One day after Meta rolled out its standalone AI app, Mark Zuckerberg has shared more about how the company plans to eventually monetize its generative AI assistant. During the companys first quarter earnings call, Zuckerberg said Meta AI could one day show ads and product recommendations. He also hinted at plans for a subscription component for those who want a more premium version of the assistant.
"I think that there will be a large opportunity to show product recommendations or ads, as well as a premium service for people who want to unlock more compute for additional functionality or intelligence, Zuckerberg said.
He added that for now the company is more focused on growing Meta AIs usage. (He announced yesterday that Meta Ai had reached almost 1 billion monthly users.) I expect that we're going to be largely focused on scaling and deepening engagement for at least the next year before we'll really be ready to start building out the business here, he said.
Zuckerbergs comments just one day after Meta introduced its standalone AI app underscores how important the assistant is to the company. The Facebook founder has repeatedly said he wants Meta AI to be the most used AI assistant in the world, and he said on Wednesdays call that a standalone app would be particularly important for attracting US users.
Metas strategy for monetizing the assistant in many ways mirrors its approach to Threads, which only just began expanding its early experiments with ads this month long after it reached hundreds of millions of users. Speaking of Threads, Zuckerberg also shared some new milestones for Threads, saying that text-based app now has 350 million monthly active users and that time spent on the platform has increased 35 percent over the last six months thanks to improvements to the companys recommendations systems.
Later in the call, Metas CFO Susan Li shared that the company has also been testing its Llama model to power Threads recommendations and that the addition of the large language model has led to a 4 percent increase in time spent. It remains early here, but a big focus this year will be on exploring how we can deploy this for other content types, including photos and videos, she said.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-is-a-mulling-ads-and-a-premium-version-of-its-ai-assistant-mark-zuckerberg-says-225202560.html?src=rss
Google has announced that it's helping to financially support the electrical training ALLIANCe (etA), an organization formed by the National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electricians. The goal is to train "100,000 electrical workers and 30,000 new apprentices in the United States" to meet the growing power demands of AI.
Using AI will unlock unspecified, but positive economic opportunities, Google's new white paper, "Powering a New Era of American Innovation," claims. In order to take advantage of them, though, the US power grid needs to become more capable and efficient. That's largely because the data centers used to run and train AI models require vast amounts of energy. The white paper claims that new data centers could demand an additional "15-90 GW" of energy by 2030, something that more efficient chips and model training can't account for. For a sense of the scale, the US Department of Energy says 1 Gigawatt is the equivalent to 103 offshore wind turbines.
Google's paper calls for investments in alternative energy sources like nuclear power, but also notes that expanding the electrical workforce is necessary. "McKinsey estimates that 130,000 additional electricians will be needed by 2030 to build out data centers and manufacturing facilities," the company writes. Currently, though, retiring electricians outnumber newly trained ones. "Nearly 10,000 American electricians either retire or change careers each year, while only about 7,000 new entrants join the field."
Investing in electrical training is Google's attempt to help change that. It would be nice if it was paired with a clearer explanation around what that AI will be doing with all that extra power Google notes that there's a "causal relationship between energy consumption and economic growth" but skilled job training isn't a bad thing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-is-funding-electrician-training-to-help-meet-the-power-demands-of-ai-221320678.html?src=rss
Mark Zuckerberg says he believes most of the Meta's code will be written by AI agents sometime within the next year-and-a-half. Zuckerberg made the prediction during an hour-long interview with podcaster Dwarkesh Patel.
"I would guess sometime in the next 12 to 18 months, we'll reach the point where most of the code that's going towards these efforts is written by AI," said Zuckerberg, referring to the company's efforts to build internal AI agents. "And I don't mean like autocomplete... I'm talking more like you give it a goal, it can run tests, it can improve things, it can find issues, it writes higher quality code than the average very good person on the team already."
Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg:"within 12-18 months, most of the code is written by AI"It wont just be autocomplete.AI agents will set goals, run tests, find problems, and write better code than top engineers. pic.twitter.com/2del08UA45 Haider. (@slow_developer) April 29, 2025
This is not the first time Zuckerberg has made this type of prediction. During his awkward appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience earlier this year, he said, "Probably in 2025, we at Meta, as well as the other companies that are basically working on this, are going to have an AI that can effectively be a sort of mid-level engineer that you have at your company that can write code."
