Meta has agreed to pay President Donald Trump $25 million to settle a 2021 lawsuit stemming from the social networks decision to suspend Trump's Facebook account following the riots at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
According to The Wall Street Journal, there had been little activity surrounding the lawsuit until Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg flew to Mar-a-Lago following the election. Toward the end of the November dinner, Trump raised the matter of the lawsuit, The Journal reports. The president signaled that the litigation had to be resolved before Zuckerberg could be brought into the tent. Much of the settlement will reportedly go toward funding Trump's presidential library.
Settling the lawsuit is the latest step Zuckerberg and Meta have taken to appease Trump, who at one point during the campaign threatened to imprison the Facebook founder for plotting against him. Following the election, Zuckerberg ended Metas longtime fact-checking program and rolled back content moderation standards that prohibited dehumanizing language and slurs targeting immigrants and LGBTQ people. He also ended corporate diversity programs and added Trump backer and UFC CEO Dana White to Metas board. Zuckerberg had a prominent seat at Trumps inauguration, alongside other tech CEOs.
News of Metas settlement broke just as the company released its latest earnings results. During a call with analysts, Zuckerberg said that 2025 was going to be a big year for redefining our relationship with governments. Though he didnt mention Trump by name, he said that we now have a US Administration that is proud of our leading companies, prioritizes American technology winning, and that will defend our values and interests abroad.
Zuckerberg, who earlier this week said the company would spend as much as $65 billion on AI investments this year, predicted that Meta AI would reach 1 billion users in 2025. He also commented on the rise of DeepSeek, an open-source AI assistant from China, saying that its strengthened our conviction about open source AI. One of the things that we're talking about, is there's going to be an open source standard globally, he said. And I think for own national advantage, it's important that it's an American standard.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-will-pay-25-million-to-settle-a-lawsuit-with-donald-trump-over-his-2021-facebook-suspension-234046291.html?src=rss
NASA and its partners have published the first wave of information about the samples collected in the OSIRIS-REx mission. "The findings do not show evidence for life itself, but they do suggest the conditions necessary for the emergence of life were widespread across the early solar system, increasing the odds life could have formed on other planets and moons," NASA said in a press release.The OSIRIS-REx mission used some pretty fascinating tech to autonomously acquire rocks and dust from an asteroid called Bennu. Asteroids can act as time capsules, and Bennu reflects what was happening in the solar system roughly 4.5 billion years ago. After a total journey of 3.9 billion miles, the capsule returned safely to Earth on September 24, 2023.One paper about Bennu, appearing in the journal Nature Astronomy, revealed that the samples contained 14 amino acids and five nucleobases also found in life forms on Earth. They also uncovered high levels of ammonia in the Bennu samples, as well as formaldehyde; when those two combine in the proper conditions, they can form complex molecules such as amino acids.The second publication appeared in Nature, and it detailed the environment those molecules formed in. Their assessment found evidence of a "brine," identifying a set of minerals that could have been left behind as salt water evaporated."Data from OSIRIS-REx adds major brushstrokes to a picture of a solar system teeming with the potential for life," said Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASA Goddard. "Why we, so far, only see life on Earth and not elsewhere, thats the truly tantalizing question."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nasas-osiris-rex-mission-teases-new-insights-on-how-life-began-223527954.html?src=rss
NASA and its partners have published the first wave of information about the samples collected in the OSIRIS-REx mission. "The findings do not show evidence for life itself, but they do suggest the conditions necessary for the emergence of life were widespread across the early solar system, increasing the odds life could have formed on other planets and moons," NASA said in a press release.The OSIRIS-REx mission used some pretty fascinating tech to autonomously acquire rocks and dust from an asteroid called Bennu. Asteroids can act as time capsules, and Bennu reflects what was happening in the solar system roughly 4.5 billion years ago. After a total journey of 3.9 billion miles, the capsule returned safely to Earth on September 24, 2023.One paper about Bennu, appearing in the journal Nature Astronomy, revealed that the samples contained 14 amino acids and five nucleobases also found in life forms on Earth. They also uncovered high levels of ammonia in the Bennu samples, as well as formaldehyde; when those two combine in the proper conditions, they can form complex molecules such as amino acids.The second publication appeared in Nature, and it detailed the environment those molecules formed in. Their assessment found evidence of a "brine," identifying a set of minerals that could have been left behind as salt water evaporated."Data from OSIRIS-REx adds major brushstrokes to a picture of a solar system teeming with the potential for life," said Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASA Goddard. "Why we, so far, only see life on Earth and not elsewhere, thats the truly tantalizing question."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/preview-nasas-osiris-rex-mission-teases-new-insights-on-how-life-began-223033717.html?src=rss
As Los Angeles reels from the loss of lives and homes to the Easton and Palisades fires, scientists are asking why the events of this January have been so catastrophic. Climate change very likely played a part in setting the stage that caused multiple fires to sweep through the region, according to analysis from the World Weather Attribution, an international research initiative.
