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NVIDIA has taken a big step towards strengthening its domestic chip manufacturing, revealing the first <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/tsmc-blackwell-manufacturing/">Blackwell wafer</a> made in the US. The hardware company assembled the wafer, which is the base material for NVIDIA's AI chips, in TSMC's semiconductor manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona.  NVIDIA revealed its <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/nvidias-gpus-powered-the-ai-revolution-its-new-blackwell-chips-are-up-to-30-times-faster-001059577.html">Blackwell platform</a> last year, boasting a goal of revolutionizing the AI industry through tech giants like Amazon, Google, OpenAI and others who already committed to adopting the next-gen architecture. NVIDIA said the latest platform was more powerful and translated to 25x less cost and energy consumption compared to its predecessor. Now that Blackwell wafers can be made at the TSMC plant, NVIDIA can better insulate itself from the ever-evolving <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/trump-threatens-a-25-percent-tariff-on-all-smartphones-not-made-in-the-us-195122531.html">tariff situation</a> and geopolitical tensions. "It’s the very first time in recent American history that the single most important chip is being manufactured here in the United States by the most advanced fab, by TSMC, here in the United States,” Jensen Huang, NVIDIA's founder and CEO, said at the celebration event. With NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture ready for the volume production stage, the company is still working on expanding its manufacturing footprint across the US. Earlier this year, NVIDIA said it had plans to funnel half a trillion dollars towards building <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/nvidia-manufacture-american-made-ai-supercomputers-us/">AI infrastructure</a> in the US through partnerships with TSMC, Foxconn and other companies.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/nvidia-shows-off-its-first-blackwell-wafer-manufactured-in-the-us-192836249.html?src=rss

Oct 18, 2025

8BitDo drops an NES-inspired collection for the console's 40th anniversary

It's been 40 years to the day since the Nintendo Entertainment System made its US debut, and to celebrate, gaming accessory maker 8BitDo has unveiled a line of NES-themed products. The <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.8bitdo.com/nes-40th-anniversary/"><ins>NES40 collection</ins></a> includes a limited edition version of the company's <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-2-bluetooth-nes-40th/"><ins>Ultimate 2 controller</ins></a> that comes with an NES Retro Receiver, so it can be used with the classic console. There's also the NES-inspired <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.8bitdo.com/retro-cube-2-speaker/"><ins>Retro Cube 2</ins></a> speaker and <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.8bitdo.com/retro-68-keyboard-nes-40th/"><ins>Retro 68 Keyboard</ins></a>, the latter of which sports a full aluminum alloy build and an eye-watering $500 price tag. All are available for pre-order now. The Ultimate 2 controller is one of our favorite controllers <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:5;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/best-nintendo-switch-2-accessories-070011952.html"><ins>for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2</ins></a>, and the NES40 version comes with all the same features, including TMR joysticks, Hall Effect triggers with mode switching and lots of customization options. But with this one, you also get the NES Retro Receiver (a transparent black version that's exclusive to this drop), four custom joystick caps and a robot keychain that pays homage to Nintendo's R.O.B. toy robot. The controller set costs $80 and will ship November 18. It's compatible with Switch 1, 2 and Windows, as well as the original NES using the receiver accessory. <core-commerce id="6cf8c87587f04ef78834a8b5608f1d68" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://shop.8bitdo.com/products/ultimate-2-bluetooth-nes-40th"></core-commerce> The Retro 68 Keyboard is 8BitDo's first 68-key keyboard, and it's made entirely of aluminum alloy. That includes the shell, keycaps and buttons, according to the company. It uses Kailh Box Ice Cream Pro Max switches. The keyboard features the NES colorway (like its similar, much less expensive <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/8bitdos-nintendo-inspired-mechanical-keyboard-has-super-buttons-just-begging-to-be-mashed-150024778.html"><ins>Retro Mechanical Keyboard</ins></a>) and comes with programmable wireless dual Super Buttons. 8BitDo says it gets up to 300 usage hours on a charge thanks to its 6500mAh battery. It's compatible with Windows and Android, and is expected to ship in January 2026. <core-commerce id="586902f02d9d4940b84e19d4b1be4809" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://shop.8bitdo.com/products/retro-68-keyboard-nes-40th"></core-commerce> The Retro Cube 2 speaker isn't just a cosmetic update to the original Cube Speaker, but brings some improvements in battery life and functionality too. The dual-speaker system has three connection modes — Bluetooth, 2.4G wireless and wired USB — and comes with a charging dock. It has a 2000mAh battery that gets up to 30 hours of use between charges. Like the earlier version, it has D-pad controls for volume, playback and pairing. The $50 speaker ships on December 12. <core-commerce id="ec9c2d5e4e814a0d92b688c2373d6919" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://shop.8bitdo.com/products/retro-cube-2-speaker"></core-commerce> This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/8bitdo-drops-an-nes-inspired-collection-for-the-consoles-40th-anniversary-183932844.html?src=rss

Oct 18, 2025

Amazon reveals what one of the US' first modular nuclear reactors will look like

To meet its <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/general/amazons-ai-push-is-undermining-its-sustainability-goals-160156136.html">massive energy demand</a> for its AI and cloud services, Amazon is investing in nuclear power as a cleaner option. After <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/amazon-plans-to-build-small-modular-nuclear-reactors-135335184.html">signing agreements</a> to help build nuclear energy projects last year, the tech giant <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/amazon-smr-nuclear-energy">revealed plans</a> for an upcoming small modular reactor, or SMR, in Richland, Washington. Amazon is working with Energy Northwest, Washington state's utilities agency, and X-energy, an SMR developer, to build the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility. The SMR has a smaller footprint than traditional nuclear reactors, but will still offer a modular design that can pump out up to 960 megawatts of power. Amazon is planning to help develop four SMRs in the first phase of the Cascade facility that will provide an initial power capacity of 320 megawatts. After that, the facility has the option to expand to 12 units for the maximum energy output. According to Amazon, construction on the project will start sometime before the end of the decade, while operations are expected to start in the 2030s. Amazon isn't the only big tech company to lean into nuclear energy to power its AI operations. In October of last year, <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-strikes-a-deal-with-a-nuclear-startup-to-power-its-ai-data-centers-201403750.html">Google</a> partnered with a nuclear energy company called Kairos Power to construct seven SMRs across the US. A month later, Meta was also looking to build an AI data center powered by nuclear energy, but reportedly ran into a discovery of a <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:5;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/bees-reportedly-stopped-meta-from-building-a-nuclear-powered-ai-data-center-143050114.html">rare bee species</a> that held up plans.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-reveals-what-one-of-the-us-first-modular-nuclear-reactors-will-look-like-180721637.html?src=rss

Oct 18, 2025

Texas hit with a pair of lawsuits for its app store age verification requirements

Texas could have a serious legal battle on its hands thanks to an <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/texas-enacts-age-verification-law-for-app-stores-190603522.html">age verification law</a> for app stores that it recently enacted. In response to the Texas App Store Accountability Act, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) filed a lawsuit that argues the new order goes against First Amendment rights. The not-for-profit trade association has Amazon, <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-explains-how-it-will-comply-with-app-store-age-verification-requirements-in-texas-185934469.html">Apple</a> and Google amongst its members. The law goes into effect on New Year's Day and requires app store users to verify their age before downloading apps or making in-app purchases. If underage, users have to get parental consent each time they want to download an app or make another in-app purchase. Along with those stipulations, the suit claims that there's an additional burden on developers, who have to "age-rate" their apps for different age groups.  "This Texas law violates the First Amendment by restricting app stores from offering lawful content, preventing users from seeing that content, and compelling app developers to speak of their offerings in a way pleasing to the state," Stephanie Joyce, senior vice president and chief of staff for the CCIA, said in a <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://ccianet.org/news/2025/10/ccia-sues-texas-to-block-unconstitutional-app-store-law/">press release</a>. Along with CCIA, a student advocacy group called Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) filed a <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.dwt.com/about/news/2025/10/dwt-files-1a-challenge-to-texas-app-store-law">similar lawsuit</a> objecting to Texas' upcoming app store requirements. Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, the firm representing SEAT and the two high school students named in the lawsuit, said the law "violates the First Amendment by imposing sweeping restrictions on access to protected speech and information." The law firm also noted the potential dangers associated with collecting <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:5;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/us-employee-screening-firm-disa-hit-with-data-breach-affecting-over-33-million-people-145658681.html">personal information</a>, like government IDs, when it comes to verifying identity.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/texas-hit-with-a-pair-of-lawsuits-for-its-app-store-age-verification-requirements-164940290.html?src=rss

Oct 18, 2025

Court reduces damages Meta will get from spyware maker NSO Group but bans it from WhatsApp

US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton has <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://courthousenews.com/israeli-spyware-company-blocked-from-whatsapp/">reduced</a> the damages Meta is getting from the NSO Group from $167 million to $4 million, but she has also ordered the Israeli spyware maker to stop targeting WhatsApp. If you'll recall, Meta <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2019-10-30-facebook-sues-nso-group.html">sued the NSO Group</a> in 2019 over its Pegasus spyware, which it said was used to spy on 1,400 people from 20 countries, including journalists and human rights activists. Meta said at the time that Pegasus can infect targets' devices even without their participation by sending text messages with malicious codes to WhatsApp. Even a missed call is enough to infect somebody's device.  According to <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://courthousenews.com/israeli-spyware-company-blocked-from-whatsapp/">Courthouse News Service</a>, Hamilton reduced the damages because they would need to follow a legal framework designed to proportionate damages. However, she has also handed down a permanent injunction on the NSO Group's efforts to break into WhatsApp. In her decision, she took note of statements made by NSO's lawyers and its own CEO revealing that it hasn't stopped collecting WhatsApp messages and trying to get around the messaging app's security measures. The defendants previously said that the injunction Meta was requesting would "put NSO’s entire enterprise at risk" and "force NSO out of business," since WhatsApp is one of the Pegasus spyware's main ways to infect targets' devices.  "Today’s ruling bans spyware maker NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp and our global users again," said Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp. "We applaud this decision that comes after six years of litigation to hold NSO accountable for targeting members of civil society. It sets an important precedent that there are serious consequences to attacking an American company."  Hamilton wrote that the proposed injunction requires the Israeli company to delete and destroy computer code related to Meta's platforms, and that she concluded that the provision is "necessary to prevent future violations, especially given the undetectable nature of defendants’ technology." It's not quite clear how Meta will ensure that the NSO Group doesn't use WhatsApp to infect its users' devices again. Notably, the NSO Group was <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/10/spyware-maker-nso-group-confirms-acquisition-by-us-investors/">recently acquired</a> by an American investment group that invested tens of millions of dollars into it to take controlling ownership. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/court-reduces-damages-meta-will-get-from-spyware-maker-nso-group-but-bans-it-from-whatsapp-163016648.html?src=rss

Oct 18, 2025

Google has killed Privacy Sandbox

Google's <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2019-08-22-google-proposes-privacy-sandbox.html">Privacy Sandbox</a> is officially dead. In an update on the project's website, Google Vice President Anthony Chavez has <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://privacysandbox.com/news/update-on-plans-for-privacy-sandbox-technologies/">announced</a> that the company was sunsetting the remaining technologies developed for Sandbox due to their "low levels of adoption." A spokesperson has confirmed to <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.adweek.com/media/googles-privacy-sandbox-is-officially-dead/">AdWeek</a> that Google isn't just killing those technologies, it's retiring the whole initiative altogether. "We will be continuing our work to improve privacy across Chrome, Android and the web, but moving away from the Privacy Sandbox branding," the spokesperson said. "We're grateful to everyone who contributed to this initiative, and will continue to collaborate with the industry to develop and advance platform technologies that help support a healthy and thriving web." The company <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2019-08-22-google-proposes-privacy-sandbox.html">launched</a> Privacy Sandbox in 2019 as a <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2020-01-14-google-chrome-third-party-cookies.html">future replacement</a> to third-party cookies. It's a set of open standards that are supposed to enable personalized ads without divulging identifying data. Over the years, Google's plans to deprecate third-party cookies got pushed back again and again due to a series of delays and regulatory hurdles. Specifically, both the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the US Department of Justice looked into the Privacy Sandbox out of concerns that it could harm smaller advertisers.  In 2024, Google ultimately decided <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/google-isnt-killing-third-party-cookies-in-chrome-after-all-202031863.html">not to kill third-party cookies</a> in Chrome and instead chose to roll out "a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing." Just this April, Google announced that it <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-will-keep-third-party-tracking-cookies-on-chrome-as-they-are-130026362.html">wasn't going to make any to changes</a> to how third-party cookies work on the Chrome browser at all, and that it was going to "maintain [its] current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome." At the time, the company said that it was going to keep the Privacy Sandbox initiative alive, but things have clearly changed since then. Chavez wrote in the latest update that Google will "continue to utilize learnings from the retired Privacy Sandbox technologies."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/google-has-killed-privacy-sandbox-130029899.html?src=rss

Oct 18, 2025

One of our favorite budgeting apps has 50 percent off annual plans right now

Those looking for a better way to keep track of their finances should consider a <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/apps/best-budgeting-apps-120036303.html">budgeting app</a>. There are dozens of them on the market now, and one of our favorites is running a discount for new subscribers. <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Monarch Money;elmt:;cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=3944d027-cb89-4eee-bf6b-148604c29ff9&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=07209026-3487-417e-9b66-aaab79027199&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Monarch+Money&linkText=Monarch+Money&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5tb25hcmNobW9uZXkuY29tLyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiMDcyMDkwMjYtMzQ4Ny00MTdlLTliNjYtYWFhYjc5MDI3MTk5Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5tb25hcmNobW9uZXkuY29tLyJ9&signature=AQAAAT0Ut7Nem4rsZGbkFVAwL4KNEnrEGyd3WNDQRuV2G2lr&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.monarchmoney.com%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.monarchmoney.com/">Monarch Money</a> is offering 50 percent off annual plans right now when you use the code MONARCHVIP at checkout. With the typical yearly price being $100, this will save you $50. As mentioned before, the discount is only for new users and it can't be combined with other offers. The code only works when you sign up through the web as well. You can't redeem it through the Monarch mobile app. <core-commerce id="68e3d4298a9545d590aa7cc3d90be63d" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.monarchmoney.com/"></core-commerce> We feel that Monarch has a steeper learning curve than some other budget trackers and that certain aspects of the app are slightly more complex than they probably need to be. But it <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/apps/best-budgeting-apps-120036303.html">offers a great deal of customization and granularity</a>, which outweighs our misgivings. On the main dashboard, you'll see your net worth along with your latest transactions, spending versus the previous month, your income so far for the month and details about upcoming bills, your investments and goals you've set. There's also a link to a month-in-review page, which offers an in-depth overview of what's been happening with your money that month. You'll also be able to take a peek at how your net worth has changed over time. Monarch can connect to your bank and track Apple Card, Apple Cash and Savings accounts. It can pull in your transactions and balance history automatically and detect your recurring expenses and income. The app can even keep your car valuation up to date. While it might take a little work to set up Monarch (and you might have to tweak things here and there), it's a detailed budgeting app that can help you keep better track of your income, expenditure and net worth.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-budgeting-apps-has-50-percent-off-annual-plans-right-now-174011565.html?src=rss

Oct 18, 2025

A spooky NES platformer, more N++ and other new indie games worth checking out

Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. I've reluctantly paused <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ball-x-pits-deeply-satisfying-grind-keeps-me-coming-back-for-more-171000754.html" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1">Ball x Pit</a> for long enough to share some neat new releases and more details on upcoming games — some of which are arriving very soon. We've got a notable update for a classic as well. Steam Next Fest is taking place at the minute, and you still have until Monday to join in by checking out some of the many, many demos that have gone live for the event. Thanks partially (okay, almost entirely) to being unable to escape Ball x Pit, I've only tried a fewm Next Fest demos so far. <div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iOA768Gmlpo?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>I'm a fan of Aerial_Knight's Never Yield and after last year's sequel, it's cool to see solo developer Neil Jones (aka Aerial_Knight) trying something totally different. <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3987530/Aerial_Knights_DropShot_Demo/" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">Aerial_Knight’s DropShot</a> is a skydiving first-person shooter with finger guns and dragons. It’s a single-player game in which the aim is to take out your opponents and reach the ground first. Like Jones' previous games, it's stylish and fast-paced. I'm planning to check out the full game when it arrives down the line.<div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-XaY8TEaiJg?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>It certainly helps to be a fast, accurate typer when you put words together for a living, but I wasn't quick or precise enough to win any rounds in the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2413950/Final_Sentence/" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">Final Sentence demo</a>. This is a battle royale for up to 100 players in which you're at a typewriter and have to bash out sentences (or other strings of letters, numbers and symbols) in a race to the finish. If you run out of time, make too many mistakes or don't win, it's lights out, courtesy of the masked figure with a revolver who’s standing in front of you. There are some nice touches here. Having to type out the rules in the first few rounds is a clever idea on the part of developer Button Mash. I haven't won a round myself yet (I finished in second place a couple of times), but watched some streamers play. It's very funny when the winning player flips the bird at the guy holding a revolver in front of them. Final Sentence is coming to Steam later this year. Maybe I'll have learned how to spell "sphinx" by then.There are a few other Next Fest demos I'd like to try this weekend, namely:<ul><li><a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3583210/Crashout_Crew/" data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1">Crashout Crew</a> (Overcooked-style <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/crashout-crew-looks-like-overcooked-style-mayhem-from-one-of-the-studios-behind-peak-193854718.html" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1">co-op chaos with forklifts</a>)</li><li><a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2129530/REANIMAL/" data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1">Reanimal</a> (<a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/reanimal-promises-a-more-terrifying-journey-than-little-nightmares-200457474.html" data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1">co-op horror</a> from the team behind Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares 2)</li><li><a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3631290/Slots__Daggers/" data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1">Slots & Daggers</a> (as if I need <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/hades-2-slot-machine-horror-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-110000884.html" data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1">another slot-machine-based roguelite</a> in my life right now) </li><li><a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1783560/The_Last_Caretaker/" data-i13n="cpos:10;pos:1">The Last Caretaker</a> (sci-fi survival)</li><li>Goodnight Universe (we'll get to that)</li></ul>I've been looking forward to <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1263240/Skate_Story/" data-i13n="cpos:11;pos:1">Skate Story</a> for forever, but I think I'm going to skip that demo. I'm already sold and I'm fine with <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/skate-story-finally-arrives-on-december-8-160911918.html" data-i13n="cpos:12;pos:1">waiting a couple more months</a> before playing the whole thing.<div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8MEXW69kbk?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>There are a couple of showcases coming up next week that might be worth keeping an eye on. The third annual edition of DreadXP's indie horror showcase is set for 1PM ET on October 23. You can catch that on the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.youtube.com/@DreadXPGames" data-i13n="cpos:13;pos:1">publisher's YouTube channel</a>.Two hours later, you'll be able to tune into the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8-SpH8gLgA" data-i13n="cpos:14;pos:1">Galaxies Autumn showcase</a>. This will feature more than 50 games, including world premieres, gameplay trailers and other announcements. Games that will be featured include <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/powerwash-simulator-2-arrives-on-october-23-154854867.html" data-i13n="cpos:15;pos:1">PowerWash Simulator 2</a>, <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/theres-more-to-mouse-pi-for-hire-than-cartoon-violence-203044404.html" data-i13n="cpos:16;pos:1">Mouse: PI For Hire</a> and <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/denshattack-is-a-blend-of-tony-hawk-trains-and-shonen-anime-174106792.html" data-i13n="cpos:17;pos:1">Denshattack</a>, all of which are firmly on my to-play list.<h2 id="54faad53-6fef-4761-a023-428b3e5158bd">New releases</h2><div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6QlEDyY55_Q?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>Mister Scary is a weird little guy. I love when you get to play a game as a weird little guy. The game of the same name is a spooky NES homebrew platformer from Calgames. Mister Scary can stomp on his enemies, or freeze or burn them after eating a snack. When Mister Scary ducks, he becomes immune to damage because he's taking a nap. I appreciate that. Nothing scary can happen while you're snoozing.Mister Scary is $10 on <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://calgames.itch.io/mister-scary" data-i13n="cpos:18;pos:1">Itch</a>. You'll need to plug the ROM into a NES emulator to become Mister Scary.<div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e8gsIorHVGE?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>The only reason I still have Flash Player installed on my PC is so I can open N, which sits on my desktop, once in a while. I've been playing that classic freeware platformer for a long time, and now there's a good reason for many people to revisit the third entry in the series. As a thank you to the N++ community, Metanet Software is releasing a free update to mark the 10th anniversary of the game's PS4 debut. TEN++ is said to include the developer's "most challenging levels yet." Given how darn tough these games are already, that's saying something. The update is available now on <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/230270/N_NPLUSPLUS/" data-i13n="cpos:19;pos:1">Steam</a> and it's coming to the console versions of N++ soon.<div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y9b3YBcTFt8?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>The Cabin Factory is an anomaly-hunting (i.e. spot the difference) game in the style of The Exit 8. You'll examine horror-themed cabins that are built for use in movies and theme parks to make sure they aren't actually haunted. If you spot an anomaly, you'll want to get out of the cabin post haste.This $3 horror walking sim from International Cat Studios and publisher Future Friends Games debuted on Steam last year, and it just hit consoles in time for Halloween. It's out now on <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10015561/" data-i13n="cpos:20;pos:1">PS4, PS5</a>, <a target="_blank" class="link rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=67071605-d4df-494e-8d9c-c9c236b8bb38&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=b2be25d7-2136-4bcb-aa14-9857837a590a&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Microsoft&linkText=Xbox+One%2C+Xbox+Series+X%2FS&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy54Ym94LmNvbS9lbi1VUy9nYW1lcy9zdG9yZS90aGUtY2FiaW4tZmFjdG9yeS85Tkw2QkI4OTA5MlQiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6ImIyYmUyNWQ3LTIxMzYtNGJjYi1hYTE0LTk4NTc4MzdhNTkwYSIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueGJveC5jb20vZW4tVVMvZ2FtZXMvc3RvcmUvdGhlLWNhYmluLWZhY3RvcnkvOU5MNkJCODkwOTJUIn0&signature=AQAAAYixsQwPACAZq66T_BW-7B_DRMatrPHdxNoePEEq6QB3&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xbox.com%2Fen-US%2Fgames%2Fstore%2Fthe-cabin-factory%2F9NL6BB89092T" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Microsoft;elmt:;cpos:21;pos:1" data-original-link="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/the-cabin-factory/9NL6BB89092T">Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S</a> and <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/the-cabin-factory-switch/" data-i13n="cpos:22;pos:1">Nintendo Switch</a>.<h2 id="cd48edd8-1971-4211-9876-51af6629ee5b">Upcoming </h2><div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8GrQcM349mg?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>After CloverPit and Ball x Pit, I was planning to take a break from roguelikes/roguelites before diving into Hades 2. Alas, the latest game from the legendary Ron Gilbert now has a release date, and it's very soon!In Death by Scrolling, the aim is to collect enough gold to pay a ferryman so you can escape purgatory. However, there's a wall of fire coming after you the whole time, so you'll need to keep moving in order to try to stay alive. You'll also need to avoid or stun an unkillable grim reaper as you collect gold and gems that unlock upgrades. Death by Scrolling is from Gilbert's Terrible Toybox and MicroProse Software. It's coming to <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3773590/Death_by_Scrolling/" data-i13n="cpos:23;pos:1">Steam</a> on October 28.<div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lxO69IGZMpE?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>There's a lot going on in Silly Polly Beast. It's safe to say this game is a shooter, but the release date trailer rapidly flits between perspectives and genres. There's an emphasis on survival horror, along with puzzles and stealth segments. Polly will even sometimes remove the board that's strapped to her back for some skateboarding sequences. This is said to have a story that morphs and evolves as much as the gameplay does. After escaping her hellish orphanage, Polly lands right in the underworld and has to navigate her way out of that too. Developer Andrei Chernyshov and publisher Top Hat Studios are behind Silly Polly Beast. It's coming to <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1598780/Silly_Polly_Beast/" data-i13n="cpos:24;pos:1">Steam</a>, <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10016634/" data-i13n="cpos:25;pos:1">PS4, PS5</a>, <a target="_blank" class="link rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=67071605-d4df-494e-8d9c-c9c236b8bb38&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=b2be25d7-2136-4bcb-aa14-9857837a590a&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Microsoft&linkText=Xbox+One%2C+Xbox+Series+X%2FS&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy54Ym94LmNvbS9lbi1VUy9nYW1lcy9zdG9yZS9zaWxseS1wb2xseS1iZWFzdC85UDlENlIyNUM0N1YiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6ImIyYmUyNWQ3LTIxMzYtNGJjYi1hYTE0LTk4NTc4MzdhNTkwYSIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueGJveC5jb20vZW4tVVMvZ2FtZXMvc3RvcmUvc2lsbHktcG9sbHktYmVhc3QvOVA5RDZSMjVDNDdWIn0&signature=AQAAAap-UkzTgOFbVYj9w-hysWYaWbK8NKx4Qag8yDtd0MJK&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xbox.com%2Fen-US%2Fgames%2Fstore%2Fsilly-polly-beast%2F9P9D6R25C47V" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Microsoft;elmt:;cpos:26;pos:1" data-original-link="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/silly-polly-beast/9P9D6R25C47V">Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S</a> and Nintendo Switch on October 28.<div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MpivAiqGbFY?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>Also <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3309750/As_Long_As_Youre_Here/" data-i13n="cpos:27;pos:1">coming to Steam</a> on October 28 is a project from Autoscopia Interactive that's designed to be played in a single sitting. As Long As You’re Here is a first-person game that places you in the role of a woman with Alzheimer’s disease. Her memories of the past, including her late brother, blend into the present as Annie settles into living with her family. As Long As You’re Here started as a student project by Marlène Delrive, who was trying to better understand what her grandmother was experiencing in her final years. "The aim is to create a mature and nuanced experience that shows the difficult repercussions of losing not only your memory, but also your agency and sense of time and place," the developers said.<div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sMf3zJH3k_Q?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>Let's close things out with a new trailer for Goodnight Universe. This is a cinematic adventure in which you play as a six-month-old baby. This particular infant is incredibly intelligent and has psychic powers. Isaac simply desires familial love and acceptance but (shock horror!) a tech company wants to take away the tot.As with Nice Dreams' last game (the stupendous Before Your Eyes), you control Goodnight Universe with your peepers via your device's camera. It seems fascinating, and I really have to check out the Next Fest demo. Publisher Skybound Games is bringing it to <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2416100/Goodnight_Universe/" data-i13n="cpos:28;pos:1">Steam</a>, <a target="_blank" class="link rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=67071605-d4df-494e-8d9c-c9c236b8bb38&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=b2be25d7-2136-4bcb-aa14-9857837a590a&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Microsoft&linkText=Xbox+Series+X%2FS&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy54Ym94LmNvbS9lbi1VUy9nYW1lcy9zdG9yZS9nb29kbmlnaHQtdW5pdmVyc2UvOW50MzVmd25iNXBjIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJiMmJlMjVkNy0yMTM2LTRiY2ItYWExNC05ODU3ODM3YTU5MGEiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lnhib3guY29tL2VuLVVTL2dhbWVzL3N0b3JlL2dvb2RuaWdodC11bml2ZXJzZS85bnQzNWZ3bmI1cGMifQ&signature=AQAAAYnVZoSijbAI7mCBYzVpjF8ZVp4N6eztTJKQSEOFa-pP&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xbox.com%2Fen-US%2Fgames%2Fstore%2Fgoodnight-universe%2F9nt35fwnb5pc" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Microsoft;elmt:;cpos:29;pos:1" data-original-link="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/goodnight-universe/9nt35fwnb5pc">Xbox Series X/S</a>, <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10014923" data-i13n="cpos:30;pos:1">PS5</a>, Nintendo Switch and <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/goodnight-universe-switch-2/" data-i13n="cpos:31;pos:1">Switch 2</a> on November 11. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/a-spooky-nes-platformer-more-n-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-110000259.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

SpaceX's Starshield satellites are reportedly transmitting signals on unauthorized frequencies