Notice how the goal posts have moved. Less than five months ago, Zuckerberg said coding agents that could effectively replace most human programmers were within reach. Now, those same systems will not arrive by mid-2026 at the earliest.
The changing timelines underscore exactly why we should be critical of the AI industry and its many promises. AI agents may very well one day replace mid-level programmers, but right now predictions like the one made by Zuckerberg and many others are, at best, advertisements for technologies that don't yet exist and may never perform at the level their advocates say they will. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/mark-zuckerberg-predicts-ai-will-write-most-of-metas-code-within-12-to-18-months-213851646.html?src=rss
YouTube is testing a new feature that will blur the thumbnails of videos that appear in search results that "frequently include sexual themes," the platform announced in the Community section of the YouTube Help Center. The experimental feature is currently being tested on a small percentage of users, Youtube says.
The hope is that by blurring thumbnails, YouTube can provide search results that include videos that technically abide by its Community Guidelines, but protect users from seeing content that's possibly "sensitive in nature." YouTube's post doesn't get into specifics of what will trigger a blurred thumbnail, but does note that "the video title, channel name, and description will remain visible" even if a thumbnail is obscured. Users who have the feature will also be able to disable thumbnail blurring if they want.
YouTube offers a Restricted Mode for screening out mature content, but a more apt comparison for this experimental feature might be the SafeSearch settings in Google Search. SafeSearch lets you completely filter out "explicit images, text, and links," show all relevant results or blur explicit images, while allowing explicit text and links through. Considering YouTube's position 20 years in as both a backbone of the internet and a de facto television replacement, this seems like a common sense feature to have.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/youtube-will-blur-the-thumbnails-of-mature-videos-as-part-of-a-new-test-202546425.html?src=rss
There are some cool games coming to PlayStation Plus in May, including one modern classic. This months titles include the universally-beloved Balatro, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and Ark: Survival Ascended. All three games will be available to PS Plus members beginning on May 6.
Unless youve been living under a rock, youve likely heard of Balatro. Its sort of a sequel to poker and sort of a roguelike. Its also utterly hypnotic and addictive. Ive yet to find a human who didnt become entranced by its simple and captivating gameplay. We have given this game lots of love, and with good reason. To play Balatro is to love Balatro and, over time, to start dreaming about insane combos. This is an absolute must-play for subscribers. Itll be available for both PS4 and PS5.
Ark: Survival Ascended is a remake of 2015s Ark: Survival Evolved that has been "reimagined from the ground-up with Unreal Engine 5." Theres new graphics, a new physics system and tons of quality-of-life upgrades. This version includes access to all DLC, like Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Ark Genesis Part 1 and Ark Genesis Part 2. It also allows for public online multiplayer for up to 70 players and local split-screen for two players. This ones only for PS5.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a FPS set in the popular Warhammer universe. It boasts visuals inspired by classic shooters from the 1990s, with an eclectic arsenal of weapons to match. The levels are huge, the enemies are fun to mow down and the gameplay is speedy. Whats not to like? Itll be playable on PS4 and PS5.
Now for some bad news. As new stuff comes to PS Plus, old games get shuttled to that farm upstate. Subscribers only have until May 5 to download titles like RoboCop: Rogue City and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Hackers Memory to their game libraries.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-may-include-balatro-and-ark-survival-ascended-172617683.html?src=rss
After nearly disappearing as a category, compact cameras are making a comeback. Fujifilms X100 VI became a star on the photography side, thanks to its good looks and trendy film emulations. And DJIs Osmo Pocket 3 captivated content creators with its motorized subject tracking and a gimbal that smooths harsh camera moves.
Now, Canon has jumped back into compacts with the PowerShot V1, a vlogging-centric model that follows the six-year-old G7X Mark III. Its designed to outshine rivals with a large 1.4-inch 22-megapixel sensor, and boasts other impressive features like optical stabilization and 4K supersampled video. At the same time, this camera is surprisingly solid when it comes to photography.
