News

• Many AI pilots fail real-world operations and 95% of GenAI pilots don’t reach production, Salesforce claims
• CRMArena-Pro lets enterprises stress-test their AI agents with digital twins
• Two new benchmarks are used for stress-testing AI agents

Salesforce says enterprises are struggling with their AI pilots failing in real-world operations, and has launched CRMArena-Pro, a new service to allow businesses to create a digital twin of their operations to stress-test AI agents before they get deployed.

The company cited recent MIT research which found 95% of generative AI pilots don’t even reach the production stage.

CRMArena-Pro evaluates AI agents on real tasks, like customer service, sales forecasting and supply chain disruptions, but using synthetic data that’s been validated by experts.

“CRMArena-Pro creates a rigorous, context-rich simulated enterprise environment framework with synthetic data, where it can safely evaluate API calls to relevant systems, as well as the ability to safeguard PII data,” the company wrote in an announcement.

By adding real-world noise into the test environment, CRMArena-Pro can better evaluate performance, strengthen resilience and bridge the gap between pre- and post-deployment.

“The result is AI agents that are capable, consistent, trustworthy, and agentic enterprise-ready.”

Companies can also see how AI agents handle real-world challenges like messy data, legacy systems and complex workflows.

Salesforce noted part of the complexity comes from the vast array of models available to choose today, and knowing which specific model or combination of models to use isn’t so simple.

To that tune, the company has published two new benchmarks to measure agent performance: MCP-Eval for evaluation through synthetic tasks and MCP-Universe, which adds real-world tasks and execution-based evaluators to stress-test agents in complex scenarios.

In a previous post, Salesforce noted that CRMArena-Pro “lays the groundwork for the next frontier: Enterprise General Intelligence” - and for now, users can expect “safe, capable and impactful” AI for all organizations.

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South Park season 27 episode 4 hasn't aired again this week, and it's now the third in a series of ongoing delays. After its controversial premiere, both episodes 2 and 3 have had two-week gaps between them, with episode 4 now following suit (you can expect to see it on September 3 instead).

Paramount has now confirmed this schedule will continue for the entire duration of the 10-episode season, meaning we can now expect the (surely explosive) season finale on November 26.

Initially, the studio hadn't given a reason why, or at least it hadn't publicly. With influential figures in the US Government blasting South Park's parodies on a near-daily basis, I'd already guessed that this could feed into why episodes were taking longer, especially given the Paramount+ exclusive post-credit scenes we're starting to see.

President Trump has been naked in bed with the devil, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has shot puppies at point blank range, and Towelie's trip to Washington D.C. shone a spotlight on the city's National Guard deployment.

But ahead of South Park season 27 episode 4, we've finally got an explanation – and as it turns out, there are multiple reasons why we're seeing a lag on the launches.

Not only does it feel like a smart move, I also think it's a huge positive. The creators show no signs of slowing down their scathing political parodies, so some breathing space between them could do us all the world of good.

According to an interview with Deadline, the season 27 delays initially started with timing episode 2 to release in line with the show's 25th anniversary. Afterwards, a two-week schedule was continued in order to make sure episodes were completely up to date with real-world events.

Deadline's source close to the South Park producers explained, “What they’re doing means this year’s episodes need more time than usual to put together, to finish.

“So much happens right now in just one day with Trump. No one’s going to sacrifice getting it right, even if we have to push getting it to air, and if that makes the season longer, so be it.”

In short, this means that everything is taking more time to make, which isn't surprising in a world with a news cycle that moves at breakneck speed.

What's perhaps more surprising is that Paramount is totally fine with the changes. “We’re not going to argue with what’s working, ” an insider at the studio added. “The numbers are great, the show is getting a lot of attention – if they want to give us a 20-week season for 10-episodes, that’s OK.”

Deadline previously reported that the second episode of Season 27 drew 6.2 million global multi-platform viewers across Comedy Central and Paramount+ in its first three days, numbers which largely came from streaming. Clearly, taking more time is working for everyone, and perhaps this allows creators to cut even deeper with their political parody.

