Research & Development news

• Intel Spinoff Will Focus on Humanoid Robots – With the Help of $50M

  14-07-2025 23:36 via eweek.com
  RealSense, Intel’s once-internal unit for AI vision and robotics, is now pursuing its own trajectory as a fully independent company, bolstered by ambitious plans and $50 million in funding.The newly formed company specializes in 3D depth-sensing cameras and embedded vision technology that help robots and machines to interpret their surroundings. According to company estimates, its systems are integrated into more than 60% of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and humanoid robots worldwide.Spe
  
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• Under Pressure, OpenAI Expands Teen Safety Protections in ChatGPT

  19-12-2025 16:41 via eweek.com
  AI chatbots are becoming a routine part of teenage life. That shift is putting new pressure on how safety and responsibility are built in.With this in mind, OpenAI has vowed to put child safety first with the release of its latest model, GPT-5.2, introducing an updated model spec for users under 18 alongside new literacy resources to help teens and parents use the chatbot responsibly.The move follows mounting pressure from lawmakers and bereaved parents. ChatGPT is at the center of several lawsu
  
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• OpenAI Just Laid Out Its 2026 Roadmap

  19-12-2025 16:10 via eweek.com
  OpenAI just had one of those “blink and you missed the platform shift” weeks.First, a new coding model: OpenAI shipped GPT-5.2-Codex, a new coding model for its coding agent, Codex. At a high level:
  It’s tuned for long-horizon, multi-file work (context compaction, refactors/migrations, better Windows support)……with a BIG emphasis on defensive cybersecurity (Codex system card).
  We’ve been hearing conflicting reports of benchmarks being useful, so we’ll
  
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• AI Surge in 2025 Generated As Much CO2 As NYC

  19-12-2025 13:45 via eweek.com
  Researchers published a report on AI that should worry anyone who cares about our planet’s future.
  While tech companies celebrated AI’s breakthrough year, research by Dutch academic Alex de Vries-Gao, the founder of Digiconomist, revealed that AI systems generated as much carbon pollution in 2025 as the entire city of New York.
  The numbers show that AI’s carbon footprint could reach 80 million tonnes this year, equivalent to more than 8% of global aviation emissions. But carbon
  
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• Bank of England Governor Reckons AI Unlikely to Cause ‘Mass Unemployment’

  19-12-2025 12:04 via eweek.com
  What is a week in the tech world, without someone having an opinion on artificial intelligence.
  But this isn’t some loud man in a pub/bar pontificating after a few drinks. This is Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey.
  He reckons the rapid spread of AI across the UK economy is likely to displace workers in a way comparable to the Industrial Revolution. The technology would transform how people work and which skills employers value, requiring a renewed focus on training and education to he
  
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• US Congress Passes SPEED Act to Fast-Track AI Infrastructure

  19-12-2025 09:47 via eweek.com
  The House delivered a massive victory for Big Tech in the US by passing legislation that could slash years off AI infrastructure development timelines.
  The SPEED Act, which cleared the chamber in a bipartisan 221-196 vote, represents the most significant overhaul of federal environmental permitting laws in over half a century and could reshape how America builds the backbone of AI.
  Environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects currently stretch nearly five years and produce documents a
  
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• China’s Brain Implant May Have Leapfrogged Elon Musk’s Neuralink

  18-12-2025 20:19 via eweek.com
  Chinese scientists have shown that people with severe paralysis can now control machines using only their thoughts. The breakthrough was announced this week by the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) at a media briefing in Shanghai. In recent trials, two patients in their 30s received tiny implanted brain-machine interface (BMI) systems in June and October, respectively. After short training periods, they were able
  
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• Google Quietly Added ‘Vibe Coding’ to Gemini