SpaceX may be violating international telecommunication standards by allowing its Starshield satellites to transmit to Earth on frequencies it's not supposed to use, <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/17/nx-s1-5575254/spacex-starshield-starlink-signal" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1">NPR reports</a>. Starshield is a classified version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite network offered on contract to government agencies "to support national security efforts," according to the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.spacex.com/starshield" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">company's website</a>.The report is based on findings from amateur satellite tracker Scott Tilley, who observed what appeared to be Starshield satellites broadcasting on frequencies normally dedicated to "uplink" transmissions from the Earth to satellites in orbit. Using the frequencies that way violates <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/sa/R-REC-SA.1154-0-199510-I!!PDF-E.pdf" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">standards</a> set by the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.itu.int/en/Pages/default.aspx" data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1">International Telecommunication Union</a>, a United Nations agency dedicated to coordinating the use of radio spectrum across the world.Standards around which frequencies are used for uplink and downlink broadcasts to satellites were created to avoid interference, among other technical issues. "Nearby satellites could receive radio-frequency interference and could perhaps not respond properly to commands — or ignore commands — from Earth," Tilley told NPR. It's not clear yet whether SpaceX ignoring these rules is causing any issues with satellite communication, but should problems arise, there's now a possible cause.SpaceX's first major Starshield project was <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/spacex-lands-us-space-force-contract-for-starshield-satellite-communications-085045883.html" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1">a $70 million contract</a> with US Space Force in 2023. More recently in 2024, there were reports that SpaceX's Starshield division had been tasked with <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/spacex-is-reportedly-building-hundreds-of-spy-satellites-for-the-us-government-150024771.html" data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1">building out a network of spy satellites</a> to gather imagery of Earth for the Department of Defense’s National Reconnaissance Office. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacexs-starshield-satellites-are-reportedly-transmitting-signals-on-unauthorized-frequencies-212939991.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Facebook's latest AI feature can scan your phone's camera roll

A Facebook feature that scans your phone's photo library to make AI collages and edits is <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://about.fb.com/news/2025/10/new-facebook-feature-suggests-edits-and-collages-to-share/">now available</a> in North America. Meta <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/facebook-test-uses-meta-ai-to-process-photos-youve-yet-to-upload-140021100.html">tested it</a> earlier this year. It's an opt-in feature, but the company may train its models on your media if you use its AI editing or share the results. From a user experience perspective, the idea is to help you find "hidden gems" in your library and turn them into something shareable. After scanning your photo library (with your permission), it will cough up suggestions. For example, it might recommend a collage based on a vacation, a recap of a graduation party or simply spruce up some photos with AI. For better or worse, it's another step in the direction of automating creativity and skill. <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-10/a0cb48d0-ab91-11f0-bedf-ac95a3b0c21b" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-10/a0cb48d0-ab91-11f0-bedf-ac95a3b0c21b" style="height:588px;width:1046px;" alt="Screenshot of a Facebook AI feature. It lists privacy terms you agree to by clicking allow." data-uuid="90898894-2bd2-30ce-8318-a917e1faaa02"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> Zooming out to Meta's business motives, it's easy to imagine this is a move for more AI training data. The company says it won't train its AI on your camera roll "unless you choose to edit this media with our AI tools, or share." If you find it useful enough to use, your media may help train Meta's AI models. The company says the feature's suggestions are private to you until you choose to share them. Its permissions state, "To create ideas for you, we'll select media from your camera roll and upload it to our cloud on an ongoing basis, based on info like time, location or themes." However, Meta says your media won't be used for ad targeting. Fortunately, it's opt-in, so you can safely ignore this altogether without privacy worries. If you grant it permission, you'll see its suggestions (visible only to you) in Stories and Feed. And should you activate it but change your mind later, you can turn it back off through Facebook's camera roll settings. The feature is available now in the US and Canada. Meta says it will soon begin testing it in other countries.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/facebooks-latest-ai-feature-can-scan-your-phones-camera-roll-200056906.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Ring's latest partnership allows police to request camera footage through Flock

Amazon's Ring brand is <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://blog.ring.com/about-ring/ring-expands-community-requests-to-additional-community-safety-partners/" data-i13n="slk:entering into a new partnership;cpos:1;pos:1">entering into a new partnership</a> with surveillance company Flock Safety to make it possible for law enforcement to request footage from smart doorbell owners. The move is part of a pivot back to collaborating with police, after Ring spent several years distancing itself and its products from law enforcement agencies.As part of the partnership, "public safety agencies" using Flock's Nova platform or FlockOS will be able to use Ring's previously announced "Community Requests" program to receive footage captured by the camera of a Ring customer. Agencies investigating an event that might have been captured on camera will have to provide details like the "specific location and timeframe of the incident, a unique investigation code, and details about what is being investigated" before the request is passed on to relevant users. Throughout the process, the identity of Ring users is kept anonymous, as is whether they agree to share footage. The entire process is also entirely optional.Amazon and Ring's approach to working with law enforcement has varied over the years. While Ring reportedly <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ring-is-reportedly-walking-back-its-police-friendly-stance-on-data-sharing-191514423.html" data-i13n="slk:removed the ability;cpos:2;pos:1">removed the ability</a> for police to make warrantless video requests in 2024, there were <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/amazon-ring-law-enforcement-disclosure-224557384.html" data-i13n="slk:documented cases;cpos:3;pos:1">documented cases</a> of the company providing access to law enforcement in years prior. This pivot back towards a more police-friendly stance might have been prompted by Ring founder Jamie Siminoff <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ring-founder-jamie-siminoff-is-back-at-amazon-to-run-its-video-doorbell-unit-130009731.html" data-i13n="slk:returning to the Amazon-subsidiary;cpos:4;pos:1">returning to the Amazon-subsidiary</a> in April 2025. Now Amazon is reportedly <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-is-reportedly-aggressively-pitching-law-enforcement-on-its-cloud-services-215334082.html" data-i13n="slk:pitching its cloud and AI services;cpos:5;pos:1">pitching its cloud and AI services</a> to law enforcement agencies and Ring is looking to work with Flock and other surveillance companies.That might not bother the average Ring customer who already planned to opt out of sharing, but there's reasons to be concerned that Amazon is budding up with Flock. <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/" data-i13n="slk:404 Media reports;cpos:6;pos:1">404 Media reports</a> the company's surveillance tools have been used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to find and detain people, without a formal contract. <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.404media.co/ice-secret-service-navy-all-had-access-to-flocks-nationwide-network-of-cameras/" data-i13n="slk:Navy and Secret Service employees;cpos:7;pos:1">Navy and Secret Service employees</a> also reportedly had access to Flock's network. That doesn't implicate Ring in anything, but it does make the connection between the two camera networks feel more fraught.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/rings-latest-partnership-allows-police-to-access-camera-footage-through-flock-194609879.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Meta Ray-Ban Display review: Chunky frames with impressive abilities

I've been wearing the <a target="_blank" rel="" class="link rapid-with-clickid rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=e160a5dc-fb38-4e8b-ae1d-1ad5eb060fbd&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=df191793-b225-49b9-a438-e963044e3134&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Meta&linkText=%24800+Meta+Ray-Ban+Display&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5tZXRhLmNvbS9haS1nbGFzc2VzL21ldGEtcmF5LWJhbi1kaXNwbGF5LWdsYXNzZXMtYW5kLW5ldXJhbC1iYW5kLyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZGYxOTE3OTMtYjIyNS00OWI5LWE0MzgtZTk2MzA0NGUzMTM0Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5tZXRhLmNvbS9haS1nbGFzc2VzL21ldGEtcmF5LWJhbi1kaXNwbGF5LWdsYXNzZXMtYW5kLW5ldXJhbC1iYW5kLyJ9&signature=AQAAAZchp7H2n8oaiK0BRAZobFrEGtXso5yUj0Ae1GeVEcyw&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.meta.com%2Fai-glasses%2Fmeta-ray-ban-display-glasses-and-neural-band%2F" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Meta;elmt:;slk:$800 Meta Ray-Ban Display;cpos:1;pos:1" data-original-link="https://www.meta.com/ai-glasses/meta-ray-ban-display-glasses-and-neural-band/">$800 Meta Ray-Ban Display</a> glasses daily for ten days and I'm still a bit conflicted. On one hand, I'm still not entirely comfortable with how they look. I've worn them on the bus, at the office, on walks around my neighborhood and during hangouts with friends. Each time, I'm very aware that I probably look a bit strange. On the other hand, there's a lot <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-ray-ban-display-hands-on-discreet-and-intuitive-002334346.html" data-i13n="slk:I really like;cpos:2;pos:1">I really like</a> about using these glasses. The built-in display has helped me look at my phone less throughout the day. The neural band feels more innovative than any wrist-based device I've tried. Together, it feels like a significant milestone for smart glasses overall. But it's also very much a first-generation device with some issues that still need to be worked out. <core-commerce data-type="product-list" id="02930ddd-3672-4579-9676-00213cbef623" data-original-url="https://www.meta.com/ai-glasses/meta-ray-ban-display-glasses-and-neural-band/"></core-commerce> <h2 id="9237af4f-de93-4f23-91eb-0dc04ed4494a">Chunky statement glasses or hideously nerdy?</h2> To once again state the obvious: The frames are extremely chunky and too wide for my face. The dark black frames I tried for this review unfortunately accentuate the extra thickness. I won't pretend it's my best look and I did feel a bit self-conscious at times wearing these in public. Meta also makes a light brown "sand" color that I tried at the Connect event, and I think that color is a bit more flattering, even if the frames are just as oversized. (Sidenote: Smart glasses companies, please, please make your frames available in something other than black!)  But, everyone has a different face shape, skin tone and general ability to "pull off" what one of my friends charitably described as "chunky statement glasses." What looks not-great on my face, may look good on someone else. I really wish Meta could have squeezed this tech into slightly smaller frames, but I did get more used to the look the more I wore them. Overall, I do think the size is a reasonable tradeoff for a first-generation product that's pretty clearly aimed at early adopters.  <figure> <img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_sand_on_kb.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_sand_on_kb.jpg" style="height:1280px;width:1920px;" alt="Here's how they look in the lighter "sand" color. " data-uuid="768a4e98-91dd-43a4-aaf7-fe76fd07040e"> <figcaption> Here's how they look in the lighter "sand" color. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Karissa Bell for Engadget </div> </figure> The reason the glasses are so thick compared with Meta's other frames is because there are a lot of <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/ifixit-calls-metas-ray-ban-display-glasses-unrepairable-but-praises-the-tech-154820301.html" data-i13n="slk:extra components;cpos:3;pos:1">extra components</a> to power the display, including a mini projector and waveguide. And, at 69 grams, the display glasses are noticeably heavier. I didn't find it particularly uncomfortable at first, but there is a noticeable pressure after six or seven hours of wear. Plus, the extra weight and width also made them consistently slide down my nose. I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable wearing these on a bike ride or a jog as I'd worry about them falling off.  While I tested these, I was very interested to get reactions from friends and family. I didn't get many positive comments about how they looked on my face, though a few particularly generous colleagues assured me I was "pulling them off." But seeing people's reactions as soon as the display activated was another matter. Almost everyone has had the same initial reaction: "whoa."  <h2 id="bdcc9840-607e-4bbc-82a4-28e379bf32f8">Quality display with some limitations</h2> As I discussed in my <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-ray-ban-display-hands-on-discreet-and-intuitive-002334346.html" data-i13n="slk:initial impressions;cpos:4;pos:1">initial impressions</a>, these glasses have a monocular display on the right side, so it doesn't offer the kind of immersive AR I experienced with the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/metas-orion-prototype-offers-a-glimpse-into-our-ar-future-123038066.html" data-i13n="slk:Orion prototype;cpos:5;pos:1">Orion prototype</a> last year. You have to look slightly up and to the right to focus on the full-color display. It's impressively bright and clear, but doesn't overtake your vision.  At 20 degrees, the field of view is small, but it never felt like a limitation. Because the content you see isn't meant to be immersive, it never feels like what's on the display is being cut off or like you have to adjust where you're looking to properly see it. The display itself has three main menus: an app launcher, a kind of home screen where you can access Meta AI and view notifications and a settings page for adjusting brightness, volume and other preferences.  <figure> <img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_glasses_and_case.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_glasses_and_case.jpg" style="height:1280px;width:1920px;" alt="The display is in the right lens." data-uuid="96f7d369-7ccc-46ab-9e8a-98ac50e0aa97"> <figcaption> The display is in the right lens. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Karissa Bell for Engadget </div> </figure> For now, there are only a handful of Meta-created "apps" available. You can check your Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger inboxes and chat with Meta AI. There's also a simple maps app for walking navigation, a music/audio player, camera and live translation and captioning features. There's also a mini puzzle game called "Hypertrail." One of my favorite integrations was the ability to check Instagram DMs. Not only can you quickly read and respond to messages, you can watch Reels sent by your friends. While the video quality isn't as high as what you'd see on your phone, there's something very cool about quickly watching a clip without having to pull out your phone. Meta is also working on a standalone Reels experience that I'm very much looking forward to. I also enjoyed being able to view media sent in my family group chats on WhatsApp. I often would end up revisiting the photos on videos once I pulled out my phone, but being able to instantly see these messages as they came in tickled whatever part of my brain responds to instant gratification.  <figure> <img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_inside_lens.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_inside_lens.jpg" style="height:1280px;width:1920px;" alt="There's some impressive tech inside those thick frames." data-uuid="2f646449-ee7a-450a-99ab-d20eae3173bd"> <figcaption> There's some impressive tech inside those thick frames. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Karissa Bell for Engadget </div> </figure> The display also solves one of my biggest complaints with Meta's other smart glasses: that it's really difficult to frame photos. When you open the camera app on the display model, you can see a preview of the photo and even use a gesture to zoom in to properly frame your shot. Similarly, if you're on a WhatsApp video call you can see both the other person's video as well as a small preview of your own like you would on your phone's screen. It's a cool trick but the small display felt too cramped for a proper video call. People I used this with also told me that my video feed had some quality issues despite being on Wi-Fi. The glasses' live captioning and translation features are probably the best examples of Meta bringing its existing AI features into the display. I've written before about how Meta AI's translation abilities are one of <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/ray-ban-meta-2nd-gen-review-smart-glasses-are-finally-getting-useful-124720393.html" data-i13n="slk:my favorite;cpos:6;pos:1">my favorite</a> features of the Ray-Ban smart glasses. Live translation on the display is even better, because it delivers a real-time text feed of what the person in front of you is saying. I tried it out with my husband, a native Spanish speaker, and it was even more natural than the non-display glasses because I didn't have to pause and wait for the audio to relay what he was saying. It still wasn't an exactly perfect translation, and there were still a few occasions when it didn't catch everything he said, but it made the process so much simpler overall.  Likewise, live captions transcribes conversations in real-time into a similar text feed. I've found that it's a cool way to demo these glasses' capabilities, but I haven't yet found an occasion to use this in anything other than a demo. However, I still think it could be useful as an accessibility aid for anyone who has trouble hearing or processing audio.  Another feature that's useful for travel is walking navigation. Dictate an address or location (you can say something like "take me to the closest Starbucks") and the glasses' display will guide you on your route. The first time I tried this was the roughly 10-minute walk from my bus stop to Yahoo's San Francisco office. The route only required two turns, but it didn't quite work. My glasses confidently navigated me to an alleyway behind the office building rather than the entrance. These kinds of mishaps happen with lots of mapping tools — Meta's maps rely on data from OpenStreetMap and Overture — but it was a good reminder that it's still early days for this product.  I don't use Meta AI a ton on any of my smart glasses, but having a bit of visual feedback for these interactions was a nice change. I retain information much better from reading than listening, so seeing text-based output to my queries felt a lot more helpful. It's also nice that for longer responses from the assistant, you can stop the audio playback and swipe through informational cards instead. <figure> <img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_ai_display.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_ai_display.jpg" style="height:1280px;width:1920px;" alt="Meta AI on the glasses' display delivers information in a card-like interface." data-uuid="bac79172-0ab6-4874-bf31-773de3cc858e"> <figcaption> Meta AI on the glasses' display delivers information in a card-like interface. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Meta </div> </figure> While cooking dinner one night, I asked for a quick recipe for teriyaki salmon and Meta AI supplied what seemed like a passable recipe onto the display. The only drawback was the display goes to sleep pretty quickly unless you continue to interact with the content you're seeing, so the recipe I liked disappeared before I could actually attempt it. (You can view your Meta AI history in the Meta AI app if you really want to revisit something.)  My main complaint is that I want to be able to do much more with the display. Messaging app integrations are nice, but I wish the display worked with more of the apps on my phone. When it worked best, I was happy to be able to view and dismiss messaging notifications without having to touch my phone; I just wish it worked with all my phone's notifications.  There are also some frustrating limitations on sending and receiving texts. For example, there's no simple way to take a photo on your glasses and text it to a friend with the glasses. You have to wait for the glasses to send a "preview" of your message to your phone and then manually send the text. Or, you can opt in to Meta's cloud services and send the photo immediately as a link, but I'm not sure many of my friends would readily open a "media.meta.com" URL.  The glasses also don't really support non-WhatsApp group chats, at least on iOS. You can receive messages sent in group chats, but there's no indication the message originated in a group thread. And, it's impossible to reply in the same thread; instead, replies are sent directly to the person who texted, which can get confusing if you're not checking your phone. It was also a little annoying that reading and even replying to texts from my glasses wouldn't mark the text as read in my phone's inbox. Meta blames all this on Apple's iOS restrictions, and says it's hoping to work with the company to improve the experience. The company tells me that group messaging should work normally for people with Android devices and that there is also a dedicated inbox for checking texts on the glasses. I haven’t tested this out yet. <h2 id="349fd7d6-e3b7-4738-9680-8ed1a31ae0c9">The band + battery life</h2> The glasses are controlled using Meta's Neural Band, which can translate subtle gestures like finger taps into actions on the display. Because the band relies on <a target="_blank" rel="" class="link rapid-with-clickid rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=e160a5dc-fb38-4e8b-ae1d-1ad5eb060fbd&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=df191793-b225-49b9-a438-e963044e3134&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Meta&linkText=electromyography&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5tZXRhLmNvbS9lbWVyZ2luZy10ZWNoL2VtZy13ZWFyYWJsZS10ZWNobm9sb2d5LyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZGYxOTE3OTMtYjIyNS00OWI5LWE0MzgtZTk2MzA0NGUzMTM0Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5tZXRhLmNvbS9lbWVyZ2luZy10ZWNoL2VtZy13ZWFyYWJsZS10ZWNobm9sb2d5LyJ9&signature=AQAAAaZA1zwo3dm6DSVFIxfcB-DtLh7hxrNexCpXFeN3b-Yb&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.meta.com%2Femerging-tech%2Femg-wearable-technology%2F" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Meta;elmt:;slk:electromyography;cpos:7;pos:1" data-original-link="https://www.meta.com/emerging-tech/emg-wearable-technology/">electromyography</a> (EMG), you do need a fairly snug fit for it to work properly. I didn't find it uncomfortable, but, like the glasses, I don't love how it looks as a daily accessory. It also requires daily charging if you wear the glasses all day. But the band does work surprisingly well. In more than a week, it almost never missed a gesture, and it never falsely registered a gesture, despite my efforts to confuse it by fidgeting or rubbing my fingers together. The gestures themselves are also pretty intuitive and don't take long to get used to: double tapping your thumb and middle fingers wakes up or puts the display to sleep, single taps of your index and middle fingers allow you to select an item or go back, and swiping your thumb along the side of your index finger lets you navigate around the display. There are a few others, but those are the ones I used most often. <figure> <img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_neural_bamd_.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_neural_bamd_.jpg" style="height:1280px;width:1920px;" alt="The Meta Neural Band requires a snug fit to work properly." data-uuid="5c9ff5ab-4454-41d0-96cb-b5b93bd183e8"> <figcaption> The Meta Neural Band requires a snug fit to work properly. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Karissa Bell for Engadget </div> </figure> Each time you make a gesture, the band emits a small vibration so you get a bit of haptic feedback letting you know it registered. I've used hand tracking-based navigation in various VR, AR and mixed reality devices and I've always felt a bit goofy waving my hands around. But the neural band gestures work when your hand is by your side or in your pocket.  The other major drawback of these glasses is that heavy use of the display drains the battery pretty quickly. Meta says the Ray-Ban Display’s battery can go about six hours on a single charge, but it really depends on how much you're using the display. With very limited use, l was able to stretch the battery to about seven hours, but if you're doing display-intensive tasks like video calling or live translation, it will die much, much more quickly.  <figure> <img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_group_black.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_group_black.jpg" style="height:1280px;width:1920px;" alt="The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, charging case and neural band." data-uuid="bcc9b710-c0dd-40d7-a46a-8e88b80bd8d3"> <figcaption> The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, charging case and neural band. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Karissa Bell for Engadget </div> </figure> The glasses do come with a charging case that can deliver a few extra charges on-the-go, but I was a bit surprised at how often I had to recharge the case. With my normal Ray-Ban Meta glasses I can go several days without topping up the charging case, but with the Meta Ray-Ban Display case, I'm charging it at least every other day.  <h2 id="39901e8f-4170-4fec-b082-8f368b371adf">Privacy and safety</h2> Whenever I write or post on social media about a pair of Meta-branded glasses, I inevitably hear from people concerned about the privacy implications of these devices. As I wrote in my recent review of Meta's <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/ray-ban-meta-2nd-gen-review-smart-glasses-are-finally-getting-useful-124720393.html" data-i13n="slk:second-gen Ray-Ban;cpos:8;pos:1">second-gen Ray-Ban</a> glasses, I share a lot of these concerns. Meta has made subtle but meaningful changes to its glasses' privacy policy over the last year, and its track record suggests these devices will inevitably scoop up more of our data over time. In terms of privacy implications of the display-enabled glasses, there isn't a meaningful difference compared to their counterparts. Meta's policies are the same for all its wearables. I suppose you could use live translation to surreptitiously eavesdrop on a conversation you wouldn't typically understand, though that's technically possible with Meta's other glasses too. And the addition of a wrist-based controller means taking photos is a bit less obvious, but there's still an LED indicator that lights up when the camera is on.  <figure> <img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_folded.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/meta_display_folded.jpg" style="height:1280px;width:1920px;" alt="The neural band allows you to snap photos without touching the capture button or using a voice command." data-uuid="57d76692-9602-48d3-ae72-4f44c3e2ece6"> <figcaption> The neural band allows you to snap photos without touching the capture button or using a voice command. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Karissa Bell for Engadget </div> </figure> I have been surprised at how many people have asked me if these glasses have some kind of facial recognition abilities. I'm not sure if that's a sign of people's general distrust of Meta, or an assumption based on seeing similar glasses in sci-fi flicks, but I do think it's telling. (They don't, to be clear. Meta currently only uses facial recognition for two <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-is-bringing-back-facial-recognition-with-new-safety-features-for-facebook-and-instagram-222523426.html" data-i13n="slk:safety-related features;cpos:9;pos:1">safety-related features</a> on Facebook and Instagram.) Meta hasn't done much to earn people's trust when it comes to privacy, and I wish the company would use its growing wearables business to try to prove otherwise. On a more practical level, I have some safety concerns. The display didn't hinder my situational awareness while walking, but I could see how it might for others. And I'm definitely not comfortable using the display while driving. Meta does have an audio-only "driving detection" setting that can automatically kick in when you're traveling in a car, but the feature is optional, which seems potentially problematic.  <h2 id="0af5c1fd-f042-43e9-b313-68713e7a3c9a">Should you buy these?</h2> In short: probably not. As much as I've been genuinely impressed with Meta's display tech, I don't think these glasses make sense for most people right now. And, at $800, the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are more than twice as much as the company's <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/ray-ban-meta-2nd-gen-review-smart-glasses-are-finally-getting-useful-124720393.html" data-i13n="slk:very good;cpos:10;pos:1">very good</a> second-generation Ray-Ban glasses, which come in a wide range of much more normal-looking frame styles and colors.  The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, on the other hand, still look very much like a first-gen product. There are some really compelling use cases for the display, but its functionality is limited. The glasses are also too thick and bulky for what's meant to be an everyday accessory. At the end of the day, most people want glasses that make them look good. There’s also the fact that right now, these glasses are somewhat difficult to actually buy. They are only available at a handful <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/how-to-buy-and-try-the-meta-ray-ban-display-glasses-121500138.html" data-i13n="slk:of physical retailers;cpos:11;pos:1">of physical retailers</a>, which currently have a very limited supply, Meta is also requiring would-be buyers to schedule demo appointments in order to buy, though some stores — like the LensCrafters where I bought my pair — aren’t enforcing this. Still, there's a lot to be excited about. Watching people's reactions to trying these has been almost as much fun as using them myself. Meta also has a solid lineup of new features already in the works, including a standalone Reels app, a teleprompter and gesture-based handwriting for message replies. If you're already all-in on smart glasses or, like me, you've been patiently waiting for glasses with a high quality, usable display, then the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are worth the investment now — as long as you can accept the thick frames. Update, October 17, 2025, 3:42PM PT: Added more information about group text functionality on Android. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-ray-ban-display-review-chunky-frames-with-impressive-abilities-193127070.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

The US and Saudi Arabia just derailed a global plan to cut shipping emissions

The US and Saudi Arabia have managed to derail negotiations regarding a landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions, <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vnl0yxg53o">according to a report by the BBC</a>. The deal had <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.imo.org/en/mediacentre/pressbriefings/pages/imo-approves-netzero-regulations.aspx">already been approved</a> and would have made shipping the world's first industry to adopt internationally mandated emissions guidelines. Representatives from more than 100 countries had gathered in London to formally approve the so-called global carbon tax, <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://earthgovernance.org/blog/countries-reach-historic-deal-to-cut-shipping-emissions/">after nearly ten years of negotiations</a>. However, the US government had been pressuring countries to vote "no" on the measure, <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/17/climate/imo-shipping-carbon-tax-trump">threatening tariffs</a> if met with noncompliance. The US also <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/10/taking-action-to-defend-america-from-the-uns-first-global-carbon-tax-the-international-maritime-organizations-imo-net-zero-framework-nzf">threatened other sanctions</a>, including blocking vessels from ports and visa restrictions. President Trump <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115385308751129485">has called it</a> a "global green new scam." The country <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/us-exits-carbon-talks-shipping-urges-others-follow-document-2025-04-09/">withdrew from talks back in April</a>, just before the plan was approved. Saudi Arabia instituted a plan to derail negotiations. The country tabled a motion to adjourn talks for a year, at a time when most countries were set to vote on it. That passed by just a handful of votes, with approving votes coming from both the US and Russia. This essentially destroys the plan, despite technically being just a delay, as timelines will have to be renegotiated. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the outcome a <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1979209616425644482">"huge win"</a> for Trump. <div id="c6a4f4e8978c48c0ad6ee4bd0411780e"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-IgNcYB6GaI?si=80aaxurapGLHVXH9" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> Even the shipping industry was on-board with the plan, as it offered consistent global standards that don't currently exist. Industries like certainty. Thomas Kazakos, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping, said that the organization is "disappointed that member states have not been able to agree a way forward at this meeting." He also said that the "industry needs clarity to be able to make the investments." <div id="53dfbd87be364e91a94b44a67610416e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">📣 Statement from International Chamber of Shipping following conclusion of MEPC ES 📣 International Chamber of Shipping disappointed that Member States have not been able to agree For the full statement click here - <a href="https://t.co/PXNiDhh9QG">https://t.co/PXNiDhh9QG</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MEPCES?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MEPCES</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IMO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IMO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICS</a>— International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) (@shippingics) <a href="https://twitter.com/shippingics/status/1979201913380868203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote> </div> Meanwhile, carbon dioxide levels <a data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1" href="https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/carbon-dioxide-levels-increase-record-amount-new-highs-2024">reached record highs in 2024</a> and we aren't doing too much about it. This agreement would've forced ship owners to use cleaner fuels beginning in 2028, or face fines. Shipping currently makes up around three percent of global carbon emissions, <a data-i13n="cpos:10;pos:1" href="https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/environment/pages/2023-imo-strategy-on-reduction-of-ghg-emissions-from-ships.aspx">but that's expected to rise</a> by anywhere from ten percent to 150 percent by 2050. Countries are expected to reconvene in April to discuss the plan, but this will likely not feature a vote. It'll likely be a renegotiation from the ground up.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-us-and-saudi-arabia-just-derailed-a-global-plan-to-cut-shipping-emissions-184204170.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Twitch rule-breakers, rejoice: Targeted enforcement will replace blanket bans

