Research & Development news

• Google’s Project Genie Lets Users Explore AI-Generated Worlds

  30-01-2026 13:40 via eweek.com
  What would it look like to explore a virtual world built instantly from a text prompt? Google is giving select subscribers a new way to step inside AI-generated environments with Project Genie, an experimental prototype. The tool allows users to create and navigate interactive worlds that are generated in real-time.The prototype is available first to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the US who are aged 18 and above and is powered by DeepMind’s Genie 3 world model. The launch highlights
  
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• 3 Humanoid Robot Companies That Could Shape the Next Wave of Automation

  30-01-2026 19:00 via eweek.com
  Humanoid robots have officially entered their “wait… this is actually happening” era.For years, they lived mostly in science fiction and splashy demo videos, the kind of tech that felt permanently five years away. But suddenly, humanoid robots are showing up in warehouses, factories, and investor pitch decks with real urgency.Thanks to rapid advances in AI, better hardware, and a flood of funding, a small group of companies is racing to build the first truly useful general-pur
  
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• Nearly 90% of Workers Are Using AI at Work, Mostly Without Employer Support

  30-01-2026 18:49 via eweek.com
  AI is everywhere at work… but training is not. Eighty-nine percent of employees now use AI on the job, even as most lack formal training to do so, according to new research from Study.com. The findings suggest that AI has become common at work, but training hasn’t kept pace.The survey of 1,000 employed workers across industries shows AI has become a routine part of daily work, driven largely by self-teaching rather than structured programs. That gap between widespread use and l
  
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• Chinese AI Chipmaker Axera Semiconductor Targets $379M in Hong Kong IPO

  30-01-2026 16:38 via eweek.com
  The pursuit of money to power AI ambitions continues at its usual, relentless pace.
  Chinese AI chipmaker Axera Semiconductor is seeking to raise HK$2.96 billion ($379.2 million) through an initial public offering in Hong Kong, according to a regulatory filing. The plan is to scale up technology development and expand sales in a capital-intensive and highly competitive sector.
  If completed, the listing would add to a growing pipeline of Chinese semiconductor and AI companies turning to Hong Kong&
  
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• Tesla Prepares to Retire Model S, Model X to Build More Humanoid Robots

  30-01-2026 15:51 via eweek.com
  Elon Musk says it’s time to retire the luxury EVs and go all-in on Optimus robots and robotaxis.In a move that underscores just how far the company has drifted from its roots as a carmaker, Tesla announced it will stop making the Model S sedan and Model X SUV and turn their factory over to building humanoid robots instead.On Tesla’s fourth-quarter earnings call Wednesday, Musk said production of both models will end next quarter. The Fremont, California, assembly lines that built the
  
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• Nvidia, Mercedes Team Up to Bring Robotaxis to Major Cities

  30-01-2026 15:31 via eweek.com
  Nvidia and Mercedes-Benz are positioning themselves to join the growing group of self-driving operators offering robotaxi services in major cities, announcing an acceleration of plans to debut the technology in Mercedes S-Class cars.The two companies will be joined by Uber, which will provide the app used to book the robotaxis. Alongside other European carmakers and parts suppliers, the three companies have begun coordinating operations and launch strategies to push self-driving adoption across
  
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• Pentagon and Anthropic at Odds Over Military AI Applications

  30-01-2026 14:58 via eweek.com
  “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room.”
  It’s not quite “Dr Strangelove” but there is a strange kind of love going on in the world of military AI.
  The Pentagon is in a battle with AI developer Anthropic over safeguards that would prevent the government from deploying its technology to target weapons autonomously and conduct U.S. domestic surveillance, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
  The discussions represent an early test
  
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• Starbucks Developing AI ‘Ordering Companion’ to Personalize Coffee Orders

