT, Skagerak Capital, and Nistad Group.

Ted Persson, Partner, EQT Ventures, said, “From Leonardo da Vinci to today’s sci-fi, humans have dreamt of humanoid robots for over 500 years. It’s a privilege to witness the enabling technologies form in front of our eyes in real-time.”

NEO

The second-generation android known as NEO is the key focus of this new funding.

1X hopes to bring to life the robots seen only in far-flung fantasy settings to undertake household tasks and hopes to offer an “android safe to work among people.”

”We are thrilled that these leading investors are supporting 1X’s mission of safely deploying Androids with Smart Behavior into new markets. Our next milestone will be scaling our data collection strategy for Embodied AI and offering NEO to consumers,” says Bernt Øivind Børnich, CEO of 1X.

Robotics and workers’ rights

Robots operating in the workplace have been a concern of labor activists for some time, prompting the current White House administration to wade into the conversation surrounding AI and the rights of U.S. workers.

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, said, “President Biden has been clear — AI is the defining technology of our generation, and we have an obligation to harness the power of AI for good while protecting people from its risks.”

American companies are unveiling the practical applications of AI chatbots and their integration into existing household names. Volkswagen recently announced at CES 2024 that the new models released by the company will support generative-AI built as standard.

Persson goes on to say, “The impact of androids joining our human workforce, on our terms, will be transformative (to say the least). We’re convinced 1X, with their NEO androids, will play a crucial role in the pioneering steps towards the first forays of our technological and human future.”

Open-AI, one of the significant investors in 1X,  has seen a meteoric surge in interest for ChatGPT across 2023.

With third-party developers looking to adapt the open-source elements of the AI to create more practical uses.

The generative AI software has since released it’s own app marketplace this month, and independent company WeHead has created a human-like visage for the chatbot.

Image credit: 1x Technologies.

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The iGame Z690D5 Flow, the newest motherboard from Colorful, a Chinese tech company with over two decades of experience, presents a distinctive white and fluid design that distinguishes itself within the competitive mid-tier market. Retailing for just below $400, the motherboard exhibits solid performance across a variety of tests, but it does not include a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. Instead, users will find a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot, which may prove limiting for those with their eyes set on the latest storage options. However, the iGame Z690D5 Flow makes up for this shortcoming with its robust connectivity options and excellent thermal management, providing gamers and hardware enthusiasts with a stylish and reliable choice for their next build.

Design and features of the iGame Z690D5 Flow

Sporting an uncommon white PCB and a flowing design on the heatsinks, the iGame Z690D5 Flow is based on the Z790 platform, offering compatibility for 14th-generation processors, reliable power distribution, a multitude of storage options, speedy networking capabilities, and more. Nonetheless, it lacks a PCIe 5.0 SSD slot. Despite this minor shortcoming, the iGame Z690D5 Flow remains a top-tier choice for gamers and content creators alike, ensuring seamless performance and efficient multitasking. It also boasts impressive thermals, customizable RGB lighting, and robust overclocking support, further elevating its status as a premium motherboard option.

Colorful provides a broad range of Z790 motherboards at varying price levels and multiple B760-based choices. These motherboards cater to different budget preferences and performance requirements, allowing customers to choose based on their needs. Furthermore, Colorful’s continued commitment to expanding its lineup ensures that consumers can access the latest technological advancements in motherboard designs. Additionally, it includes numerous USB ports, such as a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, and a front Type-C port that supports PD3.0 30W charging capabilities. This ensures that users can connect multiple devices and enjoy fast data transfer speeds while benefitting from efficient charging. Furthermore, including both rear and front Type-C ports enhances versatility in usage and provides added convenience for various connectivity options.

Performance and multitasking capabilities

Testing indicated that the motherboard can handle various tasks, from productivity to gaming, with exceptionally strong performance in Procyon video and photo editing. The iGame Z690D5 Flow also comes bundled with several accessories, like RGB extenders, SATA cables, an instruction manual, and more, along with a USB thumb drive containing driver software. These additional components ensure a seamless and hassle-free setup, allowing users to assemble and optimize their gaming system quickly. The inclusion of the USB thumb drive with driver software provides a convenient way to install essential drivers, promoting the smooth and efficient functioning of the iGame Z690D5 Flow. This features a distinct wavy aesthetic, the Z690D5 Flow deviates from conventional motherboard designs and is bound to catch attention inside any gaming case.