The V1s 16-50mm lens is nice and wide but its slow compared to its main rival, Sonys ZV-1 II. And where Fujifilms X100 VI is svelte and pretty, the PowerShot V1 is plain and a bit chonky. Still, none of that detracts from the fact that this is a powerful compact camera capable of capturing incredible video and images, especially in low light, and should suit many creators.
Design and handling
Instead of going retro like Fujifilm, Canon chose a more functional approach to the PowerShot V1s design. Its relatively thick at 2.1 inches, a bit bigger than the X100 VI if you dont include the lens, but its slightly lighter at 15.03 oz with a battery. By comparison, Sonys ZV-1 II is just 10.3 ounces and 1.84 inches thick.
The PowerShot V1 bears some resemblance to Canon's G7X III that has become massively popular of late, but is thicker due to the built-in fan and power zoom lever. Unlike the G7X III, the V1 lacks a popup flash unfortunately, but does have a hotshoe for external flashes. Canon also moved the record button from the back to a more practical position on top.
The grip is small, but the rubberized surface makes it easy to hold, especially when vlogging. Controls are sufficient for a compact, but Id prefer at least one dial on the top to change settings. It would also be nice if the camera was a bit more pocketable like Sonys ZV-1 II. The buttons and dials are responsive, but they do feel a bit cheap next to Canons mirrorless models. In short, the PowerShot V1 offers solid handling but isnt a looker like Fujis offerings.
Steve Dent for Engadget
Another nice change is a new fully articulating screen, replacing the previous models pop-up display. That makes vlogging and photography easier, as you can see the screen when holding the camera high, low or toward you. My only complaint is that its a bit too dim when used in bright sunlight. And you cant just look through the electronic viewfinder to get a clearer view, because there isnt one on the PowerShot V1.
This camera has decent battery life for a compact at 400 shots or about 75 minutes of 4K 30p shooting on a charge. Other notable features include mic and headphone inputs along with a microHDMI and USB-C (charging and data transfer) ports, plus a single SD UHS-II card slot.
Vlogging and content creation
The V in PowerShot V1 stands for vlogging, so lets talk about that next. To best serve in that capacity, it uses a wide 16-50mm equivalent lens so you can always fit your face into the frame, even in cropped mode. However, that zoom range can also be limiting for capturing closeups or B-roll.
Video specs are top-notch for a compact, with sharp, supersampled 4K 30p video that uses the full sensor width or 4K 60p video with a 1.4x crop. On top of that, you can capture 10-bit video when using Canons C-Log 3 or HDR formats.Thats better than Sonys ZV-1 II, which only offers 4K 30p and S-Log video with no 10-bit option. However, DJIs Osmo Pocket 3 surpasses both models with uncropped 4K at up to 120 fps, while also offering 10-bit D-LogM or HDR video.
With its large sensor, the PowerShot V1 offers sharp video and accurate, natural color rendering with Canons usual excellence in skin tones. Shooting in C-Log3 10-bit boosts dynamic range considerably in sunny or contrasty scenes, while giving you more latitude to adjust video in post. And when you need to shoot indoors or at night, the camera outperforms compact rivals, displaying lower noise at high ISO settings.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The disadvantage of a larger sensor is that rolling shutter that can warp video is more pronounced than on Sonys 1-inch ZV-1 II at the 4K 30p setting. If thats a concern, the cropped 4K 60p setting reduces the problem since it samples a smaller portion of the sensor.
Overheating isnt an issue with this camera either, thanks to the built-in fan. I never saw any sign of a heat-related shutdown when using the PowerShot V1 with the temperature threshold setting at high.
Autofocus is a crucial feature for vlogging and the PowerShot V1 competes well against Sonys ZV-1 II, thanks to its upgraded processor. It stays locked even on fast-moving subjects and the eye- and face-detection, along with subject detection for animals and vehicles, all work well.
Where the ZV-1 II only offers electronic video stabilization, the PowerShot V1 marries 5-stop optical stabilization with electronic stabilization. That means you can shoot smooth handheld video without any impact on image quality, or enable e-stabilization for walking or other challenging scenarios. However, neither camera holds a candle in that regard to DJIs Osmo Pocket 3, which has a built-in 3-axis gimbal.
