All Updates
Page 125 of 863
April 17, 2026
Robot Learning: Contemporary History
Roboticists once dreamed of human-like robot complexity but focused on refining industrial arms for factories. They aimed for sci-fi icons like C-3PO yet produced practical devices like Roomba. The article outlines this evolution in robot learning.
MSG Surveillance Tracks Vulnerable Groups
Knicks owner Jim Dolan uses surveillance at his arenas to spy on people. The system allegedly tracked a trans woman, lawyers, and protesters. Wired provides a deep investigation into the operation.
EU Awards €180M Cloud Contract to Four Providers
The European Commission awarded a six-year €180M sovereign cloud framework contract to four consortia: Post Telecom with CleverCloud and OVHcloud, StackIT, Scaleway, and Proximus with S3NS (Thales-Google Cloud JV), Clarence, and Mistral. This signals non-European tech can qualify as sovereign under strict EU controls.
AI Builds Animated Ghibli 3D Town in One Prompt
An AI created a fully animated 3D town in Ghibli style using just one sentence prompt. The town features dynamic elements like running and jumping characters. This demo highlights rapid progress in generative 3D AI.
Chen Zhen's Robots Fry Kitchen Chicken
Chen Zhen develops robots for practical kitchen tasks like frying chicken nuggets, skipping flashy demos such as dancing or punching. He sees labor-intensive service industries like catering and hotels as a realistic path for commercializing embodied AI hardware and software, with long-term potential for home use.
AI Revives Digital Val Kilmer on Screen
An AI-generated performance brings Val Kilmer back to the screen in a new film. The actor's quote, 'Don’t fear the dead, and don’t fear me,' addresses concerns about AI. This demonstrates technology reshaping the acting industry.
US Revises China Chip Bill, Retains ASML DUV Ban
The US House revised the MATCH Act on Chinese semiconductors, scaling back some initial restrictions but keeping core controls intact. It continues to ban ASML DUV lithography machines and prohibits their use by firms like SMIC and CXMT. The bill, proposed April 2 by Rep. Baumgartner, has bipartisan support.
AlixLabs Raises €15M for Atomic Etching
AlixLabs closed a €15M Series A funding round with a top-up from Stephen Industries to commercialize Atomic Pitch Splitting (APS™) technology. The Lund-based startup targets beta testing with chipmakers in 2026 and deployment by 2027.
Zhuanzhuan Plans Hong Kong Global HQ
Zhuanzhuan plans to establish its international business headquarters in Hong Kong. The move supports scaling its recommerce business globally as part of Alibaba's ecosystem.
SIGIR-AP: Viable IR conference for newbies?
Undergrad researcher seeks less competitive IR conferences beyond SIGIR and ECIR. Discovered SIGIR-AP, a young event backed by SIGIR entering its 4th edition. Asks for validation and alternative venue suggestions.
China Tops Global Nuclear Capacity at 125GW
China's nuclear installed capacity hits 125 million kW, world No.1, with capacity to build 50 units simultaneously. 60 operating, 36 under construction units; Hualong One leads third-gen deployment. Fusion records broken by EAST and HL-3.
Amazon Launches AI Gadgets Storefront
Amazon has introduced a dedicated storefront for AI-powered gadgets amid rising AI interest. It simplifies discovering effective AI products in a crowded market. This helps users navigate the 'everything is AI' landscape.
Japan Unearths Rare Earths 6000m Deep
Japan is reducing reliance on China for rare earth elements through a massive underwater deposit 6,000 meters deep in the Pacific near a remote island. Tokyo succeeds where global efforts failed. This promises supply independence for critical tech materials.
Alibaba's $100B Bet on Little Horse
Alibaba is wagering $100 billion on a 'little horse' project to reshape its landscape. The bet centers on identity confirmation technologies and a bold valuation gamble. It questions if this underdog can drive major change.
AI Aids 160M Seniors Trapped in Phones
160 million elderly users in China face challenges with smartphones. Algorithms are depicted as more filial than children in providing assistance. Highlights AI's potential for senior digital inclusion.
GAC WeRide Urban NOA at 115k RMB
GAC WeRide has launched its urban NOA solution at just 115,800 RMB, featuring full-series Lidar and L4 same-source algorithms. The system requires only 200 TOPS of computing power, making high-level urban autonomy extremely affordable.
ByteDance Denies $14M DeepSeek Researcher Offer
ByteDance has denied reports claiming it offered a nearly $14M annual compensation package to hire a researcher from DeepSeek. The company described the compensation figures as inaccurate. This comes amid intensifying AI talent competition.
Maniformer Launches Physical AI Data Platform
Maniformer has launched a full-stack physical AI data platform aimed at addressing the industry's data shortage. The platform is designed to accelerate embodied AI development at scale. It positions itself to power the AGI era through comprehensive data solutions.
Ericsson Misses Q1 Profit on AI Cost Pressures
Ericsson narrowly missed Q1 profit forecasts, with adjusted EBITA down 20% YoY to SEK 5.6 billion. North America sales declined sharply after prior-year investment pull-forward. CEO Ekholm attributes pressures to rising semiconductor costs partly driven by AI demand.
Alibaba Open-Sources 3B Active Qwen Coding Model
Alibaba open-sources Qwen3.6-35B-A3B, a 35B parameter model activating just 3B parameters. It delivers top-tier performance for agent coding tasks.