Oct 17, 2025

Blizzard teams working on Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble unionize

Blizzard developers working on Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble have <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/hearthstone-and-warcraft-rumble-developers-form-union-communications-workers-america" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1">formed a new union</a>, the latest in a series of labor wins at the Microsoft-owned studio. The over 100-person unit is represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA), and counts "software engineers, designers, artists, quality assurance testers and producers" among its members.Inspiration to form the new union came from the successful organizing efforts of Blizzard's <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/world-of-warcraft-workers-unlock-form-a-union-achievement-220148151.html" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">World of Warcraft workers</a> last year. The staff behind the classic MMO formed the Warcraft Gamemakers Guild last year, and were followed by similar unions representing developers working on <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/over-450-diablo-developers-at-blizzard-have-unionized-180544383.html" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">Diablo</a> and <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-developers-behind-overwatch-have-unionized-154021756.html" data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1">Overwatch</a> earlier in 2025. According to the CWA, over 1,900 workers at Blizzard are now represented by the organization.The new union is arriving at a critical time. Blizzard's parent company Microsoft made major cuts <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-gaming-division-suffers-further-layoffs-142430386.html" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1">across its gaming division</a> this summer, including layoffs that reportedly led to Blizzard <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/blizzard-is-giving-up-on-its-warcraft-mobile-game-amid-layoffs-215021940.html" data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1">winding down development</a> on Warcraft Rumble. Union membership has flourished across Microsoft's studios because of neutrality agreements the company signed with CWA respecting its workers' right to organize at <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-activision-blizzard-unionization-agreement-cwa-163550095.html" data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1">Activision Blizzard in 2022</a> and <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-and-cwa-forge-labor-neutrality-agreement-covering-all-zenimax-workers-212643324.html" data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1">ZeniMax in 2024</a>, but the environment is on the brink of possible change. <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://aftermath.site/battle-net-workers-unionize-blizzard-entertainment-cwa" data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1">Aftermath reports</a> that the neutrality agreement covering Activision Blizzard workers expires in October 2025, which could make forming future unions more difficult. Microsoft signed its first neutrality agreement to reassure regulators about its <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-133637845.html" data-i13n="cpos:10;pos:1">$68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard</a>, but now that the deal is done and dusted, the company has less of a reason to play nice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/blizzard-teams-working-on-hearthstone-and-warcraft-rumble-unionize-182104024.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

WhatsApp will test a monthly cap on messages ignored by recipients

WhatsApp is taking a new anti-spam feature for a spin. On Friday, TechCrunch <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/17/whatsapp-will-curb-the-number-of-messages-people-and-businesses-can-send-without-a-response/">reported</a> that the trial limits the number of messages accounts can send without a reply from the recipient. The company is currently experimenting with different limits. But it's aiming for a number that only targets high-volume senders and spammers. All messages from individuals and businesses are said to count toward this cap. That includes multiple unread ones sent to the same recipient. But if the person replies, those messages are removed from the monthly tally. WhatsApp will show a warning to accounts nearing the limit. The company told TechCrunch that average users won't likely reach the limit. It's generally good form for individuals not to keep messaging people who don't reply anyway. So, the test indeed sounds tailor-made for businesses and spammers. The test will roll out in multiple countries over the coming weeks. The trial is the Meta-owned company's latest attempt to fend off its festering spam and scam problem. Last year, it <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/20/whatsapp-will-finally-let-you-unsubscribe-from-business-marketing-spam/">added</a> the ability to unsubscribe from businesses' marketing messages. This August, it <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/whatsapp-adds-new-warning-about-potential-group-chat-messaging-scams-160013367.html">began notifying users</a> when someone not in their contacts adds them to a group. Alongside that announcement, WhatsApp said it banned over 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centers in the first half of 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/whatsapp-will-test-a-monthly-cap-on-messages-ignored-by-recipients-164024928.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Atari just announced the Intellivision Spirit, a revamp of the iconic 1980s gaming console

Atari <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://atari.com/products/intellivision-sprint"><ins>just revealed the Intellivision Spirit</ins></a>, a modern refresh of the classic Intellivision gaming console from 1980. The new console certainly looks like the original. You can practically smell the cigarette-soaked carpeting from here. Beyond aesthetics, this console includes plenty of newfangled bells and whistles. The controllers are wireless, which is a technology that didn't quite exist in the 1980s, and it connects to TVs via HDMI. <div id="1890a39038904099b2eeee909fc28f91"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/srqUdmzcQbc?si=efN4SMJpr0mJwK2E" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> It also includes 45 built-in games, reminding me of stuff like the <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2016-11-11-nes-classic-edition-review.html"><ins>NES Classic</ins></a> and the <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ataris-2600-is-a-miniature-console-that-plays-2600-and-7800-game-carts-171014464.html"><ins>Atari 2600+</ins></a>. The library includes plenty of sports and strategy titles, because those genres were considered the console's biggest strength way back when. Other games include the puzzler Boulder Dash and a riff on Space Invaders called Space Armada. Each title comes with a unique overlay that gets placed on the gamepad, showing off the controls. This is an interesting bit of tech because Intellivision was once Atari's greatest rival, which was sort of like a proto-version of the classic Nintendo/Sega rivalry. Atari <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/atari-just-bought-intellivision-putting-an-end-to-the-very-first-console-war-172320606.html"><ins>actually bought Intellivision last year</ins></a>, officially putting the decades-long struggle to bed. The Intellivision Spirit costs $150. Preorders are available right now and shipments start going out on December 5. It's good to know that this thing isn't vaporware, like Intellivision's <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/intellivision-cant-afford-to-make-its-long-delayed-amico-retro-console-160952928.html"><ins>long-gestating Amico console</ins></a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/atari-just-announced-the-intellivision-spirit-a-revamp-of-the-iconic-1980s-gaming-console-163210832.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Samsung's 2025 Frame Pro QLED TV is on sale for a record low price

Samsung's 2025 <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0DXNB3QB2&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=6d7b2f50-1477-49cc-b5c4-61eefc96f838&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=The+Frame+Pro+QLED+Mini+LED+Smart+TV&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFhOQjNRQjI_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNmQ3YjJmNTAtMTQ3Ny00OWNjLWI1YzQtNjFlZWZjOTZmODM4Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFhOQjNRQjIiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAfZLtwdef4ZxeN20eEJBAoJH3t9FvzSwu9Mn91YURFOd&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DXNB3QB2" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXNB3QB2?th=1"><ins>The Frame Pro QLED Mini LED Smart TV</ins></a> is on sale for a record-low price. The 65-inch model that normally retails for $2,200 is on sale for $1,760, which is the lowest we've ever seen it. <core-commerce id="edfb432996854f01bed956a287f801fa" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXNB3QB2?th=1"></core-commerce> The 1-inch-thick "art" TV uses Samsung's impressive <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/samsungs-frame-pro-tv-features-the-companys-high-end-neo-qled-panel-030042346.html">4K Neo QLED panel</a>, which is a quantum dot LCD panel with a Mini LED backlight array. The Frame Pro can display lifelike art pieces when the TV isn't in use, while its sleek design means it also looks great when turned off. The Frame Pro comes with Samsung's new Wireless One Connect Box, which is supposed to help with cable management by putting the TV's inputs in a separate box that then wirelessly transmits the feed from your external device to the TV. It does require its own power supply, though, so that's one more plug needed if you are connecting a console or a streaming device. The TV also carries the NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor, which imbues the Frame Pro with AI-enhanced picture and sound. This model also comes with Samsung Vision AI, which works to upscale the image on screen, create personalized experiences and more. This 2025 model was <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/samsung-is-not-selling-the-frame-pro-for-cheap-185607096.html"><ins>just made available</ins></a> to order earlier this year, and the current sale price is surprisingly lower than it was during last week's Prime Day event, proving sometimes good things come to those who wait.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/samsungs-2025-frame-pro-qled-tv-is-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-155913911.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Get three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for only $52 right now

Newegg is selling <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Newegg;elmt:;cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=6ce976db-26d7-4094-a1be-4d1496b213f0&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=7fad9246-f223-4fea-a6ca-8568f5116bf8&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Newegg&linkText=three+months+of+Xbox+Game+Pass+Ultimate&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdlZ2cuY29tL21pY3Jvc29mdC0zLW1vbnRocy9wL044MkUxNjgzMjM1MDM5OT8iLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjdmYWQ5MjQ2LWYyMjMtNGZlYS1hNmNhLTg1NjhmNTExNmJmOCIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmV3ZWdnLmNvbS9taWNyb3NvZnQtMy1tb250aHMvcC9OODJFMTY4MzIzNTAzOTk_In0&signature=AQAAAZjWn4qMdn9StGOltelwiTXP8fQGcwOxe3jfa1OuPKkf&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2Fmicrosoft-3-months%2Fp%2FN82E16832350399%3F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-3-months/p/N82E16832350399?"><ins>three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate</ins></a> for $52, which is a fantastic deal. The list price is $60, but drops down to $52 by entering the code SSE2589 at checkout. The sale ends soon, so don't dilly-dally. This is a discount of $38, thanks to <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-jacks-the-price-of-game-pass-ultimate-up-to-30-a-month-142441307.html"><ins>Microsoft mandating a price hike</ins></a> that brought a single month of Game Pass Ultimate up to $30. That controversial move has <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/greed-over-gaming-game-pass-price-hike-slammed-by-xbox-co-founder-as-a-betrayal-to-fans-says-the-company-threw-away-one-of-their-last-advantages/"><ins>irked fans of the subscription service</ins></a>. In other words, make sure to cancel at the end of the three months to avoid getting slammed in the bank account. <core-commerce id="541faf0c62b34704936099177fc31853" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-3-months/p/N82E16832350399?"></core-commerce> Despite the absolutely bonkers move to raise the price by 50 percent in one fell swoop, Game Pass Ultimate is still a fantastic service with over 400 games to choose from. It's home to plenty of standout titles, including recent hits like <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/clair-obscur-expedition-33-review-an-original-hit-rpg-090012488.html"><ins>Clair Obscur Expedition 33</ins></a> and the indie darling that's currently wrecking productivity across the world, <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ball-x-pits-deeply-satisfying-grind-keeps-me-coming-back-for-more-171000754.html"><ins>Ball x Pit</ins></a>. The platform recently integrated with Ubisoft+, which offers access to dozens more games in franchises like Far Cry and Assassin's Creed. A subscription also signs up users with Fortnite Crew, which gives access to the game's battle pass, 1,000 V-Bucks each month and other perks. Follow <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals">@EngadgetDeals</a> on X for the latest <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/deals/">tech deals</a> and <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-tech/">buying advice</a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-three-months-of-xbox-game-pass-ultimate-for-only-52-right-now-152331537.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd gen) review: Impactful upgrades to a familiar formula

Bose took a different approach with its new products in 2025. Instead of entirely redesigning  its <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-review-a-new-spin-on-a-reliable-formula-160009025.html" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1">QuietComfort Ultra</a> lineup, the company unveiled upgraded second-generation models of the flagship-level <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/boses-second-gen-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-have-ai-enhanced-adaptive-anc-130057912.html" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">earbuds</a> and <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bose-overhauls-the-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-with-lossless-audio-and-longer-battery-life-130018894.html" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">headphones</a>. Like the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-2nd-gen-review-still-a-noise-canceling-powerhouse-153017601.html" data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1">QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds</a> that debuted earlier this year, the new <a target="_blank" class="link rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0FDKR293G&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=3d41a5af-352a-4bc5-ba97-fe90dc78f118&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Quiet+Comfort+Ultra+headphones+%28%24449%29&custData=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&signature=AQAAATee02Q0Xpy3pxiqy5z_sEV3XhmFMfk0itlmGskNWvWv&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBose-QuietComfort-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancelling%2Fdp%2FB0FDKR293G" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:5;pos:1" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/Bose-QuietComfort-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancelling/dp/B0FDKR293G">Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones ($449)</a> don’t offer a comprehensive overhaul. However, the changes provide enough performance improvements to further cement these as <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-noise-canceling-headphones-130029881.html" data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1">the best noise-canceling headphones</a> that you can buy right now. Trust me, we’re much better off with this revamped version than we would be with a year (or longer) wait for something brand new with the 2023 model. <core-commerce data-type="product-list" id="d2ebe4bc-52bf-44b6-8ca1-001b947575e0" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Bose-QuietComfort-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancelling/dp/B0FDKR293G"></core-commerce> <h2 id="161f62c5-8aae-44bc-8e81-5f836e2071ea">What’s new on the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?</h2> Bose debuted a few new features on the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-earbuds-2nd-gen-review-still-a-noise-canceling-powerhouse-153017601.html" data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1">second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds</a> in August that it carried over to these new headphones. First, the company improved its already stellar active noise cancelation (ANC) with tweaks to its ActiveSense technology. Specifically, the system can respond to sudden spikes in environmental noise by adapting more precisely. It’s not something you’ll notice all the time, but when you need it, you’ll be glad it's there. Otherwise, the excellent ANC performance here is just as effective as it was on the previous model. More on that in a bit. The immersive Cinema Mode that Bose added to the QC Ultra Earbuds is also available on these headphones. It’s a sound profile that enhances dialogue clarity while keeping the rest of the soundstage as wide and enveloping as possible. I like it best for movies and TV, as the name suggests, but per Bose’s suggestion I also tried it with podcasts and audiobooks. Cinema Mode is probably overkill for those types of content, unless you’re listening to shows or titles with lots of background effects.  One of the biggest changes on the second-gen QC Ultra Headphones is how Bose decided to handle power management. Most importantly, the company extended battery life in all use cases. With ANC on (and Immersive Audio off), you’ll get up to 30 hours of listening time. Turn off ANC and that jumps to 45 hours. When you decide to enable both ANC and Bose’s spatial Immersive Audio, you can expect up to 23 hours on a charge. Compared to those on the first-generation model, all of these numbers are up by at least five hours, which is a significant boost.  <figure> <img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/DSC_5360.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/DSC_5360.jpg" style="height:1707px;width:2560px;" alt="These headphones rotate flat and fold in for compact transport. " data-uuid="c36d63a2-8ba2-46cc-8548-e372eabb4e0a"> <figcaption> These headphones rotate flat and fold in for compact transport. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Billy Steele for Engadget </div> </figure> Like the previous QC Ultra Headphones, this model has an automatic disconnection feature after 10 minutes of standby . But the company went a step further on this version by adding a low-power mode that the headphones enter after 30 minutes of idle time. And if you want to disconnect them quickly, you can rotate the earcups and lay them on a flat surface. That’ll make them go into a deeper standby mode that Bose says can run “for months.” All of this means you can effectively turn the new QuietComfort Ultra Headphones on and off by putting them on and taking them off. If you’re using them regularly, you’ll never have to press the power button.  Sound-wise, the big upgrade on these headphones is the addition of lossless audio over USB-C. Like <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/how-to-use-lossless-audio-on-the-airpods-max-180026218.html" data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1">the AirPods Max</a>, this model can be connected with a cable to your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop to stream or play higher-quality tunes from compatible services or your library. Bose says you can expect 16-bit 44.1kHz or 48kHz audio depending on your source. It’s yet another nice-to-have feature that’s becoming standard fare on premium wireless headphones.  <h2 id="6ec6f9ce-6704-4ff3-a2e7-48ad98a0220b">What else is good about the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?</h2> Like most Bose over-ear headphones, the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are supremely comfortable. Even for long periods of time, they never become a burden, and that’s thanks in large part to the soft, pillowy ear pads. I could easily wear these for an entire trans-Atlantic flight with minimal discomfort and I’ve been wearing them for entire workdays at home.  As I already mentioned, the ANC performance here is still top-tier. In fact, these QC Ultra Headphones will soon replace the first-gen model on our <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-noise-canceling-headphones-130029881.html" data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1">best noise-canceling headphones</a> list. Both the Immersion (ANC + spatial audio) and Quiet (just ANC) modes provide robust noise blocking that surpasses those by Sony, Sennheiser and others. If you’re making your buying decision based solely on ANC performance, this is the best option. You’ll enjoy relief from constant ambient noise sources like fans and sound machines, plus the QC Ultra Headphones do a respectable job with human voices. Heck, I couldn’t even hear my dog barking at the imminent threat from falling leaves outside.  Lastly, Bose’s take on spatial audio is still quite good. The company calls it Immersive Audio and the feature doesn’t rely on specialized content like other headphones. Music sounds obviously fuller and slightly louder when the sound profile is active thanks to Bose’s method for upscaling stereo content. There’s also enhanced vocal clarity and elements like percussion and synths are less compressed than usual. The headphones lend a particularly airy feel to the tracks of Ruston Kelly’s Pale, Through the Window, an acoustic-driven collection of soulful, country-tinged tunes. His vocals float atop enveloping acoustic guitars and tight, punchy drums. <h2 id="eae1f835-e87b-4af6-b7a2-2798e292ea92">What’s not so good about the QC Ultra Headphones?</h2> <figure> <img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/DSC_5440.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/DSC_5440.jpg" style="height:1707px;width:2560px;" alt="The Bose app gives you access to controls and customization. " data-uuid="07a401fa-403f-4bcd-9882-a63a86445296"> <figcaption> The Bose app gives you access to controls and customization. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Billy Steele for Engadget </div> </figure> The biggest issue with the second-gen QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is the price. To be clear, the likes of Sony, Apple and others charge around the same amount for their top-of-the-line models, but $449 is still a significant investment. If that’s too steep for you, Bose has the highly capable <a target="_blank" class="link rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0D4Z9C562&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=3d41a5af-352a-4bc5-ba97-fe90dc78f118&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=QuietComfort+Headphones&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2dwL2F3L2QvQjBENFo5QzU2Mi8_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiM2Q0MWE1YWYtMzUyYS00YmM1LWJhOTctZmU5MGRjNzhmMTE4Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2dwL2F3L2QvQjBENFo5QzU2Mi8iLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAXVICQZ9BTRe97zgQ7boTMH05Q_Q2HOFIO8CZDVVchdt&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Faw%2Fd%2FB0D4Z9C562%2F" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:10;pos:1" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0D4Z9C562/?th=1">QuietComfort Headphones</a> in its arsenal for a slightly more palatable $359. My other gripe is that the only real design change Bose made for the updated QC Ultra Headphones is that the metal headband yokes now have a gloss finish. Depending on your personal preference, this might be a dealbreaker for you. It’s least noticeable on the black and violet colorways, since these have a tone-on-tone look. After a few weeks with the bronze and tan Driftwood Sand hue, I’m not a fan of the more stylized aesthetic. It’s flashy, for sure, but it’s a tweak I could’ve done without.  <h2 id="ae6bcab8-6a1e-4aaa-821a-abc1395d4039">Wrap-up</h2> Similar to the second-gen QC Ultra Earbuds over the summer, Bose didn’t make huge upgrades for the updated version of the QC Ultra Headphones. But what you do get here is a decent improvement over its predecessor. The company devised an intuitive setup for power management and even addressed one of my main gripes with the original by adding support for lossless audio over USB-C. Plus, the extended battery life is significant in all sound modes, and not just by an hour or two here or there. To top it all off, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones remain the best option for pure noise-blocking ability, and that’s not likely to change any time soon.<core-slideshow data-slideshowid="270ce75f-b558-4456-ad98-7f2c485d6739" /> This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bose-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-2nd-gen-review-impactful-upgrades-to-a-familiar-formula-150000709.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Apple is the new home for F1 racing in the US starting in 2026

Apple has <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Apple;elmt:;cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=4130e2f0-a14f-4c5e-bdab-cd52ac7d8e79&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=00546ee9-8747-40af-ac33-2197f7af69bb&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Apple&linkText=secured+an+exclusive+deal&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hcHBsZS5jb20vbmV3c3Jvb20vMjAyNS8xMC9hcHBsZS1pcy10aGUtZXhjbHVzaXZlLW5ldy1icm9hZGNhc3QtcGFydG5lci1mb3ItZm9ybXVsYS0xLWluLXRoZS11cy8iLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjAwNTQ2ZWU5LTg3NDctNDBhZi1hYzMzLTIxOTdmN2FmNjliYiIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXBwbGUuY29tL25ld3Nyb29tLzIwMjUvMTAvYXBwbGUtaXMtdGhlLWV4Y2x1c2l2ZS1uZXctYnJvYWRjYXN0LXBhcnRuZXItZm9yLWZvcm11bGEtMS1pbi10aGUtdXMvIn0&signature=AQAAAXJgIlsLVP2VVnQ4G-5iORM1Ry4SHA-BoqAO8qi_ySvu&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fnewsroom%2F2025%2F10%2Fapple-is-the-exclusive-new-broadcast-partner-for-formula-1-in-the-us%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/10/apple-is-the-exclusive-new-broadcast-partner-for-formula-1-in-the-us/"><ins>secured an exclusive deal</ins></a> for the US broadcast rights to Formula 1 racing. Under the terms of a five-year pact with F1 parent company Liberty Media, Apple TV will air every F1 race starting in 2026. The company says subscribers to the <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-tv-is-now-just-apple-tv-200644609.html">newly rebranded Apple TV</a> will be able to watch every Grand Prix, along with each practice, qualifying and sprint session. Non-subscribers will be able to watch "select races" for free in the Apple TV app. You won't have to pony up to watch practice sessions. Through the Apple Sports app, F1 fans can get live updates on qualifying and sprint sessions as well as Grands Prix. Expect real-time leaderboards (including for the driver and constructor championships), along with an iPhone home screen widget and Live Activities on the lock screen. Apple will bring F1-related features to its News, Music, Maps and Fitness+ apps as well. The company will reveal more about "production details, product enhancements and all the ways fans will be able to enjoy F1 content across Apple products and services" in the lead up to the 2026 season, which starts with the Australian Grand Prix in March. Formula 1 has its own dedicated streaming service and that's not going away entirely in the US, but F1 TV Premium will be exclusively available through Apple TV. In fact, F1 TV Premium (which currently costs $130 per year) will be a free perk for Apple TV subscribers in the US. You'll just need to link your F1 TV account to an Apple Account that has an active Apple TV subscription. F1 TV Premium includes access to features like multiview, driver cams and team radio chatter, along with live telemetry and tire usage data. Live F2, F3, F1 Academy and Porsche Supercup coverage is included too. The F1 deal will diversify Apple's sports offerings. The company already has a long-term pact with MLS for exclusive rights to air games from North America's top soccer league. However, the future of baseball on Apple TV is murky, with reports suggesting that Apple is <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://9to5mac.com/2025/08/19/apple-mlb-friday-night-baseball-to-end/">set to cut ties with MLB</a>. It was <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-may-be-trying-to-pick-up-formula-1s-us-broadcast-rights-120049326.html">rumored</a> in July that Apple might be looking to add the driving event to its sports programming. The company <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://deadline.com/2025/09/formula-1-media-rights-talks-ceo-liberty-media-apple-espn-1236512299/">allegedly</a> bid between $120 million and $150 million a year for access to F1, which lapped the $90 million a year offered by ESPN, which previously had the US rights. The company may also be looking to capitalize on the success of its F1 the Movie project, which Engadget's Devindra Hardawar found to be an excellent racing film, a flashy summer blockbuster and an ostentatious commercial for Apple in his <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/f1-the-movie-review-a-shameless-apple-ad-that-will-blow-your-socks-off-144808364.html">review</a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-is-the-new-home-for-f1-racing-in-the-us-starting-in-2026-133619412.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Wikimedia says AI bots and summaries are hurting Wikipedia's traffic

Wikimedia is sounding the alarm on the impact AI is having on reliable knowledge and information on the internet. In a <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://diff.wikimedia.org/2025/10/17/new-user-trends-on-wikipedia/"><ins>blog post</ins></a>, Wikimedia's senior director of product, Marshall Miller, lays out the impact on page views that the foundation attributes to the rise of LLM chatbots and AI-generated summaries in search results.  "We believe that these declines reflect the impact of generative AI and social media on how people seek information, especially with search engines providing answers directly to searchers, often based on Wikipedia content," said Miller. The foundation has increasingly faced <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/wikipedia-is-struggling-with-voracious-ai-bot-crawlers-121546854.html"><ins>AI bot crawlers</ins></a> whose sophistication has made it difficult to parse human traffic from bots. After improving bot detection to yield more accurate metrics, Wikipedia's data shows an 8 percent drop in page views year over year. Miller paints a picture of an existential risk greater than that of a website's page views. He posits that if Wikipedia's traffic continues to decline, it could threaten what he calls "the only site of its scale with standards of verifiability, neutrality and transparency powering information all over the internet." He warns that fewer visits to Wikipedia would lead to fewer volunteers, less funding and ultimately less reliable content. The solution he offers is for LLMs and search results to be more intentional in giving users the opportunity to interact directly with the source for the information being presented. "For people to trust information shared on the internet, platforms should make it clear where the information is sourced from and elevate opportunities to visit and participate in those sources," Miller writes. Earlier this summer, Wikipedia floated the idea of AI-generated summaries that would appear at the top of articles. The project was <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/wikipedia-cancels-plan-to-test-ai-summaries-after-editors-skewer-the-idea-200029899.html"><ins>ultimately dropped</ins></a> before it began after fierce backlash from the site's volunteer editors.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/wikimedia-says-ai-bots-and-summaries-are-hurting-wikipedias-traffic-134331033.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

AT&T's home internet is getting a $5 price hike

<a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/att-acquires-23-billion-worth-of-spectrum-licenses-from-echostar-154549655.html">AT&T</a> has been sending out <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ATT/comments/1o7lxlx/att_increasing_fiber_by_5_a_month_again/">emails</a> to its home internet subscribers, notifying them that their plans will cost $5 more a month starting on December 1. The company has confirmed the price hike to <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.theverge.com/news/801423/att-fiber-home-internet-december-2025-price-raise-hike">The Verge</a>, who noted that it already raised its prices by $5 a month in November 2024 and that it's raising prices again despite earning $4.9 billion in profit last quarter. AT&T wrote in its email that it's charging $5 more for its its home internet plans "[t]o ensure [it continues] providing the quality service and support [customers] deserve." "As we work to meet the evolving needs of our business and manage increasing operational costs, we’re adjusting our internet plan rates to help maintain the high-quality service our customers expect," AT&T spokesperson Jim Kimberly told The Verge. The company is providing customers the chance to offset the additional charges, however, by giving them a $10 monthly discount if they enroll an eligible bank account in Autopay and Paperless Billing if they haven't yet. If they enroll a debit card, they will get a discount of $5 a month.  It's not quite clear how long the discounts will last. And for customers who've enabled Autopay in the past, well, tough luck. The price hike will not apply to new customers who've only signed up over the past year, though, and those under AT&T's Access program for qualifying low-income households.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/atts-home-internet-is-getting-a-5-price-hike-130010486.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Today's best iPad deals include $50 off the 256GB iPad A16