Audio is also a plus on the PowerShot V1, as it offers both mic and headphone jacks, while the ZV-1 II lacks a headphone port. Canons model also has a decent built-in stereo mic and comes with a hotshoe-attached wind muff.
Photography
Steve Dent for Engadget
Despite the vlogging emphasis, the PowerShot V1 is highly capable for photos as well. In fact, it excels in both image quality and speed thanks to the unique 22.4MP, 1.4-inch sensor and Canons latest Digic X image processor to power autofocus and AI functions.
You can fire off bursts at up to 30 fps in electronic mode, and a very rapid 15 fps with the mechanical shutter (and yes, it has a mechanical shutter which is rare for a compact). That makes it one of the fastest compacts available. By comparison, the X100 VI can hit 25 fps speeds while the ZV-1 II is limited to 15 fps speeds. The Osmo Pocket 3, meanwhile, can take photos but is really designed almost exclusively for video.
The PowerShot V1s high speeds are backed up by Canons Dual Pixel II focus system that delivers sharp photos the majority of the time, powered by the companys latest AI tech for face- and eye-detection. As with other recent models, the camera also offers AI subject detection for animals, vehicles, airplanes and more.
The PowerShot V1 trumps Sonys ZV-1 II with its built-in 5-stop optical stabilization to reduce blur. That enabled me to take shots down to an eighth, and sometimes even a quarter of a second, to blur backgrounds while keeping the foreground sharp.
The trouble with most compact cameras is that they can take nice photos in well-lit conditions but start to fall down in low light. Thats not the case with the PowerShot V1. The larger 1.4-inch sensor is very close in size to Micro Four Thirds, so it delivers clean images up to ISO 6400, with manageable noise even as high as ISO 12800.
The beauty of Canon cameras is that you get great-looking images straight out of the camera with no fuss, particularly with skin tones a great boon for beginners. JPEG images have a good balance of sharpening and noise reduction, while RAW photos boost dynamic range in tricky shooting conditions and give you more room to play around when editing in Lightroom.
Wrap-up
Steve Dent for Engadget
I can see what Canon was going for with the $900 PowerShot V1. It effectively beats out its main compact vlogging rival, Sonys ZV-1 II, by offering a larger sensor, optical stabilization and more video options for around the same price. And it appeals to hybrid shooters more than DJIs Osmo Pocket 3 as it can better handle photography chores while also capturing higher-quality video.
The problem is that its still primarily a vlogging camera and a lot of content creators have abandoned this type of compact model in favor of the Osmo Pocket 3. Thats because the Pocket 3 offers unique features like motorized camera tracking and a superior three-axis gimbal. It also pairs with DJIs popular Mic 2 and Mic mini wireless microphones, which is another big advantage. At the same time, the PowerShot V1 has a pretty basic design, so it may not appeal to buyers looking for something prettier like the X100 VI.
At the end of the day, the PowerShot V1 is bound to be a hit because it delivers when it comes to video and photo quality especially given the current popularity of the now-ancient G7X III. In fact, Id recommend it over Sonys ZV-1 II, particularly if youre looking for a hybrid camera that pulls double duty.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/canon-powershot-v1-review-a-powerful-compact-camera-capable-of-capturing-incredible-video-163009584.html?src=rss
Those who have been fortunate enough to lock in a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order will surely be counting down the days until the console arrives on June 5. Nintendo is laying the groundwork for its upcoming system with an update for the original Switch that adds support for a few key features.
One that you can start using right now is the Virtual Game Cards function. This lets you lend digital games to friends and family members who are on the same Nintendo Family Account. Nintendo says the aim here is to make it as easy to share digital games with your loved ones as letting them borrow a physical game card. A key catch here is that you need to connect to another Switch system locally to borrow a game. The Switch 2 will support this feature as well.
Next up, Nintendo has enabled cloud transfers for those who are moving to the Switch 2. Once you've updated your Switch software to version 20.0.0, in the System section of the settings, you should see a System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2 option. This will let you transfer all your data to a Switch 2 locally once you have the latest console in your possession.
