 |
|
|
|||||
AI company Runway reportedly scraped thousands of YouTube videos and pirated versions of copyrighted movies without permission. 404 Media obtained alleged internal spreadsheets suggesting the AI video-generating startup trained its Gen-3 model using YouTube content from channels like Disney, Netflix, Pixar and popular media outlets. An alleged former Runway employee told the publication the company used the spreadsheet to flag lists of videos it wanted in its database. It would then download them without detection using open-source proxy software to cover its tracks. One sheet lists simple keywords like astronaut, fairy and rainbow, with footnotes indicating whether the company had found corresponding high-quality videos to train on. For example, the term superhero includes a note reading, Lots of movie clips. (Indeed.) Other notes show Runway flagged YouTube channels for Unreal Engine, filmmaker Josh Neuman and a Call of Duty fan page as good sources for high movement training videos. The channels in that spreadsheet were a company-wide effort to find good quality videos to build the model with, the former employee told 404 Media. This was then used as input to a massive web crawler which downloaded all the videos from all those channels, using proxies to avoid getting blocked by Google. Runway A list of nearly 4,000 YouTube channels, compiled in one of the spreadsheets, flagged recommended channels from CBS New York, AMC Theaters, Pixar, Disney Plus, Disney CD and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. (Because no AI model is complete without otters.) In addition, Runway reportedly compiled a separate list of videos from piracy sites. A spreadsheet titled Non-YouTube Source includes 14 links to sources like an unauthorized online archive of Studio Ghibli films, anime and movie piracy sites, a fan site displaying Xbox game videos and the animated streaming site kisscartoon.sh. In what could be viewed as a damning confirmation that the company used the training data, 404 Media found that prompting the video generator with the names of popular YouTubers listed in the spreadsheet spit out results bearing an uncanny resemblance. Crucially, entering the same names in Runways older Gen-2 model trained before the alleged data in the spreadsheets generated unrelated results like generic men in suits. Additionally, after the publication contacted Runway asking about the YouTubers likenesses appearing in results, the AI tool stopped generating them altogether. I hope that by sharing this information, people will have a better understanding of the scale of these companies and what theyre doing to make cool videos, the former employee told 404 Media. When contacted for comment, a YouTube representative pointed Engadget to an interview its CEO Neal Mohan gave to Bloomberg in April. In that interview, Mohan described training on its videos as a clear violation of its terms. Our previous comments on this still stand, YouTube spokesperson Jack Mason wrote to Engadget. Runway did not respond to a request for commeInt by the time of publication. At least some AI companies appear to be in a race to normalize their tools and establish market leadership before users and courts catch onto how their sausage was made. Training with permission through licensed deals is one thing, and thats another tactic companies like OpenAI have recently adopted. But its a much sketchier (if not illegal) proposition to treat the entire internet copyrighted material and all as up for grabs in a breakneck race for profit and dominance. 404 Medias excellent reporting is worth a read.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai-video-startup-runway-reportedly-trained-on-thousands-of-youtube-videos-without-permission-182314160.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Blizzard has provided an update that will be music to the ears of many Overwatch 2 fans. The publisher plans to experiment with a range of team compositions beyond the role-locked 5v5 format that the game currently has. That includes a potential revival of six-player teams from the original Overwatch. "The community has, juuuust once or twice, suggested a test," Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller wrote in a blog post. "Why not put various forms of 6v6 in the game in order to gauge the results? We agree, and based on your feedback, were exploring how we can test different forms of 6v6 in the game to gauge the results." Keller is quick to point out that it may take some time before the team runs a 6v6 trial. Overwatch 2 was designed from the ground up for five-player teams, with hero balancing and map designs (and redesigns) taking into account the reduced damage mitigation from having one fewer tank on each side. There are technical considerations here too, as features such as visual upgrades, more technically demanding hero kits and the ability to see outlines of allies through walls impact Overwatch 2's performance. As such, shifting from 10-player to 12-player lobbies could have a negative impact on performance, particularly on older or less-powerful systems. "Overwatch is a fast-paced game, and maintaining a game that runs smoothly across all our platforms is important for the players experience," Keller wrote. "While a limited-time test could arrive sooner, the team is still investigating exactly how long it would take to permanently increase performance across the game. This would be a large effort that would most likely take