Featured Image Credit: From Tom’s Hardware

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Cooler Master unveiled an ambitious plan to reinvent GPU cooling systems by developing a prototype dual-fan GPU cooler. This new design aims to provide enhanced temperature control and decreased noise levels compared to the conventional triple-fan setup used in many high-end graphics cards. By incorporating Mobius fans from Cooler Master, cutting-edge cooling technology is anticipated to offer exceptional airflow while reducing noise. Cooler Master’s dual-fan GPU cooler has been engineered to optimize the cooling process by distributing the heat load more efficiently and effectively without the need for additional fans.

The prototype boasts an all-white or silver housing enveloping the GPU’s front, with the Cooler Master logo prominently displayed. The sleek design adds aesthetic value and ensures optimum cooling performance for the GPU. Additionally, the customized casing showcases the collaboration between Cooler Master and the GPU manufacturer, highlighting their commitment to quality and cutting-edge technology.

The Cooler Master must design multiple cooler variations to accommodate specific graphics card models. Secondly, the company must consider factors such as size compatibility, heat dissipation efficiency, and noise reduction to create a high-performance cooling solution for these graphics cards. Furthermore, collaboration with GPU manufacturers could be beneficial to ensure seamless integration and optimal functionality across various models.

User concerns and warranty issues

Additionally, users may be reluctant to remove their graphics card‘s original fans for fear of damaging their cards and invalidating the warranty. This concern is not unfounded, as disassembling a graphics card can void its warranty and potentially harm the sensitive components. Therefore, it is crucial for users to carefully weigh the pros and cons and consider seeking professional assistance or diligently following proper guidelines when attempting to replace their GPU fans.

The aesthetic appeal is a factor, as some users might prefer their original card’s appearance without a white or gray covering. The covering may not align perfectly with the card design, potentially detracting from its visual appeal. Users need to weigh the importance of aesthetics against the potential increased security the overlay provides. The innovative design of the cooler could provide efficient thermal management, ensuring that the components function at an optimal level.

Proving performance improvements

The success of Cooler Master’s third-party GPU cooler hinges on whether the company can prove tangible performance improvements compared to existing alternatives. To achieve this, Cooler Master needs to showcase significant enhancements in temperature control and noise reduction, as these are the primary concerns for users looking to upgrade their GPU cooling solutions. The COMPANY can effectively demonstrate its product’s superiority and gain traction in the highly competitive industry by providing real-world test results and customer testimonials.

Featured Image Credit:panumas nikhomkai; Pexels

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A research team from the University of Chichester in England is to collate studies on stress levels in leading esports players.

Led by Dr Benjamin T Sharpe, academics will delve into the experiences that professional players face, focusing on how stress can lead to potential mental and physical health issues.

As featured in the study brief from the university, the esports industry has blossomed in recent years, with elite players capable of earning between $5-7 million throughout their careers. Last month, Readwrite featured the nearly $4 billion revenue posted by China’s esports industry in 2023.

The financial rewards are vast, but so is the toll on body and mind.

Computer games can be a compulsive activity. In addition, competitive esports brings with it a level of intensity in terms of vying with other players, the demands of large crowds watching on, and the impact of leaderboards and team expectations.

This field has only recently come under the spotlight of empirical study.

Expert insight

In leading the research for the Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, Dr Sharpe stated:

“Ongoing research endeavors employing a combination of methodologies persist in examining this subject, underscoring its pivotal role in safeguarding the enduring viability of esports and gaming, the players involved, and the sustainability of their professional careers.”

Lending further support to this investigation on psychology in esports, Dr Phil Birch, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, will provide editorial support for this journal issue.

He added, “More investigation regarding pressure in esports is certainly needed from perspectives beyond performance, behavioral, and cognitive psychology, including but not limited to clinical psychology, organizational psychology, educational psychology, and neuroscience.”

“As such, we hope the special issue attracts a wide range of research in the area to advance understanding.”

Submissions for the study are invited, with authors required to submit their work by May 13, 2024, via ScholarOne.

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Japanese gaming review site Famitsu published its annual report with Nintendo on top of hardware and packaged software sales in Japan.

