Feed aggregator

OpenAI unveils major ChatGPT redesign with new ‘Canvas’ interface for writers and coders

Mashable - Thu, 10/03/2024 - 17:11

OpenAI is changing up ChatGPT's interface to look more like a digital notepad for projects.

On Thursday, OpenAI announced a beta "canvas" feature for writing and coding. Canvas is different from the traditional chatbox interface, which makes it tedious to refine or develop ideas without the back and forth prompts.

"Although the [ChatGPT] interface is easy to use and works well for many tasks, it’s limited when you want to work on projects that require editing and revisions. Canvas offers a new interface for this kind of work," the announcement said.

The new feature is ChatGPT's first major design change since its launch in 2022. OpenAI has been busy doing other stuff, like launching multimodal model GPT-4o, reasoning model o1, and raising $6.6 billion in its latest investment round. According to reports from the New York Times, OpenAI told investors it plans to increase revenue from $3.7 billion this year to $11.6 billion by 2025. The updates to ChatGPT, such as making it more dynamic and user-friendly, could potentially help OpenAI meet its ambitious financial goals.

Canvas makes it easier for users to iterate ideas with ChatGPT. Credit: OpenAI

For now, Canvas is only available to paying subscribers, but OpenAI says it plans to expand access to non-paying users when it's out of beta. If you're a ChatGPT Plus or Teams user, you can select "ChatGPT 4o with Canvas" from the model dropdown and get to work. Access for Enterprise and Edu subscribers rolls out next week.

From here, all you need to do is enter a prompt related to writing or coding and it will activate Canvas by opening a new window. Per OpenAI's announcement, ChatGPT has been trained to recognize certain prompts that trigger canvas. For writing help, users can highlight specific parts of the text and click "ask ChatGPT" to edit or ask certain questions about the highlighted text.

There are also shortcuts found in the lower lefthand corner for suggesting edits, shortening the length, changing the reading level, polishing for grammar, and adding emoji. The ChatGPT format remains in a left sidebar in case you want to keep the conversation going.

Canvas has a shortcuts bar for making edits. Credit: OpenAI

For coding, Canvas works in a similar way, by recognizing coding-related prompts that trigger a new window. Shortcuts include: Review code, Add logs, Add comments, Fix bugs, and Port to a language by translating your code into a different programming language (i.e., JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, C++, or PHP).

If you made a mistake, you can hit the back button and revert to the previous version. When you're finished working, simply close the window, and you'll find yourself back in the normal ChatGPT interface. To find the project again, just click on the module saved in your chat history.

Sarah Paulson on why 'Hold Your Breath' is "not your average horror movie"

Mashable - Thu, 10/03/2024 - 16:53
Sarah Paulson is no stranger to horror. Here, she goes into detail with Mashable Entertainment Editor, Kristy Puchko, about why 'Hold Your Breath' hits different.

20+ of the best smartwatch and fitness tracker deals ahead of October Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 10/03/2024 - 16:44
The best early October Prime Day fitness tracker deals at a glance: BEST APPLE DEAL Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS) $299 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal BEST SAMSUNG DEAL Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (Bluetooth, 40mm) $195.30 at Amazon (Save $104.69) Get Deal BEST GARMIN DEAL Garmin Venu 3S $399.99 at Amazon (Save $50) Get Deal BEST GOOGLE DEAL Google Pixel Watch 3 $299.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal BEST SMART RING DEAL Oura Ring 3 (Horizon) starting at $299.99 (save up to $100) Get Deal

If you're looking to bring home a new fitness tracker, Prime Day is a great time to shop. Though the official Prime Big Deal Days event doesn't kick off until Oct. 8, Amazon has already put up tons of deals on items across every department, fitness trackers and smartwatches included.

Now that the weather is getting cooler and the leaves are starting to change, you might be more inclined to start that jogging program you were looking forward to. Or you might decide to get ahead of New Year's resolutions and start heading to the gym. Whatever you're planning, there are plenty of smartwatch and fitness tracker deals already available to help you get going — with brands like Apple, Garmin and Samsung running the show. Fitbit deals are currently MIA, but we're not surprised. The brand typically waits until closer to the official event to join the party, though a couple of Google Pixel deals have popped up already.

We'll be keeping a running tab below on all the best fitness tracker deals throughout Amazon's October Prime Day. If you don't see the wearable you're looking for on sale yet, check back regularly for the latest updates.

Best Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS) $299.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 9.