at least several seasons to accomplish." Blizzard Entertainment The possibility of lengthier queue times is also a concern if 6v6 tests are a success and the format sticks around in some way for the long haul. Keller's blog post is a lengthy read, but well worth taking the time to check out if you're interested in how we ended up at 5v5 with players locked to specific roles in the core modes. One of the reasons why Blizzard ditched a tank from each team with the launch of Overwatch 2 two years ago was that it was the least popular of the three roles, with damage in first place and support in between. Having one fewer tank has helped to reduce queue times across the board. Keller notes that his team does have some ideas about how to tackle potentially longer queue times if 6v6 returns for the long haul, but it wasn't a problem that was solved in the past and it's not a sure thing that the fresh strategies will work. "Is there a world where people are willing to live with long queue times to play this format? Maybe, but thats a pretty risky move to make," Keller wrote. "We also have tens of millions of new players that have only played 5v5. We want to be openly mindful not to frustrate those who like the game as it is today." There are other reasons why Blizzard changed to a 5v5 format including that it wasn't necessarily fun to play against a team that used two shield-based tanks. Chokepoints could feel oppressive with two tanks blocking the path. Dropping one of them and placing more of an emphasis on things like flanking, individual impact and a little thing called first-person shooting (with more opportunities to actually shoot at opponents instead of barriers) was designed to make gameplay more fluid and fun. Team fights with multiple tanks on each side also were often a war of attrition until ultimate abilities became available, especially during the infamous GOATS meta. Tanks for the memories Overwatch 2 will officially be 5v5! pic.twitter.com/npD6MLu9ZG Overwatch Esports (@OW_Esports) May 20, 2021 Still, many fans spent years playing the game in groups of six, and having to lose one of those from the gang with the shift to 5v5 sucked for a lot of people. Plus, the synergy of two tanks could make for really fun moments the Earthshatter/D.Va Bomb combo was always a personal favorite. Given that Blizzard has always prided itself on taking player feedback into account and fostering the concept of building Overwatch 2 together with the fans, it's great to see that the team is willing to at least test how 6v6 could work in the modern landscape. However, 6v6 isn't the only alternate approach to the current team composition that Blizzard plans to try. "Besides running experiments with 6v6, wed like to run some that re-examine the ways we tried solving previous problems, specifically with the goal of bringing some of the freedom back to an Overwatch match without the severity of issues that accompanied it," Keller wrote. "For instance, we think there could be other ways of putting a team together that arent quite as rigid as a set composition, but not as loose as Open Queue." Blizzard will try at least one version of this idea in an experimental Quick Play mode during Season 13, which will take place this fall. Any permanent changes to the current format, whether or not that means a shift back to 6v6, won't happen overnight. Blizzard would run any 6v6 tests for a few weeks at a time to gauge feedback from players, and then see how that format impacts the game beyond core gameplay, such as in arcade modes. "Wed take the lessons from this playtest to see what we can learn about the mode within the current game ecosystem and for the future of Overwatch," Keller wrote. "We would reflect carefully on the learnings from whatever test we run and explore how to best give players what's being asked for. Whether thats a world of 5v5, 6v6 or even both, is for future us to figure out."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/overwatch-2-may-test-a-return-to-six-player-teams-180021753.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
The long-anticipated Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has been delayed yet again, this time until November 20. It was supposed to come out on September 5. This is just the latest delay in a development cycle that stretches all the way back to 2010. Thats 14 years. The longest delay in gaming history is Duke Nukem Forever, at 15 years. Whats taking so long? At first, it was funding issues. Developer GSC Game World nearly shut down, but managed to weather the storm. Next, the makers spent a whole lot of time perfecting various mechanics and features, including a new way to render human teeth. Real world events intervened to continue the delay. Russia invaded Ukraine and GSC was based in Kyiv. The game was put on hold as the staff relocated to Prague, eventually picking back up on development in 2022. After that, the game was supposed to (finally) release in December of last year. However, there were some kinks to work out, so the launch was pushed to September 5, 2024. It looks like the bugs are still popping up, because now its set for November. We know you might be tired of waiting, and we truly appreciate your patience. These two additional months will give us the chance to fix more unexpected anomalies (or simply bugs as you call them), wrote Yevhen Grygorovych, Game Director at GSC Game World, in a press release. Were just as eager as you are to finally release the game and for you to experience it for yourself. Who knows if itll actually come out this November, but its looking more and more likely. GSC also announced the pending release of a deep-dive video that will offer the most comprehensive look yet into the game," with a premiere date of August 12. This video will include developer interviews, new in-game footage and a full walkthrough of a story quest. For the uninitiated, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a sequel to the hit 2007 FPS. The forthcoming follow-up brings some survival horror mechanics into the mix, which should be fun. There are plenty of trailers to check out which, you know, tends to happen when a game has been in development for 14 years.