We generally think Apple’s iPads are the best tablets for most people, but they usually don’t come cheap. To help those looking to grab one today get the most value possible, we’re keeping an eye on sale prices and rounding up the best iPad deals we can find each week. Unfortunately, after the barrage of discounts we saw during <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day/">Prime Day</a> and other retailer sales last week, the selection available now is back to being pretty light. Most models in the iPad, iPad Air and iPad mini families aren’t significantly discounted, and the <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/apples-latest-ipad-pro-get-a-power-boost-with-the-new-m5-chip-131036435.html">new iPad Pros</a> were only just announced on Wednesday, so there aren’t any deals of note for those just yet. Call it a pre-Black Friday lull. That said, a couple higher-capacity configurations of the Air and base iPad are still on sale, including the 256GB version of the <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0DZ76LW4J&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=iPad+%28A16%29&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFo3NkxXNEo_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNWMyYjljMzMtOWE4Ny00NWZmLWI5NzgtZTQxYjhmN2E5MGEyIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFo3NkxXNEoiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAQG8rw8RlgU9o-QEHfVs-VkYzQaWYHop6KWz0q5XiiDr&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DZ76LW4J" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZ76LW4J?th=1">iPad (A16)</a> for $50 off. And beyond tablets, we’re also seeing healthy price drops for devices like the <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0DGJ7HYG1&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=AirPods+4&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwREdKN0hZRzE_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNWMyYjljMzMtOWE4Ny00NWZmLWI5NzgtZTQxYjhmN2E5MGEyIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwREdKN0hZRzEiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAS1aJRfzL4FEV-JCNSGgx6IzHfakAkQmLkarfX3sME9D&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DGJ7HYG1" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGJ7HYG1">AirPods 4</a>, <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0D54JZTHY&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=AirTags&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0FwcGxlLU1YNTQyTEwtQS1BaXJUYWctUGFjay9kcC9CMEQ1NEpaVEhZP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjVjMmI5YzMzLTlhODctNDVmZi1iOTc4LWU0MWI4ZjdhOTBhMiIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9BcHBsZS1NWDU0MkxMLUEtQWlyVGFnLVBhY2svZHAvQjBENTRKWlRIWSIsImR5bmFtaWNDZW50cmFsVHJhY2tpbmdJZCI6dHJ1ZSwic2l0ZUlkIjoidXMtZW5nYWRnZXQiLCJwYWdlSWQiOiIxcC1hdXRvbGluayIsImZlYXR1cmVJZCI6InRleHQtbGluayJ9&signature=AQAAAVY1zEyQfNzS9PE3k_CsC3Ja9N4R1OpPwSij4NbpVyhR&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-MX542LL-A-AirTag-Pack%2Fdp%2FB0D54JZTHY" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MX542LL-A-AirTag-Pack/dp/B0D54JZTHY">AirTags</a> and <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0DLBTPDCS&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Mac+mini&custData=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&signature=AQAAAfKkivKvJwpJ82do_zepUZVBOYt76N4gNxFOPaCo_YPj&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%2525E2%252580%252591core%2Fdp%2FB0DLBTPDCS" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLBTPDCS">Mac mini</a>. Here are all the top deals on Apple gear we could find this week. <h2 id="jump-link-best-ipad-deals">Best iPad deals</h2> <core-commerce id="0ce0499d2637424ca22028bc4d83fc0b" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZ76LW4J?th=1"></core-commerce> <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0DZ74CF3K&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Apple+iPad+Air+%2811-inch%2C+M3%2C+1TB%29+for+%24949+%28%24150+off+MSRP%29&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFo3NENGM0svP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjVjMmI5YzMzLTlhODctNDVmZi1iOTc4LWU0MWI4ZjdhOTBhMiIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9kcC9CMERaNzRDRjNLLyIsImR5bmFtaWNDZW50cmFsVHJhY2tpbmdJZCI6dHJ1ZSwic2l0ZUlkIjoidXMtZW5nYWRnZXQiLCJwYWdlSWQiOiIxcC1hdXRvbGluayIsImZlYXR1cmVJZCI6InRleHQtbGluayJ9&signature=AQAAAdoEObZd-nVGEpgy-g6-552g3hZkZX9IGO9dVsRny9Of&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DZ74CF3K%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZ74CF3K/?th=1">Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3, 1TB) for $949 ($150 off MSRP)</a>: The most recent iPad Air is a relatively minor update, as the only major addition is a more powerful M3 chip. However, we still recommend the Air over the base model in our <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/best-ipads-how-to-pick-the-best-apple-tablet-for-you-150054066.html">iPad buying guide</a>: Its display is laminated, more color-rich and better at fending off glare (though it's still 60Hz); its speakers are more robust; it works with Apple’s best accessories and its performance should hold up better in the years ahead. This deal is only for the maxed-out model with 1TB of storage, but it ties the lowest price we've seen all the same. <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:9;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0DZ74T8NJ&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Apple+iPad+Air+%2813-inch%2C+M3%2C+512GB%2C+Cellular%29+for+%241%2C000+%28%24250+off%29&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFo3NFQ4Tko_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNWMyYjljMzMtOWE4Ny00NWZmLWI5NzgtZTQxYjhmN2E5MGEyIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFo3NFQ4TkoiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAROb5gGCWNerI3S3ghZEGeDW5glsS3PwRNOP-BhartD8&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DZ74T8NJ" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZ74T8NJ">Apple iPad Air (13-inch, M3, 512GB, Cellular) for $1,000 ($250 off)</a>: Engadget's Nate Ingraham gave the 13-inch iPad Air a <a data-i13n="cpos:10;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/ipad-air-m3-review-a-modest-update-thats-still-easy-to-recommend-130045196.html">score of 89</a> when it was released in March. It has a bigger and slightly brighter display than its 11-inch counterpart but is otherwise the same. If you plan to keep your iPad hooked up to a keyboard, the extra screen space is lovely for multitasking or just taking in movies. This discount is an all-time low, but it only applies to the 512GB model with built-in cellular support, so it's certainly not for everyone. <h2 id="jump-link-best-apple-deals">Best Apple deals</h2> <core-commerce id="12ebd40c60a9430f8f7f0aa67aa8bffb" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGJ7HYG1?th=1"></core-commerce> <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:11;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0D54JZTHY&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Apple+AirTags+%284-pack%29+for+%2465+%28%2434+off%29&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0FwcGxlLU1YNTQyTEwtQS1BaXJUYWctUGFjay9kcC9CMEQ1NEpaVEhZLz90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI1YzJiOWMzMy05YTg3LTQ1ZmYtYjk3OC1lNDFiOGY3YTkwYTIiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jb20vQXBwbGUtTVg1NDJMTC1BLUFpclRhZy1QYWNrL2RwL0IwRDU0SlpUSFkvIiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAAehKSLXvCtVpBPBdI3rkTM3-cZOJx04cf98waI24tz9g&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-MX542LL-A-AirTag-Pack%2Fdp%2FB0D54JZTHY%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MX542LL-A-AirTag-Pack/dp/B0D54JZTHY/">Apple AirTags (4-pack) for $65 ($34 off)</a>: We may see an updated model by the end of the year, but the current AirTags are the <a data-i13n="cpos:12;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-bluetooth-tracker-140028377.html">best Bluetooth trackers</a> for iPhone owners right now thanks to their vast finding network and accurate ultra-wideband tech that makes it easy to locate nearby items. Just note that you'll need a separate <a data-i13n="cpos:13;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-apple-airtag-cases-holders-accessories-123036404.html">AirTag holder</a> to attach them to your keys, wallet or bag. This deal comes within a dollar of the lowest price we've seen for a four-pack. Also at <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Walmart;elmt:;cpos:14;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=3719d8d4-5edd-4817-998a-91f3229e7323&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Walmart&linkText=Walmart&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3dhbG1hcnQuY29tL2lwLzUzOTUyNzc1NTc_c2VsZWN0ZWQ9dHJ1ZSIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNWMyYjljMzMtOWE4Ny00NWZmLWI5NzgtZTQxYjhmN2E5MGEyIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3dhbG1hcnQuY29tL2lwLzUzOTUyNzc1NTc_c2VsZWN0ZWQ9dHJ1ZSJ9&signature=AQAAAfbeBzhh7J5JRKYYs6Sncc-8lfmjcgGvvb1j4ezyW-1E&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwalmart.com%2Fip%2F5395277557%3Fselected%3Dtrue" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://walmart.com/ip/5395277557?selected=true">Walmart</a>. <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:15;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0D3J71RM7&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Apple+Pencil+Pro+for+%2499+%28%2430+off%29&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0FwcGxlLVBlbmNpbC1Qcm8tUGl4ZWwtUGVyZmVjdC1JbmR1c3RyeS1MZWFkaW5nL2RwL0IwRDNKNzFSTTc_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNWMyYjljMzMtOWE4Ny00NWZmLWI5NzgtZTQxYjhmN2E5MGEyIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0FwcGxlLVBlbmNpbC1Qcm8tUGl4ZWwtUGVyZmVjdC1JbmR1c3RyeS1MZWFkaW5nL2RwL0IwRDNKNzFSTTciLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAbnDOd1Y-uXnxIaIklNd_CQKo0riUtVEgmjvMJi64Vqr&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-Pencil-Pro-Pixel-Perfect-Industry-Leading%2Fdp%2FB0D3J71RM7" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Pencil-Pro-Pixel-Perfect-Industry-Leading/dp/B0D3J71RM7">Apple Pencil Pro for $99 ($30 off)</a>: The top-end option in Apple’s <a data-i13n="cpos:16;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-pencil-lineup-is-a-mess-so-heres-a-guide-to-which-one-you-should-buy-190040913.html">confusing stylus lineup</a>, the Pencil Pro supports pressure sensitivity, wireless charging, tilt detection, haptic feedback and Apple’s <a data-i13n="cpos:17;pos:1" href="https://support.apple.com/en-lb/guide/ipad/ipadc55b6c7a/ipados">double tap and squeeze gestures</a>, among other perks. It’s a lovely tool for more intricate sketching and note-taking, but the catch is that it’s <a data-i13n="cpos:18;pos:1" href="https://support.apple.com/en-us/108937">only compatible</a> with the M4 iPad Pro, M2 and M3 iPad Air and most recent iPad mini. We've seen this deal fairly often over the course of the year, but it's a fine discount compared to buying from Apple directly. Also at <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Walmart;elmt:;cpos:19;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=3719d8d4-5edd-4817-998a-91f3229e7323&itemId=walmart_transaction_5762417070&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Walmart&linkText=Walmart&custData=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&signature=AQAAAe_36i0PF0MdvVOFdGsvv3kW4g-wFCi9ka0cgdebTsU8&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FApple-Pencil-Pro-Advanced-Tools-Pixel-Perfect-Precision-Tilt-Pressure-Sensitivity-Industry-Leading-Low-Latency-Note-Taking-Drawing-Art-Attaches-Charg%2F5762417070" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apple-Pencil-Pro-Advanced-Tools-Pixel-Perfect-Precision-Tilt-Pressure-Sensitivity-Industry-Leading-Low-Latency-Note-Taking-Drawing-Art-Attaches-Charg/5762417070">Walmart</a>. <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:20;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0DZD9NV7L&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Apple+MacBook+Air+%2813-inch%2C+M4%2C+512GB%29+for+%24999+%28%24200+off%29&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFpEOU5WN0w_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNWMyYjljMzMtOWE4Ny00NWZmLWI5NzgtZTQxYjhmN2E5MGEyIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRFpEOU5WN0wiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAXZaBChh04IoQzjGjUq7ldtnQNHs1TUzLj13PMoRAphQ&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DZD9NV7L" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZD9NV7L?th=1">Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 512GB) for $999 ($200 off)</a>: Apple's latest MacBook Air is the top pick in our guide to the <a data-i13n="cpos:21;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/best-laptops-120008636.html">best laptops</a>, and it earned a score of 92 <a data-i13n="cpos:22;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apple-macbook-air-m4-13-inch-and-15-inch-review-minimal-upgrades-at-a-much-better-price-130002570.html">in our review</a>. It's not a major overhaul, but the design is still exceptionally thin, light and well-built, with long battery life and a top-notch keyboard and trackpad. Now it's a bit faster. (Though we'd still love more ports and a refresh rate higher than 60Hz.) This discount ties the all-time low for the model with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.  <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:23;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0DLBTPDCS&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Apple+Mac+mini+%28M4%29+for+%24499+%28%24100+off%29&custData=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&signature=AQAAAfKkivKvJwpJ82do_zepUZVBOYt76N4gNxFOPaCo_YPj&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%2525E2%252580%252591core%2Fdp%2FB0DLBTPDCS" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-2024-Desktop-Computer-10%E2%80%91core/dp/B0DLBTPDCS?th=1">Apple Mac mini (M4) for $499 ($100 off)</a>: The newest version of Apple’s tiny desktop PC has a smaller overall footprint, a faster M4 chip, 16GB of RAM as standard (finally), two front-facing USB-C ports, an extra Thunderbolt 4 port and the ability to drive three external displays. It doesn't have any USB-A ports, however. We gave the M4 Pro model a <a data-i13n="cpos:24;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/apple-mac-mini-review-m4-pro-2024-shockingly-small-incredibly-powerful-140042432.html">review score of 90</a>. This deal is for the entry-level version with a base M4 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD — we’ve seen it fall as low as $469 in the past, but this is still a decent savings. Also at <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Best Buy;elmt:;cpos:25;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=5e0bed65-d2f8-4b34-9b8f-955218c0e37a&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Best+Buy&linkText=Best+Buy&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iZXN0YnV5LmNvbS9wcm9kdWN0L2FwcGxlLW1hYy1taW5pLWRlc2t0b3AtbGF0ZXN0LW1vZGVsLW00LWNoaXAtYnVpbHQtZm9yLWFwcGxlLWludGVsbGlnZW5jZS0xNmdiLW1lbW9yeS0yNTZnYi1zc2Qtc2lsdmVyL0pKR0NRWEgyUzQvc2t1LzY1NjY5MTgiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjVjMmI5YzMzLTlhODctNDVmZi1iOTc4LWU0MWI4ZjdhOTBhMiIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmVzdGJ1eS5jb20vcHJvZHVjdC9hcHBsZS1tYWMtbWluaS1kZXNrdG9wLWxhdGVzdC1tb2RlbC1tNC1jaGlwLWJ1aWx0LWZvci1hcHBsZS1pbnRlbGxpZ2VuY2UtMTZnYi1tZW1vcnktMjU2Z2Itc3NkLXNpbHZlci9KSkdDUVhIMlM0L3NrdS82NTY2OTE4In0&signature=AQAAAbjZnYQrGXigtC8tHqt3Lp2_egCVym3pa9Zb96Wg5JIK&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fproduct%2Fapple-mac-mini-desktop-latest-model-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-silver%2FJJGCQXH2S4%2Fsku%2F6566918" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.bestbuy.com/product/apple-mac-mini-desktop-latest-model-m4-chip-built-for-apple-intelligence-16gb-memory-256gb-ssd-silver/JJGCQXH2S4/sku/6566918">Best Buy</a>, <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Walmart;elmt:;cpos:26;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=3719d8d4-5edd-4817-998a-91f3229e7323&itemId=walmart_transaction_13715211330&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Walmart&linkText=Walmart&custData=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&signature=AQAAAc99HTo0i8GbOV8bin5_f-MO0ZiO5ffOaA0z_hrqLIZ-&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FApple-Mac-mini-Apple-M4-chip-with-10C-CPU-10C-GPU-256GB-SSD-16GB-Memory-MU9D3LL-A-Fall-2024%2F13715211330" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apple-Mac-mini-Apple-M4-chip-with-10C-CPU-10C-GPU-256GB-SSD-16GB-Memory-MU9D3LL-A-Fall-2024/13715211330">Walmart</a> and <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:B&H Photo;elmt:;cpos:27;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=95276f3c-7b79-4c1e-803f-981cd9f7a968&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=B%26H+Photo&linkText=B%26H&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iaHBob3RvdmlkZW8uY29tL2MvcHJvZHVjdC8xODU5MjU4LVJFRy9hcHBsZV9tdTlkM2xsX2FfbWFjX21pbmlfbTRfMTBjXzEwY2dwdV8xNmdiXzI1NmdiLmh0bWwiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjVjMmI5YzMzLTlhODctNDVmZi1iOTc4LWU0MWI4ZjdhOTBhMiIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmhwaG90b3ZpZGVvLmNvbS9jL3Byb2R1Y3QvMTg1OTI1OC1SRUcvYXBwbGVfbXU5ZDNsbF9hX21hY19taW5pX200XzEwY18xMGNncHVfMTZnYl8yNTZnYi5odG1sIn0&signature=AQAAAdl9L0dXPqF4F4gCJc2JAooGPZkg0kHtVr4SR8Ifsv18&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fc%2Fproduct%2F1859258-REG%2Fapple_mu9d3ll_a_mac_mini_m4_10c_10cgpu_16gb_256gb.html" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1859258-REG/apple_mu9d3ll_a_mac_mini_m4_10c_10cgpu_16gb_256gb.html">B&H</a>. <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:28;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0DL75531G&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Apple+iMac+%28M4%29+for+%241%2C149+%28%24150+off%29&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwREw3NTUzMUcvP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjVjMmI5YzMzLTlhODctNDVmZi1iOTc4LWU0MWI4ZjdhOTBhMiIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9kcC9CMERMNzU1MzFHLyIsImR5bmFtaWNDZW50cmFsVHJhY2tpbmdJZCI6dHJ1ZSwic2l0ZUlkIjoidXMtZW5nYWRnZXQiLCJwYWdlSWQiOiIxcC1hdXRvbGluayIsImZlYXR1cmVJZCI6InRleHQtbGluayJ9&signature=AQAAAa9kGk-coXc1-jtv4ak-KvKlEJ91I_aDhCa4DlZVhcvN&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DL75531G%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL75531G/?th=1">Apple iMac (M4) for $1,149 ($150 off)</a>: We <a data-i13n="cpos:29;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/apple-m4-imac-review-the-best-all-in-one-gets-a-lot-faster-173055294.html">like the M4 iMac</a> as an all-in-one computer thanks to its powerful performance, standard 16GB of RAM and improved webcam. Just note that it only comes in a 24-inch screen size option. This deal on the base model isn't quite an all-time low, but it's roughly $40 lower than the desktop's usual street price and a decent savings compared to buying directly from Apple.  <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:30;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0FQFL8PZ5&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Apple+Watch+Series+11+%28GPS%2C+42mm%29+for+%24389+%28%2410+off%29&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRlFGTDhQWjU_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNWMyYjljMzMtOWE4Ny00NWZmLWI5NzgtZTQxYjhmN2E5MGEyIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRlFGTDhQWjUiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAeel55MAE9lfDQBglwaEK15zgz0R96VRwW4qA9HfIzws&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0FQFL8PZ5" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQFL8PZ5">Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) for $389 ($10 off)</a>: The latest <a data-i13n="cpos:31;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-11-review-a-reliable-wearable-for-when-it-matters-most-120016945.html">flagship Apple Watch</a> only hit store shelves last month, but Amazon is already selling it for $10 off. It doesn't show up as a percentage off, but you'll see some models listed at $389 instead of Apple's $399 MSRP. If you're new to Apple's wearables or are ready to upgrade from a Series 9 or older, this is a <a data-i13n="cpos:32;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-apple-watch-160005462.html">good model</a> to grab. If you're coming from a Series 10, however, there's not much need to upgrade as the only major change from last year's model is a slightly larger battery and a tougher screen.  <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon;elmt:;cpos:33;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&itemId=amazon_B0FQFW7M9H&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=5c2b9c33-9a87-45ff-b978-e41b8f7a90a2&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&linkText=Apple+Watch+SE+3+%28GPS%2C+40mm%29+for+%24240+%28%249+off%29&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwRlFGVzdNOUgvcj90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI1YzJiOWMzMy05YTg3LTQ1ZmYtYjk3OC1lNDFiOGY3YTkwYTIiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jb20vZHAvQjBGUUZXN005SC9yIiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAAVwm_ff6DIqkcm5AZkZgfyl35RKyONvA-XWHjsM0-BgS&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0FQFW7M9H%2Fr" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQFW7M9H/r?th=1">Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) for $240 ($9 off)</a>: There's a similar stealth discount for the newest budget model, the Apple Watch SE 3, at Amazon. It normally goes for $249 — again, not a big discount, but better than nothing if you're looking to get onboard early. Apple gave this model <a data-i13n="cpos:34;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-acquiesced-to-my-apple-watch-se-3-demands-mostly-220726287.html">some badly needed updates</a> compared to its predecessor, including an always-on display, faster charging, better sensors and the same processor that you'll find in the new Apple Watch Series 11.  Read more Apple coverage: <ul> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:35;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-airpods-100041810.html">The best AirPods</a></li> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:36;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-apple-watch-160005462.html">The best Apple Watches</a></li> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:37;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/best-macbook-140032524.html">The best MacBooks</a></li> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:38;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/best-iphone-160012979.html">The best iPhones</a></li> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:39;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/best-ipads-how-to-pick-the-best-apple-tablet-for-you-150054066.html">The best iPads</a></li> </ul> Follow <a data-i13n="cpos:40;pos:1" href="https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals">@EngadgetDeals</a> on X for the latest <a data-i13n="cpos:41;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/deals/">tech deals</a> and <a data-i13n="cpos:42;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/best-tech/">buying advice</a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/todays-best-ipad-deals-include-50-off-the-256gb-ipad-a16-150020379.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Nintendo reportedly wants to build 25 million Switch 2s by March 2026

Nintendo has asked suppliers to build 25 million Switch 2 console by the end of March 2026, <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-17/nintendo-switch-2-production-plan-25-million-units-by-march-2026?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc2MDY2MzA1OCwiZXhwIjoxNzYxMjY3ODU4LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUM1VMNUZHT1QwSkswMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJBRDcxOUY5NDBGRTk0MzNBOERCNzI2OEJDOTY3NzY3QyJ9.vp54yuJVU8ZtauIgSv6bscyK7_VN0dXzNCaFzloqo2g&leadSource=uverify%20wall">Bloomberg</a> reported. According to people familiar with the matter, the company has requested the boost because it believes the console will continue its torrid sales pace through the holiday season. Nintendo could easily exceed its <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendos-switch-2-sales-forecast-predicts-15-million-consoles-in-its-first-fiscal-year-120044034.html">own forecast</a> of 15 million Switch 2 units sold within its first fiscal year (ending March 30, 2026) and beat first year sales of the original Switch, which was the <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/2018-12-18-nintendo-switch-fastest-selling-us-console.html">fastest selling</a> console of all time.  If sales pan out as it expects, Nintendo could sell around 20 million Switch 2 units this fiscal year, according to the report. The 25 million production goal would allow it to satisfy sales demand and have enough in inventory to start the next fiscal year.  The original Switch sold 17.79 million units in its first 13 months, so the Switch 2 could exceed that over a considerably shorter time frame. As a reminder, Switch 2 pre-orders <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-somehow-underestimates-demand-for-switch-2-pre-orders-141030573.html">started in April 2025</a> and the global release was <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-has-officially-launched-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-143310136.html">on June 5</a>, so it only started shipping four and a half months ago.   Despite fears over tariffs, Switch 2 sales in the US are way ahead of the original Switch at the same time frame, according to market researcher <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3m2op7dqysc26">Circana</a>. During its <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2025/250801_2e.pdf">last earnings report</a>, the company said it had also sold 8.67 million Switch 2 games along with 24.4 million games designed for the original Switch, thanks in part to the new console's backward compatibility. Game sales should get a further boost with the launch of <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/pokemon-legends-z-a-hands-on-135651443.html">Pokémon Legends: Z-A</a> coming later this month. <core-commerce id="3b159cfcaa95437abd249c5175eade94" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Switch-2-System/dp/B0F3GWXLTS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa"></core-commerce> This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-reportedly-wants-to-build-25-million-switch-2s-by-march-2026-120006050.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Engadget Podcast: Diving into Apple’s M5 devices and the ROG Xbox Ally X

Apple just announced its fall slate of devices powered by its new M5 chip: A 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and revamped Vision Pro. In this episode, Devindra and Sam Rutherford dive into what's actually new this time around. (Spoiler: It’s really all about the new GPU.) Also, Sam goes deep on his review of the ROG Xbox Ally X, Microsoft’s first stab at a portable “Xbox.”<div><div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:200px;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://iframely.publishing.yahoo.net/AFOynQDX" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div><h2 id="f0f8bdef-1966-4761-9199-b68317254459">Subscribe!</h2><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="" class="linkDecorator_linkStyle__yM-Nh link rapid-with-clickid rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=9b2a3988-c5c9-4640-8e2b-1de7b2717343&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=ed82e636-8f68-42e3-946f-149e45a60ff9&featureId=text-link&merchantName=iTunes&linkText=iTunes&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2l0dW5lcy5hcHBsZS5jb20vdXMvcG9kY2FzdC90aGUtZW5nYWRnZXQtcG9kY2FzdC9pZDExNDI3OTA1MzA_bXQ9MiIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZWQ4MmU2MzYtOGY2OC00MmUzLTk0NmYtMTQ5ZTQ1YTYwZmY5Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2l0dW5lcy5hcHBsZS5jb20vdXMvcG9kY2FzdC90aGUtZW5nYWRnZXQtcG9kY2FzdC9pZDExNDI3OTA1MzA_bXQ9MiJ9&signature=AQAAAfUC2ZRMAdzoQM0uSHyxEcK07oRGvHk9fD7QFv8LoMmU&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fthe-engadget-podcast%2Fid1142790530%3Fmt%3D2" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:iTunes;elmt:;slk:iTunes;cpos:1;pos:1" data-original-link="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-engadget-podcast/id1142790530?mt=2">iTunes</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="" class="linkDecorator_linkStyle__yM-Nh link rapid-with-clickid rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=ed82e636-8f68-42e3-946f-149e45a60ff9&featureId=text-link&linkText=Spotify&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL29wZW4uc3BvdGlmeS5jb20vc2hvdy8zRUMzZE1JUkI5OWRrdm9TQmVTTzdHP3NpPWY3VUFMR0ttUkRXdE9yVThaNC11aVEiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6ImVkODJlNjM2LThmNjgtNDJlMy05NDZmLTE0OWU0NWE2MGZmOSIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuLnNwb3RpZnkuY29tL3Nob3cvM0VDM2RNSVJCOTlka3ZvU0JlU083Rz9zaT1mN1VBTEdLbVJEV3RPclU4WjQtdWlRIn0&signature=AQAAAfd8BlAkETnMrBF_iyek1_MEmJDlqcBbpbTD4UZQqqzA&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F3EC3dMIRB99dkvoSBeSO7G%3Fsi%3Df7UALGKmRDWtOrU8Z4-uiQ" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:;elmt:;slk:Spotify;cpos:2;pos:1" data-original-link="https://open.spotify.com/show/3EC3dMIRB99dkvoSBeSO7G?si=f7UALGKmRDWtOrU8Z4-uiQ">Spotify</a></li><li><a target="_blank" class="linkDecorator_linkStyle__yM-Nh link" href="http://pca.st/mlY3" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">Pocket Casts</a></li><li><a target="_blank" class="linkDecorator_linkStyle__yM-Nh link" href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/engadget/the-engadget-podcast" data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1">Stitcher</a></li><li><a target="_blank" class="linkDecorator_linkStyle__yM-Nh link" href="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnNvdW5kY2xvdWQuY29tL3VzZXJzL3NvdW5kY2xvdWQ6dXNlcnM6MjQ1MjIwOTU4L3NvdW5kcy5yc3M&ep=14" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1">Google Podcasts</a></li></ul><h2 id="ffe68f4e-4601-42a2-b97f-88301cb1c8cf">Topics</h2><ul><li>Apple refreshes of the Macbook Pro, Vision Pro and iPad Pro with M5 chips – 1:24</li><li>Sam Rutherford’s review of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X – 18:45</li><li>Microsoft makes big promises with Copilot Voice, can it follow through? – 39:00</li><li>OpenAI’s Sora app reaches 1M downloads in less than 5 days, faster than ChatGPT – 50:42</li><li>Sam Altman announces you’ll be able to sext with ChatGPT starting in December – 54:00</li><li>Working on – 1:06:50</li><li>Pop culture picks – 1:09:41 </li></ul><h2 id="f4b30f35-1428-444f-b3d3-8a4ff0d084df">Credits</h2>Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Sam Rutherford Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'BrienThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-diving-into-apples-m5-devices-and-the-rog-xbox-ally-x-113000324.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

OpenAI suspends Sora depictions of Martin Luther King Jr. following a request from his family