  30-01-2026 14:39 via eweek.com
  Starbucks is brewing something new.At the company’s 2026 Investor Day on Thursday, Starbucks executives announced a high-tech turnaround plan: The company says it is “actively developing a first-of-its-kind Starbucks ordering companion” for its mobile app. The goal is to help customers discover drinks through prompts rather than rigid menus.“Designed to help customers discover their perfect beverage through natural, intuitive prompts,” the tool will also help custom
  
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• Darren Aronofsky Reimagines the Revolutionary War Through AI

  30-01-2026 13:15 via eweek.com
  “What a terrible time to have eyes.”
  That’s one of the comments on YouTube in reaction to applying generative AI to prestige historical storytelling.
  Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky is executive producing “On This Day… 1776” through his AI-focused venture Primordial Soup, which has partnered with Google DeepMind to recreate pivotal moments from the American Revolutionary War using a blend of AI and traditional production techniques.
  The AI is coming out
  The series
  
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• OpenAI to Retire GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and o4-Mini in ChatGPT

  30-01-2026 09:16 via eweek.com
  Farewell, ancient ones. OpenAI says it will remove several legacy AI models from ChatGPT.
  On Feb. 13, 2026, the models GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and OpenAI o4-mini will be retired.
  The change is limited to ChatGPT’s consumer and in-app model picker. “In the API, there are no changes at this time,” OpenAI said in the announcement, signaling that developers building on OpenAI’s platform won’t see immediate forced migrations as a direct result of this specific Cha
  
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• Apple Boosts AI Ambitions With $2B Q.ai Acquisition

  30-01-2026 08:16 via eweek.com
  Apple is deepening its push into AI-driven hardware with the acquisition of Israeli startup Q.ai.
  It’s the latest chapter in a story crammed with competition among Big Tech companies racing to define the next phase of AI.
  The deal underscores how Apple, Meta, and Google are increasingly looking beyond software models alone and turning their attention to devices, sensors, and real-world applications where AI can deliver more tangible consumer value. For Apple, the focus appears to be on aud
  
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• Elon Musk Posts AI Video That Looks Like Sydney Sweeney, Raising Consent Concerns

  29-01-2026 20:01 via eweek.com
  Elon Musk has once again found himself at the center of a digital firestorm.On Wednesday, Musk posted a short, AI-generated video to his X platform. The clip features a woman who looks unmistakably like actress Sydney Sweeney, standing inside a spacecraft. The digital Sweeney turns to a male AI character and says, “So let me get this straight. Grok videos are now 10 seconds, and the audio is greatly improved?”Her counterpart replies, “Yeah, pretty much… Do you like it?&r
  
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• UK Launches Free AI Training for Every Adult in the Country

  29-01-2026 19:08 via eweek.com
  The UK is throwing the doors open to AI training.In what is being described as the most significant upskilling push since the birth of the Open University in the 1970s, the UK government has officially opened the doors to free artificial intelligence training for every adult in the country. Announced this week, the program aims to prepare 10 million workers for a shifting labor market by the end of the decade.The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is spearheading this
  
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• Mozilla Invests $1.4B to Build an AI ‘Rebel Alliance’

  29-01-2026 17:51 via eweek.com
  Mozilla, the nonprofit best known for its Firefox browser, is stepping into the AI race with a familiar underdog mindset.Instead of trying to outspend the biggest players, the organization aims to build an alliance of startups, developers, and public interest technologists committed to making AI more open and trustworthy. Mozilla plans to deploy its roughly $1.4 billion in reserves to support mission-driven AI projects, a move aimed at countering the growing dominance of companies like Open
  
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• Waymo’s Driverless Taxis Could Hit London Streets Later This Year

  29-01-2026 17:35 via eweek.com
  Driverless taxis are edging closer to UK roads, with US autonomous car firm Waymo saying it hopes to launch a robotaxi service in London as early as September, pending regulatory approval.Waymo, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet, has confirmed plans to begin a pilot phase in the UK this April. If regulations allow, the service could open to paying passengers later in the year.The UK government has said it intends to change the rules governing autonomous vehicles in the second half of 2026
  
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• Gemini, Nano Banana Are Coming to Chrome as Google Reinvents the Browser

