#Swift Assist AI

[olivergisttv]

WWDC 2025: New Brilliant Tools for Software Developers

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) never fails to make waves—and 2025 is no exception. This year, WWDC unveiled a suite of powerful tools and updates aimed directly at enhancing developer productivity, expanding platform possibilities, and redefining app experiences across iOS, visionOS, macOS, and beyond. If you’re a developer, software engineer, or product builder in the…

[ailatestupdate]

Apple AI Vibe Coder

[goodguygadgets]

Acer unveils AI-Powered Personal Assistant and Sustainability Goals at IFA 2024

Acer just made a splash at IFA 2024 with their latest innovations! From the AI-powered Acer Assist to their commitment to sustainability, there's something for everyone that are changing the game. 🎮 #NextAtAcer #IFA2024 #AcerPH

At the IFA (Internationale FunkAusstellung) Global Press Conference 2024 in Berlin, Acer announced a range of AI-powered innovations, focusing on boosting productivity, sustainability, and creative expression. Key highlights include the launch of Acer Assist, a local AI personal assistant, new AI-integrated devices like the Swift Go 14 AI and Nitro Blaze 7, and Acer’s strong commitment to…

[ericshoney]

Stark's Wit~ Tony Stark

Summary: You're not the best at hand-to-hand combat, but your the second best Stark with sarcastic responses.

Warnings: Platonic nicknames, possible swearing, sarcastic humour.

Reader's Age: 18

The biting wind whipped around Y/n as she stood on the training platform, a scowl etched on her face. Sparring with super soldiers in January was not her idea of a fun Friday afternoon. Especially when all she had to defend herself was the Stark family arsenal of sarcasm.

“Alright, kid, you ready?” Steve, radiating earnest encouragement, adjusted his gloves. Beside him, Bucky simply stared, his metal arm gleaming dully in the overcast light. Sam hovered behind them, a wry grin on his face. He knew how this usually went.

"Born ready, Captain Rogers," Y/n quipped, her voice dripping with irony. "Just try not to break anything too important. Dad would have a conniption if his precious lab assistant came back in pieces."

Steve winced. He still wasn't entirely used to Y/n's… bluntness. "We'll be careful, Y/n. This is just for practice."

"Practice for what? The Super Soldier Olympics?" She rolled her eyes. "Last time I checked, my skill set leaned more towards coding and caffeine addiction, not hand-to-hand combat."

Bucky finally spoke, his voice gruff. "Everyone needs to know how to defend themselves, Stark. Especially with your… family history."

That hit a little too close to home. Y/n tightened her jaw. "Right, because I specifically asked to be born into a world of interdimensional travel, rogue AI, and sentient purple grapefruits. My bad."

Steve sighed and stepped forward. "Alright, enough talking. Let's see what you've got."

The next few minutes were, to put it mildly, humiliating. Steve, ever the gentleman, pulled his punches, but even he couldn't help but land a few glancing blows. Bucky, predictably, was less restrained. His metal arm was like a battering ram, and Y/n found herself mostly dodging and weaving, her reflexes surprisingly sharp despite her lack of formal training.

"Having fun yet?" Sam called out, leaning against the railing.

"Oh, I'm having a ball, Sam," Y/n gasped, narrowly avoiding Bucky's fist. "This is exactly how I pictured spending my Friday: getting pummeled by a century-old assassin. Living the dream, really."

She managed to duck under Steve’s arm and deliver a swift kick to his shin. It wasn’t exactly a knockout blow, but it was enough to make him stumble.

"Not bad, Y/n," Steve said, rubbing his leg. "You're getting faster."

"Years of dodging Dad's bad science puns have honed my reflexes," she retorted, then spun to face Bucky, who was advancing with a predatory gleam in his eye. "Alright, Tin Man, let's dance!"

Bucky lunged. This time, Y/n tried a different tactic. As he swung his metal arm, she sidestepped and grabbed a handful of his long hair, yanking him off balance.

"Whoa! Hey!" Bucky sputtered, momentarily disoriented.

"Sorry, Barnes! Didn't know you were so sensitive about your 'vintage chic' hairstyle," Y/n said, releasing him and darting away.

Sam burst out laughing. Even Steve cracked a smile. Bucky, however, wasn't amused. He charged again, his movements less precise, fueled by irritation.

Y/n knew she couldn't keep this up forever. She was already winded, and her sarcasm reserves were starting to run dry. As Bucky cornered her near the edge of the platform, she knew she was out of options.

"Okay, okay, I surrender!" she yelled, throwing her hands up in the air. "Uncle! Mercy! I admit defeat! You win, metal arm! You’re the best at… uh… arming metal-ly! Yeah, that’s the one.”

Bucky stopped, his expression a mixture of annoyance and begrudging amusement. “You’re impossible, Stark.”

“That’s what my therapist keeps telling me,” Y/n said, panting. She collapsed onto a nearby bench, gathering her breath.

Steve clapped her on the shoulder. "You did well, Y/n. You're quick, and you think on your feet. You just need to work on your… offensive capabilities."

"My offense is impeccable," Y/n said, gesturing to Bucky. "Just ask him. I practically incapacitated him with my devastating wit."

Sam snorted. "Yeah, well, wit doesn't exactly stop a bullet."

"True," Y/n conceded. "But it can annoy someone enough that they forget what they were going to do in the first place. That's a defense mechanism in itself, right?"

She looked up at their faces, a hopeful glimmer in her eyes. They were her dad’s friends, family even. And despite the inherent strangeness of having super soldiers trying to turn her into a miniature Avenger, she knew they cared.

Steve, ever the optimist, gave her a reassuring smile. "It's a start, Y/n. We'll keep working on it."

"Great," Y/n said, her sarcasm returning full force. "Just promise me one thing: next time, can we at least do this in a heated environment? And maybe with a pizza? I'm pretty sure I can weaponize pepperoni."