The Nintendo Switch is the company’s flagship console. It is now the ripe old age of seven and still hitting the monetary heights.

Switch beats Playstation 5

For the fourth consecutive year, the Japanese hardware market exceeded the previous year’s. Selling an estimated 4.063 million units, the Switch took pride in its place at the top of the charts.

The Nintendo handheld was ahead of second-placed Sony, whose Playstation 5 would move 2.587 million units in the same period. This was double the 2022 figures recorded.

The surge in the Sony device has also been attributed to the easing of the Japanese console shortage.

Nintendo’s top 10 domination

The top 10 games of the year were all Nintendo and Switch titles:

1) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
2) Super Mario Bros. Wonder
3) Pikmin 4
4) Pokemon Scarlet Violet
5) Momotaro Dentetsu World – The earth revolves around hope!
6) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
7) Kirby of the Stars Wii Deluxe
8) Dragon Quest Monsters 3: Journey of the Demon Prince and the Elf
9) Splatoon 3
10) Super Mario RPG

The number one spot went to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in an announcement that surprised no one. As the wait for the iconic character Link ended, his battle to save Hyrule raged on in a new epic adventure.

An estimated 2.264 million units were sold, cementing another year of domination for the iconic brand in the gaming market.

Other Nintendo news

Portable storage partner for the Switch Sandisk announced a new 1TB model with a sleek black-and-good design earlier this month. The new microSDXC somehow succeeds the previous Sandisk models and boasts faster load and transfer times for titles.

Rumors abound of a possible Switch 2 announcement sometime in 2024. However, the news surrounding the release and the hypothetical specs aren’t all good news.

Image credit: Tobiah Ens, Unsplash.

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The innovative gene-editing technique, CRISPR, has made a remarkable leap from laboratory research to practical medicine by offering a groundbreaking treatment for sickle-cell disease. This debilitating illness, resulting from two defective hemoglobin gene copies, impacts 1 in 4,000 individuals in the US, primarily African-Americans, causing severe pain and limiting life expectancy to around 53 years. Utilizing CRISPR technology, scientists have successfully edited the genes responsible for sickle-cell disease, ultimately correcting the mutation and offering a potential cure for those suffering from this life-altering condition. This medical breakthrough provides hope for sickle-cell patients and establishes a solid foundation for gene-editing techniques to address and potentially cure other genetic disorders.

Bone marrow modification with gene editing

Researchers have found that by making a straightforward DNA modification to bone marrow cells, the body’s alternate hemoglobin production, which typically ceases after birth, can be reactivated. In 2022, Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals became the pioneer in submitting a CRISPR-based therapy for sickle-cell disease for regulatory approval. Clinical trial participants witnessed extraordinary outcomes, with the majority reporting an absence of pain after the bone marrow modification. This groundbreaking therapy offers a promising new treatment option for individuals suffering from sickle-cell disease, potentially improving their overall quality of life and reducing the need for frequent medical interventions. As this gene-editing technique continues to be refined and more patients undergo treatment, the positive results from these initial clinical trials may pave the way for additional CRISPR-based therapies targeting various genetic disorders in the future.

Cost and accessibility of the CRISPR treatment

However, the cutting-edge treatment carries a substantial cost of $2 to $3 million. Additionally, Vertex has not expressed intentions to provide the therapy in Africa, where sickle-cell disease is most widespread and continues to take the lives of children. Despite the steep price tag, there is hope that the treatment could become more accessible to those in need as research progresses and the production cost decreases. In the meantime, efforts to increase awareness and funding for affordable treatments in Africa and other heavily affected areas must not be overlooked, as the demand for effective therapies for sickle cell disease remains high.

The company points to the intricate treatment process, which requires a hospital stay and multiple medical procedures, as the reason for not offering it in nations with restricted healthcare resources. Instead, they emphasize the need for proper infrastructure, advanced equipment, and trained medical professionals to ensure the safe and effective administration of the treatment. In the meantime, they continue collaborating with healthcare authorities and organizations in these nations to explore strategies for overcoming these barriers and making the treatment more accessible.

