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The Iranian women Trump ‘saved’ from execution are simultaneously real and AI-manipulated

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The Iranian women Trump ‘saved’ from execution are simultaneously real and AI-manipulated

Only the night before, he had posted on Truth Social about the imminent executions of these women, quoting a screenshot that included a collage of eight glamorously backlit, soft-focus portraits. The photos of the women were immediately accused of being AI-generated. “Trump is begging Iranian leaders to not execute 8 AI-generated women. This is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen,” said one viral X post.

On top of that, almost immediately after Trump’s announcement, Mizan, an Iranian state news agency, called the president a liar. “Last night, Donald Trump, citing a completely false news story, called on Iran to overturn the death sentences of eight women.” Mizan said that some of the women had already been released and others were facing prison time but not execution, and furthermore said that Tehran had made no concessions — presumably, the status of the women has not changed.

The X account for the Iranian embassy in South Africa, perhaps the most relentless shitposter among Iran’s state-affiliated accounts, was quick to pile on by generating its own set of eight women:

The collage that Trump posted is, at the very least, AI-modified, Mahsa Alimardani, the associate director of the Technology Threats & Opportunities program at WITNESS, told The Verge. But the women themselves are real. The woman in the top right corner of the collage is Bita Hemmati, whose photograph appeared in several news stories in various right-leaning news outlets last week. Hemmati is confirmed to have received a death sentence issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for “operational action for the hostile government of the United States and hostile groups.”

Alimardani named six of the women (Bita Hemmati, Mahboubeh Shabani, Venus Hossein-Nejad, Golnaz Naraghi, Diana Taherabadi, Ghazal Ghalandri), and said that the identities of the final two (said to be Panah Movahedi and Ensieh Nejati) were still unverified. The six verified women participated in protests against the government in January. Aside from Hemmati, none of the other women are reported to have received death sentences.

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It’s not surprising that Trump has a careless disregard for the truth; it’s not surprising, either, for the Iranian regime to fudge the details to suit its own narrative, or to make light of real political prisoners in order to dunk on the United States.

The additional wrinkle is that the account mocking Trump for coming to the rescue of “8 AI-generated women” is the very same one that landed South Korean president Lee Jae-myung in hot water when he quoted a misleading labeled video posted by that account. Israeli officials have accused the account of being “well-known for spreading disinformation.” The case of the sketchy Lee Jae-myung quote-post is a story of mingled truth and misinformation, where the post got facts very wrong, but the video — of Israeli Defense Forces soldiers shoving a limp body off a rooftop in Gaza — was real, documenting an event that possibly implicates Israeli forces in a violation of international law.

The case of the eight Iranian protesters also features that same mingling of fact and fiction into a fuzzy distortion that fuels an endless disputation of real human rights violations. Their lives have been reduced to glossy pixels and quote-dunks, the stuff of propaganda and parody. While known liars fight with each other on the internet about who these women are and what will happen to them, they — verifiably six of them, at least — remain real people who exist beyond the Iranian internet blackout.

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God of War Laufey is coming to the PS5

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God of War Laufey is coming to the PS5

Sony ended its big State of Play showcase with a major reveal: the next God of War. The new title is called God of War Laufey, and is once again developed by Sony’s Santa Monica Studio. Currently, the game doesn’t have a date, but it’s coming to the PS5 whenever it does launch.

This time, instead of perpetually furious dad Kratos, players will take control of Faye / Laufey, as the title implies. That means that while the tone of the game seems somewhat similar to past God of War titles, the gameplay looks quite different, with much more aerobatic action punctuated by magic instead of Kratos’ heavy violence. Also, there’s a giant, six-legged cat that can fly. And a talking gelatinous cube named Phranque that fights alongside you.

You can get a good look at the game in action with this lengthy 20-minute reveal video:

The new game is a shift for blockbuster video games, which for years have focused on stories about dads. With Faye’s starring role, it seems like moms are finally getting their due.

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Would you ride in Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi?

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Would you ride in Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi?

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Getting into a car with no one behind the wheel can be a little weird the first time. You know the car is supposed to drive itself, but part of you no doubt may still feel uneasy.

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Waymo is trying to make that moment feel less anxious with its new Ojai robotaxi. It has more room to stretch out, bigger screens to control the ride and a cabin built for passengers from the very start.

That could make a real difference. If driverless rides are going to become something you actually use, they need to feel safe, simple and comfortable once the doors close.

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CHINA’S FIRST MASS-PRODUCED FLYING CAR DEBUTS

Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi is designed around passengers, with more legroom, bigger screens and accessibility features. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Waymo Ojai robotaxi rides will start with select riders

Waymo says the first public Ojai rides will begin in the coming weeks. Select riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix will get the first chance to try it. The rides will be free for a limited time while Waymo gathers feedback and refines the experience. Access will then expand gradually to more riders and more cities.

Waymo also says Denver, Las Vegas and San Diego are on its expansion list before the company opens the doors wider later this year. For now, interested riders can use the Waymo app and sign up as a Trusted Tester.