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/stalker-2-has-been-delayed-again-until-november-20-173259981.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Theres no way around it: Samsung copied Apple in multiple ways on its Galaxy Buds 3 ($180) and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ($250). Not only do the physical designs echo the third-gen AirPods and AirPods Pro, respectively, but Samsung also mirrored a few features, too. The Galaxy Buds offer Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Adaptive EQ and Voice Detect, which just happen to do the same thing as Apple's Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. And just like Apple does with AirPods and iOS, the best features here are reserved for recent Samsung devices. If you have a newer Galaxy phone, that's the saving grace of these earbuds: They're the de facto AirPods you've probably always wanted. Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro design The Galaxy Buds 3 are the most obvious AirPods copycat of the pair, sharing a striking resemblance to the third-generation regular model that Apple debuted in 2021. The shape and location of the speaker and other components are but two examples of the replication on display here. Samsungs blade design for the stem does offer some variation, but not a ton, and theres a gray option for more contrast. On the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, theres a lot of resemblance to the AirPods Pro. Once more, the angular nature of the stem and the gray color are the two biggest differentiators. Samsungs blade stem accepts both swipes to adjust volume and pinches for playback and noise controls. While the sliding action works well, the pinching takes some getting used to. My tendency is to place my index finger on the flat panel opposite the back side where you pinch, but that doesnt provide enough pressure to activate the controls. Instead, you have to wrap your finger around the blade to hold it in place. Once you figure out how to grip them securely, pressing on them is a much easier task. The case for both Galaxy Buds 3 models has a similar shape to that of the AirPods, but Samsungs choice to go with a clear lid creates some separation, and I liked being able to see if the buds were inside without having to open it. Samsung also put the USB-C port and the Bluetooth pairing button on the bottom where Apple puts the latter component on the back of the case. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro vs. Apple's AirPods Pro. Billy Steele for Engadget One weird thing about the case is how the earbuds sit in it. When you take the Galaxy Buds 3 out of your ears, you have to rotate them 180 degrees to put them in the case. This doesnt sound like a huge inconvenience until you have to do it a few times a day. Samsung did this to make the Blade Lights visible when the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are in the case, which, to me, doesnt justify the annoyance. Speaking of the Blade Lights, lets discuss that design choice. Theyre completely unnecessary. As the user, you only see them when the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are in the case. In that position, they function as a second indicator that the earbuds are in pairing mode, which isnt needed because the case already has its own LED for purpose on the front. You can set them to stay on when youre wearing them, or either fade in/out or blink, but Im not personally into drawing more attention to my earbuds. Both sets in the Galaxy Buds 3 series are IP57 rated so theyll withstand sweaty workouts with no problems. However, the Pro version is the better option for activities as the ear tip helps keep them in place when moisture comes into play. What's more, I didnt encounter any discomfort with either Galaxy Buds 3 model when wearing them for hours at a time. They both remained comfortable and I never felt like I was enduring some degree of pain to keep them in. Samsung is also dealing with some quality control issues on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Its nothing to do with functionality, but the company paused shipments due to overly fragile ear tips. This component has a tendency to tear when you remove them from the earbuds, which is a problem if you need to go back to a pair of tips you were using previously. Since the Galaxy Buds 3 dont use these, theyre not affected. Ive asked Samsung for an update on the ear tip saga and will update this review when theres more info. Notable features Billy Steele for Engadget Besides design, Samsung also took a page from Apple when it comes to features on the Galaxy Buds 3 series. First, both models have Adaptive EQ ad Adaptive ANC two key tools on AirPods. These features constantly