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Ozempic and Wegovy linked to rare risk of sudden vision loss
Popular diabetes and weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to a slightly increased risk of a rare condition that can cause sudden, potentially permanent vision loss. Although the risk remains very low, Rutgers researchers say the findings warrant attention as millions of people turn to GLP-1 medications.
New California test scores show most students don’t meet standards in math, English or science
California's 2026 test scores follow a familiar trend: incremental improvement from the prior year, with the majority of students behind grade-level standards.
Your Business Probably Has More Data Than Insight by Nathan Tayloe
Most businesses know more about themselves than they ever have. Leaders have access to financial reports, sales pipelines, customer data, employee metrics, website analytics, and dashboards for almost every part of the organization. CRMs track every stage of the sales process. Marketing platforms report results in real time. AI can analyze and summarize enormous amounts of information in seconds. Yet I've sat in plenty of meetings where all of that information is available, and some of the most important questions are still surprisingly difficult to answer. What's actually working? Why are customers choosing us? Where are we losing opportunities? What should we do differently? Having the data and understanding what it means are two very different things. More Information Doesn't Always Create More Clarity Over the past decade, businesses have invested heavily in visibility, and that's a good thing. We can understand performance with a level of detail that would have been unimaginable not long ago. But there's an unintended consequence. The easier something becomes to measure, the easier it is to assume it must be important. Website traffic goes up, so that looks positive. Leads increase, so marketing appears to be working. Sales activity climbs, so the pipeline looks healthy. Maybe. The numbers tell us what happened. Understanding why it happened, whether it matters, and what we should do next still requires judgment. Not Everything That Matters Fits on a Dashboard Consider a customer who ultimately contacts your company through Google. The data may attribute that lead to search. What it may not show is that the customer heard about you from a colleague six months earlier, saw your company mentioned in an industry publication, followed one of your employees on LinkedIn, and read several reviews before finally searching for your company. Google may have produced the click. It didn't necessarily create the decision. This happens throughout a business. Some of the things that matter most are difficult to reduce to a single metric: Why your best customers stay Why talented employees choose your company Why a prospect trusts one provider over another Why one service is gaining momentum while another isn't Why the market perceives your business the way it does Data can help answer those questions, but it needs context. Better Decisions Start With Better Questions One of the easiest traps for leaders is starting with the information in front of them rather than the decision they're trying to make. Instead of opening a dashboard and asking, "What does the data show?" it can be more useful to start with a different set of questions: What are we trying to understand? What decision are we trying to make? What would we need to know to make that decision confidently? That changes the role of data. Instead of looking at every number available and searching for meaning, you're using information to understand something specific about the business. Information Still Requires Judgment More sophisticated analytics and AI will continue to give leaders access to better information, faster. That's valuable, but I don't think it reduces the importance of experience and judgment. If anything, it increases it. Someone still has to decide which numbers deserve attention, which patterns matter, what context might be missing, and when the data isn't telling the whole story. The goal isn't to know more about your business simply because you can. It's to understand your business well enough to make better decisions. Good data can tell you what happened. Good leadership has to decide what it means. — Learn more about how we help organizations turn business, customer, and marketing insights into smarter strategies at tayloegray.com, or reach out directly at nathan@tayloegray.com.
Wood County development meeting highlights business growth
PARKERSBURG — Reviewing the past year’s economic development efforts and connecting local businesses with future opportunities were the focus of a joint annual meeting Wednesday at Discovery World on Market. The Wood County Development Authority and the Parkersburg-Wood County Area Development Corporation held the meeting in Discovery World’s Ember Theater for the first time. Lindsey […]
Talarico criticizes Israel’s actions in Gaza, backs two-state solution
James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Texas’ Senate seat, addressed the nuances of a voter’s question about rising antisemitism and his stance on Israel. “I have deep love and respect for the Jewish people, for the Jewish scriptures,” noting that he learned about them from a local rabbi and not from a Christian perspective.
Find Halloween fun across New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s Halloween calendar is packed with trick-or-treating, zombie dancing, haunted trails and spooky shows, with events running through early November...
