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Take-Two CEO Says Consoles Aren't Going Away, But Gaming is Moving Toward PCs

Slashdot.org - Mon, 11/17/2025 - 13:01
Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, which operates publishing labels including GTA-maker Rockstar Games and 2K, said on Monday that although gaming consoles are not going away, the industry is moving toward PCs in the next decade. From a report: "I think it's moving towards PC and business is moving towards open rather than closed," Zelnick told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "But if you define console as the property, not the system, then the notion of a very rich game that you engage in for many hours that you play on a big screen -- that's never going away." Zelnick said the current split between console and mobile is about even in the market, but mobile is growing more rapidly than consoles.

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We’re announcing new Gemini certifications for education.We’re announcing new Gemini certifications for education.Program Manager, Scaled Training & Enablement

GoogleBlog - Mon, 11/17/2025 - 13:00
A new suite of Gemini certifications are designed to validate core skills in generative AI.
Categories: Technology

UK Cyber Ransom Ban Risks Collapse of Essential Services

Slashdot.org - Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:21
The UK government has been warned that its plan to ban operators of critical national infrastructure from paying ransoms to hackers is unlikely to stop cyber attacks and could result in essential services collapsing. From a report: The proposal, announced by the Home Office in July, is designed to deter cyber criminals by making it clear any attempt to blackmail regulated companies such as hospitals, airports and telecoms groups will not succeed. If enacted, the UK would be the first country to implement such a ban. But companies and cyber groups have told government officials that making paying ransoms illegal would remove a valuable tool in negotiations where highly sensitive data or essential services could be compromised, according to two people familiar with the matter. "An outright ban on payments sounds tough on crime, but in reality it could turn a solvable crisis into a catastrophic one," said Greg Palmer, a partner at law firm Linklaters.

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New ways to plan travel with AI in SearchNew ways to plan travel with AI in SearchVP of Engineering, Search

GoogleBlog - Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:00
Use new Google AI tools to get help with itineraries, finding flight deals and booking reservations.Use new Google AI tools to get help with itineraries, finding flight deals and booking reservations.
Categories: Technology

Discover new features for the holiday season with November’s Demand Gen Drop.Discover new features for the holiday season with November’s Demand Gen Drop.

GoogleBlog - Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:00
Learn more about enhancements Demand Gen is launching, just in time for the holidays
Categories: Technology

Global Web Freedoms Tumble

Slashdot.org - Mon, 11/17/2025 - 11:41
Global internet freedom declined for a 15th consecutive year, according to Freedom House's annual report. Semafor: "Always grim reading," this year's is particularly sobering, Tech Policy Press noted, with the lowest-ever portion of users living in countries categorized as "free." Conditions declined in 27 of the 72 countries assessed, with those in Kenya -- where anti-corruption protests were quelled, in part, by a seven-hour internet shutdown -- deteriorating the most. China and Myanmar tied for least-free, and the US' ranking dropped, while Iceland retained its top spot for the freest digital environment. Bangladesh improved the most. The most consistent trend observed over 15 years, Freedom House noted, is the growing digital influence of state actors: "Online spaces are more manipulated than ever."

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Why Hotel-Room Cancellations Disappeared

Slashdot.org - Mon, 11/17/2025 - 11:04
Hotel cancellation policies have transformed over the past seven years. Travelers once could cancel reservations up until the day before check-in without penalty. That flexibility has largely vanished. The shift began around 2018 when third-party travel-booking sites deployed "cancel-rebook" strategies, the Atlantic writes. These platforms would monitor hotel rates after securing initial reservations. When prices dropped, the sites automatically canceled existing bookings and rebooked customers at lower rates. Hotels lost already-booked revenue whenever they reduced prices to fill empty rooms. Hotels responded by introducing tiered pricing structures. Travelers now encounter prepaid non-refundable rates at the lowest price point, mid-range rates with two- or three-day cancellation deadlines, and higher rates for same-day cancellation flexibility. The cancel-rebook sites could still swap reservations until deadlines arrived, but the damage to hotels diminished. Christopher Anderson, a professor at Cornell University's Nolan School of Hotel Administration, told the outlet that hotel cancellations differ from airline cancellations. Most hotels operate as franchises rather than centrally-owned properties. A canceled Ithaca Marriott reservation cannot be converted to credit at a New York Marriott Marquis because different owners operate each location. Anderson suggests travelers call hotels directly to request exceptions. Hilton confirmed it evaluates cancellation waivers case-by-case and extends broad waivers during natural disasters or major disruptions.

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AI in education: From accessing information to achieving understandingAI in education: From accessing information to achieving understandingChief Technologist

GoogleBlog - Mon, 11/17/2025 - 11:00
Read Ben Gomes’ remarks from our Google AI for Learning Forum in London.Read Ben Gomes’ remarks from our Google AI for Learning Forum in London.
Categories: Technology

Anthropic CEO Says He's 'Deeply Uncomfortable' With Unelected Tech Elites Shaping AI

Slashdot.org - Mon, 11/17/2025 - 10:20
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says he's uneasy about how much power a handful of tech leaders -- including himself -- have over the future of artificial intelligence. From a report: "I think I'm deeply uncomfortable with these decisions being made by a few companies, by a few people," Amodei told Anderson Cooper in a "60 Minutes" episode that aired Sunday. "Like who elected you and Sam Altman?" asked Anderson. "No one. Honestly, no one," Amodei replied.

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