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Best early Xbox Black Friday gaming deals Best Console Deal Xbox Series X (1 TB) $449.99 (Save $50) Get Deal Best Controller Deal Xbox Wireless Controller $49.99 (Save $10) Get Deal Best Game Deal Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred (Free $5 Xbox gift card and Sound of Slaughter DLC) $29.99 (Save $10) Get Deal

Black Friday is almost upon us, and that means it's time to start keeping an eye out for all the deals floating around that you can take advantage of right now. That goes double if you're a big video game fan. The deals come fast and furious for gamers, and this year Xbox is kicking things off early. That means it's time to start seizing the early discounts you can score from the retailer right now.

We've pored over the offerings from Xbox you can land right now as well as the ones unlocking over the next couple of weeks to bring you some of our favorite picks. Whether you're in the market for a new console or you just want to scoop up a new controller, Xbox has you covered with plenty of great options that'll tide you over until the rest of the Black Friday gaming deals commence.

Best console deal Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Xbox Series X $449.99 at Xbox
$499.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The most powerful Xbox you can get, the Xbox Series X comes packing a hefty 1TB HD so you can store more than a few games – those install sizes are getting bigger all the time. It's $50 off right now through December 2, and serves up graphics at up to 120FPS with crisp visuals and faster load times than the standard Xbox Series S. Alternatively, get the 512GB Xbox Series S for $50 off as well starting November 21 through December 2.

Best controller deal Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Xbox Wireless Controller $49.99 at Xbox
$59.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This standard Xbox wireless controller comes in just about any color you could imagine, and it boasts a hybrid D-pad, textured triggers and bumpers, and Bluetooth connectivity. You get one with your console purchase, but if you could use another, you can save $10 off one controller at Xbox starting November 21 through December 2 and December 13 through December 23, on select designs only. If you don't see one you like, head to the Xbox Design Lab to create your own and get free engraving on all controller purchases from November 28 through December 5.

Best game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred $49.99 at Xbox
$59.99 Save $10.00 Free $5 Xbox gift card and Sound of Slaughter bundle with purchase Get Deal Why we like it

This Diablo IV expansion is a massive addition to the core game, set in the new region of the jungle terrain Nahantu. It introduces the new Spiritborn class as well as a new endgame dungeon, additional abilities, items, and other changes. You can pick it up right now for $29.99, but Xbox has sweetened the deal considerably. If you buy now through December 2, you'll get a promotional $5 Xbox gift card and the Sound of Slaughter bundle, which adds a few cosmetic items to your coffers.

It seems Google is about to launch an email feature for users, similar to one Apple already provides via iCloud.

According to a new report from Android Authority, a new feature called Shielded Email has suddenly appeared in the Google Autofill settings menu. 

Tapping on the option currently just forwards users to an empty Google account page. However, looking into the latest Google Play Services 24.45.33 update code unveils exactly what Shielded Email will do if Google decides to officially launch it.

What is Shielded Email?

Shielded Email will provide Google users with a service similar to Apple iCloud's Hide My Email.

Basically, the feature allows users to automatically create a randomly generated email alias when they need to sign up for an email list or website. With so many online platforms requiring email addresses nowadays, users have become inundated with spam and other privacy concerns. A feature like Shielded Email lets users sign up for online services, receive and reply to emails — all without revealing their main email address.

The email aliases are also helpful in tracking exactly which signup led to a user's email address being sold to third-parties and spammers.

Apple's Hide My Email requires a paid subscription to iCloud+. It’s unclear whether Google’s Shielded Email will require a paid subscription when it eventually rolls out.

There's now a ChatGPT desktop app for Windows.

OpenAI announced the news on Thursday, sharing how ChatGPT Windows app has Advanced Voice mode, as well as its latest model o1-preview. Windows users can use the Alt + Space shortcut to invoke ChatGPT.

Users can also search the web, share screenshots and upload files and photos to the app. The desktop app is available to Windows 10 and 11 versions.

Tweet may have been deleted What's new with ChatGPT on Mac?

The ChatGPT desktop app for Macs has been out since last May, but it got some updates, too. OpenAI has added integration with developer tools like VS Code, Xcode, Terminal, and iTerm2, so users don't have to manually copy and past code into the chat. Integration with coding tools is available for ChatGPT Plus and Team users, with Enterprise and Edu access coming in the next few weeks. An OpenAI spokesperson said they plan to add access to more apps soon.

Desktop apps with third-party app integration and contextual understanding positions ChatGPT as a more useful tool to compete with Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini. To further complicate things, OpenAI's AI models underpin Copilot and OpenAI also has a partnership with Apple to bring ChatGPT integration to Macs.

Copilot and Gemini still have an edge over the standalone ChatGPT app because they’re deeply integrated into Microsoft and Google’s respective ecosystems, seamlessly connecting to software that users are already familiar with. Copilot works with Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft 365 apps, and Edge. Gemini has various levels of integration with Gmail, Docs, Chrome, and more; the Google AI tool is also housed inside the latest Chromebooks.

As the race for AI dominance barrels ahead, the next phase is shaping up to be all about agents that can perform tasks on the user's behalf. Microsoft already has customizable agents with Copilot Studio, and both Google and OpenAI are rumored to be launching their own AI agents for browsing the web and other tasks. Advancement of desktop apps creates deeper integration into users' daily lives, which might become more useful with agents capable of multi-step reasoning.

Legendary boxer Mike Tyson is set to fight Jake Paul, the influencer turned boxer, in a fight broadcasted live on Friday on Netflix.

Here's the TL;DR: The fight will air on Netflix on Friday, Nov. 15, with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The exact time of the fight, however, isn't exact because there will be four total fights on the main card, which will affect the start time of the Paul vs. Tyson bout. If you want to watch a lot of boxing, there will also be undercard fights starting at 5:30 p.m. ET.

SEE ALSO: Jake Paul is going to fight Mike Tyson. Yes, really.

The fight between Tyson and Paul is highly anticipated, if not really a true boxing match. Tyson is a legendary boxer, of course, but is also 58 years old. Paul is 27. The entire thing is more of a spectacle than a true bout, but one folks are likely to watch regardless.

There may be some actual bad blood with Tyson slapping Paul during their weigh-in this week — though playful machismo is pretty common at such events. While some boxing purists might see the fight as a spectacle more than a real bout, it will certainly be a widely viewed event.

