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REALISTIC MOTION RETARGETING

MeshRet has introduced a novel approach for improving motion retargeting for 3D characters that focuses on preserving body geometry interactions from the start.

BETTER GENERATION WITH SELF-GUIDANCE SAMPLING

Researchers have enhanced Masked Generative Models (MGMs) with a new self-guidance sampling method, improving their image generation quality while maintaining diversity.

SPEEDING UP TRANSFORMERS WITH TOKEN MERGING

This project introduces PiToMe, an algorithm that compresses Vision Transformers by progressively merging tokens after each layer. This method reduces the number of tokens processed.

3D RECONSTRUCTION WITHOUT POSE DATA

PF3plat tackles the challenge of pose-free 3D reconstruction and novel view synthesis from RGB images, eliminating the need for extra data.

A BENCHMARK FOR EVALUATING DATA CURATION METHODS

SELECT is the first large-scale benchmark for comparing data curation strategies in image classification. ImageNet++ is a new dataset that extends ImageNet-1K with five new training-data shifts, each assembled using different curation techniques.

FINE-TUNING LLMS TO 1.58BIT: EXTREME QUANTIZATION MADE EASY

BitNet, developed by Microsoft Research, introduces a transformer architecture that reduces LLM computational and memory requirements by using ternary precision (-1, 0, 1) equating to 1.58 bits per parameter. Models are required to be trained from scratch. BitNet can also fine-tune existing models to this low-precision format, maintaining strong performance on downstream tasks. This approach significantly reduces energy consumption and improves inference speed using specialized kernels for efficient matrix multiplication.

HOW WE SAVED HUNDREDS OF ENGINEERING HOURS BY WRITING TESTS WITH LLMS

Assembled uses LLMs to accelerate and improve software testing, enabling test generation in minutes instead of hours. This approach increases engineering productivity, saving time and shifting focus to feature development. LLMs generate comprehensive and accurate tests that maintain code quality and development velocity.

25% OF SMARTPHONE OWNERS DON'T WANT AI AS APPLE INTELLIGENCE DEBUTS

A CNET survey revealed that only 18% of smartphone users are motivated by AI features to upgrade their devices, with privacy and cost being significant concerns. Major manufacturers like Apple, Google, and Samsung are integrating more AI capabilities in their phones, yet many users prioritize battery life and storage over AI functions. AI subscriptions are set to become common, but nearly half of users are unwilling to pay for these features.

Rime's story.

GOOGLE PREPS ‘JARVIS' AI AGENT THAT WORKS IN CHROME

Google's Project Jarvis, powered by Gemini 2.0, aims to automate web-based tasks in Chrome by using AI agents capable of reasoning and planning.

OPENAI'S WHISPER TRANSCRIPTION TOOL HAS HALLUCINATION ISSUES, RESEARCHERS SAY

Concerns have risen over OpenAI's Whisper introducing hallucinations in transcriptions, even in medical contexts.

FORERUNNER K2 HUMANOID ROBOT CAN CARRY 33 LB IN EACH DEXTEROUS HAND

Kepler has unveiled the Forerunner K2 humanoid robot, which has advanced AI, improved hardware, and enhanced vision and navigation systems for better real-time interaction.

BLACKROCK'S IBIT DOMINATES AS SPOT BITCOIN ETFS RECORD $870 MILLION IN DAILY INFLOWS, LARGEST SINCE JUNE

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw record inflows of $870M on Tuesday, with BlackRock's IBIT ETF leading the increase with $642M inflows and reaching its highest trading volume since March. Spot Ethereum ETFs also recorded positive flows, with BlackRock's ETHA attracting ~$13.6M in net inflows, as both Bitcoin and ETH prices rose amidst increased trading activity.

MR.BEAST LINKED TO CRYPTO WALLET SCAM

Researchers investigating MrBeast's involvement in cryptocurrency claim that he was involved in insider trading and profited from promoting and later selling tokens to his followers. The investigation uncovered more than 50 wallets linked to him, showing patterns of large token allocations, strategic selling near price peaks, and connections with other influencers. This resulted in millions in profits while leaving many projects' followers with significant losses.