OpenAI has paused video generations of Martin Luther King Jr. on <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-sora-app-is-real-but-youll-need-an-invite-to-try-it-171849671.html">Sora</a> at the request of King Inc., the estate that manages his legacy. The company said in an <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://x.com/OpenAINewsroom/status/1979005850166648933">announcement</a> on X that it worked with the estate to address how his "likeness is represented in Sora generations" after people used the app to create disrespectful depictions of the American civil rights leader. It's not quite clear if OpenAI intends to restore Sora's ability to generate videos with MLK in the future, but it's wording implies it does and that it has only suspended the capability as it "strengthens guardrails for historical figures." After OpenAI <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-sora-app-is-real-but-youll-need-an-invite-to-try-it-171849671.html">launched the Sora app</a>, users generated videos with likenesses of dead public figures, including Michael Jackson, Robin Williams and MLK. Williams' daughter, Zelda Williams, had to beg people to stop sending her AI videos of her father. "To watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to ‘this vaguely looks and sounds like them so that's enough’, just so other people can churn out horrible TikTok slop puppeteering them is maddening," she wrote on <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/robin-williams-daughter-zelda-ai-videos-b2840650.html">Instagram</a>. MLK's daughter, Bernice A. King, <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.threads.com/@berniceaking/post/DPjh3K4DsXz">wrote on Threads</a> that she agreed and also asked people to stop sending her videos of her father.  According to a report by <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/10/11/openai-sora-dead-celebrities-ai/">The Washington Post</a>, the Sora-made videos that were posted online included King making monkey noises while he was giving his "I Have a Dream" speech. Another video showed King wrestling with Malcolm X, whose daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, questioned why AI developers weren't acting "with the same morality, conscience, and care... that they'd want for their own families" in a statement made to The Post.  OpenAI said that while there are "strong free speech interests in depicting historical figures," it believes "public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used." It also said that the estate owners of other historical figures and their representatives can ask the company for their likenesses not to be used in Sora videos, as well.  <div id="43f7df7493b64b67926fcf53d49fd2aa"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement from OpenAI and King Estate, Inc. The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. (King, Inc.) and OpenAI have worked together to address how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s likeness is represented in Sora generations. Some users generated disrespectful depictions of Dr.…— OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenAINewsroom/status/1979005850166648933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote> </div> This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-suspends-sora-depictions-of-martin-luther-king-jr-following-a-request-from-his-family-110100581.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

The Morning After: Apple adds its new M5 chip to iPads, MacBooks and even the Vision Pro

This week, Apple announced fall hardware updates across multiple devices — pretty much every major category, besides iPhones and AirPods. Don’t get too excited: It’s not a redesign reveal, but we’re expecting a tangible performance jump for both the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro. With the new <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apples-first-m5-laptop-is-the-14-inch-macbook-pro-131314446.html">M5 chip</a> (no Pro or Max versions so far), Apple used the same 3-nanometer fabrication process for the M5 as it did for the M4. The new chip has 10 GPU cores and 10 CPU cores, along with a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple claims the M5 has the “world’s fastest CPU core” with up to 20 percent faster multithreaded performance compared to the M4 chip of the previous MacBook Pro. Graphics performance also gets a significant boost too. The M5 MacBook Pro ($1,599), otherwise, has identical specs to its M4 predecessor, right down to the same dimensions, weight and 70-watt power adapter. Meanwhile, inside the <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/apples-latest-ipad-pro-get-a-power-boost-with-the-new-m5-chip-131036435.html">iPad Pro</a>, Apple claims it has more than four times the peak GPU compute performance of the M4. If you’re looking to use the new iPad Pro for video tasks, Apple says that video transcoding is six times faster than the old M1 iPad Pro from 2021. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch model. And it seems to have a lot of M5 chips to use: The <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/apples-new-vision-pro-gets-an-m5-chip-and-dual-knit-band-but-its-still-3499-132123957.html">Vision Pro</a> gets one and a seemingly more comfortable Dual Knit Band. The M5 Vision Pro should last half an hour longer than the original model, as well, according to Apple. — Mat Smith Get Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox.<a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/about/newsletter/"> Subscribe right here!</a> <h3 id="jump-link-the-news-you-might-have-missed">The news you might have missed</h3> <ul> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-us-mint-is-honoring-steve-jobs-by-putting-him-on-a-1-innovation-coin-130033801.html"><ins>The US Mint is putting Steve Jobs on a $1 coin</ins></a></li> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ball-x-pits-deeply-satisfying-grind-keeps-me-coming-back-for-more-171000754.html"><ins>Ball x Pit’s deeply satisfying grind keeps me coming back for more</ins></a></li> <li><a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apples-m6-macbook-pro-generation-will-reportedly-offer-touchscreens-203029809.html"><ins>Apple’s M6 MacBook Pro generation will reportedly offer touchscreens</ins></a></li> </ul> <hr> <h2 id="jump-link-the-honor-robot-phone"><a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/honor-is-making-a-smartphone-with-a-fold-out-camera-201555268.html">The Honor ‘robot’ phone</a></h2> <h3 id="jump-link-less-robot-more-arm">Less robot, more arm.</h3> <figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-10/3f83ffb0-ab3f-11f0-bfff-d212cd1e7880" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-10/3f83ffb0-ab3f-11f0-bfff-d212cd1e7880" style="height:357px;width:640px;" alt="TMA" data-uuid="2e35abd6-7514-3d65-a503-92424b6fb607"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Honor</div></figure> Chinese phone maker Honor says its next phone will feature a camera on a pop-out mechanical arm. Talking to CNBC, Honor said it will be a robot phone, framing it around AI innovation — something the company is throwing millions of dollars at. I enjoy that its camera arm reminds me of the ubiquitous <a data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/dji-osmo-pocket-3-review-maybe-the-only-vlogging-camera-you-need-163028145.html"><ins>DJI Osmo Pocket 3</ins></a>, beloved by bloggers, creators and tourists that get in my way. If its foldout camera can track, stabilize video footage and focus on its own, it could be a cool feature. The camera seems to fold away inside the back of the future device, but can it be used while tucked away there? We don’t know. What are these amazing future AI experiences? No idea. Questions, questions, questions. Honor said it plans to share more details at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona early next year. <a data-i13n="cpos:10;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/honor-is-making-a-smartphone-with-a-fold-out-camera-201555268.html">Continue reading.</a> <hr> <h2 id="jump-link-rog-xbox-ally-x-handheld-gaming-pc-review"><a data-i13n="cpos:11;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/asus-rog-xbox-ally-x-review-an-extra-life-for-xbox-130050224.html">ROG Xbox Ally X handheld gaming PC review</a></h2> <h3 id="jump-link-not-sure-if-this-is-an-xbox">Not sure if this is an Xbox.</h3> <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/asus-rog-xbox-ally-x-review-an-extra-life-for-xbox-130050224.html"><figure><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-10/fac15930-ab3f-11f0-bff3-2580707fca5e" data-crop-orig-src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-10/fac15930-ab3f-11f0-bff3-2580707fca5e" style="height:384px;width:640px;" alt="TMA" data-uuid="1b3cbaa1-bb38-38aa-9ec0-ae4472496f16"><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Engadget</div></figure></a> The co-creation handheld from ASUS ROG and Xbox is here. The Ally X is arguably the best handheld console for Xbox games yet. It’s not just bigger grips and familiar button layouts, but they do help. No, the bigger evolution is how Microsoft has finessed the UI and software, making it more console-like and less like you need a mouse to navigate everything. Perhaps most importantly, when the ROG Xbox Ally X costs $1,000, the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip offers a lot of power, enough to handle rich flagship games, with some setting tinkering. If you want the best performance from the Ally X, you’ll need to plug it into the wall. <a data-i13n="cpos:12;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/asus-rog-xbox-ally-x-review-an-extra-life-for-xbox-130050224.html">Check out our detailed review.</a>This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111523653.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

CNN's new All Access streaming service still doesn't seem to include CNN

As <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/another-cnn-streaming-service-is-coming-because-that-totally-worked-last-time-201116927.html">expected</a>, CNN has unveiled its new <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2025/10/16/cnn-to-launch-new-all-access-subscription-tier-october-28/">All Access</a> subscription streaming service that will cost $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually. The new tier will include a "selection" of CNN's live programming along with originals and more — but it doesn't appear to offer a live CNN feed.  "No one covers the world like CNN," said VP of digital products Alex MacCallum. "This is an essential step in CNN's evolution, providing a comprehensive experience that meets how audiences consume news today." Along with the selection of live programming, the All Access tier will open up 1,000 hours of programming from CNN's Originals library, access to the latest CNN Original Series and CNN Films a day after they air on TV, video-on-demand programming, special features, exclusive live events and all CNN.com articles and subscriber-only content.  CNN <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2025/10/03/an-update-on-cnn-max/">recently announced</a> that its CNN Max 24/7 live news stream would removed from HBO Max in the United States due to the planned launch of the All Access product. It has now rebranded its existing $3.99 digital subscription as the Basic tier, which provides unlimited access to CNN.com articles and select subscriber features while excluding video content. CNN likely doesn't include the live feed in order not to upset cable TV providers, but the lack of that may deter some users from purchasing the $6.99 subscription. CNN+ was $5.99 per month and didn't include CNN live either, though it also lacked the digital content available on All Access. It was <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/cnn-plus-shutting-down-warner-bros-discovery-155908886.html">pulled</a> just 32 days after it launched.   CNN All Access launches on October 28. If you're interested, you'll pay just $41.99 for the first year provided you sign up before January 5th, 2026. The service will be free for existing pay TV subscribers, CNN said, but those users won't get the digital content (CNN.com articles and interactive features) available to All Access subscribers. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/cnns-new-all-access-streaming-service-still-doesnt-seem-to-include-cnn-110013821.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

Meta is adding AI chatbot-focused parental controls to Instagram

Meta is working on new supervision controls that will allow parents to cut off their teens' access to AI chatbots on its platforms completely. While the tools can remove teens' ability to engage AI characters on one-on-one chats, they'll still be able to access the general Meta AI chatbot. If parents don't want to block their teens from being able to access AI bots altogether, they can also just block specific AI characters. In addition, parents will be able to get insights into the topics their children are discussing with Meta's AI bots. The company is currently building these controls and will start rolling them out on Instagram early next year in English in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Take note that the images above are just illustrations, and the tools' interfaces could still change.  The company has been under fire since an internal Meta document was <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/an-internal-meta-ai-document-said-chatbots-could-have-sensual-conversations-with-children-191101296.html">leaked</a> a few months ago, showing that it allowed its chatbots to have "sensual" conversations with children. In one example, a Meta chatbot told a shirtless eight-year-old that "every inch of you is a masterpiece — a treasure I cherish deeply." The US Attorneys General of 44 jurisdictions <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/us-attorneys-general-tell-ai-companies-they-will-be-held-accountable-for-child-safety-failures-035213253.html">urged</a> companies to protect children "from exploitation by predatory artificial intelligence products" after that information came out. The Senate Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, chaired by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), will investigate the company, as well.  Shortly after the internal documents leaked, Meta started <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-is-re-training-its-ai-so-it-wont-discuss-self-harm-or-have-romantic-conversations-with-teens-182418587.html">retraining</a> its AI and added new protections to prevent younger users from accessing user-made AI characters that might engage in inappropriate conversations. It also introduced age-appropriate protections so that its AIs will give teens responses <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-makes-teen-accounts-more-restrictive-120000653.html">guided by PG-13 movie ratings</a>. Plus, it now only allows teens to interact with a limited group of AI characters, focused on age-appropriate topics. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-is-adding-ai-chatbot-focused-parental-controls-to-instagram-100027229.html?src=rss

Oct 17, 2025

The best Android phones for 2025

Choosing the best Android phone can feel overwhelming as there are so many options from so many brands, it’s hard to know where to start. Unlike Apple, which sticks to its sleek lineup of iPhones, Android offers a world of variety. Whether you're eyeing the latest flagship from Samsung, a budget-friendly smartphone from Motorola or something unique with a foldable design, there’s an Android device out there to suit your needs. The beauty of Android is its flexibility. You’ll find phones with different screen sizes, camera setups, battery life and even quirky extras like stylus support or rugged builds. Plus, Android lets you customize your device to your heart's content – something Apple fans might envy. We’ve tested and researched the top Android phones to help you find the right one for your budget, lifestyle, and tech preferences. <h2 id="jump-link-best-android-phones-for-2025">Best Android phones for 2025</h2> <core-commerce id="7e8a3d6899c34aff91d9adc62556b200" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Pro-Smartphone-Fast-Charging/dp/B0FFTT2J6N/"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="db6927b56baa4df0bbcdaf21b4a2548f" data-type="product-list"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="f3c6e729709446638adda44cb788fd1f" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel-Gemini-Smartphone-Incredible/dp/B0DVHV7N4X/?th=1"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="a843653e407541b8bbb23edf10799819" data-type="product-list"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="e5455261e8ee4b30a823f2853511325a" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Smartphone-Unlocked-Processor-Titanium/dp/B0DP3GQ4QY?th=1"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="7636c7c56fbb460d965ccea2cdbe2c83" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Smartphone-Unlocked-Manufacturer-Warranty/dp/B0F7K9LFCL/"></core-commerce> <core-commerce id="cbb42e6a7e1e421a84d6de27c394a230" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.oneplus.com/us/oneplus-13"></core-commerce> <h2 id="jump-link-other-android-phones-we-tested">Other Android phones we tested</h2> <h3 id="jump-link-google-pixel-10-pro-fold">Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold</h3> While the design and performance of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is so good that we had to pick it as our favorite foldable of this generation, the <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-10-pro-fold-review-the-tankiest-foldable-170051471.html">Pixel 10 Pro Fold</a> isn’t that far behind. Sure, it’s bigger and bulkier, but it still has the best cameras on any foldable phone along with better software and a larger battery. But perhaps most importantly, it now has a proper IP68 rating for dust and water resistance — something you won’t find on any of its rivals. This could save the phone from an early demise and prevent a lot of headaches if you frequent the beach or pretty much anywhere with little particles that could threaten the insides of your device. <h2 id="jump-link-what-to-look-for-in-a-new-android-phone">What to look for in a new Android phone</h2> <h3 id="jump-link-performance">Performance</h3> When it comes to picking our favorite Android phones, the main things we look for are pretty straightforward: good performance (both compute and AI), a nice display, solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life and a significant commitment to ongoing software support. For performance, not only do we look at benchmarks and other metrics, but we also evaluate phones based on responsiveness. Regardless of whether you’re reading, text messaging, scrolling through social media or playing a game, no one wants a gadget that feels sluggish. <h3 id="jump-link-display">Display</h3> <figure> <img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-02/54f98de0-a87e-11ed-afd1-54c1e8d571fc" data-uuid="f90b4b62-0619-3c10-8a7b-abccc2d7e842"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> When it comes to displays, we generally prefer OLED panels that can produce rich, saturated colors with at least 600 nits of brightness, though many of our top mid-range and high-end phones can hit 1,000 nits or more. And more recently, most of our favorite devices also support screens with fast refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz, which adds an extra level of smoothness and fluidity. <h3 id="jump-link-design">Design</h3> Now we will admit there is a bit of subjectivity when deciding which phones look the best, but there are other design aspects like dust and water resistance or screen durability that can make a big difference to long-term survival. It’s also important to consider things like support for wireless charging, power sharing (aka reverse wireless charging) and UWB connectivity, which can have an impact on how your phone interacts with your other devices. <h3 id="jump-link-cameras">Cameras</h3> Obviously, for photos we’re looking for sharp, colorful shots in both bright and low-light conditions. And we want video clips with high dynamic range, rich audio and smooth image stabilization. Extra cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The best cameras should also include features like dedicated night modes, support for various video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes like timelapse, slow motion and more. <h3 id="jump-link-battery-and-software">Battery and software</h3> Finally, in terms of longevity, we’re looking for all-day battery life on devices that also delivered great results on our local video rundown test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but more is obviously better). Wireless charging capabilities have become almost ubiquitous over the past few years, and most of our top picks have this extra perk. Fast-charging is available on some Android phones, too. Finally, with people holding onto their phones longer than ever, we like to see companies commit to at least three years of software support, upgrades and regular security updates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/best-android-phone-130030805.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Moderators call for AI controls after Reddit Answers suggests heroin for pain relief

We've seen artificial intelligence give some pretty <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/google-is-putting-more-restrictions-on-ai-overviews-after-it-told-people-to-put-glue-on-pizza-011316780.html" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1">bizarre</a> responses to queries as chatbots become more common. Today, Reddit Answers is in the spotlight after a moderator <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/1o4bwx6/safety_concern_reddit_answers_is_recommending/?ref=404media.co" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">flagged</a> the AI tool for providing dangerous medical advice that they were unable to disable or hide from view. The mod saw Reddit Answers suggest that people experiencing chronic pain stop taking their current prescriptions and take high-dose kratom, which is an unregulated substance that is illegal in some states. The user said they then asked Reddit Answers about other medical questions. They received potentially dangerous advice for treating neo-natal fever alongside some accurate actions as well as suggestions that heroin could be used for chronic pain relief. Several other mods, particularly from health-focused subreddits, replied to the original post adding their concerns that they have no way to turn off or flag a problem when Reddit Answers has provided inaccurate or dangerous information in their communities.A representative from Reddit told <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.404media.co/reddit-answers-ai-suggests-users-try-heroin/" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">404 Media</a> that Reddit Answers had been updated to address some of the mods' concerns. "This update ensures that ‘Related Answers’ to sensitive topics, which may have been previously visible on the post detail page (also known as the conversation page), will no longer be displayed," the spokesperson told the publication. "This change has been implemented to enhance user experience and maintain appropriate content visibility within the platform." We've reached out to Reddit for additional comment about what topics are being excluded but have not received a reply at this time. While the rep told 404 Media that Reddit Answers "excludes content from private, quarantined and NSFW communities, as well as some mature topics," the AI tool clearly doesn't seem equipped to properly deliver medical information, much less to handle the snark, sarcasm or potential bad advice that may be given by other Redditors. Aside from the latest move to not appear on “sensitive topics,” it doesn't seem like Reddit plans to provide any tools to control how or when AI is being shown in subreddits, which could make the already-challenging task of moderation nearly impossible. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/moderators-call-for-ai-controls-after-reddit-answers-suggests-heroin-for-pain-relief-230749515.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Waymo will also drive for DoorDash in Phoenix

Waymo <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://waymo.com/blog/2025/10/your-doordash-order-delivered-by-waymo" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1">has announced</a> a new partnership with DoorDash that will make the company's self-driving cars a delivery option for users in Phoenix, Arizona. You can already <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/waymo-phoenix-public-193945960.html" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">hail a ride</a> in Waymo’s Arizona service area, but this new partnership will give the company's cars something to do when they're not transporting human cargo.To start, Waymo says that deliveries will be limited to things you can order through DashMart, DoorDash's storefront for convenience and grocery stores. Eventually, though, deliveries will "include more local Phoenix merchants and a wider variety of offerings." <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Phoenix, your next delivery just took a step into the future! We’re partnering with <a href="https://twitter.com/DoorDash?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DoorDash</a> to bring the safety and convenience of the Waymo Driver to grocery runs and meal orders. More at <a href="https://t.co/qDKGER0wsR">https://t.co/qDKGER0wsR</a> <a href="https://t.co/y7nIo6pnNB">pic.twitter.com/y7nIo6pnNB</a>— Waymo (@Waymo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Waymo/status/1978808538081173780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2025</a></blockquote> </div>In order to try out a Waymo delivery, you'll have to place your order through DoorDash and "opt in to autonomous delivery" during checkout. Once Waymo's car arrives, much like DoorDash's <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/apps/doordash-introduces-a-cute-delivery-robot-named-dot-130036016.html" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">Dot robot</a>, you'll then have to physically leave your home and collect your order from the car's trunk to complete the delivery. Part of the convenience (and complication) of DoorDash is getting what you ordered brought to your door. A Waymo delivery might turn some people off, since it makes that option impossible.Of course, this isn't the first time Waymo has delivered food in Phoenix. In 2024 the company <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/waymos-self-driving-vehicles-are-now-doing-uber-eats-deliveries-in-phoenix-130052864.html" data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1">partnered with Uber Eats</a> for a similar program, with similar limitations around how deliveries were completed and where food could be ordered from. Waymo runs its own robotaxi service in Arizona, Waymo One, but depending on the region, it's also offered rides through third-party partners like Uber. Its partnerships with Uber Eats and DoorDash seem like variations on the same idea.In 2020, Waymo was exploring using <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/waymo-daimler-self-driving-truck-partnership-142519288.html" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1">self-driving long-haul trucks</a> for deliveries. The company <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://waymo.com/blog/2023/07/doubling-down-on-waymo-one/" data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1">abandoned those plans</a> in 2023 to prioritize robotaxis and the Waymo Driver software, but these tests with DoorDash and Uber Eats could be a signal that Waymo is interested in pursuing deliveries on a smaller scale. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymo-will-also-drive-for-doordash-in-phoenix-213535127.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

The Crew 2 is now playable offline

The Crew 2 was updated today to include <a target="_blank" class="link rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=cca828bc-bcd7-4319-b5fa-8cb88f52eae1&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=69a5a23b-7d39-4853-a9cd-5707075a3723&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Ubisoft&linkText=Hybrid+Mode&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy51Ymlzb2Z0LmNvbS9lbi11cy9nYW1lL3RoZS1jcmV3L3RoZS1jcmV3LTIvbmV3cy11cGRhdGVzL3pzNlpGeUxFUXZLYkZza0VKWm9sUiIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNjlhNWEyM2ItN2QzOS00ODUzLWE5Y2QtNTcwNzA3NWEzNzIzIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy51Ymlzb2Z0LmNvbS9lbi11cy9nYW1lL3RoZS1jcmV3L3RoZS1jcmV3LTIvbmV3cy11cGRhdGVzL3pzNlpGeUxFUXZLYkZza0VKWm9sUiJ9&signature=AQAAAQIUy5mnNRqI71kTJbE7FlGMvnApYkYAnurcoC6S3dQ8&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ubisoft.com%2Fen-us%2Fgame%2Fthe-crew%2Fthe-crew-2%2Fnews-updates%2Fzs6ZFyLEQvKbFskEJZolR" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Ubisoft;elmt:;cpos:1;pos:1" data-original-link="https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/the-crew/the-crew-2/news-updates/zs6ZFyLEQvKbFskEJZolR">Hybrid Mode</a>, adding an offline mode to the driving game. Online and offline modes are separate saves, so if you snag a sweet ride while playing offline, it won't be available the next time you join an online session. Players will have the option to re-export their online save to the offline one, but it will overwrite and erase all offline-only progress. Multiplayer content, user-generated content, LIVE Summits and Crew Credits purchases will not be available in the offline mode. It's a bare-bones option, but the addition of offline mode is a welcome move from Ubisoft. The company's decision to <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-is-deleting-the-crew-from-players-libraries-reminding-us-we-own-nothing-165328083.html" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">delete The Crew</a> from players' libraries after servers for the online game shut down sparked some big debates about ownership and preservation. One of the notable voices emerging from that conversation was the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-stop-killing-games-movement-is-nearing-an-official-meeting-with-eu-lawmakers-191535413.html" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">Stop Killing Games</a> movement, which is pushing for EU legislation to ensure access to games even after their devs stop supporting a project.Having a way to continue accessing The Crew 2 even if (or more likely when) the game loses online support was something the developer had promised, so it's nice to have Ubisoft follow through. "Whether you're looking to preserve your progression for the future or simply enjoy the freedom of playing without a connection, Hybrid Mode ensures The Crew 2 remains accessible for years to come," the company said in the blog post.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-crew-2-is-now-playable-offline-211629508.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Apple's M6 MacBook Pro generation will reportedly offer touchscreens

Apple insiders are pointing to a tactile new future for the company's laptops. Last month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/a-macbook-pro-touchscreen-about-damn-time-180000315.html" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1">suggested</a> that Apple would incorporate touchscreens into MacBooks some time in the next few years, "further blurring the line with the iPad." Today, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg confirmed that prediction, <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-16/apple-readies-high-end-macbook-pro-with-touch-hole-punch-screen?embedded-checkout=true" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">sharing</a> even more specifics about the touchscreen approach for a MacBook Pro that is currently projected for release in late 2026 or early 2027. Gurman reports that the touchscreen laptops are internally known as K114 and K116, and will run on M6 chips; Apple just introduced the M5 generation of its silicon for this year's iteration of the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-first-products-with-apples-m5-chip-could-make-their-debut-this-week-163149688.html" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">MacBook Pro</a> and <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/apples-latest-ipad-pro-get-a-power-boost-with-the-new-m5-chip-131036435.html" data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1">iPad Pro</a>. His sources also say that the laptops will have OLED screens and will boast "a reinforced hinge and screen hardware" so that the display portion doesn't move when being used. The laptops will still have a trackpad and keyboard for non-touchscreen control, and will be housed in "thinner and lighter frames." Finally, this laptop will reportedly abandon the notch housing for the MacBook Pro's camera in favor of a hole-punch design that leaves a display area around that sensor.Longtime Apple leader Steve Jobs was adamantly opposed to touchscreen computers. But most other computer companies have had touchscreen models available for about a decade, so Apple did adhere to that philosophy for a really long time. Rather than bring touch to a laptop, for a while Apple was trying to position the iPad as being capable of doing all the tasks you'd use a laptop for, as epitomized in the notorious "<a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S5BLs51yDQ" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1">what's a computer?</a>" ad. It should be interesting to see how touch MacBooks and iPads will coexist.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apples-m6-macbook-pro-generation-will-reportedly-offer-touchscreens-203029809.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Meta is shutting down its desktop Messenger app

Oct 16, 2025

Google's Ask Photos feature isn't available in Texas and Illinois

One of Google's Gemini-powered photo features is MIA in Texas and Illinois. The company confirmed to Engadget that Ask Photos is currently unavailable in the two states. It didn't say why. Google Photos' Conversational Editing is reportedly missing in those states, too. "The ability to ask Photos to edit your images is not available to users in Texas and Illinois at this time," Google's statement to Engadget reads. "We are working to determine how to make Ask Photos available to more users." As for why that is, we don't have confirmation. But the Houston Chronicle, which first <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/pixel-10-ask-photos-texas-illinois-21101011.php">reported</a> the news, pointed to a pair of lawsuit settlements as a likely culprit. In 2022, Google <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/google-photos-bipa-lawsuit-settlement-161237789.html">settled an Illinois class action suit</a> over Google Photos data privacy concerns for $200 million. Earlier this year, it <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:3;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/09/g-s1-65656/google-texas-settlement-user-data-collection">settled</a> one with Texas for $1.4 billion over collecting user data without permission. The common theme in both settlements was biometric data collection. Lo and behold, both of the missing AI features require "face grouping" to be turned on. That Google Photos feature uses automated facial recognition to cluster pictures of the same person. The tricky part comes when state laws require informed consent for data collection. 9to5Google <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://9to5google.com/2025/10/16/google-confirms-ask-photos-isnt-available-in-some-states/">notes</a> that only the photographer — and not the many subjects of their pictures — have typically agreed to Google's terms and conditions. That creates a head-spinning legal conundrum that could have easily led Google to play it safe. Ask Google Photos lets you <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ask-google-photos-to-get-help-making-sense-of-your-gallery-170734062.html">type or speak queries about your picture library</a>. For example, you could say, "What are all the cities I visited last year?" or "Show me the best photo from each national park I've visited." Meanwhile, Conversational Editing lets you tweak images using natural language. It <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/all-the-new-ai-features-coming-to-the-pixel-10-phones-160017270.html">launched with the Pixel 10 series</a> in August and <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-photos-conversational-editing-is-rolling-out-to-android-users-170057906.html">expanded to other Android phones</a> in September.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-ask-photos-feature-isnt-available-in-texas-and-illinois-200536477.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Tesla reintroduces 'Mad Max' Full Self-Driving mode that breaks speed limits

