Khan Academy and Microsoft partner to offer a free AI assistant for teachers

Image: Khan Academy

Great news for K-12 educators in the US! Khan Academy's AI assistant, Khanmigo, is now free thanks to a new partnership with Microsoft. Previously costing US$4 per month, Khanmigo will be accessible through Microsoft's Azure infrastructure, reducing teacher workload and boosting learning experiences.

Khan Academy, renowned for its educational videos, is making Khanmigo free for teachers but will continue to charge school districts and other users for student access. But it is looking for ways to reduce costs.

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This WNBA court looks like an Xbox loading screen

Source: Microsoft

When the New York Liberty Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team plays against the Los Angeles Sparks this Tuesday and Wednesday, they will play on a court that looks like an Xbox loading screen. The basketball court is covered in Xbox logos and console-inspired designs. According to Microsoft, it's the league's "first gaming-inspired basketball court." Even the area under the net is made to look like the ventilation holes in the Xbox Series X.

Unsurprisingly, there's a metaverse component to this. The court is recreated in the Dunking Simulator Roblox experience. But, of course, it's a bit more fantastical than how real-life basketball is played.

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Apple, Google, Microsoft and World Wide Web consortium back passwordless sign-in initiative

The three largest computing, mobile, and browser companies are teaming up to back a passwordless sing-in initiative that could remove one of the biggest pain points and security threats today. Weak passwords are responsible for 80% of breaches and hacks, so Apple, Google, Microsoft are leading the charge in a password-free sign-in.

The FIDO alliance will enable users to sign into websites and apps using their smartphones for authentication, removing the need for any password or PIN code. This ostensibly eradicates the need to have multiple complex passwords for varying websites, or the chance that reused passwords leak and allow unauthorized access.

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Forza Horizon 5 introduces in-game sign language option

There are more than 400 million gamers globally who consider themselves disabled and the developers behind Forza Horizon 5 made accessibility one of the key focuses right from the start. The creators have announced that beginning March 1, 2022, American and British Sign Languages will arrive as an option to the popular game for its in-game cinematics. The update will include actors from the deaf and hard of hearing community signing in parts of the story.

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