Several Garmin smartwatch models are already on sale ahead of Black Friday:

The best Garmin smartwatch deals at a glance: BEST OVERALL Garmin Venu 3 $349.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST DEAL UNDER $200 Garming vívoactive 5 $199.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST RUNNING WATCH DEAL Garmin Forerunner 955 $399.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST SPLURGE Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar (47mm) $549.99 (save $250) Get Deal

We're still a week away from Amazon's official Black Friday sale kickoff, but deals have been rolling in pretty steadily the whole month of November. From gaming consoles to books to smartwatches, we've been keeping our eyes peeled for early discounts. And as of Nov. 15, Garmin smartwatch deals are definitely standing out.

Whether you're heading into the holidays hoping to become more active, more mindful, or more rested, a smartwatch from Garmin can assist you in achieving our goals. While the Apple Watch may dominate the market, it's certainly not always the best option. Garmin really makes its case when it comes to health and wellness features. Plus, with these early Black Friday discounts, the prices ain't too shabby either.

Best Garmin smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 3 (45mm) $349.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you're looking for a smartwatch that checks all the boxes — smart features, health features, fitness features, and more — the Garmin Venu 3 is exactly that. It has impressive health metrics and fitness tools, in-depth recovery advice, detailed sleep data, a speaker and microphone for hands-free calls and virtual assistant communication, and a battery life that puts any Apple Watch to shame (up to two weeks). While we haven't had a chance to review the Venu 3, I personally own the original Venu from 2019 (now discontinued) and can't recommend it enough. It still outlasts the Apple Watch in battery life, and it's five years old. The 45mm Venu 3 is usually $449.99, but you can snag it on sale for just $349.99 at Amazon as of Nov. 15. That's 22% off and its lowest price on record. If you prefer a smaller case, the 41mm Venu 3S is on sale for the same price.

Best Garmin smartwatch deal under $200 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $199.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

While we haven't had a chance to review the Garmin vívoactive 5, we have tested the previous model and had great things to say. As per our reviewer: "The vívoactive 4 is an excellent smartwatch for active people wanting to be more in tune with their bodies, and for less active individuals who have the desire but need a little nudging to stick to their goals." The newer model, released in 2023, boasts even more fancy features, an upgraded AMOLED display, improved heart rate sensor, upgraded sleep and stress coaching, and over 30 sports apps. It's not quite as advanced as the Venu 3, but it's also $150 cheaper. Snag it on sale at Amazon for just $199.99 as of Nov. 15. That's 33% in savings and its lowest price ever. It beats October's Prime Day price by $50.

More Garmin smartwatch deals

• Garmin Venu Sq 2 — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)

• Garmin Lily 2 — $249.99 $299.99 (save $50)

• Garmin Venu 3S (41mm) — $349.99 $449.99 (save $100)

• Garmin Forerunner 955 — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)

• Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar (47mm) — $549.99 $799.99 (save $250)

Early Black Friday SSD deals Best Xbox SSD deal Seagate 2TB Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S $199.99 (save $160) Get Deal Best PlayStation SSD deal WD_BLACK 2TB SN850P Internal SSD for PlayStation 5 $179.99 (save $50) Get Deal

Nobody likes playing the "storage shuffle." You know, the dreadful game we have to play when we run out of space on our consoles for new games, so we have to carefully select which ones to delete to make room? Talk about killing your darlings. Luckily, there's a fix for that problem, and it's an SSD — either internal or external.

SEE ALSO: The 50+ best gifts for gamers that they won't already have

These SSD storage expanders are maintaining a big presence in the days leading up to Black Friday 2024, with many of them sitting at deep discounts at the time of this writing. SSDs aren't cheap, and you'll probably need to buy one eventually anyway, so getting one at a price cut is usually your best bet.

Below, take a look at the best SSD deals we could find ahead of Black Friday.

Best Xbox SSD deal Opens in a new window Credit: Seagate Seagate 2TB Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S $199.99 at Best Buy
$359.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Xbox owners, installing one of Seagate's SSD expansion cards is one simplest things you can do to enhance your gaming experience, and ahead of Black Friday, you can get a two-terabyte version for just $199.99. Now, that's still not cheap, but it's a whole $160 off the original price, so to us, it's a steal.

Best PlayStation SSD deal Opens in a new window Credit: Western Digital WD_BLACK 2TB SN850P Internal SSD for PlayStation 5 $179.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Installing an internal SSD in your PlayStation 5 is a bit more of a complicated process compared to other consoles, but it's absolutely worth the effort. Western Digital makes some of the best PS5 SSDs on the market, and their flagship model is $50 off leading up to Black Friday. You'll probably need one eventually, so pick one up while it's discounted.

More early Black Friday SSD deals

• Samsung 990 EVO Internal SSD (1TB) — $69.99 $149.99 (save $80)

• Corsair MP600 Pro LPX Internal SSD (1TB) — $79.99 $109.99 (save $30)

• SanDisk Portable SSD (1TB) — $89.95 $99.99 (save $10.04)

• Samsung 980 Pro Internal SSD (1TB) — $89.99 $164.99 (save $75)

• Seagate Game Drive Internal SSD for PS5 (1TB) — $99 $134.99 (save $35.99)

• Western Digital P40 Game Drive External SSD (1TB) — $119.99 $139.99 (save $20)

• WD_BLACK SN850X Internal SSD (2TB) — $139.99 $189.99 (save $50)

• Seagate FireCuda 530R Internal SSD with Heatsink for PS5 (2TB) — $139.99 $244.99 (save $105)

• WD_BLACK SN850X Internal SSD (2TB) — $139.99 $189.99 (save $50)

• Seagate Game Drive Internal SSD with Heatsink for PS5 (2TB) — $159.99 $259.99 (save $100)

• Samsung 980 Pro Internal SSD (2TB) — $169.99 $206.55 (save $36.56)

• Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD (2TB) — $169.99 $284.99 (save $115)

• Corsair MP600 Pro Internal SSD with Heatsink for PS5 (2TB) — $169.99 $209.99 (save $40)

• Samsung 990 Pro Internal SSD with Heatsink for PS5 (2TB) — $179.99 $264.99 (save $85)

• Samsung T9 Portable SSD (4TB) — $292.52 $549.99 (save $257.47)

• SanDisk Extreme Pro External SSD (4TB) — $309.99 $477.99 (save $168)

On Nov. 1, 2024, Amazon launched a Virtual Holiday Shop, a virtual showroom where Amazon shoppers can browse some of the retailer’s best gifts, decorations, and other festive items.