  18-12-2025 17:07 via eweek.com
  Google is giving Gemini users a new way to tinker, experiment, and build.The tech giant announced on Wednesday that Opal, its AI-powered mini app builder from Google Labs, is now available directly in the Gemini web app. The move means users no longer need to leave Gemini to create experimental tools, known as Gems, that are tailored to specific tasks.Opal focuses on what many now call “vibe-coding.” Instead of writing code, users simply describe what they want an app to do in plain
  
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• This New Startup Plans to Deploy 50,000 Humanoid Robots by 2027

  18-12-2025 16:41 via eweek.com
  A humanoid robot built for factories is one thing. A humanoid robot built to be the “first body in” to a combat zone is something else entirely.Robotics startup Foundation says it plans to manufacture 50,000 of its Phantom humanoid robots by the end of 2027, with some units destined for warehouses and others for the US military. At 5 feet 9 inches tall and 180 pounds, Phantom is designed to move seamlessly between domestic labor and warfare, a convergence that puts it among the most
  
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• Who’s Most Afraid of Being Replaced by AI? New Data Reveals the Rankings

  18-12-2025 16:33 via eweek.com
  If you’re worried AI might take your job, you’re not alone… and some professions are far more anxious than others. New research reveals which workers are watching AI most closely.The study by AI ad generator Bestever analyzed the average monthly search volume across the US for key terms related to AI use in certain jobs over the past year. Key terms included phrases like “AI Lawyer” and “Mathematician replaced by AI.”The data found that the mathematicia
  
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• Who’s Most Afraid of Being Replaced by AI? New Data Reveals the Ranking

  18-12-2025 16:33 via eweek.com
  If you’re worried AI might take your job, you’re not alone… and some professions are far more anxious than others. New research reveals which workers are watching AI most closely.The study by AI ad generator Bestever analyzed the average monthly search volume across the US for key terms related to AI use in certain jobs over the past year. Key terms included phrases like “AI Lawyer” and “Mathematician replaced by AI.”The data found that the mathematicia
  
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• 33% of UK Citizens Now Use AI for Therapy

  18-12-2025 15:32 via eweek.com
  The UK’s stiff upper lip is trembling as a large number of people have turned to AI for therapy.
  One in three British citizens now uses AI for emotional support, companionship, and social interaction.
  Nearly 10% chat with AI systems weekly for emotional purposes, while 4% rely on them daily, the AI Security Institute revealed today (Dec. 18).
  The findings expose a hidden mental health crisis where millions are forming intimate bonds with machines — and experts warn the consequences c
  
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• Ex-UK Chancellor Osborne Joins OpenAI

  18-12-2025 13:12 via eweek.com
  The revolving doors at OpenAI are spinning once more as there is another recruitment change.
  Former UK Chancellor George Osborne has officially joined OpenAI to spearhead the company’s global expansion efforts. The 54-year-old retired Conservative politician will become managing director of the firm’s ambitious “OpenAI for Countries” initiative, marking a dramatic career pivot that signals how AI is reshaping global politics and economics.
  Osborne will assume his new Lond
  
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• Adobe Faces First Major AI Copyright Lawsuit

  18-12-2025 11:36 via eweek.com
  Author Elizabeth Lyon has filed a lawsuit that puts Adobe squarely in the same crosshairs as OpenAI and Anthropic.
  Filed in California federal court, this class-action lawsuit could fundamentally rewrite how tech giants source training data for AI development.
  Lyon, who writes instructional guides for authors, claims Adobe used unauthorized copies of countless books to train its SlimLM language models without permission or payment, according to the Reuters report.
  The proposed class action repre
  
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• Nvidia Plans $1.5B Investment in Israeli Data Center Facility

  18-12-2025 09:51 via eweek.com
  Nvidia is planning the largest server farm investment in Israeli history.
  The massive commitment comes as the company continues its aggressive expansion strategy despite geopolitical tensions.
  According to the Israeli news site Calcalist, the tech powerhouse is finalizing negotiations to lease a data center currently under construction in the Mevo Carmel industrial zone near Yokneam, with total project costs reaching approximately $1.5 billion when including equipment expenditures.
  This unpreced
  