Columbus Day weekend brought in high traffic, strong business
Toll data showed this year's Columbus Day weekend had the highest number of cars on the road in the past five years.
Justices grant Trump administration’s request to pause lower court ruling in political ad rate dispute
The Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the way for political parties and joint fundraising committees to continue to receive favorable advertising rates in the run-up to the 2026 election. In a five-…
Shawn Horcoff Reveals Surprising Detail About Simon Edvinsson Contract Talks
Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff reveals new details about Simon Edvinsson contract negotiations, including direct conversations and Detroit's flexibility.
Bay Area Science Festival set for Saturday; free event to feature games, robots, animals and experiments
13th annual gathering at UC San Francisco Mission Bay Campus showcases innovation and research, with a focus on kids
NASA develops batteries to power humanity's return to moon
If you've ever had your car start sluggishly, or not at all, on a particularly frigid winter morning, you know standard batteries do not like extreme cold. That's why NASA researchers are working to develop ...
Giants Give Surprising Injury Update on Breakout Star
The New York Giants had a surprise injury update on their breakout defensive star on Wednesday. The post Giants Give Surprising Injury Update on Breakout Star appeared first on HEAVY.
California Science Center announces early reservations to see space shuttle Endeavour
The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens to the public on Nov. 13.
“Airplane!” star details how Leslie Nielsen used hand-operated whoopee cushion to make him break: ‘That was the hardest thing’
Robert Hays says it was “very difficult” to keep a straight face while filming their now-iconic cockpit scene.
Mayor’s support clears the way for horse carriage ban
The City Council is expected to pass the legislation next week.
Regional efforts are needed to address longstanding behavioral health challenges on the Western Slope, report shows
Over the years, Colorado’s Western Slope has developed a range of services to address the region’s behavioral health challenges. Longstanding challenges with funding uncertainty, provider shortages and gaps in care, however, have limited their ability...
Regional efforts are needed to address longstanding behavioral health challenges on the Western Slope, report shows
Over the years, Colorado’s Western Slope has developed a range of services to address the region’s behavioral health challenges. Longstanding challenges with funding uncertainty, provider shortages and gaps in care, however, have limited their ability...
Warriors' Kristaps Porzingis makes distasteful joke in his latest health update
Porzingis effectively disappeared from the Warriors for two straight weeks.
One Of My Favorite Shows Of 2026 Is On CBS (And It Has 100% From Critics)
Everyone needs to check this show out, especially if you love The Good Wife and Elsbeth.
Reese Witherspoon Is Buying Back Hello Sunshine 5 Years After Its $900 Million Deal
The actress and entrepreneur is reportedly reclaiming her business at a fraction of the price she sold it for.
Sinead O’Connor was ‘really scared’ of Prince, their shared hair and makeup artist says: ‘That’s a real story’
Sinead O’Connor was ‘really scared’ of Prince, their shared hair and makeup artist says in a new book about the late ‘Little Red Corvette’ artist.
SAT-DCA strengthens San Antonio’s business connection to DC
SPONSORED: Now in its second year, the daily flight is making travel to Washington easier while strengthening connections.
Martinez outburst came out of 'anger and frustration'
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez says he "spoke out of anger and frustration" when launching a scathing attack on the club's hierarchy.
From the pew to the polls: How changes in Black worship are reshaping Black politics
As the midterms near, activists and religious experts explain why faith and politics have never been separate in the Black
Stanford Scientists Find New Way to Revive Bleached Coral
Bleached corals have a remarkable ability to recover, when put in contact with a healthy clone and beneficial algae, Bay Area researchers announced in a study published Monday.
TikTok star Bryce Hall arrested on domestic violence charges in Nevada
A representative for the influencer denied the allegations.
Kyle Monangai listed as DNP on practice report
Bears RB Kyle Monangai misses first practice of week because of injuries
Surry training business helps ‘salty’ pups build skills for 10 years
With a decade under its belt, Thurston and her four other trainers have worked with more than 7,000 dogs.
Arizona Cardinals sign TE Shawn Bowman to active roster
The Cardinals filled the vacancy on their roster from putting Isaiah Adams on injured reserve.