  29-01-2026 16:22 via eweek.com
  Chrome is no longer just a window to the web; it’s becoming the pilot.In a new update announced Wednesday, Google said it is adding more Gemini-powered features directly into Chrome, including a permanent side panel assistant, built-in image tools, and an “auto browse” feature that can complete multi-step tasks across the web, rolling out in preview in the US for Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers.The changes are rolling out across macOS, Windows, and Chromebook Plus
  
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• China’s Humanoid Robots Are Finally Headed to the US

  29-01-2026 16:03 via eweek.com
  A new wave of Chinese humanoid robots is quietly closing in on the US market.A growing number of startups from Shenzhen, often called China’s “Silicon Valley,” are stepping onto the global stage, hoping to expand overseas before Tesla’s Optimus robot is even available to the public.One of the most closely watched names is LimX Dynamics, a company that has moved quickly from a small operation into an ambitious player with international plans, according to CNBC’s The
  
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• Boston University School of Law to Launch AI Certificate Program in Fall 2026

  29-01-2026 14:30 via eweek.com
  Boston has more than a feeling when it comes to AI.
  Boston University School of Law is preparing to launch an AI certificate program in fall 2026 as part of a broader initiative aimed at training future lawyers in the ethical and effective use of AI technologies.
  The initiative reflects a growing recognition within legal education that AI is becoming deeply embedded in legal research, writing, and practice. Law school administrators say the program is designed not only to familiarize students wi
  
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• Universal Basic Income Could Help Cushion UK Workers From AI Job Losses

  29-01-2026 13:43 via eweek.com
  As AI continues to take its vicious toll on jobs everywhere, there may be a soft solution in the UK.
  The country could consider introducing a universal basic income (UBI) as a way to protect workers whose jobs are disrupted by AI, according to the investment minister Jason Stockwood, as concerns mount over the pace at which new technologies are reshaping the labour market.
  UBI refers to a system in which individuals receive a regular, unconditional payment from the state, regardless of employmen
  
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• Meta to Nearly Double AI Spending

  29-01-2026 12:43 via eweek.com
  Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has signalled an aggressive expansion of the company’s AI ambitions.
  The Facebook-owner is planning to nearly double its annual spending on AI infrastructure and projects, even as warnings mount about a potential bubble in the fast-growing sector.
  The move underlines Meta’s belief that AI will reshape not only its products but also the wider economy, workplace structures, and competitive dynamics across the technology industry.
  Ramping up investme
  
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• Cisco Boss Warns AI Gold Rush Will End in a Reckoning

  29-01-2026 12:30 via eweek.com
  If the influx of AI-related everything these days hasn’t tipped you off already, I’ll be the one to break it to you: AI is here to stay. But how will its boom of seemingly endless widespread popularity impact the world, and will it ever slow down?The AI boom is indeed transforming tech at a rapid pace; the road ahead is unlikely to be smooth. Chuck Robbins, chairman and chief executive of Cisco Systems, has warned that while AI will reshape the global economy and ultimately be &ldquo
  
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• Google DeepMind AI Model Reads DNA’s Recipe for Life

  29-01-2026 07:00 via eweek.com
  A powerful AI model developed by Google’s DeepMind is being hailed as a potential turning point in genetics.
  Researchers reckon it could dramatically accelerate understanding of how DNA influences disease, cancer, and drug discovery.
  The model, called AlphaGenome, is designed to read and interpret the human genome – the complete set of genetic instructions that governs how the body grows, functions, and responds to illness. Scientists say it offers new insight into why tiny variation
  
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• China’s ‘AI Tigers’ Pounce: A New Wave of Models Challenges US Dominance

  28-01-2026 21:33 via eweek.com
  China’s artificial intelligence race is picking up speed again. From startups to tech giants, Chinese companies are rolling out new AI models at a rapid pace, signaling that the gap with US rivals may be narrowing faster than many expected.Over the past few months, several Chinese firms have unveiled new AI upgrades, adding to the momentum that began last year with DeepSeek’s surprise release of its R1 model. That launch drew global attention by offering performance comparable t
  