Bucky rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Even he had to admit, Y/n Stark, with her sharp tongue and Stark-brand stubbornness, was growing on him. Even if she did almost pull his hair out. He smirked, “I’d pay to see that.”

As the three men began to pack up, Y/n pulled out her phone. Time to order that pizza. And maybe send Dad a text. Something along the lines of: 'Almost got murdered by Bucky today. Send backup (and maybe a new shield design. Sarcasm-proof, preferably).

Tags:

@parkjihoonsnudes @riowritesitall @mandmilovehim @onelesslonelygirlbieber6 @lgbtq-girl

Dividers by: @issysh3ll

[mostlysignssomeportents]

AI’s “human in the loop” isn’t

I'll be in TUCSON, AZ from November 8-10: I'm the GUEST OF HONOR at the TUSCON SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION.

AI's ability to make – or assist with – important decisions is fraught: on the one hand, AI can often classify things very well, at a speed and scale that outstrips the ability of any reasonably resourced group of humans. On the other hand, AI is sometimes very wrong, in ways that can be terribly harmful.

Bureaucracies and the AI pitchmen who hope to sell them algorithms are very excited about the cost-savings they could realize if algorithms could be turned loose on thorny, labor-intensive processes. Some of these are relatively low-stakes and make for an easy call: Brewster Kahle recently told me about the Internet Archive's project to scan a ton of journals on microfiche they bought as a library discard. It's pretty easy to have a high-res scanner auto-detect the positions of each page on the fiche and to run the text through OCR, but a human would still need to go through all those pages, marking the first and last page of each journal and identifying the table of contents and indexing it to the scanned pages. This is something AI apparently does very well, and instead of scrolling through endless pages, the Archive's human operator now just checks whether the first/last/index pages the AI identified are the right ones. A project that could have taken years is being tackled with never-seen swiftness.

The operator checking those fiche indices is something AI people like to call a "human in the loop" – a human operator who assesses each judgment made by the AI and overrides it should the AI have made a mistake. "Humans in the loop" present a tantalizing solution to algorithmic misfires, bias, and unexpected errors, and so "we'll put a human in the loop" is the cure-all response to any objection to putting an imperfect AI in charge of a high-stakes application.

But it's not just AIs that are imperfect. Humans are wildly imperfect, and one thing they turn out to be very bad at is supervising AIs. In a 2022 paper for Computer Law & Security Review, the mathematician and public policy expert Ben Green investigates the empirical limits on human oversight of algorithms:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3921216

Green situates public sector algorithms as the latest salvo in an age-old battle in public enforcement. Bureaucracies have two conflicting, irreconcilable imperatives: on the one hand, they want to be fair, and treat everyone the same. On the other hand, they want to exercise discretion, and take account of individual circumstances when administering justice. There's no way to do both of these things at the same time, obviously.

But algorithmic decision tools, overseen by humans, seem to hold out the possibility of doing the impossible and having both objective fairness and subjective discretion. Because it is grounded in computable mathematics, an algorithm is said to be "objective": given two equivalent reports of a parent who may be neglectful, the algorithm will make the same recommendation as to whether to take their children away. But because those recommendations are then reviewed by a human in the loop, there's a chance to take account of special circumstances that the algorithm missed. Finally, a cake that can be both had, and eaten!

For the paper, Green reviewed a long list of policies – local, national, and supra-national – for putting humans in the loop and found several common ways of mandating human oversight of AI.

First, policies specify that algorithms must have human oversight. Many jurisdictions set out long lists of decisions that must be reviewed by human beings, banning "fire and forget" systems that chug along in the background, blithely making consequential decisions without anyone ever reviewing them.

Second, policies specify that humans can exercise discretion when they override the AI. They aren't just there to catch instances in which the AI misinterprets a rule, but rather to apply human judgment to the rules' applications.

Next, policies require human oversight to be "meaningful" – to be more than a rubber stamp. For high-stakes decisions, a human has to do a thorough review of the AI's inputs and output before greenlighting it.

Finally, policies specify that humans can override the AI. This is key: we've all encountered instances in which "computer says no" and the hapless person operating the computer just shrugs their shoulders apologetically. Nothing I can do, sorry!

All of this sounds good, but unfortunately, it doesn't work. The question of how humans in the loop actually behave has been thoroughly studied, published in peer-reviewed, reputable journals, and replicated by other researchers. The measures for using humans to prevent algorithmic harms represent theories, and those theories are testable, and they have been tested, and they are wrong.

For example, people (including experts) are highly susceptible to "automation bias." They defer to automated systems, even when those systems produce outputs that conflict with their own expert experience and knowledge. A study of London cops found that they "overwhelmingly overestimated the credibility" of facial recognition and assessed its accuracy at 300% better than its actual performance.

Experts who are put in charge of overseeing an automated system get out of practice, because they no longer engage in the routine steps that lead up to the conclusion. Presented with conclusions, rather than problems to solve, experts lose the facility and familiarity with how all the factors that need to be weighed to produce a conclusion fit together. Far from being the easiest step of coming to a decision, reviewing the final step of that decision without doing the underlying work can be much harder to do reliably.

Worse: when algorithms are made "transparent" by presenting their chain of reasoning to expert reviewers, those reviewers become more deferential to the algorithm's conclusion, not less – after all, now the expert has to review not just one final conclusion, but several sub-conclusions.

Even worse: when humans do exercise discretion to override an algorithm, it's often to inject the very bias that the algorithm is there to prevent. Sure, the algorithm might give the same recommendation about two similar parents who are facing having their children taken away, but the judge who reviews the recommendations is more likely to override it for a white parent than for a Black one.

Humans in the loop experience "a diminished sense of control, responsibility, and moral agency." That means that they feel less able to override an algorithm – and they feel less morally culpable when they sit by and let the algorithm do its thing.

All of these effects are persistent even when people know about them, are trained to avoid them, and are given explicit instructions to do so. Remember, the whole reason to introduce AI is because of human imperfection. Designing an AI to correct human imperfection that only works when its human overseer is perfect produces predictably bad outcomes.