Tesla has added another brazenly stupid new entry to its <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/nhtsa-is-investigating-tesla-over-its-electronic-door-handles-203605393.html" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1">dubious</a> <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/nhtsa-opens-investigation-into-tesla-remote-parking-features-194559802.html" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">safety</a> <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/nhtsa-opens-tesla-probe-over-model-y-steering-wheel-detachments-153153318.html" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">record</a>. The latest update to Tesla's Full Self-Driving System adds a mode called Mad Max, "which comes with higher speeds and more frequent lane changes" than the system's Hurry mode. This feature isn't new; it was part of the Autopilot mode in 2018 that pre-dated FSD. According to <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://electrek.co/2025/10/16/tesla-mad-max-full-self-driving-mode-ignores-speed-limits/" data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1">Electrek</a>, the re-introduction of Mad Max mode is going exactly as well as you'd expect: "It hasn’t been out for 24 hours, and it has already been spotted rolling stop signs and driving more than 15 mph (24 km/h) over the speed limit."Everything about this is a comically bad idea, or it would be comic if it wasn't so downright dangerous. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration just opened an <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/nhtsa-launches-probe-into-teslas-full-self-driving-tech-141102274.html" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1">investigation</a> into the company's FSD system last week after receiving more than 50 reports of traffic safety violations in addition to numerous crashes. And this is just the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/feds-investigate-tesla-over-inaccurate-autopilot-and-fsd-crash-reports-175837772.html" data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1">most</a> <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/teslas-fsd-is-under-federal-investigation-after-four-reduced-visibility-crashes-140248063.html" data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1">recent</a> <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/nhtsa-tesla-full-self-driving-beta-investigation-192733573.html" data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1">time</a> the regulator has put FSD in its crosshairs. Choosing this moment to reintroduce an automated driving mode based on a post-apocalyptic wasteland where life is meaningless is a level of arrogance that does feel on brand for Tesla.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-reintroduces-mad-max-full-self-driving-mode-that-breaks-speed-limits-190659583.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

OxygenOS 16 has new lock screen customization options and a novel Gemini integration

OnePlus <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1957479645918003201" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1">has finally shown</a> off its take on Android 16. <a target="_blank" class="link rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=d8d4d385-7f93-4537-83d1-d5fb47d219ec&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=44776d93-5021-4e75-a188-6dface58be33&featureId=text-link&merchantName=OnePlus&linkText=OxygenOS+16&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5vbmVwbHVzLmNvbS91cy9veHlnZW5vczE2IiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI0NDc3NmQ5My01MDIxLTRlNzUtYTE4OC02ZGZhY2U1OGJlMzMiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm9uZXBsdXMuY29tL3VzL294eWdlbm9zMTYifQ&signature=AQAAAVoMgghUuvNGYQuxkorI5tcLqPC1HIGzShOGqVEOI8Dj&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oneplus.com%2Fus%2Foxygenos16" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:OnePlus;elmt:;cpos:2;pos:1" data-original-link="https://www.oneplus.com/us/oxygenos16">OxygenOS 16</a>, first shipping on the upcoming OnePlus 15, combines the new customization options of Android, with smoother animations and a take on AI that seems directly lifted from Nothing OS.The centerpiece of OxygenOS 16 is a deeper integration between OnePlus' "Mind Space" app and Google Gemini. Mind Space debuted <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/oneplus-is-replacing-its-alert-slider-with-yes-an-ai-button-130026087.html" data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1">alongside the Plus Key</a> — the replacement for OnePlus' classic Alert Slider — on some OnePlus 13 phones earlier this year. Like Nothing's <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/nothing-phone-3a-essential-spaces-ai-powered-app-done-right-163042976.html" data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1">Essential Space</a>, it captures screenshots and voice memos and automatically sorts them into folders you can refer to later. The big innovation of OxygenOS 16 is that you can now ask Gemini to refer to content in Mind Space to personalize responses. The idea being that the added context will make the AI assistant's responses more helpful.<figure><img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/OxygenOS_16_Image.jpg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/OxygenOS_16_Image.jpg" style="height:2160px;width:3840px;" alt="A bento box arrangement of new features being added in Oxygen OS 16, like Gemini integration with the Mind Space app and new lock screen customization options." data-uuid="0bc923b3-ed0b-4f70-bca1-27449880199c"><figcaption>New features being introduced with OxygenOS 16.</figcaption><div class="photo-credit">OnePlus</div></figure>OnePlus is also hopping on the AI writing and photo editing bandwagon. AI Writer in OxygenOS 16 can convert text into mind maps and tables with a few taps, and also generate social media captions based on a photo. The usual options for proofreading and summarizing text are also built-in. For photos, OnePlus is adding what it calls AI Portrait Glow to make faces visible even in poor lighting conditions and AI Perfect Shot, which appears to combine multiple photos to generate a single image where everyone's eyes are open, like <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/google-pixel-8-gets-more-nifty-ai-powered-editing-tools-for-photo-and-video-153528797.html" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1">Google's Best Take feature</a>.Beyond those AI-enabled features, OnePlus says it's also improving customization options and animations across OxygenOS. With OxygenOS 16 you'll be able to customize your lock screen with a variety different fonts and layouts, including the option to convert a still image into an animated GIF or use a video lock screen. On your home screen, OxygenOS 16 is also getting a collection of new widgets and the ability to scale app icons — another idea present in Nothing OS. Opening and moving between apps should also feel smoother thanks to new, speedier animations and an update to how the OS loads content. Essentially, with Parallel Processing 2.0, OxygenOS 16 "allows new animations to begin before previous actions complete," which is supposed to make everything feel more fluid.Those are just the highlights of OxygenOS 16, which also includes an expansion of the tablet multitasking system OnePlus uses on its OnePlus Pad tablets, and new connectivity options that let you mirror your phone screen to macOS or Windows computers.OxygenOS 16 will be released alongside the OnePlus 15, which doesn't have a release date, but is expected to launch this fall. The new OS update will also be available on recent OnePlus devices starting in November 2025, like the <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/oneplus-13-review-a-focused-flagship-that-ignores-the-ai-hype-140013418.html" data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1">OnePlus 13</a>, OnePlus Pad 3 and <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/oneplus-open-review-a-thinner-and-more-affordable-flagship-foldable-specs-price-150031633.html" data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1">OnePlus Open</a>. A full list of compatible devices is available on <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1957479645918003201#:~:text=%F0%9F%93%85%20OxygenOS%2016%20Rollout%20Schedule" data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1">OnePlus' website</a>. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/oxygenos-16-has-new-lock-screen-customization-options-and-a-novel-gemini-integration-184958404.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Battlefield 6 sold over 7 million copies in three days

EA has had quite the month, and the numbers tell its story. A few weeks ago, the company confirmed an agreement to go private <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ea-confirms-it-will-go-private-in-55-billion-acquisition-133841614.html">in a $55 billion sale</a>. And now we know that <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/theres-finally-a-trailer-for-battlefield-6-but-no-multiplayer-details-just-yet-170144110.html">Battlefield 6</a> sold over 7 million copies in its first three days. The game also had over 172 million online matches played during the holiday weekend. On top of that, it logged 15 million hours watched on streaming services. Battlefield 6's sales numbers make it the biggest opening yet for the franchise. By comparison, 2021's <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/battlefield-2042-rendezook-explainer-171314002.html">Battlefield 2042</a> reportedly sold a relatively paltry 4.2 million copies in its first week. The quotes in EA's <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:4;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://ir.ea.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Battlefield-6-Shatters-Records-Becoming-the-Biggest-Launch-in-Franchise-History/default.aspx">blog post</a> read like awards ceremony acceptance speeches. "First and foremost, we want to thank our players," franchise General Manager Byron Beede said. "We never take moments like this for granted, so I want to express our sincere gratitude to our global Battlefield Studios and passionate community that has helped get us to this point," Executive VP Vince Zampella added. The game's launch came weeks after the company's announcement that it will go private. The gaming giant will be owned by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. On Wednesday, unionized EA staffers <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/unionized-ea-staffers-are-not-happy-about-that-proposed-saudi-backed-acquisition-155559256.html">spoke out against the acquisition</a>, warning that "every time private equity or billionaire investors take a studio private, workers lose visibility, transparency and power." Battlefield 6 launched on October 10. It's available for <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2807960/Battlefield_6/">PC</a>, <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/battlefield-6/">PS5</a>, and <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Microsoft;elmt:;cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=67071605-d4df-494e-8d9c-c9c236b8bb38&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=542ac0dd-f1ad-42a9-9a8d-88942322286b&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Microsoft&linkText=Xbox+Series+X%2FS&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy54Ym94LmNvbS9lbi1VUy9nYW1lcy9zdG9yZS9iYXR0bGVmaWVsZC02LzlwMmZmMTRqemxsMyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNTQyYWMwZGQtZjFhZC00MmE5LTlhOGQtODg5NDIzMjIyODZiIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy54Ym94LmNvbS9lbi1VUy9nYW1lcy9zdG9yZS9iYXR0bGVmaWVsZC02LzlwMmZmMTRqemxsMyJ9&signature=AQAAAV6H1B6mFcqBQbWrINGSSreJB_i87_nfU0BWFwUDZbiL&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xbox.com%2Fen-US%2Fgames%2Fstore%2Fbattlefield-6%2F9p2ff14jzll3" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/battlefield-6/9p2ff14jzll3">Xbox Series X/S</a>. Its Season 1 content is just around the corner, arriving on October 28.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/battlefield-6-sold-over-7-million-copies-in-three-days-181826351.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Apple TV and Peacock team up on a bundle that costs $15 per month

There's a new streaming bundle in town. Apple TV and Peacock are teaming up <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Apple;elmt:;cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=4130e2f0-a14f-4c5e-bdab-cd52ac7d8e79&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=e57ba9f0-f4a8-43cb-94e6-d49b44d47b7f&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Apple&linkText=to+offer+a+combined+subscription&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hcHBsZS5jb20vbmV3c3Jvb20vMjAyNS8xMC9hcHBsZS1hbmQtbmJjdW5pdmVyc2FsLWludHJvZHVjZS10aGUtYXBwbGUtdHYtYW5kLXBlYWNvY2stYnVuZGxlLyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZTU3YmE5ZjAtZjRhOC00M2NiLTk0ZTYtZDQ5YjQ0ZDQ3YjdmIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hcHBsZS5jb20vbmV3c3Jvb20vMjAyNS8xMC9hcHBsZS1hbmQtbmJjdW5pdmVyc2FsLWludHJvZHVjZS10aGUtYXBwbGUtdHYtYW5kLXBlYWNvY2stYnVuZGxlLyJ9&signature=AQAAAa562fukMVKHgz3hUiCVzKDjBHkR_LgHBfRkCnLC352q&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fnewsroom%2F2025%2F10%2Fapple-and-nbcuniversal-introduce-the-apple-tv-and-peacock-bundle%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/10/apple-and-nbcuniversal-introduce-the-apple-tv-and-peacock-bundle/"><ins>to offer a combined subscription</ins></a> that starts at $15 per month. This will allow access to all original programming from both platforms, in addition to Peacock's stable of network and cable shows. This is a mighty fine deal, given that Apple TV recently changed both its <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-tv-is-now-just-apple-tv-200644609.html"><ins>name</ins></a> and <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/apple-tv-subscriptions-just-rose-to-13-a-month-150516370.html"><ins>price</ins></a>. The platform costs $13 per month now on its own. Peacock starts at $11 per month. In other words, this is a discount of around $9 each month. In this economy, we'll take any savings we can get. There's one caveat here. The $15 price tag is for Peacock with ads. The subscription shoots up to $20 per month for an ad-free version. However, a standalone subscription to ad-free Peacock is $17 on its own. This bundle becomes available on October 20. Additionally, Apple One subscribers will get a 35 percent discount on Peacock Premium Plus plans. It's always nice when two lonely corporations find friendship, isn't it? <div id="627d708547f84a608311d197e58a8f8a"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gpnizY19kEM?si=S-zeK4-GfbTeY5rv" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> For the uninitiated, Apple TV is the company's big-wig streaming platform. It's primarily known for sci-fi like Severance, For All Mankind and the upcoming Pluribus. The platform is also host to plenty of comedy, like The Studio, Shrinking and Ted Lasso. <div id="af1d55db2d724522bfb9fc4efdc9a752"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c5v4LJJkvUU?si=g2iLjbOw3pA-RzDe" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> Peacock is NBC's streaming service. It streams old-school network programming like The Office, Grimm and Superstore. The service features a stable of original programming like Poker Face, Twisted Metal and the <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/mrs-davis-review-damon-lindelof-nun-vs-ai-peacock-150006136.html"><ins>underrated </ins><ins>Mrs. Davis</ins></a>. The platform also recently premiered a little show called The Paper, which is a spinoff of The Office. Against all odds, this is actually a great little sitcom and a worthy successor to the original.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/apple-tv-and-peacock-team-up-on-a-bundle-that-costs-15-per-month-170403406.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Snap is bringing shopping features to its AR glasses

Snap is continuing to lay the groundwork for its first consumer-ready AR glasses called Specs. While the company has still revealed few details about the device set to launch <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/snap-says-new-lightweight-ar-glasses-will-come-in-2026-171020059.html" data-i13n="slk:next year;cpos:1;pos:1">next year</a>, it used its Lens Fest event <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://newsroom.snap.com/lens-fest-2025" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1">to preview</a> new features and apps that will work on the new hardware.At the event dedicated to AR developers and creators, Snap said it would enable Specs users to buy items directly from their glasses. Snap CTO Bobby Murphy said that new software tools called Commerce Kit would allow "select developers to accept payments directly inside lenses," either for "digital goods" or as upgrades to unlock "premium features."Snap already allows lens creators to make money off AR effects via its Lens Creator rewards program, but offering in-lens commerce could allow the company to monetize its AR platform in a new way. "This is the start of developer monetization for lenses on Specs, and we plan to continue to find ways you can build sustainable businesses on our platform," Murphy said.Whether this could turn into a meaningful business for Snap is less clear. The company has so far released two versions of its standalone AR glasses, but those devices have been aimed at Snap developers not users. That's set to change next year with its next version of glasses. CEO Evan Spiegel has promised the new glasses will be "lightweight" compared with the current bulky and awkward-looking frames, but has said little else about the design.When Specs do launch, we know there will be a solid lineup of AR features available. Snap has <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/snaps-ar-glasses-are-getting-a-better-browser-and-support-for-spotlight-video-130009244.html" data-i13n="slk:already released;cpos:3;pos:1">already released</a> a standalone experience for watching Spotlight videos and a more powerful web browser. There's also a new translation lens that can translate and transcribe audio in real-time. There are more AR integrations in the works, according to Snap. Tripadvisor is working on an AR lens that will overlay "trusted insights" into your field-of-view as you encounter restaurants, shops and other establishments in the real world. Design platform Figma is also working on a lens, though Snap didn't share details about how these will work. The updates are a reminder of how ambitious Snap's vision for AR glasses is. The company has been nurturing an ecosystem of AR creators and developers for years; it's now getting ready to carry that work over to its nascent glasses platform. "We see Specs powering everything from classrooms to design studios, creating opportunities and work for developers in entirely new categories," Murphy said.<div><hr></div>Jim Lanzone, the CEO of Engadget’s parent company Yahoo, joined the board of directors at Snap on September 12, 2024. No one outside of Engadget’s editorial team has any say in our coverage of the company. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/snap-is-bringing-shopping-features-to-its-ar-glasses-170000985.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Why does Amazon need five TV streamers?

What’s in a name? Apparently quite a bit, according to Amazon. The company recently <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon Canada;elmt:;cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=63045c63-8df1-46e8-bdd0-1716edf6ace5&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=aa8f3bac-964b-4013-ad8e-752f723ef00b&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon+Canada&linkText=announced&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2ZpcmV0di9ibG9nLzIwMjUtbmV3LWRldmljZXM_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYWE4ZjNiYWMtOTY0Yi00MDEzLWFkOGUtNzUyZjcyM2VmMDBiIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2ZpcmV0di9ibG9nLzIwMjUtbmV3LWRldmljZXMiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAcCM7Kc03zHJo84Oz_GVM-2FrJwZKZtVg9-YiSZNMM9l&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Ffiretv%2Fblog%2F2025-new-devices" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/firetv/blog/2025-new-devices">announced</a> yet another change to its Fire TV devices lineup, which just means they renamed a few things yet again. The family now includes the $35 Fire TV Stick HD, the $40 Fire TV Stick 4K Select, the $50 Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, the $60 Fire TV Stick 4K Max and the $140 Fire TV Cube. That was a pain to type out and probably a pain to read (my apologies). Two of those devices were “<a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazons-new-basic-streamer-is-the-35-fire-tv-stick-hd-110011285.html">rebranded</a>” <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-unveils-a-new-fire-tv-lineup-including-the-40-fire-tv-stick-4k-select-144541988.html">previously</a> within the past year, so if you’re confused, you’re likely not alone. What’s a humble shopper to do when you’re trying to decide which is the best (and budget-friendly) option to upgrade an old TV so you can binge-watch Hunting Wives and ask Alexa about tomorrow’s weather forecast? I’ll make your decision quite easy: just get the <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon Canada;elmt:;cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=63045c63-8df1-46e8-bdd0-1716edf6ace5&itemId=amazon_B0BP9SNVH9&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=aa8f3bac-964b-4013-ad8e-752f723ef00b&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon+Canada&linkText=Fire+TV+Stick+4K+Max&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwQlA5U05WSDk_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYWE4ZjNiYWMtOTY0Yi00MDEzLWFkOGUtNzUyZjcyM2VmMDBiIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwQlA5U05WSDkiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAATIZLu0AJz62Of9cCeKit3z6uMp2p8GfnlZv0i2D60Ce&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0BP9SNVH9" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9SNVH9?ref=amzdv_ucc_dp_lod__B0BP9SNVH9">Fire TV Stick 4K Max</a>. Really, if you’re looking for the <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/best-streaming-devices-media-players-123021395.html">best streaming device</a>, period, we recommend turning to Google for that. But if you’ve decided Amazon’s Fire TV lineup is where you want to spend your money, the 4K Max is the best option of the bunch. Not only has it stuck around without being subject to a “rebrand” for quite some time, but it also has arguably the best balance of features and price of any Fire TV streaming device. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max gives you 4K streaming capabilities with Dolby Vision and all the HDRs that matter, Dolby Atmos audio and support for Amazon Luna and Xbox Game Pass. (It has some decent <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/amazons-fire-tv-stick-4k-max-is-better-as-a-retro-gaming-device-than-a-streamer-160022685.html">retro gaming chops</a>, too, as our Jeff Dunn has previously explained.) Aside from the lack of an onboard Ethernet port present on the Fire TV Cube, the 4K Max has the same Wi-Fi 6E support as the more expensive Cube, plus the same 16GB of storage and 2GB of memory. When compared to the other dongles in the Fire TV lineup, things get even more perplexing. The $60 4K Max and the $50 4K Plus are essentially the same stick, but the latter has less storage, only Wi-Fi 6 capabilities (not 6E), a standard Alexa Voice remote and no support for the Fire TV ambient experience, which turns your TV into an Alexa smart display when you’re not actively watching anything. Step down further once more to the $40 4K Select and you miss out on Dolby Vision and extra memory, and you’ll have to settle for Wi-Fi 5. If you’re going to make all those compromises to save a few dollars, then you should just get the entry-level <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon Canada;elmt:;cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=63045c63-8df1-46e8-bdd0-1716edf6ace5&itemId=amazon_B0CQMRKRV5&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=aa8f3bac-964b-4013-ad8e-752f723ef00b&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon+Canada&linkText=%2435+Fire+TV+Stick+HD&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwQ1FNUktSVjU_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYWE4ZjNiYWMtOTY0Yi00MDEzLWFkOGUtNzUyZjcyM2VmMDBiIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwQ1FNUktSVjUiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAASmUgfTTtkC_iXGC9HfVCh_Ktocm7ACT8KeOuXYiRp_j&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0CQMRKRV5" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQMRKRV5?ref=amzdv_ucc_dp_lod__B0CQMRKRV5">$35 Fire TV Stick HD</a>. The biggest thing here is that it only supports 1080p streaming, but that will be ok for some people. We consider it to be the best budget streaming device on the market right now, and for folks just looking to make a cheap, basic upgrade to an aging set — go off and know your $35 was well spent (or, pro tip: wait for a sale and pick one up for less than $20). The case for the $140 Fire TV Cube isn’t a strong one, but it’s one that I’ll admit might be attractive to some users. It adds into the mix an Ethernet port, hands-free Alexa controls (meaning you don’t have to press a button on its remote to activate the virtual assistant, you can just talk to it) and it can control your other entertainment devices like a cable box and game console. It ultimately gives you more control over both the other things in your entertainment ecosystem and Alexa all in one device. That means Amazon has three strong streaming devices with very clear value propositions: the $35 Stick HD, the $60 4K Max and the $140 TV Cube. Affordable, mid-tier and high-end categories are covered and most people will find something that fits in their budget and their needs with these three. The two Sticks sandwiched in the middle do nothing but confuse consumers. Looking at a <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon Canada;elmt:;cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=63045c63-8df1-46e8-bdd0-1716edf6ace5&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=aa8f3bac-964b-4013-ad8e-752f723ef00b&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon+Canada&linkText=comparison+chart+of+all+the+Fire+TV+streaming+devices&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2ZpcmV0di9zdHJlYW1pbmctbWVkaWEtcGxheWVycz90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJhYThmM2JhYy05NjRiLTQwMTMtYWQ4ZS03NTJmNzIzZWYwMGIiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jb20vZmlyZXR2L3N0cmVhbWluZy1tZWRpYS1wbGF5ZXJzIiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAASRcVufkDT50eSQ8Wgh2cwOnnC9oAhdbZerUZnDCZ7Pk&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Ffiretv%2Fstreaming-media-players" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/firetv/streaming-media-players">comparison chart of all the Fire TV streaming devices</a>, you might start to ask yourself, do I really need Wi-Fi 6E over Wi-Fi 6? Will one extra gigabyte of memory make a difference? Can I live without the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced? You shouldn’t be asking yourself these questions; you have better things to do. There are only three Fire TV streaming devices worth considering, and I’d take it one step further and say most people should just get the <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon Canada;elmt:;cpos:9;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=63045c63-8df1-46e8-bdd0-1716edf6ace5&itemId=amazon_B0BP9SNVH9&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=aa8f3bac-964b-4013-ad8e-752f723ef00b&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon+Canada&linkText=Fire+TV+Stick+4K+Max&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwQlA5U05WSDk_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiYWE4ZjNiYWMtOTY0Yi00MDEzLWFkOGUtNzUyZjcyM2VmMDBiIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2RwL0IwQlA5U05WSDkiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAATIZLu0AJz62Of9cCeKit3z6uMp2p8GfnlZv0i2D60Ce&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0BP9SNVH9" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP9SNVH9?ref=amzdv_ucc_dp_lod__B0BP9SNVH9">Fire TV Stick 4K Max</a> when it inevitably goes on sale for Black Friday for around $35. You’ll spend less and get a better product.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/why-does-amazon-need-five-tv-streamers-163014576.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Twitch adds a new live-shopping feature powered by Amazon Ads

Oct 16, 2025

Spotify partners with the big three music labels on 'artist-first AI music products'

Spotify sees <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/spotify-has-reportedly-removed-tens-of-thousands-of-ai-generated-songs-154144262.html">the music industry's AI problem</a>, and it's going to do… something about it. On Thursday, the company <a data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:2;pos:1" class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-10-16/artist-first-ai-music-spotify-collaboration/">published</a> a blog post heavy on principles, partnerships and vague plans. Unfortunately, it's practically devoid of specifics. The most explicit bit is that it's partnering with the big three music labels. Together, they'll "develop responsible AI products that empower the artists and songwriters they represent, and connect them with the fans who support them." The move follows Spotify's announcement last month that it would <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/spotify-is-doing-more-to-address-ai-slop-on-its-platform-151102801.html">clean up the AI slop</a> proliferating on its platform. The company frames today's news as a direct defense against competition from unauthorized AI music production. "If the music industry doesn't lead in this moment, AI-powered innovation will happen elsewhere, without rights, consent or compensation," the company wrote. Spotify says artists don’t find that current AI tools are “built to power their careers, their businesses, and their fan bases.” That will inform whatever comes out of the partners’ plans. "We’ll develop new products for artists and fans through upfront agreements, not by asking for forgiveness later," the company wrote. Spotify laid out four principles that will guide its hazy plans for "artist-first AI music products." The first is through partnerships with labels, distributors, and publishers. (In addition to the big three of Sony, Universal and Warner, Spotify is partnering with digital rights company Merlin and the French music label Believe.) The other tenets include choice in participation, fair compensation and artist-fan connections. Although it's been forced to clean up the AI mess that grew on its platform, Spotify has adopted AI features of its own. Most notably, that includes its <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/spotifys-ai-dj-now-takes-requests-130005706.html">AI DJ</a>. But it's also released a <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/spotifys-latest-playlist-auto-adapts-to-your-day-122541712.html">personalized daylist</a> and <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/spotifys-ai-playlists-are-now-available-for-premium-users-in-the-us-130008423.html">AI Playlist</a> features. The company differentiated its tools from unauthorized ones it's combating. It described its AI features as helping listeners to discover and connect with real artists. "Our goal is to ensure the future of music innovation happens responsibly, and to invite the best minds in AI to help build it," Spotify wrote.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/spotify-partners-with-the-big-three-music-labels-on-artist-first-ai-music-products-161047159.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

Unionized EA staffers are not happy about that proposed Saudi-backed acquisition

EA employees involved with the Communications Workers of America union have issued a sternly-worded statement against the <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ea-confirms-it-will-go-private-in-55-billion-acquisition-133841614.html"><ins>recently-proposed private acquisition</ins></a> of the company by Saudi-backed investors, <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.eurogamer.net/ea-union-workers-rally-against-55bn-saudi-backed-private-acquisition-with-formal-petition-to-regulators"><ins>according to a report by </ins><ins>Eurogamer</ins></a>. The complaints don't involve <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/saudi-arabia-human-rights-raif-badawi-king-salman"><ins>Saudi Arabia's long history of human rights violations</ins></a>, but rather that workers weren't represented in any negotiations for the $55 billion deal. The employees worry that any jobs lost as a result of the purchase would "be a choice, not a necessity, made to pad investors' pockets." In addition <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/united-videogame-workers-cwa-statement-proposed-electronic-arts-buyout"><ins>to this formal response</ins></a>, unionized workers <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/make-ea-better"><ins>have issued a petition</ins></a> that urges regulators to scrutinize the deal. <div id="3343e066d53745e1915171989946008a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I just signed a <a href="https://twitter.com/TheActionNet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theactionnet</a> petition: Make <a href="https://twitter.com/EA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EA</a> Better for Workers and Gamers - Not Billionaires. Sign here: <a href="https://t.co/YEwBBwPmJQ">https://t.co/YEwBBwPmJQ</a>— John Chau (@JChau95) <a href="https://twitter.com/JChau95/status/1978840984650645940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2025</a></blockquote> </div> "EA is not a struggling company," the statement reads, going on to note that the company's success has been driven by workers. "Yet we, the very people who will be jeopardized as a result of this deal, were not represented at all when this buyout was negotiated or discussed." The statement calls out the <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/eleven-percent-of-game-developers-were-laid-off-in-2024-according-to-gdc-survey-130003228.html"><ins>huge number of layoffs</ins></a> that have impacted the industry in recent years. Unionized staffers note that "every time private equity or billionaire investors take a studio private, workers lose visibility, transparency and power." "We are calling on regulators and elected officials to scrutinize this deal and ensure that any path forward protects jobs, preserves creative freedom and keeps decision-making accountable to the workers who make EA successful," the statement reads. "The value of video games is in their workers. As a unified voice, we, the members of the industry-wide video game workers' union UVW-CWA, are standing together and refusing to let corporate greed decide the future of our industry." Eurogamer reached out to the FTC to inquire about the status of the proposed acquisition but the agency refused to comment on the grounds that it doesn't speak about "pending mergers or acquisitions." It's worth noting that President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is involved with the purchase. The Financial Times <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.ft.com/content/61cef75e-ceba-43ee-80e3-040756c6154f"><ins>recently suggested</ins></a> that the deal won't face any real opposition, as "what regulator is going to say no to the president's son-in-law?" As previously noted, the proposed deal is valued at $55 billion. This would take the company private for the first time in its 35-year history. Various entities have partnered to make this deal, including the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake and Kushner's Affinity Partners. US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/us-senators-concerned-about-foreign-influence-in-ea-buyout?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter">have also voiced concerns</a> about this acquisition. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/unionized-ea-staffers-are-not-happy-about-that-proposed-saudi-backed-acquisition-155559256.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

