Intel Silently Launches Arc A570M, A530M Mobile GPUs

Intel Silently Launches Arc A570M, A530M Mobile GPUs

With two new additions, Intel has expanded the company’s discrete mobile Arc Alchemist lineup. While Arc A570M and A530M are unlikely to rival the best graphics cards, we’ll still see the Arc A-series duo inside many upcoming gaming laptops.

Intel launched the majority of its mobile Arc Alchemist graphics cards last year. The announced models include the A770MA730M, A550M, A370M, and A350M. The chipmaker has decided to flesh out the remaining Arc A500M series with the Arc A570M and A530M, which also use the PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. As usual, Intel didn’t make a big deal out of the launch.

Netflix’s first interactive romcom will let viewers literally ‘Choose Love’

Netflix’s first interactive romcom will let viewers literally ‘Choose Love’

Netflix has a slew of romantic comedies on offer for subscribers, including everything from movies like The Out-Laws and You People to the new Happiness for Beginners. None of them, however, attempt what the streamer’s new Choose Love will later this month, when it offers viewers the chance to do — well, exactly what the title implies.

Remember Black Mirror: Bandersnatch from back in 2018? Choose Love, coming on August 31, is another of Netflix’s somewhat experimental interactive titles. This 77-minute special from director Stuart McDonald will introduce viewers to Cami Conway, a young woman who has her dream job as a recording engineer and seems destined for engagement, marriage, and children with her boyfriend Paul (Scott Michael Foster).

Nevertheless, she feels like something is missing in her life.

Laura Marano in Choose Love on Netflix. Image source: Netflix

Per the official Netflix synopsis for Choose Love, picking up the thread from there:

“Is it just FOMO and the fear of commitment that goes with it? Or is she actually missing out on an even better career, perhaps the long-abandoned singing career she once dreamed of? And is Paul the love of her life? What if it’s Rex Galier (Avan Jogia), the sexy British rock star, who walks into her studio and becomes irrepressibly smitten? Or could it be Jack Menna (Jordi Webber), her first love, “the one that got away”, the idealistic world traveler, who returns home and is ready to rekindle their youthful passion?”

That’s where you, the viewer, come in.

Throughout Choose Love, Cami will be faced with “tempting but tough choices,” ranging from ethical dilemmas to even silly “Truth or Dare” moments. Viewers will get to choose which way they want the story to go, resulting in multiple possible storylines and even a variety of different endings, depending on what each viewer decides.

Netflix app
In this photo illustration, the Netflix app is displayed in the App Store on an iPhone. Image source: Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Choose Love joins other Netflix projects like ​​Cat Burglar, Headspace: Unwind Your Mind, and the interactive Kimmy Schmidt special in which viewers get to pick this or that direction for the story. Personally, I’m not a fan of this kind of format rolling out widely, because I think creators are probably a better judge of where a story should go than I am — I, for example, would have probably ruined Netflix shows like Peaky Blinders or Stranger Things with my own choices and consequently not enjoyed them as much. But to each his own; it’s nice to see Netflix experimenting, nonetheless.

Looking for OpenAI skills? Upwork wants your help

Looking for OpenAI skills? Upwork wants your help

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Ever since OpenAI’s ChatGPT dramatically entered the AI scene in November 2022, there has been an explosion of interest and demand in AI skills — and particularly OpenAI skills. A new partnership announced today (July 31) between OpenAI and Upwork aims to help meet the demand.

The OpenAI Experts on Upwork services is a way for OpenAI users to get access to skilled professionals to help with AI projects. The two organizations worked together to design the service to identify and help validate the right professionals to help enterprises get the AI skills that are needed.

Among the OpenAI specific skills that the program will help to source for organizations are developers with experience working GPT-4 and Whisper, as well as AI model integration. The new offering is an expansion of Upwork’s AI Services hub launched on July 11. The AI Services Hub is a general service to help organizations find AI skills and benefit from technologies from OpenAI to help users find what they need. 

“This partnership is about connecting talent with relevant OpenAI skills to businesses in need of those skills to get work done more efficiently,” Dave Bottoms, GM and VP of product for the Upwork Marketplace, told VentureBeat.

