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Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, June 4 (game #724).Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Connections today (game #725) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…PIPEEVESUMMERAPPLESNAKERIMCROWVERGEBUMPERTURNERPLUNGERSPOILERBRINKWRENCHGRILLECUSPNYT Connections today (game #725) - hint #1 - group hintsWhat are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: On the edgeGREEN: WaterworksBLUE: Pimp my ridePURPLE: Award winning singersNeed more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…NYT Connections today (game #725) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: PRECIPICE GREEN: PLUMBING EQUIPMENTBLUE: WAYS TO MODIFY A CAR'S EXTERIOR PURPLE: BEST FEMALE ROCK PERFORMANCE GRAMMY WINNERS Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Connections today (game #725) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #725, are…YELLOW: PRECIPICE BRINK, CUSP, EVE, VERGEGREEN: PLUMBING EQUIPMENT PIPE, PLUNGER, SNAKE, WRENCHBLUE: WAYS TO MODIFY A CAR'S EXTERIOR BUMPER, GRILLE, RIM, SPOILERPURPLE: BEST FEMALE ROCK PERFORMANCE GRAMMY WINNERS APPLE, CROW, SUMMER, TURNERMy rating: EasyMy score: PerfectPIPE and APPLE made a return after featuring in yesterday’s Connections, but today it wasn't things featured in Magritte paintings we were searching for.Instead, the answers were BEST FEMALE ROCK GRAMMY WINNERS, of which Fiona Apple is one, and PLUMBING EQUIPMENT – of which pipes play an integral part.I’m thrilled that I got WAYS TO MODIFY A CAR’S EXTERIOR first, as this is an area that I know completely nothing about and generally glaze over if anyone ever mentions anything to do with cars or roads or zzzzzzz – in fact I’m glazing over typing this.The biggest surprise today is that Donna SUMMER won a Rock Performance Grammy in 1980 for Hot Stuff, as I associate her with being the queen of disco and saucy dance classics I Feel Love and Love to Love You Baby. I am ashamed that I seem to know more about car exteriors than I do about Donna Summer.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, June 4, game #724)YELLOW: PARTS OF A SONG BRIDGE, CHORUS, HOOK, REFRAINGREEN: SUPPORT AUDIBLY CHEER, CLAP, ROOT, WHISTLEBLUE: THINGS IN AN ENTRYWAY BENCH, COAT RACK, CONSOLE, RUNNERPURPLE: IMAGERY IN MAGRITTE PAINTINGS APPLE, BOWLER, CLOUD, PIPEWhat is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, June 4 (game #1227).Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.Quordle today (game #1228) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1228) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.Quordle today (game #1228) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1228) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:Quordle today (game #1228) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• C• R• G• LRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1228) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1228, are…CHIDERABBIGUSTYLANCEA nice day today, with three words that were easy to get after my starter words provided plenty of correct letters.The final word was the most challenging and put the brakes on a speedy exit. I had the R and A in the correct spots and an I, but for some reason RABBI eluded me.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Daily Sequence today (game #1228) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1228, are…ROOSTLIPIDWHARFCOYLYQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPOQuordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORSTQuordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULEQuordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHIDQuordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITEQuordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDEQuordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGHQuordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURERQuordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADARQuordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOPQuordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEANQuordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLARQuordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPERQuordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCELQuordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUTQuordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURERQuordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVEQuordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNYQuordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESEQuordle #1208, Friday, 16 May: SHEEP, SNUCK, DRIFT, BREAK

