Bigscreen has just revealed the Beyond 2, a custom-fit virtual-reality headset with a 116-degree field of view it claims is wider than the Meta Quest 3 and Valve Index. The wired headset weighs just 107 grams (~3.8 ounces) and starts at $1,019, but you’ll have to pay extra if you want eye-tracking capabilities.

The Bigscreen Beyond 2 is compatible with SteamVR base stations and comes with the same micro-OLED displays as its predecessor, offering a 5120 x 2560 resolution and up to 90Hz refresh rate. However, Bigscreen says the Beyond 2 has upgraded pancake optics offering “edge-to-edge clarity,” improved brightness, and less glare. It also lets you adjust the position of each lens separately, allowing it to match the distance between your pupils.

There’s also a Beyond 2e, which starts at $1,219 and tracks the movement of your eyes with “incredibly tiny camera sensors the size of a grain of sand.” This can come in handy if you want your virtual avatar in apps like VRChat to reflect your eye movement.

You can still use an iPhone XR or newer to create a 3D scan of your face, allowing Bigscreen to make a custom-fit face cushion. Alternatively, if you don’t have an iPhone, the Bigscreen Beyond 2 now offers a universal-fit Halo mount and cushion.

The Beyond 2 and Beyond 2e are available to order now with black, orange, and clear cover shells. Shipments are expected to arrive in June 2025.

It’s becoming more common for images to be made with AI tools. 

As the artificial intelligence generation gets more advanced, it’s getting trickier to tell the difference between AI-made and human-made images. However, there are still signs to look out for. 

Here are some key indicators that an image was created by AI. 

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1. Detail problems 

When it comes to photos of people, AI still has trouble mastering fine details like faces, textures and hands. Keep an eye out for inconsistencies such as extra fingers, strange skin tones or too many teeth. 

2. Glossy or fake-looking textures

AI can’t always get textures right, so images may look too smooth or shiny. This shows up a lot in things like skin (which might look unnaturally poreless) or in nature scenes where trees or grass look kind of plasticky. If everything looks just a little too perfect, it’s probably AI.

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3. Lighting and shadow issues

One of the easiest ways to spot AI is by looking at how lighting and shadows work. You might see shadows in odd places, or the lighting could look flat or inconsistent.

4. Background irregularities 

AI struggles with depth and perspective, so check the background for anything that seems off. For instance, you might see blurry objects or a distorted skyline. Sometimes, the background won’t even correctly match the image subject.

5. Messed-up words 

If there are words in the image, they might look jumbled, misspelled or nonsensical. This is because AI has a tough time making legible text, especially in more complex images.

6. Hidden biases 

AI learns from existing data, which can have a lot of built-in biases. As a result, AI images can showcase forms of discrimination. For example, most AI images of prestigious jobs will automatically feature White males. 

Example of an AI-created image (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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7. Unrealistic elements

Sometimes, AI images will incorporate things that simply don’t make sense. This might include animals in bizarre colors, impossible gadgets and other truly unbelievable settings. If you’re questioning whether something is real, there’s a good chance it isn’t.

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Example of an AI-created image (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

CAN AI MAKE PHOTOS OF YOU LOOK BETTER THAN YOU DO IN REAL LIFE?

8. Watermarks 

Some generative AI tools automatically add a watermark to the image. This will either be included in the lower corner of an image or be embedded in the background. 

9. Missing metadata 

While you might not be able to see it right away, AI images usually lack metadata. This is the information that’s attached to an image file, such as photo resolution or copyright details. 

To view image metadata in Windows:

• Right-click the image file and select Properties
• Click the Details tab in the window

To find it on a Mac:

• Right-click the image file
• Select Get Info

On real photos, metadata will be displayed. This information is missing when a photo is generated by AI.

10. Reverse image search 

For the more deceptive photos, try doing a reverse image search to track down where one came from. If it’s all over social media but not on trusted sites, be wary.

Think you can spot the fake? Put your skills to the test with my “Find the Fake” games here.

Kurt’s key takeaways 

AI-generated images are becoming increasingly popular. While the technology may be useful in certain situations, it can also bring up big concerns around trust and security. That’s why it’s crucial to know how to spot AI images to help stop misinformation and protect brand credibility.

What other types of AI content would you like help identifying? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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In a true sign of a vibe shift in Washington, a DC bar beloved by Republican staffers announced that it was shuttering its doors – and will reportedly be replaced by a bar that only accepts cryptocurrency as payment.

Local news site PoPville first reported on Thursday that a D.C. outpost of Pubkey, a bar located in Greenwich Village that describes itself as a “vibrant bitcoin community”, had taken over the lease of Hill Country, a popular Texas barbecue restaurant and music venue, which recently announced it would close its doors in Penn Quarter after 14 years.

It’s part of a trend of crypto-centric social venues opening up across the country in the past several years. Pubkey, which opened in 2022 near New York University’s Manhattan campus, has a notably casual atmosphere: a subterranean dive bar-slash-podcast recording studio, with a pub grub menu designed by an Eleven Madison Park alum, where anyone could hang out – so long as they paid with cryptocurrency. (When Eater visited in 2022, they observed “a variety of regional styles” of hot dogs on the menu, as well as a stuffed raccoon next to “a television that appeared to be playing A Christmas Story”.) But unlike its competitors, Pubkey has a unique link to the White House: Donald Trump made a high-profile visit during the 2024 campaign and used $998.70 worth of bitcoin to buy smash burgers for the entire bar, becoming the first president to conduct a bitcoin transaction – a symbolic embrace of the crypto community.

When reached for comment, Pubkey owner Thomas Pacchia confirmed that they would be opening a DC location in the coming months, but declined to specify the location. “The DC location will have podcast studios, event space, all that stuff,” he told The Verge. Although he acknowledged the negative publicity surrounding Trump’s visit, Pacchia added that Democrats such as Rep. Ritchie Torres and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand had visited Pubkey as well and hoped the new location would draw a bipartisan crowd. “Anybody that wants to come and talk about Bitcoin is welcome. Literally, anyone.”

The bar it will reportedly replace has diametrically opposed vibes. Located close to DC’s power lobbying firms, Hill Country, a bar whose decor could not scream “TEXAS” any louder, has long been known as a DC nightlife spot particularly beloved by Republican staffers looking for live country music, a good smoked brisket, and decently priced well liquor. It’s also a place where one could witness high-powered GOP lawmakers letting loose: Rep. George Santos was once spotted singing “I Will Survive” on a Wednesday karaoke night in 2023, while under a federal and Congressional investigation for fraud and lying about his background. (This reporter has personally attended several live karaoke nights and at least one company holiday party at Hill Country over the past several years.)

Pubkey’s arrival in Washington comes at a notable time in crypto’s history, whether it displaces the Republican bar or not. Once considered an unserious group of libertarians by lawmakers, the cryptocurrency community now has massive influence with the Trump administration, thanks to key crypto players such as David Sacks and Elon Musk supporting Trump’s reelection. Trump himself has embraced cryptocurrency more than previous presidents, launching his own memecoin, appointing Sacks as a “crypto czar” and announcing a potential cryptocurrency strategic reserve. (The rise of crypto has inadvertently stoked competition between the nativist MAGA right and the global economy-focused tech right, a tension so palpable that Vice President J.D. Vance recently had to call for a truce between the two.) With the upcoming opening of Pubkey, it appears that in the nation’s capital, the crypto faction is literally gaining ground.