Quarterly income up almost 5% for Centennial Bank parent company
Conway-based Home BancShares on Wednesday (Oct. 14) reported third-quarter net income of $129.451 million, up 4.7% compared with the same period in 2025. The per share earnings of 65 cents...
Nebraska holds first public hearings on ballot initiatives, including school sports measure
The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office held the first of several public hearings Wednesday on proposed ballot measures that voters will decide on in the Nov. 3 general election.
Documents: Years of noncompliance, complaints at Kalamazoo-area mental health hospital
Kalamazoo Behavioral Health Hospital, a 64-bed psychiatric facility southwest of the city, opened its doors in late 2024. Two years later, it may be forced to shut down after dozens of patients were hospitalized due to injuries sustained at the facility.
Miami-Dade pushes for smaller retail development as available land grows scarce
Miami-Dade County wants to make it easier for retail and entertainment developers to build in unincorporated areas, as suitable land for large-scale projects becomes harder to find. A proposed ordinance would cut the minimum site size by 40 percent to qualify for a retail district zoning designation. The proposal, sponsored by Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert III, would lower the minimum acreage for a retail entertainment district planned area development district, known as REDPAD, from 50 acres to 30 acres. The measure unanimously passed its first reading, with a second reading and public hearing scheduled for the county commission’s Oct. 20 […]
‘It Has Definitely Been Frustrating’ – Warriors’ Kristaps Porziņģis Breaks Silence on Health Issues, Pushes Back Against ‘Internet Doctors’
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis posted an update on his recovery Wednesday, minutes after the team announced he will remain out indefinitely with the health-related matter that has sidelined him since before training camp. The posts were his first public comments since the absence began more than two weeks ago.
South County police business group honors officers, awards scholarships
The South County Police Business Association recognized officers of the year and awarded scholarships to children of officers during its annual police awards and scholarship lunch.
Delta County students immerse themselves in the sciences for Mind Trekkers
Students turned the U.P. State Fairgrounds into a hands-on science lab on Wednesday with an interactive learning experience.
Adonai Mitchell sits out Wednesday
Jets WR Adonai Mitchell remains sidelined because of finger injury
As White House shifts focus toward AI and tech, U.S. science leaders defend role of the American university
White House planned shift of research funding from universities to industry risks creating a drought in basic research, science leaders say
James Spader didn’t like Ultron’s ‘A--hole’ “VisionQuest” introduction until he saw his family’s reaction
“I love it when I’m proven wrong about something,” the actor said.
Kristaps Porzingis, Warriors address growing concern over health issues
Kristaps Porzingis and the Golden State Warriors had a new health update ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. Here's the latest on his lingering issues:
Breece Hall still not back at practice
Jets RB Breece Hall remains sidelined because of quadriceps injury
Kristaps Porzingis breaks silence after Warriors announce he's out indefinitely
Kristaps Porzingis has broken the silence around his ongoing absence from the Warriors, as Golden State announced in a statement Wednesday that the center will remain out indefinitely.
Patrick Mahomes Endorses Cyrus Allen as Rashee Rice Misses Practice
The Kansas City Chiefs could be thin at wide receiver during their Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Tyquan Thornton sustained a dislocated ankle in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders and is out indefinitely, and potentially for the remainder of the season. Rashee Rice was also injured in that game, pulling […] The post Patrick Mahomes Endorses Cyrus Allen as Rashee Rice Misses Practice appeared first on HEAVY.
Drake Maye a full participant Wednesday
Patriots QB Drake Maye fully practices despite minor shoulder issue
Kristaps Porzingis sets the record straight on health issues: 'Everyone can relax now'
The Warriors big man remains out indefinitely, but he tried to offer some clarity on his mysterious health issue on Wednesday.
Apple doubled the price of its TV streaming box from $150 to $300, and even the company's hardcore fans are furious
The new generation of the Apple TV 4K costs so much that some longtime Apple enthusiasts are simply not interested.
Energy Department announces 2026 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award winners
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced that Fermilab's Chris Polly was one of nine recipients of the prestigious Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award for exceptional contributions to research and development supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) missions in science, energy and national security.
