The US Navy has released images of its new laser weapon, HELIOS, in action, shooting down a drone for the first time. HELIOS, developed by Lockheed Martin, was tested aboard the USS Preble, showcasing its powerful directed energy beam. The system delivers over 60 kilowatts of energy at the speed of light and can hit targets up to five miles away. It is designed to … Continue reading US Navy testing its new laser weapon that never runs out of power

Ground-based drones are becoming an influential part of the battlefield in Ukraine, alongside aerial and seaborne drones. Ukraine’s Minister for Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, revealed that 100 unmanned ground systems (UGS) drones have been tested for combat, with roles including medical evacuation, logistics, and assault missions. Despite challenges from Russian electronic warfare, advances in AI are improving their effectiveness. Germany’s ARX Robotics is delivering 30 … Continue reading Ukraine’s Robot Wars – Ground Drones Emerge From Shadows

Figure AI has secured its second major commercial partner, potentially paving the way to ship 100,000 humanoid robots over the next four years. While the customer’s identity is undisclosed, CEO Brett Adcock suggests it could be a major U.S. company with significant labor needs. This follows Figure AI’s first client, BMW, and marks a step toward mainstream adoption of humanoid robots in industries like manufacturing, … Continue reading US firm unveils plan for 100,000-strong humanoid robot army to counter China

China’s growing advancements in artificial intelligence and nuclear fusion have sparked concern among Western governments and investors. DeepSeek, an AI company, has quickly emerged as a competitor to U.S. dominance in the field, while satellite images of a large facility in Mianyang suggest the construction of a giant laser nuclear fusion research center. This facility may accelerate China’s push to surpass the West in fusion … Continue reading China ‘artificial sun’ fuels Western fears it has lost energy holy grail

L3Harris has upgraded its T7 robot with advanced electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, enhancing its battlefield effectiveness by detecting and disrupting enemy communications and radar from miles away. Successfully tested during a U.S. Army exercise, the T7 demonstrated its ability to neutralize small drones and operate remotely. The EW system, which can be turned on or off to minimize detection, allows the T7 to quickly reposition. … Continue reading US robot gets capability to jam signals and neutralize drones from miles away

Ambi Robotics has launched AmbiStack, an innovative robotic system designed to optimize the stacking of items onto pallets and into containers, improving space utilization and reducing shipping costs. Using advanced AI and vision systems, AmbiStack automates the repetitive tasks of stacking, increasing efficiency and accuracy in logistics. Built on the company’s PRIME-1 AI model, it learns from real-world data and improves over time. AmbiStack aims … Continue reading Warehouse robot uses AI to play real-life Tetris to handle more than ever before

EvolutionaryScale, an AI startup backed by Amazon and NVIDIA, is using large language models (LLMs) to generate new proteins, potentially advancing fields like medicine and evolutionary biology. Their third model, ESM3, successfully created a new green fluorescent protein (GFP) by simulating 500 million years of evolution. ESM3, which is open for use by the scientific community, is trained on 771 billion tokens from 3.15 billion … Continue reading Scientists Just Used AI to Simulate 500 Million Years of Evolution

The Vatican issued a new document on artificial intelligence (AI), warning that it could erode trust in society and make people “cogs in a machine.” Pope Francis, concerned about AI’s potential misuse to manipulate minds and spread misinformation, emphasized that AI-generated fake content could fuel polarization and conflict. The document also expressed concerns about AI being used to replace human workers, infringe on privacy, and … Continue reading Vatican Warns AI Could Undermine ‘Foundations Of Society’

Many of the mysterious drones spotted over New Jersey and the East Coast last year were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for research and other purposes, according to the White House. The sightings sparked panic, including a temporary airport shutdown, fueled by misinformation. Some drones were also flown by hobbyists and private citizens. The White House clarified that the drones posed no national … Continue reading Mystery NJ drones were authorized by FAA, White House says

Knightscope, Inc. has been selected by AFWERX for a Phase I SBIR contract to enhance U.S. Air Force Installation Security. The company will research and assess security approaches, using its Autonomous Security Robots (ASRs) to improve safety for defense assets and personnel. Knightscope’s robots, equipped with machine learning and advanced sensors, aim to increase situational awareness and operational efficiency. This partnership signals the start of … Continue reading Knightscope Partners with U.S. Air Force on Autonomous Security Robots

UBTech Robotics, based in Shenzhen, plans to mass-produce its humanoid robots by the end of this year, targeting industrial applications due to the labor shortage in factories. The company aims to deliver 500 to 1,000 units of its Walker S Series robots, including models for car manufacturers, Foxconn, and SF Express. While UBTech’s long-term goal is to bring humanoid robots to homes, its current focus … Continue reading Chinese robot maker UBTech eyes mass production of industrial humanoids by year end

For two years, the belief that artificial intelligence (AI) would boost productivity has driven stock-market gains, with Nvidia, a leader in AI chip manufacturing, at the forefront. However, this optimism turned sour after the release of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model that rivaled OpenAI’s offerings but required less computing power, potentially reducing demand for Nvidia’s high-end chips. This led to a massive drop in Nvidia’s … Continue reading DeepSeek Turned Tech and Wall Street Upside Down