Developing more cost-effective CRISPR treatments

As a result, scientists are currently concentrating on developing simpler and more cost-effective methods to employ CRISPR in addressing sickle-cell disease. One promising approach involves utilizing CRISPR to edit the genes responsible for sickle cell disease directly in a patient’s bone marrow cells, which could essentially correct the mutation and halt the progression of the disease. This development has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for millions of individuals affected by sickle cell disease while also reducing the burden on healthcare systems worldwide.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Pixabay; Pexels

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Twitch CEO Dan Clancy has stated the live-streaming platform is not profitable, just days after news broke on significant job cuts impacting around 500 employees.

The Amazon subsidiary is also pulling out of South Korea as financial pressures continue to mount against the embattled company. Last month, “prohibitively expensive” costs were cited as the reason for the departure from the Korean market, which is said to be ten times higher than operations in other countries.

Clancy has been frank about the situation facing Twitch, but as reported by GGRecon, he warned that things could get worse and offered a rationale on why the staff cuts were necessary.

“I’ll be blunt, we aren’t profitable at this point,” he said.

“So while [Twitch] still has enough resources, [we] won’t be able to do as much as [we] could have done before.”

Important mission ahead

Despite the size and scale of the resources enjoyed by its parent company, that is not enough to guarantee the future of Twitch. It is also not benefitting from its position as a market leader within live streaming, highlighting the challenges Clancy and his peers face to turn around its fortunes.

On losing 35% of the platform’s workforce, the CEO commented:

“In terms of making the decision, we need to ensure Twitch is the right size so we can be here for a long time.”

“We have a very important mission. It’s critical Twitch is not just here today, tomorrow, but 50 years, 100 years from now. Our job is to run Twitch in a manner to ensure its prosperity and that it can be here for the communities you’ve built.”

The stress fractures are showing, and Twitch is under pressure. That is clear, but the streaming giant should still be able to navigate these uncharted waters toward a calmer vista.

Rival platforms like Kick and Rumble will be watching on with interest, seeking to create more than a ripple in the sea.

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A Belgian watchdog organization has asked for the age of legal gambling to be raised.

The Flemish Center of expertise on alcohol and other drugs (VAD) has asked Belgium’s government to act on increasing the legal age of all gambling activities to 21.

The partner organization of the Flemish government takes an active approach to prevention and education on topics such as drug and alcohol abuse.

Current minimum age for Belgians

Currently Belgian gambling law allows online betting and lotteries to accept bets from people of 18 years or older, with physical betting accounts restricted to 21 years of age.

Across Europe the average age for gambling accounts is 18, compared to most United States regulators. Many U.S. states require any would-be gambler to have reached 21 before placing their first online or physical bet.

Duty of care introduced by Belgian big six

“Our focus is on creating an environment in which players can participate in games of chance responsibly and safely,” says Tom De Clercq, Chairman of the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators (BAGO).

In November 2023, several Belgian gambling operators signed the Duty of Care Agreement. BAGO comprises the Ardent Group, Betfirst, Golden Palace, Kindred, Napoléon Sports & Casinos, and Star Casino groups.

All made it clear they take political pressure to increase transparency and reform seriously. Damien Thiéry, Secretary General of BAGO, said, “Legal gaming operators want to offer a safe form of entertainment. You simply do not build sustainable economic activity based on addictions.”

The Duty of Care Act has introduced an algorithm-based detection system to identify patterns of  ‘risky behavior’ otherwise known by the act as ‘markers of harm.’

Alongside this, the Belgian Gaming Commission will be given access to the prevention policy to ensure that BAGO’s staff are trained and educated correctly. This will ensure that reality checks and intervention by gambling operators are valuable and helpful to those most at risk.

Belgium isn’t the only EU nation taking on gambling reform, as the Italian Government announced sweeping changes to current gambling legislation. Known as the Reorganisation Decree, the legislation was proposed by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance (MEF).

Image credit: Paul Deetman, Pexels.

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SpaceX has sent its first text messages between two mobile phones using the recently launched Starlink satellites.

As reported by the London Standard, the messages were sent on standard iPhones using the T-Mobile network in the US but the impressive feat was achieved on 8 January, just six days after a Falcon 9 rocket blasted the six satellites into orbit.

Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite-based network that brings internet connectivity to people around the world, particularly those in underserved locations.

