Joanna Andreasson/DALL-E4 In Pluto, a sci-fi murder-mystery anime streaming on Netflix, a serial killer targets the world's most advanced robots. The mystery deepens as the killer starts pursuing human activists advocating robot rights. The investigation falls into the hands of Europol Inspector Gesicht, a robot who finds himself among the potential targets. The absence of human DNA at the crime scenes forces Gesicht to confront a disturbing poss
In Pluto, a sci-fi murder-mystery anime streaming on Netflix, a serial killer targets the world's most advanced robots. The mystery deepens as the killer starts pursuing human activists advocating robot rights. The investigation falls into the hands of Europol Inspector Gesicht, a robot who finds himself among the potential targets.
The absence of human DNA at the crime scenes forces Gesicht to confront a disturbing possibility: Could an AI, programmed to never harm humans, be orchestrating the killings? If robots are responsible, the balance between humans and robots could be threatened, potentially ending their peaceful coexistence.
A prequel to the 1960s series Astro Boy, this animedelves into a world where robots are virtually indistinguishable from people. They not only mimic human appearance and behavior; they enjoy rights once thought to be uniquely human, such as marriage and adoption. Beneath this technological achievement lies an unforeseen evolution: Their AI is starting to experience human emotions—suffering, hatred, love—coupled with the ability to doubt and make mistakes.
Pluto challenges viewers to reconsider the essence of humanity. If robots can have human behaviors and emotions, what truly distinguishes them from us?
Argentine authorities are working with El Salvador, a pioneering nation in bitcoin adoption, aiming to boost cryptocurrency adoption in Argentina. High-ranking officials from Argentina's National Securities Commission (CNV), the country's securities regulator, met with El Salvador's National Commission of Digital Assets on May 23 to discuss the use of cryptocurrencies, according to an official announcement by the CNV. The talks focused on El Salv
Argentine authorities are working with El Salvador, a pioneering nation in bitcoin adoption, aiming to boost cryptocurrency adoption in Argentina.
High-ranking officials from Argentina's National Securities Commission (CNV), the country's securities regulator, met with El Salvador's National Commission of Digital Assets on May 23 to discuss the use of cryptocurrencies, according to an official announcement by the CNV. The talks focused on El Salvador's experience in adopting bitcoin and its regulatory framework.
"El Salvador has emerged as one of the leading countries, not only in the use of bitcoin, but it has also stood out in the world of crypto assets. It has created a specific commission, the National Commission of Digital Assets (CNAD), and therefore has an experience that is very valuable for the CNV at this time," said Roberto E. Silva, president of the CNV.
Under President Nayib Bukele, El Salvador made history by becoming the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender in September 2021, using it alongside the U.S. dollar. At the same time, the country launched Chivo Wallet, a government-backed digital wallet, and gave $30 worth of bitcoin to citizens who signed up for it.
Since then, El Salvador has embarked on several ambitious projects to promote bitcoin use, including creating a bitcoin city powered by geothermal energy, issuing bitcoin bonds, and offering expedited citizenship to bitcoin investors.
To date, the country has mined 474 bitcoin and holds 5,756 bitcoin, valued at just under $400 million, according to a website that tracksEl Salvador's bitcoin portfolio. Bukele has said he plans to keep growing El Salvador's holdings by buying one bitcoin every day.
In recent years, Argentina has also seen a surge in cryptocurrency adoption as its citizens seek refuge from the peso's depreciation and soaring inflation. And since Javier Milei became president of Argentina last year, the crypto sector has seen positive developments. Just a month after Milei took office, Minister of Foreign Affairs Diana Mondino legalized the use of bitcoin for settling contracts.
"We want to strengthen ties with the Republic of El Salvador, and therefore, we are going to explore the possibility of signing collaboration agreements with them," Silva said about the recent meeting. The meeting follows a visit in March by CNV Vice President Patricia Boedo to El Salvador to discuss regulatory issues, indicating the interest of both countries in reaching some kind of agreement on crypto assets.
News of this collaboration between the two countries sent ripples through the crypto market, pushing bitcoin's value past the $70,000 mark. A formal partnership between Argentina and El Salvador could signal a major shift in Latin America's approach to digital assets, paving the way for broader crypto adoption.