Fewer than 800 Scots have received weight loss jabs on NHS, BBC finds
Only five of Scotland's 14 health boards currently offer the treatment specifically for weight loss, it has emerged.
Kentucky health officials urge vaccination amid worst measles outbreak in years
Kentucky health officials are tracking 157 confirmed measles cases statewide, including 56 in Laurel County, and urging vaccination to slow the outbreak.
Shohei Ohtani Makes Major Routine Change After Dodgers Show Trust
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stayed late on Tuesday working to fix his swing as he slumps in the postseason.
Beth Israel Lahey Health wins state OK for nearly $80m Lahey Clinic expansion
The expansion comes as BILH gains a new CEO in Peter Shorett, who will succeed Dr. Kevin Tabb in January.
The Supreme Court sides with GOP again in political ad rates dispute
The ruling gives the FCC more time to review a policy that would extend discounted campaign ad rates to political committees.
Lawyers for Federal Reserve's Lisa Cook say White House hearing set up by Trump is 'biased'
Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook's lawyers say that a committee set up by the White House last week to investigate an accusation against her is “demonstrably biased," though they did not close the door on the possibility that she would appear before the panel.
Quality Dairy to resume selling donuts after clearing health inspection
Quality Dairy will resume selling donuts and rolls in its stores on Thursday, Oct. 15 after receiving approval from state health officials.
Miami Heat Stars Rated Lower Than Expected In Defensive Rankings
Despite forming a terrifying new frontcourt tandem, Miami Heat stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo are both surprisingly low in the latest defensive player rankings, sparking debate over the league's most versatile defensive duo.
Howard County police investigate burglaries at 9 businesses across county
Howard County police are investigating a string of burglaries that targeted nine businesses across the county Sunday night into early Monday morning.
8 New Nations Will Do Business On The U.S. Army’s Drone Marketplace
Allied nations around the world have opted into the Army's drone and counter-drone purchasing platform, making the U.S. a leader in testing and supplying drone technology.
Big Top Xtreme Opens in Pine Bluff Bringing Family Entertainment and New Attractions After Six Years of Development
Big Top Xtreme officially celebrated its grand opening in Pine Bluff on Wednesday, October 14th, marking the completion of a six-year effort to transform a former property into a family entertainment destination featuring go-karts, miniature golf, paintball, arcade games and Big Banjo Pizza. City officials, […]
CeeDee Lamb fully practices Wednesday
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb a full participant Wednesday despite minor injury
Scientists May Have Discovered One Way Microplastics Could Harm the Body
Plastic is usually inert, but in a new lab study, microplastics in water spontaneously produced damaging free radicals. What does that mean for the human body?
LeBron James Speaks on Knicks’ Chances to Become Repeat Champions
James gave the defending champions plenty of credit on his podcast this week.
Dodgers’ Game 4 Matchup Moved Up Following ALCS Reschedule
MLB moved the Los Angeles Dodgers’ NLCS Game 4 matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers up, with the new start time at 5:00 p.m. PT on Thursday. The change came following a change in the start time for the Game 3 in the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays’ ALCS matchup due to forecasted inclement weather. […] The post Dodgers’ Game 4 Matchup Moved Up Following ALCS Reschedule appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Michael Penix Jr. fully practices despite injury
Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. fully takes part in practice Wednesday
Warriors' Kristaps Porziņģis will remain out indefinitely due to 'health-related matter' but will be around team
Scientists identify avian cholera as major cause of penguin deaths in Antarctica
Thousands of Adélie penguins found dead in Antarctica in 2024 were primarily victims of avian cholera, not high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5N1) as researchers initially suspected, according to a ...
Joni Mitchell celebrates citizenship after 62 years living in the U.S.
'Big Yellow Taxi,' 'Woodstock' and 'Both Sides, Now' singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is from Canada but has long resided in the U.S. She shared video of her naturalization ceremony on social media.
Tony Pollard does not practice Wednesday
Titans RB Tony Pollard will likely return to practice later in the week after day off
Warriors release statement regarding Kristaps Porzingis' health issue
The Golden State Warriors have ruled Kristaps Porzingis out indefinately following a new update on his health issues
A Rock Dragged 90 Km Into Earth Came Back With a Temperature Story That Breaks The Models
That's whack.
