NASA orbiter spots 'graveyard' of Japan's lander which crashed on Moon in April - Republic World

Japan-based private firm ispace, on April 25, said that its lander most likely crashed onto the Moon while landing, and this has now been confirmed. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has photographed the impact site which shows prominent pieces of debris that were produced after the lander HAKUTO-R's crash. The lander was launched on December 11 by SpaceX last year and entered the lunar orbit after a seven-month-long journey. Had it successfully landed on the Moon, Japan would have become the fourth country after the US, USSR and China to safely land on the lunar surface.

Our Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter camera has imaged the impact site of the ispace HAKUTO-R Lander, which experienced an anomaly on April 26 during its landing attempt. https://t.co/GvggIeEZt1 pic.twitter.com/EBVlOUZ3FN

— NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) May 23, 2023

HAKUTO-R debris spotted on the Moon

(Impact site of HAKUTO-R lander; Image: NASA)

NASA says the crash site was found after the LRO took images before and after the landing attempt. On April 26, the orbiter acquired 10 images around the landing site and found four large pieces of debris. When compared to the pre-landing pictures, the new images featured several bright pixels suggesting that it could be a small crater or debris from the HAKUTO lander's body.

(Artistic representation of HAKUTO lander; Image: ispace)

"This site will be further analyzed over the coming months as LRO has the opportunity to make additional observations of the site under various lighting conditions and viewing angles," NASA said in an official statement. According to ispace officials, the lander went into a free fall when it was around 5 km above the lunar surface. The mission controllers traced the issue to a software glitch prior to the landing. ispace CEO and founder Takeshi Hakamada said that the company is still on track to attempt another moon landing in 2024 and a third attempt in 2025. The HAKUTO lander was also carrying a small rover 'Rashid' by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre of the UAE which was supposed to operate for one lunar day (14 Earth days). 

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Tiktok Is Testing An AI Chatbot Named Tako - MENAFN.COM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Bloomberg

TikTok is the latest app to jump on the generative artificial intelligence bandwagon.

The social networking service is testing out a chatbot named Tako, which can answer questions and have conversations with users of the app, according to screenshots seen by Bloomberg. When asked about the feature, a representative said it was trying "new ways to power search and discovery on TikTok” in select markets.

"We're always exploring new technologies that add value to our community,” the spokesperson said in a statement. "We look forward to learning from our community as we continue to create a safe place that entertains, inspires creativity and drives culture.”

TikTok follows tech peers such as Snap Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Google in developing chatbots and other generative AI tools - the buzziest technology to sweep the internet in recent years. The Tako test is currently available to a small number of employees, according to Daniel Buchuk, an analyst at Watchful, a company that tracks apps' development testing for competitors.

TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance Ltd., is making the push into AI at a contentious time. Policymakers in the US and Europe are looking to crack down on the app, fearing that data could be used by the Chinese government. This month, Montana became the first US state to approve a measure banning TikTok - legislation that faces legal challenges.

For now, Tako appears as a small ghost-like icon on the top right of the app's screen. After tapping that icon, users are taken to an instant messenger, where they can ask questions.

Buchuk told Bloomberg that Tako can also provide recommendations for content based on users' interests and preferences.

"Tako is an experimental chatbot,” reads a screen on one of the screenshots shared with Bloomberg. "It can answer questions, and have conversations with you.”

Despite having an in-house AI team, any information users put into Tako is collected and shared with unnamed "third-party service providers in order to provide you with answers to your questions,” according to the feature's privacy terms. Tako is only available to TikTok users over 18, Buchuk added.

Users can choose to delete their data, but are warned not to share any personal information with the chatbot. They're also advised not to rely solely on the bot for its medical, legal or financial advice because "feedback from Tako is AI generated and may not be true or accurate.”

Overall, Tako will allow "TikTok to obtain ever more precise data to deliver personalized and highly targeted content to individual users,” Buchuk said, adding that it had "the potential to revolutionize how people use TikTok.”

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ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 deal - WePC - PC Tech & PC Gaming News

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 deal

Updated: May 28, 2023 11:09 am

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ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6”

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How about we make your day a little brighter with an amazing deal that’s just popped up on Amazon? Yes, we’re talking about the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15, a beast of a gaming laptop that is a wet dream of many gamers across the globe. Previously priced at $2049, this powerhouse is now downgraded to just a mere $1549 – that’s a full $500 off! With those savings, you could buy a whole other laptop, but that’s another story. 

Now, you might be wondering, why the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15? What makes it stand out in the crowded gaming laptop market, even with the discount? Well, the answer lies in its blend of top-tier performance, impressive build, and fresh features that are designed to completely modernize the way you see laptop gaming. Even the hundreds of 5-star reviews don’t do the ROG Strix Scar 15 enough justice.

Why choose this ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 deal

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ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6”

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Price is a big factor when it comes to tech shopping and this deal lets you grab a business-class gaming laptop at a much friendlier price than the original one. But it’s not just the price that’s the main factor. ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is a product of innovation and engineering excellence, made with one goal in mind – to give you an edge in all your gaming pursuits.