Last month, Readwrite confirmed that Elon Musk’s space transport services company had been granted a limited period of 180 days by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct its smartphone tests.

SpaceX had indicated that around 840 satellites equipped with direct-to-cellular payloads would be involved, with around 60 satellites actively serving handsets in the US at any given time under the experiment.

The first test appears to have been passed with flying colors, and as the company announced the texts had been sent and received, an image was released showing a series of green bubbles carrying messages and emojis.

Texts between two phones sent through our Direct to Cell satellites in space pic.twitter.com/jd8b7uiZSq

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 11, 2024

Global connectivity

This latest milestone will please SpaceX in its mission to provide a global mobile network service powered by satellites in space, and as stated above, it wants to bring its service to people in remote areas without needing a dedicated device or app.

The Starlink launch on 2 January was SpaceX‘s first mission of the year, but many more are scheduled to follow. It wants to launch 144 orbital missions during 2024, which would surpass the record of 98 it set last year.

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The launch of Tekken 8 gets ever closer and fight fans cannot wait. We had the game earmarked in our ones to watch out for this year feature just after Christmas and now the character drops are becoming more and more regular, and excitement is mounting.

Bandai Namco released another trailer today, this time showcasing the character of Alisa, who will be one of the 32 characters playable at launch, and, quite possibly one of the more popular to play.

As you can see from the trailer the fight and cut-scene graphics are next-level excellent and Tekken 8 certainly looks like it will live up to it’s promise as one of the best fighting games in a long time.

The game’s new single-player mode allows you to create your own fighting avatar and embark upon what the game is calling your “Tekken life.”

With this avatar you journey across the game world as the story unfolds, starting off gently at first learning the ropes as the difficulty gradually ramps up. This mode will hopefully make the fighting game genre more accessible, as it currently tends to be a sit-down and bang all the buttons quickly if you are a newbie, and that can get boring rapidly.

The stages in Tekken 8 also feature a level of destructibility, no longer are they just seemingly backgrounds that play no part in the action. Some of this stuff is very smashable indeed!

When is Tekken 8 available?

Tekken 8 will launch on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox on 26th January. Pre-orders with bonus content are available now.

Tekken – Iron Fist in Japanese first appeared in the arcade and on the PlayStation in 1994. Besides the numbered releases we have also had Tekken Tag Tournament, Tekken Dark resurrection and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 in the series.

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Despite being dead for 15 years, comedian George Carlin defied expectations by dropping a new comedy special this week. Except it wasn’t George Carlin, it was Dudesy the comedy artificial intelligence (AI).

Kelly Carlin, George’s daughter, took to X to express her unease at this development. She also stated that Dudesy and its creators Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen had not received permission before creating the video.

ZERO PERMISSION GRANTED. https://t.co/BAm62WrWSU

— Kelly Carlin (@kelly_carlin) January 11, 2024

“My statement regarding the AI-generated George Carlin special: My dad spent a lifetime perfecting his craft from his very human life, brain, and imagination.  No machine will ever replace his genius. These AI-generated products are clever attempts at trying to recreate a mind that will never exist again. Let’s let the artist’s work speak for itself. Humans are so afraid of the void that we can’t let what has fallen into it stay there.” She said in a thread on the social media platform, continuing, “Here’s an idea, how about we give some actual living human comedians a listen to? But if you want to listen to the genuine George Carlin, he has 14 specials that you can find anywhere.”

In the video description on YouTube, ‘Dudesy’ said, “I tried to capture his iconic style to tackle the topics I think the comedy legend would be talking about today. The chaos of the current American political landscape and class system, the influence of reality TV, and the increasing role of technology in society as AI is poised to change humanity forever are just a few of the subjects I cover.” The AI tried to liken the special to Elvis impersonators or other comedy impressionists in the video.

Is there legal recourse for AI impersonation?

Some X users have noticed that critical comments on the YouTube video are being removed. “The people who made that grave-robbing AI George Carlin video are predictably deleting negative comments. I hope they get sued.” said one user.

On the subject of legal action, Kelly Carlin has expressed that she is researching her options and consulting with lawyers, but there is a lack of clarity on the legalities of this issue. Earlier this year, Dudesy and its creators were subject to legal threats from Tom Brady, the NFL player, who was the subject of a prior AI-generated fake by the team. The creators addressed this in their podcast.