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• Best AI Collaboration Tools for Human-Led Workflows

  18-12-2025 03:07 via eweek.com
  AI isn’t just running in the background anymore. It’s becoming an active collaborator in today’s workplaces.Teams still plan, decide, debate, and lead, but AI acts like a digital co-worker that helps you finish tasks more efficiently. The best AI tools won’t replace human judgment but should work with you. While AI handles heavy lifting around repetitive tasks and analysis, human-led workflows rely on context and accountability.Here’s a list of the best AI collabora
  
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• Microsoft vs Google: Former Partners Now Have Radically Different Plans for AGI

  18-12-2025 02:54 via eweek.com
  Two recent podcast interviews revealed a fascinating split in how the biggest AI companies are approaching AGI.Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, and Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, co-founded DeepMind. Now they’re leading rival labs — and their roadmaps to AGI couldn’t be more different.Google’s approachHassabis appeared on The Google DeepMind Podcast with Professor Hannah Fry to discuss Google’s scientific approach. Hassabis is building AGI as the ulti
  
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• Gemini 3 Flash: Google’s New AI Model Now Available to Millions Worldwide

  18-12-2025 02:45 via eweek.com
  Google is stepping on the gas again. The company unveiled Gemini 3 Flash on Wednesday, a new AI model designed to deliver powerful reasoning at much faster speeds and at a lower cost.Gemini 3 Flash is the newest member of Google’s Gemini 3 model family. It is built to be quick, efficient, and cheaper to run, while still keeping the advanced reasoning found in larger models.In a blog post announcing the release, Tulsee Doshi, senior director of Product Management for Gemini models, wrote th
  
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• Amazon Discussions Could Push OpenAI Valuation Past $500 Billion

  17-12-2025 21:54 via eweek.com
  OpenAI is reportedly in talks with Amazon for a potential investment that could exceed $10 billion. The discussions, which remain in the early stages, could value OpenAI at more than $500 billion.A key part of the discussions involves OpenAI using Amazon’s Trainium AI chips, and potentially renting more data center capacity from Amazon Web Services (AWS). A person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the discussions “are at a preliminary stage” and that terms could
  
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• DoorDash Launches ‘Zesty,’ an AI App That Helps You Find Local Restaurants

  17-12-2025 21:22 via eweek.com
  DoorDash is stepping beyond deliveries and into restaurant discovery with a new app that wants to help people decide where to eat, not just what to order.The company has launched Zesty, a standalone app that uses AI to help users find local restaurants. The app is now live in public testing in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York, according to DoorDash.DoorDash co-founder and CTO Andy Fang announced the launch on X, writing, “We’re excited to launch Zesty, a new food discovery app
  
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• 10 AI Jobs You Can Land Without a Computer Science Degree

  17-12-2025 18:33 via eweek.com
  If you thought breaking into an AI career would require a computer science degree, think again.A new study by the digital learning platform provider EIT Campus highlights the 10 easiest US-based AI jobs for 2026, some of which require only 2 to 4 weeks of training. All offer lucrative opportunities that prioritize practical skills over traditional qualifications, according to EIT Campus.“The beauty of these AI roles is that you’re not competing against people with 10 years of experie
  
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• Elon Musk’s ‘AI Nightmares’: A Future He Can’t Slow Down

  17-12-2025 16:59 via eweek.com
  Elon Musk has lost sleep over many things in his career. Lately, he says, one thing stands out: AI.The tech titan, who is simultaneously building some of the world’s most advanced AI, recently revealed a surprising personal truth: AI is haunting his sleep. In an interview, the CEO stated he has been having “AI nightmares many days in a row,” suggesting a deep-seated anxiety about the very technology he is racing to create.The confession came during a discussion on The Katie Mil
  
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• ‘Robot, Build It’: MIT’s New AI Lets You Build Real Objects Just by Describing Them