SEE ALSO: 60+ of the absolute best stocking stuffers for 2024

Here’s more info on what Amazon's Virtual Holiday Shop offers and how it can help you check off your holiday shopping list.

What is the Amazon Virtual Holiday Shop?

The Amazon Virtual Holiday Shop is a digital showroom that uses 3D technology to make you feel like you’re in a real store. (It’s giving Macy’s of Herald Square circa 2015 vibes.)

When the page opens, you’ll hear cheerful music and see virtual displays of the latest holiday products and gift ideas, each separated by category (e.g., beauty, tech, etc.).

How does it work?

To actually shop the virtual showroom, move your mouse or use your touchscreen to go from section to section. You can click on individual items to see more details and add them to your cart as you browse.

SEE ALSO: Gift a virtual winter wonderland — no shoveling required

“We're always innovating to enhance the shopping experience and empower customers to discover products in easy and fun ways," Carmen Nestares Pleguezuelo, vice president of North America Marketing & Prime Tech, said in a press release. "With the Virtual Holiday Shop, we are excited to transport shoppers into a new immersive experience where they can browse over 300 of the most coveted gifts and toys of the season."

What can you find in the Virtual Holiday Shop?

Amazon’s Virtual Holiday Shop features the retailer’s Top 100 Holiday Gifts, including electronics, toys, home goods, and more.

While most items are still at full price, there are a few deals amongst the glitter and pizzaz.

Here’s a short list of what’s on sale as of Nov. 15:

• Dash Mini Waffle Maker (DMWP001OR) — $11.99 $14.99 (save $3)

• Roku Express — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — $21.99 $49.99 (save $28)

• Solo Stove Mesa XL Tabletop Fire Pit — $89.99 $99.99 (save $10)

• Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) — $189 $249 (save $60)

• bev by BLACK+DECKER Cocktail Maker Machine — $239.99 $299.99 (save $30)

• Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon — $449 $499 (save $50)

There’s also a Virtual Toy Shop

The Virtual Toy Shop is separate from the Amazon Virtual Holiday Shop but is accessible through the same landing page (just look for the waving owl).

SEE ALSO: Finding a gift that kids actually like is tricky. This guide will make it easier.

Here, you’ll find a wide selection of gift ideas from Lego, Disney, and other top toy brands. If you’re looking for something specific, you can visit other brand-specific showrooms. For example, the Lego Virtual Showroom displays the latest Lego sets and gift ideas.

The company says it’ll be updating the Amazon Virtual Holiday Shop regularly throughout the holiday season, so be sure to check back often for new deals and gift ideas. We’ll also be covering new deals and product launches on the page.

Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) allows AI systems to provide additional information and context to a large language model (LLM) when generating a response to a user query. However, traditional RAG-based methods can struggle to retrieve information that requires high-level knowledge of the entire dataset, especially with abstract and global questions such as the keywordless query: “Catch me up on the last two weeks of updates.” These types of queries are known as “global” queries, as they require holistic understanding of the dataset to answer the question. GraphRAG aims to tackle these questions in two main steps: indexing and query. The indexing engine first breaks down a collection of text documents into segments which are then clustered into hierarchical communities with entities and relationships connecting each segment up through higher levels of abstraction. We then use an LLM to generate a summary of each community, known as a community report. The indexing engine thus creates a hierarchical knowledge graph of the dataset, with each level in the hierarchy representing a different level of abstraction and summarization of the original material. In the query step, GraphRAG uses this structured knowledge to provide additional context to the LLM to help answer the question. In this blog post, we show a new method for conducting “global” queries that efficiently utilizes the knowledge graph representation and optimizes the performance of global search in GraphRAG. 

Static vs. dynamic global search

The global search (opens in new tab) algorithm in GraphRAG aims to answer abstract questions that require knowledge of the entire dataset. It generates answers by searching over communities at a predetermined level in the knowledge graph. Then the LLM combines and summarizes all the community reports at this level of abstraction. Finally, the summary is used as additional context for the LLM to generate the response to the user question. This map-reduce process allows the LLM to select relevant text from all the community reports to generate its final answer. This static approach is expensive and inefficient because it includes many lower-level reports that are not informative to the user query. Since it is unlikely that all community reports, especially at a high level, are relevant in answering the query, an approach that first considers the relevancy of the report prior to the resource-intensive map-reduce operation is highly desirable.  

Here, we introduce dynamic community selection to the global search algorithm, which leverages the knowledge graph structure of the indexed dataset. Starting from the root of the knowledge graph, we use an LLM to rate how relevant a community report is in answering the user question. If the report is deemed irrelevant, we simply remove it and its nodes (or sub-communities) from the search process. On the other hand, if the report is deemed relevant, we then traverse down its child nodes and repeat the operation. Finally, only relevant reports are passed to the map-reduce operation to generate the response to the user. Figure 1 illustrates the dynamic community selection process in action. 

Figure 1: Dynamic community selection workflow

The dynamic global search approach has two main benefits. First, it prunes irrelevant reports early on, reducing the total number of community reports to be considered in the map-reduce operation. Second, it enables users to search the entire knowledge graph, instead of predefining a static community level, and can lead to more detailed answers. This allows it to collect information at various levels of abstraction. Moreover, the rating operation is a classification problem, which is considerably easier to perform than summarization and text generation, therefore, a less complex model can be used. In our experiments leveraging OpenAI’s models, a GPT-4o-mini rater achieved a very similar retrieval rate as a GPT-4o rater, while operating at a fraction of both cost and time. Overall, we use the smaller and more cost-effective model, GPT-4o-mini, in the rate operation to prune any irrelevant community reports, then we use GPT-4o to perform the map-reduce operation to generate the final response. 

Dynamic community selection on the AP News dataset

To demonstrate the cost saving that dynamic global search brings while maintaining a similar response quality, we evaluated the two methods side by side on a dataset from AP News. We tested static and dynamic search on 50 global questions and assessed the final response quality using an LLM evaluator. Moreover, we compared the total token cost of the two methods. To compare the two methods directly, we constrained the maximum search depth on dynamic global search so that both methods used the same underlying information.

