Tag Archives: author_name|Lawrence Bonk

Google CEO says a quarter of the company’s new code is already AI generated

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Google CEO Sundar Pichai just revealed that AI now generates more than a quarter of new code for its products, according to a company earnings call transcribed by Ars Technica. In other words, AI tools are already having an absolutely mammoth impact on the development of software.

Pichai did say that human programmers oversee the computer-generated code, which is something. The CEO noted that AI coding helps with “boosting productivity and efficiency," ensuring that engineers “do more and move faster.”

There’s no two ways around it. 25 percent is a lot, and Google is just one company relying on AI algorithms to perform complex coding tasks. According to Stack Overflow’s 2024 Developer Survey, over 75 percent of respondents are already using or are “planning to use” AI tools to assist with software development. Another survey by GitHub indicated that 92 percent of US-based developers are currently using AI coding tools.

This leads us to the rampaging elephant in the room. As AI continues to gobble up coding tasks, human experience starts to dwindle. This could eventually lead to a decreased knowledge base in which humans don’t know how to fix errors created by AI algorithms that were, in turn, created by other AI algorithms. We could be staring down an ouroboros of confusion where it’s nearly impossible to detect bugs amidst generations of AI code. Fun times!

We aren’t quite there yet, but AI-assisted coding shows no signs of slowing down. The process started its meteoric rise back in 2022 when GitHub widely launched its Copilot program. Since then, companies like Anthropic, Meta, Google and OpenAI have all released AI-coding software suites. GitHub recently announced that Copilot can now be used with models from Anthropic and Google, in addition to OpenAI.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-ceo-says-a-quarter-of-the-companys-new-code-is-already-ai-generated-180038896.html?src=rss

How to watch the latest Playdate showcase

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Panic is holding another showcase for its Playdate portable console on October 31, and you can watch it via the company’s YouTube page. We’ve dropped a stream below for your convenience. The developer promises a focus on upcoming games for the diminutive yellow console, in addition to updates of released titles and “a couple more surprises.”

The livestream starts at 1PM ET. Previous showcase events have lasted around 40 minutes, giving the company plenty of time to detail a whole slew of new crank-powered gems. The stream also heralds the beginning of the second-ever Playdate Catalog Sale, which will run from October 31 until November 14.

Panic says that over 160 games will be on sale, including popular titles like Root Bear, P-Racing, Echo: The Oracle Scroll and Zero Zero: Perfect Stop. Some of these games will be available at their lowest prices ever. The previous sale was an absolute boon for those looking to winnow down their wish lists.

An ad for the sale.
Panic

For the uninitiated, the Playdate is a retro-styled portable console that looks sort of like an OG Gameboy. It’s bright yellow and features a hand-controlled crank that’s used as a primary control input in many games. We love the thing and have called it an “inspiration machine” and “the future of game development.” There are hundreds of indie games available for the console, and many of them are quite good.

The only bad news? The Playdate console itself is currently on back order. Shipments for new orders won’t start going out until December, at the soonest.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-the-latest-playdate-showcase-170055652.html?src=rss

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition will be available for Macs early next year

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Cyberpunk 2077 is finally coming to Mac computers. The first-person open world adventure was first released back in 2020, so Apple fans have been waiting nearly half a decade for this release. Developer CD Projekt RED hasn’t issued a launch date yet, but says the game will be available “early next year.”

This isn’t the base game. Mac owners are getting Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, which features all pre-existing DLC and patches. This includes the massive Phantom Liberty expansion, which brings Idris Elba into the mix. The expansion was first released last year for consoles and PC.

The developer says this port takes “full advantage of Apple Silicon and the advanced technologies of Metal.” It’ll boast all kinds of modern bells and whistles, like path tracing, frame generation and built-in spatial audio.

As indicated, this port is only for Apple Silicon Macs, but CD Projekt RED hasn’t announced if there would be any barriers beyond that. We reached out to the developer to ask if the game will run on every chip, from the M1 to the recently-announced M4 Max. We’ll update this post when we hear something.

There’s also a cool policy in place for pre-existing players. If you own the game on PC via Steam, the purchase will carry over to Mac. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/cyberpunk-2077-ultimate-edition-will-be-available-for-macs-early-next-year-164520024.html?src=rss

Amazon’s AI-powered shopping assistant Rufus launches in Europe today

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Amazon’s shopping-focused chatbot Rufus is launching throughout Europe, after coming to the US back in February. It starts rolling out today as a beta in Germany, France, Italy and Spain, after coming to the UK in September. This is a gradual rollout and the company says it could be a few weeks before every single user in the aforementioned countries receives a software update.