Could this change how comedies, or any streamable series, are released in the future? Very possibly. But for now, there's a certain relief that comes with the empty space between the animated poundings.

With Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna now the latest to clap back at her South Park depiction, the new schedule will likely cool any political jets before anything gets messier than the tension and legal threats we saw through its two-year hiatus.

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• Final Fantasy 14's director, Naoki Yoshida, has shared a statement regarding mods that may "infringe" on other players' enjoyment and the core game
• Yoshida says he has no issue with mods but wants players to be aware of the rules
• He also said sharing the use of NSFW mods online could lead to the game being subject to legal measures by regulators in certain countries

Final Fantasy 14's director, Naoki Yoshida, has issued a warning about the continued use of mods that may "infringe" on other players and also lead to legal troubles.

Last week, it was reported that one of Final Fantasy 14's most popular mods was shut down due to a "legal enquiry". The mod, named Mare Synchronos, was a plug-in that allowed users to sync and view other players' mods in-game, like character customization add-ons.

News of the mod's takedown wasn't received well by users, which later led to the game being review-bombed on Steam.

Now, in a new Final Fantasy 14 blog post, Yoshida has responded to the overall matter of mods, stating that though he "tolerates" the personal use of them and understands that modding culture is "rooted in good intentions", he wants players to be aware of the importance of the game's user agreement.

"In the past twenty or so years, I've seen numerous positive examples of games with fan-made mods that expand upon existing gameplay," Yoshida said. "However, these mods are generally created with a vital premise in mind: they are for personal use only, and the individual player is responsible for the mods they use.

"Furthermore, the mods must not impact the core game, its services, or the intended game design in a negative manner. I personally feel that these rules should be followed by all mod creators and users."

The director adds that if players continue to uphold these rules to enhance their personal enjoyment of the game, he personally sees no reason to track them down or investigate gamers for their use of mods.

He also stressed the importance of two rules in particular: that the mods don't "infringe upon others" and they "do not negatively impact the core game, its services, or intended game design, as mentioned above."

Yoshida continued by offering a lengthy list of examples where mods may infringe on others and impact intended game design, including a scenario where a player may use mods to bypass certain conditions to obtain in-game items, like Ultimate Raid loot.

The director explained that this wouldn't be an issue if it were for personal enjoyment; however, showcasing the loot that wasn't earned through participation to other players in-game would be against the rules and would result in the mod's take down.

"In response, our only options would be to ask that players cease using the mod, or to request that the mod creator removes the functionality causing the problem," Yoshida said. "Of course, we could also implement preventative measures in-game, but this would divert programming resources from other areas, potentially damaging the enjoyment of other players in the long run."

Similarly, Yoshida said that this would also apply to FFXIV Online Store items that have not been purchased but modded, suggesting it would be unfair to players who have spent real money.

"Some may say that Square Enix is to blame for trying to make money by demanding that players spend extra on optional items," he said. "We operate our servers and data centers twenty-four hours a day, three-hundred-sixty-five days a year with the hope that our players can enjoy a reliable gaming experience. Currently, global inflation is taking its toll at a rapid pace, driving up server electricity costs, the cost of land, and even the price of servers themselves.

"We do not want to increase subscription fees for players, if at all possible--but keeping our game running requires sufficient income. If we start creating a deficit, FFXIV may no longer be able to operate. This is an example of damage dealt to the services we provide."

Finally, Yoshida touched on the matter of NSFW mods, reiterating that if a player decides to mod their character to appear naked, it might fall into the category of personal use and responsibility, but if the user shares screenshots online, "FFXIV itself may be subject to legal measures by regulators in certain countries."