"Eight of the eleven models examined also show an increase in extreme January [Fire Weather Index], increasing our confidence that climate change is driving this trend," the group said of their investigation.
Earth is currently 1.3°C hotter than it was before the industrial era began. The WWA found that extreme Fire Weather Index conditions are 35 percent more likely to occur in the LA area at this temperature. If the planet increases 2.6°C from its pre-industrial temperature, extreme conditions become another 35 percent more likely. Based on current policies, a 2.6°C higher temperature is the minimum increase the Earth is projected to reach by the year 2100.
The researchers noted, however, that the growing odds of those peak conditions is not a linear progression. Other factors also contributed to the widespread devastation across the Los Angeles area, including lack of rain; the region had not received significant rainfall since May 2024. This type of drought condition is 2.4 times more likely at the Earth's current temperature than at its pre-industrial level. Santa Ana winds also caused the rapid spread and difficulties containing the blazes. The team said that the impact of wind is not always reflected well in climate models.
The World Weather Attribution conducts rapid studies into extreme weather events to analyze whether climate change was a factor. The international team of researchers aim to address the impact of climate in natural disasters "while the impacts of the extreme weather event are still fresh in the minds of the public and policymakers, and decisions about rebuilding are being made."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/climate-change-increased-the-odds-of-los-angeles-devastating-fires-researchers-say-211652200.html?src=rss
A day after the plight of Garmin users whose devices have been stuck in a boot error gained media attention, the company says it has found a solution. We have resolved the underlying issue causing some devices to be stuck on the start up screen, a Garmin spokesperson told Engadget, pointing us to a support page the company recently updated. Unfortunately, if your wearable or cycling computer is displaying a blue triangle of death, the potential fix may involve losing some data in the process.
Depending on the device, Garmin says a factory reset is required. In other cases, you may only need to reset the power on your wearable and sync it with either the Garmin Connect app on your phone or via Garmin Express on a PC. Garmin has provided additional troubleshooting information for those with devices that are still malfunctioning after a power reset, with the required steps varying by product line.
For instance, in the case of the companys popular Forerunner family of running watches, youll need to power off your device, then press down and hold the Start/Stop and Back buttons until you hear a beep. At that point, release the Start/Stop button, but continue holding the Back button until you hear a second beep. Your watch will then display Garmin's language selection screen. If it was previously paired with your phone, youll need to remove the device from your Bluetooth settings before you can continue the reset process.
If its been a while since youve synced your watch, Garmin warns a factory reset will result in the loss of some data, including information relating to Garmin Wallet, Connect IQ content such as watch faces and, most notably, Body Battery insights. However, once you sync your device with Garmin Connect, most (if not all) of that data should be restored.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/garmin-says-it-has-fixed-the-blue-triangle-boot-error-that-was-bricking-some-devices-204919328.html?src=rss
Yet another video game is being adapted into a different medium. Quantic Dream's Beyond: Two Souls is bound for TV screens. There's one interesting wrinkle this time around, as one of the game's stars is behind the adaptation.
