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Behind “ANCESTRA:” combining Veo with live-action filmmakingBehind “ANCESTRA:” combining Veo with live-action filmmakingSenior Research Scientist

GoogleBlog - Fri, 06/13/2025 - 08:00
We partnered with Darren Aronofsky, Eliza McNitt and a team of more than 200 to make ANCESTRA.We partnered with Darren Aronofsky, Eliza McNitt and a team of more than 200 to make ANCESTRA.
Categories: Technology

US Navy Backs Right To Repair After $13 Billion Carrier Crew Left Half-Fed By Contractor-Locked Ovens

Slashdot.org - Fri, 06/13/2025 - 08:00
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Register: US Navy Secretary John Phelan has told the Senate the service needs the right to repair its own gear, and will rethink how it writes contracts to keep control of intellectual property and ensure sailors can fix hardware, especially in a fight. Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Phelan cited the case of the USS Gerald R. Ford, America's largest and most expensive nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which carried a price tag of $13 billion. The ship was struggling to feed its crew of over 4,500 because six of its eight ovens were out of action, and sailors were barred by contract from fixing them themselves. "I am a huge supporter of right to repair," Phelan told the politicians. "I went on the carrier; they had eight ovens -- this is a ship that serves 15,300 meals a day. Only two were working. Six were out." He pointed out the Navy personnel are capable of fixing their own gear but are blocked by contracts that reserve repairs for vendors, often due to IP restrictions. That drives up costs and slows down basic fixes. According to the Government Accountability Office, about 70 percent [PDF] of a weapon system's life-cycle cost goes to operations and support. A similar issue plagued the USS Gerald Ford's weapons elevators, which move bombs from deep storage to the flight deck. They reportedly took more than four years after delivery to become fully operational, delaying the carrier's first proper deployment. "They have to come out and diagnose the problem, and then they'll fix it," Phelan said. "It is crazy. We should be able to fix this." "Our soldiers are immensely smart and capable and should not need to rely on a third party contractor to maintain their equipment. Oven repair is not rocket science: of course sailors should be able to repair their ovens," Kyle Wiens, CEO of repair specialists iFixit told The Register. "It's gratifying to see Secretary Phelan echoing our work. The Navy bought it, the Navy should be able to fix it. Ownership is universal, and the same principles apply to an iPhone or a radar. Of course, the devil is in the details: the military needs service documentation, detailed schematics, 3D models of parts so they can be manufactured in the field, and so on. We're excited that the military is joining us on this journey to reclaim ownership." Further reading: Army Will Seek Right To Repair Clauses In All Its Contracts

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Meta Inks a New Geothermal Energy Deal To Support AI

Slashdot.org - Fri, 06/13/2025 - 05:00
Meta has struck a new deal with geothermal startup XGS Energy to supply 150 megawatts of carbon-free electricity for its New Mexico data center. "Advances in AI require continued energy to support infrastructure development," Urvi Parekh, global head of energy at Meta, said in a press release. "With next-generation geothermal technologies like XGS ready for scale, geothermal can be a major player in supporting the advancement of technologies like AI as well as domestic data center development." The Verge reports: Geothermal plants generate electricity using Earth's heat; typically drawing up hot fluids or steam from natural reservoirs to turn turbines. That tactic is limited by natural geography, however, and the US gets around half a percent of its electricity from geothermal sources. Startups including XGS are trying to change that by making geothermal energy more accessible. Last year, Meta made a separate 150MW deal with Sage Geosystems to develop new geothermal power plants. Sage is developing technologies to harness energy from hot, dry rock formations by drilling and pumping water underground, essentially creating artificial reservoirs. Google has its own partnership with another startup called Fervo developing similar technology. XGS Energy is also seeking to exploit geothermal energy from dry rock resources. It tries to set itself apart by reusing water in a closed-loop process designed to prevent water from escaping into cracks in the rock. The water it uses to take advantage of underground heat circulates inside a steel casing. Conserving water is especially crucial in a drought-prone state like New Mexico, where Meta is expanding its Los Lunas data center. Meta declined to say how much it's spending on this deal with XGS Energy. The initiative will roll out in two phases with a goal of being operational by 2030.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

14 ways Chromebook Plus helps you get things done14 ways Chromebook Plus helps you get things doneProduct Manager

GoogleBlog - Fri, 06/13/2025 - 03:00
When you get a Chromebook Plus, you have a suite of exclusive (and ever-growing!) built-in features that can help you be creative, stay productive and simply make life e…When you get a Chromebook Plus, you have a suite of exclusive (and ever-growing!) built-in features that can help you be creative, stay productive and simply make life easier and more fun. Here are just a few of our favorites.
Categories: Technology

Costco Membership Changes (Extended Hours, Self-Checkout Improvements, New Credits)

MyMoneyBlog.com - Fri, 06/13/2025 - 02:23

Costco has been making several changes recently, and it’s not just the new hours. As someone who has recently joined Sam’s Club, it is interesting to see how the competition between them has actually made them both better.

