Japan political party to install AI leader
The Path to Rebirth party, which was launched in January by Shinji Ishimaru, a former mayor of a small city...
Geostrategy
Electric cars are more eco-friendly even in US, study finds
Paris, France -- Electric vehicles are less harmful to the environment than their petrol-guzzling counterparts even in the United States,...
Research
Arts & Culture
Walking sharks, bombing crocodiles: Italian Brainrot memes only kids know
Shouty, crude and often nonsensical Italian voiceovers feature in many of the clips made by people in various countries that...
- The dozen-plus cartoonish AI creatures have fast become memes, inspiring a stream of new content such as "Brainrot Rap", viewed 116 million times on YouTube.
- A YouTube Short titled "Learn to Draw 5 Crazy Italian Brainrot Animals" -- including a cactus-elephant crossover named "Lirili Larila" -- has also been watched 320 million times.
Business
Electric ‘air taxis’ could debut in Japan from 2027
Tokyo, Japan -- Airline ANA said Thursday that, together with a US start-up, it hopes to have electric "air taxis"...
- ANA and California-based Joby Aviation said they will establish a joint venture with a view to deploying more than 100 of the five-seater aircraft.
- The project primarily envisages trips between Narita and Haneda airports and Tokyo, although the routes can diversify in the future.
Geostrategy
Meta says working to thwart WhatsApp scammers
San Francisco, United States -- Meta on Tuesday said it shut nearly seven million WhatsApp accounts linked to scammers in...
- Meta on Tuesday said it shut nearly seven million WhatsApp accounts linked to scammers in the first half of this year.
- Meta on Tuesday began prompting WhatsApp users to be wary when added to unfamiliar chat groups by people they don't know.
Geostrategy
Humanoid robots embodiment of China’s AI ambitions
Shanghai, China -- Serving craft beer, playing mahjong, stacking shelves and boxing, the dozens of humanoid robots at Shanghai's World...
- The Chinese government has poured support into robotics, an area in which some experts think China might already have the upper hand over the United States.
- Tech giant Baidu on Saturday announced a new generation of technology for its "digital humans" -- AI agents modelled on real people.
Geostrategy
Urgent need for ‘global approach’ on AI regulation: UN tech chief
Geneva, Switzerland -- The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations' top...
- Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU), said regulation was key as concerns rise over fast-moving technology.
- Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to serve as ITU secretary-general in the organization's nearly 160-year history, also stressed the need to get more women into the digital space.
Geostrategy
91% of new renewable projects now cheaper than fossil fuels alternatives
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Renewables maintain their cost leadership in global power markets, IRENA’s new report on Renewable Power Generation...
- IRENA’s new report confirms renewables maintained their price advantage over fossil fuels, with cost declines driven by technological innovation.
- In 2024, solar photovoltaics (PV) were, on average, 41 percent cheaper than the lowest-cost fossil fuel alternatives, while onshore wind projects were 53 percent cheaper.
Geostrategy
Humans beat AI gold-level score at top maths contest
Sydney, Australia -- Humans beat generative AI models made by Google and OpenAI at a top international mathematics competition, despite...
- Google and OpenAI models didn't score full marks -- unlike five young people at IMO, a prestigious annual competition where participants must be under 20.
- Google said Monday that an advanced version of its Gemini chatbot had solved five out of the six maths problems set at the IMO, held in Australia's Queensland this month.
Geostrategy
Russia publishes rare footage of largest drone factory
Moscow, Russia -- Russia has showcased what it calls the biggest drone factory in the world, broadcasting rare footage from...
- The plant is near the town of Yelabuga in the central Russian region of Tatarstan, located in what was initially planned to be a special economic zone to boost science and business
- More than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the Ukrainian border, it has now become a target for Kyiv's own long-range attacks.
Geostrategy
AI needs to be smaller, reduce energy footprint: UNESCO study
Paris, France -- The potential of artificial intelligence is immense -- but its equally vast energy consumption needs curbing, with...
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently said that each request sent to ChatGPT consumes on average 0.34 Wh of electricity, which is 10-70 times a Google search.
- UNESCO calculated that AI energy demand is doubling every 100 days as generative AI tools become embedded in everyday life.
Geostrategy
Use of eco-friendly rice bricks surges in water-scarce Kyrgyzstan
Rice blocks require less cement, which is responsible for approximately eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to 2023...
- Nursultan Taabaldyev is one of the pioneers of the technology in Central Asia hailed as an environmentally friendly alternative to water-intensive concrete.
- They are "made of 60 percent rice husks. The rest is clay, cement and a chemical-free glue," Taabaldyev told AFP.
Japan political party to install AI leader
The Path to Rebirth party, which was launched in January by Shinji Ishimaru, a former mayor of a small city...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Google packs new Pixel phones with Artificial Intelligence
New York, United States -- Google on Wednesday unveiled new Pixel 10 smartphones, showcasing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities woven into...
Business
US developers report half of new electric generating capacity will come from solar
Washington, United States - Developers added 12 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale solar electric generating capacity in the United States...
Economy
Games industry in search of new winning combo at Gamescom 2025
Paris, France -- The global games industry gathers for the vast Gamescom trade fair in Cologne this week, with hopes...
Business
Most Read
Science
Passwords under threat as tech giants seek tougher security
Paris, France -Fingerprints, access keys and facial recognition are putting a new squeeze on passwords as the traditional computer security...
- Fingerprints, access keys and facial recognition are putting a new squeeze on passwords as the traditional computer security method
- Although many large platforms are stepping up login security, large numbers of sites still use simple passwords as credentials
Arts & Culture
Walking sharks, bombing crocodiles: Italian Brainrot memes only kids know
Shouty, crude and often nonsensical Italian voiceovers feature in many of the clips made by people in various countries that...
- The dozen-plus cartoonish AI creatures have fast become memes, inspiring a stream of new content such as "Brainrot Rap", viewed 116 million times on YouTube.
- A YouTube Short titled "Learn to Draw 5 Crazy Italian Brainrot Animals" -- including a cactus-elephant crossover named "Lirili Larila" -- has also been watched 320 million times.
Business
Electric ‘air taxis’ could debut in Japan from 2027
Tokyo, Japan -- Airline ANA said Thursday that, together with a US start-up, it hopes to have electric "air taxis"...
- ANA and California-based Joby Aviation said they will establish a joint venture with a view to deploying more than 100 of the five-seater aircraft.
- The project primarily envisages trips between Narita and Haneda airports and Tokyo, although the routes can diversify in the future.