Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 3/24/24. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 3/24/24. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Paragraphs
23andMe's stock has mostly been in free fall in recent years as the company struggled to generate recurring revenue and stand up viable research and therapeutics businesses. As of Monday morning, the company has a market capitalization of around $25 million.
Last March, 23andMe's independent directors formed a special committee to evaluate the company's potential paths forward. Wojcicki submitted multiple proposals to take the company private, but all were rejected. The special committee "unanimously determined to reject" Wojcicki's most recent proposal earlier this month.
"Hacks and phishing could effectively cause a business to crash," said Barlow, who focuses on private equity M&A. "This is a business that is fundamental to operating, so cybersecurity has been a resilient area for quite some time."
While megacap technology giants haven't shied away from cybersecurity investments, AI tail winds have forced companies to beef up their offerings. Google's Wiz deal could force rival Amazon to make its own acquisition, Maxim said. Potential targets include startups Aqua Security, Orca Security and Sysdig.
"The Google-Wiz tie-up does give them some capabilities that make them stronger than AWS in some areas," Maxim said. "AWS could target acquisitions to potentially bring their solution closer to Google."
Netskope, which also offers cloud security, is another company being closely watched for an IPO, said Brianne Lynch, head of market insight at EquityZen. Netskope told The Wall Street Journal last year that it was planning an IPO in 2025. The company may start to feel pressure from early investors hunting for liquidity 13 years after its founding, Lynch said.
Snyk, a cybersecurity startup founded about a decade ago, has also alluded to a public offering next year. The company was last valued at $7.4 billion and CEO Peter McKay said in a post last year that Snyk had crossed $300 million in annual recurring revenue.
The big question is whether now is the rip-the-bandage-off moment for companies that decide to go public or whether market volatility will cause companies to once again kick the can down the road, Lynch said.
!summarize #manus #google #notebook #ai
Experts say that Baidu's open-source plans represent a broader shift in China, away from a business strategy that focuses on proprietary licensing.
"Baidu has always been very supportive of its proprietary business model and was vocal against open-source, but disruptors like DeepSeek have proven that open-source models can be as competitive and reliable as proprietary ones," Lian Jye Su, chief analyst with technology research and advisory group Omdia previously told CNBC.
!summarize #cbs #lawsuit #trump #defamation #election
!summarize #stjohns #college #ncaaw #baseketball
AI scholar and entrepreneur Kai-Fu Lee also believes this dynamic will impact OpenAI, noting in a recent social media post that it would be difficult for the company to justify its pricing when the competition is "free and formidable."
"The biggest revelation from DeepSeek is that open-source has won," said Lee, whose Chinese startup 01.AI has built an LLM platform for enterprises seeking to use DeepSeek.
On the other hand, Chinese companies have chosen the open-source route as they compete with the more proprietary approach of U.S. firms, said Constellation Research's Wang. "They are hoping for faster adoption than the closed models of the U.S.," he added.
Speaking to CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Wednesday, Tim Wang, managing partner of tech-focused hedge fund Monolith Management, said that models from companies such as DeepSeek have been "great enablers and multipliers in China," demonstrating how things can be done with more limited resources.
According to Wang, open-source models have pushed down costs, opening doors for product innovation — something he says Chinese companies historically have been very good at.
These suits were initially projected to have a lifespan of 15 extravehicular activities (EVAs) within a three-year window. However, they have surpassed these expectations, demonstrating exceptional durability and reliability.
“The extravehicular spacesuit is more intricate than the spacesuit worn inside the spacecraft. It has more layers to meet the demands of spacewalks. In addition to ensuring a proper pressure differential, which helps astronauts survive in space, the suit also includes a system to regulate temperature effectively,” Yang Yuguang, chair of the Space Transportation Committee of the International Astronautical Federation, told CGTN.