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, June 4 (game #458).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #459) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Mary, Mary, quite …NYT Strands today (game #459) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.NEEDSAMEGRAYCOKESNOREHELLNYT Strands today (game #459) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 6 lettersNYT Strands today (game #459) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: left, 3rd rowLast side: right, 4th rowRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #459) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #459, are…COCKLESHELLSPRETTYMAIDSSILVERBELLSCONTRARYSPANGRAM: GARDENMy rating: EasyMy score: PerfectKnowing the words we were looking for certainly made today’s Strands an easier task. But despite it being the most obvious and easiest of words to discover, I still found CONTRARY last.I’m sure we all had the nursery rhyme (or as some people may know it, Roud Folk Song Index number 19626) going round in our heads as we searched for the various things Contrary Mary liked lining up in her GARDEN – namely SILVER BELLS, and COCKLESHELLS, and PRETTY MAIDS all in a row.Like many nursery rhymes this is one with macabre origins; although disputed, many scholars think the words refer to Mary Queen of Scots, with the garden representing a graveyard filled with all the people who dared to upset her.Then again, it could just as easily be about a woman called Mary who liked sticking shells in her garden.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, June 4, game #458)YETIBIGFOOTKRAKENCRAWLERMOTHMANJACKALOPESPANGRAM: CRYPTIDSWhat is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina doesn't set up events to come in John Wick Chapter 5Ballerina's position on the John Wick timeline made that impossible, its director admitsJohn Wick icon Ian McShane says discussions are ongoing about the titular hitman's next storyThere were never any discussions about how From the World of John Wick: Ballerina could set up John Wick Chapter 5.That's according to Ballerina director Len Wiseman, who told TechRadar such a scenario was due to Ballerina's position on the John Wick timeline.For those who might not be aware: Ballerina is set between John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum and John Wick Chapter 4. Chronologically, that means it's the fourth film that fans should watch as part of any Wick-Verse movie marathon. For more information on that front, check out my guide on how to watch the John Wick movies in order.But I digress. With Ballerina's story wrapping up before John Wick Chapter 4 begins, it wouldn't make sense for the Ana de Armas-led installment to pave the way for Keanu Reeves' next outing as the titular assassin.Keanu Reeves' popular assassin will return, but we don't know how or when that'll be (Image credit: Lionsgate)When I asked if there were ever any plans to set up John Wick Chapter 5's plot within Ballerina's story or via a post-credits scene, Wiseman replied: "With this, we were solely focused on what Ballerina's story was."Because it straddles the third and fourth John Wick films, there weren't any conversations about what this necessarily does for John Wick Chapter 5. So, no, we just focused on this story and how to bring the character of Eve into this world."That isn't to say that internal talks have taken place about what John Wick 5's story could be. In a separate interview, I asked Ian McShane, who's played The Continental New York manager Winston Scott in the franchise's five movies so far, if he'd heard anything about the next Reeves-fronted installment, which is still in the very early stages of development.A post shared by Ballerina (@ballerinamovie)A photo posted by on "There are a lot of options," McShane teased. "But nobody seems to know what's going on with it at the moment."Of course, they [John Wick's chief creative team] want it to go on for as long as possible. There's an anime movie that'll be great, and there's a possible TV series called Under the High Table, which I believe they're delivering the scripts for right about now."I don't think anybody thought the John Wick universe would become as big as it is," McShane added, "And now it's about keeping the monster under control while expanding it in new directions. That's why we've got this film Ballerina, which I think Len [Wiseman] did a very good job with, and Ana [de Armas] is fantastic in. You have to have fresh blood coming into franchises like this to help it grow."In short, we'll just have to wait for more details from the 'gun-fu' series' creators about what John Wick Chapter 5 will entail. In the meantime, get ready to watch From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, aka one of 2025's most exciting new movies, which will make its worldwide theatrical debut on Friday, June 6.You might also likeBallerina's official trailer suggests Keanu Reeves' John Wick will have a bigger role to play in the action-thriller movie than we thought'It's really misleading': Ballerina director Len Wiseman explains why the John Wick series' new movie shouldn't be called a spin-off filmFrom the World of John Wick: Ballerina was delayed a whole year for a highly unusual but 'awesome' reason, its director says