As Green writes, putting an AI in charge of a high-stakes decision, and using humans in the loop to prevent its harms, produces a "perverse effect": "alleviating scrutiny of government algorithms without actually addressing the underlying concerns." The human in the loop creates "a false sense of security" that sees algorithms deployed for high-stakes domains, and it shifts the responsibility for algorithmic failures to the human, creating what Dan Davies calls an "accountability sink":

https://profilebooks.com/work/the-unaccountability-machine/

The human in the loop is a false promise, a "salve that enables governments to obtain the benefits of algorithms without incurring the associated harms."

So why are we still talking about how AI is going to replace government and corporate bureaucracies, making decisions at machine speed, overseen by humans in the loop?

Well, what if the accountability sink is a feature and not a bug. What if governments, under enormous pressure to cut costs, figure out how to also cut corners, at the expense of people with very little social capital, and blame it all on human operators? The operators become, in the phrase of Madeleine Clare Elish, "moral crumple zones":

https://estsjournal.org/index.php/ests/article/view/260

As Green writes:

The emphasis on human oversight as a protective mechanism allows governments and vendors to have it both ways: they can promote an algorithm by proclaiming how its capabilities exceed those of humans, while simultaneously defending the algorithm and those responsible for it from scrutiny by pointing to the security (supposedly) provided by human oversight.

Tor Books as just published two new, free LITTLE BROTHER stories: VIGILANT, about creepy surveillance in distance education; and SPILL, about oil pipelines and indigenous landback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/10/30/a-neck-in-a-noose/#is-also-a-human-in-the-loop

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en ==

[thollandsgirl2013]

𝐀 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨’𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Parings → Peter Parker x Reader

Warnings → Fluff

Summary → You gave Peter a mission, and as a dutiful boyfriend, he makes sure the mission is accomplished. 

The city was peaceful for once, and Peter Parker was enjoying a rare moment of relaxation. He swung through the sky, flipping from one building to the next, his suit rippling in the breeze. Crime had been surprisingly quiet, and he didn’t have anywhere pressing to be. New York City glittered beneath him, a breathtaking sight, and Peter was more than happy to bask in the stillness.

That is, until his phone started ringing in his pocket.

“Karen, can you pick that up? It’s probably Y/n,” Peter asked his AI assistant, casually landing on a nearby rooftop. He perched himself on the ledge, tilting his head slightly as he listened.

The soft click of the line connecting was followed by your voice.

“PETER BENJAMIN PARKER!” You practically shouted through the speaker.

Peter immediately panicked, hands up defensively. “I didn’t do anything!” He blurted, his heart rate spiking.

Your laugh echoed through the line, “I knew you’d react like that.”

Peter whined softly, “Why do you always do that to me?”

“Stop whining, I have a mission for you.”

Peter perked up immediately, the word “mission” triggering his hero mode. “A mission? Ooh, I like the sound of this. What do you need, babe?”

Your tone shifted, more serious but with a playful edge, “Yeah, it is pretty serious. I’m out of pads. I just got my period, I’m sitting on the toilet, and I realized I forgot to restock last month.”

Peter blinked. “Oh.”

“Oh?” You repeated, clearly unimpressed.

Peter quickly recovered, “Don’t worry, baby. Spider-Man’s gonna save the day! I’m on it.”

“You have 15 minutes, Parker. Clock’s ticking,” you teased, though your voice carried the faintest bit of desperation.

“See you in ten minutes!” He called, hanging up and leaping from the rooftop in one swift motion. His body twisted gracefully through the air as he headed toward the nearest convenience store.

---

Peter was a man on a mission, and nothing was going to stop him. Well… except maybe his own lack of awareness.

He zipped into the store, landing with a thud just outside and pushing through the door with urgency. His mind was too focused on completing the task you had set for him to realize that something very important had slipped his mind: he was still in his Spider-Man suit.

With his backpack slung over his shoulder, Peter made a beeline for the sanitary products aisle. He didn’t even notice the stares and whispered gasps from other shoppers as he searched for the exact brand of pads you preferred. His eyes darted across the shelves, and he finally spotted them.

“Ah-ha!” He exclaimed triumphantly, grabbing a few packs for good measure.

Then, because Peter was nothing if not thoughtful, he ran by the candy aisle and tossed a few of your favorite chocolates into the basket. Satisfied with his haul, he headed toward the cashier.

It wasn’t until Peter was standing at the register, placing the pads and chocolate on the counter, that he started to feel something was off. The cashier was staring at him with wide eyes, mouth slightly agape. And… was that someone taking a picture of him?

“Uh… is there something on my face?” Peter asked, cocking his head in confusion. “Why is everyone staring?”

The cashier blinked, still in disbelief. “You’re… Spider-Man.”

Peter’s eyes widened under the mask. Oh no. Oh no no no. It hit him all at once—he had completely forgotten to change out of his suit.

“Crap,” he muttered, hurriedly paying for the items. He grabbed the bag, stuffed it into his backpack, and bolted out the door, swinging away in a blur before anyone else could get another shot of him.

---

Peter flew through the air, heart racing. How could I forget? Of all the things to slip his mind, showing up in full Spider-Man gear to buy pads and chocolates was not something he could easily explain away. But he had bigger problems—like getting home to you within the time limit you had set.

He swung through the window of your shared apartment with all the grace of a seasoned hero, landing softly and immediately pulling off his mask. He knocked on the bathroom door.

“Special deliveryyyy,” He called in a sing-song voice.

The door practically flew open, and you snatched the bag from his hands. “FINALLY!” You exclaimed, slamming the door shut in his face without another word.

Peter pouted, though you couldn’t see it. “You’re welcome,” he mumbled to himself before retreating to the living room. He changed out of his suit into some comfy sweats and a T-shirt, plopping down on the couch. He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, hoping to erase the embarrassment from his mind.

