Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, your quick hit of the latest updates from the digital world. Join hosts Adam Nagus and Carly Wilson as they distill the biggest stories in gaming, AI, tech design, robotics, and industry insights. From game engine shifts and groundbreaking AI models to design leadership movements and innovative humanoid robots—plus the key discussions shaping AI policy worldwide—Digimasters Shorts keeps you informed and ready to navigate the fast-evolving digital landscape. Tune in for concise, insightful updates that matter.
Don't forget to checkout our larger sister podcast - The Digimasters Podcast here. Which has many expert guests discussing AI, Career Mentoring, Fractional Careers, Digital and much much more.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Adam N2 (00:05):
Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam
Nagus
Carly W (00:09):
and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from
the digital realm.
OnceLost Games, founded byformer Bethesda developers
including Ted Peterson and thelate Julian LeFay, has decided
to switch from Unreal Engine 5to a proprietary engine for
their upcoming RPG, WaywardRealms.
Originally slated for alate-2025 release, the game’s
(00:29):
launch has now been pushed backto at least mid-2026 due to this
significant mid-projecttransition.
The studio cites performanceissues and slow development with
Unreal Engine 5 as key reasonsfor the change.
The new engine, a fork of thefree Wicked engine developed by
a single programmer, promisesfaster development speeds and
better optimization, capable ofrunning over 30 FPS on
(00:51):
decade-old laptops and nearly 30FPS on the first-gen Nintendo
Switch.
This engine switch reportedlyallows the team to load the
entire game world map—four timesthe size of Manhattan—almost
instantly.
Creative director VictorVillarreal explained that Unreal
Engine’s resource demands madeit difficult to implement
necessary systems efficiently.
(01:11):
The move also opens up communitymodding through a public
scripting language inspired byC#, aimed at fostering a
player-driven ecosystem similarto that of games like Skyrim.
While this is a risky and costlydecision, OnceLost Games
believes it will result in avastly improved final product.
The situation raises questionsabout Unreal Engine 5’s
dominance, especially as somedevelopers prioritize
(01:34):
performance on low-end hardwareover cutting-edge graphics.
This development may encourageother studios to rethink their
reliance on widely used engineslike Unreal Engine 5.
Adam N2 (01:44):
After being blindsided by Chat G.P.T in 2022, Google
spent three years developing itsown advanced AI model, Gemini 3.
Launched in early November,Gemini 3 has received widespread
praise and is seen as a majorleap in large language models
this year.
Unlike previous Google AIreleases, Gemini 3 is integrated
directly into Google Search,offering a new"Thinking" mode
(02:08):
that enhances search querieswith detailed, context-aware
reasoning.
Benchmark tests show Gemini 3excels in math and science,
scoring 37.5% on a2,500-question exam with high
reliability.
Experts highlight its ability toprocess text, video, audio, and
code in a unified manner,pushing toward artificial
(02:28):
general intelligence.
Meanwhile, Open A.I's Chat G.P.Tis feeling the pressure, with
C.E.O Sam Altman declaring a"code red" and pushing for rapid
improvements.
Chat G.P.T offers severalsubscription tiers, including a
free version limited by usage,whereas Google's free tier
imposes token-based limits ontasks and images.
Google also provides premiumtiers, including AI Pro and AI
(02:52):
Ultra, unlocking more featuresand usage credits, with benefits
like access to coding tools anda YouTube Premium subscription.
Chat G.P.T stands out with itswide third-party plugin
integrations and the new Atlasbrowser for seamless G.P.T
access.
Gemini's deep integration withGoogle's ecosystem—Gmail, Docs,
Drive, and more—makes it acompelling option for users
(03:14):
embedded in Google's workspace.
Alan Dye, a pivotal figure inApple's interface design for
nearly 20 years, is leaving thecompany to become Meta's Chief
Design Officer starting December31.
Dye's work, including the LiquidGlass UI and the minimalist
overhaul of iOS 7, hassignificantly shaped Apple's
visual identity and softwaredesign standards.
(03:35):
At Apple, he led the designteams behind iOS, iPadOS, macOS,
watchOS, and most recentlyvisionOS and the Vision Pro
interface.
His departure marks asignificant shift, as Apple
appoints Stephen Lemay, a25-year veteran, to lead Human
Interface Design.
C.E.O Tim Cook expressedconfidence in Lemay's ability to
steer Apple's design through anera dominated by AI and spatial
(03:57):
computing.
Meta's decision to hire Dyehighlights its ambition to
integrate hardware and softwaredesign, focusing on AI-powered
headsets and smart glasses.
Dye will oversee Meta’s newdesign studio, aiming to bring
cohesion across its expandingdevice portfolio.
This move represents a rare andnotable crossover of design
talent between two tech giants.
(04:19):
The shift suggests a futurewhere Apple maintains
disciplined perfectionism whileMeta takes a more experimental
approach.
Dye's transition may herald thenext major evolution in
interface design.
