EMIT Marble Lamp Rises for Work, Glows Green When You’re Done

The typical desk lamp is a metal stalk on a base that does nothing but hold it up, plus a switch somewhere along the cord. Most lamps are either on or off, with the base becoming dead weight that competes with notebooks, pens, and devices for space. EMIT is a concept that treats the base and the shade as active parts of how you work and how your desk feels when you are not working, giving the lamp two distinct postures instead of just one static stance.

EMIT is a desk lamp concept that pairs a carved block of white Carrara marble with a translucent green shade connected by a telescopic metal stem. The name hints at emission and time, and the design leans into that by giving the lamp two distinct postures, one where it behaves like a focused task light and another where it becomes a quiet, glowing object in the corner of your eye when the work is done.

Designer: Alexios Kamaris

The marble base is more than a plinth. Its geometry is reduced to a simple volume with minimal machining, but a recessed pen holder is carved into the top, turning it into a small organizer. A touch sensor is integrated into the body, so you tap the stone to control the light. The base becomes a calm, heavy anchor that still earns its footprint on a crowded desk by holding pens and offering a gestural interface.

In working mode, the telescopic metal stem rises from the marble and holds the green shade above the surface. The shade references traditional desk lamps in silhouette, but is stripped down to a minimal, monolithic hood. In this posture, light is directed down onto the work area, while some of it diffuses through the translucent material, giving a soft edge to the beam instead of a harsh spotlight that flattens everything under it.

When you are done working, the stem collapses and the shade lowers until it almost meets the marble, forming a compact volume of white and green. In this closed state, EMIT switches to a dedicated mode where the translucent glass emits a soft, diffused glow. The lamp stops acting like a tool and starts behaving like a quiet presence, more sculpture than task light, adding a gentle wash of green to the room without demanding attention.

The deliberate opposition between the cold, veined marble and the soft, glowing green shade frames a small narrative about control and looseness, work and rest. The base reads as natural and solid, the shade as artificial and controlled. Together they explore what it means for a lamp to have a day self and a night self, with the telescopic stem literally mediating between the two modes.

EMIT sits on a contemporary desk next to a laptop and a notebook. During the day, it is a precise, marble-anchored task light with a place for your pen and a tap-to-wake interface. At night, it collapses into a compact green glow that keeps the room from going completely dark without feeling like you left a work light on. It is a small reminder that even a lamp can shift its personality, and that good lighting design can choreograph both focus and calm without needing to look like two different objects.

The post EMIT Marble Lamp Rises for Work, Glows Green When You’re Done first appeared on Yanko Design.

EMIT Marble Lamp Rises for Work, Glows Green When You’re Done

The typical desk lamp is a metal stalk on a base that does nothing but hold it up, plus a switch somewhere along the cord. Most lamps are either on or off, with the base becoming dead weight that competes with notebooks, pens, and devices for space. EMIT is a concept that treats the base and the shade as active parts of how you work and how your desk feels when you are not working, giving the lamp two distinct postures instead of just one static stance.

EMIT is a desk lamp concept that pairs a carved block of white Carrara marble with a translucent green shade connected by a telescopic metal stem. The name hints at emission and time, and the design leans into that by giving the lamp two distinct postures, one where it behaves like a focused task light and another where it becomes a quiet, glowing object in the corner of your eye when the work is done.

Designer: Alexios Kamaris

The marble base is more than a plinth. Its geometry is reduced to a simple volume with minimal machining, but a recessed pen holder is carved into the top, turning it into a small organizer. A touch sensor is integrated into the body, so you tap the stone to control the light. The base becomes a calm, heavy anchor that still earns its footprint on a crowded desk by holding pens and offering a gestural interface.

In working mode, the telescopic metal stem rises from the marble and holds the green shade above the surface. The shade references traditional desk lamps in silhouette, but is stripped down to a minimal, monolithic hood. In this posture, light is directed down onto the work area, while some of it diffuses through the translucent material, giving a soft edge to the beam instead of a harsh spotlight that flattens everything under it.

When you are done working, the stem collapses and the shade lowers until it almost meets the marble, forming a compact volume of white and green. In this closed state, EMIT switches to a dedicated mode where the translucent glass emits a soft, diffused glow. The lamp stops acting like a tool and starts behaving like a quiet presence, more sculpture than task light, adding a gentle wash of green to the room without demanding attention.