According to the Royal Navy, HMS Dreadnought will contain 26 miles (42.5 km) of pipes, and 20,000 cables. The vessel will also feature adaptive lighting for the crew. This will simulate day and night on board. As the crew will sometimes be submerged for months at a time, this will help with their sleep patterns and mental health. The submarine will also contain a full fitness center.
A symbolic ceremony for the nuclear submarine
The HMS Dreadnought has an estimated cost of roughly £31 billion ($39 billion). The submarine will be the 12th Royal Navy vessel to bear that name. The first was a 40-gun ship built in 1553.
One of the most famous vessels in Royal Navy history, the 1906 HMS Dreadnought, revolutionized battleship design and completely changed naval warfare. The name comes from the idea that those aboard such an advanced vessel should “dread nought” – i.e. fear nothing.
Выяснилось, почему суд удовлетворил ходатайство Ефремова об УДО
Суд в Белгородской области условно-досрочно освободил актера Михаила Ефремова, осужденного на 7,5 лет колонии по делу о смертельном ДТП в пьяном виде. Если прокуратура это решение не оспорит (что вряд ли), то через 15 дней Ефремов выйдет на свободу. «МК» проверил, насколько популярный артист заслужил подобное снисхождение.
The company, headquartered in Hangzhou, in China’s eastern coastal province of Zhejiang, made headlines last year with the debut of its latest robot dog, Lynx – a dynamic machine capable of gliding across ice, powering through deep snow, and performing impressive leaps and flips.
However, in a recent video, the company once again highlighted its advanced tech game by introducing one of its models’ innovative features which enables real-time perception in unfamiliar environments. This advancement not only enhances the robot’s agility and spatial awareness, but also allows the four-legged machine to navigate without prior mapping and adapt more effectively to dynamic or unstructured surroundings.
“One-touch navigation enables real-time perception in unknown environments without the need for prior mapping, freeing up operators and enhancing the robotic dog’s ability to escape and overcome obstacles in complex environments,” Deep Robotics emphasizes.
Particularly effective at navigating unstable terrain and operating in extreme conditions, quadruped robots have proven invaluable in post-disaster search and rescue efforts due to their ability to move across rubble, slip through narrow gaps, and reach areas inaccessible to wheeled machines.
“Localization is essential for international success,” Cheng concludes. “Our products have already demonstrated their value in China, and we’re confident they will become benchmarks globally.”
А если малышей тянет одна только мать, то пиши пропало… Когда же у нее к тому же еще и сложные жилищные условия, то это вообще два в одном. Бинго!
Рано или поздно в такую семью пожалуют проверяющие из опеки.
Детей отберут и поместят в казенные учреждения, естественно, исключительно из «благих» намерений, чтобы не жили в нищете. А над самой женщиной повиснет дамоклов меч ограничения, а затем и лишения родительских прав. После чего она надолго попадает в кабалу алиментов: чем больше должна, тем меньше шансов, что детей вернут, чем больше платит, тем беднее сама становится…
Резонансная история многодетной Людмилы из Приморья, ожидающей сейчас шестого ребенка, яркий тому пример.
Mech can effectively load towering stacks of boxes and manage jobs like truck loading, palletizing, depalletizing, and unloading, thanks to its increased vertical reach of more than eight feet. Productivity is greatly increased by its capacity to finish tasks without shifting positions.
Mech is enterprise-ready, designed for seamless integration into any industrial environment. Its adaptability across various tasks makes it ideal for managing workflows from inbound to outbound. Additionally, it supports edge computing for stand-alone operation or can connect to the cloud for remote management. Built to last, Mech’s arms, developed by Kawasaki and Hiwin, ensure long-term reliability with over 10 years of mean time between failures (MTBF).
According to reports, this enables the scramjet to almost double its overall thrust. When the new afterburner was tested, the team found a boost of around 86.6% in ground tests at conditions simulating Mach 6 and high altitude.
Another key benefit of the technology is that it doesn’t rely solely on atmospheric oxygen; it uses existing exhaust gases. The engine also uses kerosene fuel as a coolant to protect engine walls from extreme heat, improving overall efficiency.