Elliot Page, who played protagonist Jodie Holmes in the 2013 action-adventure, will produce the series, which is in early development. His production company, Pageboy Productions, has scooped up the TV adaptation rights from Quantic Dream. The game's writer and director, David Cage, said he is collaborating with Page on the project.
As Deadline reports, the show will likely hew close to the non-linear storytelling format of the game. This adaptation will honor the games legacy while inviting fresh perspectives, Matt Jordan Smith, Pageboys head of development and production, said. Delving into questions of survival and how split-second decisions can alter not just our lives, but the lives of others, are key to telling the story.
The sci-fi plot of Beyond: Two Souls should be a good fit for television. Jodie possesses supernatural powers via her lifelong psychic link to a spiritual entity named Aiden.
Although Jodie can die in Beyond: Two Souls, there's no game over screen if she does, so it will be interesting to see how that translates into a TV show. "It's a game about death, so you can imagine that death plays a role in all of this," Cage told Engadget in 2013. "Actually, it's one of the big discoveries one of the big mysteries in the game is to discover what's on the other side. And it's definitely not a black screen."
The storys rich narrative and emotional depth offer us a fantastic foundation," Page told Deadline. "We want to create a unique vision of the characters and their journeys that resonates with fans and newcomers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/beyond-two-souls-is-becoming-a-tv-show-with-help-from-star-elliot-page-202544852.html?src=rss
Waymo is planning on bringing vehicles to ten new cities in 2025, according to a report by The Verge. This new testing phase starts in Las Vegas and San Diego. These wont be pure robotaxis, as theyll have a manual operator.
Its basically a small-scale experiment by the company to collect data and see how the self-driving system adapts to new locations, regional driving habits and unique weather patterns. All told, the company will be sending around ten vehicles to each new city. So what were looking for is places that are going to challenge our system and look very, very different, said Nick Rose, product manager for Waymos expansion efforts.
On the road again: As Waymo prepares for broader scale, we're embarking on our largest road trip to date, visiting 10+ cities in 2025. First up: Las Vegas and San Diego.Read more about how our road trips help advance the Waymo Driver's AI: https://t.co/96XzLSFV8O pic.twitter.com/UDCWOCkVOk Waymo (@Waymo) January 29, 2025
To that point, Las Vegas is known for dense traffic and plenty of chaos surrounding drop-off zones near hotels and casinos. San Diego is similar to locations in which the Alphabet-owned company already operates, like Phoenix, but it wants to validate that the system performs well without having a ton of prior driving information.
It plans on bringing the service to Miami, along with Austin and Atlanta. Waymo hasnt announced the remaining cities, but the system sure could use more testing in some of the colder parts of the country. The company has done some winter testing in upstate New York and Michigan, but that's about it. It also recently announced it would start to test driverless cars in Tokyo, but we arent sure if that counts as one of the ten new cities.
Its extremely important for the company to test in multiple cities. This is to account for unique traffic conditions and weather, of course, but also for inconsistencies that can trip up driverless systems. For instance, fire trucks and ambulances tend to look slightly different across cities and states. Waymo, after all, hasnt always had the best track record when it comes to emergency vehicles.
Freeways are an intrinsic part of the LA experience. To better serve our expansive 79-square-mile service area, we're beginning to provide our employees with access to fully autonomous rides on LA freewaysa key step toward expanding this capability to all riders. pic.twitter.com/oWqVQ1hlJz Waymo (@Waymo) January 28, 2025
This is just the latest move to ensure that driverless cars are ready for primetime. The company recently started bringing its robotaxis onto Los Angeles highways.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymo-to-test-its-driverless-system-in-ten-new-cities-in-2025-193852446.html?src=rss
If you love nothing more than good data visualization, Googles latest Sheets update will be right up your alley. The company has begun rolling out an upgrade to the apps Gemini side panel, a feature it introduced this past summer, to give its AI agent the ability to generate more in-depth insights about the data in your spreadsheets.