Adapted from a best-selling manga series and a classic 1990s anime, Rurouni Kenshin follows the journey of Himura Kenshin, a legendary assassin who vows never to kill again. But beneath the surface of a show about a samurai's adventures, this new anime is a snapshot of a nation in flux. Set in 1878 in the aftermath of the Meiji Restoration, Rurouni Kenshin vividly illustrates Japan's transition from feudalism to modernity and the challenges that
Adapted from a best-selling manga series and a classic 1990s anime, Rurouni Kenshin follows the journey of Himura Kenshin, a legendary assassin who vows never to kill again. But beneath the surface of a show about a samurai's adventures, this new anime is a snapshot of a nation in flux.
Set in 1878 in the aftermath of the Meiji Restoration, Rurouni Kenshin vividly illustrates Japan's transition from feudalism to modernity and the challenges that came with it. Kenshin's past is intertwined with this transition: He fought to dismantle an oppressive caste system and a military dictatorship that isolated Japan from the world for centuries. But the new era is marred by government corruption and moral ambiguity. Kenshin is left disillusioned by his efforts and burdened by the lives he took. He becomes a rurouni, a wandering samurai without a master, protecting those in need.
Kenshin's adversaries are initially driven by hatred of change. Yet as the tale unfolds, they are transformed, ultimately embracing the promise of technological progress.
Rurouni Kenshin weaves these hefty themes deftly into its characters' backstories and provides plenty of epic sword fights. It's no surprise that for nearly three decades, different versions of this tale of redemption have captivated audiences worldwide.
In an innovative move, a chain of New York City restaurants introduced virtual cashiers, who are taking customers' orders over Zoom from their homes in the Philippines. The approach has sparked heated debates, with some claiming it is a step toward a dystopian, impersonal future. But the technology might not be as bad as critics think. Customers at Sansan Ramen and Sansan Chicken in the Long Island City neighborhood in Queens are no longer greet
In an innovative move, a chain of New York City restaurants introduced virtual cashiers, who are taking customers' orders over Zoom from their homes in the Philippines. The approach has sparked heated debates, with some claiming it is a step toward a dystopian, impersonal future. But the technology might not be as bad as critics think.
Customers at Sansan Ramen and Sansan Chicken in the Long Island City neighborhood in Queens are no longer greeted by a cashier face-to-face but instead interact with one displayed on a flat-screen monitor. Although physically half a world away, the virtual cashiers handle menu inquiries and take customers' orders just like in any other restaurant.
The initiative, launched by New York–based Happy Cashier, has been under testing since October. It currently operates in several stores in Queens, Manhattan, and Jersey City, including the dumpling joint Yaso Kitchen.
Yet since the virtual cashiers started trending on social media, the system has faced criticism. A New York Times reporter who visited a Sansan Chicken said the cashier had a spotty connection, making it hard to hear. Another reporter tried to order something off the menu at Yaso Kitchen, but the virtual cashier didn't seem to know what they were ordering. And a New York Post article seemed to care more about the system's tipping standards than the benefits of the technology.
Beyond technical glitches, the model has sparked broader economic and social concerns. Critics argue that virtual cashiers are taking away job opportunities from New Yorkers, especially amid the shrinking local fast-food work force. Meanwhile, others have come to the defense of foreign workers who are being "exploited" with a meager salary of $3 an hour—way under New York City's $16.
Despite these concerns, employing virtual cashiers could have several advantages. For struggling businesses, it offers a way to reduce operational costs and maintain lower consumer prices.
Chi Zhang, the founder of Happy Cashier and a former restaurant owner himself, sees the model as a necessary adaptation. Facing high rents and operational costs, having "a virtual-assistant model, somewhat akin to that employed by overseas call centers, could help maximize small retail spaces and improve store efficiency," he told The New York Times.
"I simply cannot avoid discussing this topic," he told Fortune, referring to using outsourced labor to cut down costs. "The cost is admittedly cheaper than the U.S."
While the operational costs of virtual cashiers are lower for restaurant owners, the wages are also competitive by Philippine standards. According to Zhang, his virtual cashiers are earning over 150 percent more than the average cashier earns back home. It's a win-win situation.
The concept of virtual cashiers is not entirely new. Back in 2022, the Canadian food chain Freshii hired almost 100 workers from places like Nicaragua to take orders and payments through a video calling device after the company was left grappling with staffing shortages caused by the pandemic.
With the technology still in its pilot stage, improvements are expected. Zhang hopes to quickly scale up the number of virtual assistants by the end of the year, positioning his venture as the leader of a transformative trend in the restaurant industry.
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