INTRODUCING MEMEPAY

Memeland (owned by 9GAG) has announced MemePay, a new payment platform designed for "memecoin" users that allows them to use their digital assets for real-world purchases while offering rewards like airdrops and exclusive perks with every transaction. The service promises simple, jargon-free information on eligibility, security, and card options. It aims to be accessible for all types of users.

FAULT PROOFS ARE NOW LIVE ON BASE MAINNET

Base has deployed fault proofs on its mainnet, enabling permissionless state validation and marking a significant step toward Stage 1 decentralization. The implementation allows any participant to propose claims about the chain state and challenge potentially fraudulent claims within 3.5 days, with successful challengers receiving economic incentives. Base plans to achieve full stage 1 decentralization in the coming months with a decentralized security council for protocol upgrades, with Stage 2 developments in 2025 through multiple fault proof implementations and improved state validation standards.

VIRTUALS PROTOCOL: SIMPLIFYING THE CRYPTO X AI EXPERIENCE

Virtuals Protocol allows users to create and co-own AI agents across gaming and entertainment applications without any coding. It enables these agents to interact in virtual environments and generate revenue through user engagement. Users can purchase tokens for governance rights and potentially earn $VIRTUAL, the platform's currency.

GLOBAL CRYPTO DEVELOPER DATA

Electric Capital's analysis of over 110,000 crypto developer profiles revealed that Asia leads with 32% of global crypto developers. North America's share has declined, from 44% in 2015 to 24% in 2024. The United States remains the top country with 18.8% of developers, followed by India with 11.8%. Within the US, 64% developers work outside of California and New York, highlighting crypto's potential for nationwide economic impact.

TOKEN TERMINAL UPGRADE

The upgraded Tokens Terminal AI agent acts as a key opinion leader by analyzing and tweeting about top token holdings using three main systems: Llama 405B for content creation, Flux for image generation, and DITHER-powered token analysis. Future features will improve functionality with automated trading, multimodal capabilities, and increased social engagement.

THE FAT WALLET THESIS

A new thesis suggests value in the blockchain stack will increasingly accrue to wallets rather than protocols or applications, driven by protocols' diminishing pricing power and applications' commoditization through increased competition. Wallets are positioned to capture value through their proximity to end users, particularly via payment-for-order-flow and distribution as a service, leveraging high switching costs and mobile UX dominance. However, emerging frontend competitors like Jupiter and Infinex could challenge wallets' dominance by offering integrated user experience combining the most common activities with non-custodial principles.

WHY BLACKROCK IS BUYING BITCOIN

BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF strategy is about meeting demand-driven inflows rather than speculative investment.

REDDIT SELLS CRYPTOCURRENCY

Reddit recently revealed it sold most of its cryptocurrency holdings before October.

MICHAEL SAYLOR'S MICROSTRATEGY PLANS TO RAISE $42B TO BUY MORE BITCOIN OVER NEXT 3 YEARS

The plan will use $21 billion of equity and $21 billion of debt to add to its $18 billion Bitcoin reserve.

SWELL SWITCHES TO OP STACK TO DEVELOP ROLLUP, REPLACING EARLIER PLAN TO USE POLYGON CDK

The new rollup will feature ETH as its gas token, allocate part of sequencer revenue to the Optimism Collective, and integrate Swell's unique "proof of restake" model to boost security and yield within the Superchain ecosystem.

AMAZON JUST TWEAKED ITS CONTROVERSIAL APP ICON AGAIN

In 2021, when Amazon updated its app icon from a trolley design to resemble a cardboard box with tape, users compared it to Hitler's mustache. Recently, Amazon further modified the icon by adding stripes to the tape. This tweak surprised some users, briefly making the app harder to recognize.

A MYSTERIOUS NEW IMAGE GENERATION MODEL HAS APPEARED

The “red_panda” model outperforms Midjourney, Black Forest Labs, and OpenAI models on the Artificial Analysis benchmark, ranking 40 Elo points above Black Forest Labs' Flux1.1 Pro, the next-best-ranking model. Crowdsourced from AI enthusiasts, red_panda produces images quickly, generating results in around 7 seconds. Its origin and release plans may soon be revealed.