Lawmakers are only just beginning to grapple with how AI and deepfakes might affect the next election and there is currently little recourse in situations like this. It is vital that legislators catch up with AI developments.

Featured Image: Dudesy

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Pixar, a subsidiary of Disney, is the latest in a long line of firms facing layoffs in 2024, reports TechCrunch. Initial reports suggested that the layoffs could be as much as 20% of Pixar’s workforce, but Pixar has since denied that it will be that many.

The scope of the layoffs and the number of staff who will be affected is being decided based on production schedules and future films that have already been greenlit.

According to insiders, Pixar was required to hire additional staff to bolster its workforce on streaming content for Disney+. As these shows complete production, the studio has more staff than necessary and cuts are inevitable. Disney’s streaming division is yet to turn a profit, despite multiple new Pixar releases being straight-to-streaming.

Disney CEO Bob Iger told investors during a recent earnings call that Disney+ is expected to become profitable by Q4 2024. Iger put this down to restructuring, which “enabled tremendous efficiencies.”

From cinema to streaming and back to cinema

‘Elemental’, Pixar’s most recent film, was considered to be a box-office flop, bringing in just $29.5 million during its opening weekend. However, it went on to be successful and profitable, making its mark as the most-watched film on Disney+ during the quarter it was released.

Analysts believe that the release of several huge Pixar movies (such as ‘Soul’ and ‘Turning Red’) on Disney+ instead of in cinemas has “trained audiences to expect big, hot Pixar content at home.” Speaking to TechCrunch, Brandon Katz of Parrot Analytics continued, “Retraining the audience to re-embrace the theatrical experience and prioritize that…takes time.”

As well as this consumer habit shift, Katz mentioned the other changes undergoing audience behavior, which include a move away from sequels. In the 2010s, pre-established IPs were popular with audiences, requiring lower effort marking and coming with pre-established buy-in from fans. Now though, franchise fatigue is plaguing audiences.

The race to streaming profitability will be a driving force for companies in 2024, with mergers and buyouts abound. However, a spate of layoffs has plagued the tech industry and does not look to be stopping. It is a tumultuous time as a whole and staff everywhere will be uneasy at the continued job cuts.

Earlier today (Jan.12), the communication platform Discord released plans to lay off 170 staff.

Featured image credit: Disney/Pixar

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Malaysia is making a big push into semiconductor manufacturing with aims of meeting skyrocketing demand from the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

The country’s International Trade and Industry Minister, Zafrul Aziz, unveiled a strategy yesterday focused on boosting Malaysia’s production of chips critical for powering EVs and autonomous vehicles. Aziz stated the global pivot towards EVs represents a “tremendous opportunity” for Malaysia to excel as a major chip supplier.

Aziz has set out a plan to prosper from its burgeoning supply of semiconductors thanks to the insatiable demand for the product at present.

As reported by CNBC, he underlined how semiconductors are relied upon in modern auto manufacturing, but especially for EVs which can require up to 15,000 chips whilst a standard car would need around 5000.

Aziz detailed how they already supply the components “in the billions” and further outlined the scope for significant growth, with an ambition to lure the likes of Tesla to Malaysia for major expansion.

Such companies “want to realign to ensure the security of (their) supply chain, the resiliency of the supply chain is there, so they are coming closer to Malaysia and we are inviting many EV makers to come,” he stated.

Tesla currently enjoys a solid relationship with Malaysia, acting as one of its key charging station providers whilst it also counts on the Southeast Asian country for its supply chain.

Mayalysia’s EV market

Minister Aziz had previously spoken on his belief that EVs would act as a catalyst for manufacturing exports in Malaysia and as an active player in the market, they need to exploit the opportunity.

To deliver that objective, the government has set up a national semiconductor task force.

As part of their vision, they intend to dedicate resources to the front end of the chips industry, which involves wafer fabrication and engraving circuits, and not just the back end with its concentration on the assembly of integrated circuits and packaging.

The semiconductor business is said to account for 7% of  Malaysia’s GDP and half of its exports, on the back of a solid manufacturing background.

“The good thing about Malaysia is this industry started in the early 70s so it’s been here 50 years, and the foundation is strong for us today to move up the value chain,” added Zafrul Aziz.