The deliberate opposition between the cold, veined marble and the soft, glowing green shade frames a small narrative about control and looseness, work and rest. The base reads as natural and solid, the shade as artificial and controlled. Together they explore what it means for a lamp to have a day self and a night self, with the telescopic stem literally mediating between the two modes.

EMIT sits on a contemporary desk next to a laptop and a notebook. During the day, it is a precise, marble-anchored task light with a place for your pen and a tap-to-wake interface. At night, it collapses into a compact green glow that keeps the room from going completely dark without feeling like you left a work light on. It is a small reminder that even a lamp can shift its personality, and that good lighting design can choreograph both focus and calm without needing to look like two different objects.

The post EMIT Marble Lamp Rises for Work, Glows Green When You’re Done first appeared on Yanko Design.

Elon Musk’s Grok AI posted CSAM image following safeguard ‘lapses’

Elon Musk's Grok AI has been allowing users to transform photographs of woman and children into sexualized and compromising images, Bloomberg reported. The issue has created an uproar among users on X and prompted an "apology" from the bot itself. "I deeply regret an incident on Dec. 28, 2025, where I generated and shared an AI image of two young girls (estimated ages 12-16) in sexualized attire based on a user's prompt," Grok said in a post. An X representative has yet to comment on the matter.

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, CSAM includes "AI-generated content that makes it look like a child is being abused," as well as "any content that sexualizes or exploits a child for the viewer’s benefit."

Several days ago, users noticed others on the site asking Grok to digitally manipulate photos of women and children into sexualized and abusive content, according to CNBC. The images were then distributed on X and other sites without consent, in possible violation of law. "We've identified lapses in safeguards and are urgently fixing them," a response from Grok reads. It added that CSAM is "illegal and prohibited." Grok is supposed to have features to prevent such abuse, but AI guardrails can often be manipulated by users.

It appears X has yet to reinforced whatever guardrails Grok has to prevent this sort of image generation. However, the company has hidden Grok's media feature which makes it harder to either find images or document potential abuse. Grok itself acknowledged that "a company could face criminal or civil penalties if it knowingly facilitates or fails to prevent AI-generated CSAM after being alerted." 

The Internet Watch Foundation recently revealed that AI-generated CSAM has increased by an increase orders of magnitude in 2025 compared to the year before. This is in part because the language models behind AI generation are accidentally trained on real photos of children scraped from school websites and social media or even prior CSAM content.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/elon-musks-grok-ai-posted-csam-image-following-safeguard-lapses-140521454.html?src=rss

Goodbye Mac Studio? The 32-inch iMac Pro M5 Max Just Leaked

Goodbye Mac Studio? The 32-inch iMac Pro M5 Max Just Leaked

Apple is reportedly working on a 32-inch iMac Pro, with a potential release date set for mid-2026. This all-in-one desktop is expected to feature state-of-the-art hardware, including the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a Mini-LED display with ProMotion technology, and a design tailored specifically for professional users. While Apple has not officially confirmed the […]

The post Goodbye Mac Studio? The 32-inch iMac Pro M5 Max Just Leaked appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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The AGI Debate That’s Currently Dividing Google & Meta

The AGI Debate That’s Currently Dividing Google & Meta

What if the future of artificial intelligence hinges on a single, unresolved question: is intelligence inherently specialized or truly general? In a fascinating video, the AI Grid breaks down the ongoing debate between two of AI’s most prominent thinkers, Yann LeCun from Meta and Demis Hassabis of DeepMind. Their disagreement isn’t just philosophical, it’s a […]

The post The AGI Debate That’s Currently Dividing Google & Meta appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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Fender Audio will introduce a new line of Bluetooth speakers and headphones at CES

Fender Audio, the consumer electronics arm of the instrument maker, will introduce two flagship audio products at this year's CES in Las Vegas. These products were made under a licensing agreement with Singapore-based company RiffSound.

First up is a line of Bluetooth speakers dubbed the ELIE (Extremely Loud Infinitely Expressive). The lineup includes two models, the E6 and E12. The speakers leverage a combination of DSP and system-on-a-chip processing, which Fender says can deliver more volume while maintaining greater power efficiency.

Each speaker can handle up to four audio channels at once, including a Bluetooth source, a wired XLR or 1/4-inch input and two additional wireless channels with compatible Fender Audio accessories. Users can also sync up two ELIE speakers in a stereo set-up. The announcement was light on specific differences between the E6 and E12, but in images shared with Engadget, the E12 appears larger. We'll be seeing these in person at CES for a more thorough evaluation.