A few minutes later, you emerged from the bathroom, feeling much better now that your crisis had been averted. You walked straight over to Peter and flopped down on top of him, your entire body weight pressing into his chest.

Peter grunted, wrapping his arms around you instinctively. “Comfy?” He teased.

“Very. Thank you, baby,” you murmured, planting a soft kiss on his lips.

Peter smiled into the kiss, his fingers gently brushing up and down your back. But just as things started to get cozy, the news flashed on the screen.

“Breaking News: Spider-Man has been spotted at a local store purchasing sanitary pads and chocolates!”

Both of you froze. Peter’s lips parted in horror, while you burst out laughing.

“Oh my god, Peter!” You howled, pulling away from him. “You went into the store as Spider-Man?!”

Peter’s face turned beet red, and he buried his head in his hands. “Shut up,” he whined, his voice muffled. “I was in a hurry! I didn’t even realize! And if anything, it’s your fault for giving me a time limit!”

You couldn’t stop laughing, wiping tears from your eyes. “That is… I can’t believe you actually did that! People took pictures!”

Peter peeked through his fingers, his expression a mix of embarrassment and frustration. “Ughhh, this is gonna be all over social media, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely,” you grinned, pulling out your phone. Sure enough, there were already dozens of posts with photos of Peter in his Spider-Man suit standing in the sanitary aisle, pads in hand.

“I’m never going to live this down,” Peter groaned, sinking lower into the couch.

You leaned down, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Aw, come on. It’s actually really sweet. You’re a hero for real.”

Peter sighed, his pout still in place. “Yeah, a hero who buys period supplies in full costume.”

You chuckled, snuggling into him. “Well, Spider-Man saves the day in all kinds of ways. You’re my hero, Pete.”

Peter’s expression softened at your words, his arms tightening around you. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” you whispered, kissing him again.

And though Peter would probably be a viral meme for the next few days, at least he’d earned some serious boyfriend points in your book.

‎∗ ࣪ ˖༺ 𓆩☆𓆪 ༻˖ ࣪ ∗

[ponderingmoonlight]

Giyuu Tomioka stopping you from killing Nezuko with his own methods

Pairing: Giyuu x fem!reader

Word Count: 2,6k

Synopsis: When you were assigned to assist Shinobu and your former master and secret crush Giyuu, you never imagined to find him saving a demon. How is he supposed to stop you from fulfilling your duty, from hating him?

Warnings: hurt to comfort, Giyuu is...well, Giyuu. As always in my kny fics, I'm using some ai pics so if this doesn't sit right with you don't go any further, not 100% proofread, let me know what you think <3

“I will assist the young slayers in this area. Are you okay with aiding Tomioka?”

Your heart skips a beat by the sheer sound of his name. The man who trained you so well that you’d be a hashira if he wasn’t still stronger than you. The man with the ocean blue eyes, the calmest composure, who never talks much but always finds the right words.

Giyuu Tomioka, the men you fell hopelessly in love with a long time ago.

“I am”, you reply, concentrated on his smell that hangs in the air.

He ran down here just like you do now. Where is he? Is he alright? Hopefully no one was hurt.

“I thought so”, Shinobu replies with a kind smile.

It’s not a secret to any hashira anymore how you feel for the water pillar. Maybe it’s because you share the same breathing style, maybe it’s the fact that he knows how to tame down your pounding heart, to give you the calmness you need in these turbulent times.

“Take care of yourself, I’m sure you’ll do great!”

With that, the insect pillar disappears into the other direction of the forest, leaving you alone with your pounding heartbeat and the stinging smell of blood that hangs in the air. You grip the handle of your sword tighter, dash forward a little faster. You can do this. After all, Giyuu Tomioka was a great teacher.

He didn’t prepare you for the scene that lays itself out in front of your eyes, though. A demon lying on the floor along with a boy, just inches away. Him, bending over them. If it stretches out its hand, if it hits him with full force… Out of instinct, you pick up your pace, race towards him as fast as you can. You need to save him, need to kill that demon, you-

You can’t believe your eyes. The blade of your sword crushes into another one. Not the claws of a demon, not the katana of the boy lying on the floor.

It’s Giyuu’s sword.

You glide through the air elegantly, eyes meeting his ocean blue orbs that don’t show anything but calmness. Is he…protecting them?

“I’m begging you to spare them.”

You can’t believe your ears, the urgent tone in his voice so unusual that you can’t help but stop in your tracks. Is this really Giyuu? The man who taught you to kill every demon on your way? The man who never hesitates, who does his duty without thinking twice? Right now, he positioned himself between you and both of them, his sword ready to dodge your attack all over again.

“She’s a demon”, you clarify, eyes wandering to the girl who lays on the floor and eyes you sceptically.

No, this isn’t right. You can’t just stand here and do nothing. Without replying to his words, you dash forward again just the way he taught you.

Only to get greeted by his blade again.

He grabs your arm gently and pulls you closer with a swift motion of his trained body. You hold your breath, heart pounding out of your chest all over again. Giyuu being so close to you, Giyuu protecting a demon…

“What has gotten into you?”, you breathe out.

Oh, how lovely your haori sparkles in the down-going sun, how gorgeous your eyes gleam only inches away from his own face. Will he ever get enough from simply looking at you, from studying every inch of your colourful orbs? You really learned how to handle your sword well, the elegant movements of your body surpassing his own.

No. He shakes his head ever so slightly. This is not the right time to ponder about your gorgeous appearance. After all, you’re standing right in from of him, your eyes reflecting the distress he caused by protecting Kamado Tanjiro and his sister from your blade. Would you understand? After all these times he taught you not to spare a single demon, the countless nights he encouraged you to behead them. It is too much to ask you for mercy now?

“You need to spare them.”

Your world is turned upside down, orbs eyeing him up and down in sheer disbelief. This doesn’t sound like the man you know at all. Is this a cruel trick, the power of the demon, maybe? As if he’s able to read your thoughts, he lets his sword fall into the discoloured snow and cups your cheek gently.