Tapping the new Analyze for insights shortcut in Sheets will prompt Gemini to offer insights on contextual trends, patterns, and correlations between different variables in your data, according to Google. The agent will also create charts based on your data, which you can insert as static images in your document. Depending on the complexity of the prompt, Gemini will use Python code to complete the request.
Google
There are a few notable limitations to the features current implementation. For instance, Google notes that once youve inserted a chart it cannot be modified. Additionally, any charts Gemini generates won't be directly linked to your data, so they wont automatically update after you make changes.
Separately, Google recommends users be as specific as possible when prompting Gemini to provide data insights. For the most accurate results, ensure your data is in a consistent format, with clear headers and no missing values, the company adds.
You can use the updated Gemini side panel in Sheets if you pay for Google One AI Premium, or if your company is a Business or Enterprise Workspace customer with a Standard or Plus plan. Anyone with a Gemini Education, Gemini Education Premium, Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on will also receive access. Google expects to complete the rollout of this feature by February 20, so you might not see in your version of Sheets right away.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-can-now-do-more-complex-data-analysis-in-google-sheets-191218214.html?src=rss
Sony just revealed some new games available for PlayStation Plus subscribers in February. The lineup isnt particularly exciting, but does include some solid entries like Payday 3 and High on Life.
The company also made an announcement that could impact current PS4 owners, saying that PS4 games will no longer be a key benefit and will only be occasionally offered starting in 2026. This is something of a bummer, but understandable given that the PS4 came out in 2013. Heck, even the PS5 is approaching its fifth birthday.
This wont impact titles that have already been downloaded, as subscribers will continue to have access to games as long as they remain a PS Plus member. Sony says it may still provide titles that can be playable on both PS4 and PS5 consoles after next year.
Now onto the games. Payday 3, available for PS5 only, is a great entry in the co-op bank-robbing franchise. This is a four-player title thats set several years after the events of Payday 2. Players get to rob banks and even take hostages. Its a good and bloody time.
High on Life is another FPS, but with tongue firmly planted in cheek. All of the weapons talk, for one, and most of them are voiced by Justin Roiland (who originally voiced both Rick and Morty of Rick and Morty.) Roiland has been mired in a sexual assault scandal, but theres an option to turn off the chatty guns. It'll be available for both PS4 and PS5.
Pac-Man World Re-Pac is a remake (or Re-Pac) of a 2004 platformer. This refresh offers an improved UI, fine-tuned mechanics and updated visuals. Its actually a pretty solid platformer. Its no Mario Odyssey or Astro Bot, but it gets the job done. It also includes the original arcade game, though it must be unlocked. This one will also be available for PS4 and PS5.
All three of the aforementioned titles will be available for download on February 4. Of course, PlayStation Plus both gives and takes each month. Some games are about to leave the service. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe will disappear on February 3.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/februarys-modest-playstation-plus-selection-includes-high-on-life-and-payday-3-184559839.html?src=rss
Sony is making a PlayStation Network login optional for several of its single-player games on PC. The company says that you'll no longer need one for God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Marvels Spider-Man 2 (which arrives on Steam and the Epic Games Store this Thursday) or The Last of Us Part II Remastered (which hits PC on April 3).
However, those who do sign in with a PSN account while playing those titles will get some in-game goodies such as cosmetic outfits, early unlocks of certain gear and other resources. They'll also be able to unlock trophies and have access to a friends management feature.
For months, players have been protesting the need to link their PSN account to their Steam or Epic Games Store purchases to play single-player games. It at least to some degree makes sense for multiplayer elements of games like Ghost of Tsushima. But as evidenced by Sony swiftly dropping the requirement from Helldivers 2 after a major backlash from players, the PSN account linking strategy has by and large been a mess.
Meanwhile, Sony has revealed more details about what you can expect from Marvels Spider-Man 2 on PC. The port from Nixxes includes multiple ray-tracing options, along with upscaling and frame generation. The game also has pretty modest minimum specs, so it might still run decently on a laptop that you've been rocking for several years.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/sony-is-ditching-the-psn-login-requirement-on-some-of-its-pc-games-183259677.html?src=rss