Democrats lead early voting in Ohio
Democrats are outperforming Republicans in early voting in Ohio, a shift from the same point in 2024 that could signal an enthusiasm gap heading into the midterms.
Full practice for Patrick Mahomes
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes start week off with a full practice
Hilary Swank, 52, pregnant with third baby
“A lot of people have been asking what project I’m doing next,” the actress captioned her Instagram announcement.
Former LA business owner speaks out on leaving the city after years of disorder
Former Los Angeles business owner Paul Scrivano discusses the city's decline and continued disorder on 'America Reports.'
Central Minnesota SBDC supports Business Services Pop-Up in St. Cloud
The Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at St. Cloud State University helped support the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Business Services Pop-Up held last month at the Stearns County Courthouse in St. Cloud.
Reversing age by reprogramming gene expression networks
Every organ and tissue progressively loses function and integrity as it ages. In fact, researchers have identified "hallmarks of aging" that not only present specific processes impacted by age, but are ...
Early voting surges ahead of midterms, with records falling in many states
The surge comes as Republicans scramble to save control of the House and Senate
Early voting surges ahead of midterms, with records falling in many states
The surge comes as Republicans scramble to save control of the House and Senate
US Supreme Court again backs Republicans in clash over political ad rates
By John Kruzel WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The US Supreme Court again sided with Republicans on Wednesday in the latest clash over a new Federal Communications Commission policy that gives party
Dodgers' Muncy, Pages Named 2026 Gold Glove Finalists
While facing a daunting postseason sweep, Los Angeles celebrates defensive milestones as two cornerstones battle elite stars Alex Bregman and Pete Crow-Armstrong for prestigious fielding honors.
Brewers Chourio, Turang Named 2026 Gold Glove Finalists
The Milwaukee Brewers' elite defense takes center stage as Brice Turang chases his second trophy while rising star Jackson Chourio eyes one of his own.
Toronto Blue Jays' Yariel Rodriguez Makes Important Offseason Decision
The right-hander is looking ahead toward 2027.
Salt Lake City opened a new bike lane this year. A local business owner wants it gone
A local business owner is working on a petition over a new bike trail that Salt Lake City completed this year.
Ella Langley ponders the dream at L.A.'s Greek Theatre
The 27-year-old country singer brought her smash 'Choosin' Texas' to the Greek on Tuesday night in the first of two sold-out shows.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus reveals Ina Garten helped her find a new home in NYC after Palisades Fire
Her new place has a special connection to her late father Gérard Louis-Dreyfus.
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions
Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”
LMH Health receives Level IV Trauma Center designation
LMH Health has been designated a Level IV Trauma Center by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), recognizing the organization’s trauma program and strengthening access to emergency care for patients across the region. The achievement follows a comprehensive review process conducted every three years to ensure hospitals meet standards established by the American […]
Netflix is laying off 6% of its workforce, in biggest round of job cuts at streaming giant in years
Netflix plans to lay off about 6% of its workforce as part of wider organizational changes. Co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos announced the cuts in a memo to employees
Netflix is laying off 6% of its workforce, in biggest round of job cuts at streaming giant in years
Netflix plans to lay off about 6% of its workforce as part of wider organizational changes. Co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos announced the cuts in a memo to employees
Rockaway Beach: Not Business as Usual
The Oregon Coast tourist town has punched well above its weight in business attraction and retention in recent years.
'Heartbreaking day': Wall supporting Holden business collapses early Wednesday
A wall collapsed at a Holden business early Wednesday, leaving bricks in the street and owners facing a heartbreaking mess.
Michigan Is a Way Better Group, Jason Beck Says
Jason Beck says Michigan's offense is a way better group than what's happening on the field. #GoBlue
Connor Wood hoped samba would be his ‘breakthrough dance’ on “DWTS”: ‘Wasn’t expecting those scores’
“I thought we did a really good job,” said the comedian, who is paired with pro Rylee Arnold.