  17-12-2025 16:50 via eweek.com
  Say it, picture it, and watch it take shape. That’s the idea behind a new MIT system that turns simple words into real, usable objects.Researchers at MIT have developed an AI-powered robotic assembly system that allows people to design and build physical objects just by describing them in plain language. Instead of learning complex computer-aided design (CAD) tools, users can simply describe what they want, such as a lamp or shelf, and the system handles the rest.The project combines gener
  
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• Google’s New AI Agent Connects Gmail and Calendar to Manage Your Day

  17-12-2025 16:44 via eweek.com
  Google has launched CC, a new experimental AI productivity agent from Google Labs designed to help users stay organized and act on daily tasks. Built with Google’s Gemini AI model, CC pulls together information from “Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and the wider web” to create a daily snapshot of what matters most. The company says CC is meant to reduce the time people spend juggling emails, meetings, and reminders by presenting everything in one place.At the center
  
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• Meta AI Glasses Get Spotify Integration and Voice Boost

  17-12-2025 16:17 via eweek.com
  Hear ye! Hear ye! Meta has an update that will help how millions of people hear conversations and discover music.
  The company has rolled out its v21 software update, introducing conversation-boosting technology and AI-powered music matching that responds to what users are looking at—two features that blur the lines between regular eyewear and assistive technology.
  This announcement follows on from Meta’s two major enhancements for Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses that
  
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• Nano Banana Faces New Rival as OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT Images Overhaul

  17-12-2025 15:34 via eweek.com
  OpenAI is looking to peel Google’s Nano Banana with the launch of a rebuilt ChatGPT Images, the latest iteration of its AI image generator, designed to position the genAI platform as a full-fledged creative studio.Released on Tuesday, the update brings image generation and editing into a single conversational workflow, allowing users to create images from text, modify uploaded visuals, and refine results through natural-language feedback without restarting prompts. OpenAI says the redesign
  
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• OpenAI Unleashes FrontierScience for AI-Fueled Scientific Reasoning

  17-12-2025 11:45 via eweek.com
  Einstein a go-go. OpenAI is in the news again with something to help the scientific world.
  The perennially busy firm has unveiled FrontierScience—an evaluation system that pushes artificial intelligence into uncharted territory by tackling the same complex scientific problems that typically challenge PhD researchers for weeks.
  While previous benchmarks focused on recall, FrontierScience is advertised as genuine scientific reasoning across physics, chemistry, and biology. The system launche
  
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• Google Gemini’s Deep Research Adds Visual Reports and Charts

  17-12-2025 09:35 via eweek.com
  Google has dropped a massive upgrade that might make you rethink how AI handles research.
  The tech giant’s Deep Research feature now creates interactive visual reports with charts, simulations, and diagrams—all generated in real-time based on your requests. This launch marks a fundamental shift from text-based AI outputs to fully interactive, visual experiences.
  According to the announcement, Deep Research can now scan emails, spreadsheets, and chats for personalized reports while au
  
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• ‘Weekend Update’ Flub: Viewers Call Out SNL for ‘Odd’ AI Image

  16-12-2025 19:47 via eweek.com
  Saturday Night Live usually gets laughs. This weekend, there were questions.During the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, viewers noticed something unusual during the “Weekend Update” segment. As Colin Jost delivered a joke about President Donald Trump holding a rally at a casino, an image appeared on screen showing an older woman using an oxygen tank while playing slot machines.The image stood out to many viewers. Its smooth look and odd details led to speculation that it may ha
  
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• ‘Weekend Update’ Flub: Viewers Call Out SNL for ‘Lazy’ AI Image

  16-12-2025 19:47 via eweek.com
  Saturday Night Live usually gets laughs. This weekend, there were questions.During the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, viewers noticed something unusual during the “Weekend Update” segment. As Colin Jost delivered a joke about President Donald Trump holding a rally at a casino, an image appeared on screen showing an older woman using an oxygen tank while playing slot machines.The image stood out to many viewers. Its smooth look and odd details led to speculation that it may ha
  
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