All Members

  • Using hand scanner to quickly zap at Self-Checkout. Although Costco does not (yet?) use the nifty Scan&Go system using your mobile phone, they have started allowing you to use the wireless hand scanner at Self-Checkout. No longer do you have to pick up every single item and put it on the scale. Now you can use the hand scanner and try to match the speed-zapping skills of the veteran cashiers. They are also testing out the equivalent of Scan&Go, but this is already pretty close.
  • Costco Digital Membership card. I don’t really mind the new door scanners, as at least now I don’t have to carry my physical membership card anymore. The Costco app works at the door, at checkout, and at the food court.
  • Coke products at Food Court. I’m old enough to remember Coke in the food court, but it has been Pepsi for the last 12 years. By the end of June, all of the fountain drinks should be Coke products again. Not a big deal, but I am Team Coke, so that makes me happy. Sam’s is still Pepsi. Long live the $1.50 hot dog!
  • Extra hour on Saturdays. This is for all members, and they will close at 7pm instead of 6pm traditionally. Should start 6/30.
  • Extended gas station hours. Earlier in 2025, Costco extended its gas station hours to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sundays.
  • New types of specialty stores. There are now smaller, separate Costco locations popping up that only focus on furniture and appliances. I guess this how Costco plans to keep growing its sales volume, because they will eventually get saturated with their normal stores.

Executive Members *Only* (starts 6/30)

  • New Early Shopping Hours
    • Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
    • Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
    • Sunday: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

    Sam’s Club has kept their extra hours for Plus members this entire time, I know that it is usually 8am to 10am on weekdays at my nearest Sam’s.

  • Monthly $10 credit towards “Same-Day” or Instacart orders of $150+ for US and Canadian members.
  • At $130 a year for Executive instead of $65 for Gold, the breakeven spending amount given the 2% Executive cash back is now $3,250 a year, or an average of ~$271 per month. Correction: Costco gas purchases don’t earn the 2% Executive cash back.

Still missing the best feature from Sam’s Club? The best thing about Sam’s Club (now that I will eventually run out of my 20% off gift cards from Pepper) is their Pick Up service. Their app has solid inventory accuracy, and this way I can just shop on the app, have them bring everything directly to my car, and save a lot of time with no price markup. Sam’s Club has copied the Kirkland private label and I see Member’s Mark everything now. I wonder if/when Costco will copy the Sam’s Club Pick Up service.

Have you noticed any other changes at Costco?

Categories: Finance

An age assurance tool for Europe and beyondAn age assurance tool for Europe and beyondGlobal Director of Privacy Safety and Security Policy

GoogleBlog - Fri, 06/13/2025 - 02:00
Just as a playground needs different equipment for different ages, the internet needs tailored protections.Just as a playground needs different equipment for different ages, the internet needs tailored protections.
Categories: Technology

Mel Brooks is Making 'Spaceballs 2' After 38 Years

Slashdot.org - Fri, 06/13/2025 - 02:00
"Spaceballs 2" is officially in development nearly 40 years after the original parody hit theaters. The sequel, produced by Amazon MGM Studios and set for a 2027 release, will see Rick Moranis returning as Dark Helmet, Mel Brooks reprising his role as Yogurt, and Bill Pullman returning as Lone Starr. You can watch the teaser trailer on YouTube. IGN reports: A trailer for the sequel to the classic '80s sci-fi Star Wars parody arrived today. Although it mostly comes with a special message from Brooks himself and a familiar text crawl that pokes fun at the long, long list of sequels that have come to theaters in the last 38 years, this is the most official look at Spaceballs 2 we've seen yet. "After 40 years, we asked, 'What do the fans want?' Brooks says in the Spaceballs 2 trailer. "But instead, we're making this movie." He added one final send-off: "May the Schwartz be with you."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The Meta AI App Is a Privacy Disaster

Slashdot.org - Fri, 06/13/2025 - 01:00
Meta's standalone AI app is broadcasting users' supposedly private conversations with the chatbot to the public, creating what could amount to a widespread privacy breach. Users appear largely unaware that hitting the app's share button publishes their text exchanges, audio recordings, and images for anyone to see. The exposed conversations reveal sensitive information: people asking for help with tax evasion, whether family members might face arrest for proximity to white-collar crimes, and requests to write character reference letters that include real names of individuals facing legal troubles. Meta provides no clear indication of privacy settings during posting, and if users log in through Instagram accounts set to public, their AI searches become equally visible.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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