We use an LLM evaluator to select the best response (i.e. win rate) on 3 key metrics: 

• Comprehensiveness: How much detail does the answer provide to cover all the aspects and details of the question?
• Diversity: How varied and rich is the answer in providing different perspectives and insights on the question?
• Empowerment: How well does the answer help the reader understand and make informed judgements about the topic?

GigaPath: Whole-Slide Foundation Model for Digital Pathology

Digital pathology helps decode tumor microenvironments for precision immunotherapy. In joint work with Providence and UW, we’re sharing Prov-GigaPath, the first whole-slide pathology foundation model, for advancing clinical research.

Read more Opens in a new tab Significant cost reduction while maintaining output quality

The quality of responses generated from dynamic community selection are comparable to its static counterpart while reducing the total token cost. Our LLM evaluation shows that the output quality of the two methods is similar in the three key metrics across the 50 global questions on the AP News dataset, with no statistical significance between them. More importantly, we observed a significant reduction of total token costs when using the new method, with an average cost reduction of 77% over the existing static global search at community level 1. This is due to the large number of community reports being eliminated via the rating process, thus requiring fewer prompt and output tokens needed in the map-reduce operation. For instance, the existing static global search method processes about 1,500 level 1 community reports in the map-reduce operation, while only 470 community reports on average are selected in dynamic search to generate the final answer.  

Moreover, if we allow dynamic search to continue the rating process further to deeper level community reports, we observe an improvement in its final responses. Here, we conducted the same experiment but allowed dynamic search to continue until community level 3. Out of the 50 global questions, 29 included more community reports than our static search baseline, suggesting that some community reports at deeper levels are relevant to the user question. Indeed, we observed a moderate and statistically significant improvement in both comprehensiveness and empowerment.  Using an LLM evaluator to score pairs of responses, we observe that dynamic global search scores a win rate of 58% and 60%, respectively, against static search at level 1. Nevertheless, while the rating operation is performed by a smaller model and hence induces negligible cost, it can still lead to a higher overall cost due to the increased number of community reports that the map-reduce operation processes. In this experiment, the total cost with dynamic search at level 3 is 34% higher on average. Table 1 summarizes the results of static search at level 1 against dynamic search at level 1 and 3. 

Dynamic search Num. queries Win rate against static search (level 1) Relative cost Comprehensiveness Diversity Empowerment Level 1 50 49.5% 46.0% 48.0% -77% Level 3 29* 58.8% 48.0% 60.0% +34%

Table 1. LLM evaluation on dynamic search vs static search at different community levels on global questions. We show the win rates of dynamic search at level 1 and level 3 against static search at level 1, that is the number of times the LLM evaluator prefers the generated responses from dynamic search over static search. Green background indicates there is statistical significance in the win rates, and grey cells if it is not significant. The right-most column shows the average relative token cost against static search at level 1. * Note that we only evaluate answers from dynamic search at community level 3, which contains more community reports than static search at level 1. 

Overall, dynamic community selection achieved a cost reduction of 77% while achieving output quality similar to the baseline static approach. These appear to be promising numbers, but what of the result quality? Let’s examine some direct side-by-side comparisons with an example: 

Comparable response quality and detail Query: Across the dataset, describe the common trends in vaccination rates for major diseases. Static global search at level 1 Global search with dynamic community selection at level 3

### Common Trends in Vaccination Rates for Major Diseases

#### Decline in Vaccination Rates

A significant trend observed across various regions is the decline in vaccination rates for major diseases. For instance, Minnesota has experienced a decrease in immunization rates, leading to recent measles outbreaks [Data: Reports (335)]. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue, causing a drop in childhood immunization rates in Michigan and other areas [Data: Reports (1231, 915)]. This decline is often attributed to misinformation about vaccines, particularly the false claim linking the MMR vaccine to autism [Data: Reports (912, 1335)].

#### Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on vaccination rates. Efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates have been a major focus of public health policies, but the pandemic has also led to a decline in routine vaccinations among children [Data: Reports (920, 194)]. The pandemic has influenced public attitudes towards health measures and vaccinations, contributing to broader public health challenges [Data: Reports (920)].

#### Regional Variations

Vaccination rates vary significantly by region. West Virginia, for example, has one of the strictest school vaccination policies in the U.S., resulting in high child immunization rates [Data: Reports (1199)]. In contrast, Idaho has the highest overall childhood vaccination exemption rate in the U.S., posing significant public health risks [Data: Reports (998)]. Illinois faces challenges with low vaccination rates in schools, leading to measles outbreaks [Data: Reports (108, 82)].

#### Public Health Initiatives

Various public health initiatives have been implemented to address vaccination rates. The CDC plays a crucial role in monitoring and reporting on vaccination rates for diseases such as measles, mumps, and polio, and provides vital information on preventable diseases [Data: Reports (914)]. Programs like the ‘Do It For Babydog’ sweepstakes in West Virginia encourage vaccination among residents [Data: Reports (1199)]. Additionally, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is heavily involved in funding and supporting vaccination programs for major diseases such as polio, malaria, HIV, and cholera [Data: Reports (1091)].

### Conclusion

The dataset reveals a complex landscape of vaccination rates influenced by regional policies, public health initiatives, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some regions have managed to maintain high vaccination rates through strict policies and public health campaigns, others face significant challenges due to misinformation and exemption rates. Global efforts and collaborations remain crucial in addressing these challenges and improving vaccination coverage worldwide.

### Common Trends in Vaccination Rates for Major Diseases

#### Decline in Vaccination Rates

A significant trend observed across the dataset is the decline in vaccination rates for various diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and polio. This decline is particularly evident among U.S. kindergartners, where vaccination coverage has dropped from 95.2% during the 2019-2020 school year to 93.1% in the 2022-2023 school year. This reduction falls below the 95% threshold needed to achieve herd immunity, putting approximately 250,000 kindergartners at risk each year [Data: Reports (5668, 15469, 15703, 15481, 15471, +more)].

#### Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on vaccination rates. Efforts to promote COVID-19 vaccinations have been a major focus, with initiatives in regions like Michigan and Illinois offering free meals to students and promoting updated COVID-19 shots [Data: Reports (19125, 15466)]. However, the pandemic has also disrupted routine vaccination programs, leading to lower coverage for diseases such as measles and contributing to recent outbreaks [Data: Reports (15464, 15674, 15482, 15481, +more)].