They also note that further testing is needed at different flight speeds and altitudes to ensure the technology’s reliability and adaptability. The team notes that if issues with the technology can be ironed out, it could further cement China’s position at the cutting edge of hypersonic propulsion development.
It could also play an important role in future hypersonic civilian and military technologies, notably enhancing the strategic capabilities of China’s growing hypersonic missile systems.
На что же она жила и живет? Она устроилась уборщицей, обещали заплатить 50 тысяч рублей (речь идет о Владивостоке, там цены в два раза выше, чем в Москве). Получила в итоге… 8 тысяч.
«Я предполагала, что хозяин может меня обмануть и не отдать заработанные деньги. Но все равно убирала, так как надеялась, что он их все-таки отдаст», — вздыхает моя собеседница.
Randy Wilkerson, representing Boeing in a NASA-led research initiative, noted, “The goal is to recommend the best approach to transition to the next airplane program. Among the promising materials gaining traction are thermoplastics.”
Can be reheated and reshaped
Unlike traditional thermoset composites, thermoplastics can be reheated and reshaped.
Lukas Raps from the German Aerospace Centre highlighted this flexibility, explaining that the ability to melt and remold thermoplastics allows for creating seamless, aerodynamic structures.
York Roth, a senior researcher with Airbus in Germany, reportedly emphasized the potential of thermoplastics when he said, “There is no doubt that thermoplastic materials offer opportunities that we don’t have with thermosets.”
Thermoplastics could also permit welding instead of riveting, significantly reducing the metal fasteners required for each aircraft.
However, such changes would still need to undergo rigorous certification processes.
This setup successfully demonstrated remote entanglement — a unique quantum phenomenon where two processors become linked, even though they are not physically connected.
Entanglement is key to allowing processors to work together as if they were side by side, no matter the physical distance between them.
Overcoming challenges in photon transfer
For this system to work effectively, the photon needs to be absorbed successfully when it reaches the receiving processor.
However, imperfections in the waveguide, such as wire joints and connections, can distort the photon during its travel.
This makes it difficult for the photon to be absorbed at the other end.
“The challenge in this work was shaping the photon appropriately so we could maximize the absorption efficiency,” explains Aziza Almanakly, an electrical engineering and computer science graduate student and lead author of the paper.
To tackle this, the team used reinforcement learning, a type of artificial intelligence, to optimize the shape of the photon before it was sent.
This adjustment significantly improved the photon’s absorption rate, reaching over 60% efficiency.
Potential for larger quantum networks
With this advancement, researchers are closer to building larger, more reliable quantum computing systems.
“Pitching and catching photons enables us to create a ‘quantum interconnect’ between nonlocal quantum processors, and with quantum interconnects comes remote entanglement,” says William D. Oliver, senior author of the study.
23andMe files for bankruptcy, Anne Wojcicki steps down as CEO
Anne Wojcicki has resigned from her role as chief executive effective immediately, though she will remain a member of the board.
Embattled genetic testing company 23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Missouri federal court on Sunday night.
The company's CEO, Anne Wojcicki, has resigned from her role as chief executive effective immediately, though she will remain a member of the board. Joseph Selsavage, 23andMe's chief financial and accounting officer, will serve as interim CEO, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
"We have had many successes but I equally take accountability for the challenges we have today," Wojcicki wrote in a post on X early Monday morning. "There is no doubt that the challenges faced by 23andMe through an evolving business model have been real, but my belief in the company and its future is unwavering."
23andMe declined to comment further on the filing.
The former billionaire co-founded 23andMe in 2006, and the company rocketed into the mainstream because of its at-home DNA testing kits that gave customers insight into their family histories and genetic profiles. The five-time CNBC Disruptor 50 company went public in 2021 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, which valued the company at around $3.5 billion at the time.