"Laws that regulate the content of video games grow stricter by the year," he said. "These laws are there to protect minors and for a variety of other reasons, but the fact remains that they are tangibly becoming stricter. We have a duty to provide our services in adherence to the laws of all countries where FFXIV is available, and if we are unable to do so, the distribution of our game can be prohibited. This is another example of damage dealt to our services."

The director added that he does not intend for his examples to be a censure on mod users or creators, but asks that players respect the game by enjoying it within the confines of basic rules.

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• Xbox Insider Program members with an Xbox Game Pass Core or Standard subscription can now access Cloud Gaming at no extra cost
• This includes the ability to play a number of games included with the subscription service
• Users can also access select games that they already own

Members of the Xbox Insider program with an Xbox Game Pass Core or Standard membership can now try Xbox Cloud Gaming at no extra cost.

This includes access to a number of titles that are already included with those tiers of the subscription service, plus select games that they already own.

The list of supported games spans massive recent releases like Assassin's Creed Shadows and Black Myth: Wukong to indie favorites such as Dredge and Darkest Dungeon. There's a good range, and more ways to play the titles that you already own can only be a good thing.

In order to access the games, you simply need to sign in to Xbox Cloud Gaming on a supported device and select the title that you want to play.

Of course, you will need an active Xbox Game Pass Core or Standard subscription, and be part of the Xbox Insider Program.

If you're not yet part of the Xbox Insider Program, you can get started by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub app on your Xbox console or PC.

We expect these Xbox Insider features to start rolling out to other users in the coming months.

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- Slated for release on Apple TV+ in 2026

- Adapted from William Gibson's 1984 cyberpunk novel

- Created for TV by Graham Roland and JD Dillard

- Comprised of 10 episodes

- No trailer yet, only a brief teaser announcing production start

The Neuromancer TV series is finally surging onto the small screen courtesy of those sci-fi loving folks at Apple TV+ and we're all amped!

Based on the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning sci-fi legend Willian Gibson's 1984 cyberpunk novel, Neuromancer, Apple TV+ is adding another jewel in its enviable crown of science fiction shows that includes Foundation, Silo, Invasion, Murderbot, Dark Matter, and For All Mankind.

Originally announced back in February of 2024 as an episodic series greenlit for pre-production development, Neuromancer is a seminal work of remarkable imagination that launched the sub-genre of cyberpunk and coined modern computer slang like "hacker" and “jacked in.” It’s been copied, imitated, and cannibalized over the decades as filmmakers tried in vain to adapt the novel for film or TV and rescue it from development hell.

Now it seems that Apple TV+ has found just the right formula and the show has entered full production as of this summer. So what's all the fuss about Neuromancer, what’s it about, and why does it remain one of the five most influential sci-fi books of the late 20th century? Let’s dodge the ICE, cowboy, and dissect this upcoming computer-driven dystopian series!

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Apple TV+’s Neuromancer is expected to air sometime in late 2026. The show was officially announced to be in full production beginning on July 1, 2025, which was the 41st anniversary of the publication of Gibson's book. Filming is already underway in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Istanbul, Canada, and London and is expected to wrap around the end of the year if all goes well.

That sets up Neuromancer for a potential fall or winter release next year!

At this time there's really only been one slightly cryptic teaser announcing the start of filming in July, which we must say is rather fitting for cult fans of the super-slick novel. In the video, a shadowy bar comes to life, with lights buzzing and pinball machines dinging as a blue-and-orange neon sign blinks awake spelling out Bar Chatsubo, the Chiba City lounge familiar to readers. It then announces that the series is now officially in production.

Neuromancer will be created for TV by Graham Roland (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Dark Winds) and JD Dillard (Devotion, The Outsider, Sleight). It’s a 10-episode co-production inked in a collaboration between Skydance Television and Anonymous Content that will also be produced by Drake's own production shingle, DreamCrew Entertainment, with Roland acting as showrunner and Dillard aboard to direct at least the pilot episode.