The FCC wants to expel one of Hong Kong's biggest telecom operators from US networks

The FCC is <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-415089A1.pdf"><ins>moving to expel</ins></a> Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) from US telecom networks, citing national security concerns. The agency sent HKT an "Order to Show Cause," which directs the company to explain why the FCC should not begin revocation proceedings against it. The <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-928A1.pdf"><ins>30-page order</ins></a> outlines the agency's reasoning, including a focus on applying new certification and disclosure requirements to entities "owned by, controlled by or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary." “Today’s Order continues the FCC’s work of ensuring that CCP-controlled entities that pose national security risks to our country cannot connect to our telecom networks,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr in a <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-415089A1.pdf"><ins>statement</ins></a> announcing the move. HKT is one of the largest telecommunications companies in Hong Kong and is a subsidiary of communications giant PCCW. Roughly 18 percent of PCCW is owned by China Unicom, a state-owned telecommunications company. HKT is not the only target of the agency's ongoing effort to root out potential vulnerabilities. On October 28, the <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-415066A1.pdf"><ins>FCC will be voting</ins></a> on steps to further strengthen guardrails under its equipment authorization program to protect US networks and the communications supply chain against national security threats. The past month has seen ramped-up regulatory activity from both China and the United States aimed at companies that operate in or generate revenues from one another’s markets. Chinese regulators have been <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/chinese-regulators-are-investigating-qualcomms-acquisition-of-autotalks-121540269.html"><ins>investigating large tech acquisitions</ins></a>, telling local companies <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/china-reportedly-bans-tech-companies-from-buying-nvidias-ai-chips-120143740.html"><ins>not to buy</ins></a> American AI chips and <a data-i13n="cpos:7;pos:1" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-tightens-rare-earth-export-controls-2025-10-09/"><ins>tightening export controls</ins></a> on rare earth minerals. Much of this comes against the backdrop of trade negotiations between the two countries.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-fcc-wants-to-expel-one-of-hong-kongs-biggest-telecom-operators-from-us-networks-155204605.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

A four-pack of AirTags is back on sale for a record-low price

Apple deals can be hard to come by, but right now you can save on one of the company's smallest (and arguably one if its most useful) gadgets. A four-pack of <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:Amazon Canada;elmt:;cpos:1;pos:1" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=63045c63-8df1-46e8-bdd0-1716edf6ace5&itemId=amazon_B0D54JZTHY&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=c736f11a-2f32-4db0-9b83-3ad98a4dacbb&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon+Canada&linkText=Apple+AirTags&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0FwcGxlLU1YNTQyTEwtQS1BaXJUYWctUGFjay9kcC9CMEQ1NEpaVEhZLz90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJjNzM2ZjExYS0yZjMyLTRkYjAtOWI4My0zYWQ5OGE0ZGFjYmIiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jb20vQXBwbGUtTVg1NDJMTC1BLUFpclRhZy1QYWNrL2RwL0IwRDU0SlpUSFkvIiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAAa_il4iDQfPViDGoHNVygCNZ7aSLTNKwTCzvf2mXjb6S&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-MX542LL-A-AirTag-Pack%2Fdp%2FB0D54JZTHY%2F" class="rapid-with-clickid" data-original-link="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MX542LL-A-AirTag-Pack/dp/B0D54JZTHY/">Apple AirTags</a> is down to $65 right now, which is 34 percent off its usual price. That brings each AirTag in the bundle down to $16.25 each. If you're an Apple user, then the AirTag is the <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-bluetooth-tracker-140028377.html">best Bluetooth tracker</a> on the market for you. <core-commerce id="d4e008a283874a32b45ea55c3e2f068b" data-type="product-list" data-original-url="https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MX542LL-A-AirTag-Pack/dp/B0D54JZTHY/"></core-commerce> You can put these little discs in your wallet, in a backpack or in your luggage while you're traveling. Your AirTag's location will show up in your Find My app, powered by the vast network of iPhones, iPads and other compatible devices that receive the AirTag's Bluetooth signal. Keep in mind these only work when close enough to participating devices to be located. You can attach AirTags to just about anything thanks to an abundance of available <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-apple-airtag-cases-holders-accessories-123036404.html">accessories</a>. Their built-in speakers can play a tone, triggered from your iPhone, to help you find them when the object they're affixed to is lost. On iPhone 11 and newer models, you can take advantage of the AirTag's Ultra Wideband capability and have your phone lead you right to your AirTag, complete with directional arrows on your iPhone screen.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-airtags-is-back-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-143112085.html?src=rss

Oct 16, 2025

For its next trick, Quantic Dream is trying to compete with League of Legends and Dota

It's been quite a while since we've heard much about Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse. The studio <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/star-wars-eclipse-quantic-dream-trailer-014713202.html" data-i13n="slk:revealed that project;cpos:1;pos:1">revealed that project</a> at The Game Awards back in 2021 and details have been scarce since then. As it turns out, the developer of Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human had been working on a second game this whole time. It's one that sees Quantic Dream venturing into entirely new territory, because the studio is making its first multiplayer game.Spellcasters Chronicles is a 3 vs. 3 MOBA with a third-person perspective that's akin to Marvel Rivals. Each round lasts 25 minutes, with teams summoning minions, battling to conquer territory and earning victory by destroying their opponents' lifestones. So far, so typical MOBA. But Quantic Dream has a few tricks up its sleeve that it hopes will help make Spellcasters Chronicles stand out in a highly competitive live-service market.<div><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sEXC2rMYWTY?rel=0" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>It's a magic-based MOBA with characters that have unique abilities, personalities and backstories. Every one of these mages has the ability to fly at any time and for as long as they want. So you can freely take to the skies to get a bird's eye view of the battlefield and help you make decisions about what to do next. You can duke it out with enemies in the air too.Along with attacks, support spells and summoning armies with hundreds of creatures, players can use their magic to plunk down buildings and shore up their defenses while altering the environment. There's interplay between characters too, as you can infuse allies (including summoned creatures) with spells. One mage, for instance, might add fire to a tankier teammate's hammer, so there are synergies to discover. "Something we wanted to push is the sense of creativity," game director Greg Diaconu told reporters ahead of the reveal.<figure><img src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/qd_mages.jpeg" data-crop-orig-src="https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/videos/user-uploaded/qd_mages.jpeg" style="height:1440px;width:2560px;" alt="Spellcasters Chronicles" data-uuid="c5226b70-9a0b-463a-83b6-0ecfff5507ec"><figcaption>Spellcasters Chronicles</figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Quantic Dream</div></figure>Eventually, you'll be able to bring giant, game-changing titans into battles. Each player can summon one. Whenever a titan appears, it's an all-hands-on-deck situation for the opposing team, since these are powerful creatures that can completely change the course of a round."It was important for us to create a sense of spectacle," Diaconu said. "Something that's as fun to watch as it is to play."It all seems quite action-packed, but there's a heavy strategic element to Spellcasters Chronicles as well. Before you go into a battle, you'll select your spells and summons, including your titan — so this is a deckbuilder game too. In the thick of the action, your team will need to decide when to pressure the map and try to expand your territory while capturing altars of power, totems that will grant you resources. Speaking of which, each spell has a limited number of uses, so resource management is a factor too.Spellcasters Chronicles is free-to-play, but there are no pay-to-win concerns here. In-game purchases will be purely cosmetic. Expect battle passes full of new looks for the characters. Lots of updates are in the pipeline too, including new mages, spells and creatures.<h2 id="9d18ebfb-14ea-4591-86fc-2aa4d7899372">Seven years in the oven</h2>Quantic Dream started making Spellcasters Chronicles seven years ago (so before Netease bought a stake of the company and <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://www.engadget.com/netease-quantic-dream-acquisition-170338159.html" data-i13n="slk:eventually the whole shebang;cpos:2;pos:1">eventually the whole shebang</a>). Although the studio decided to keep making narrative-driven single-player games after Detroit: Become Human, it wanted to try something new as well. The idea was to take the team's experience of working on interactive storytelling to a different genre by creating a multiplayer game with a stylized look. "Multiple teams are fully dedicated to crafting the next generation of great games, including something very different, a competitive multiplayer experience, born from the same spirit of curiosity and creativity that has always defined us," Quantic Dream founder David Cage wrote in a <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://blog.quanticdream.com/writing-a-new-chapter/" data-i13n="slk:blog post;cpos:3;pos:1">blog post</a> on Thursday. "This new title may surprise our fans as it is very different from what we have done so far. But taking risks, challenging ourselves, exploring new ways of playing and telling stories, and attempting what seems impossible, has always been part of our DNA."In the world of Spellcasters Chronicles, gods are no more and mages who are able to harness an energy called the Source will shape the future. Quantic Dream hasn't shared too many details about the plot and characters of Spellcasters Chronicles just yet — the reveal focused on gameplay. That's perhaps in part because the studio is leaning into a community-driven narrative approach. Victories and defeats will contribute "to the evolving Tapestry of Fate, where seasonal decisions will change gameplay, lore and map meta."We shouldn't have to wait too long to see how all of that works in practice. Quantic Dream will run a closed beta for Spellcasters Chronicles on <a target="_blank" class="link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2458470" data-i13n="slk:Steam;cpos:4;pos:1">Steam</a> later this year, and the game is set to hit consoles with cross-play support in 2026. Those who are attending TwitchCon San Diego this week can try out the MOBA there.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/for-its-next-trick-quantic-dream-is-trying-to-compete-with-league-of-legends-and-dota-150000283.html?src=rss

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Today's Wordle clues, hints and answer for October 19 (#1583)

Oct 19, 2025

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director says all that timewasting filler was good actually

Oct 18, 2025

Total conversion mod for The Simpsons: Hit & Run turns it into the Futurama game of our dreams

Oct 18, 2025

Just in case you thought reviving dead games seemed easy enough, GOG had to hire a private investigator to find an IP holder living off the grid for its preservation program

Oct 18, 2025

'This is definitely my last TwitchCon': High-profile streamer Emiru was assaulted at the event, even as streamers have been sounding the alarm about stalkers and harassment

Oct 18, 2025

It got a lot of love, but Arc Raiders 'was absolutely not ready' to release after its popular April playtest, says design director: 'There were some bad bugs'

Oct 18, 2025

Don't count on Arc Raiders ever getting a first-person mode: 'Once you start being able to put your face right up against an asset, it kind of falls apart'

Oct 18, 2025

The sleeper hit of the Fall might be this mad lad's hyper realistic traffic management sim that uses real census data and a 'distance-based gravity model' to produce millions of NPC commuters

Oct 18, 2025

'Remember Beach': Arrowhead has awarded thousands of 'inexplicably dedicated' Helldivers 2 players with a commemorative 'Avengement Day' after they ignored High Command to save a planet reminiscent of Halo Reach

Oct 18, 2025

Can you find the 10 real games in this jumble of 30 fake ones? Try to see through my lies in our latest quiz

Oct 18, 2025

Expect to serve up 'floor chicken casserole' in the new Two Point Museum update—a crossover with, of all things, Vampire Survivors

Oct 18, 2025

With a lawsuit looming, World of Warcraft private server Turtle WoW has issued a formal plea for a fan server licensing: 'We hope that Blizzard embraces fan‑driven content as its own legacy, rather than alienate this passionate community'

Oct 18, 2025

I played communist Germany's only arcade cabinet and you can too, comrade

Oct 18, 2025

Every MMO I play in 2025, I end up with a bag filled with trash—but that won't change any time soon, if at all

Oct 18, 2025

This wild mod for Metal Gear Solid 5 massively expands its Subsistence system and makes enemies learn new tactics within missions rather than across them

Oct 18, 2025

'GZDoom is basically dead' modders proclaim as contributors split from Doom's most popular sourceport, with tensions boiling over after its creator adds AI-generated code to the project

Oct 18, 2025

Drive a truck filled with explosives across horrible terrain in this gnarly mix of Snowrunner and Baby Steps—inspired by one of Hollywood's most misunderstood films

Oct 18, 2025

Doom: The Dark Ages gets Steam Deck verification and a bunch of portable optimisations, just in time for the launch of Microsoft's new handheld

Oct 18, 2025

My new most anticipated game is about a lonely house who can roll, jump, fish and go on dates

Oct 18, 2025

Today's Wordle clues, hints and answer for October 18 (#1582)

Oct 18, 2025

2027 is shaping up to be the biggest year for videogame movies yet, with the live-action Zelda movie, A Minecraft Movie sequel, Death Stranding, and more heavy-hitters planned

Oct 17, 2025

Arc Raiders playtest slams past 185,000 concurrent players on Steam alone

Oct 17, 2025

OpenAI stops itself from generating 'disrespectful' Martin Luther King Jr. deepfakes, but this is the tip of the iceberg: 'Who gets protection from synthetic resurrection and who doesn't?'

Oct 17, 2025

Sony accuses Tencent of playing a 'shell game' with its Horizon-like survival game, seeks a preliminary injunction against it

Oct 17, 2025

So, uh, why are there suddenly at least 4 sinister convenience store simulators on Steam at once?

Oct 17, 2025

All of The Outer Worlds 2 companions you can recruit to your crew

Oct 17, 2025

Football Manager 26 announces partnership with FIFA, so get ready to take the mighty Scotland to glory in World Cup 26

Oct 17, 2025

World of Warcraft's adding player housing in December, so naturally there's an add-on to let players earn as much furniture as possible in advance

Oct 17, 2025

Routers don't grab headlines like graphics cards but having a good one in your home can make a world of difference to your digital life

Oct 17, 2025

Arc Raiders, one of our most anticipated games of 2025, is free for all in its final pre-release playtest this weekend

Oct 17, 2025

PayPal's crypto partner accidentally minted $300,000,000,000,000 worth of stablecoins, which is more than twice the world's total GDP

Oct 17, 2025

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X review

Oct 17, 2025

People are falling for AI phishing attempts 4.5x more often than human ones but the solutions are the same as ever

Oct 17, 2025

Microsoft says it's making 'every Windows 11 PC an AI PC' with a dizzying array of Copilot upgrades, including voice activation

Oct 17, 2025

Keeper review

Oct 17, 2025

Amnesia: The Bunker is one of the best straight-up horror games ever made, and it's free on Epic for the next week

Oct 17, 2025

Battlefield 6 is already walking back its Conquest changes after immediate backlash, but it's still not what we were really asking for

Oct 17, 2025

Battlefield 6 is so well-optimised it's playable on an eight-year-old RX 570 with just 4 GB of VRAM

Oct 17, 2025

PC Gamer is joining Dames 4 Games for its spooky Halloween monster mash, Ghouls 4 Games, which includes a showcase, Steam event, and fundraising streams

Oct 17, 2025

Nightdive puts out surprise 'definitive' update for 30-year-old I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream

Oct 17, 2025

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 review

Oct 17, 2025

A Google AI model has discovered a promising new cancer treatment method, described as 'a milestone for AI in science'

Oct 17, 2025

Logitech G321 Lightspeed review

Oct 17, 2025

Gigabyte's new gaming laptops come with voice control for performance, fan, and privacy settings, so you can shout at them if they won't pipe down

Oct 17, 2025

Here's the Arc Raiders Server Slam start times for your region

Oct 17, 2025

Steam is officially bigger than Canada with a 41-million concurrent user record

Oct 17, 2025

Battlefield 6 devs are trying to find the balance between 'zoomers' and 'battledads', following movement nerfs: 'We're looking at adjustments for sure to find a good in-between'

Oct 17, 2025

Battlefield 6's lethargic progression is getting a much-needed overhaul, but Portal is unsurprisingly paying the price after we all abused it

IEEE Spectrum

Oct 17, 2025

Video Friday: Multimodal Humanoid Walks, Flies, Drives

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/caltech-humanoid-robot-bent-over-at-the-bipedal-attachment-point-with-wheeled-drone-on-its-back-exits-building.png?id=61767773&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C101%2C0%2C101"/> Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Robotics%20event%20suggestion%20for%20Video%20Friday">send us your events</a> for inclusion.<h5><a href="https://www.iros25.org/">IROS 2025</a>: 19–25 October 2025, HANGZHOU, CHINA</h5>Enjoy today’s videos!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><div style="page-break-after: always"> </div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="f8dwbwcvz0c">Caltech’s <a data-linked-post="2650277975" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/caltech-building-agile-humanoid-robot-by-combining-legs-with-thrusters" target="_blank">Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies</a> (CAST) and the Technology Innovation Institute in Abu Dhabi, UAE, recently conducted a demonstration of X1, a multirobot system developed as part of a three-year collaboration between the two institutes. During the demo, M4, a multimodal robot developed by CAST, launches in drone mode from a humanoid robot’s back. It lands and converts into driving mode and then back again, as needed. The demonstration underscored the kind of progress that is possible when engineers from multiple institutions at the forefront of autonomous systems and technologies truly collaborate.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F8DwBWCVZ0c?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://cast.caltech.edu/news/caltech-and-technology-innovation-institute-demo-multirobot-response-team">Caltech Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="nm_zhzp8nqa">Spot performs dynamic whole-body manipulation using a combination of reinforcement learning and sampling-based control. Behavior shown in the video is fully autonomous, including the dynamic selection of contacts on the arm, legs, and body, and coordination between the manipulation and locomotion processes. The tire weighs 15 kilograms (33 pounds), making its mass and inertial energy significant compared to the weight of the robot. An external motion-capture system was used to simplify perception, and an external computer linked by Wi-Fi performed the intensive computational operations.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nM_ZHzp8nQA?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe><a data-linked-post="2652903997" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/boston-dynamics-spot-robot-arm" target="_blank">Spot’s arm</a> is stronger than I thought. Also, the arm-foot collaboration is pretty wild.[ <a href="https://rai-inst.com/resources/blog/combining-sampling-and-learning-for-dynamic-whole-body-manipulation/">Robotics and AI Institute</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="eu5mymavctm">Figure 03 represents an unprecedented advancement in taking humanoid robots from experimental prototypes to deployable, scalable products. By uniting advanced perception and tactile intelligence with home-safe design and mass-manufacturing readiness, Figure has built a platform capable of learning, adapting, and working across both domestic and commercial settings. Designed for Helix, the home, and the world at scale, Figure 03 establishes the foundation for true general-purpose robotics, one capable of transforming how people live and work.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eu5mYMavctM?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>The kid and the dog in those clips make me very, very nervous.[ <a href="https://www.figure.ai/news/introducing-figure-03">Figure</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="6jbfpu-0pyw">Researchers have invented a new superagile robot that can cleverly change shape thanks to amorphous characteristics akin to the popular Marvel antihero Venom. Researchers used a special material called electro-morphing gel (e-MG) which allows the robots to show shape-shifting functions, allowing them to bend, stretch, and move in ways that were previously difficult or impossible, through manipulation of electric fields from ultralightweight electrodes.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6jbFPu-0Pyw?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/october/soft-robotics-breakthrough.html">University of Bristol</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>This is very preliminary of course, but I love the idea of quadrupedal robots physically assisting each other to surmount obstacles like this.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UvtP0aPrdzY?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://rpl-as-ucl.github.io/">Robot Perception and Learning Lab</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>Have we reached peak dynamic humanoid yet?<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O5GphCrjx98?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.unitree.com/g1">Unitree</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="txyc9b1oflu">Dynamic manipulation, such as robots tossing or throwing objects, has recently gained attention as a novel paradigm to speed up logistic operations. However, the focus has predominantly been on the object’s landing location, irrespective of its final orientation. In this work, we present a method enabling a robot to accurately “throw-flip” objects to a desired landing pose (position and orientation).</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/txYc9b1oflU?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lasa/">LASA</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>I don’t care all that much about “industry-oriented” quadrupeds. I do care very much about “ridable” quadrupeds.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MqGBEGXnctU?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.magiclab.top/en">MagicLab</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>I am not yet at the point where I would trust any humanoid around priceless ancient relics. Any humanoid, not just the robotic ones.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y4wBmR1hLx0?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.limxdynamics.com/en/oli">LimX</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>This Carnegie Mellon University RI Seminar, “A Manipulation Journey,” is presented by Matt Mason, professor emeritus at CMU. <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WQFJcuU2ICI?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe><blockquote>The talk will revisit my career in manipulation research, focusing on projects that might offer some useful lessons for others. We will start with my beginnings at the MIT AI Lab and my MS thesis, which is still my most-cited work, then continue with my arrival at CMU, a discussion with Allen Newell, an exercise to envision a coherent research program, and how that led to a second and third childhood. The talk will conclude with some discussion of lessons learned.</blockquote>[ <a href="https://www.ri.cmu.edu/event/a-manipulation-journey/">Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="dtgsw3hjtzi">Christian Hubicki highlights and explains the past year of humanoid robotics research and news.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dtGsw3hJtZI?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.optimalroboticslab.com/">Florida State University</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>More excellent robotics discussions from <a data-linked-post="2669217747" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/icra40-conference" target="_blank">ICRA@40</a>.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qOET-5GbBcM?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5e6QAMUQCsg?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pnNK-PwTM9k?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://icra40.ieee.org/">ICRA@40</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>

Oct 16, 2025

IEEE Memorial Fund Honors Magnet Tech Pioneer Swarn Kalsi

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/black-and-white-picture-of-swarn-s-kalsi-working-in-a-lab.jpg?id=61764303&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C374%2C0%2C375"/> The <a href="https://www.ieeefoundation.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Foundation</a> this year established the <a href="https://secure.ieeefoundation.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2680&mfc_pref=T&2680.donation=form1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EPICS in IEEE Dr. Swarn S. Kalsi Community of Projects</a> fund to support projects “designed to inspire multidisciplinary teams of engineering students to collaborate and engineer solutions to address local community needs.”The <a href="https://epics.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) in IEEE</a> initiative provides opportunities for students to engage in service learning and collaborate proactively with engineering professionals and community organizations to develop solutions that address local challenges.The new fund was created by the family of IEEE Life Fellow <a href="https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/swarn-kalsi-obituary?id=57846358" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Swarn S. Kalsi</a> to honor his legacy as a pioneer of temperature-superconducting magnet technology. Kalsi died on 2 March at the age of 85.Related: <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-foundation-memorial-fund" target="_blank">Honor a Loved One With an IEEE Foundation Memorial Fund</a>He was a devoted IEEE volunteer, passionate about the importance of hands-on education and supporting up-and-coming engineers.“Dad believed that education, especially an engineering degree, had the power to change lives,” Kalsi’s son, Sonny, says. “He was a lifelong teacher who cared deeply about all around him and wanted to share his knowledge.”To further extend his legacy, Kalsi’s family worked with the IEEE Foundation to establish the new memorial fund.“Dad’s desire was for each individual to reach their full potential, and he often said that ‘engineers build the future,’” says Kalsi’s daughter, Kiran. “In that way, the EPICS in IEEE program seemed like a natural way to honor him while supporting the next generation of engineers.”<h2>An expert on superconducting magnet technology</h2>Kalsi grew up in Kanpur, India, and earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1962 from the <a href="https://www.iitkgp.ac.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur</a>. He continued his education by earning a master’s degree in EE in 1963 from <a href="https://www.bhu.ac.in/Site/Home/1_2_16_Main-Site" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Benaras Hindu University</a>, in Varanasi, India. He then moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a doctoral degree in EE at <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Imperial College London</a>. After earning his Ph.D. in 1970, he moved to the United States with his wife, Kuldeep.Throughout his 50-year career, Kalsi worked at industry-leading companies including <a href="https://www.amsc.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AMSC (American Superconductor)</a>, <a href="https://www.ge.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">General Electric</a>, and <a href="https://www.northropgrumman.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Northrop Grumman</a>. His work focused on designing and building superconducting magnets for motors and generators, power cables, and fault current limiters.At AMSC, he worked to enhance the company’s development process for power equipment using <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/electric-aircraft-motor-hinetics" target="_self">high-temperature superconducting</a> (HTS) technology.“One of his major contributions was HTS rotating machines including motors, generators, and synchronous condensers,” says IEEE Life Fellow <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37282823100" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alex J. Malozemoff</a>, who worked with Kalsi at AMSC. “He contributed to the design of the industry-leading 36.5-megawatt ship propulsion motor for the <a href="https://www.navy.mil/About/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">U.S. Navy</a> and the development and successful test of an HTS dynamic synchronous condenser.“The creation of the new EPICS in IEEE Dr. Swarn S. Kalsi Community of Projects fund is a beautiful example of how an IEEE member’s impact can extend well beyond their lifetime.” — Karen Galuchie“I consider him one of the most insightful and broadly experienced engineers in the HTS power engineering field.”Kalsi was granted more than <a href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US6489701B1/en" target="_blank">30 U.S. patents</a>.After retiring in 2007, he founded Kalsi Green Power Systems, a consulting company in Princeton, N.J. As a consultant, he helped government and private clients design large superconducting generators and motors for <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/wind-turbine-blade-transport-plane" target="_self">wind turbines</a>, ship propulsion, transformers, fault current limiters, and magnet systems.Kalsi authored the book <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9780470877890" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Applications of High Temperature Superconductors to Electric Power Equipment</a>, released in 2011.He was active with the <a href="https://site.ieee.org/pcjs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Princeton Central Jersey Section</a> for many years and was elevated to IEEE Fellow in 2013 for “the development and application of high-temperature superconductor electric power equipment.”<h2>Keeping the legacy alive</h2>Since <a href="https://ea.ieee.org/ea-programs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Educational Activities</a> launched <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/epics-in-ieee-15th-anniversary" target="_self">EPICS in IEEE</a> in 2009, more than 12,000 students from 39 countries have participated in service-learning projects. EPICS provides student teams with up to US $10,000 in funding, along with resources and mentorship, for projects focused on four key areas of community improvement: education and outreach; the environment; access and abilities; and human services.The Kalsi family made the single largest pledge in the EPICS program’s history, according to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-galuchie" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Karen Galuchie</a>, the IEEE Foundation’s executive director.The IEEE Foundation “couldn’t be prouder or more excited to establish the new EPICS in IEEE Dr. Swarn S. Kalsi Community of Projects fund,” says <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-foundation-president-marko-delimar" target="_self">Marko Delimar</a>, 2025 president of the Foundation. “It will recognize both Kalsi’s outstanding and indelible contributions to our industry throughout his renowned career, as well as inspire and support ongoing innovation by future generations.”<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-moesch-7502b31" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jamie Moesch</a>, managing director of IEEE Educational Activities, is grateful as well, saying, “Thanks to the Kalsi family’s incredible generosity, we can provide long-term support for service-learning projects for years to come, further empowering the next generation of engineers to advance technology for humanity.”Former Kalsi colleagues and mentees have contributed to the fund. <a href="https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/james.storey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James Storey</a>, a senior scientist at the <a href="https://robinson.ac.nz/home/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Robinson Research Institute</a> in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, supports the fund, for example. He worked with Kalsi on a superconducting project.“Swarn was the team’s most valuable collaborator, informing our superconducting motor research programs for more than a decade,” Storey says. “I knew him as—besides being incredibly knowledgeable—a very kind, generous, and hospitable person. It was a true privilege to be able to learn from him.”<h2>Establish a memorial fund</h2>The IEEE Foundation partners with IEEE groups and the families of IEEE members to create memorial funds, which pay tribute to family members, friends, colleagues, teachers, professors, students, and others. This type of tribute honors someone while supporting future generations of engineers and celebrating innovation.“The creation of the new EPICS in IEEE Dr. Swarn S. Kalsi Community of Projects fund is a beautiful example of how an IEEE member’s impact can extend well beyond their lifetime,” Galuchie says. “In this case, Kalsi’s family memorialized and supported his deep connection to IEEE and to the value of education by continuing his legacy through his professional home.“Through the global, hands-on, educational opportunities this program offers to help advance technology for the benefit of humanity, EPICS in IEEE was a perfect match for Kalsi’s passion, and we’re so grateful to the Kalsi family for their generous and enduring gift.”For more information on the fund or to donate to the initiative, visit its <a href="https://www.ieeefoundation.org/kalsi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">page on the IEEE Foundation website</a>. To learn more about <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-foundation-memorial-fund" target="_self">memorial and tribute funds</a>, visit <a href="https://www.ieeefoundation.org/ways-to-give/tribute-giving/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this page</a>.