Image credit, Umar Mukhtar, pexels.com

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ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, has released a new artificial intelligence tool called MagicVideo-V2 that significantly pushes boundaries in text-to-video generation.

MagicVideo-V2 leverages state-of-the-art AI to produce high-quality video content from text inputs. In human evaluations comparing videos created by MagicVideo-V2 and other leading text-to-video generators like Pika 1.0 and Stable Diffusion-XT, ByteDance’s new tool noticeably outperformed competitors.

According to the project’s GitHub page, it combines a “text-to-image model, video motion generator, reference image embedding module and frame interpolation module into an end-to-end video generation pipeline.”

The MagicVideo-V2 model starts off by creating a 1024×1024 image that depicts the inputted text. That still image is then animated, enhanced, and refined. Finally, the interpolation module lengthens the animation to 94 frames. This creates a richly animated output.

ByteDance just announced MagicVideo-V2

Multi-Stage High-Aesthetic Video Generation

paper page: https://t.co/OczWLXhIrx

The growing demand for high-fidelity video generation from textual descriptions has catalyzed significant research in this field. In this work, we introduce… pic.twitter.com/kxik2HA7h5

— AK (@_akhaliq) January 10, 2024

That’s the science but in practical terms how might MagicVideo-V2 be used?

In theory, it could streamline video creation for social media influencers and marketers, help drastically increase video production for media organizations or create animated clips for education and entertainment.

There have been huge advances in video generation AI

The rate at which generative AI is improving is high and shows no signs of slowing down. Stability AI, the company behind Stable Diffusion, recently began experimenting with 3D model generation and also launched a subscription pricing model. Runway, an AI video startup in New York, released a huge update to its flagship AI-filmmaking tool in September last year.

With its domination of the short-form video entertainment market through TikTok and Douyin (a Chinese video-sharing platform), ByteDance is in a position to maximize the value of MagicVideo-V2.

Mid last year it also launched an AI-powered music generator named Ripple. The opportunity for users to create incredibly intricate videos and add generated audio using these tools puts TikTok in front of its competitors in video-focused social media and it will be a challenge for others to keep up if their innovations continue.

Featured image credit: MagicVideo-V2

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Having caused a storm earlier in the week by stealthily starting to add DRM to its back catalog of games, seemingly to prevent them from being played with mods included but instead causing massive performance hits, Japanese gaming giant Capcom has now removed the offending software update and put games such as Resident Evil Revelations back to normal.

This is in no small part down to gamers review-bombing the living daylights out of the game on Steam causing the 10-year-old game’s rating to plummet. Also, negative press coverage will have ensured Capcom had a difficult choice to make.

Posting on Steam Capcom said, ”Due to an issue observed with the latest update released, we have reverted the corresponding update.

“We apologize for the inconvenience caused, and once the issue is resolved, we will re-release the update. Thank you very much for your patience and cooperation”. With no mention of what the issue was or timeline as to when the update will be re-released, presumably without Enigma DRM, unless it can be fixed this is a tail between the legs moment for Capcom, who notoriously dislike the modding community and believe that the PC is a haven for rampant piracy.

Earlier today PCGamesN reported that a post on the Enigma forums from disgruntled Steam players had been met with a since removed response stating. “Curious, what action do you need from us? And why do you blame us that someone uses our software? Someone uses, we do not push to use it. What is our guilt you think? And why are you so sure that all that you reported belongs to our software? Maybe you are so angered because you can’t use the cheats anymore?”

It is unlikely the review bombing of older games will change Capcom’s stance on DRM and modding in general which it sees as cheating so we expect the DRM to return in a more optimized form.

This story may not yet be over.

Featured Image: Capcom

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A team of scientists have trained artificial intelligence (AI) to examine thousands of fingerprints and in response, the tool has found that our details may not be unique, as reported by BBC News.

From biometrics to unlocking our mobile devices to falling on the wrong side of the law, our prints have long been considered a true record of who a person is, but have we had it all wrong?

The US research project from Columbia Univerity specifically worked to see if the AI creation could discern what prints belonged to the same person from a set of 60,000.

Their findings claimed the technology could identify which prints came from the same person with an accuracy of 75-90% but the caveat is they are unsure how it works.