monitor sound and adjust both the tuning and the noise cancellation based on what you encounter. They mostly run in the background and the only time you might notice a change is when music or a podcast suddenly seems slightly louder because of the earbuds doing their thing. Samsung went a step further on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with some more advanced features. Adaptive Noise Control automatically adjusts a mix of ANC and ambient sound based on your surroundings while Voice Detect will lower the volume and activate transparency mode when you start speaking. As noted above, these are basically Samsungs take on Apples Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness features, respectively. Theres also a Siren Detect that does the same auto volume reduction and ambient sound thing when it hears an emergency vehicle. All of these work as described, but I would like the volume reduction and activating ambient sound to happen simultaneously. Instead, the volume lowers and then a couple seconds later transparency mode kicks in. So, once you start talking, you might feel the need to speak louder until you can hear yourself better when the full capability of Voice Detect kicks in. Additionally, Im happy to report that Voice Detect isnt easily triggered by coughing like comparable features on other earbuds tend to be. The Galaxy Buds 3 series voice features also accommodate simple commands without pressing any buttons or muttering a trigger word. You can just say things like "play music," "volume up" or "answer call" for basic tasks. These work well once you memorize the accepted phrases, like the fact that "stop music" works but not "pause music." The Galaxy Buds 3 series also has a Real-Time Interpreter akin to what Google offers on its Pixel Buds. In Samsung's case, the feature can read and translate other languages. When the tool is active, you can pinch and hold the stem and the setup with continue to interpret while someone is talking. The downside is this whole thing currently requires a Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Flip 6 as those are the only phones running One UI 6.1.1. Due to this, I wasn't able to test it as my companion device is an S24 Ultra. Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sound quality Billy Steele for Engadget The Galaxy Buds 3 offer solid audio performance, mainly due to a pleasant amount of low-end tone. The bass tuning here provides a nice backbone to songs and keeps pace with the punchy highs and full mids. That said, how the Galaxy Buds 3 sit in my ears affects overall sound quality. I could make them sound a little better with a small positioning adjustment, but thats not how theyd rest on their own. If sound quality is your primary concern though, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the better option. Samsungs choice to use two-way speakers and dual amplifiers creates deep sound thats immersive and detailed. Youll get the best performance from a recent Samsung phone where you can employ Ultra High Quality (UHQ) audio and 24-bit HiFi. The higher-resolution streaming is also available on the Galaxy Buds 3, but its better suited to the Pro model. Both models also offer 360 Audio with direct multi-channel support. However, I dont think that particular mode sounds good on either set of earbuds. The audio is thin and favors treble, making it less balanced, zapping the oomph out of the excellent bass tone. When you deploy the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at their maximum potential with lossless audio, you get robust, enveloping sound that rivals some of the best earbuds Ive tested. I still prefer the tuning of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 to these, but Samsung has really flexed its muscle here. Theres beefy bass when a track like Balance and Composures Cross To Bear demands it, but the echo-y guitars and vocals cut through cleanly. Plus, theres ample fine detail in the texture of the bass line and the crisp drum sounds. Active noise cancellation performance The Galaxy Buds 3 have ANC even though they are open-type earbuds that dont completely seal off your ears. Samsung has done this before on previous models and I still dont understand why. The ANC on this model is more like slight noise reduction as it barely makes a difference with any background ruckus you might encounter. Im guessing Samsung read the reports about Apple bringing ANC to an upcoming version of its regular AirPods and felt like it needed to beat Apple to the punch. Either way, if you want true, helpful noise-canceling earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the better option here. You wont find ANC performance that rivals Bose and Sony on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, but the noise-blocking ability is good enough to combat a low-to-moderate constant roar. The earbuds struggle mightily with human voices, which is a stumbling block for a lot of the competition. I will point out that transparency mode works really well, providing a natural option for ambient sound that almost rises to the level of the AirPods Pro. I think Apple still has the upper hand there, but Samsung has done well to give us something that makes calls easier and doesnt make environmental noise sound overly muted when you actually want to hear it. Call quality Billy Steele for Engadget The quality of transparency mode on the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro makes them a great option