Google's $32 billion Wiz deal may signal a turning point for slow IPO, M&A markets
Google's $32 billion acquisition of Wiz may signal the start of a friendlier initial public offering and deal activity environment.
The search giant announced Tuesday it plans to buy the Israeli cybersecurity startup for $32 billion in its biggest acquisition ever. The deal came months after an initial $23 billion offer fell through and Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport touted plans for an initial public offering.
While deal activity has slowed from its 2021 heyday, appetite has begun to pick up.
SailPoint went public in February and CoreWeave, which sells Nvidia's AI processors, said in a Thursday filing that it plans to raise up to $2.7 billion in its IPO that's expected this week. Ticket vendor StubHub filed for an IPO on Friday.
Cybersecurity companies look particularly poised to win as companies hunt for ways to shield their highly profitable business models. CB Insights on Tuesday said cybersecurity solutions are one of the top acquisition target areas for 2025.
"Having a more complete offering for securing workloads in the cloud — that's the core, the rationale behind [the Wiz] deal," said Merritt Maxim, Forrester vice president and research director.
AI driving demand for more cybersecurity
The proliferation of artificial intelligence and the transition to the cloud has amplified the need for cybersecurity solutions.
More adept hacking schemes have accelerated since OpenAI's launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, expediting the need for cutting-edge solutions to fend off attackers. That's made cybersecurity a key target area for companies looking to protect their business models, said Neil Barlow, partner at the law firm Clifford Chance.
China's open-source embrace upends conventional wisdom around artificial intelligence
China’s artificial intelligence space is moving towards free-use, open-sourced models in a trend that experts say will accelerate AI adoption and innovation.
China is embracing open-source AI models in a trend market watchers and insiders say is boosting AI adoption and innovation in the country, with some suggesting it is an 'Android moment' for the sector.
The open-source shift has been spearheaded by AI startup DeepSeek, whose R1 model released earlier this year challenged American tech dominance and raised questions over Big Tech's massive spending on large language models and data centers.
While R1 created a splash in the sector due to its performance and claims of lower costs, some analysts say the most significant impact of DeepSeek has been in catalyzing the adoption of open-source AI models.
"DeepSeek's success proves that open-source strategies can lead to faster innovation and broad adoption," said Wei Sun, principal analyst of artificial intelligence at Counterpoint Research, noting a large number of firms have implemented the model.
"Now, we see that R1 is actively reshaping China's AI landscape, with large companies like Baidu moving to open source their own LLMs in a strategic response," she added.
On March 16, Baidu released the latest version of its AI model, Ernie 4.5, as well as a new reasoning model, Ernie X1, making them free for individual users. Baidu also plans to make the Ernie 4.5 model series open-source from end-June.
!summarize #arkinvest #tesla #ai #technology
Stryker Armored Vehicle: Speed, and Firepower
The Stryker is the U.S. Army’s versatile, fast, and battle-ready vehicle, designed for rapid deployment. With eight wheels, modular armor, and various variants, including troop carriers, mobile cannons, and air defense platforms, it combines speed and firepower. This video highlights the Stryker’s evolution, its combat effectiveness, and its ongoing role in the Army’s future operations.
Fast, adaptable, and built for battle—the Stryker is the U.S. Army’s go-to vehicle for rapid deployment and versatile firepower. With its eight wheels, modular armor, and multiple variants—from troop carriers to mobile cannons and air defense platforms—the Stryker brings speed and strength to modern warfare. In this video, we explore what makes the Stryker such a vital asset on the battlefield, how it’s evolved through years of combat experience, and why it continues to play a key role in the Army’s future force.
China’s spacesuit prove their durability in Tiangong’s extravehicular missions
China’s first batch of extravehicular spacesuits, dubbed the Feitian, have proven their exceptional durability.
China’s first batch of extravehicular spacesuits, dubbed the Feitian, have proven their exceptional durability in the space.
These spacesuits are worn by astronauts for spacewalks outside China’s space station, Tiangong.