To get started with Rufus, look for the icon on the bottom right-hand corner of the mobile app. This will open up the chat box. Customers can tap on this chat box to ask follow up questions or receive more information on a pre-existing query. This is a beta release, so Amazon encourages customers to leave feedback by “rating their answers with a thumbs up or thumbs down.” There’s also an option for more directed freeform feedback.

For the uninitiated, Rufus is a generative AI shopping assistant that was trained on Amazon’s entire product catalog, along with customer reviews, community Q&As and “information from across the web.” It’s a chatbot, so customers can ask Rufus questions about products and the like.

For instance, users can ask Rufus if a particular pair of running shoes are durable or if a jacket is machine-washable. This is AI, though, so even Amazon admits that the information may not always be correct. “It’s still early days for generative AI, and the technology won’t always get it exactly right,” the company writes.

If you live in the US, you already have access to the chatbot. Just look for the tell-tale icon that looks like two chat bubbles, along with the name Rufus.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazons-ai-powered-shopping-assistant-rufus-launches-in-europe-today-184255137.html?src=rss

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition heads to the Switch on March 20

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The Wii U was an unsuccessful console with some fantastic and overlooked games. Many of these titles have already been ported to the Nintendo Switch and, well, here’s another one. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition heads to the Switch on March 20. Preorders are open right now. 

This refresh of the 2015 action RPG will feature “enhanced visuals, added story elements and more.” As the name suggests, this is being advertised as the definitive edition of the game. There’s a trailer, embedded below, and the graphics look quite fetching. The trailer also includes a mysterious hooded figure. Nintendo says we should “stay tuned to learn more” about this new character.

This definitive edition will feature some multiplayer components. Players can join online squads to take on missions and fight baddies. You can even recruit the avatars of other players to your team in the main story. There’s a swap feature that lets you fill the party up with the avatars of friends and family.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is generally considered one of the stronger entries in the franchise, with a huge open world map and equally mammoth beasts to slay. There are five continents to explore across the hostile planet of Mira. You can also roam the world while riding a giant mech. The story is a standalone affair, so you don’t have to be well-versed in any lore.

This isn’t the first Xenoblade game to get the refresh treatment. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is a remake of the very first title in the franchise and was released for the Switch back in 2020. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/xenoblade-chronicles-x-definitive-edition-heads-to-the-switch-on-march-20-171622499.html?src=rss

Sony’s excellent WH-1000XM5 headphones are $100 off right now

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The well-regarded Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are on sale for $300 via Amazon. This deal knocks $100 off the price, which is a discount of 25 percent. The sale applies to multiple colorways, including black, blue and silver.

These headphones not only found a spot on our list of the best wireless headphones, but they were our very favorite pair. We found them to be exceptionally comfortable, even when wearing the headphones for long periods of time. The ANC is great and the battery life clocks in at around 30 hours per charge, which is a fantastic metric.

The sound is the most important thing with headphones and this model is no slouch. We admired the “crisp, clear sound with balanced tuning and punchy bass.” This is due to new 30mm carbon fiber drivers. In our official review, we noticed that the bass seemed punchier than previous models. We noted that “the lower range is both pleasant and powerful, expanding the overall soundstage.”

We did run into occasional audio issues with macOS, but that was two years ago and it’s likely everything has been patched by now. The only other downside is the price, as $400 is a lot to spend on something like over-ear headphones. However, this deal brings it down to $300 which makes things much more palatable.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sonys-excellent-wh-1000xm5-headphones-are-100-off-right-now-162027774.html?src=rss

Apple introduces the M4 Pro chip, which finally brings Thunderbolt 5 support

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Apple has been on a tear this week. The company announced both new iMacs and a refresh to the Mac Mini desktop computer. Buried in the announcement for the Mac Mini, however, is the news that they can be outfitted with the brand-new M4 Pro chip. That’s right. As expected, the M4 Pro has entered the chat.

The big news? The Apple Silicon M4 Pro chip finally brings Thunderbolt 5 support for Macs. Thunderbolt 5 is a major leap forward in cable tech, with a baseline speed of 80 Gbps and support for 120 Gbps. The cables also offer support for dual 6K screens. This is a boon for Mac Mini users in video editing and related fields.

Beyond that, M4 Pro chips bring a host of improvements. Apple says this is currently “the world’s fastest CPU core, delivering the industry’s best single-threaded performance.” The company also boasts of “dramatically faster multithreaded performance.”

