News — Page175

A team at the Danish Technological Institute is developing an AI‑driven robotic system that can replace laptop screens, a labor‑intensive step in refurbishment. By automating this task, the robot aims to extend the life of devices, creating a higher‑value resale market while reducing the volume of e‑waste. The project, part of the RoboSAPIENS initiative, has already demonstrated success on two laptop models and is expanding its capabilities to handle more variations. The effort highlights the economic and environmental potential of combining robotics with human oversight in technology recycling.Read more

The Karnataka High Court ruled that the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, cannot invoke Article 19 of the Indian Constitution to challenge government-ordered content removals. The court held that free‑speech protections apply only to Indian citizens, affirming the government's use of the Sahyog portal to issue takedown orders. X had argued that the portal lacked transparency, but the judgment emphasizes that foreign platforms must comply with Indian law. The decision marks a notable moment in India’s approach to regulating global tech firms.Read more

Google has launched Mixboard, an experimental beta tool that embeds generative AI into visual mood boards. Using its Nano Banana image generator, Mixboard lets users create, edit, and remix ideas with simple text prompts, producing visuals, color palettes, and sample text on a blank canvas. Users can import their own images, tweak results with natural language, and generate variations on demand. The service is currently available only in the United States as a testing phase, positioning Mixboard as a new entry in Google’s suite of AI‑driven creative products.Read more

Okta kicked off its Oktane conference with a focus on its nonprofit arm, Okta For Good, and the role of AI in security. Guest speaker Jeremy Renner discussed personal resilience and the importance of accessible internet, while Okta executives shared insights on AI agents, threat intelligence, and partnerships with customers such as Zillow. The day blended technical deep‑dives with human‑focused storytelling, underscoring Okta’s commitment to both innovation and community empowerment.Read more

Google announced plans to combine its ChromeOS laptop operating system with Android, creating a unified platform that runs Android at its core while retaining the ChromeOS experience. The move, highlighted at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit, aims to extend the company’s AI capabilities—particularly the Gemini models and the Gemini assistant—across PCs and large‑screen devices. Android chief Sameer Samat and SVP of Devices and Services Rick Osterloh explained that the integration will enable seamless AI functionality across phones, tablets, and computers, strengthening Google’s ecosystem and offering users a more consistent, AI‑driven experience.Read more

Qualcomm announced its new Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme processors at the Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii. The chips are slated for premium Windows laptops and PCs within the next year, delivering multi‑day battery life, support for up to three 5K 60 Hz displays, and AI performance of up to 80 TOPS. Partnerships with Adobe and Razer bring accelerated creative applications and enhanced gaming experiences, while integrated 5G and Wi‑Fi 7 connectivity promise fast, reliable network access. The platform aims to reshape mobile computing with AI‑centric features and high‑performance graphics.Read more

At Snapdragon Summit 2025, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme, its newest 3‑nanometer system‑on‑chips designed for Windows laptops. Both chips feature the third‑generation Oryon CPU, with the Extreme model delivering an 18‑core design, up to 75% faster iso‑power performance, and a neural processing unit capable of 80 trillion operations per second. Qualcomm showcased a range of reference devices, from conventional laptops to novel form‑factors such as frisbee‑shaped and coaster‑sized PCs. The company says the first products using the new silicon will appear in the first half of 2026, positioning Qualcomm to compete directly with Intel and AMD in the high‑performance laptop segment.Read more

OpenAI disclosed plans to stand up five new data center sites across Texas, New Mexico, Ohio and a yet‑to‑be‑announced Midwest location, partnering with Oracle and SoftBank. The effort is part of the so‑called Stargate project, which aims to deliver up to 10 gigawatts of AI compute power and involves billions of dollars in investment. Existing facilities include a site in Abilene, Texas, and collaborations with CoreWeave. CEO Sam Altman emphasized that expanding compute is essential to AI’s promise, while noting challenges such as financing, permitting and community opposition. A lawsuit from Ziff Davis over alleged copyright infringement is also highlighted.Read more

Oracle is reportedly preparing a $15 billion corporate bond offering that could include up to seven tranches, one of which may be a 40‑year bond. The move comes weeks after the cloud‑infrastructure giant signed a massive AI compute agreement with OpenAI valued at $300 billion and entered talks with Meta on a $20 billion deal. Oracle also announced a leadership transition, with CEO Safra Catz moving to executive vice‑chair and co‑CEOs Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia taking the helm.Read more

Zoox, the Amazon-owned autonomous‑vehicle developer, has filed a petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a “555 exemption” that would let it operate its custom‑built robotaxis commercially. The request, which seeks temporary relief from eight Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, follows a recent free robotaxi rollout in Las Vegas and an earlier exemption in August that allowed only research and demonstration use.Read more