The power it packs under the hood is truly remarkable. It’s equipped with the Intel i9 12900H processor and the 3070 Ti graphics card, which translates to truly buttery-smooth gameplay. Additionally, the 240Hz refresh rate leaves you only with one outcome – you’ll be at the top of your game, no matter what you play. For $500 less than usual.

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Japan's ispace says Hakuto-R crashed because it got confused by a crater rim - Engadget

ispace is done analyzing data from its failed Hakuto-R lunar landing, and it sounds like tricky terrain and a late change in the landing site are to blame. Apparently, Hakuto-R was able to complete the whole deceleration process in preparation of touching down on lunar soil. The spacecraft activated its descent sequence when it reached an altitude of around 100 kilometers (62 miles) and was able to slow down until it was only moving at a speed of less than 1 m/s. 

However, its software had mistakenly estimated its altitude to be zero when it was still hovering around 5 kilometers (3 miles) above the ground. In other words, it thought it had already landed when it hasn't yet, and it continued descending at a very slow speed near the surface until its propulsion system ran out of fuel. ispace wasn't able to establish contact with the spacecraft again, but it believes it went on a free fall and ultimately crashed on the moon.

That's the how, but what about the why? Well, the company thinks the most likely reason why Hakuto-R's software suffered from an altitude estimation issue was because it got confused. While it was flying to its landing site, it passed over a large cliff that was determined to be the rim of a crater. The spacecraft's onboard sensor got an altitude reading of 3 kilometers when it passed by the elevated terrain, and that was apparently larger than the estimated altitude value the Hakuto-R team set in advance. 

The spacecraft's software erroneously thought that the sensor reported an abnormal value, and it kept filtering out its altitude measurements afterward. ispace built the ability to reject abnormal altitude measurements into the lander as a safety measure in the event of a hardware issue with the sensor. However, it backfired for Mission 1 because simulations of the landing sequence failed to incorporate the lunar environment on the spacecraft's route. ispace made the decision to change Hakuto-R's landing site after its critical design review was already completed in 2021. 

The Hakuto-R Mission 1 was poised to become the first successful moon landing by a private company and the first Japanese lunar landing overall. While it didn't get to land on the moon, ispace will use the data from the mission to design preparatory landing sequences for Mission 2 and 3, which are scheduled for launch in 2024 and 2025, respectively. 

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TikTok is testing an AI chatbot that answers questions with videos - Yahoo News UK

TikTok says its chatbot is powered by a third-party chat assistant (Aleksey Zotov / Alamy / PA)

AI chatbots are seemingly everywhere. Even if you haven’t sampled OpenAI’s pioneering ChatGPT, you may have come across one of its dupes on Snapchat, Microsoft’s Bing, Discord, or Duolingo.

Now, TikTok is jumping on the chatbot bandwagon with its own AI assistant called “Tako”.

Like its predecessors, Tako can generate human-sounding responses to your questions. This being TikTok, it can also recommend videos and content creators based on your queries and the clips you’ve previously watched.

The video app is testing out the new feature on users in the Philippines, according to Reuters.

Tako could become a powerful tool for TikTok. The app is already a defacto search engine in the hands of its youthful user base, who use it to scour information on everything from beauty products to restaurants. Unlike Google — which is also in the process of adding AI-powered responses to its search engine — TikTok provides results in the form of clips created by humans, instead of nondescript websites.

Plugging a chatbot into its massive video database could help the company learn even more about its users’ habits. This should help it to further fine-tune its addictive algorithm to their tastes. However, it also risks rankling its user base if it’s too forceful with its implementation — as Snapchat recently learned with the controversial rollout of its “My AI” chatbot.

TikTok’s chatbot resembles a cartoon ghost from the video game Pac-Man (Watchful)

During the trial phase, Tako can be found on the right side of the video screen on TikTok. Its ghost-like icon is placed prominently above the other buttons that let you interact with clips.

For the time being, it seems like you can only type to message the bot. By comparison, both ChatGPT and Bing allow you to speak to them using your voice, much like you would with digital assistants such as Alexa and Siri.

TikTok filed a trademark for the tech in the US in April, in which it described it as a “computer software for facilitating interaction and communication between humans and AI”. Possibly hinting at its future capabilities, the filing also said it “could be used for the artificial production of human speech and text”.

TikTok’s Tako can be accessed from videos you watch on the app (Watchful)

Other companies, including Spotify, are already using generative AI to mimic human voices. At the same time, record companies are battling the rise of deepfake music that sounds like it was sung by the likes of The Weeknd or Drake, among other artists.

TikTok is a hive of musical activity, with its users soundtracking their clips with both new and classic songs. It is also grappling with the disruption wrought by the viral success of generative AI. This year, TikTok has developed visual features that incorporate the tech, while clamping down on some forms of content generated, or altered, using AI.

