Japanese startup Groove X, founded by a former SoftBank robotics unit member, unveiled its first creation, the Lovot, a companion robot designed to make users happy. The Lovot, combining “love” and “robot,” is not for housework but aims to evoke affection. It uses AI to interact, resembling a penguin with human-like eyes, and has interchangeable outfits. The robot shows affection by becoming warm when touched, … Continue reading SoftBank alum unveils ‘affectionate’ companion robot in Japan

If you’re worried about a robot uprising, there’s one less potential threat. A South Korean office assistant robot at the Gumi City Council has dramatically “died” in what local media call the nation’s first robot suicide. Appointed in August 2023, this robot was integral to daily operations and even had a civil service officer card. Despite being the pride of the council, the robot apparently … Continue reading Korean Robot Throws Itself Down the Stairs to Escape the 9-to-5 Grind

Major record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group, have jointly filed lawsuits against AI music-making companies Suno and Udio, citing concerns over their AI programs that generate songs from text prompts. These lawsuits, coordinated by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), were filed in federal courts in Massachusetts and New York. The music industry is grappling with the … Continue reading U.S. record labels are suing AI music generators, alleging copyright infringement

The San Francisco Police Department is contemplating the addition of robot dogs to its fleet and plans to expand its arsenal of military gear, as per a recent report released quietly earlier this month. The department’s inaugural annual military equipment report for 2023, published on June 11 on its website, details the acquisition of new semi-automatic and automatic rifles, additional robotic tools, and long-range acoustic … Continue reading SFPD considers robot dog named ‘Spot’ in new military equipment plan 

NOAA and Honeywell have partnered to develop the High-Altitude LiDAR Atmospheric Sensing System (HALAS), a ground-based weather system that uses laser pulses to measure wind speed, direction, humidity, and temperature up to 100,000 feet above the Earth’s surface. HALAS gathers atmospheric data by focusing on specific points, similar to how stargazing works, and can collect information over periods ranging from five minutes to an hour. … Continue reading New Technology Uses Lasers to Measure the Atmosphere

Congress is concerned about the potential use of robot dogs with machine guns on the battlefield. During discussions on the annual defense authorization bill, House lawmakers included a provision requiring the Defense Department to assess the threat posed by “rifle-toting robot dogs used by China.” This issue gained attention after Chinese military officials showcased armed robotic quadrupeds in recent drills with Cambodia. A video released … Continue reading Chinese military’s rifle-toting robot dogs raise concerns in Congress

House of ALIO will provide an open gym environment for independent training, while Unhireable Lounge will feature cold brews, cold press juice, pre-workout cocktails, meal prep, and a unique cocktail program. A standout feature of the lounge will be a robot bartender, one of only three in the U.S., capable of serving any drink with fresh mixers prepared on-site. Although both establishments will be next … Continue reading Robot bartender to serve up drinks at San Antonio’s newest bar

Researchers collaborating with DARPA have secured a $1 million grant to develop an unprecedented quantum laser technology. This laser will utilize quantum entanglement to bind light particles together, enhancing its concentration significantly. Expected to be integral in future military applications, such as satellite communications, lidar mapping, tracking systems, and targeting technologies, the quantum laser aims to surpass traditional lasers by entangling photons to achieve greater … Continue reading DARPA’s new military-grade quantum laser is like nothing we’ve seen before

A consortium of NATO allies has announced the first set of companies to receive funding from its €1 billion ($1.1 billion) innovation fund. Launched in the summer of 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) aims to invest in technologies enhancing defense capabilities. Supported by 24 of NATO’s 32 member states, including recent members Finland and Sweden, the NIF has … Continue reading NATO targets AI, robots and space tech in $1.1 billion fund

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy urged on Monday for health warnings on social media platforms targeting younger users, likening the mental health crisis among youth to an emergency requiring immediate action. In an op-ed in The New York Times, Murthy emphasized that social media significantly contributes to this crisis and called on Congress to mandate surgeon general’s warning labels on these platforms, similar to … Continue reading Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels

Ukraine’s use of aerial drones and robot boats is significantly disrupting Russian naval operations in the Black Sea, changing the strategic approach to maritime conflicts. Following the loss of its naval headquarters and much of its fleet in 2014, and the near destruction of its navy in 2022, Ukraine turned to uncrewed weapons out of necessity. Employing missiles and increasingly sophisticated drones, Ukraine’s Navy and … Continue reading Ukraine’s robot boats are rewriting the rules of naval warfare

Incredible footage captures the debut of a humanoid robot scaling the Great Wall of China, showcasing its agility and intelligence. The XBot-L, crafted by Robot Era, adeptly navigates the rugged terrain, even demonstrating tai-chi moves atop the wall’s guard towers. Reinforced learning technology empowers the robot to adapt to varied landscapes, while advanced navigation and balancing systems ensure its stability. Despite makeshift fixes like duct … Continue reading Beijing’s ‘unstoppable’ robot walks Great Wall of China