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Demand for AI skills growing

The OpenAI Experts on Upwork launch is a response to demand that the two vendors are seeing in the market for AI talent.

Bottoms said that Upwork has seen massive demand for AI talent: It has been exponentially since Q4 last year. He noted that in the first half of 2023, AI was the fastest-growing category overall on the Upwork platform (in terms of total number of individuals hired).

“We’ve seen widespread adoption of generative AI on the Upwork platform across the board,” Bottoms said. “Gen AI job posts on our platform are up more than 1,000% and related searches are up more than 1500% in Q2 2023 when compared to Q4 2022.” 

What the Upwork OpenAI partnership is all about

The need for AI skill is something that multiple talent platforms have seen in 2023. Earlier this year, freelance marketplace Fiverr added a dedicated AI marketplace to its service as searches spiked for AI skills.

With its direct OpenAI partnership, Upwork is aiming to provide a vetted offering of skilled professionals. Bottoms said that the  partnership is about connecting talent with relevant OpenAI skills to businesses in need of those skills, to get work done more efficiently. 

Bottoms said that Upwork partnered with OpenAI to identify the most common use cases for OpenAI customers — like building applications powered by large language models (LLMs), fine-tuning models and developing chatbots with responsible AI in mind. 

“This partnership is about connecting talent with the important skills required for success on these types of projects with businesses,” he said. “This is not about providing help desk support for OpenAI customers.” 

What AI skills are organizations looking for?

OpenAI provides a powerful platform to build upon, and presents an exciting new horizon for many companies starting to explore its potential — but as with any emerging field it requires some specific skill sets. 

On the technical side, Bottoms said these might include expertise in programming, machine learning (ML) and data handling. But there’s also a need for data quality skills and privacy expertise depending on what organizations are trying to build.

 “Until now, talent with many of these skills were not readily available to the majority of companies,” said Bottoms. “This partnership will seamlessly connect that talent with businesses that have those needs to achieve their most ambitious AI initiatives, accelerating their ability to innovate in the process.”

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Lenovo Is Working On a Windows PC Gaming Handheld Called the ‘Legion Go’ – Slashdot

Lenovo Is Working On a Windows PC Gaming Handheld Called the ‘Legion Go’ – Slashdot

According to Windows Central, Lenovo is working on a handheld gaming PC dubbed “Legion Go,” featuring Windows 11 and Ryzen chips. From the report: While details are scant right now, we understand this will sport AMD’s new Phoenix processors, which the chip firm describes as ultra-thin, focused on gaming, AI, and graphics for ultrabooks. The fact the Legion Go will sport Ryzen chips pretty much guarantees that this is a Windows PC gaming handheld, as part of Lenovo’s popular gaming “Legion” brand. As of writing, there’s no information on exactly when this device could become available, or if, indeed, it’ll become available at all.

According to our information, the Legion Go could sport an 8-inch screen, making it larger than the ASUS ROG Ally or the Steam Deck, both of which have a 7-inch display. PC and console games ported to PC are often designed for larger monitors or even TVs, and on smaller screens, UI elements can be difficult to see, especially if the game doesn’t have a UI scaling option. A larger display could give the Legion Go a decent advantage over its competitors if it remains lightweight and balanced, which of course remains to be seen. The AMD Phoenix 7040 series chips are described by the firm as “ultra-thin” for powerful, but elegant ultrabook-style devices. They should lend themselves well to a device like the Legion Go, supporting 15W low-power states for lightweight games and maximized battery life, similar to the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. The Z1 Extreme in the ASUS ROG Ally can perform with a TDP below 15W, however, which could give the ROG Ally some advantages there. There’s every chance the Legion Go could have other configurations we’re unaware of yet, though, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Paul Reubens Tributes: Messages From Tim Burton, Elvira, Muppets, More

Paul Reubens Tributes: Messages From Tim Burton, Elvira, Muppets, More

Fans has been leaving tokens on the Pee-wee Herman star on Hollywood Blvd.
Photo: Frazer Harrison (Getty Images)

One of the most recognizable, versatile, and hilarious performers of our generation passed away this week and the loss is being felt all over the world. Paul Reubens, best known for his iconic character Pee-wee Herman, lost a battle with cancer this week at the age of 70 and his friends in Hollywood have been paying tribute on social media.