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• OpenAI, Google, and Moonshot Unveil New Agentic AI Systems

  28-01-2026 21:27 via eweek.com
  For two years, the workflow was simple: you ask AI a question, AI spits out an answer. Today, three separate announcements from OpenAI, Google, and Moonshot AI quietly killed that paradigm.The new model? AI that investigates, manipulates, and coordinates… without being asked.First, OpenAI’s Prism embeds GPT-5.2 directly inside your research paper
  Instead of copy-pasting text into a separate chat window, GPT-5.2 now reads your entire manuscript — structure, equations, citations
  
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• Apple Is Rumored to Tap Intel for Future iPhone Chip Production

  28-01-2026 19:41 via eweek.com
  Remember the messy breakup between Apple and Intel back in 2020? It looks like both companies could be heading toward a reunion.Reports are swirling that Apple is looking to tap Intel to help build chips for future iPhones. According to a research note from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, obtained by MacRumors, Intel is expected to begin manufacturing some Apple chips using its future “14A” process, which is expected to be ready for mass production in 2028.But there is a catch: Intel
  
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• China’s Military Labs Build ‘Apex Predator’ Drones, Robot Packs

  28-01-2026 18:52 via eweek.com
  China’s leading military labs are developing autonomous weapons designed to hunt and operate like apex predators, with the capability to deploy and operate with minimal human input. At one of China’s leading military-linked universities, researchers have studied the behaviour of hawks, wolves, and coyotes to simulate how drones and quadrupedal robots should act when encountering enemy units. In some scenarios, the systems are programmed to behave like apex predators, identifying
  
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• UK Leads Major Economies in AI-Related Job Losses, Morgan Stanley Says

  28-01-2026 18:38 via eweek.com
  Artificial intelligence is supposed to make work easier. In Britain right now, it’s also making work disappear.AI is cutting deeper into jobs in the UK than in other major economies, according to new research from Morgan Stanley. While companies say the technology is boosting productivity, Britain is standing out for the number of roles disappearing along the way.The investment bank’s study shows UK firms recorded an 8% net job loss linked to AI over the past year, the highest among
  
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• Your AI Cheat Codes: 7 ChatGPT Prompts That Help You Work Smarter

  28-01-2026 18:31 via eweek.com
  The era of firing off a “quick question” at AI is giving way to a more sophisticated workplace skill: knowing how to prompt.Recent data and expert reports reveal that the gap between average users and power users is widening, with prompt engineering skills now linked to massive gains in professional efficiency.According to the Pew Research Center, the adoption of ChatGPT in the office is skyrocketing. The center notes that 28% of employed US adults who have ever used ChatGPT now use
  
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• DeepSeek Boosts OCR Performance With Alibaba Open-Source AI

  28-01-2026 16:24 via eweek.com
  Chinese AI company DeepSeek has dropped some intriguing news in the document processing world.
  The firm has unveiled DeepSeek-OCR 2, a completely revamped optical character recognition system that replaces its previous architecture with Alibaba’s Qwen AI technology.
  Tech swap
  DeepSeek has ditched OpenAI’s CLIP framework that powered its original system and swapped it for Alibaba Cloud’s lightweight Qwen2-0.5b model.
  This new approach delivers a 3.7% performance boost over the p
  
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• Robot Restaurant in China Handles Cooking, Serving, and Cleaning

  28-01-2026 15:41 via eweek.com
  Walk into a restaurant in Hangzhou right now, and you might not see a chef shouting orders or servers rushing plates. Instead, you’ll find robotic arms cooking noodles, machines pouring coffee, and delivery bots gliding between tables.Hangzhou’s first “AI robot restaurant” has officially begun trial operations, offering diners a glimpse of what a fully automated dining experience could look like. The venue, called the “24 Solar Terms AI Robot Restaurant,” bega
  
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