"We're incredibly excited to be bringing this iconic property to Apple TV+," creators and executive producers Roland and Dillard announced in a statement. "Since we became friends nearly 10 years ago, we've looked for something to team up on, so this collaboration marks a dream come true. Neuromancer has inspired so much of the science fiction that's come after it and we’re looking forward to bringing television audiences into Gibson’s definitive 'cyberpunk' world."

So far, the following actors have been reportedly cast in the Neuromancer series:

• Callum Turner as Case
• Brianna Middleton as Molly
• Mark Strong as Armitage
• Joseph Lee as Hideo
• Clémence Poésy as Marie-France Tessier
• Peter Sarsgaard as John Ashpool
• Emma Laird as Linda Lee
• Max Irons as Jean Tessier-Ashpool
• Dane DeHaan as Peter Riviera

First off, be warned. Neuromancer is no casual beach read while sipping a White Claw and requires a certain level of concentration, memory, and ability to absorb rapid-fire, machine-gun waves of slang terms and hacker jargon. There’s a definite lack of satisfying explanations for some events, and the narrative demands your rapt attention. But the tone and pacing is totally exhilarating and takes your breath away if you can hang on!

Secondly, up until now nearly every film attempting to dip into this futuristic world of neon drenched streets, gleaming glass towers and digital tech conspiracies has not performed well at the box office. And that not only includes Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, but also the James Cameron co-written Strange Days, and Johnny Mnemonic, which actually had its screenplay penned by William Gibson. It wasn’t until The Wachowskis helmed The Matrix in 1999 that folks got serious about cyberpunk again.

According to Apple TV+, the series will follow a burnt-out, psychologically damaged, elite super-hacker named Case who is reluctantly shoved into a tangled web of digital espionage and high stakes crime with his partner Molly after embezzling cash from a boss. She’s a cybernetically-enhanced "razor-girl" assassin with mirrored eyes dreaming of pulling off a daring heist on a dangerous corporate dynasty harboring secrets and she needs Case to join the gig.

Her client is Armitage, a clandestine former military agent with more than a few skeletons in his closet. Their target is a sophisticated AI called Wintermute, but things go sideways and the pair soon find themselves scrambling for their lives before they encounter its mysterious AI counterpart, Neuromancer. It’s set in a dark depressing world of corporate globalization and a data-frenzied society not unlike today.

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• Demo units of the Nothing Phone 3 were found to be passing off stock photos as camera sample images
• Nothing has explained that this was an "unfortunate oversight"
• Actual camera samples from the Nothing Phone 3 are impressive anyway

Nothing has found itself in a surprising situation, as demo units of the Nothing Phone 3 have been displaying stock photos – taken with professional cameras – and listing them as shot by the Phone 3 itself.

A photographer behind one of these images confirmed this to The Verge, but while you could easily jump to the conclusion that this was intentional deceit from Nothing, it seems more likely that it was an accident.

Speaking about the incident on X, Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis has said that this situation was an “unfortunate oversight” and that there was “no ill intent”.

Re the Phone (3) live demo units (LDU) in some stores using stock imagery - let me explain. An initial version of the LDU needs to be submitted with placeholders around 4 months before launch, to be implemented and tested as we ramp up towards mass production. Once we enter mass…August 27, 2025

They explained that an initial version of the Nothing Phone 3 demo units needed to be submitted with placeholder images around four months before launch, so that the demo units could be implemented and tested in time.

The intention was then to replace the placeholder images with photo samples once the Nothing Phone 3 entered mass production, but for whatever reason that step didn’t happen with some demo units.

Evangelidis additionally said that the company is “investigating internally to make sure such an issue doesn’t happen again.”

We’re inclined to believe this explanation, not least because the Nothing Phone 3 seems perfectly capable of taking impressive photos.

While we haven’t put it through a full review yet, some samples posted on X certainly look eye-catching. So there should have been no real need to attempt deception, especially with the risk of getting caught.

So hopefully this situation won’t hamper impressions of what looks to be a very interesting phone, with a design unlike any other.

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