“We both know I can’t.”

He allows his eyes to rest for a moment, to think about what he’ll do next really careful. One glimpse into your determined orbs shows that you won’t give in, that you are too skilled and smart to simply follow his pleas. No, he has to find another way, he-

“Can you move?”

His heart stings in agony just by thinking what he’s about to do next.

“Make yourself move even if you can’t move.”

But he has to. If there’s the slightest chance Tanjiro’s sister can be healed, he needs to path their way.

“Take your sister and run.”

Even if it means betraying you. You, his first tsugoko. You, the woman he loves in secret.

“Tomioka-san…Sorry for the trouble, thank you very much!”

You can’t believe your ears, widen eyes watching in horror as the boy grabs the demon’s hand and sprints away.

“Giyuu…”

Your whole body feels numb, mind desperately trying to process what just happened. Your master, the water pillar…A traitor?

“This…This is against the Corps rules…”, you mumble.

He grabs your other hand as well, forces your sword into the snow right next to his.

“It was never my attention to betray you, (y/n). But I can’t allow you to kill that demon. We need to give them a chance.”

“She’s a demon!”, you shout, arms fighting against the sheer force of his grip only to fall into the cold snow violently.

You can’t hold back the tears that start to sting in your eyes anymore. No, this isn’t only about the sheer fact that he spared a demon. It’s about the fact that he betrayed you, that he still doesn’t share the reason why he saved them.

“I thought you trust me. I thought you…care more about me.”

It kills him from the inside, the way you look up at him with all that grief in your eyes getting reflected in the moonlight. Giyuu can only imagine how you must feel, how it has to look in your gorgeous orbs.

“I care about you more than anything else, (y/n). But still, I can’t allow you to kill that demon. Not her.”

“Do you know her? Is that the reason why you don’t want to see her die?”

You hate the pity tone in your voice, the struck of jealousy that fires your anger all over again. You lift yourself off the ground and storm towards him, grabbing his haori tightly.

“I gave it all up for you. I worked hard to become the demon slayer you always imagined me to be, I did everything I could to stay by your side, I…I always longed for you to love me back, Giyuu Tomioka. Only for you to break your own rules, to lie into my face!”, you shout at him, shaking him violently before you are able to stop yourself.

“I thought you’d feel the same way but apparently, I’m nothing but a fool.”

 “But I do.”

Before you’re able to shake him again, he grabs your wrists firmly and pulls you closer, the heat radiating from your body becoming unbearable to ignore.

“You’re right, you don’t deserve that I’m lying to your face. I should have told you about them a long time ago, should have been honest with you. The truth is, I fail to understand myself why that demon didn’t kill the boy yet. Master Urukodaki…He himself told me that she is under control and does not pose a threat. If there is the slightest chance she’ll turn into a human again I need to protect them both. He is special, (y/n).”

Everything is too much. His sudden outburst, the fact that there’s still a demon out there, Shinobu who told you over and over to not spare a single one of them.

“I can’t”, you cry out.

As if in trance you grab your sword again, sprint down the soft snowy ground in the direction of the boy and the demon. What are you supposed to do? Kill them, spare them, talk to them? That girl is a demon, she needs to get killed. But all the sings Giyuu said, that look on his face. You can’t ignore what he sees in them, the words of none other than master Urukodaki haunting you down. Maybe he is right. But still, she’s a demon, you’re a demon slayer, it’s your destiny to-

You land on the ground softly.

“Please don’t run away from me.”

Suddenly it feels even harder to breathe, your lungs getting pressed into the ground without any mercy. Was it another demon, an attack from behind? Your eyes dart upwards, searching for hold in the dim moonlight.

Only to get greeted by Gyiuu Tomioka’s ocean blue eyes.

“Stay.”

“I…can’t”, you press out, arms fighting against his larger frame.

He lays on top of you, his arms pinning you down onto the ground while the sheer weight of his body keeps you in place. You might be strong, a skilled demon slayer.

But he’s still Giyuu Tomioka.

“You lied to me! You played with me! Shin…Shinobu-san is here too! When she finds out what you did, that you helped a demon…Don’t you know that you might die!?”

It becomes more than urgent to you. None of this is about the fact that he helped a demon, that you fail to understand why he feels sympathy for that poor boy. It’s about the risk of losing Giyuu, his potential end as a pillar and his whole life. No other hashira will understand why he acted the way he did. And if Kagaya-sama thinks the same…You swallow away the big lump that forms in your throat, blink away the tears that threaten to fall again.

You can’t afford to lose him.

Instead of answering, Giyuu just stares down at you, gets lost in the ocean of your eyes. Oh, he always pondered about the fact how well water breathing suits you. With your movements being flowy like waves and your eyes reflecting the ocean itself, it wouldn’t be hard for him to stare at you all day. You are magnificent, so kind that the world doesn’t deserve you, well-liked by everyone else. Why is it him you’re staring at, why do you even care about the fact that he might die? It shouldn’t bother you, shouldn’t hit you the way it does.

“I love you!”, you finally cry into the night.

The unspoken words between both of you, the stinging true always present but never talked about. You love him with all your heart, with all you have.

And the thought of losing him kills you from the inside.

Gyiuu can’t believe his ears, still staring at you without even flinching. You…love him? A gorgeous girl like you who turns heads on a regular basis, so skilled that you’re even able to outstand Kyojuro’s training. Why would you love a man like him who has nothing to offer? Even if it makes his usual calm heart flutter in sheer excitement, even if he wants nothing more than closing the gap between your faces and get a taste of your lips, he stays right in place.

“Don’t worry about me. I will not escape my punishment.”

You let out your shaky breath, mind not able to process his words while your heart already shatters into a million tiny pieces.

“BUT I CARE!”

You grab his haori tightly, knuckles standing out white while you stare up at his unwavering eyes.

“I care about you! I don’t want you to die because of something like this, I don’t want to lose you!”

He should let go of you, should stand up and walk away. You don’t deserve the pain he puts you through, you never did.

