Technology

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• Gemini could control app actions in Android 16
• A new chat option for YouTube has also been spotted
• Interface tweaks may be coming too

The Google Gemini app on Android has gradually been getting more and more of the features and functions of Google Assistant – on top of its generative AI capabilities – and it seems even more upgrades are on the way.

First up, as reported by Android Authority, there are new APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) in the developer preview of Android 16 that could give Gemini more control over what's happening inside other apps on your device.

If app developers make use of these APIs, Gemini could get the ability to order takeaway food or call a cab for you, for example – the sort of AI agent upgrade that's now being talked about as the next stage for these artificial intelligence bots.

Right now, Gemini makes use of extensions to interface with apps like YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, Spotify, and WhatsApp. However, Google can't build these for every single Android app – APIs would let developers do the job themselves.

More changes incoming

The Gemini Live interface on mobile (Image credit: Google)

This AI agent upgrade for Android 16 isn't the only Gemini leak we've come across this weekend. As per some more code digging by the team at Android Authority, the advanced Gemini Live voice mode could soon let you dig deeper into YouTube videos.

The idea is you could have a natural conversation with Gemini Live about a video you're watching on your phone, in addition to the Ask about this video feature that's already available if you need explanations or summaries.

Lastly, a potential interface change has been spotted for Gemini Live, again by Android Authority. Hidden code in the Android app suggests you'll soon be able to pause and resume chats from a notification in the status bar.

The advantage of using Gemini Live over the other Gemini input modes is you can talk with it as you would a real person – with interruptions, pauses, and so on – and these tweaks would make the AI app even more useful.

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• Available in massive 8TB and 16TB capacities, T-CREATE EXPERT P32 is designed for creators
• USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, 1,800MB/s speeds, broad compatibility
• Portable unibody design, patented cooling, launches Q4 2024

From ultra-high-resolution videos to expansive photo libraries and complex project files, the sheer volume of data content creators generate can quickly overwhelm smaller drives.

For professionals, the need for high-capacity, fast, and reliable storage can be vital - and to address this need, T-CREATE, the creator-focused brand from memory provider Team Group, has announced the EXPERT P32 Desktop External SSD.

Available in 8TB and 16TB sizes, the 16TB model features two 8TB SSDs rather than a single large drive, although the total capacity is still the largest available for an external SSD.

Transfer speeds of up to 1,800MB/s

If you're wondering how much data a drive of that size can hold, T-CREATE says the 16TB storage is enough for up to 672 minutes (nearly 10.5 hours) of uncompressed 4K 120fps N-RAW video, or 335,544 RAW format photos at 50 MB each.

Constructed from aluminum alloy using 4-axis CNC cutting, the device features a durable unibody design. Functional in design rather than fancy, it promises transfer speeds of up to 1,800MB/s (or up to 1,700MB/s for the 8TB model).

It uses a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C interface, ensuring compatibility with USB Type-C and Thunderbolt devices. A patented graphene heat dissipation pad is included to maintain cooling performance during intensive use. The SSD operates at temperatures between 5˚C and 55˚C and supports storage temperatures ranging from -20˚C to 50˚C.

Weighing 261g, the EXPERT P32 measures 110 x 65 x 26mm, so it's easily portable. The package includes a USB Type-C to Type-C cable, a DC power cable, and international plug adapters for global use. It is formatted with exFAT for compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux. The SSD comes with a three-year warranty, providing reliable support for creators. It is set to debut globally in Q4 2024, although pricing details have yet to be announced.

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The White Lotus season 3: key information

- Filming has officially wrapped
- No official release date revealed yet, though it's et to return sometime in 2025
- First footage teased in a 'new on Max in 2025' trailer
- Cast member from season 1 is slated to return
- All-new cast members confirmed
- Creator Mike White keeping plot under wraps
- Max CEO Casey Bloys has hinted there'll be a fourth season

The White Lotus season 3 will welcome a whole host of new guests (and returning customers in its ravenous fanbase) sometime next year. Despite the luxury hotel brand being plagued by – spoilers! – multiple murders, it appears socialites are still willing to visit the opulent resorts.

Following the success of the award-winning Max anthology series' first two installments, there’s been quite the hiatus since The White Lotus season 2 debuted in 2022.

Still, while there’s no sign yet of a release date, there’s rousing news to share on season 3’s cast, likely plot, and the hit series' future. You'll need to book in for a stay (or, rather, read through this guide) to learn more, though. Full spoilers follow for The White Lotus seasons 1 and 2.

The White Lotus season 3 release date prediction

A post shared by Walton Goggins (@waltongogginsbonafide)

A photo posted by on

The White Lotus season 3 doesn't have a launch date yet. However, the show was renewed for another outing in 2022. Since then, it's been hit with various delays, including last year's Hollywood, but now we know it'll be with us sometime in 2025.