The AI boom continues to shake up the world as we know it and fuel the rapid development of new technologies. Whilst this wave of innovation is exciting, it also comes with an unprecedented level of cyber risk exposure.Like with anything cutting edge, regulation and compliance is playing catch-up when it comes to stopping malicious hackers. But there is another growing problem on the horizon. The scale and complexity of hacking has outpaced human capacity to respond, leading to an increase in flaw remediation time and, in turn, a greater exposure to exploitation and cyber threat.Finding the flaws is the easy part, but companies are drowning in security debt as they struggle to compete with a growing attack surface and increasingly sophisticated cyber intrusions. This not only creates capacity issues for teams fixing the flaws but also exposes businesses to critical cyber threat.Why time is of the essence when it comes to cyber security The process of fixing flaws often begins in earnest but tapers off over time, with other priorities taking precedence. Unfortunately, the longer a flaw survives, the less likely it is to be resolved. Research has found the time it takes to fix flaws has skyrocketed, up 47% in five years and 327% in 15, now averaging 252 days. At this rate, businesses could be waiting more than 400 days to fix vulnerabilities by 2030, plunging them into a cycle of whack-a-mole with growing security debt.But why is this happening? Along with the evolution of sophisticated AI tools, cyber flaws have become increasingly complex and difficult to fix. As applications become bigger and incorporate more third-party components, the scope for potential flaws increases, making it more time consuming to remediate issues. Even if an in-house team is writing flawless code, the rest of the supply chain isn’t – 70% of applications have flaws in third-party code due to the use of open-source libraries.Another developing problem is that many teams are under immense pressure to rapidly roll out new features, thus deprioritizing security fixes unless they are absolutely critical. Severity is no longer a major driver of flaw remediation, and more companies are sleepwalking into the red of security debt.Left unresolved, organizations become more exposed to security breaches as fix times stretch and the software ecosystem grows in complexity. The exposure to breaches is set to increase as more teams adopt AI for code generation, and with almost three quarters of organizations having accrued some level of security debt, the issue is only going to worsen without action.The knock-on effect of the digital skills gap While it’s all too easy to point fingers at various teams for not prioritizing cyber risk fixes, the cause of delay isn’t only down to the complexity of the flaws. The developer shortage has been bubbling away for some time, and it is no surprise it is having a knock-on effect on security debt.The combination of the increase in pressure to tackle cyber risks and the global skills shortage means developers are at breaking point. Finding developers or security specialists with both domain knowledge and security expertise is challenging. Until we find a way to close the digital skills gap, this limited capacity will delay fix timelines further.Fixing flaws faster But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are ways organizations can tackle the problem of security debt and get their cyber resilience back on track. By having visibility and proper integration across the whole Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), companies are now able to prevent net new flaws through automation and feedback loops. This can be achieved at scale with AI, using existing AI capabilities to boost fix capacity and speed.The upcoming cyber policy measures set to be introduced later this year will, in turn, be critical for the automation of flaw remediation. Legislation like the UK’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will be a long-term solution to help direct the entire supply chain on what needs to be fixed, whilst holding bad actors accountable.Perhaps one of the most immediate solutions is for organizations to overhaul the ways in which they approach the black hole of security debt. With third-party flaws being one of the biggest contributors to security debt, it’s time companies properly evaluated the third parties with which they engage.Avoiding those riddled with flaws by using software composition analysis (SCA) can slash major issues across applications. True prioritization is also essential - if everything is a priority, then nothing is. Working on the flaws that are most severe as quickly as possible is a quick win for time-poor developers.Modern software security is all about remediating real risk with context and having visibility across the board, climbing out of the weeds of security debt specifics and using available technologies to act fast. With the software ecosystem ever-growing in complexity, it’s never been more important for organizations to tap into AI solutions and re-examine how they take on these cyber-attacks.We've featured the best online cybersecurity course.This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Marketing teams and pre-visualization artists working with AMC Networks might need to be on their toes. The company has reached an agreement to generate marketing images and pre-visualize projects before they enter production using Runway’s AI tech.

Some other Hollywood companies — such as Lionsgate and Harmony Korine’s unfortunately named EDGELRD — have agreed deals with Runway. Other studios are said to be testing models from various gen AI companies. According to The Hollywood Reporter, however, AMC is the first cable company to agree a deal with Runway.

The publication notes that AMC’s profits dropped by nearly half to $63 million in its most recent earnings report. It’s been suggested that the company is looking to reduce the costs of producing and marketing projects without letting quality drop.

At least for the time being, AMC is not planning to include AI-generated imagery in its shows. However, the company that brought the likes of Mad Men and Breaking Bad to the world thinks it’ll be able to sell viewers on shows and films using AI-generated images. This is seen as a way for the company’s networks to "trot out a range of promotional material without the need to spend added time and money trying to capture images with a physical shoot," per THR. AI imagery will also be used in pre-production, ostensibly to help showrunners determine what may or may not work in their projects before filming starts.