The space station maintains an orbit between 217 and 280 miles (340 and 450 kilometers) above Earth, similar to the International Space Station’s altitude.
The recent reports suggest that the Feitian spacesuits have exceeded their expected lifespan — with one suit used 17 times.
CGTN reported the spacesuits performed reliably during the Shenzhou-19 crew’s third extravehicular activity (EVA), demonstrating their durability and advanced technology.
For more than seven hours, two astronauts from the Shenzhou-19 mission performed various tasks during their third extravehicular activity.
Lifespan of 15 spacewalks
The Feitian spacesuit’s name poetically translates to “flying into space.” The extravehicular spacesuit is far more intricate than those used inside the spacecraft. It must maintain proper pressure, regulate temperature, and provide sustenance in the harsh vacuum of space.
It includes feature radiation, heat, micrometeorite, and UV protection, along with reliable communication. A liquid cooling system and backpack life support to maintain optimal conditions for astronauts, including proper pressure, oxygen, temperature, and humidity.
UK’s largest-ever nuclear submarine that can carry 144 warheads enters construction
The HMS Dreadnought will displace 17,000 tonnes of water and could carry a crew of 130.
The British Royal Navy has laid the keel for its largest-ever nuclear submarine.
Traditionally, governments have held ceremonies for the laying of the keel on notable projects, as it signifies the start of construction. The keel is the bottom-most structure of a ship.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the laying of the keel for HMS Dreadnought.
The new nuclear submarine is being built at BAE System’ Barrow-in-Furness facility. In this case, the laying of the keel is largely symbolic, as large sections of HMS Dreadnought have already been built.
The ‘most advanced boats of their kind’
The HMS Dreadnought will be a nuclear-powered and armed submarine. According to a Royal Navy press release, the submarine will displace “17,000 tonnes, [will be] the length of 14 buses and [will have] a crew of around 130.”
This will make HMS Dreadnoughts “the most advanced boats of their kind in service anywhere.”
The nuclear submarine will feature a Rolls-Royce PWR3 nuclear reactor paired with an advanced pump-jet system. It will be armed with 12 Trident II D5 SLBMs with a range of about 7,500 miles (12,000 km). The nuclear submarine will have the capacity to carry as many as 144 nuclear warheads.
China’s robot dog gets one-touch navigation feature for rescue in tough terrains
The new feature offers map-based and video-based point navigation, making movement easier in both open spaces and tight areas.
China’s leading developer of quadrupedal robotics has unveiled a brand new one-touch navigation feature integrated into its robotic dog, marking a significant advancement in the development of user-friendly robotics.
Designed to enhance the intelligent control of the four-legged robot dog by streamlining user interaction and boosting autonomous movement, the upgrade is well-suited for complex real-world environments.
!summarize #tesla #china #electrification #diesel #trucking
World-first super-humanoid robot for industrial work with AI boost unveiled by US firm
Mech’s dual arms, 5.4m armspan, and 132lb capacity offer dexterity and AI-powered touch for precise material handling.
Dexterity, a US-based company, has unveiled the world’s first industrial super-humanoid robot, aiming to revolutionize enterprise operations.
Named Mech, it is equipped with two arms on a rover. It navigates warehouses and industrial sites, tackling stressful, repetitive tasks with ease.
“Mech has been engineered from the ground up to bring human skill and superhuman strength to industrial environments. Leveraging Dexterity’s advanced Physical AI makes tackling new tasks as simple as installing a new app,” said the firm in a blog post.
The California-based physical AI and robotics firm’s new product is currently available for truck loading, industrial and enterprise customers, with additional software applications planned for release in 2025 to expand its capabilities.
Boosting productivity
Built for efficiency, Mech features dual arms with a 5.4-meter armspan and a lifting capacity of 132 pounds (60 kilograms). Its patented shoulder and second elbow enhance dexterity, allowing it to handle complex tasks with ease. The robot’s advanced AI provides a human-like sense of touch, offering precise manipulation and careful handling of various materials, including boxes, parcels, and polybags.