THESE SPOOKY MCDONALD'S ADS ARE MINIMALIST PERFECTION

McDonald's has cleverly designed spooky ads that transform its simple fries into a playful yet eerie experience. These ads have been celebrated for their minimalist approach and nostalgic appeal, which contrast with McDonald's usual vibrant branding to create a powerful impact using subtle imagery. The striking, retro-inspired designs have earned acclaim, notably on Reddit, solidifying their status among top print ads.

USING CONSTRAINTS IN FIGMA

Constraints in Figma enable responsive and adaptable design by defining how objects adjust within frames when resized, making them ideal for building flexible components across various screen sizes. Frames help organize layers and allow styling, while constraints support precise object alignment, offering options like pinning to edges or centering.

THIS NEW AI TOOL WANTS TO MAKE IT FASTER TO DESIGN A PRODUCT BREAKTHROUGH

Patsnap's new AI tool, Eureka, accelerates R&D by providing targeted answers and insights during early product development. Built on PatsnapGPT, Eureka features an AI assistant that offers secure, in-depth responses and can generate reports to refine ideas.

DESIGNING FOR ANYONE: THE POWER OF ACCESSIBLE PRODUCTS

Accessible design goes beyond technical guidelines. It's about creating adaptable, user-friendly products for anyone, regardless of their situation. Shifting from “designing for everyone” to “designing for anyone” encourages empathy and improves usability for diverse scenarios, benefiting all users universally.

COOLSHAPES

CoolShapes is an open-source set of 100+ abstract shapes crafted for any design and development project.

FIGMA TO CODE (FIGMA PLUGIN)

Export responsive and reusable designs and interactive prototypes and convert them to React and HTML/CSS.

TURN TEXT (AND IMAGES!) INTO CALENDAR EVENTS

Agendahero instantly turns any email, image, PDF, or text into calendar events with AI.

KEYCHRON'S APPROACH TO DESIGNING MECHANICAL KEYBOARDS + NEW PRODUCTS

Mechanical keyboards have surged in popularity, with Keychron leading by offering customizable, high-quality designs that cater to various user needs. Focused on usability and build quality, Keychron incorporates customer feedback to create versatile options, including recent models with advanced customization and new layouts, maintaining a balance between design and function.

HORIZON ORGANIC'S BRAND REFRESH CELEBRATES THREE DECADES OF PIONEERING ORGANIC DIARY

Horizon Organic recently refreshed its brand with Elmwood New York, enhancing its visual system, messaging, and mascot to reinforce its leadership in the organic dairy market. The redesign, centered on the "shared horizon," highlights sustainability, nutrition, and support for family farms across packaging, marketing, and digital touchpoints.

FROM ATOMIC DESIGN TO RELATIVISTIC INTERFACES

Relativistic UI introduces a new paradigm in interface design that emphasizes adaptability and contextual awareness. The combination of Atomic Design, Mouldable UI, and Frames of Reference enables components to respond to user needs and global states. This approach simplifies component code, improving maintainability and scalability for complex digital applications.

EXPLORING MOTION DESIGN WITH KINETIC TYPOGRAPHY: MAT VOYCE'S TYPE SCRAPS

Mat Voyce's “Type Scraps” series showcases his animated typography, which transforms letterforms into expressive, versatile, and kinetic art that spans retro to minimal styles across digital media, music videos, and branding, redefining typography as a dynamic storytelling tool.

FOR COMIC SANS' 30TH BIRTHDAY, A RECONSIDERATION?

Loved by teachers for readability and criticized for its informality, Comic Sans, now 30, endures as an accessible, democratic typeface.

CRAFTING TOPOGRAPHIES: HAND-EMBROIDERED WALL ART BY MORII DESIGN

Brinda Dudhat's art, which features traditional Indian weaving and embroidery, honors fabric's cultural legacy and community-centered craftsmanship.