Fender will also introduce the MIX headphones, a set of modular cans that the company says are designed to adapt to a user's sound and style preferences. The headphones include a USB-C transmitter that offers lossless, low-latency and Auracast transmission modes.

The headphones are powered by 40mm graphene drivers and feature active noise cancellation. They work in wired or wireless mode, with up to 100 hours of battery life, according to Fender. The company hasn't shared much about the modular aspect of these headphones, but we'll get a closer look at CES. Details on pricing and availability have not been shared.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/fender-audio-will-introduce-a-new-line-of-bluetooth-speakers-and-headphones-at-ces-130041696.html?src=rss

How to watch the Lenovo Tech World event at CES 2026

We've known for several months now that tech giant Lenovo is hosting its Tech World event at Sphere is Las Vegas during CES week. And like many other tech conglomerates, the world's largest PC manufacturer by units shipped is centering its focus on AI. Lenovo says it will be a "Tech World experience unlike anything CES has seen before." We'll tell you where to livestream the event and what the company has teased so far.

Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang will host the event on Tuesday, January 6 at 8PM ET. You can follow along to the livestream on YouTube once the event starts. (We've embedded the code below.)

Lenovo is using the high-profile Sphere venue to share some of its tie-ins to the sports world, offering an exclusive look at how the company's technology has "revolutionized F1," Yang said in a press release. He'll also preview the plans for leveraging AI at this summer's FIFA World Cup, which takes place in the US.

After the event has wrapped up, pop singer Gwen Stefani will take the stage to perform.

As for real products, look for Lenovo to build on some of its successful launches from CES 2025. A year ago, we saw the portable Lenovo Legion Go S – the first third-party SteamOS handheld gaming device – as well as its "stretchy" laptop, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable that extends 2.7 inches taller with a touch of a button. To Lenovo's credit, both products were actually released and available for sale within months, unlike the vaporware that seems to comprise the bulk of many companies' CES announcements.

Lastly, don't be surprised if we see some new Motorola smartphones, given that Lenovo is the parent company of the phone manufacturer. Maybe a new Razr foldable? We'll find out either way on Tuesday evening.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/how-to-watch-the-lenovo-tech-world-event-at-ces-2026-130004983.html?src=rss

The Chess Set That Plays By Touch, Ships Flat, Wastes Nothing

There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a designer solve multiple problems at once. William Young’s Jigsaw Chess Set is one of those rare designs that makes you wonder why nobody thought of it sooner. It’s a chess set, yes, but it’s also a sculptural object, an accessibility tool, and a logistics solution all rolled into one beautifully executed package.

At first glance, the set looks like something you’d find in a modern art museum. The pieces are geometric, almost brutalist in their simplicity, fabricated from contrasting steel and aluminum. One side gets the cool, dark patina of steel, while the opposing army gleams in lighter aluminum. They’re angular, tessellated forms that look more like miniature architectural models than traditional chess pieces. But this isn’t just aesthetic posturing. Every design choice serves a purpose.

Designer: William Young

The most compelling aspect of the Jigsaw Chess Set is how it approaches accessibility. Most chess sets rely entirely on visual distinction. You know a knight from a bishop because you can see the carved horse head or the pointed mitre. But what if you can’t? Young’s design flips the script by making tactile identity the primary means of recognition. Each piece has a distinctive weight and texture that immediately identifies it in your hand. The king feels different from the rook, the pawn from the bishop. You could play this game with your eyes closed and know exactly what you’re moving across the board.

This isn’t a novelty feature. For visually impaired players, most chess sets require specialized modifications or Braille labels that still mark them as “other.” Young’s design makes accessibility intrinsic to the aesthetic, not an afterthought. The result is a set that works beautifully for everyone, regardless of visual ability. It’s inclusive design at its best, where accommodation becomes innovation.

Then there’s the fabrication process, which deserves its own moment of appreciation. The pieces are created using a zero-waste cutting method. Picture a sheet of metal that gets sliced into interlocking forms, like a precision jigsaw puzzle where every cut produces a usable piece. Nothing gets tossed in the scrap bin. In an era where we’re increasingly aware of material waste and manufacturing impact, this approach feels refreshingly thoughtful. Each piece is then hand-finished, giving the set that tactile quality that makes it so satisfying to handle.