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Waymo’s new driverless vehicle puts riders first

The Ojai looks like Waymo’s attempt to rethink what a robotaxi should feel like from the inside. Instead of feeling like a regular car with self-driving tech added in, the Ojai was built around the rider experience. Waymo describes it as a more expansive cabin with extra legroom, a flat floor and a low step-in height. That could help when you are carrying groceries, traveling with luggage or getting in and out with less mobility.

WAYMO TEAMS UP WITH WAZE TO SPOT POTHOLES FASTER

Inside the Waymo Ojai robotaxi cabin

The Ojai cabin gives riders three large adaptive screens. You can use them to adjust parts of the ride, including the temperature and music.

Waymo also added charging ports and cupholders. Those may sound like small touches, but they are the things you notice once you are actually sitting in the back seat.

Waymo says the Ojai cabin includes a flat floor, low step-in height, Braille, grab bars and screen-reader compatibility. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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Waymo Ojai accessibility features could help more riders

Waymo also says the Ojai was designed with accessibility in mind from the start. The vehicle has a flat floor, a low step-in height, Braille, grab bars and screen-reader compatibility.

Those details can make a ride easier for someone who needs a little more support getting in or out. They can also help older riders, passengers with disabilities or anyone juggling bags, groceries or a tired kid after a long day.

UBER UNVEILS A NEW ROBOTAXI WITH NO DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL

Waymo’s 6th-generation Driver debuts in the Ojai

The Ojai will be the first vehicle to use Waymo’s sixth-generation Waymo Driver. That is the company’s autonomous driving technology.

Waymo says this new generation will help it operate in snowier cities and bring fully autonomous rides to more communities. Snow, slush and messy weather can challenge autonomous vehicles in ways sunny streets cannot. If Waymo can handle those conditions safely, it could expand far beyond the warmer markets where robotaxis have had an easier start.

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Waymo’s Arizona factory could help robotaxis expand

Waymo says its Mesa, Arizona, factory is getting ready to build tens of thousands of vehicles each year. The Ojai will come first, followed by the Hyundai IONIQ 5. That matters because robotaxi services need vehicles. Lots of them.

The Ojai also includes practical changes that could help Waymo keep a larger fleet on the road. Waymo points to easier-to-clean interiors, faster charging, increased battery capacity and a more modular design for maintenance and repairs.

Those details may not sound exciting, but they matter if robotaxis are going to move beyond a handful of cities. The easier these vehicles are to charge, clean and repair, the easier it may be for Waymo to bring them to more riders.

WAYMO VEHICLES ‘PUTTING AMERICAN LIVES AT RISK,’ SOURCE WARNS AMID AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE COMPANY’S MASSIVE RECALL

The Waymo Ojai debuts the company’s sixth-generation autonomous driving system as it looks to expand robotaxi service. (Jason Henry/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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What this means to you

If you already ride with Waymo, the Ojai could make your next trip feel more comfortable. The bigger difference may be how normal the ride feels once you are inside. If you have never taken a driverless ride, the Ojai may become your first real temptation. The extra space and rider-friendly features could make the idea easier to try.

But there is still a comfort gap for many riders. You are stepping into a vehicle with no human driver. That makes comfort important, but safety still drives the whole decision. That question feels especially timely. Waymo recently paused freeway rides in several U.S. cities while it works on software updates tied to construction zones and flooded roads. Surface-street service has continued, but the pause is a reminder that even advanced robotaxis still face many challenges out there on the road.

Waymo says riders have taken more than 20 million fully autonomous trips across 11-plus cities. The Ojai now gives the company another chance to prove that driverless rides can feel safe, useful and normal for more of us.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi shows where driverless rides are heading next. The car still has to get you from point A to point B safely, but now Waymo is also trying to make the ride feel easier, roomier and more comfortable once you get inside. I like that Waymo is thinking about the rider experience, not only the driving technology. The extra space, accessibility features and rider controls could help those who have been curious but hesitant. Still, trust is a huge hurdle. A nicer cabin may make the ride more comfortable, but Waymo still has to prove that a car with no driver can handle the messy, unpredictable roads we all deal with every day.

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Would you climb into Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi for a free ride, or do driverless cars still have more to prove before you would trust one? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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The best Switch 2 screen protector you should buy

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The best Switch 2 screen protector you should buy

A glass screen protector is one of a few essential accessories that I strongly recommend to every Switch 2 owner. In fact, it should be a priority to stick one onto the console’s screen as soon as possible to avoid accidental scratches.

To test the candidates below, I installed and removed Switch 2 screen protectors on my console at an alarming rate, more than any sane person should, and here are the most important takeaways:

Of the options below, it’s easiest to recommend amFilm’s three-pack of glossy screen protectors. Not only is the pack affordable ($9.99 from Amazon), but the tray also allows for perfect alignment of the glass protector for easy, bubble-free installation. I’ve used this company’s screen protectors on various gadgets for years, and I particularly like its glossy option over the matte finish, since it lets the Switch 2’s screen fully shine through.

Update, June 2nd: Adjusted prices as needed.

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