#### Regional Variations and Legislative Measures

There are notable regional variations in vaccination rates and exemption rates across the United States. For example, West Virginia has implemented strict immunization requirements for children entering school, resulting in high child immunization rates [Data: Reports (5674, 18874, 18899)]. In contrast, states like Minnesota and Illinois have seen increases in non-medical exemptions, contributing to lower vaccination rates and recent outbreaks [Data: Reports (15483, 15481, 108, 2705, +more)].

#### Efforts to Improve Vaccination Rates

Various initiatives and legislative measures have been introduced to address declining vaccination rates. For instance, the Government of Sindh introduced a polio vaccination bill that includes provisions for imprisonment for parents who do not vaccinate their children [Data: Reports (15398)]. In the U.S., the CDC has recommended new COVID-19 shots for everyone aged 6 months and older and has launched initiatives to ensure equitable access to vaccines, especially in developing countries [Data: Reports (15847, 15571, 15691, 15694, +more)].

### Conclusion

The dataset reveals a complex landscape of vaccination rates influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and regional variations. While efforts to improve vaccination rates are ongoing, the decline in immunization coverage poses significant public health risks, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to ensure high vaccination rates and prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Table 2. Generated response from static search (level 1) and dynamic search (level 3) to the same global question on the AP News dataset. 

Table 2 shows an example output from static search at level 1 and dynamic search at level 3 to the same question. While the two outputs contain similar high-level topics, the response from dynamic search provided specific data such as the reduction of vaccination rates in certain demographics. We also notice that the response from dynamic search made significantly more references to the source material, indicated by “[Data Reports]” in the text. By selectively providing information that is relevant to the question, this alleviates the map-reduce operation from having to filter and process all the community reports all at once, and therefore it can generate a response that is more comprehensive and specific to the user question. 

Overall, dynamic community selection proposes an alternative method to perform global search in GraphRAG by leveraging the indexed knowledge graph and the usage of cheaper LLM models in the rate relevancy operation. These changes led to lower total token cost and potential improvements to response detail and quality. 

Availability

• Blog Introducing DRIFT Search: Combining global and local search methods to improve quality and efficiency 

You can experiment with dynamic global search on the GraphRAG GitHub repository (opens in new tab). 

Dynamic global search is the second of several major optimizations to GraphRAG that are being explored. If you are interested in optimizations for local questions, please check out our recent blog post on DRIFT search. Stay tuned for our upcoming work, where we explore a radically different approach to graph-enabled RAG that is significantly more cost-efficient while improving answer quality for both local and global questions. 

Opens in a new tab

The post GraphRAG: Improving global search via dynamic community selection appeared first on Microsoft Research.

Apple upgraded the newest MacBook Pro's display without telling anyone.

That's according to prominent display analyst Ross Young, anyway. Young took to X on Thursday to point out that Apple has adopted a "quantum dot" display for the M4 MacBook Pro.

The hardcore technical details are that Apple replaced the red KSF phosphor film it had used on previous MacBook displays with quantum dot film. But Young's post also makes it clear, in layman's terms, what this means for you, the user.

SEE ALSO: Apple Intelligence on Mac: 5 AI-powered features you can test right now Tweet may have been deleted What is a 'quantum dot' display?

As Young put it, quantum dot technology gives Apple equal — or perhaps even better — color output than the old method, as well as more responsive motion performance.

Young highlighted that the latest quantum dot films are not only highly efficient—they’re also cadmium-free. Apple had previously been wary of going to quantum dot displays because they used cadmium, which is a carcinogen, according to the World Health Organization.

These aren't massive upgrades, but they are noteworthy enough that it's odd that Apple chose not to market this change at all. One way to think about it, perhaps, is that you got even more than what you paid for.

'Cobra Kai' creators Jon Hurwitz Josh Heald and Hayden Schlossberg break down the arcs of Johnny, Kreese and Tory heading into the 2nd installment of the hit series' final season.

Finding the best gift for a kid requires attention to detail — and an ear for their reactions to various toy commercials.

Kids can be particular. The things kids like change not just with age, but also with evolving trends from TV shows and new technology. If parents are lucky enough, their kid will write a long list of the precise items they'd like as a birthday gift or a Christmas gift and put it up on the fridge in pride — but sometimes, it can be as much of a crapshoot as coming up with a gift idea for someone else's kid.

Instead of buying yet another random stuffed animal, here are some tips on how to successfully zone in on the best gifts for kids of all ages.

What to get for a toddler

Everyone is familiar with the "terrible twos" rep that the not-a-baby-but-not-yet-an-independent-kid stage of development gets. At this age, kids are bouncing constantly between the desire to explore on their own and the reliance on parents for most basic needs like eating, getting dressed, or going to the bathroom. That's a lot of frustrating emotions to go through in a day. Kitchen play sets, toys that involve different motor skills, and anything with music are gifts that can let toddlers feel in charge without too much assistance from a parent — making them ideal for this age category.

What to get for elementary and middle school kids

Potentially a more daunting phase than the terrible twos: The one where the pressure to be cool is relentless. This is that age. Though "cool" can lend itself to multiple interpretations, gifts that contribute to an older kid's evolving critical thinking skills and sense of independence, responsibility, and style are all smart ideas. These could be anything from STEM toys to beginner's makeup tools to a fitness tracker or a pretend pet that encourages routine-making. Anything that involves an app, tablet, or e-reader is also a guaranteed win.

What to get for teenagers

Finding a gift that a teenager will think is cool (and that will be on-trend for longer than a few months) might be some of the trickiest shopping you'll do all year. They'll probably offer up a few big softball suggestions, but if you're going the surprise route, remember that they care about brands. Thanks to social media influencers promoting products directly to teens on Instagram or TikTok, Gen Z kids are loyal to very specific brands of tech, accessories, and even water bottles. If you follow the trends as closely as they do (trust us, we do), cracking the "best gifts for teenagers" code isn't rocket science.

So, without further ado, here are the best gifts for kids of all ages — including toy and non-toy gifts alike:

Gifting a laptop can be a daunting experience, with countless options and confusing specs that can lead you down a scrolling spiral. But fear not — we've done the heavy lifting for you.

This holiday season, we've rounded up a list of next-gen laptops that cater to everyone on your list. While each machine boasts its own bells and whistles, they all share one standout element: the cutting-edge Snapdragon® X Elite processor.

Known as Copilot+ PC laptops, these six powerhouses are redefining performance standards. With lightning-fast speeds, impressive on-device AI capabilities, and extraordinary battery life* — made possible with Snapdragon X Elite — these laptops are set to wow your loved ones. Let's dive in and find the one that’ll knock their themed socks off. 

