Autonomous navigation robots can increase the independence of blind people but often limit user control, following what is called in Japanese an "omakase" approach where decisions are left to the robot. This research investigates ways to enhance user control in social robot navigation, based on two studies conducted with blind participants. The first study, involving structured interviews (N=14), identified crowded spaces as key areas with significant social challenges. The second study (N=13) explored navigation tasks with an autonomous robot in these environments and identified design strategies across different modes of autonomy. Participants preferred an active role, termed the "boss" mode, where they managed crowd interactions, while the "monitor" mode helped them assess the environment, negotiate movements, and interact with the robot. These findings highlight the importance of shared control and user involvement for blind users, offering valuable insights for designing future social navigation robots.

While large language model (LLM)-based chatbots have been applied for effective engagement in credit dialogues, their capacity for dynamic emotional expression remains limited. Current agents primarily rely on passive empathy rather than affective reasoning. For instance, when faced with persistent client negativity, the agent should employ strategic emotional adaptation by expressing measured anger to discourage counterproductive behavior and guide the conversation toward resolution. This context-aware emotional modulation is essential for imitating the nuanced decision-making of human negotiators. This paper introduces an EQ-negotiator that combines emotion sensing from pre-trained language models (PLMs) with emotional reasoning based on Game Theory and Hidden Markov Models. It takes into account both the current and historical emotions of the client to better manage and address negative emotions during interactions. By fine-tuning pre-trained language models (PLMs) on public emotion datasets and validating them on the credit dialogue datasets, our approach enables LLM-based agents to effectively capture shifts in client emotions and dynamically adjust their response tone based on our emotion decision policies in real-world financial negotiations. This EQ-negotiator can also help credit agencies foster positive client relationships, enhancing satisfaction in credit services.

This is INSANEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Hands down, this is one of the first real AI innovations we've seen this year that lives up to the AI hype. OpenAI just dropped native image generation in GPT-4o, and I don't say this lightly, but... This ish right here is a game changer (I said that using my best Katt Williams impression). Also: I tried ChatGPT's new image generator, and it shattered my expectations You don't need professional design skills, expensive software, or even an ounce of artistic talent to produce jaw-dropping visuals. All you really need is your imagination and the right prompt.

The attention put a rocket under his music career. While his first two albums were DIY affairs, recorded in a couple of days and self-released, his latest, The Crux, was created in New York's fabled Electric Lady studios. Released on Friday, it's packed full of off-kilter lyrics and squiggly synth lines that burrow into your brain. The first two singles, Delete Ya and Basic Being Basic have already been radio hits, and the rest of the album pulls on influences as diverse as Electric Light Orchestra, New Order, Cake, Hall & Oates and Bruce Springsteen (coincidentally, all bands that would work perfectly on the Stranger Things soundtrack). There are a couple of knockouts – including the crunchy garage rock of Gap Toothed Smile, and the choppy New Wave anthem Link – but the point of the album is its diversity.

An AI overhaul may be on the horizon for Apple's Health app. In the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple is working on a much more comprehensive version of its Health app under the code name Project Mulberry, with plans to integrate an AI agent that would somewhat "replicate" a doctor and act as a personal health coach. In addition to making lifestyle recommendations based on users' health data, the app will reportedly include educational videos from real doctors about an array of health topics. The Health app will also put a new emphasis on food tracking, and may even offer form correction tips for workouts using the device's camera, Gurman reports. The service, unofficially being referred to as Health, could arrive with iOS 19.4, which Gurman says is expected to be released next spring or summer. In the meantime, Apple reportedly has doctors on staff whose data is being used to train the AI agent, and it's planning to open a studio near Oakland, California where they can film content.

Russian drones have struck Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv, killing two people and wounding dozens, the city's mayor Ihor Terekhov has said. "For the second time in a week, the enemy launched a combined attack, launching seven'Shaheed' at residential areas, hospitals, and the city's infrastructure," Terekhov said in a Telegram message on Sunday, referring to Iranian-made Shahed drones. The swarm of drones also targeted a military hospital, a shopping centre and apartment blocks, he said. Five of the 35 people wounded in the attack overnight were children. At least 13 have been hospitalised, including a teenage girl who is in serious condition.