It could be that AI is taking a different approach when it comes to the analysis of the prints. Traditional methods tend to focus on minutiae – the way individual ridges end and fork – but this new approach could be paying closer attention to the ridges in the center of a finger.

Open to debate

Professor Hod Lipson, a Roboticist at Columbia commented on the intrigue: “It is clear that it isn’t using traditional markers that forensics have been using for decades. It seems like it is using something like the curvature and the angle of the swirls in the center.”

However, the development doesn’t come as a shock to an academic in England.

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Walmart has unveiled a range of innovative technology features that could transform shopping in future years.

The US multinational retail giant has embraced artificial intelligence (AI) to introduce what it believes will enhance the consumer experience. Specifically, they have utilized generative AI and augmented reality (AR) to present the new features with iOS users already able to access some of the new technology that was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2024).

That is the case for the “GenAI-powered search experience” which was demonstrated in the form of a football watch party. This search feature would allow consumers to find relevant products that are being featured or advertised around the game.

Another new service was “Walmart InHome Replenishment”. It is designed to bring together the power of AI and Walmart’s existing replenishment capability to ensure customers’ online shopping baskets are filled up with the items they need when they need them.

The last of the trio to be presented was an Augmented Reality function named “Shop with Friends” which is designed to allow users to share and collaborate with friends online, on outfits they have created for a social form of shopping.

At Walmart's booth, you can experience everything from making logistics more efficient to improving customer experience, using technologies such as #AR and #AI

HT @ntv_rd#CES2024@Nicochan33 @EvanKirstel @JimHarris @jblefevre60 @pascal_bornet @FrRonconi… pic.twitter.com/LOnXUyNaru

— Dev Khanna #CES2024 (@CurieuxExplorer) January 11, 2024

Walmart AI will ‘serve customers better than ever’

Doug McMillon, President and CEO of Walmart Inc. was brimming with confidence regarding the opportunities presented by new technology, to further the company’s mission to serve its people.

“We build technology to serve people and not the other way around,” he stated.

McMillon continued, “Walmart’s purpose is to help people live better, and today, more than ever, advances in technology make it feel like anything is possible. People, our customers, and associates, come first and we’ll put technology to work to serve them better than ever.”

Walmart also outlined it would be extending its drone delivery service to up to 1.8 million additional homes in the Dallas, Fort Worth metro area.

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Remember Gameshark? If you were around at the time of the OG PlayStation the name will ring a bell. At that time in videogame history, we were all tapping in Gameshark codes into games to cheat our way to the end of Tomb Raider and other such games of the day. And then, nothing. And then AI Shark, the – “ “decade in the making” relaunch of the hit products from the 90s and early 2000s that were called GameShark. [AI Shark has] updated the product and brought it into the age of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and supercomputers.” so says the website.

CEO Todd Hays was one of the guys who launched Gameshark back in the 90s and now heading up AI Shark, he is looking to repeat the success story for a whole new generation of gamers. But will they be as receptive to a good old cheat as they once were?

The AI Shark’s website says its controller (marketing blurb approaching, back off, back off), “It’s built with sensors that detect your grip, pressure, and button timing, making real-time adjustments to button sensitivity and response. This ensures that whether you’re executing a delicate stealth move or a rapid combo attack, the controller is always in perfect sync with your intentions.

“The controller’s AI adapts to your play style, learning from your habits and preferences. It can suggest button remaps and sensitivity adjustments, making it easier for players of all skill levels to perform complex moves effortlessly. For new players, it’s like having an intuitive guide, while for veterans, it’s a tool that constantly evolves and fine-tunes itself to match their expertise. This controller isn’t just an input device; it’s a gateway to a more intuitive and enjoyable gaming experience.”

Alongside the controller is a device simply called AI Shark, which processes real-time video and provides analysis and feedback on your performance while its AI algorithms offer strategic insights and tactical advice.

Is this sort of thing going to constitute cheating in multi-player games? Back in the day when games were predominantly single-player, using a Gameshark just meant you were cheating for your own gain, now, if these devices work and work well in multi-player, there could be a gaming uproar. We will have to wait and see, but as AI has permeated every other walk of life in the videogames niche, it was sooner rather than later before it was going to help you cheat at games.

Sometimes, I just want to play Robocod on the Amiga again.

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