Meta is making a robot hand that can ‘feel’ touch
Meta says it’s partnering with sensor firm GelSight and Wonik Robotics, a South Korean robotics company, to commercialize tactile sensors for AI. The new devices aren’t meant for consumers. Rather, they’re intended for scientists. Meta says it envisions them being used to advance research into AI that can “learn about
Read moreCollege social app Fizz’s ‘serial failed retiree’ CEO steps down as founder takes helm
Veteran entrepreneur Rakesh Mathur stepped down as CEO of the college social network Fizz, handing over the reins to 22-year-old founder Teddy Solomon. It’s full circle for Fizz, the anonymous platform that Solomon started with his Stanford classmate Ashton Cofer before they dropped out to work on the app full-time.
Read moreNvidia-Run:ai deal to be reviewed under EU’s merger rules
The European Union has tossed a spanner in the works of chipmaker Nvidia’s proposed acquisition of Tel Aviv-based AI workload management startup Run:ai. The deal, which was announced back in April — with a price-tag of $700 million per our sources — will be reviewed by the bloc after a request
Read morePioneering IT & Network Integration: New Private 5G with Cisco
NEC Corporation, a pioneer in the integration of IT and network technologies, is collaborating with Cisco to offer a new private 5G network solution. The design incorporates the Cisco 5G SA Core and a Cloud Control Center, as well as NEC XON’s proven radio network and systems integration services in
Read moreClaude gets desktop apps and dictation support
Anthropic’s AI-powered chatbot, Claude, now has desktop apps. Anthropic is launching Claude apps for Mac and Windows today in public beta, which — as Anthropic writes in a blog post — “brings Claude’s capabilities directly to your preferred work environment.” These capabilities, to be clear, don’t include Anthropic’s recently announced
Read moreBoston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid hot dogs for the camera
Automation skeptics ask: why humanoids? We’ve discussed many of the benefits and drawbacks of the robotics form factor, but Boston Dynamics’ latest electric Atlas video showcases one of the most under discussed factors: costumes. “Why build a humanoid robot?” the company rhetorically posits. “Because the world is designed for humans,
Read moreSouth Africa’s Popular Brands Offer Savings on Essentials
Two of the most cherished and reliable companies in South Africa, First National Bank (FNB) and Pick n Pay, have joined forces to provide their joint consumers with extra benefits, enabling them to save more on groceries, clothing, and daily necessities. This follows the popularity of the recent 99-cent bread incentives.
Read moreSpace CEOs talk about the challenges and opportunities of selling defense tech
Space executives took the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt on Monday to talk about the challenges and opportunities of building out dual-use technology, or tech that has both a defense and a commercial use case. The dual-use strategy can be tricky for young startups to manage, however, because they run the
Read moreSouth Africa’s Telecom Mall in Midrand Unveils New Redesign
South Africa’s technology and telecom mall, Vodacom World has undergone an exciting transformation. The Midrand Mall has been revamped to provide an immersive experience while empowering customers with Vodacom’s innovative goods, services, and support. Vodacom World, which debuted in 1998, was rebuilt in 2018 into a single-store concept, allowing Vodacom
Read moreBuddy.ai is using AI and gaming to help children learn English as a second language
In 2014, Ivan Crewkov moved his family from Serbia to the U.S. as his startup, Cubic.AI, was preparing to launch a Kickstarter campaign for its smart speaker. A week before the campaign was supposed to go live, Amazon launched its Echo smart speaker, rendering Cubic.AI essentially dead in the water.
Read more