Meta is expanding its smart glasses lineup, with plans to release a sportier model under the Oakley brand this year and a high-end model featuring a built-in display by 2025. Codenamed ‘Hypernova,’ the new glasses will be priced around $1,000 and are being developed with EssilorLuxottica, the maker of Ray-Ban and Oakley. Unlike current Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which lack a display, the Hypernova will feature … Continue reading Meta Reportedly Plans Smart Glasses with Display, Targeting 2025 Release

Disruptions to circadian rhythms, caused by modern living conditions like shift work and irregular schedules, are linked to rising mental health issues, including mood and anxiety disorders, which now affect nearly 20% of the global population. These disruptions occur when the body’s internal clocks misalign with behaviors like sleep-wake cycles. Research shows that such misalignments are associated with increased depressive symptoms, fueling interest in circadian … Continue reading New technology enables smartwatches to detect depression

Fitbit has agreed to pay a $12.25 million civil penalty to settle allegations that it failed to promptly report overheating battery risks in its Ionic smartwatches, which caused burns. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said Fitbit knew of the issue as early as 2018 but didn’t inform the agency until after a 2022 recall. Despite a software update attempt in 2020, the problem … Continue reading Fitbit pays $12M to sprint away from claims of burning-hot smartwatches

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is trialing a firefighting robot for 12 months to enhance safety and efficiency. The robot, which can be controlled remotely from 600 meters away, sprays 2,000 liters of water per minute, detects fire hotspots, and climbs stairs. KFRS hopes the robot will protect firefighters, reduce the time spent at incidents, and optimize resource use, the BBC has reported. The … Continue reading Firefighting robot tackles blazes in the UK

This spring, Beijing will host a unique half-marathon where humanoid robots will race alongside humans for the first time. The event, taking place in the Daxing district in April, will feature 12,000 human runners and robots from over 20 companies. The robots, designed to look like humans and capable of bipedal movement, will compete in a 21km race. China’s push for humanoid robot development aims … Continue reading China to host world’s first human-robot marathon as robotics drives national goals

Colossal Biosciences, a “de-extinction” company, is working to bring back the woolly mammoth using gene-editing techniques. The project, led by entrepreneur Ben Lamm and geneticist George Church, aims to create a “proxy” mammoth by editing the DNA of Asian elephants. The company has secured significant funding, including investments from Hollywood figures and organizations like In-Q-Tel. Colossal also explores reviving other extinct species like the dodo … Continue reading Scientists trying to bring woolly mammoth back to life

The Department of Justice has connected the arrest of U.S. Army soldier Cameron John Wagenius to a major hack of AT&T and Verizon in 2024, which compromised millions of phone records and affected over 160 companies. The hack exploited weak cybersecurity measures, including a lack of multi-factor authentication, to steal sensitive data. Wagenius, arrested in December 2024, is also linked to a previous breach involving … Continue reading AT&T and Verizon Hacks Linked to Army Soldier

A robotic hand exoskeleton has been shown to help expert pianists improve their finger speed after just one 30-minute session. Developed by Shinichi Furuya at Sony Computer Science Laboratories in Tokyo, the exoskeleton uses motors to move each finger individually, helping pianists coordinate their movements and play faster. The device was tested on 118 skilled pianists, who saw improved finger dexterity and coordination after the … Continue reading Robotic exoskeleton can train expert pianists to play faster

Apple is suspending an AI feature that inaccurately summarized news headlines after complaints from the BBC. The feature falsely linked headlines to their logos, such as misreporting that Luigi Mangione shot himself and that Rafael Nadal came out as gay. Other errors included wrong reports about Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest. Apple announced the feature would be suspended in an upcoming software update, temporarily disabling news summaries. … Continue reading Apple suspends AI-generated news alert service after BBC complaint

Nintendo revealed the Nintendo Switch 2, its successor to the popular Switch, set for release in 2025. The new console features a larger design, with Joy-Cons now attaching to the side of the unit instead of sliding in. It will support exclusive Switch 2 games, as well as most physical and digital Switch games, though some may not be fully compatible, CNN has reported. More … Continue reading Nintendo’s new Switch 2 console to be released in 2025

Japan’s aging population, with a third over 65, is causing a significant labor shortage, particularly in agriculture. The number of farmers under 60 has dropped drastically, leading to a reliance on robotics to address the issue. Tamir Blum, founder of Kisui Tech, is developing AI-assisted farming robots, like the Adam, designed to help with tasks such as carrying produce, cutting grass, and spraying pesticides. Kisui … Continue reading Moon rover-inspired robot could be a game-changer for Japan’s aging farmers

Chinese startup Pudu Robotics has launched the D9 humanoid robot, designed to transform how we interact with machines. Standing 5.57 feet tall, the D9 can carry up to 44 pounds, walk at speeds of 4.5 mph, and navigate stairs and slopes while maintaining balance. It features advanced sensors for real-time 3D mapping, enabling autonomous navigation and self-positioning. The robot has diverse applications, such as ground … Continue reading China’s newest humanoid robot is ready to serve like never before