TikTok confirmed the chatbot test on Thursday. “We’re in the early stages of exploring chatbot tools with a limited test of Tako with select users in the Philippines. Tako is an AI-powered tool to help with search and discovery on TikTok,” the company tweeted.

The big question is whether Tako is basically ChatGPT in new clothes. Based on TikTok’s statement, that may well be the case.

“Tako is powered by a third-party chat assistant and is designed to help make it easier to discover entertaining and inspiring content on TikTok,” the company added on Twitter.

Notably, ChatGPT allows developers to create tools using its GPT 3.5 large-language model in return for a fee. The white-label service has helped it to become the brains for a raft of copycat chatbots, with TikTok’s Tako possibly the latest clone to join their ranks.

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TikTok explores conversational AI with tests of Tako chatbot - Music Ally

In February, we wondered aloud whether the music business is ready for a world of conversational search AIs, including its potential impact on how music and artists are discovered.

Here’s some more food for thought on that topic: TikTok is testing an in-app chatbot called Tako that can answer questions about videos and recommend other content. It was revealed by Watchful, a company that specialises in spotting new features being tested in popular apps.

“Tako could completely transform the way users navigate TikTok. By engaging in direct dialogue with each user, Tako can recommend the most relevant content to watch or creators to follow, based on the videos watched and the questions asked,” was its take on the potential significance.

For its part, TikTok has tried to manage expectations for the test. “We’re in the early stages of exploring chatbot tools with a limited test of Tako with select users in the Philippines. Tako is an AI-powered tool to help with search and discovery on TikTok,” its comms team tweeted.

“Tako is powered by a third-party chat assistant and is designed to help make it easier to discover entertaining and inspiring content on TikTok. No current plans for this beyond these early tests, but we’re excited to hear your feedback!”

It’s an early glimpse at how integrating a conversational AI into an entertainment app could work. There’s an interesting dynamic here too. TikTok’s famous ‘For You’ feed is currently being copied and adapted by big music streaming services (see today’s story about YouTube Music for the latest example).

Yet TikTok is seemingly already testing the next potential leap forward for in-app recommendations: conversational AI. We fully expect the big music streaming services to follow suit in exploring this too though.

As we put it in February: “At some point will you find yourself chatting to a SpotifyGPT bot as if it were a – absolute peak Gen-X reference incoming! – wise record-store clerk quizzing you on your tastes then giving you suggestions?”

It seems a TikTokGPT bot (that’s our shorthand: we don’t know if ChatGPT is the “third-party chat assistant” being used by TikTok) may get there first. If and when Tako rolls out beyond the Philipines it will be worth following closely.

Music Ally’s next Learn Live webinar will help you understand what’s required for artists to thrive in new international markets!

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The Razer Viper 8KHz Gaming Mouse is 50% Off - GameRant

Razer Viper 8KHz

$39.99 $79.99 Save $40

The Razer Viper 8KHz is a powerful wired gaming mouse packed with specs built for competitive play. The simple, ambidextrous design and budget-friendly price tag make this Razer gaming mouse make it easy to see how it's one of the best wired mice on the market.

It features 20K DPI optical sensor, switches that are rated for 70 million clicks, onboard profiles and more in a lightweight shell that weighs only 71 grams.

Amazon is currently offering the Razer Viper 8KHz gaming mouse for discount. Originally tagged at $79.99, the peripheral is currently available for a 50% discount, bringing the price down to a much more affordable $39.99. For gamers seeking to updade their gear, this deal provides a substantial saving of $40, making this high-performance mouse a tempting deal. However, it is not going to last forever, so make sure to check it out soon.

Razer is a multinational technology corporation with a key focus on developing consumer electronics and gaming hardware. Established in 2005, Razer's portfolio spans a wide array of products, including gaming mice, keyboards, headsets, and laptops, all designed and engineered to fit the demands of gamers. The company's products are often used by professionals in the esports industry for their excellent performance.

RELATED: The Best Gaming Mouse Deals in May 2023

The Razer Viper 8KHz showcases an impressive set of features designed to optimize gameplay. It houses Razer's 8000Hz HyperPolling Technology, enabling the mouse to relay its position and clicks to the connected PC up to 8,000 times per second. This allows the mouse to deliver near-zero input latency, providing an extreme level of responsiveness. The mouse also features the Razer Focus+ 20K Optical Sensor, equipped with intelligent functions such as motion sync and asymmetric cut-off. These ensure flawless tracking with no spinouts, allowing precise control.

Furthermore, the mouse integrates the 2nd generation Razer optical mouse switch with fast actuation and long-lasting duration of 70 million clicks. The Viper 8KHz is also very light, weighing in at just 71g, which coupled with the Razer Speedflex Cable, allows for quick movements and better control. The mouse's on-board memory can store up to 5 profiles. Now for a limited time, the Razer Viper 8KHz gaming mouse is available on Amazon at the reduced price of $39.99.

Check this deal out on Amazon

MORE: The Best Gaming Headset Deals In May 2023

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