There are faster cores and a faster ray-tracing engine when compared to the previous generation. The M4 Pro features a 14-core CPU, with ten performance cores and four efficiency cores. There’s a 16-core neural engine, which the company says is three times faster than the now-ancient M1. The chip includes a 20-core GPU, with dynamic caching.

The M4 Pro chip also supports up to 64GB of unified memory, with 273GB/s of memory bandwidth. Apple says this metric doubles the bandwidth of other AI PC chips, making for “accelerated AI workloads.”

To that end, Apple says the chip will “deliver blazing performance for Apple Intelligence.” It remains to be seen if and when the M4 Pro will show up in other products, like laptops. The M3 Pro began appearing in last year’s MacBook Pro laptops, so there’s a strong chance that could also happen this year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/apple-introduces-the-m4-pro-chip-which-finally-brings-thunderbolt-5-support-150549096.html?src=rss

Vizio just announced a soundbar that doubles as a karaoke machine

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It’s easy to give into cynicism writing about tech. There are so many underwhelming announcements and iterative improvements. Companies toss the letters AI around like it’s a magic elixir sent down from the Gods. The layoffs are harsh. Sometimes, though, you find something simple, useful and fun that forces optimism. That’s where I’m at with the Vizio MicMe. It’s a soundbar that doubles as a karaoke machine. That’s a neat idea, right?

The MicMe is being advertised as a “two-in-one soundbar system” that totally eliminates the need for a clunky standalone karaoke speaker. It’s a legitimate 2.1 soundbar, complete with a subwoofer. It’ll get the job done with regard to endless streams of Agatha All Along or Nobody Wants This.

The soundbar in action.
Vizio

It also ships with two dynamic wireless microphones, and that’s where the karaoke magic comes in. The company says that the soundbar enters karaoke mode when one of the microphones is removed from the charging dock, without the user having to fiddle with anything. There is, however, an affiliated mobile app for making sound adjustments. This app also allows access to six different vocal effects.

Each microphone boasts eight hours of battery life per charge, which means a solid 8PM to 4AM karaoke session. Vizio says MicMe will have access to 80,000 songs via the proprietary app. It also integrates with many standalone karaoke apps, like Stingray. There should be no shortage of songs to ruin or master.

The soundbar hybrid is compatible with Vizio’s QuickFit technology, which allows it to attach to the company’s TVs without any tools. It’s also fully compatible with any smart TV with eARC. The MicMe costs $350. You can order one now but it won’t ship until the end of November.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/vizio-just-announced-a-soundbar-that-doubles-as-a-karaoke-machine-130016592.html?src=rss

Google starts selling refurbished Pixel phones

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Google now offers refurbished Pixel phones, as originally spotted by The Verge. The company is selling refurbed Pixel 6, Pixel 6A and Pixel 7 handsets directly on the Google Store. The phones can be purchased for up to 40 percent off, when compared to new models. Each smartphone ships with the same 1-year limited warranty and customer support options as a new model.

Google says that each refurbished handset has been “carefully inspected” to ensure that the phones, screens and batteries are all in tip-top shape. However, a company representative offered no guarantees regarding battery life in a statement to The Verge. Phone batteries age like people. Slowly at first and then all at once.

However, the prices are enticing. The Pixel 6 is available for $339, instead of $599, while the well-reviewed Pixel 7 Pro is $629 instead of $899. All of these refurbished models offer 128GB of storage, but Google spokesperson Patrick Seybold says that the store will soon offer other storage tiers.

Each phone ships with the latest Android software, which is a nice touch, and comes with a compatible charger. There’s also free shipping.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-starts-selling-refurbished-pixel-phones-184348702.html?src=rss

Google starts selling refurbished Pixel phones

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Google now offers refurbished Pixel phones, as originally spotted by The Verge. The company is selling refurbed Pixel 6, Pixel 6A and Pixel 7 handsets directly on the Google Store. The phones can be purchased for up to 40 percent off, when compared to new models. Each smartphone ships with the same 1-year limited warranty and customer support options as a new model.

Google says that each refurbished handset has been “carefully inspected” to ensure that the phones, screens and batteries are all in tip-top shape. However, a company representative offered no guarantees regarding battery life in a statement to The Verge. Phone batteries age like people. Slowly at first and then all at once.

However, the prices are enticing. The Pixel 6 is available for $339, instead of $599, while the well-reviewed Pixel 7 Pro is $629 instead of $899. All of these refurbished models offer 128GB of storage, but Google spokesperson Patrick Seybold says that the store will soon offer other storage tiers.

Each phone ships with the latest Android software, which is a nice touch, and comes with a compatible charger. There’s also free shipping.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-starts-selling-refurbished-pixel-phones-184348702.html?src=rss