Despite the recent release of the Series 10, the Apple Watch Series 9 is not exactly outdated. You won't get the slightly larger display and sleep apnea sensor, but you'll still get the same 2,000-nit max brightness, Double Tap feature, and 18 hours of battery life. Not to mention, you'll save $100 on the Series 9 because it's no longer the shiniest new Apple toy. If you're upgrading from an old Apple Watch or are brand new to the fruit company's wearables, you won't be disappointed.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 10

Series 9

SE

Ultra

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 $195.30 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $104.69 (Bluetooth, 40mm) Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Galaxy Watch 6.

When a new generation makes its debut, we often see ultra-low prices on the previous one. Such is the case with the Galaxy Watch 6. With the arrival of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra over the summer, the Watch 6 is now steadily sitting below $200. Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can grab the 40mm version with Bluetooth for only $195.30, which is 35% in savings and a new record-low (by about $1). Only a year old, the sixth generation is still a very good smartwatch. It includes a nuanced breakdown of sleep habits, sleep coaching, personalized heart rate zones, irregular heart rate notifications, and a better battery life over its predecessor, which led Mashable's Alex Perry to dub it "the king of the Android smartwatch mountain."

More Samsung Galaxy Watch dealsBest Garmin deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 3S $399.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Ideal for smaller wrists, the Garmin Venu 3S is about .2 inches smaller in diameter and .3 oz lighter than the standard Venu 3. It still offers the same advanced features, like a built-in speaker and microphone to take calls, the ability to store music, and an abundance of health and fitness tools and insights. The only real difference besides the size is that the 3S has a slightly shorter battery life (about 10 days in smartwatch mode versus the 3's 14 days), but it still blows the Apple Watch battery out of the water. It's usually $449.99, but you can save $50 ahead of the October Prime event and get it for only $399.99. That's just a few bucks away from its all-time low.

More Garmin dealsBest Google deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 3 (LTE, 45mm) $399.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Google Pixel Watch 3 just dropped in Aug., which makes this discount at Amazon ahead of Prime Big Deal Days its biggest one yet. This is the first Pixel Watch to offer a larger size case, which Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon says is "a visual stunner." Its battery life largely remains the same as its predecessor, but the Pixel Watch 3's dynamic refresh rate might allow you to squeeze out a little more. It also features a whole lot of software upgrades, including enhanced running features, AI-driven form tracking, a new Morning Brief feature via Fitbit, and updated media controls.

More Google deals (including Fitbit)Best smart ring deal Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring 3 (Horizon) starting at $299.99 (save up to $100) Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Oura Ring 3.

The Oura Ring 4 launches later this month, so it's no surprise that we're seeing the Oura Ring 3 on sale ahead of Prime Day 2. Regardless of the colorway you choose, you'll get a discount between 10% and 22% off. For instance, the stealth and brushed titanium models are 22% off, coming in at $349 (down from $449). The gold and rose gold models, on the other end of the price spectrum, are $449 after a 10% discount. The third-generation ring is a low-profile fitness tracker that offers in-depth info about sleep, workouts, recovery, mindfulness, and more through a variety of sensors, though sleep tracking is truly where it shines.

More smart ring deals

There are currently no other live deals on smart rings, but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled.

The 'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' cast debates whether Sauron is "brat"

Mashable - Thu, 10/03/2024 - 16:33
We showed the 'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' cast a Charli SCS fan edit calling Sauron 'brat'. This lead to some intense debate!

How to find the best October Prime Day Deals

Mashable - Thu, 10/03/2024 - 15:55
Amazon’s fall Deals event is right around the corner and if you haven’t made a shopping plan yet, we’re here to help.

OpenAI Adds $4 Billion Credit Line on Top of $6.6 Billion Investment Round

NYT Technology - Thu, 10/03/2024 - 15:15
The San Francisco company is gathering the billions its executives believe they will need to continue building new A.I. technology.

Ray-Ban Meta Glasses can be used to dox strangers via facial recognition, according to Harvard students. Here's how to protect yourself.

Mashable - Thu, 10/03/2024 - 15:01

Two Harvard students have created a privacy nightmare, according to 404 Media. Real-time facial recognition smart glasses, which pull up names, contacts, addresses, and more about a complete stranger just by looking at them.

On top of the facial recognition software capabilities, the students' project is even more eye-opening considering the hardware they're using to run it: Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.

The students – AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio – say they won't be releasing the product nor the software behind it. The project, titled I-XRAY, is meant to raise awareness about what is possible with today's technology. In fact, it's something that Big Tech companies like Google and Facebook have long had the power to do, but they haven't released such capabilities due to the high potential for misuse. 