Reubens left behind a legacy and body of work so massive you truly almost forget about it. Sure, we all remember Pee-wee’s Playhouse. But remember Flight of the Navigator? What about Batman Returns? You probably remember him in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but what about his voice in Family Guy or Robot Chicken? And there’s so, so much more.

Reubens’ career touched almost everyone in entertainment. Below, you can see how some of his biggest fans and closest friends paid tribute.

As previously reported, the news was broken on Reubens’ social media channels with the following message: “Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness. Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”

Reubens himself left this message behind: “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”

And we loved it too, Paul. Thank you.


Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

What’s leaving Netflix Canada and Prime Video in August 2023

What’s leaving Netflix Canada and Prime Video in August 2023

As is the case every month, several shows and movies are leaving Netflix Canada and Prime Video in August.

It’s worth noting that the streaming services may only be removing certain shows and movies for a specific amount of time.

Below are all the shows and movies leaving Netflix and Prime Video in August:

Here’s what’s leaving Prime Video

  • Why Women Kill (August 2nd)
  • Boss Level (August 3rd)
  • Dietland (August 4th)
  • Gully (August 15th)
  • Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (August 19th)
  • Hindi Medium (August 20th)
  • The O.C.: The Complete Series (August 22nd)
  • Magical Girl Site (August 23rd)
  • Breaking News in Yuba County (August 23rd)
  • Guns Akimbo (August 26th)
  • The Island (August 30th)
  • Italian Job (August 30th)
  • Jerome Commandeur: Tout en Douceur (August 30th)
  • Beatless (August 30th)
  • Fatman (August 30th)

Here’s What’s Leaving Netflix

  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall (August 9th)
  • Love Actually (August 9th)
  • She’s the Man (August 9th)
  • 22 Jump Street (August 19th)
  • Ash vs Evil Dead: Seasons 1-3 (August 24th)
  • Gotham: Seasons 1-5 (August 25th)
  • Mom: Seasons 1-8 (August 31st)

Chevy’s Blazer EV starts shipping, and the electric SUV will cost buyers a little extra

Chevy’s Blazer EV starts shipping, and the electric SUV will cost buyers a little extra

Chevy’s Blazer EV is now going to cost interested buyers quite a bit more. Customers who have ordered the all-wheel-drive RS trim of the electric SUV will see their prices jump to $60,215, up from its original announcement of $51,995.

After destination fees, customers can expect to pay about $10,000 more for the 2024 Blazer EV RS AWD, which dealers will start to receive in August. Chevy also plans to build the 2LT AWD versions this fall, which will now cost $56,715 compared to its previous price of $47,595 a year prior.

The move is in contrast to recent EV price cuts from automakers like Ford, which reduced prices on its Mustang Mach-E SUV, including the Premium AWD trim, which has dropped from $53,995 to $49,995, and the F-150 Lighting truck, which is now up to $10,000 cheaper — as the automaker’s seen an increase in inventory at dealerships.

Uncertainty amongst demand for electric vehicles has even led Tesla to reduce prices on its vehicles multiple times, including its top-selling Model Y SUV, which its Long Range trim is now $50,490 compared to $65,990 in January. Eligibility for new federal credits has also been a factor in fluctuating price tags.

Meanwhile, the base Chevy Blazer EV 1LT model, which was originally targeted for a Q1 2024 release and a cost of $44,995, now has an unspecified 2024 release date. Chevy will instead use the spring 2024 timeframe to build the highest-end SS-trim versions.

The above-base 2LT AWD model includes a 17.7-inch infotainment screen and an 11-inch digital instrument panel, along with heated steering, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, wireless phone charging, and 360-degree surround vision cameras, automatic power lift gate, and adaptive cruise control.

The most affordable 1LT model now has an unspecified 2024 release date — and price

Chevy plans to reveal pricing on the GM-estimated 293-mile range FWD versions of the 2LT, plus a FWD variant of the RS closer to their 2024 launch date. The RS AWD model includes everything the 2LT has, including a now EPA-estimated 279-mile range on a full charge.

The RS also gets extra sporty trimmings like gloss black finishes, RS badge, a different grille, 21-inch wheels, a flat-bottom steering wheel, animated exterior lights, rear seat heaters, heated wipers, heads-up display, rear camera mirror, and self-seal tires. Chevy will also release a RWD version of the Blazer EV RS, which will be built alongside the 2LT, come with Bose audio, have a 320-mile range (GM’s estimate), and cost $61,790.

After GM seemingly ended its affordable EV dream with the Bolt’s death earlier this year (the company announced last week that it would return to the lineup), the Blazer EV was expected to take the role of the automaker’s attainable electric SUV. And now that the future Bolt will share the same Ultium EV platform as the Blazer (and GM’s other upcoming EVs), Chevy might not be as worried about asking a bit more for an EV it can actually deliver this year.

RF Remote Made Easy

RF Remote Made Easy

The 433 MHz spectrum is a little bit of an oddball. It’s one of the few areas of the radio spectrum which is nearly universally unlicensed, meaning as long as devices using it adhere to the power restrictions and other guidelines about best practices, it’s essentially an open playground. IoT devices operate here, as well as security systems and, of course, remote controls. And, using a few off-the-shelf parts [hesam.moshiri] shows us how to take advantage of this piece of spectrum by designing and building a programmable and versatile 4-channel 433 MHz remote control.

Built around an ATmega8 microcontroller, making it easy to work with Arduino sketches, and with a 2×8 character LCD for ease-of-use when not connected to a computer, the wireless switching device can store up to 80 remote control codes in its EEPROM memory. This was one of the harder parts for [hesam] to sort out, but using structures to store the data for the codes eventually solved the problems. A simple GUI makes using it with whatever remote happens to be on hand fairly straightforward, including the ability to record codes from existing remotes on the fly and also to associate those codes with specific actions.

Schematics and a bill of materials are available on the project’s page, making this fairly accessible to those looking to add some wireless connectivity to a project, home automation system, or IoT device. It’s mainly set up as a switching device, but with some modifications could be put to work doing more complex tasks. The 433 MHz spectrum is an exciting place to be, too, and things like setting up entire security systems using it are not too far removed from a switching device like this.

MX Linux 23 is here: Your favorite Debian-based OS gets even better!

MX Linux 23 is here: Your favorite Debian-based OS gets even better!
MX Linux 23, the latest stable version of the popular operating system, is now available for download. This release is built on the sturdy foundation of Debian 12 “Bookworm” and MX repositories. Just as with previous versions, MX Linux 23 defaults to sysVinit while keeping systemd as an optional choice for installed systems. One of the most noticeable changes in this release is the revamped live boot menus, featuring a more prominent “check media” function. This new feature offers an automatic media check before proceeding to boot, thus providing a smoother user experience. MX Linux 23 brings with it an… [Continue Reading]

Things get personal for Jigsaw in the official trailer for Saw X

Things get personal for Jigsaw in the official trailer for Saw X

Over the weekend, Lionsgate released the official trailer for Saw X (yes, ten). The film, which is part of a franchise that has reached double-digit installments, will premiere in theaters on September 29th. It once again stars Tobin Bell as the infamous Jigsaw who, once again, wants to play a game — but this group of participants isn’t so innocent.

You can check out the official trailer for Saw X below:

What is Saw X about?

Saw X takes place between the first two films. After being tricked into having a life-saving operation, Jigsaw turns the screws — literally — on the people who defrauded him.

John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is back. The most chilling installment of the SAW franchise yet explores the untold chapter of Jigsaw’s most personal game. Set between the events of SAW I and II, a sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer – only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, John returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through a series of ingenious and terrifying traps.

In addition to Bell reprising his role as Jigsaw, Saw X will star Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand, Michael Beach, and Renata Vaca. It is written by Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg and directed by Kevin Greutert.

I honestly can’t believe that this franchise is still going. There are only so many times you can watch people be tortured while weaving in some semblance of mystery to the story…right? That might be the case. While the first Saw made over $100 million at the box office on a budget of $1 million, the ninth Saw film, Spiral, made just $40 million on a budget of $20 million. We’ll have to see how Saw X makes out.

Saw X will premiere worldwide in theaters on September 29th. If you want to watch the film in the best quality possible when it comes to streaming, check out our list of the Best TVs and Best Soundbars.