Carly W (04:30):
A UK-based company named Humanoid has developed
HMND 01 Alpha Bipedal, ahumanoid robot that mastered
stable walking just 48 hoursafter assembly.
This achievement dramaticallyreduces the usual weeks or
months required in robotics.
The robot was ready from designto prototype in only five
months, compared to theindustry's typical 18 to 24
(04:51):
months.
Using Nvidia's Isaac Sim andIsaac Lab, the team compressed
19 months of locomotion traininginto two days of virtual
reinforcement learning.
Standing 179cm tall and capableof carrying 15 kilograms, Alpha
demonstrates advancedengineering paired with
potential everyday uses.
Its modular hands can switchbetween five-finger dexterity
(05:13):
and simpler grippers, whilesensors enable it to perceive
its surroundings.
Artem Sokolov, Humanoid's C.E.O,highlighted the robot’s
potential in addressing laborshortages and assisting with
physically demanding tasks.
In homes, Alpha could supportelderly or physically limited
individuals with dailyactivities.
The robot can walk, run,sidestep, hop, and even recover
(05:35):
balance after being pushed.
Its modularity allows futureupgrades, such as swapping arms
or changing its exterior,promising versatile
adaptability.
At the New York Times DealBookSummit in Manhattan, global
leaders gathered to discuss therapid growth and risks of
artificial intelligence.
Three years after Chat G.P.T'slaunch, the AI arms race has
(05:56):
intensified, with tech giantsinvesting tens of billions in
infrastructure.
Larry Fink of BlackRock warnedof significant winners and
losers, predicting somehigh-profile failures in the
sector.
Despite the risks, Finkexpressed confidence in strong
AI demand and noted majorcompanies are currently short on
computing power.
Anthropic C.E.O Dario Amodeihighlighted the industry's
(06:17):
inherent risks, stressing thattiming errors could lead to
failures.
Amodei revealed his company'scautious approach, contrasting
it with riskier strategies takenby competitors like Open A.I.
Leaders agreed that heavyinvestment is crucial to
maintain a competitive edgeglobally, with warnings that
slower spending could allowother countries to dominate AI
development.
(06:38):
Amodei called for proactiveregulation and restrictions on
Nvidia chip sales to China toprevent authoritarian dominance.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-teemphasized the need for
international cooperation toensure A.I's sustainable growth.
Taiwan remains a criticalplayer, leading global chip
production essential forpowering AI advancements.
Don (06:59):
Thank you for listening to today's AI and Tech News podcast
summary...
Please do leave us a comment andfor additional feedback, please
email us atpodcast@digimasters.co.uk You
can now follow us on Instagramand Threads by searching for
@DigimastersShorts or Search forDigimasters on Linkedin.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow anddon't forget to follow or
subscribe!
Welcome to Digimasters Shorts, we are your hosts Adam
Nagus
Carly W (00:09):
and Carly Wilson delivering the latest scoop from
the digital realm.
OnceLost Games, founded byformer Bethesda developers
including Ted Peterson and thelate Julian LeFay, has decided
to switch from Unreal Engine 5to a proprietary engine for
their upcoming RPG, WaywardRealms.
Originally slated for alate-2025 release, the game’s
(00:29):
launch has now been pushed backto at least mid-2026 due to this
significant mid-projecttransition.
The studio cites performanceissues and slow development with
Unreal Engine 5 as key reasonsfor the change.
The new engine, a fork of thefree Wicked engine developed by
a single programmer, promisesfaster development speeds and
better optimization, capable ofrunning over 30 FPS on
(00:51):
decade-old laptops and nearly 30FPS on the first-gen Nintendo
Switch.
This engine switch reportedlyallows the team to load the
entire game world map—four timesthe size of Manhattan—almost
instantly.
Creative director VictorVillarreal explained that Unreal
Engine’s resource demands madeit difficult to implement
necessary systems efficiently.
(01:11):
The move also opens up communitymodding through a public
scripting language inspired byC#, aimed at fostering a
player-driven ecosystem similarto that of games like Skyrim.
While this is a risky and costlydecision, OnceLost Games
believes it will result in avastly improved final product.
The situation raises questionsabout Unreal Engine 5’s
dominance, especially as somedevelopers prioritize
(01:34):
performance on low-end hardwareover cutting-edge graphics.
This development may encourageother studios to rethink their
reliance on widely used engineslike Unreal Engine 5.
Adam N2 (01:44):
After being blindsided by Chat G.P.T in 2022, Google
spent three years developing itsown advanced AI model, Gemini 3.
Launched in early November,Gemini 3 has received widespread
praise and is seen as a majorleap in large language models
this year.
Unlike previous Google AIreleases, Gemini 3 is integrated
directly into Google Search,offering a new"Thinking" mode
(02:08):
that enhances search querieswith detailed, context-aware
reasoning.
Benchmark tests show Gemini 3excels in math and science,
scoring 37.5% on a2,500-question exam with high
reliability.