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Wrap up your holiday shopping with confidence, knowing you've found the perfect tech gift. A next-gen laptop powered by the Snapdragon X Elite processor is designed to complement any lifestyle, delivering lightning-fast performance, impressive AI capabilities, and exceptional battery life. 

Happy holidays and happy gifting!

*Battery life varies significantly based on device, settings, usage, and other factors.

1. Source: Samsung; Based on local, 1080p resolution video playback, default video player (full screen), 150 nit brightness, default earbud volume, Wi-Fi and mobile network off, keyboard backlight off. Results vary with settings, usage and other factors.

2. Source: HP; Based on HP's internal analysis as of next gen PCs with a 40-60 TOPS NPU as of (current date). Battery life tested by HP using continuous FHD video playback, 1080p (1920x1080) resolution, 200 nits brightness, system audio level as image default, player audio level at 100%, played full screen from local storage, headphone attached or through speaker (if no audio jack port), wireless on but not connected. Actual battery life will vary depending on configuration and maximum capacity will naturally decrease with time and usage.

3. Source: Asus; Battery tests conducted by ASUS on May 7, 2024 using the 1080p Video Playback scenario. Test configuration: ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507Q), 3K OLED panel, Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite 12C, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM, 70Wh battery. Test settings: WiFi disabled, Keyboard backlit disabled, Windows Power Plan set to Best Power Efficiency, display brightness set to 150 cd/m2. Actual battery life may vary depending on product configuration, usage, operational conditions and power management settings. Battery life will decrease over the lifetime of the battery.

4. Source: Dell; https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/xps-13-laptop/spd/xps-13-9345-laptophttps://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/xps-13-laptop/spd/xps-13-9345-laptop. Multi-day battery life, up to 27 hours based on XPS 13 tested with Snapdragon X1 Elite X1E-80-100, FHD+ display, 16GB, 512GB SSD. Testing conducted by Dell labs in May 2024 with display brightness set to 150 nits (40%) and wireless enabled. Based on streaming Netflix 1080p content using the Netflix Windows 11 app. Actual battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on product configuration and use, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Maximum battery life will decrease with time. The stated Watt Hour (WHr) is not an indication of battery life.

Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries.

SAVE $99.96: As of Nov. 15, get the Fitbit Google Ace LTE on sale for $129.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $229.95. That's a discount of 43%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Fitbit Google Ace LTE $129.99 at Woot
$229.95 Save $99.96 Get Deal

Your kids are clamoring for a smartwatch. You know they don't need one just yet, but an activity tracker makes sense for their active lifestyles. Or maybe you want to encourage your little ones to start getting up and out there to get their blood flowing so they build healthy habits at an early age. Whatever the case may be, a kid-centric smartwatch is a great idea that can help you encourage and motivate your brood. And you can get a fantastic one right now for its best price yet.

As of Nov. 15, get the Fitbit Google Ace LTE for just $129.99 at Woot. That's $99.96 off its normal price of $229.95 and a 43% discount, as well as one of the lowest prices we've seen. Woot has the Mild colorway in stock, which features a light gray wristband with plenty of fun watch faces to choose from.

This kid-focused smartwatch may be for young users, but it's no slouch when it comes to features. It has built-in 4G LTE and GPS capabilities, so you can keep an eye on where your kid goes no matter what they get up to. They'll love using their new tracker because it comes pre-loaded with games and activities to help them keep track of those impromptu basketball games or hopping on a scooter and hanging out in the backyard.

The watch boasts a 16-hour battery life, so it can keep up with the kids even when your own watch is starting to get low. Pop it on the charger for a fast charge session to get up to 11 hours of battery back in just a half-hour. And if you need to tweak important settings, use options like School Time to make sure your kids actually pay attention in class and don't game on their watch when it's time to learn. And that's not all – there's a host of other comms and even payment features so your kid has everything they need on their wrist.

Snatch this smartwatch up for the kids in your life at this price before the holidays officially roll around.

GET FREE AUDIOBOOKS: Stuff Your Earbuds Day is here! Get free audiobooks on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16.

If you thought Stuff Your Kindle Day was exciting, get ready for its audio equivalent: Stuff Your Earbuds Day. This lesser-known shopper’s holiday is the best way to score free audiobooks and treat yourself to a cozy Autumn night in.

Here’s how to make the most of Stuff Your Earbuds Day.

What is Stuff Your Earbuds Day?

Stuff Your Earbuds Day is an annual event hosted by romance author Rebecca Hefner via the Romance Audiobookworms website. During the event, booklovers can snag hundreds of free audiobooks from romance authors across genres, including sci-fi and historical romance.

The deals are live for 48 hours, and there’s no limit to how many you can download.

When is Stuff Your Earbuds Day 2024?

Stuff Your Earbuds Day takes place on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, 2024. If you want updates and reminders, you can sign up for Romance Audiobookworms’ newsletter via Substack.

Who can participate in Stuff Your Earbuds Day?

Unlike most shopping events, this isn’t a members-only affair. Anyone can participate in Stuff Your Earbuds Day. All you have to do is find the audiobook you want (you can find the list on Hefner’s site) and download it from whatever platform you normally use to listen to audiobooks (e.g., Google Play Books, Apple Books, Spotify, Chirp, Kobo, BookFunnel, and Barnes & Noble Nook). Note: These audiobooks aren’t available on Audible.

Shop Stuff Your Earbuds Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kait Nolan Let It Be Me Get Deal Why we like it

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of audiobooks available this Stuff Your Earbuds Day, but if you’re looking for somewhere to start, might we suggest Let It Be Me.

In this story, Emerson Aldridge became a mother very early in life. Once her daughter is old enough to leave for college, Aldridge isn’t sure what to do with herself. Not remembering what life was like before motherhood, she sets out on a journey of self-discovery (which includes canoodling with her firefighting neighbor).

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Nov. 15: OUR TOP PICK Garmin Venu 3 (45mm) $349.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST OUTDOOR DEAL Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 with stand $195.99 (save $104) Get Deal BEST APPLE DEAL Apple 2024 iMac (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,349.99 (save $149.01 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones $198 (save $150) Get Deal

Before you head into the weekend, check out some of our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Though we still have to wait a week until the mega retailer's official Black Friday sale begins, there are tons of deals already flooding in that are worthy of adding to your cart — including products from top brands like Apple, Garmin, Solo Stove, and Sony.