How it works

Nguyen and Ardayfio were able to create I-XRAY, thanks, in part, to Meta's smart glasses and PimEyes' facial recognition software.

While there are a few facial recognition search engines out there, PimEyes is perhaps the largest one that makes its technology accessible by the public. Users can simply upload a photo to PimEyes, and using facial recognition, the service scans the web for images of the individual in the photo. 

Using the information from PimEyes, I-XRAY can then identify the individual and find out personal information on them by scanning the internet for articles and through data brokers like FastPeopleSearch. This information can include full names, phone numbers, home addresses, social media profiles, and more.

The entire system is automated to start pulling this data as soon as the smart glasses detect an individual's face in the frame. The students uploaded a video to social media to show the process.

Tweet may have been deleted

Meta pointed out in their response to the I-XRAY project that any similar camera product can be adapted to utilize PimEyes in this way. There's nothing particularly unique about Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses' technology itself that allowed this project to happen.

However, Nyugen said there was a specific reason that the two students chose Meta's smart glasses: The creepiness factor of being able to dox complete strangers with hardware that looks just like a normal, everyday glasses. Unlike many wearables, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses don't look like a tech device. Furthermore, their $300 price point puts them in a fairly affordable range compared to other similar products.

How to protect yourself

As previously mentioned, there isn't a public product or service out there that can do this – yet. But, if you are concerned about the potential to dox individuals on the fly like this, the two Harvard students explained how to protect yourself.

According to Nguyen and Ardayfio, it's as simple as reaching out to these data brokers to get your information removed.

For example, PimEyes provides an opt-out page where people can get their images removed from their facial recognition search engine. Data brokers like FastPeopleSearch also usually provide forms where users can request data removal from the service.

Leave the cleanup to the robots with nearly $200 off this Shark Matrix robot vacuum

Mashable - Thu, 10/03/2024 - 14:50

SAVE $170.99: As of Oct. 3, get the Shark Matrix Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum for just $329 at Walmart. That's a discount of 38%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Shark Matrix Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum $329.00 at Walmart
$499.99 Save $170.99 Get Deal

No one likes doing housework. Maybe you enjoy zoning out while doing dishes. Or perhaps you enjoy the fruits of your labor after cleaning house. But most people absolutely abhor having to drag the vacuum out and handling the housework. That's what robots exist for, people – specifically, robot vacuums. It's 2024, and it's time to leave the dirty work to them thanks to Walmart's Shark Days.

As of Oct. 3, you can get the Shark Matrix Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum for just $329 at Walmart. That's a discount of 38% and $170.99 off its normal price of $499.99. The sale is open to all Walmart shoppers, so no Walmart+ needed to take advantage of the deal.

This self-emptying robot vacuum uses Matrix Clean, which gives it up to 50% more suction power, to pull up debris, dirt, and dust from your carpets and hardwood floors. That's thanks to its precision grid that can help it take multiple passes over different areas of the carpet so there aren't any missed areas. When it's done, it can go right back to its base on its own to empty, holding up to 30 days' worth of dirt until you need to dump the reservoir on your own.

This LiDAR-equipped robot vacuum is a great option if you have pets thanks to its tough brushroll. You can set it to target specific rooms and areas of your home that need more care than others with heavy traffic or additional pet hair. When it's finished, it'll go back home to its base and recharge for the next cleaning session. If you're looking for a heavy-duty yet affordable option to clean your home without your input, this is it, so grab it while it's still around.

20+ horror e-books you can get for free (or 99 cents) this Terrify Your Tablet Day

Mashable - Thu, 10/03/2024 - 14:44

Time to stock up on literary scares: Today (Thursday, Oct. 3) is Terrify Your Tablet Day.

Hosted by Horrorsmith Publishing for the second year in a row, the 24-hour event is effectively a horror-only version of Stuff Your Kindle Day, where participating authors make their e-books available for free or just 99 cents. Unlike the titles featured in Stuff Your Kindle Day, however, Terrify Your Tablet Day-eligible ebooks are available across several platforms, including Kindle, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Scribd, and via direct download.

SEE ALSO: Another Stuff Your Kindle event is here — this time for the horror fans

There are hundreds of ebooks featured in this year's Terrify Your Tablet Day, and you can see the full list on Horrorsmith's website; it'll be uploading titles in waves throughout the day. Below, we've pulled a selection of Kindle horror picks from the first upload to get you started:

Free horror e-books$0.99 horror e-books

Note: Most of the following titles are free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. Amazon Prime members can snag a free three-month trial for a limited time.

Pages

Subscribe to Page Integrity, Inc. aggregator