In August, Walton Goggins – one of season 3's ensemble – took to Instagram (see above) to confirm that filming has officially wrapped. Unlike season 2, the turnaround from filming to release will be a little longer, so we’d imagine The White Lotus will return in early to mid-2025. Pressed for a month, we predict we'll all be enjoying a bit of winter sun (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) when it arrives, with a January or February launch likely.

Even better news, Max subscribers will get a "longer, bigger, crazier" season 3 of The White Lotus, with showrunner Like White also telling Entertainment Weekly (EW) it'll be a "supersized" installment. With season 1 lasting six episodes and season 2 running for seven episodes, we’d be surprised if The White Lotus season 3 didn't comprise at least eight episodes. White's tease indicates it may be even longer than that, though.

The White Lotus season 3 trailer: is there one?

New luxuries await you in Thailand. Season 3 of the @HBO Original Series #TheWhiteLotus is coming soon to Max. pic.twitter.com/6f25m4MI5fAugust 5, 2024

There isn't an official trailer for The White Lotus season 3. But, in November, a 'new on Max in 2025' teaser dropped first-look clips at season 3 alongside many other highly anticipated shows.

That footage followed a six-second teaser (see the X/Twitter post above) showing off season 3's new Thai resort, which opened with season 1's spa worker, Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) arriving at the luxury hotel's lobby. There were also quick glimpses at its new cast, including Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, and Patrick Schwarzenegger. A final shot of Posey lounging by the pool with Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan is also briefly seen before the words "What happens in Thailand, stays in Thailand" appear on the screen.

The White Lotus season 3 confirmed cast

Belinda is the only returning cast member of The White Lotus season 3 (Image credit: Max)

Spoilers follow for The White Lotus season 1.

Here’s the confirmed cast for The White Lotus season 3, including a returning star from season 1 and the many new faces who'll be checking in this time around:

• Natasha Rothwell as Belinda Lindsey
• Jason Isaacs as TBC
• Carrie Coon as TBC
• Patrick Schwarzenegger as TBC
• Aimee Lou Wood as TBC
• Scott Glenn as TBC
• Walton Goggins as TBC
• Leslie Bibb as TBC
• Michelle Monaghan as TBC
• Parker Posey as TBC
• Lalisa 'Lisa' Manobal as TBC
• Dom Hertakul as TBC
• Tayme Thapthimthong as TBC
• Sarah Catherine Hook as TBC
• Sam Nivola as TBC
• Nicholas Duvernay as TBC
• Francesca Corney as TBC
• Arna Fedaravičius as TBC
• Christian Friedel as TBC
• Morgana O’Reilly as TBC
• Lek Patravadi as TBC
• Shalini Peiris as TBC
• Julian Kostov as TBC

As confirmed in the season 3 teaser, season 1’s unfortunate spa worker Belinda is back for more dealings with the satirical series' new elitist characters.

After meeting with Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) in Hawaii and pitching her business plan, it appeared that Tanya might invest some of her wealth to support Belinda's dream. Clearly, though, she didn’t, hence Belinda having to get her old job back, albeit at a different resort. When it comes to her return in season 3, Natasha Rothwell told Variety: “Everyone needs to buckle up, because it’s going to get real!”

Aside from Belinda’s character, the other confirmed cast’s roles are unknown. If previous seasons are anything to go by, they'll stay that way until just before this season airs, too. While Tanya was the only character to reprise her role in season 2, we know from that season's tumultuous finale because – well, let's get into it...

The White Lotus season 3 story speculation

First it was Hawaii, then it was Sicily, and now it's now Thailand for The White Lotus season 3 (Image credit: Max)

Full spoilers follow for The White Lotus seasons 1 and 2.

As has been the case with the previous seasons of The White Lotus, creator Mike White is keeping schtum about this season's plot. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), though, he revealed season 3 will be a “satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality. It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.”

In another interview with THR, White spoke about whether season 3 would start the way the other two seasons had – with a dead body: “I don’t think it needs to always be a body. There are so many ways that we want to reinvent the show each year. Like, what is this show, other than people? A fresh mystery, people maybe expect that. But I don’t feel constrained by expectation. It’s fun.”

Award-winning Jennifer Coolidge met a dramatic end in season 2 (Image credit: Max)

There are a few things we know for certain about The White Lotus season 3. For starters, it's based at another luxury resort property – this time in Thailand – and Belinda will have a major role to play.

There's also a little bit of news about the new characters. Last year, a list of 13 roles that White was casting for, included nine series regulars. As reported by Deadline, the roles “ranged in ages between 18-80s – with a patriarch, a corporate executive, an actress, a couple of mothers, a misfit, and a yogi among the bunch.” Who from the confirmed cast will play each role, and what those roles will mean, remain strictly under wraps.