But instead, his hands cup your cheeks gently. Instead, he leans down, closer and closer to your gorgeous face.

Instead, he presses his lips against yours.

You forget how to exist for a second. Is this…is this really happening? Gyiuu Tomioka laying on top of you, his firm body pressed against yours. Giyuu Tomioka, kissing you oh so gently. You feel like fainting and flying at the same time, as good as never before while a wave of stomach flutter hits you with full force.

How many times did you imagine in secret how it must feel to have him so close? All these countless nights you pondered about the feeling of his lips, how it must be to hug him. And now all of this is happening all at once.

“Now, what do we have here? Aren’t both of you supposed to kill the demon who just run away?”

He lets go faster than you’re able to react, his hand stretched out in order to help you off the ground.

“Shinobu-san”, you breathe out in sheer horror.

Your hands start trembling, glossy eyes darting towards her. How long is she here? What did she hear? Your stomach drops to the ground. Please, she didn’t hear about the stinging fact that Giyuu helped that demon, she didn’t-“

“Is it true that you wanted to spare this demon, Tomioka?”

You swallow hard, vision getting blurry. As much as you adore Shinobu with all your heart, you know as good as she does that helping a demon is strictly against the Corps rules. And even though you weren’t strong enough to stop him, from reporting his resistance.

Shinobu will.

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he blankly stares at her, body positioning itself in front of her and you.

“(y/n), were you also involved into this? I thought you are a better demon slayer than that. You even have the chance to be a hashira! What a shame-“

“Stop”, Giyuu interrupts her.

“She tried to stop me multiple times.”

“Giyuu”, you mutter under your breath.

“Is that so? Well, isn’t the word of your crush enough to stop you? Aren’t you aware of what awaits you?”

You watch in horror as she storms towards him, her sword ready to hit him.

“So you’re really serious about saving a demon? So serious that you’re not only risking your life, but (y/n)’s as well?”

Their blades clash into each other over and over.

“Please stop, it’s not what you think!”, you desperately try to interrupt.

“I am not risking (y/n)’s life”, he clarifies.

“Oh, but you do? How are we supposed to know she didn’t help you? After all, everybody knows how close you are!”

You can’t escape the blush that creeps up your face immediately.

“T-that’s…n-not true!”

“And because (y/n) is important to me, I’d never put her life into danger.”

“I have a message from headquarters! Bring them back! Bring them back! Tanjiro, dressed in a checkered haori, with a scar on his forehead! Nezuko, a demon girl with a bamboo muzzle! Bring them back! Bring them back!”

Without another word, Shinobu puts her sword in her sheath and starts walking away. Oh, this is bad. Absolutely bad. Getting sent to the headquarters means only one thing…

“Don’t worry too much.”

Giyuu grabs your hand firmly, his eyes captivate you in an instant.

“I won’t allow anyone to hurt you.”

Tags: @chilichopsticks @hellkaiserinphoenix  @ynackerman9499 @keepghostly @beatrexworld @froufrousnowman @hidazinie @tomiokathedepresso  @poketrainer2270 @chaoticwinnercupcake @lees-chaotic-brain @wordskeeper @polarbvnny @kayleegomez @ryva @baku2345 @komelrebi-san

[hypelens]

California Fires: The Pacific Palisades Blaze and the Ongoing Battle Against Wildfires

California is once again in the grip of devastating wildfires, with the Pacific Palisades Fire taking center stage as it threatens communities, disrupts lives, and underscores the ongoing challenges posed by climate change. With gusty winds, dry conditions, and rising temperatures fueling the flames, residents and first responders are facing a dire situation.

Overview of the Pacific Palisades Fire

The Pacific Palisades Fire, which erupted earlier this week, has rapidly spread across the densely populated region. According to KTLA, strong winds and bone-dry vegetation have exacerbated the blaze, making it challenging for firefighters to establish control. As of Wednesday evening, evacuation orders remain in effect for several neighborhoods, with over 1,200 acres burned and containment efforts ongoing.

Residents have shared harrowing accounts of the fire’s swift advance. James Woods, the renowned actor, shared his own close call with the flames, describing the moment he had to flee his home as a "race against time," as reported by CNN. His experience highlights the unpredictable and dangerous nature of these wildfires.

The Human Impact

For many residents, the Pacific Palisades Fire is more than just a headline—it's a life-altering event. Evacuees have described the chaos of leaving their homes, unsure of what they might return to. Emergency shelters have been set up across Los Angeles, offering temporary refuge for those displaced.

Local businesses have also felt the effects, with closures and supply chain disruptions adding to the economic strain. The fire has prompted community members to band together, offering support through donations, volunteer efforts, and emotional encouragement.

The Role of Climate Change

California’s wildfire seasons have grown longer and more severe in recent years, with experts pointing to climate change as a significant contributing factor. Rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and erratic weather patterns create the perfect storm for wildfires to ignite and spread.

The Los Angeles Times notes that the Pacific Palisades Fire is part of a troubling trend: an increase in "urban wildfires" where natural landscapes collide with densely populated areas. These fires pose unique challenges, not only in terms of firefighting but also in ensuring public safety in urbanized regions.

The First Responders' Heroic Efforts

Firefighters and emergency personnel have been working tirelessly to combat the Pacific Palisades Fire. Helicopters and air tankers have been deployed to drop water and fire retardant, while ground crews battle flames in challenging terrain.

The efforts of first responders have drawn widespread praise, with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass calling them "true heroes" in a recent press conference. She also urged residents to follow evacuation orders and remain vigilant, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation during emergencies.

Preparing for the Future

As California faces increasingly destructive wildfire seasons, officials and experts are exploring ways to mitigate risks and improve preparedness. Key strategies include:

Enhanced fire prevention measures: Controlled burns, vegetation management, and firebreaks can help reduce fuel for fires.

Investments in technology: Drones, satellites, and AI-powered tools are being used to detect and monitor fires more effectively.