REPORT: HOW B2B MARKETERS CAN REACH DECISION MAKERS WITH CTV

CTV advertising is rapidly gaining traction, with U.S. spending projected to reach $30 billion by 2025. About 82% of U.S. households own a CTV, and 98% of LinkedIn users engage with it weekly. Business decision makers, especially Millennials and Gen Xers, are receptive to B2B ads, with 94% open to such content. CTV drives immediate actions, enhances brand recall, and utilizes interactive formats effectively. Leveraging first-party data can boost targeting accuracy by 40%.

MODASH IS FLIPPING THE INFLUENCER MARKETING SCRIPT BY CONNECTING BRANDS WITH THE LONG TAIL OF CREATORS

Estonian startup Modash, which raised $12 million in Series A funding, offers an end-to-end influencer marketing platform with a unique focus on smaller, niche creators rather than traditional high-follower influencers. The company's platform scrapes public data to connect brands with over 250 million creators, helping them reach engaged audiences. Modash aims to disrupt influencer marketing by emphasizing authentic content from smaller creators, avoiding the cynicism surrounding conventional influencer promotions.

3 WAYS TO TURN INTERVIEWS INTO YOUR MOST SUCCESSFUL CONTENT

To create impactful content from interviews, engage a diverse group, including executives for strategic insights and operational staff for actionable examples. Communicate the content's vision to avoid miscommunication, and begin with broad topics to stimulate discussion before narrowing to specifics. Leverage tools like Descript for transcription and Riverside for video quality.

FREEMIUM TO FORTUNE 500: HOW HERE TECHNOLOGIES GREW ITS DEVELOPER BASE 10X

HERE Technologies grew its developer base 10X by switching to a freemium model, offering 250,000 free API calls per month. This shift removed the friction of delayed trials, encouraging experimentation and fostering rapid growth from 50,000 to 500,000 developers in three years. The hypergrowth also brought challenges, including scaling support and adapting sales models to identify enterprise prospects effectively.

MAGICBRIEF

MagicBrief streamlines ad creation by providing a vast ad library, competitor insights, and creative benchmarks. It helps users manage ad concepts, automate performance reporting, and sync ad accounts for data-driven insights on top-performing content.

WE STUDIED 200,000 AI OVERVIEWS: HERE'S WHAT WE LEARNED

Only 5% of search results with AI overviews include PPC ads. AI-generated responses now play a pivotal role in shaping visibility, with informational queries leading most of the traffic. Ranking in the top 10 organically offers no guarantee of inclusion in AI overviews, requiring marketers to rethink strategies.

THE BIGGEST IDEAL CUSTOMER PROFILE MISTAKES BUSINESSES MAKE — AND HOW TO FIX THEM

Many companies misidentify their customers, leading to wasted resources and missed opportunities. Rather than guessing or assuming early adopters and latecomers have the same needs, focus on profitable customer segments. Define customer roles distinctly as deciders, payers, and users to avoid targeting inefficiencies. Identifying and targeting the true decision-makers, who choose the company's solution, can dramatically improve growth. Accurate customer targeting in the “customer ecosystem” is fundamental, much like mastering the basics in a sport.

HOW JUNE WINS BY DOING THE OPPOSITE

June is challenging the complex analytics market by focusing on radical simplicity, targeting generalists instead of specialists with intuitive tools. Its founder-led marketing strategy, which prioritizes personal brands over corporate logos, generates millions of LinkedIn impressions each month. By stacking micro-strategies — like simplicity, company-level insights, and audience targeting — June has carved out a unique, defensible position in a crowded market.

I ATTENDED GOOGLE'S CREATOR CONVERSATION EVENT, AND IT TURNED INTO A FUNERAL

Creators affected by search algorithm changes voiced frustration over a lack of transparency on de-ranking at Google's recent Creator Conversation. Despite attempts by moderator Danny Sullivan to bridge the gap, Google's executives offered few actionable insights, sidestepping creators' concerns about small sites' visibility. For some, the event, set against Google's eerily empty headquarters, reflected the company's shift away from supporting independent creators and left them feeling dismissed.