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Norwegian robotics startup 1X announced that it’ll start testing its humanoid robot in private homes by the end of the year. The Big Picture: Robots tidying up around the house — a test at Nvidia GTC showed 1X’s robot vacuuming and watering plants — have been a societal dream since The Jetsons. Whoever can figure out how to make […]
Google has developed an AI model that can control robots, blending language, vision, and physical-data training — allowing them to do physical tasks and, allegedly, make decisions about their behavior to guard against doing something unsafe. Why It Hits: As chatbots take over the mainstream, robotics is seen as the final frontier of AI. Several companies are […]
Microsoft is set to roll out an AI-powered assistant for its gaming division — which includes Xbox and Minecraft — that would act as a helpful companion for players. The Big Picture: Every gaming company is trying to incorporate AI into its offerings, including Google’s experimental “SIMA,” which can play alongside humans, and Sony PlayStation’s […]
Industrial designer Joe Doucet has developed a paint for structures that changes color when the temperature outside changes to either retain or reflect the sun’s heat. Why It Hits: Homebuilders, commercial designers, and municipal governments have been exploring ways to use paints to reduce surface temperatures of buildings and streets and curb the “heat island effect” in dense urban areas. Doucet’s invention […]
Nokia sent the first 4G network system aboard Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander, which touched down on the Moon on March 6th. The Big Picture: Putting a working cell network on the Moon would be a game-changer for astronauts and future lunar colonies. Behind the Connection: Although Athena fell over on its side and lost power sooner than expected — […]
Biotech startup Colossal Biosciences has taken the first major step in its ambition to resurrect the extinct woolly mammoth by 2028 — it created a “woolly mouse.” The Big Bet: You may not be surprised to learn that recreating extinct species — especially something as large and distinct as a woolly mammoth — is pretty difficult. However, […]
Google and HP have pulled back the curtain on a new 3D video communications platform called “Project Starline,” which it plans on rolling out this year. Why It Clicks: Despite videoconferencing becoming an economic lifesaver during COVID lockdown, Zoom fatigue is the real deal — our brain doesn’t do well with being in virtual meetings all day. But […]
Boston Dynamics, long at the cutting edge of robotics, is now touting a breakthrough in leveling up its robots for the real world. Why It Hits: Boston Dynamics is no longer the only player in the robotics game, facing competition from Big Tech players like Tesla, startups like Figure, and new entrants like Meta. If Boston Dynamics can scale […]
After years and billions of dollars in development, Amazon unveiled its new AI-powered version of Alexa, Alexa Plus, which will start to roll out to users next month on Echo and Fire TV devices. Why It Hits: The company may be late to the game (relative to the lightning-fast rollout of its rivals) when it comes to […]
A bio-hacking startup called the Los Angeles Project is working on genetically modifying animals to be sold as made-to-order pets. The Unique Take: Co-founder Dr. Josiah Zayner is an infamous figure in the bio-hacking world, executing some very risky experiments with CRISPR technology to push the boundaries of gene editing. While the Los Angeles Project is seemingly another stunt, it could find […]