Public education campaigns: Teaching residents how to create defensible spaces around their homes and prepare for evacuations is crucial.

How to Help

The Pacific Palisades Fire has sparked an outpouring of support from across the country. If you’re looking to make a difference, here are some ways to help:

Donate to relief organizations: Groups like the Red Cross and local charities are providing food, shelter, and resources to those affected.

Volunteer: Whether it’s helping at evacuation centers or assisting with cleanup efforts, your time can make a meaningful impact.

Raise awareness: Share accurate information about the fire and its effects to help others understand the gravity of the situation.

Conclusion

The Pacific Palisades Fire is a stark reminder of the challenges posed by California’s worsening wildfire seasons. As communities come together to support one another, the need for long-term solutions to address climate change and improve wildfire management has never been more apparent.

Stay updated on this developing story and join the efforts to support those impacted by the Pacific Palisades Fire. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, every action counts in the fight against these devastating blazes.

[theaudientvoid]

Seek, answering the question "what if Taylor Swift was in a toxic, codependent relationship with her AI virtual assistant? And also the virtual assistant singlehandedly stopped 9/11?" since 2025.

[crowns-of-violets-and-roses]

Considering how you could describe all the Seek protagonists in terms of Taylor Swift: Space Taylor Swift's AI virtual assistant. Space ratgirl developing a parasocial fixation on Taylor Swift. Space criminal in the future stumbling upon depictions of Taylor Swift he lacks the context to understand

[yuri-is-online]

Seven Plus One Happy Haunts (An 800 Followers Thank You)

"NRC is having a culture festival?" You blurt out, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in your class. Normally this interruption would be met with a swift smack, but the thought doesn't even flicker across Crewel's mind much to the envy of your classmates. Instead, something similar to a stress headache seems to work it's way across his face as he takes a brief pause to breathe.

"I take it the Headmage has neglected to inform you of this?" He says it like a question, but really it sounds more like he is begging you to prove him wrong. "He was supposed to ask your permission."

"Permission for what?!" You try not to sound too panicked but that's difficult when Crewel's normal sternness re-emerges to silence Ace and Deuce's whispers.

"Sit!" He cracks his crop and returns to the black board. "And Yuu, once classes are done for the day, meet me back here. It will be much easier for me to explain things to you and Grim than sending you on a wild crow chase." Oh you don't like the sound of that at all. ~~~~ By the time classes are over, you are drooping under the weight of an entire school's worth of whispers and surprised you remember your way back to your Homeroom.

"Where's Grim?" Crewel asks, though he doesn't sound terribly worried. So it's bad news bad news.

"He decided to ditch me for Ace and Deuce and I didn't have the energy to chase him down, sorry." Your book bag drops with just as dramatic a thunk as you do.

"Let me make you a coffee, you are going to need some." Crewel sighs. "As you might be aware, culture festivals tend to involve things like booths and side show games."

"Typically they're run by the classes or clubs, right?" You aren't really liking where this is going.

"In anime and at normal schools yes. And if this had been any other year that would be the case for us too but someone-" the same tension headache from this morning reappears, "got the bright idea to suggest that we form groups by putting the entire student body into an ai generator of some sort to encourage team work or something like that."

"Oh." No wonder Crewel can't seem to tell the difference between the containers where he keeps the instant coffee packets and the wet wipes. "Are you ok? Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Very sweet of you to offer pup." He lets you take over the coffee and smiles gratefully when he sees you move to make him a tea. "But back to how this effects you, one of those groups got the bright idea to run a Haunted House, and the Headmage suggested they use Ramshackle for 'authenticity's sake' and generously offered them your assistance as well."

"Compared to some of the other things he's done I guess it could be worse?" Not that you are thrilled, your tone makes that clear. "I mean it's a haunted house, it could be fun. What is it you want me to help out with anyway?"

"That's what they've been arguing over." Crewel looks and sounds very, very tired as you finally notice the growing chatter of voices just outside the classroom door that is finally making an entrance alongside a very familiar face.

"I'm telling you, it makes the most sense for Yuu to help me!"

notes: Thank you all so much for 800 followers! Normally I'd run an event but I got a wee bit burnt out with the last one, so please accept this humble Haunted Mansion themed offering~ And feel free to guess who is who, I originally intended this to be a Halloween themed thing so I picked most of the cast members from boys people thought were getting neglected from the SSR pool (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ Emphasis on most

Haunt 1- Host With the Most: Vil

Haunt 2- Manipulating the Buyers: Rollo

Haunt 3- Life Lines

Haunt 4- Tie the Knot Tango

Haunt 5- Nevermore

Haunt 6- Life Hereafter

Haunt 7- Rest in Peace

Bonus Haunt- ???

Taglist: @nothingfuninthislife

[ailatestupdate]

AI Vibe Coder is your go-to digital muse for all things coding and creativity. Blending AI-powered tools with a passion for sleek code and futuristic design, this blog explores the rhythm of modern development—from smart automation to aesthetic programming hacks. Follow for tech vibes, dev tips, and AI-driven inspiration.

[polo-drone-055]

PDU-055 and the Golden Army’s Super Bowl Punter

It was the night before the Super Bowl, and the Golden Army was preparing for the biggest game of their lives. The locker room was filled with the usual pre-game buzz: the sounds of coaches giving last-minute pep talks, players pacing and stretching, and the hum of nervous energy that only comes before a championship game. But one man, the team’s kicker, Troy "Steady" Baxter, stood apart from the chaos. His eyes were focused, his mind quiet—but deep down, there was a tension in him that wasn’t usually there.

Troy had always been the guy you could count on. The one who didn’t crack under pressure, who was a machine in every sense when it came to executing those final field goals. But tonight felt different. The magnitude of tomorrow’s game was getting to him. His foot just hadn’t felt as sure on the ball during practices, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that his form was off.

That’s when the door opened, and in walked PDU-055.