Here are our top picks from the best Amazon deals of the day on Nov. 15. Be sure to look back at our picks from Nov. 13 and Nov. 14 as well. Many of those are still live, including a 41% price drop on the very impressive Samsung Galaxy Buds FE and a record-low M2 iPad Air.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 3 (45mm) $349.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

The latest Garmin Venu checks all the right boxes when it comes to a smartwatch — and then some. It's equipped with an abundance of health metrics and fitness tools, in-depth recovery advice, detailed sleep data, and a battery life that'll outshine even the most expensive Apple Watch. In smartwatch mode, it'll last you up to two weeks before needing a charge (less when tracking workouts). While the smart features aren't quite as bright and shiny as the Apple Watch, the Venu 3 truly stands out for anyone who prioritizes sleep, wellness, fitness, and battery life. It's usually $449.99, but you can slash 22% off and get it for $349.99 at Amazon as of Nov. 15. That's its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Solo Stove Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 with stand $195.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $104.00 Get Deal

It's not fall without bonfires. Ahead of Black Friday, Solo Stove dropped the price of its Bonfire 2.0 bundled with a stand down below $200. While the list price at Amazon is a bit inflated (it's really $299.99 on the Solo Stove website), it's still a 35% discount. The Bonfire 2.0 is ideal for intimate gatherings of four to six people and with the smokeless signature 360-degree airflow, nobody should get smoked out while sitting around it. It weighs about 22 pounds and comes with a carrying case to tote it around, making it ideal for backyard hangs or weekend camping trips.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2024 iMac (M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,349.99 at Amazon
$1,499.00 Save $149.01 with on-page coupon Get Deal

Announced during October's Mac week, the latest iMac boasts Apple's in-house M4 chip, which is allegedly 1.7 times faster than the M1 model. It also features a 24-inch 4.5K display, a 12MP front camera, four USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, Apple Intelligence (of course), and a 16GB starting RAM. Plus, it comes in seven fun colors, including pink! As of Nov. 15, an on-page coupon drops the $1,499 price down to just $1,349.99 for the 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD model. While it's not the biggest discount ever, it's the lowest price we've seen it so far.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones $198.00 at Amazon
$348.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal

While Sony's WH-1000XM5s have now replaced the WH-1000XM4s as our favorites, they're a whole lot more expensive and only offer a slight upgrade over the previous generation. The WH-1000XM4s are still excellent headphones in 2024. They earned the Best of the Year badge of honor in 2020, as well as an Editor's Choice award from our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis). With top-notch noise cancellation, impressive sound quality, customizable EQ, and a cozy fit, you could certainly do worse. While they're usually $348, you can snag them on sale for $198 as of Nov. 15. That's 43% in savings and $130 cheaper than the 1000XM5s.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

SAVE $150: As of Nov. 15, Sony's WH1000XM4 wireless headphones are on sale for $199.99 as part of Best Buy's early Black Friday sale. This is $150 off their list price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones - Black $199.99 at Best Buy
$349.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal

Black Friday has grown into quite the sale event throughout November, with several retailers offering up a variety of deals for shoppers to enjoy in the weeks leading up to the official day. Best Buy's Black Friday plan includes weekly doorbuster deals alongside plenty of early sales, ranging from TVs to gaming consoles to headphones. If you've had your eye on picking up the latter, we've got good news, the retailer's dropped a fantastic discount on Sony WH1000XM4 wireless headphones that's definitely worth checking out.

The sleek Sony WH1000XM4 wireless headphones are currently on sale for $199.99, $150 off their list price of $349.99. That's a fantastic early Black Friday treat for shoppers, especially considering how high-quality these headphones are.

We've ranked these headphones as the best overall in our list of the best wireless headphones. Mashable's Deputy Editor of Shopping and Reviews, Miller Kern, said that the Sony WH1000XM4's "have superior sound quality and noise cancellation. They're comparable to the Sennheiser PXC 550-II headphones, but have a more stylish look in our opinion — the ear cups are less bulky."

SEE ALSO: Best Buy Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online

They also offer a nice selection of colors, all of which are on sale right now at Best Buy so you can have your pick of the black headphones, midnight blue, or silver.

Best Buy's Black Friday sales have been the gift that keeps on giving, so don't miss out on this excellent deal on the Sony WH1000XM4 wireless headphones.

If you're looking for even more early Black Friday deals, you're in luck. Both Target and Walmart have their own Black Friday plans going on throughout the month of November, with each offering a wide variety of early discounts for shoppers to enjoy. Other retailers, like Amazon, also have plans set for the Black Friday shopping event, so you can set a reminder for when their biggest deals go live.

SAVE $200: As of Nov. 15, the TCL 55-inch Q5 4K QLED Smart Fire TV is on sale for $249.99 at Best Buy as part of its early Black Friday sale. That's $200 off its list price of $449.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 55-inch Class Q5-Series 4K UHD HDR PRO+ QLED Smart Fire TV (2024) $249.99 at Best Buy
$449.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Best Buy's Black Friday sales have quite a bit for shoppers to check out, from new doorbuster deals every Friday to a variety of early discounts that have dropped ahead of the big sale event. As part of those early deals there's been a wealth of TVs on sale, and this deal on a TCL 4K TV is one that immediately caught our eye.

If you've been looking to make the jump to a 4K TV but don't want to shell out a ton of cash for it, this is your time to shine. Best Buy's offering a 55-inch TCL Q5 4K UHD HDR PRO+ QLED Smart Fire TV for just $249.99, $200 off its list price of $449.99. Considering the price of other 4K QLED TVs, this is a fantastic discount to take advantage of. Not to mention, this pick is worth every penny.

With QLED Quantum Dot Technology you're getting richer images for an eye-catching display, no matter if you're watching movies, catching up on a new show, or settling in for a night of gaming. This richness is made even better when paired with crisp 4K resolution. And that's not all. You're also getting features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos Audio that help create a truly cinematic experience, and all of this is fitted into a nice 55-inch screen size.

Smart features are also included in this TV, so you can have all of your favorite streaming apps right in the palm of your hand. What's even better is that you can even set up voice control with Amazon Alexa to flick through said apps. What better way to enjoy your favorite entertainment?