Enterprise AI model maker Cohere announced a $100 million extension to its recent financing, pushing its valuation to $7 billion. The company also unveiled a partnership with AMD, enabling its Command-family models to run on AMD Instinct GPUs while maintaining support for Nvidia hardware. Co‑founder Aidan Gomez, noted for his role in the original transformer paper, highlighted the focus on enterprise customers seeking AI sovereignty. New investors include the Business Development Bank of Canada and Nexxus Capital Management. The announcement was made at a TechCrunch event in San Francisco.Read more

Instagram has announced it now has 3 billion monthly active users. To keep growth momentum, the platform will test features that let users fine‑tune the algorithm behind Reels and other feeds, including toggling interest topics and a redesigned navigation bar that emphasizes direct messages. The rollout comes as Meta faces antitrust scrutiny over its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, with internal tensions highlighted between Instagram’s rise and Facebook’s declining appeal among younger users.Read more

Microsoft is expanding its AI portfolio by adding Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.1 and Claude Sonnet 4 models to its Copilot assistant. The move, announced on a Wednesday, follows a recent agreement to embed Anthropic’s technology in Office 365 apps such as Word, Excel, and Outlook. Business users of Copilot will now be able to select between OpenAI’s deep‑reasoning models and Anthropic’s offerings for tasks ranging from complex research to custom AI tool creation. Opus 4.1 targets advanced reasoning and coding, while Sonnet 4 focuses on routine development, large‑scale data processing, and content generation.Read more

Google has introduced the Data Commons Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, a new service that lets developers, data scientists and AI agents retrieve real‑world statistics through natural‑language queries. Built on the company’s Data Commons platform, which aggregates public datasets from government surveys, local administrations and international bodies, the MCP Server aims to provide high‑quality, structured data to improve AI training and reduce hallucinations. The launch follows the adoption of the MCP standard by firms such as OpenAI and Microsoft, and includes tools like the Agent Development Kit, Gemini CLI and a PyPI package for easy integration. A partnership with the ONE Campaign has produced the ONE Data Agent, demonstrating the server’s capability to surface millions of financial and health data points in plain language.Read more

Emergent, a startup that lets non‑technical users create mobile apps through AI‑driven prompts, announced a $23 million Series A funding round led by Lightspeed. The round also included participation from Y Combinator, Together and several high‑profile angels. Emergent’s platform abstracts the entire software development lifecycle, handling everything from code generation to deployment and bug fixing. Since its launch, more than 1 million people have built over 1.5 million apps on the service. The company aims to broaden its capabilities, including a forthcoming native mobile client and new tools for ideation and discovery.Read more

Google has introduced Mixboard, an AI-driven mood board service that lets users generate and edit visual ideas from text prompts. The beta, available in the United States through Google Labs, leverages the company’s Nano Banana image‑editing model and Gemini AI. Mixboard aims to compete with Pinterest’s collage features and appeals to younger creators looking for quick, AI‑assisted design inspiration across home décor, events, fashion and more.Read more

Meta is rolling out a series of new Meta Lab locations in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York to let consumers try its latest smart glasses, including the Ray‑Ban Display model. The Los Angeles store returns as a permanent flagship, while the Las Vegas pop‑up opens at the Wynn and the New York shop is slated for Fifth Avenue. Demo appointments can be booked online, with early slots already filled. The launch of the $799 Ray‑Ban Display glasses is set for September 30, and the $499 Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses will debut on October 21.Read more

Waymo has introduced a new offering called Waymo for Business, designed to let companies create corporate accounts for their employees and manage robotaxi travel at scale. The service gives employers tools to customize promo codes, monitor ride activity, and track transportation budgets, mirroring similar programs from traditional ride‑hailing firms. Waymo has piloted the program with a range of employers, universities and event organizers, receiving positive feedback—including praise from Carvana, which described the service as a natural fit for business travel. While fares remain consistent with regular Waymo rides, firms can choose to subsidize trips for their staff, leveraging the company’s electric‑vehicle fleet and safety‑focused technology.Read more

A recent review of violent incidents in the United States over the past five years reveals a disturbing pattern that spans political, social, and educational spheres. Notable events include an attempted kidnapping of a state governor, an assault on the Capitol, multiple assassination attempts on senior political figures, attacks on media personnel, and a steady stream of school shootings. The accumulation of these acts underscores a broader mindset of violence that cuts across ideological lines, prompting calls for urgent attention and preventive measures.Read more