A photograph of a flamingo on a beach with its head bent into its body. The water laps on the sand nearby. Miles Astray's F L A M I N G O N E won a prize in the AI category of the 1839 Photography Awards.A photographer submitted a real photograph to a contest for AI-generated pictures, and won the competition, as the judges believed it to be digitally made. Upon learning that the photographer,...

Real estate continues to lead as the perceived best long-term investmentAmericans continue to rank real estate as the best investment for the long term among six options. Thirty-six percent choose real estate, followed by stocks or mutual funds (22%), gold (18%), and savings accounts or CDs (13%). Relatively few Americans believe bonds (4%) or cryptocurrency (3%) are the best long-term investme...

Breakthrough sees computerised creature accurately mimic movements of a real rodent.I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policyGoogle’s AI division DeepMind has unveiled a groundbreaking computerised rat that is able to move around like a real rodent through an artificial brain.The virtual rat emulates the “evolutionary marvel” th...

Adidas sells a $20,000 necklace in Roblox, Givenchy Beauty launches a new Pride-themed destination, and Loewe x On tap Wanna’s augmented reality try-on solution.The fashion industry has hit a new milestone with Roblox.After Gucci made history on the platform with its $4,000 virtual Dionysus handbag in 2021, Adidas has knocked that number out of the park with the sale of a one-of-a-kind digital...

The US Patent & Trademark Office granted Apple a patent that relates to a possible redesign of their AirPods Pro case that will provide users with an outer case with a touch display. Users will also enjoy a future version of Siri (likely with AI) by calling-up apps like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Maps and more and interact with them.Interacting with a Touch Display on an AirPods CaseWhile curr...

The emergence of video streaming gave consumers numerous choices for subscription video on demand (SVOD). But with viewers signing up for short terms to watch only certain programs, media companies will need to reimagine their business models if they hope to be profitable in the coming years.The pay-as-you-go streaming model is a losing venture for many companies because of high churn; the aver...

Metsera is taking a ‘Lego kit’ approach to finding a next-generation weight-loss treatment.Biopharma startup Metsera turned heads in April when it emerged from stealth, announcing $290 million in funding from prestigious backers—an all-star roster of scientists and executives—and a portfolio of drug assets all focused on what may be the most lucrative pharmaceutical opportunity ever: obesit...

The world’s most iconic Luxury & Premium brands are manoeuvring through recent dips in the global economy.Porsche retains position as world’s most valuable Luxury & Premium brand; Louis Vuitton and Chanel round out top 3High familiarity drives luxury brands’ exceptional brand strength; Rolex becomes 2024’s strongest luxury brandSustainability an increasing driver of consideration in...

Rally Pickleball is betting on high-tech games to help it stand out from the onslaught of pickleball venues.Pickleball has come a long way since it first came together in a backyard off the coast of Seattle about 60 years ago. There are almost 14,000 pickleball courts throughout the U.S. today, and many are popping up in some of the trendiest spots, from Central Park, to Life Time gyms. But one...