Non-paying Gemini users can now play around with Google's newest model, the experimental version of Gemini 2.5 Pro. The company announced this weekend that it's making Gemini 2.5 Pro (experimental) free for everyone to use, albeit with tighter rate limits for non-subscribers. Google introduced Gemini 2.5 Pro just last week, touting it as its "most intelligent AI model" yet, and rolled it out to Gemini Advanced users first. While free users can now try it out too, Google added that "Gemini Advanced users have expanded access and a significantly larger context window." Gemini 2.5 Pro (experimental) is the first of Google's Gemini 2.5 "thinking" models, which are said to deliver more accurate results through reasoning.

The impact of AI has been felt across industries from Hollywood to publishing – and now it's come for modelling. H&M announced last week that it would create AI "twins" of 30 models with the intention of using them in social media posts and marketing imagery if the model gives her permission. In a statement, Jörgen Andersson, the chief creative officer at H&M, described the idea as "something that will enhance our creative process and how we work with marketing but fundamentally not change our human-centric approach in any way". The retail giant has worked with successful models including Vilma Sjöberg and Mathilda Gvarliani, who model for Vogue and brands including Chanel. As part of the agreement, each model would be able book her twin on shoots for other brands – meaning they could, in image anyway, be in two places at the same time.

Muslims around the world have begun celebrating Eid al-Fitr, one of the biggest celebrations in the Islamic calendar. Eid al-Fitr - which means "festival of the breaking of the fast" - is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting for many adults, as well as spiritual reflection and prayer.ReutersHere in Moscow, worshippers are seen preparing for prayer.ReutersHundreds took part in prayers at Tononoka grounds, in Mombasa, KenyaGetty ImagesPrayers were also observed at a stadium in Port Sudan in the east of the countryGetty ImagesLittle children joined adults at the Moskee Essalam in Rotterdam, NetherlandsGetty ImagesGifts are handed out to Muslim children in Lviv, Ukraine, as Russia's war on the country continuesReuters Palestinians in Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip pray amidst the rubble of a mosque destroyed in the current war between Israel and HamasGetty ImagesFamilies gather at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem - the third holiest site in IslamReutersA boy yawns during prayers at a stadium in QatarEPAMuslims greet each-other at Martim Moniz Square in Lisbon, PortugalGetty ImagesWomen worshippers gather in Burgess Park, London, for an outdoor prayerEPAThere were also worshippers gathered outside Plebiscito Square in Naples, ItalyReutersSome women took pictures after attending prayers at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, TurkeyGetty ImagesAfghan refugees pray at a mosque on the outskirts of Peshawar, PakistanMiddle EastEuropeEid al-FitrReligionIslamRelated'I was afraid for my life': At the scene of the attack on Palestinian Oscar winner 5 days agoMiddle EastMore8 hrs ago'In Bradford, families spend thousands on new clothes for Eid' Muslims spend large amounts in Bradford's supermarkets, clothes shops and other services before Eid.8 hrs agoEngland1 day ago The tourist has received an award from the city's mayor after restraining a man during a stabbing.1 day agoEurope1 day ago Another 21 people are injured, as a restaurant and several buildings are set ablaze in the city, local officials say.1 day agoWorld1 day ago Town's successful Ramadan lights project expanded A Scunthorpe community group says it has seen an "amazing" response to its lights display.1 day agoLincolnshire1 day ago Bishop says school that changed Easter events'valued' The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

From H. G. Wells's The Time Machine to Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, the possibility of travelling through time has fascinated people for centuries. But, although it sounds like pure science fiction, physicists now believe that time travel really is possible. In fact, scientists say that people have already done it. But, before you start to plan your trip to ancient Rome, the experts caution that real time travel is nothing like what you see in the movies. It might seem obvious, but here on Earth, we all move through time at a speed of one second per second.