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Why Online Returns Are a Hassle Now

Slashdot.org - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 14:22
U.S. retailers are cracking down on free returns as costs spiral out of control, The Atlantic reports. Return rates have more than doubled since 2019, with shoppers expected to send back nearly $900 billion in merchandise this year. Major chains like REI and JCPenney are now charging fees or requiring in-store drop-offs, abandoning years of customer-friendly policies. With each $100 return costing stores up to $30 to process, some retailers have given up entirely -- telling customers to keep cheap items rather than send them back.

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Listen to our podcast conversation about Project Astra.Listen to our podcast conversation about Project Astra.

GoogleBlog - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 14:00
Last week, we announced updates to Project Astra, a research prototype for a universal AI assistant that can see, hear, and interact with people in real time. In the lat…
Categories: Technology

OpenAI Unveils o3, a Smarter AI Model With Improved Reasoning Skills

Slashdot.org - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 13:36
OpenAI has unveiled a new AI model that it says takes longer to solve problems but gets better results, following Google's similar announcement a day earlier. The model, called o3, replaces o1 from September and spends extra time working through questions that need step-by-step reasoning. It scores three times higher than o1 on ARC-AGI, a test measuring how well AI handles complex math and logic problems it hasn't seen before. "This is the beginning of the next phase of AI," CEO Sam Altman said during a livestream Friday. The Microsoft-backed startup is keeping o3 under wraps for now but plans to let outside researchers test it.

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Our remedies proposal in DOJ’s search distribution caseOur remedies proposal in DOJ’s search distribution caseVice President, Regulatory Affairs

GoogleBlog - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 13:15
Today we filed Google's remedies proposal based on the actual findings in the Court’s decision — our agreements with partners to distribute search.Today we filed Google's remedies proposal based on the actual findings in the Court’s decision — our agreements with partners to distribute search.
Categories: Technology

US Data-Center Power Use Could Nearly Triple By 2028, DOE-Backed Report Says

Slashdot.org - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 13:02
U.S. data center power demand could nearly triple in the next three years, and consume as much as 12% of the country's electricity, as the industry undergoes an AI transformation, according to an unpublished Department of Energy-backed report seen by Reuters. The publication adds: The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report, which is expected to be released on Friday, comes as the U.S. power industry and government agencies attempt to understand how the sudden rise of Big Tech's data-center demand will affect electrical grids, power bills and the climate. By 2028, data-center annual energy use could reach between 74 and 132 gigawatts, or between 6.7% and 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption, according to the Berkeley Lab report. The industry standard-setting report included ranges that depended partly on the availability and demand for a type of AI chip known as GPUs. Currently, data centers make up a little more than 4% of the country's power load. "This really signals to us where the frontier is in terms of growing energy demand in the U.S.," said Avi Shultz, director of the DOE's Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office.

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FDA Sets Stricter Rules for 'Healthy' Food Labels

Slashdot.org - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 12:22
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has unveiled stricter criteria for food manufacturers to label their products as "healthy," marking the first major update to the definition in 30 years. The new rule requires products to meet specific thresholds for nutrients while limiting sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. Under the guidelines, foods must contain minimum amounts of nutrient-dense ingredients like fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. Saturated fats cannot exceed 5% of daily recommended value, while sodium is capped at 10%. Manufacturers have until February 2028 to comply with the regulations.

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Academic Writing is Getting Harder To Read

Slashdot.org - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 11:42
Academic writing has become significantly less readable over the past 80 years, particularly in humanities and social sciences, according to an analysis of 347,000 PhD abstracts by The Economist. Using the Flesch reading-ease test, researchers found that readability scores in humanities and social sciences plunged from 37 in the 1940s to 18 in the 2020s. The decline was observed across all disciplines, with humanities and social sciences becoming as complex as natural sciences by the 1990s. The study, examining abstracts from 1812 to 2023, covered English-language doctoral theses from British universities.

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Japanese Firm's USB-C Cable Rotates 360 Degrees

Slashdot.org - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 11:02
Japanese electronics manufacturer Sanwa Supply has launched a rotating USB-C cable capable of 240W power delivery but sadly USB 2.0 transfer speeds, Tom'sHardware reports. The $16 cable features a 360-degree rotating connector and is available in 1-meter and 1.8-meter lengths, with both USB-C to USB-C and USB-A to USB-C options, the report adds.

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Steam Gamers Spend Just 15% of Time on New Releases

Slashdot.org - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 10:22
Steam users spent only 15% of their total gaming time on new releases in 2024, according to the platform's year-end review, an increase from 9% in 2023 but below 2022's 17%. Legacy titles dominated playtime, with 47% spent on games released in the past seven years and 37% on titles older than eight years. New online games like Helldivers 2 and Black Myth: Wukong helped drive 2024's modest uptick in new game engagement across Steam's library of over 200,000 titles, while established service games like Counter-Strike and Dota 2 maintained their long-standing popularity.

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Google Cuts Managers and VPs in Efficiency Drive

Slashdot.org - Fri, 12/20/2024 - 09:45
Google has reduced its senior management positions by 10% as part of an ongoing efficiency initiative, CEO Sundar Pichai announced during a company-wide meeting earlier this week. The restructuring affected managers, directors, and vice presidents, with some roles eliminated and others converted to non-management positions, a Google spokesperson told BusinessInsider. The move follows Google's January 2023 layoff of 12,000 employees and Pichai's September 2022 goal to improve company efficiency by 20%.

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