But wait, there’s more. (I know, I know, but genuinely, there’s more.) When you’re done playing, the entire set interlocks back into a dense, self-contained block. All 32 pieces fit together like a three-dimensional puzzle, creating a compact square that takes up minimal space. This is where the “jigsaw” name really earns its keep. The design is scalable too, meaning different size versions can be produced while maintaining the same interlocking logic.

From a shipping and storage perspective, this is genius. Traditional chess sets are bulky, awkward to pack, and wasteful in their use of space. Young’s design ships flat (well, flatish), reducing packaging materials and transportation costs. For consumers, it means easier storage when the set isn’t in use. For retailers, it means more efficient inventory management. Again, multiple problems solved with one elegant solution.

What really strikes me about the Jigsaw Chess Set is how it challenges our assumptions about what a chess set should be. The game is over 1,500 years old, and the basic design language of its pieces has remained relatively stable for centuries. Young doesn’t throw that all away, but he does ask: what if we started from scratch with contemporary materials, modern manufacturing techniques, and a genuine commitment to universal design?

The answer is something that feels both familiar and radically new. You can still play chess exactly as you always have, but now you’re doing it with an object that works harder, thinks smarter, and includes more people in the experience. It’s a reminder that even the most traditional games have room for innovation when designers are willing to question the fundamentals. Whether you’re a chess enthusiast, a design collector, or someone who simply appreciates objects that do multiple things exceptionally well, the Jigsaw Chess Set deserves your attention. It’s proof that good design isn’t about adding features. It’s about rethinking everything from the ground up.

The post The Chess Set That Plays By Touch, Ships Flat, Wastes Nothing first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Morning After: Instagram boss says ‘more practical to fingerprint real media than fake media’

Instagram’s top exec Adam Mosseri expects AI content to overtake non-AI imagery and discussed the implications for the platform and users.

Mosseri shared his thoughts on broader trends he expects to shape Instagram in 2026. “Everything that made creators matter — the ability to be real, to connect, to have a voice that couldn’t be faked — is now suddenly accessible to anyone with the right tools,” he wrote. “The feeds are starting to fill up with synthetic everything.” He added: “There is already a growing number of people who believe, as I do, that it will be more practical to fingerprint real media than fake media.”

Mosseri doesn’t address the risk that this will alienate many photographers and other creators who have already grown frustrated with the app — it looks like Instagram is leaning into the AI firehose. And hey: whatever keeps its users using it.

Mosseri suggests many complaints stem from an outdated vision of what Instagram even is. The feed of “polished” square images, he says, “is dead.” Instead of trying to “make everyone look like a professional photographer,” Mosseri says that more “raw” and “unflattering” images will be how creators can prove they are real — not AI.

Or you could leave Instagram?

— Mat Smith


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LG

CES kicks off this weekend. We’ve got a full preview that we’ll update in the run-up to the full show, but the major tech announcements will likely center on chips (ah, AI) and new TV tech (ah, CES). Intel is finally taking the wraps off its Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) chips — the first to debut on the company’s 18A process. With a promised 50 percent performance boost, Intel needs to prove it can still compete with NVIDIA and AMD. Meanwhile, NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang will deliver a keynote at the Las Vegas show, while AMD’s Lisa Su teases Ryzen 9000-series refreshes and more.

This year’s TV obsession is Micro RGB. Samsung is going big — literally — with a Micro RGB lineup spanning 55 to 115 inches. LG, meanwhile, has its own Micro RGB Evo panels, boasting over a thousand dimming zones for that elusive “perfect” contrast. We’ll be on the ground in Vegas to separate the legitimate, exciting new tech from the marketing fluff and AI assistant tchotchkes. And remember me mentioning the celebrity CES parade? Well, will.i.am is back at CES, this time curiously involved with LG’s portable speakers. Check it off your CES bingo card.

Continue reading.


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OneXSugar

OneXPlayer is quickly establishing itself as a company unafraid to get weird as hell. (Take, for example, its pseudo-foldable dual-screen console). This time, while it initially appears to be another standard dual-screen model, the Android-powered OneXSugar Wallet instead uses a single foldable screen. The OneXSugar Wallet was teased in a 54-second video on the Chinese video-sharing platform Bilibili. Retro Handhelds reports the Wallet uses an 8.01-inch OLED with a 2,480 x 1,860 resolution. That’s a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded, making it very retro-gaming friendly.

Given the foldable screen tech, the price might not be. OneXSugar hasn’t shared that detail yet.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121544371.html?src=rss