Apple will introduce new AI features across its products in upcoming software updates, including its native “Apple Intelligence” and a partnership with ChatGPT. Announced at its developer conference, Apple Intelligence aims to deliver a personalized AI experience, enhancing capabilities like notification prioritization and language rewriting in emails, notes, and messages. These features will debut with iOS 18 and updates for Mac and iPad in the … Continue reading Apple launches new AI ‘Intelligence’ feature, partners with ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence companies are resisting a California legislative proposal to install a “kill switch” to mitigate potential risks posed by AI technology, with some threatening to leave Silicon Valley. Democratic state senator Scott Wiener introduced the legislation, which would require tech companies to follow regulations set by a new government agency aimed at preventing AI from acquiring dangerous capabilities, such as initiating a nuclear war. … Continue reading Lawmakers demand AI firms install ‘kill switch’

On Tuesday, AT&T customers experienced service disruptions affecting their ability to make calls to contacts on other carriers. A spokesperson for AT&T acknowledged the nationwide issue, stating that efforts were underway to diagnose and resolve it promptly. While this problem persisted, 9-1-1 services were confirmed to be operational, reassuring customers of emergency access. By 8:00 p.m. Eastern, the intercarrier compatibility issue was resolved through collaboration … Continue reading AT&T customers hit with nationwide service issue

After learning of his terminal colon cancer diagnosis, Michael Bommer and his wife, Anett, discussed how she would miss his wisdom and companionship after his passing. Inspired by this conversation, Bommer collaborated with his friend, Robert LoCascio, CEO of Eternos, an AI-powered legacy platform, to recreate his voice using artificial intelligence. Within two months, they developed an “interactive AI version” of Bommer, marking the company’s … Continue reading Mourners can now speak to AI version of dead

A group of current and former OpenAI employees, including nine insiders, has raised concerns about a culture of recklessness and secrecy at the San Francisco-based AI company. They claim OpenAI prioritizes profits and growth over safety as it races to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), a type of AI capable of performing any human task. The whistleblowers, who include both named and anonymous individuals, allege … Continue reading OpenAI Insiders Warn of a ‘Reckless’ Race for Dominance

The concept of the “Internet of Bodies” (IOB) is poised to revolutionize the relationship between technological devices and the human body, as described by academic Andrea M. Matwyshyn, who coined the term in 2016. Matwyshyn defines IOB as a network of human bodies reliant on the internet and related technologies for functionality. Market projections suggest significant growth in the connected medical device market, reaching billions … Continue reading Next generation of ‘Internet of Bodies’ could meld tech and humans together

China is reportedly advancing its military capabilities with a focus on mind-altering weapons, raising concerns among experts about the potential use of these technologies in a conflict scenario, particularly against Taiwan. The development includes cognitive and biological weapons designed to impair the enemy’s cognitive functions. Experts warn that these weapons could have significant implications, creating what they describe as a “terrible, brave new world.” While … Continue reading China ‘Brain Warfare’ unit preparing mind-melting weapons

Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket chain, is experimenting with a novel approach to reduce plastic usage by laser-printing barcodes and product details directly onto items. Initially, the trial is focused on avocados, a popular item in the UK, especially among millennials who enjoy avocado on toast. Tesco sells approximately 70 million avocados annually, with a 15% increase in sales over the past year. The trial, … Continue reading British supermarket Tesco is laser-tattooing avocados to cut plastic pollution

In 2024, Unitree Robotics offers the opportunity to own a 4-foot-tall humanoid robot for $16,000, making it more affordable compared to other options. The Unitree G1 features 23 joint motors, an 8-core high-performance CPU, and a collapsible design for portability. It operates on a 9,000 mAh battery for two hours. The educational variant of the G1 includes additional features such as more waist joints, enhanced … Continue reading For $16,000 You Can Buy Your Very Own Humanoid Robot

The Denver Police Department is launching a new program to use drones in responding to 911 calls. This initiative comes after recent budget cuts to fund migrant services. Despite former Chief Robert White’s earlier opposition to drones, the department will use a $100,000 grant from the Denver Police Foundation to purchase drones and start the program within six to twelve months. The drones will assist … Continue reading Denver police say drones will respond to 911 calls instead of cops

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that robot umpires are unlikely for 2025 due to ongoing technical issues and insufficient progress in minor leagues. MLB has been testing the automated ball-strike system (ABS) since 2019, using a combination of robot umpires and human umpires with a challenge system. Players’ feedback favors the challenge system, preserving the skill of catcher framing. Manfred emphasized the importance of careful … Continue reading MLB says robot home plate umpires unlikely for 2025

The Air Force has unveiled new images of the B-21 Raider, a nuclear-armed stealth bomber and the first new American bomber in over 30 years. Currently, six are in production, with flight tests occurring in California. Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, reports that testing is progressing well, providing valuable insights into the aircraft’s unique characteristics. Each B-21 Raider costs around … Continue reading B-21 Raider: America’s newest nuclear stealth bomber

As Memorial Day signals the start of summer vacation in Michigan, beachgoers may encounter more than just sand—pounds of discarded plastics and trash litter the shores. To combat this issue, some Michigan communities have turned to innovative solutions, employing robots for cleanup efforts. Remote-controlled “BeBots” have been utilized on various Michigan beaches in recent years, with the latest deployment set for Belle Isle beach in … Continue reading Robots at work cleaning trash from Michigan beaches