for hands-free calls. You can chat without feeling like you need to shout to hear yourself. The open nature of the Galaxy Buds 3 also makes them a solid choice for voice and video for you, the user. For the person on the other end, youll sound slightly better than if you were on speakerphone on both sets, which is about average for earbuds these days. It isnt pristine, but it gets the job done in most circumstances. Battery life on the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Both the Galaxy Buds 3 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro had no trouble hitting Samsungs stated battery figures during my tests. Thats five hours for the former and six hours for the latter, and I tested them with ANC on and the volume between 50 and 75 percent. Each model gets around 20 additional hours of noise-canceling use from the case. The cases for both models support wireless charging, but Samsung doesnt mention any expected times for full charging from zero or any quick-charge features that might be available. Ive asked the company for more details here and Ill update this review f theres more to share. The competition Despite all of the comparisons to AirPods that Samsung has heaped upon itself, Apples earbuds arent the main competition for the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Thats because Apple headphones arent good choices for Android users because the company reserves the best features for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Samsung used to cater to iOS users, but it took the same walled garden approach of its rival. Galaxy Buds will work with your iPhone, but without all the bells and whistles. Instead, Sonys WF-1000XM5 is the best alternative to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Android and iOS users both get access to the most attractive features, which include Speak-to-Chat voice recognition, DSEE Extreme audio upscaling and automatic settings adjustments based on either activity or location. iPhone users only miss out on head tracking. The 1000XM5 is more comfortable than its predecessor thanks to a smaller overall design and battery life is longer than both Samsung and Apple at eight hours with ANC on. Wrap-up Ill be honest, when Samsung revealed two sets of earbuds that bear resemblance to two models of AirPods, I wasnt expecting much in terms of performance. However, the company certainly surprised me. Audio quality is great on both sets of Galaxy Buds 3, though the Pro model nears spectacular in its sonic capabilities. Samsung could use some more polish on its features like Voice Detect, but the company clearly sees the value in giving its Galaxy phone customers an analogous experience to what iPhone users get with AirPods. Ultimately, though, the companys previous earbuds were good on their own merits. Samsung would be better served by making the next version of Galaxy Buds stand out because of their own unique features, rather than just aping the AirPods across the board. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-buds-3-and-galaxy-buds-3-pro-review-airpods-clones-that-actually-deliver-171024116.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Google is making its Gemini AI faster and more efficient across the board. You now have access to 1.5 Flash, its generative AI model designed to be able to generate responses more quickly and efficiently, even if you're not paying for Gemini Advanced. The company says you'll notice improvements in latency, as well as the tool's reasoning and image understanding, on both the web and mobile. In addition, it's expanding the AI assistant's context window, so that you can have longer conversations with it and ask it more complex questions. In the near future, Google will also give you the ability to upload files to Gemini from Google Drive or from your device. If you give it access to your notes, for instance, it will be able to create a study guide or a practice exam for you. Plus, the assistant will be able to analyze data and make it easier to digest with graphics and charts. As part of its work to reduce hallucinations, Google is now displaying links to related content if you ask it questions that require factual answers. It will display a "gray chip" at the end of a paragraph in its response that links to websites where you can read more about the topic. Those chips could even lead to your emails, if you've linked Gemini to your Gmail account. The feature is currently limited to select locations for English prompts only. The company is making Gemini more accessible overall, as well. It has started gradually rolling out Gemini in Google Messages for Android devices in the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), the UK and Switzerland. You'll now also be able to chat with Gemini in French, Polish and Spanish within the Messages app. Finally, Google is expanding access to Gemini's mobile app to more regions and is giving more teenagers the ability to use the AI tool. As long as you meet its minimum age requirement of 13, you'll be able to chat with the assistant. Google has even introduced a teen-specific onboarding process and an AI literacy guide, so you can get an idea on how to use the tool to accomplish your tasks. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-gives-free-gemini-users-access-to-its-faster-lighter-15-flash-ai-model-160006705.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Sites : [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] next »