PDU-055 wasn’t your average assistant. It was a polo drone, assimilated into the collective with a perfect balance of athletic prowess, intelligence, and a personality designed to boost the morale of any player it worked with. Standing at six feet tall, with a sleek frame PDU-055 looked every bit like an elite athlete, but its movements were more fluid than mechanical, and its voice had a calm, almost soothing tone. It was part mentor, part AI—perfectly calibrated to understand the psychology of high-stakes competition.

“Hey, Troy,” PDU-055 said in its smooth, but slightly robotic, voice. “You’ve got this.”

Troy looked up from his feet, surprised to see the humanoid drone standing right next to him. “I don’t know, 055. Something feels off with my kick today. I’ve been nailing it all season, but… tonight, I’m not so sure.”

PDU-055 tilted its head slightly, scanning Troy’s posture. “I’ve been watching your form all season, Troy. You’ve been consistent. But sometimes, it's not about the kick—it’s about the mental clarity. You need to trust your body. Trust your preparation.”

Troy let out a sigh. “I know, but it’s hard with all the pressure. You know how it is.”

PDU-055 stepped forward, offering a friendly nod. “I do. But you need to focus. Forget the stakes. Forget the crowd. Just focus on the fundamentals. Let’s break it down.”

Troy knew PDU-055 had been with the team all season, analyzing every player’s technique, running simulations, and even providing real-time feedback on practice drills. PDU-055 wasn’t just a tool; it was an extension of the team, like a second coach, but with an impossible level of precision.

“You’re going to be fine,” PDU-055 continued, “but I want you to focus on something specific: your rhythm. Your plant foot is a little too wide on your approach, which is causing you to open up your body too soon.”

Troy nodded slowly, grateful for the direct feedback. “Okay, show me how to fix it.”

With a swift, fluid motion, PDU-055 dropped into a kicking stance beside him, adjusting its posture with almost exaggerated precision. It moved like a pro—leaning slightly into the kick, holding its form, then striking the ball with perfect alignment. The precision with which it moved was uncanny.

“Watch my follow-through,” PDU-055 said. “Keep your eyes on the ball. Don’t let anything distract you. Focus only on the mechanics.”

Troy watched carefully, and something clicked. The way PDU-055 held itself, how its body seemed to breathe and move with the rhythm of the kick—it reminded him that football wasn’t just about power. It was about muscle memory and perfecting every single motion.

“Alright,” Troy said, stepping back to the kicking tee. “Let’s do this.”

For the next hour, PDU-055 stayed with him, offering corrections, tweaks, and sometimes just standing silently by his side while Troy took kicks—each one more refined than the last. The hum of excitement outside the stadium faded as Troy focused purely on the mechanics of his movement, trusting PDU-055's advice.

By the time the team was ready to end their practice, Troy felt calm—better than he had in days. PDU-055 had helped him get back to basics, to find that perfect rhythm that had carried him all season long. He was ready to punt for Gold!

[clara-the-independent]

Exclusive Interview with Ljudmila Vetrova- Inside Billionaire Nathaniel Thorne's Latest Venture

CLARA: I'm here with my friend Ljudmila Vetrova to talk about the newest venture of reclusive billionaire Nathaniel Thorne- GAMA. Ljudmila, could you let the readers in on the secret- what exactly is this mysterious project about?

LJUDMILA: Sure, Clara! As part of White City's regeneration programme, Nathaniel has teamed up with the Carlise Group to create a cutting-edge medical clinic like no other. Introducing GAMA– a private sanctuary for the discerning, offering not just top-notch medical care and luxurious amenities, but also treatments so innovative they push the envelope of medical science.

CLARA: Wow! Ljudmila, it sounds like GAMA is really taking a proactive approach to healthcare. But can you tell us a bit more about the cutting-edge technology behind this new clinic?

LJUDMILA: Of course! Now, GAMA is not just run by human professionals, it's also aided by an advanced AI system known as KAI – Kronstadt Artificial Intelligence. KAI is the guiding force behind every intricate detail of GAMA, handling everything from calling patients over the PA system to performing complex surgical procedures. Even the doors have a touch of ingenuity, with no keys required- as KAI simply detects the presence of an RFID chip embedded in the clothing of both patients and staff, allowing swift and secure access to the premises. With KAI at the helm, patients and staff alike benefit from streamlined care.

CLARA: A medical AI? That's incredible! I've heard much of the medical technology at GAMA was developed by Kronstadt Industries and the Ether Biotech Corporation, as a cross-disciplinary partnership to create life-saving technology. Is that true?

LJUDMILA: It sure is, Clara! During the COVID-19 pandemic, GAMA even had several departments dedicated to researching the virus, assisting in creating a vaccine with multiple companies. From doctors to nurses and administrative personnel, the team at GAMA is comprised of skilled individuals who are committed to providing the best care possible. All of the GAMA staff are highly educated with advanced degrees and have specialized training in their respective fields.

CLARA: Stunning! Speaking of the GAMA staff, rumors surrounding the hiring of doctors Pavel Frydel and Akane Akenawa have made headlines, with claims that they supposedly transplanted a liver infected with EHV, leading to the unfortunate demise of the patient shortly after. Such allegations might raise questions about the hospital's staff selection process and adherence to medical guidelines and ethical standards. Do you have any comment on these accusations, Ljudmila?

LJUDMILA: Er- well, Clara, the management of GAMA Hospital has vehemently denied all allegations of unethical practices and maintains that they uphold the highest standards of care for all patients. They state that they conduct thorough background checks on all staff members, including doctors, and that any individuals found to be involved in unethical practices are immediately removed from their position. The hospital has a strict code of ethics that all staff must adhere to, and any violations are taken very seriously. In response to the specific claims about the transplant procedure, GAMA states that they are investigating the matter in cooperation with the relevant authorities.

CLARA: Wonderful! I'm afraid that's all we have time for at the moment- lovely chatting with you again, Ljudmila!

@therealharrywatson @artofdeductionbysholmes @johnhwatsonblog