There's also the ability to send all of your transfer data to the cloud now. That could come in useful for you're planning to sell your Nintendo Switch to help fund a purchase of a new system. You'd be able to do that immediately to help you prepare to buy your Switch 2. The main downside is that uploading transfer data to the cloud will reset the Switch to its factory settings, so maybe don't do that just yet if you're still planning to play it for the next month (or until you get your Switch 2).
Nintendo will store the data on its servers for one year. You can either complete the transfer to a Switch 2 in that time or cancel it and download the data back onto a Switch.
The latest Switch system update adds support for one other key feature. It's called GameShare, and it enables local wireless multiplayer across several Switch systems. Only one person needs to own a copy of a compatible game to do this. You can't do anything with GameShare yet, however. You'll only be able to share games from a Switch 2, but you'll be able to do so to Switch, Switch Lite and other Switch 2 units.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-update-adds-virtual-game-cards-and-switch-2-cloud-transfer-support-160057826.html?src=rss
A Snapchat redesign test appears to have stalled after power users seemingly disliked the "simplified" layout.
The new version of Snapchat intended "to help new and casual users" navigate the app, according to Snaps Q1 investor letter, released on April 29. As reported by TechCrunch, the overhauled app removed the Snap Map and Stories tabs. A proposed new three-tab navigation bar focused on chat, the camera and Spotlight (Snapchats answer to TikTok.) The report doesnt specify how long the testing phase went on for or how widespread it was.
For now at least, Snap is seemingly reconsidering. "Our most engaged Snapchatters consistently demonstrated a preference for a five-tab layout," the company wrote in that same investor letter. While it does not specifically say it's ending tests of the simplified version, Snap notes it has "begun testing a refined five-tab interface that combines the best of both approaches." Engadget reached out to Snap for comment on if this layout is no longer being deployed to users. Well update this article if we receive a response.
Snap has a pretty rough track record where redesigns are concerned. In 2017 the company tried to reorient its flagship app around separating friend-related posts from media content; in the year that followed, Snapchat lost three million daily users in the space of three months. At that time there were also well-documented issues with the Android version of the app.
The latest earnings report revealed that Snap lost one million users in North America in Q1, down to 99 million from 100 million in the previous quarter. Despite this, the global Snapchat community grew to 460 million in Q1, an increase of 7 million daily active users quarter-over-quarter.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/snap-is-seemingly-rethinking-that-simplified-app-154628101.html?src=rss
The Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are on sale for just $45 via Amazon. This represents a discount of 44 percent, as the typical price is $80. This particular deal only applies to the blue and white models, but other colors are on sale for $50. Also, the sale only works for Prime members, but theres a similar deal straight from the company.
These topped our list of the best budget wireless earbuds. The built-in ANC is actually very good, especially when compared to other budget-friendly earbuds. We also enjoyed the sound, which we found to be pleasant and warm. Theres multi-device connectivity and wireless charging support.
The fit is comfortable, which isnt always the case with earbuds, and the battery life is decent. We got around eight hours per charge in our testing, though the included charging case supplies 40 hours or so. The IPX4 water resistance rating is average, but does let the earbuds survive light rain and sweat.
The mic quality is fine, but doesnt handle sibilant sounds too well and can lose your voice in noisy areas. In other words, these arent the best earbuds for phone calls, though they work in a pinch. They also dont have an auto-pause feature.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-budget-earbuds-are-back-on-sale-for-45-152016314.html?src=rss
Spotify is getting into gameplay kind of through a partnership with EA Sports. The music streaming platform has teamed up with the sports video game maker to give users integrated streaming access while playing EA Sports FC 25.
This partnership should allow players on the PS5 and Xbox Series X or S to access Spotify music, podcasts and audiobooks. The only catch? It's currently a pilot program and only available to users in Australia and Saudi Arabia. Oh and it's exclusive to Spotify Premium subscribers.
Applicable players will see a new Spotify tab in the main menu section and can log into their accounts there. They can then access Spotify from the set-up or pause menus so they will have to interrupt gameplay to choose a song. The latter is also where gamers can skip or pick a new track. These tracks will show up as a small icon at the top of the screen.
Players can opt out of the game's default audio in favor of their Spotify playlist. However, Spotify cautions that "certain music" won't be available right now. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-lets-ea-sports-fc-players-stream-music-during-gameplay-140733183.html?src=rss