In both use cases, AMC will be looking to lower costs by reducing the level of human labor that’s traditionally needed in those arenas. To do so, it will be relying on tech from a company that reportedly trained its AI models on thousands of YouTube videos — as well as pirated versions of copyrighted movies — without first obtaining permission. It is not clear whether AMC has given Runway the green light to use its shows and films for AI training purposes, as Lionsgate has.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amc-networks-is-teaming-up-with-ai-company-runway-141959898.html?src=rss

The last few years have seen many consumer brands embracing AI to drive growth, using it to enhance customer experience and create more tailored platforms. While B2B sellers have also begun to implement AI, they’re still a few steps behind.According to a recent McKinsey report, only 19% of respondents are using generative AI in B2B buying and selling, with as little as 23% actively developing or experimenting with these technologies. By looking at their B2C counterparts, B2B ecommerce businesses can identify valuable examples of how AI can be implemented effectively and at scale.At a time when traditional sales methods need to become more efficient and customers expect greater personalization and a more seamless experience, B2B sales must continue to evolve and modernize.To stay ahead while still addressing the unique complexities of B2B, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and other businesses must evaluate where AI fits within their sales strategies and how to navigate any initial implementation challenges. Once these factors are addressed, B2B ecommerce brands have a strong opportunity to achieve significant return on investment from AI adoption, while also meeting buyers’ expectations.Why is AI essential for B2B growth? A new standard of personalization and efficiency is being set in B2B ecommerce, shaping a future where both sellers and buyers benefit from deeply tailored, data-driven experiences.As digital transformation accelerates, the future of B2B is being redefined. Every touchpoint in the buyer's journey can now be seamlessly powered by AI, delivering hyper personalized content, intelligent product recommendations, and dynamic pricing, all in real-time. The era of static personas and a one-size-fits-all-marketing approach is undeniably behind us. With AI, B2B companies can create adaptive strategies that respond to customers' unique and evolving needs.Using vast amounts of customer data, AI has the ability to identify a customer's past purchases, browsing behavior, and engagement with content, encouraging businesses to deliver hyper-personalized recommendations which specifically speak to the buyer and ultimately foster loyalty. Beyond suggesting products, AI can enhance capabilities by presenting the right products at the right time based on buyer intent, preferences, and even contextual data.The latter can include seasons, location, or growing trends, meaning every interaction can be an opportunity to increase sales by delivering exactly what the customer needs, often before they realise it themselves.From an operational perspective, AI is a transformative technology for B2B sellers to foster increased efficiency and productivity. AI tools can automate routine tasks like lead qualification, inventory tracking, and even customer support, freeing up valuable time for sales and service teams to focus on business strategy.Driving efficiency with AI through smart inventory and supply chain optimizationAnother key area where AI is delivering significant value is inventory and supply chain optimization. Through the use of advanced machine learning models, AI is helping businesses predict demand with unparalleled precision, ensuring they have the right products available at the right time without overstocking or running into shortages.Having these capabilities that can predict future stock levels means that AI has the ability to analyze vast amounts of historical data, from past sales behaviors to seasonal trends and market dynamics. This works to create highly accurate forecasts.Whether it's a sudden supply chain disruption or a shift in market conditions, AI keeps businesses one step ahead by factoring in external delays, making businesses more adaptive and resilient to unexpected changes and able to mitigate the cost impact of stockouts or surplus.Redefining sales engagement through AI empowermentAI is also revolutionizing B2B sales by streamlining how sales teams engage with prospects and close deals. AI-powered tools such as Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) solutions are transforming the quoting process, allowing sales reps to generate accurate, customised quotes in real-time based on complex pricing rules, customer history, and product configurations.Additionally, AI-driven CPQ also helps identify cross-sell and upsell opportunities by analyzing purchasing patterns and suggesting additional products that align with the customer’s needs, increasing revenue potential.By analyzing customer data, AI enables hyper-personalized outreach at scale. Sales teams can craft messages based on behavior like website visits, previous purchases, or even sentiment analysis from emails. These personalized communications will massively boost sales operations, leading to better engagement, stronger relationships, and opening doors for further sales opportunities.Initial implementation challengesFor businesses looking to innovate in the age of digital transformation and maximize ROI, it’s essential that they approach AI implementation strategically, starting with lower-risk tasks and gradually expanding its use and involvement.In sectors like manufacturing and distribution, where complex system integrations are the norm, implementing AI can be technically demanding.The intricate web of legacy systems, ERPs, CRMs, and other business tools often act as barriers to successful AI adoption. However, businesses can overcome these challenges by implementing AI gradually.They should start with smaller, lower-risk tasks such as automating routine processes or enhancing data analytics, allowing businesses to build confidence and gradually phase AI into their existing ecosystem without overwhelming their systems.The road ahead to digital transformationTo successfully integrate AI, businesses must grasp that AI is a tool to augment human capabilities in sales and not replace them. The combination of human insight and AI’s power will position B2B companies at the forefront of this technological revolution, resulting in growth, operational improvements, and increased revenue.We've featured the best CRM for small business.This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro