Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the moving-forward department: Google today unveiled significant upgrades to its Gemini 2.5 AI models, introducing an experimental "Deep Think" reasoning mode for 2.5 Pro that allows the model to consider multiple hypotheses before responding. The new capability has achieved impressive results on complex benchmarks, scoring highly on the 2025 USA Mathematical Olympiad and leading on LiveCodeBench, a competition-level coding benchmark. Gemini 2.5 Pro also tops the WebDev Arena leaderboard with an ELO score of 1420.
"Based on Google's experience with AlphaGo, AI model responses improve when they're given more time to think," said Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind. The enhanced Gemini 2.5 Flash, Google's efficiency-focused model, has improved across reasoning, multimodality, and code benchmarks while using 20-30% fewer tokens. Both models now feature native audio capabilities with support for 24+ languages, thought summaries, and "thinking budgets" that let developers control token usage. Gemini 2.5 Flash is currently available in preview with general availability expected in early June, while Deep Think remains limited to trusted testers during safety evaluations.
Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the pushing-the-limit department: Google is adding AI-powered live translation to Meet, enabling participants to converse in their native languages while the system automatically translates in real time with the speaker's original vocal characteristics intact. Initially launching with English-Spanish translation this week, the technology processes speech with minimal delay, preserving tone, cadence, and expressions -- creating an effect similar to professional dubbing but with the speaker's own voice, the company announced at its developer conference Tuesday.
In some testings, WSJ found occasional limitations: initial sentences sometimes appear garbled before smoothing out, context-dependent words like "match" might translate imperfectly (rendered as "fight" in Spanish), and the slight delay can create confusing crosstalk with multiple participants. Google plans to extend support to Italian, German, and Portuguese in the coming weeks. The feature is rolling out to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers now, with enterprise availability planned later this year. The company says that no meeting data is stored when translation is active, and conversation audio isn't used to train AI models.
Posted by from MMO Champion
Revisit Horrific Visions for New Challenges and Rewards
Originally Posted by Blizzard
(
Blue Tracker /
Official Forums)
Madness stirs once more! Return to N'Zoth's twisted versions of Stormwind and Orgrimmar in Horrific Visions Revisted and take on the new challenges within—complete objectives, collect Displaced Corrupted Mementos, and claim a dark trove of mounts, toys, transmogs, weapon enchantments, and more!
Whether powering up your Warband or venturing into the nightmare for the first time, now is the moment to walk willingly into the void and seize what lies beyond—maintain your Sanity or ultimately fail.
Unimaginable Horrors Lie Beyond
Speak with Soridormi, who has set up camp on the Coreway overlook in Dornogal to deliver you to the Tenebrous Gateway, where the Image of Wrathion will help you enter the void-corrupted visions of Orgrimmar or Stormwind.
Enter the madness alone, in the company of the new Construct of Soridormi companion, or rally your allies to help defend against the creeping decay of insanity. Click on the Bronze Hourglass after passing through the Portal of Horrific Visions to extend the invite to the insanity-immune Construct of Soridormi to help fill in the gaps as a Tank, DPS, or Healer.
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Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the ripple-effect department: America's regional state universities are experiencing steep enrollment declines, triggering economic crises in the towns that depend on them, while flagship universities continue to thrive.
At Western Illinois University in Macomb, enrollment has plummeted 47% since 2010, driving the city's population down 23% to 14,765. Empty dorms have been repurposed or demolished, while local businesses struggle to survive. "It's almost like you're watching the town die," Kalib McGruder, a 28-year veteran of the campus police department, told WSJ.
An analysis of 748 public four-year institutions reveals enrollment at prestigious state universities increased 9% between 2015 and 2023, while regional state schools saw a 2% decline. The University of Tennessee Knoxville's enrollment jumped 30% as the state's regional colleges collectively fell 3%. With high school graduate numbers expected to decline starting next year after reaching a record high in 2024, the outlook for struggling college towns appears bleak.
GameStop must be trying to clear out some space, because the national video game retailer is selling a huge assortment of AAA games, remakes, and recent releases for $15 and $30 as part of a new sale. So why not take advantage of this corporate clean-up and grab some big games for less than half the normal price?
We still don’t know much about the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel currently in the works at CD Projekt Red. Development on the RPG, code-named “Orion,” is in full swing after the studio wrapped support for the original game last year, but the team is still keeping most details about it under wraps, other than a few informal…
Switch 2 pre-orders have basically been sold out since they went live last month, but a lucky few might still be able to nab the new Nintendo console in person when it launches on June 5. GameStop, Best Buy, and others have promised limited quantities on site at certain stores when fans go to pick-up their midnight…
Jurassic World Rebirth’s second and final trailer is here and while it gives us a good look at the big nasty dino stalking our heroes, the only thing I care about is that cute dinosaur hanging out in a backpack. I love that dinosaur now and I’ll protect it with my life.
One of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's big innovations is adding a dodge, parry, and counter system to its otherwise traditional turn-based battles. It’s a clever tweak that helps keep combat engrossing for its 30+ hour journey and also an incredible opportunity for the game’s developers to troll the crap out of…
If long-time The Last of Us fans have learned anything watching HBO’s second season, it’s that knowing something is coming doesn’t make it any less painful to watch a second time. The live-action adaptation of The Last of Us Part II has been divisive (I fucking hated it, personally), but it’s still putting everyone…
Namor is the king of the seas, and he truly shows it with his potential to dominate matches and shut down certain characters in Marvel Rivals entirely.
Helldivers 2 Finally Takes The Fight To The City Streets In Urban Warfare Update 2025-05-20 07:45:02
The Illuminate threat has spend the last few days on a collision course with Super Earth, and now the planet is under siege as players face the extraction shooter’s biggest challenge yet. A new Heart of Democracy update ups the stakes and adds urban warfare, as Helldivers 2' player count once again surges. It’s…
You know, Naoe and Yasuke have been killing a whole lot of people lately. Maybe this time, given this mission’s all about two diametrically opposed political factions trying to come to an agreement, they really should dial back down on the violent rhetoric, reach across the aisle, and let diplomacy take its course.