Experts highlight its ability toprocess text, video, audio, and
code in a unified manner,pushing toward artificial
(02:28):
general intelligence.
Meanwhile, Open A.I's Chat G.P.Tis feeling the pressure, with
C.E.O Sam Altman declaring a"code red" and pushing for rapid
improvements.
Chat G.P.T offers severalsubscription tiers, including a
free version limited by usage,whereas Google's free tier
imposes token-based limits ontasks and images.
Google also provides premiumtiers, including AI Pro and AI
(02:52):
Ultra, unlocking more featuresand usage credits, with benefits
like access to coding tools anda YouTube Premium subscription.
Chat G.P.T stands out with itswide third-party plugin
integrations and the new Atlasbrowser for seamless G.P.T
access.
Gemini's deep integration withGoogle's ecosystem—Gmail, Docs,
Drive, and more—makes it acompelling option for users
(03:14):
embedded in Google's workspace.
Alan Dye, a pivotal figure inApple's interface design for
nearly 20 years, is leaving thecompany to become Meta's Chief
Design Officer starting December31.
Dye's work, including the LiquidGlass UI and the minimalist
overhaul of iOS 7, hassignificantly shaped Apple's
visual identity and softwaredesign standards.
(03:35):
At Apple, he led the designteams behind iOS, iPadOS, macOS,
watchOS, and most recentlyvisionOS and the Vision Pro
interface.
His departure marks asignificant shift, as Apple
appoints Stephen Lemay, a25-year veteran, to lead Human
Interface Design.
C.E.O Tim Cook expressedconfidence in Lemay's ability to
steer Apple's design through anera dominated by AI and spatial
(03:57):
computing.
Meta's decision to hire Dyehighlights its ambition to
integrate hardware and softwaredesign, focusing on AI-powered
headsets and smart glasses.
Dye will oversee Meta’s newdesign studio, aiming to bring
cohesion across its expandingdevice portfolio.
This move represents a rare andnotable crossover of design
talent between two tech giants.
(04:19):
The shift suggests a futurewhere Apple maintains
disciplined perfectionism whileMeta takes a more experimental
approach.
Dye's transition may herald thenext major evolution in
interface design.
Carly W (04:30):
A UK-based company named Humanoid has developed
HMND 01 Alpha Bipedal, ahumanoid robot that mastered
stable walking just 48 hoursafter assembly.
This achievement dramaticallyreduces the usual weeks or
months required in robotics.
The robot was ready from designto prototype in only five
months, compared to theindustry's typical 18 to 24
(04:51):
months.
Using Nvidia's Isaac Sim andIsaac Lab, the team compressed
19 months of locomotion traininginto two days of virtual
reinforcement learning.
Standing 179cm tall and capableof carrying 15 kilograms, Alpha
demonstrates advancedengineering paired with
potential everyday uses.
Its modular hands can switchbetween five-finger dexterity
(05:13):
and simpler grippers, whilesensors enable it to perceive
its surroundings.
Artem Sokolov, Humanoid's C.E.O,highlighted the robot’s
potential in addressing laborshortages and assisting with
physically demanding tasks.
In homes, Alpha could supportelderly or physically limited
individuals with dailyactivities.
The robot can walk, run,sidestep, hop, and even recover
(05:35):
balance after being pushed.
Its modularity allows futureupgrades, such as swapping arms
or changing its exterior,promising versatile
adaptability.
At the New York Times DealBookSummit in Manhattan, global
leaders gathered to discuss therapid growth and risks of
artificial intelligence.
Three years after Chat G.P.T'slaunch, the AI arms race has
(05:56):
intensified, with tech giantsinvesting tens of billions in
infrastructure.
Larry Fink of BlackRock warnedof significant winners and
losers, predicting somehigh-profile failures in the
sector.
Despite the risks, Finkexpressed confidence in strong
AI demand and noted majorcompanies are currently short on
computing power.
Anthropic C.E.O Dario Amodeihighlighted the industry's
(06:17):
inherent risks, stressing thattiming errors could lead to
failures.
Amodei revealed his company'scautious approach, contrasting
it with riskier strategies takenby competitors like Open A.I.
Leaders agreed that heavyinvestment is crucial to
maintain a competitive edgeglobally, with warnings that
slower spending could allowother countries to dominate AI
development.
(06:38):
Amodei called for proactiveregulation and restrictions on
Nvidia chip sales to China toprevent authoritarian dominance.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-teemphasized the need for
international cooperation toensure A.I's sustainable growth.
Taiwan remains a criticalplayer, leading global chip
production essential forpowering AI advancements.
Don (06:59):
Thank you for listening to today's AI and Tech News podcast
summary...
Please do leave us a comment andfor additional feedback, please
email us atpodcast@digimasters.co.uk You
can now follow us on Instagramand Threads by searching for
@DigimastersShorts or Search forDigimasters on Linkedin.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow anddon't forget to follow or
subscribe!
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