Will we see the return of Greg in The White Lotus season 3? (Image credit: Max)

Considering each season has a whole new cast, there's not much point looking to the previous seasons for clues. Although, when it comes to Jennifer Coolidge, she may hope that the husband of her character Tanya – named Greg – returns in some capacity so she can get indirect revenge for his murderous plot to steal her fortune. Speaking with Variety, Coolidge said: "My hope for Jon [Gries] is that he's not finished with Greg. I hope there's some comeuppance for evil Greg. I think he should, I don't know, end up in a meat-grinding machine."

Will The White Lotus return after season 3?

What picturesque location could The White Lotus open its doors in next? (Image credit: Max)

With the success of the anthology series, we’d be really surprised if The White Lotus ends after three seasons. Thankfully, it sounds like HBO boss Casey Bloys is onboard for more installments.

Speaking with Variety about future plans for the show, he said: "I know Mike has a lot of ideas for where it could go. We’re lucky to be in business with him. And we have actors who now really, really want to be on the show because it’s a great opportunity and it’s great writing. So, I think as long as he wants to do it, we’ll go along for the ride. He’s really built a very interesting model to go from different parts of the world and have a rotating cast."

That's not quite a confirmation about a fourth entry, but it's certainly a positive putlook for Bloys to have. After all, there are so many different locations The White Lotus could head for next and, with new multifaceted characters that we'd no doubt love to hate, the scope of this series could be vast.

So, what could future seasons look like? Speaking to THR, White was asked whether he’d be open to revisiting Greg’s character in the future, to which he said: "It would be easy to just be a full-on anthology, but I think it’s more fun to have little threads through the show. If the show goes on for a couple of seasons, it would be fun to have an all-star season". An all-star season? Sign us up.

For more Max-focused coverage, read our guides on the best Max shows, best Max movies, The Last of Us season 2, and Peacemaker season 2.

• New study trained AI models on answers given in a two-hour interview
• AI could replicate participants’ responses with 85% accuracy
• Agents could be used instead of humans in future research studies

You might think your personality is unique, but all it takes is a two-hour interview for an AI model to create a virtual replica with your attitudes and behaviors. That’s according to a new paper published by researchers from Stanford and Google DeepMind.

What are simulation agents?

(Image credit: Getty Images / Mikkelwilliam)

Simulation agents are described by the paper as generative AI models that can accurately simulate a person's behavior 'across a range of social, political, or informational contexts'.

In the study, 1,052 participants were asked to complete a two-hour interview which covered a wide range of topics, from their personal life story to their views on contemporary social issues. Their responses were recorded and the script was used to train generative AI models – or “simulation agents” – for each individual.

To test how well these agents could mimic their human counterparts, both were asked to complete a set of tasks, including personality tests and games. Participants were then asked to replicate their own answers a fortnight later. Remarkably, the AI agents were able to simulate answers with 85% accuracy compared to the human participants.

What’s more, the simulation agents were similarly effective when asked to predict personality traits across five social science experiments.

While your personality might seem like an intangible or unquantifiable thing, this research shows that it's possible to distill your value structure from a relatively small amount of information, by capturing qualitative responses to a fixed set of questions. Fed this data, AI models can convincingly imitate your personality – at least, in a controlled, test-based setting. And that could make deepfakes even more dangerous.

Double agent

(Image credit: Getty Images / Vesalainen)

The research was led by Joon Sung Park, a Stanford PhD student. The idea behind creating these simulation agents is to give social science researchers more freedom when conducting studies. By creating digital replicas which behave like the real people they’re based on, scientists can run studies without the expense of bringing in thousands of human participants every time.

You can have a bunch of small ‘yous’ running around and actually making the decisions that you would have made.

Joon Sung Park, Stanford PhD student

They may also be able to run experiments which would be unethical to conduct with real human participants. Speaking to MIT Technology Review, John Horton, an associate professor of information technologies at the MIT Sloan School of Management, said that the paper demonstrates a way you can “use real humans to generate personas which can then be used programmatically/in-simulation in ways you could not with real humans.”

Whether study participants are morally comfortable with this is one thing. More concerning for many people will be the potential for simulation agents to become something more nefarious in the future. In that same MIT Technology Review story, Park predicted that one day “you can have a bunch of small ‘yous’ running around and actually making the decisions that you would have made.”

For many, this will set dystopian alarm bells ringing. The idea of digital replicas opens up a realm of security, privacy and identity theft concerns. It doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to foresee a world where scammers – who are already using AI to imitate the voices of loved-ones – could build personality deepfakes to imitate people online.

This is particularly concerning when you consider that the AI simulation agents were created in the study using just two hours of interview data. This is much less than the amount of information currently required by companies such as Tavus, which create digital twins based on a trove of user data.

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