Mech, mounted on an agile rover base, spins, strafes, climbs ramps, and maneuvers around workstations. A supercomputer, two vacuum pumps, and an extensive sensor and safety system are all included in the base.
China’s magnesium-powered scramjet breakthrough nearly doubles thrust at Mach 6
The team found that the use of magnesium was able to nearly double scramjet thrust at high speed and altitude.
Chinese researchers have reportedly developed a new type of afterburner for scramjet engines that could achieve Mach 6 at altitudes of 98,425 feet (30 km). According to the team behind it, this was achieved by cleverly incorporating magnesium powder into the hot exhaust gases produced by burning conventional jet fuel.
Magnesium was chosen because it is a highly reactive metal that ignites explosively without needing atmospheric oxygen. This is important for engines like scramjets, which tend to burn kerosene in the presence of oxygen from the atmosphere to generate huge amounts of thrust.
Since they are also designed to operate at very high speeds (typically hypersonic), conventional kerosene combustion reaches a limit, producing exhaust gases mainly consisting of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water vapor (H₂O).
Under these conditions, magnesium can take advantage of these “waste gases” and burn vigorously when injected, creating extra thrust using energy that would otherwise be wasted.
Using magnesium to boost scramjets
The new afterburner injects the magnesium powder downstream into these hot gases (around 2780.6°F, or 1527°C). This results in secondary combustion, where the magnesium reacts with the water vapor and CO₂ to produce more heat and thrust.
Boeing, Airbus ditch aluminum: Next-gen jets to fly on lightweight thermoplastics
Currently, popular models like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families continue to dominate the market.
In a quiet yet significant shift, Airbus and Boeing are rethinking their approaches to aircraft manufacturing in preparation for the next generation of passenger jets.
Both companies have set ambitious production targets designed to transform the aerospace landscape, focusing on new materials and advanced manufacturing processes that could redefine how airplanes are built.
Currently, popular models like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families continue to dominate the market, confirming their substantial order books.
However, the aerospace giants are working diligently behind the scenes to create the groundwork for their future successors.
Replacing aluminum with thermoplastics
While these next-gen narrow-body aircraft won’t hit the market soon, supply chain challenges and advanced engine development needs mean that launches are still several years away.
Nevertheless, a noteworthy manufacturing revolution is unfolding.
At a recent conference in Paris centered on composites, Reuters reported that the two manufacturers revealed their extraordinary production ambitions.
Airbus and Boeing are fine-tuning their supply chains to ramp up to a production rate of 80 aircraft per month, more than doubling Boeing’s current output and surpassing Airbus’s previously delayed targets of 75 monthly deliveries.
US engineers create quantum ‘super highway’ for instant processor communication
The MIT team has created a device that connects two quantum processors using a superconducting waveguide.
Quantum computers are expected to solve problems far beyond the reach of today’s most advanced supercomputers.
For these machines to work on a large scale, their individual processors need to communicate with each other quickly and accurately.
Right now, most methods of connecting quantum processors rely on “point-to-point” links, where information passes step by step from one processor to the next.
However, this approach can lead to errors as the data moves along the network.
To solve this problem, researchers at MIT have now developed an innovative interconnect device that allows for “all-to-all” communication between quantum processors.
This system makes it possible for every processor in a quantum network to talk directly to one another, greatly improving scalability and efficiency.
A new way of processor communication
The MIT team created a device that connects two quantum processors using a superconducting waveguide — a special type of wire that carries photons, which are tiny particles of light used to transmit quantum information.
Each processor contains four qubits, which are the fundamental units of quantum computing.
Some of these qubits are designed to send and receive photons along the waveguide, while others store data.
By using microwave pulses, the researchers energize a qubit so it releases a photon.
Through careful control of these pulses, they can direct the photon along the waveguide in a chosen direction, where it can be caught and absorbed by a second processor.
When we talk about technology, there is an AI that is dominating all.