If you've been looking to score a new TV, or just get an upgrade, don't miss out on this early Black Friday deal on the TCL 55-inch Q5 4K QLED Smart Fire TV.

Other top retailers are jumping in on the early Black Friday sale action, too. Both Target and Walmart have their own Black Friday plans that include early discounts for shoppers to check out in the lead-up to the big day. Amazon's even revealed when their Black Friday sale event officially kicks off, so keep your eyes out for even more deals in the coming weeks.

Paul Mescal took on the mighty wings of "Hot Ones" in a very different battle to "Gladiator II".

Working with someone who sidesteps the rules can be frustrating, especially when they’re good at what they do. How can you address it constructively? Put their rule-breaking in perspective. Before your frustration builds, consider why they’re cutting corners. External pressures or old work habits might be at play, rather than a  disregard for the rules. […]

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Our work on Orca and Orca 2 demonstrated the power of using synthetic data for the post-training of small language models and getting them to levels of performance previously found only in much larger language models. Orca-AgentInstruct is another step in this direction, where we explore using agentic flows to generate diverse and high-quality data at scale. Orca-AgentInstruct is an agentic solution for synthetic-data generation. By leveraging an agentic framework, AgentInstruct can generate tailored datasets, comprising both prompts and responses, from raw data sources, paving the way to building a synthetic data factory for model fine-tuning.  

The efficacy of this approach is exemplified by the substantial improvement observed by fine-tuning a base Mistral 7-billion-parameter model and using AgentInstruct to generate a 25-million-pair dataset. The fine-tuned model (which we refer to as Orca-3-Mistral) showcases a notable performance gain across multiple benchmarks. For example, it shows 40% improvement on AGIEval, 19% improvement on MMLU, 54% improvement on GSM8K, 38% improvement on BBH, 45% improvement on AlpacaEval, and a 31.34% reduction of inaccurate or unreliable results across multiple summarization benchmarks.

We are making a 1-million-pair subset (orca-agentinstruct-1M) of this dataset publicly available, along with a report describing the data generation procedure, to encourage research on synthetic data generation and finetuning of language models. 

Figure 1: Effect of using AgentInstruct for post-training Mistral-7B.  Figure 2. This figure provides a thematic overview of the roles played by different groups of agents. Content Transformation Flow converts the seed into an intermediate representation that makes it easier to create high-quality and diverse data. Seed Instruction Generation Flow creates instances of the target tasks following a taxonomy. Instruction Refinement Flow explores the space further by starting from these initial data points and exploring the neighborhood. The expectation is that by picking a random seed we will be able to cover the entire region of data points. 

Synthetic Data Accelerated LLM Development: Over the past year, using synthetic data has greatly advanced the training of large language models (LLMs). It sped up model training at all stages, from pre-training (e.g., Phi-3) to instruction-tuning (e.g., Orca and WizardLM) and reinforcement learning from human feedback (e.g., Direct Nash Optimization). 

• Demo video AgentInstruct Methodology 

Generating high-quality synthetic data is hard: On the other hand, research indicates that pre-training models on synthetic data produced by other models can result in model collapse, causing models to progressively degrade. Similar concerns have been raised regarding the use of synthetic data for post-training, suggesting that it might lead to an imitation process where the trained model learns only stylistic features rather than actual capabilities. 

This discrepancy may be attributed to the challenge of generating high-quality and diverse synthetic data.  Successful use of synthetic data involves significant human effort in curating and filtering the data to ensure high quality. 

Synthetic data meets agents: Another major development we witnessed during the past year is the rise of agentic (especially multi-agent) workflows, such as with AutoGen. Agentic workflows can generate high-quality data, which surpasses the capabilities of the underlying LLMs, by using flows with reflection and iteration that enable agents to look back at solutions, generate critiques, and improve solutions. They can also use tools like search APIs, calculators, and code interpreters to address LLM limitations. 

Multi-agent workflows bring in additional benefits as well, such as simulating scenarios where we can generate both new prompts and the corresponding responses. They also enable automation of data-generation workflows, reducing or eliminating the need for unnecessary human intervention on some tasks. 

AgentInstruct: Generating synthetic data for post-training or finetuning often relies on an existing prompt set that is either used as is or as seeds for generating more instructions. In this work, we generalize the problem settings to a broader objective of generating an abundant amount of diverse, challenging, and high-quality data to teach a particular skill to an AI model. We refer to this setting as generative teaching.   

AgentInstruct is an agentic solution for generative teaching. AgentInstruct uses raw documents as input to create demonstration and feedback data. When generic data is used as seeds, AgentInstruct can be used to teach an LLM a general capability, such as writing, reasoning, or retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). Domain specific data, like retail or finance, can also be used as seeds to improve the model in a certain specialization. AgentInstruct can create: 

1. High-quality data: AgentInstruct uses GPT-4, coupled with tools like search and code interpreters, to create high-quality data.  
2. Diverse data: AgentInstruct creates prompts and responses using a set of specialized agents (with powerful LLMs, tools, and reflection flows) and a taxonomy (of more than 100 subcategories), , ensuring diversity and quality.
3. Large quantities of data: AgentInstruct can run autonomously. and applyiflows for verification and data filtering. It does not require seed prompts and uses raw documents for seeding. 

Using raw data as seeds offers two advantages: it is plentiful, allowing AgentInstruct to generate large-scale and diverse datasets, and it encourages learning general skills instead of benchmark-specific ones by avoiding using existing prompts.

Spotlight: Blog post

MedFuzz: Exploring the robustness of LLMs on medical challenge problems

Medfuzz tests LLMs by breaking benchmark assumptions, exposing vulnerabilities to bolster real-world accuracy.

Read more Opens in a new tab

We anticipate agentic flows becoming increasingly important throughout the model-training lifecycle, including pre-training, post-training, and specialization, and ultimately enabling the creation of a synthetic data factory for model customization and continuous improvement. This has the potential to drive AI advances across multiple industries by making high-quality model training more efficient and accessible. 

Contributors:

Arindam Mitra, Luciano Del Corro, Guoqing Zheng, Shweti Mahajan, Dany Rouhana, Andres Codas, Yadong Lu, Wei-ge Chen, Olga Vrousgou, Corby Rosset, Fillipe Silva, Hamed Khanpour, Yash Lara, and Ahmed Awadallah

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The post Orca-AgentInstruct: Agentic flows can be effective synthetic-data generators appeared first on Microsoft Research.