Oct 16, 2025

Electrifying Everything Will Require Multiphysics Modeling

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/schematic-of-wireless-power-transfer-simulation-results-featuring-magnetic-flux-lines.jpg?id=61747348&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C384%2C0%2C384"/> A prototyping problem is emerging in today’s efforts to electrify everything. What works as a lab-bench mockup breaks in reality. Harnessing and safely storing energy at grid scale and in cars, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/electric-trucks'" target="_self">trucks</a>, and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/evtol-air-taxi-industry" target="_self">planes</a> is a very hard problem that simplified models sometimes can’t touch. “In electrification, at its core, you have this combination of electromagnetic effects, heat transfer, and structural mechanics in a complicated interplay,” says <a href="https://www.comsol.com/blogs/author/bjorn-sjodin/" target="_blank">Bjorn Sjodin</a>, senior vice president of product management at the Stockholm-based software company <a href="https://comsol.com/" target="_blank">COMSOL</a>. COMSOL is an engineering R&D software company that seeks to simulate not just a single phenomenon—for instance, the electromagnetic behavior of a circuit—but rather all the pertinent physics that needs to be simulated for developing new technologies in real-world operating conditions. Engineers and developers gathered in Burlington, Mass. on 8 to 10 October for COMSOL’s <a href="https://www.comsol.com/conference/boston" target="_blank">annual Boston conference</a>, where they discussed engineering simulations via multiple simultaneous physics packages. And <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/u/comsol" target="_self">multiphysics modeling</a>, as the emerging field is called, has emerged as a component of electrification R&D that is becoming more than just nice to have.“Sometimes, I think some people still see simulation as a fancy R&D thing,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/niloofar-kamyab-ph-d-0a200b10a/" target="_blank">Niloofar Kamyab</a>, a chemical engineer and applications manager at COMSOL. “Because they see it as a replacement for experiments. But no, experiments still need to be done, though experiments can be done in a more optimized and effective way.”<h3>Can Multiphysics Scale Electrification?</h3>Multiphysics, Kamyab says, can sometimes be only half the game.“I think when it comes to batteries, there is another attraction when it comes to simulation,” she says. “It’s multiscale—how batteries can be studied across different <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/special-reports/scale/" target="_self">scales</a>. You can get in-depth analysis that, if not very hard, I would say is impossible to do experimentally.”In part, this is because batteries reveal complicated behaviors (and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/lithium-ion-battery-fires" target="_blank">runaway reactions</a>) at the cell level but also in unpredictable new ways at the battery-pack level as well. “Most of the people who do simulations of battery packs—thermal management is one of their primary concerns,” Kamyab says. “You do this simulation so you know how to avoid it. You recreate a cell that is malfunctioning.” She adds that multiphysics simulation of thermal runaway enables battery engineers to safely test how each design behaves in even the most extreme conditions—in order to stop any battery problems or fires before they could happen. Wireless charging systems are another area of electrification, with their own thermal challenges. “At higher power levels, localized heating of the coil changes its conductivity,” says <a href="https://www.veryst.com/about/our-team/nirmal-paudel" target="_blank">Nirmal Paudel</a>, a lead engineer at <a href="https://www.veryst.com/" target="_blank">Veryst Engineering</a>, a consulting firm based in Needham, Mass. And that, he notes, in turn can change the entire circuit as well as the design and performance of all the elements that surround it.<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ev-motor" target="_self">Electric motors</a> and power converters require similar simulation savvy. According to electrical engineer and COMSOL senior application engineer <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vigneshwaran-gurusamy/" target="_blank">Vignesh Gurusamy</a>, older ways of developing these age-old electrical workhorse technologies are proving less useful today. “The recent surge in electrification across diverse applications demands a more holistic approach as it enables the development of new optimal designs,” Gurusamy says.And freight transportation: “For trucks, people are investigating, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/mobile-bess" target="_self">Should we use batteries</a>? <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/hydrogen-truck" target="_self">Should we use fuel cells</a>?” Sjodin says. “Fuel cells are very multiphysics friendly—fluid flow, heat transfer, chemical reactions, and electrochemical reactions.”Lastly, there’s the electric grid itself. “The grid is designed for a continuous supply of power,” Sjodin says. “So when you have power sources [like wind and solar] shutting off and on all the time, you have completely new problems.” <h3>Multiphysics in Battery and Electric-Motor Design</h3>Taking such an all-in approach to engineering simulations can yield unanticipated upsides as well, says Kamyab. Berlin-based automotive engineering company <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAV_GmbH" target="_blank">IAV</a>, for example, is developing power-train systems that integrate multiple battery formats and chemistries in a single pack. “<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/natron-sodium-ion-battery-failure" target="_blank">Sodium ion</a> cannot give you the energy that <a data-linked-post="2662301621" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/lithium-battery" target="_blank">lithium ion</a> can give,” Kamyab says. “So they came up with a blend of chemistries, to get the benefits of each, and then designed a thermal management that matches all the chemistries.”Jakob Hilgert, who works as a technical consultant at IAV, recently contributed to a <a href="https://www.comsol.com/story/driving-ev-development-with-a-twin-battery-approach-140391" target="_blank">COMSOL industry case study</a>. In it, Hilgert described the design of a dual-chemistry battery pack that combines sodium-ion cells with a more costly lithium solid-state battery.Hilgert says that using multiphysics simulation enabled the IAV team to play the two chemistries’ different properties off of each other. “If we have some cells that can operate at high temperatures and some cells that can operate at low temperatures, it is beneficial to take the exhaust heat of the higher-running cells to heat up the lower-running cells, and vice versa,” Hilgert said. “That’s why we came up with a cooling system that shifts the energy from cells that want to be in a cooler state to cells that want to be in a hotter state.”According to Sjodin, IAV is part of a larger trend in a range of industries that are impacted by the electrification of everything. “Algorithmic improvements and hardware improvements multiply together,” he says. “That’s the future of multiphysics simulation. It will allow you to simulate larger and larger, more realistic systems.”According to COMSOL’s Gurusamy, GPU accelerators and surrogate models allow for bigger jumps in electric-motor capabilities and efficiencies. Even seemingly simple components like the windings of copper wire in a motor core (called <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/axial-flux" target="_self">stators</a>) provide parameters that multiphysics can optimize.“A primary frontier in electric-motor development is pushing power density and efficiency to new heights, with thermal management emerging as a key challenge,” Gurusamy says. “Multiphysics models that couple electromagnetic and thermal simulations…incorporate temperature-dependent behavior in stator windings and magnetic materials.”Simulation is also changing the wireless charging world, Paudel says. “Traditional design cycles tweak coil geometry,” he says. “Today, integrated multiphysics platforms enable exploration of new charging architectures,” including flexible charging textiles and smart surfaces that adapt in real time.And batteries, according to Kamyab, are continuing a push toward higher power densities and lower prices. Which is changing not just the industries where batteries are already used, like consumer electronics and EVs. Higher-capacity batteries are also driving new industries like <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/pivotal-helix" target="_self">electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft</a> (eVTOLs).“The reason that many ideas that we had 30 years ago are becoming a reality is now we have the batteries to power them,” Kamyab says. “That was the bottleneck for many years.... And as we continue to push battery technology forward, who knows what new technologies and applications we’re making possible next.”

Oct 16, 2025

You Can Cool Chips With Lasers?!?!

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-laser-shining-on-a-computer-chip-covered-in-snow.png?id=61755630&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C785%2C0%2C786"/> Modern high-performance chips are marvels of engineering, containing tens of billions of <a data-linked-post="2658650291" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/invention-of-the-transistor" target="_blank">transistors</a>. The problem is, you can’t use them all at once. If you did, you would create hot spots—high temperatures concentrated in tiny areas—with power densities nearing those found at the surface of the sun. This has led to a frustrating paradox known as dark silicon, a term coined by computer architects to describe the growing portion of a chip that must be kept powered down. Up to 80 percent of the transistors on a modern chip must remain “dark” at any given moment to keep the chip from sizzling. We are building supercomputers on a sliver of silicon but only using a fraction of their potential. It’s like building a skyscraper and being able to use only the first 10 floors.For years, the industry has battled this thermal limit with bigger fans and more complex liquid cooling systems. But these are fundamentally Band-Aid solutions. Whether using air or liquid, they rely on pulling heat away from the chip’s surface. The heat must first conduct through the silicon to the cooling plate, creating a thermal bottleneck that simply cannot be overcome at the power densities of future chips. Hot spots on today’s chips produce tens of watts per square millimeter, and they pop up in various places on the chip at different times during computations. Air and liquid cooling struggle to focus their efforts at just the hot spots, when and where they appear—they can only try to cool the whole thing en masse.We at St. Paul, Minn.–based startup Maxwell Labs are proposing a radical new approach: What if, instead of just moving heat, you could make it disappear? The technology, which we call photonic cooling, is capable of converting heat directly into light—cooling the chip from the inside out. The energy can then be recovered and recycled back into useful electric power. With this approach, instead of cooling the whole chip uniformly, we can target hot spots as they form, with laser precision. Fundamentally, this technique could cool hot spots of thousands of watts per square millimeter, orders of magnitude better than today’s chips are cooled.<h2>The Physics of Cooling With Light</h2>Lasers are usually thought of as sources of heat, and for good reason—they are most commonly used for cutting materials or transferring data. But under the right circumstances, laser light can induce cooling. The secret lies in a luminescent process known as fluorescence.Fluorescence is the phenomenon behind the familiar glow of highlighter markers, coral reefs, and white clothes under black-light illumination. These materials absorb high-energy light—usually in the ultraviolet—and reemit lower energy light, often in the visible spectrum. Because they absorb higher energy than they emit, the difference often results in heating up the material. However, under certain, very niche conditions, the opposite can happen: A material can absorb low-energy photons and emit higher-energy light, cooling down in the process. <img alt="A stack of squares on top of a layered cube with arrows pointing at the squares from the top. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="51b907e1f6815360dfcd5803cca437f7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="0e294" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-stack-of-squares-on-top-of-a-layered-cube-with-arrows-pointing-at-the-squares-from-the-top.png?id=61755825&width=980"/> To cool computer chips with lasers, the team at Maxwell Labs plans to place a grid of photonic cold plates on top of the chip substrate. In their demo setup, a thermal camera detects hot spots coming from the chip. A laser then shines onto the photonic cold plate next to the hot spot, stimulating the photonic process that results in cooling. The photonic cold plate [inset] consists of a coupler that guides light in and out of the plate, the extractor where anti-Stokes fluorescence occurs, the back reflector that prevents light from entering the computer chip, and a sensor that is designed to detect hot spots.GygInfographics.comThe reemission is higher energy because it combines the energy from the incoming photons with phonons, vibrations in the crystal lattice of a material. This phenomenon is called anti-Stokes cooling, and it was first <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/377500a0" target="_blank">demonstrated</a> in a solid back in 1995 when a team of scientists cooled an ytterbium-doped fluoride glass sample with laser light.The choice of ytterbium as a dopant was not random: Anti-Stokes cooling works only under carefully engineered conditions. The absorbing material must be structured so that for nearly every absorbed photon a higher-energy photon will be emitted. Otherwise, other mechanisms will kick in, heating rather than cooling the sample. Ions of ytterbium and other such lanthanides have the right structure of electron orbitals to facilitate this process. For a narrow range of laser wavelengths shining on the material, the ions can effectively absorb the incident light and use phonons to trigger emission of higher-energy light. This reemitted, extracted thermal light needs to escape the material quickly enough to not be absorbed again, which would otherwise cause heating.To date, lab-based approaches have <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.1c00116" target="_blank">achieved</a> up to 90 watts of cooling power in ytterbium-doped silica glass. As impressive as that is, to achieve the transformative effects on high-performance chips that we anticipate, we need to boost the cooling capacity by many orders of magnitude. Achieving this requires integration of the photonic cooling mechanism onto a thin-film, chip-scale photonic cold plate. Miniaturization not only enables more precise spatial targeting of hot spots due to the tightly focused beam, but is a crucial element for pushing the physics of laser cooling toward high-power and high-efficiency regimes. The thinner layer also makes it less likely that the light will get reabsorbed before escaping the film, avoiding heating. And, by engineering the materials at the scale of the wavelength of light, it allows for increased absorption of the incoming laser beam.<h2>Photonic Cold-Plate Technology</h2>In our lab, we are developing a way to harness photonic cooling to tackle the heat from today’s and future CPUs and GPUs. Our photonic cold plate is designed to sense areas of increasing power density (emerging hot spots) and then couple light efficiently into a nearby region that cools the hot spots down to a target temperature.The photonic cold plate has several components: first the coupler, which couples the incoming laser light into the other components; then, the microrefrigeration region, where the cooling actually happens; next, the back reflector, which prevents light from hitting the CPU or GPU directly; and last a sensor, which detects the hot spots as they form.The laser shines onto the targeted area from above through the coupler: a kind of lens that focuses the incoming laser light onto a microrefrigeration region. The coupler simultaneously channels the inbound heat-carrying fluorescent light out of the chip. The microrefrigeration region, which we call the extractor, is where the real magic happens: The specially doped thin film undergoes anti-Stokes fluorescence.To prevent the incoming laser light and fluorescent light from entering the actual chip and heating the electronics, the photonic cold plate incorporates a back reflector.Crucially, cooling occurs only when, and where, the laser is shining onto the cold plate. By choosing where to shine the laser, we can target hot spots as they appear on the chip. The cold plate includes a thermal sensor that detects hot spots, allowing us to steer the laser toward them.Designing this whole stack is a complex, interconnected problem with many adjustable parameters, including the exact shape of the coupler, the material and doping level of the extraction region, and the thickness and number of layers in the back reflector. To optimize the cold plate, we are deploying a multiphysics simulation model combined with <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-018-0246-9" target="_blank">inverse design tools</a> that let us search the vast set of possible parameters. We are leveraging these tools in the hope of improving cooling power densities by two orders of magnitude, and we are planning larger simulations to achieve bigger improvements still.Collaborating with our partners at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., and Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, we are building a demonstration version of photonic cooling at our lab in St. Paul. We are assembling an array of small photonic cold plates, each a square millimeter in size, tiled atop various CPUs. For demonstration purposes, we use an external thermal camera to sense the hot spots coming from the chips. When a hot spot begins to appear, a laser is directed onto the photonic cold plate tile directly atop it, extracting its heat. Our first iteration of the cold plate used ytterbium ion doping, but we are now experimenting with a variety of other dopants that we believe will achieve much higher performance.In an upcoming integrated implementation of this demo, the photonic cold plates will consist of finer tiles—about 100 by 100 micrometers. Instead of a free-space laser, light from a fiber will be routed to these tiles by an on-chip photonic network. Which tiles are activated by the laser light will depend on where and when hot spots form, as measured by the sensor.Eventually, we hope to collaborate with CPU and GPU manufacturers to integrate the photonic cold plates within the same package as the chip itself, allowing us to get the crucial extractor layer closer to the hot spots and increase the cooling capacity of the device.<h2>The Laser-Cooled Chip and the Data Center </h2>To understand the impact of our photonic cooling technology on current and future data centers, we have performed an analysis of the thermodynamics of laser cooling combined with and compared to air and liquid cooling approaches. Preliminary results show that even a first-generation laser-cooling setup can dissipate twice the power of purely air and liquid cooling systems. This drastic improvement in cooling capability would allow for several key changes to chip and data-center architectures of the future.First, laser cooling could eliminate the dark-silicon problem. By sufficiently removing heat from hot spots as they are forming, photonic cooling would permit simultaneous operation of more of the transistors on a chip. That would mean all the functional units on a chip could function in parallel, bringing the full force of modern transistor densities to bear.Second, laser cooling can allow for much higher clocking frequencies than is currently possible. This cooling technique can maintain the chip’s temperature below 50 °C everywhere, because it targets hot spots. Current-generation chips typically experience hot spots in the 90-to-120 °C range, and this is <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/hot-chips" target="_self">expected only to get worse</a>. The ability to overcome this bottleneck would allow for higher clocking frequencies on the same chips. This opens up the possibility of improving chip performance without directly increasing transistor densities, giving much needed headroom for Moore’s Law to continue to progress. <img alt="A black box with optics and a chip on top, and a camera showing a colorful blob above it. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a3b32747f577850eade309df62574d0b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="82d47" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-black-box-with-optics-and-a-chip-on-top-and-a-camera-showing-a-colorful-blob-above-it.png?id=61756057&width=980"/> The demo setup at Maxwell Labs demonstrates how current computer chips can be cooled with lasers. A photonic cold plate is placed on top of the chip. A thermal camera images the hot spots coming from the chip, and a laser is directed at the photonic cold plate directly above the hot spot.Maxwell LabsThird, this technology makes 3D integration thermally manageable. Because laser-assisted cooling pinpoints the hot spots, it can more readily remove heat from a 3D stack in a way that today’s cooling tech can’t. Adding a photonic cold plate to each layer in a 3D integrated stack would take care of cooling the whole stack, making 3D chip design much more straightforward. Fourth, laser cooling is more efficient than air cooling systems. An even more tantalizing result of the removal of heat from hot spots is the ability to keep the chip at a uniform temperature and greatly reduce the overall power consumption of convective cooling systems. Our calculations show that, when combined with air cooling, reductions in overall energy consumption of more than 50 percent for current generation chips are possible, and significantly larger savings would be achieved for future chips.What’s more, laser cooling allows for recovering a much higher fraction of waste energy than is possible with air or liquid cooling. Recirculating hot liquid or air to heat nearby houses or other facilities is possible in certain locations and climates, but the recycling efficiency of these approaches is limited. With photonic cooling, the light emitted via anti-Stokes fluorescence can be recovered by re-collecting the light into fiber-optic cables and then converting it to electricity through thermophotovoltaics, leading to upwards of 60 percent energy recovery.With this fundamentally new approach to cooling, we can rewrite the rules by which chips and data centers are designed. We believe this could be what enables the continuation of Moore’s Law, as well as the power savings at the data-center level that could greenlight the intelligence explosion we’re starting to see today.<h2>The Path to Photonic Cooling</h2>While our results are highly promising, several challenges remain before this technology can become a commercial reality. The materials we are currently using for our photonic cold plates meet basic requirements, but continued development of higher efficiency laser-cooling materials will improve system performance and make this an increasingly economically attractive proposition. To date, only a handful of materials have been studied and made pure enough to allow laser cooling. We believe that miniaturization of the photonic cold plate, aided by progress in optical engineering and thin-film materials processing, will have similarly transformative effects on this technology as it has for the transistor, solar cells, and lasers. We’re going to need to codesign the processors, packages, and cooling systems to maximize benefits. This will require close collaboration across the traditionally siloed semiconductor ecosystem. We are working with industry partners to try to facilitate this codesign process.Transitioning from a lab-based setup to high-volume commercial manufacturing will require us to develop efficient processes and specialized equipment. Industry-wide adoption necessitates new standards for optical interfaces, safety protocols, and performance metrics.Although there is much to be done, we do not see any fundamental obstacles now to the large-scale adoption of photonic cooling technology. In our current vision, we anticipate the early adoption of the technology in high-performance computing and AI training clusters before 2027, showing an order-of-magnitude improvement in performance per watt of cooling. Then, between 2028 and 2030, we hope to see mainstream data-center deployment, with an accompanied reduction in IT energy consumption of 40 percent while doubling compute capacity. Finally, after 2030 we foresee that ubiquitous deployment, from hyperscale to edge, will enable new computing paradigms limited only by algorithmic efficiency rather than thermal constraints.For over two decades, the semiconductor industry has grappled with the looming threat of dark silicon. Photonic cooling offers not merely a solution to that challenge but a fundamental reimagining of the relationship between performance, computation, and energy. By converting waste heat directly into useful photons and ultimately back into electricity, this technology transforms thermal management from a necessary evil into a valuable resource.The future of computing is photonic, efficient, and brilliantly cool.

Oct 15, 2025

Faster, Smaller AI Model Found for Image Geolocation

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/collage-of-aerial-satellite-images-and-their-corresponding-street-views.jpg?id=61740946&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C469%2C0%2C469"/> Imagine playing a new, slightly altered version of the game <a href="https://www.geoguessr.com/" target="_blank">GeoGuessr</a>. You’re faced with a photo of an average U.S. house, maybe two floors with a front lawn in a cul-de-sac and an American flag flying proudly out front. But there’s nothing particularly distinctive about this home, nothing to tell you the state it’s in or where the owners are from.You have two tools at your disposal: your brain and 44,416 low-resolution, bird’s-eye-view photos of random places across the United States and their associated location data. Could you match the house to an aerial image and locate it correctly? I definitely couldn’t, but a new machine learning model likely could. The software, created by researchers at <a href="https://upc.cucas.cn/" target="_blank">China University of Petroleum (East China)</a>, searches a database of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/radar-imaging-monitoring-climate-change" target="_self">remote-sensing</a> photos with associated location information to match the street-side image—of a home or a commercial building or anything else that can be photographed from a road—to an aerial image in the database. While other systems can do the same, this one is pocket size compared with others and superaccurate. At its best (when faced with a picture that has a 180-degree field of view), it succeeds up to 97 percent of the time in the first stage of narrowing down the location. That’s better than or within two percentage points of all the other models available for comparison. Even under less-than-ideal conditions, it performs better than many competitors. When pinpointing an exact location, it’s correct 82 percent of the time, which is within three points of the other models.But this model is novel for its speed and memory savings. It is at least twice as fast as similar ones and uses less than a third of the memory they require, according to the researchers. The combination makes it valuable for applications in navigation systems and the defense industry.“We train the AI to ignore the superficial differences in perspective and focus on extracting the same ‘key landmarks’ from both views, converting them into a simple, shared language,” explains <a href="https://renpenghit.github.io/" target="_blank">Peng Ren</a>, who develops machine learning and signal-processing algorithms at China University of Petroleum.The software relies on a method called deep cross-view hashing. Rather than try to compare each pixel of a street-view picture to every single image in the giant bird’s-eye-view database, this method relies on hashing, which means transforming a collection of data—in this case, street-level and aerial photos—into a string of numbers unique to the data.To do that, the university‘s research group employs a type of deep-learning model called a vision transformer that splits images into small units and finds patterns among the pieces. The model may find in a photo what it’s been trained to identify as a tall building, circular fountain, or roundabout, and then encodes its findings into number strings. ChatGPT is based on similar architecture, but it finds patterns in text instead of images. (The “T” in “GPT” stands for “transformer.”)The number that represents each picture is like a fingerprint, says <a href="https://users.cecs.anu.edu.au/~hongdong/" target="_blank">Hongdong Li</a>, who studies computer vision at Australian National University, in Canberra. The number code captures unique features from each image that allow the geolocation process to quickly narrow down possible matches. In the new system, the code associated with a given ground-level photo gets compared with those of all of the aerial images in the database (for testing, the team used satellite images of the United States and Australia), yielding the five closest candidates for aerial matches. Data representing the geography of the closest matches is averaged using a technique that weighs locations closer to each other more heavily to reduce the impact of outliers, and out pops an estimated location of the street-view image.The new mechanism for geolocation was published last month in <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11153558" target="_blank">IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing</a>.<h2>Fast and memory efficient </h2>“Though not a completely new paradigm,” this paper “represents a clear advance within the field,” Li says. Because this problem has been solved before, some experts, like computer scientist <a href="https://engineering.washu.edu/faculty/Nathan-Jacobs.html" target="_blank">Nathan Jacobs</a>, of Washington University in St. Louis, are not as excited. “I don’t think that this is a particularly groundbreaking paper,” he says. But Li disagrees with Jacobs—he thinks this approach is innovative in its use of hashing to make finding images matches faster and more memory efficient than conventional techniques. It uses just 35 megabytes, while the next smallest model Ren’s team examined requires 104 MB, about three times as much space.The method is more than twice as fast as the next fastest one, the researchers claim. When matching street-level images to a dataset of aerial photography of the United States, the time it took the runner-up to match was around 0.005 seconds. The Petroleum group was able to find a location in around 0.0013 seconds, almost four times as fast.“As a result, our method is more efficient than conventional image geolocalization techniques,” says Ren, and Li confirms that these claims are credible. Hashing “is a well-established route to speed and compactness, and the reported results align with theoretical expectations,” Li says.Though these efficiencies seem promising, more work is required to ensure this method will work at scale, Li says. The group did not fully study realistic challenges like seasonal variation or clouds blocking the image, which could impact the robustness of the geolocation matching. Down the line, this limitation can be overcome by introducing images from more distributed locations, Ren says.Still, long-term applications (beyond a superadvanced GeoGuessr) are worth considering now, experts say. There are some trivial uses for an efficient image geolocation, such as automatically geotagging old family photos, says Jacobs. But on the more serious side, navigation systems could also exploit a geolocation method like this one. If <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/gladys-west-hidden-figure-gps" target="_self">GPS</a> fails in a self-driving car, another way to quickly and precisely find locations could be useful, Jacobs says. Li also suggests it could play a role in emergency response within the next five years. There may also be applications in defense systems. <a href="https://www.iarpa.gov/research-programs/finder" target="_blank">Finder</a>, a 2011 project from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, aimed to help intelligence analysts learn as much as they could about photos without metadata using reference data from sources including overhead images, a goal that could be accomplished with models similar to this new geolocation method. Jacobs puts the defense application into context: If a government agency sent a photo of a terrorist training camp without metadata, how can the site be geolocated quickly and efficiently? Deep cross-view hashing might be of some help.

Oct 15, 2025

How Roomba Got Its Vacuum

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/roomba-vacuum-signed-by-irobot-team-showing-control-buttons-on-wooden-floor.jpg?id=61715049&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C274%2C0%2C274"/> <div class="intro-text"><div class="ieee-sidebar-large">Adapted from <a href="https://dancingwithroomba.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dancing With Roomba</a>, written by Joe Jones, who was iRobot’s first full-time employee and the original designer of the Roomba robot vacuum.</div>After developing a prototype robot that was effective at cleaning both hard floors and carpets using a relatively simple <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpet_sweeper" target="_blank">carpet-sweeping mechanism</a>, iRobot vice president Winston Tao and the iRobot marketing team have organized a focus group so that Roomba’s engineers can witness the reaction of potential first customers.</div>One pleasant midsummer day in 2001, Roomba’s engineers, Winston Tao, and several other iRobot folk rendezvoused at an unremarkable, multistory office building on the Cambridge side of the Charles River, across from Boston. We assembled in a narrow room. A long table occupied the room’s center. Snacks and sodas were set out along the back wall; the lighting was subdued. The dominant feature of this cramped chamber was a big one-way mirror occupying almost the entire front wall. Sitting at the table, one could see through the looking glass into a wonderland of market research on the other side. In that much larger, brightly lit room were comfortable chairs, an easel with a large pad of paper, and our hired facilitator. Although this was a familiar trope I’d seen a hundred times on TV, actually lurking in an observation room like this felt a touch surreal.<h2>iRobot vs Focus Group</h2>We’d paid maybe US $10,000 for the privilege of setting up some focus groups—probably the most the company had ever spent on a market research event. But we needed to know how potential customers would react to our Roomba prototype when they saw one in the (plastic) flesh cleaning the floor at their feet. At the appointed hour, our facilitator welcomed eight to 10 bona fide ordinary people as they filed into the large room and sat in the chairs. Our mind-child was about to receive its first critical judgment from strangers.<a href="https://www.routledge.com/Dancing-with-Roomba-Cracking-the-Robot-Riddle-and-Building-an-Icon/Jones/p/book/9781032890616"></a><a class="shortcode-media-lightbox__toggle shortcode-media-controls__button material-icons" style="background: gray;" title="Select for lightbox">aspect_ratio</a><img alt="Book cover: Roomba with signatures and red dance shoes on wooden floor." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e46182afb80a0087b4101620b788b005" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="aa4ad" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/book-cover-roomba-with-signatures-and-red-dance-shoes-on-wooden-floor.jpg?id=61715094&width=980"/>This article was adapted from the author’s new book, <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Dancing-with-Roomba-Cracking-the-Robot-Riddle-and-Building-an-Icon/Jones/p/book/9781032890616" target="_blank">Dancing with Roomba: Cracking the Robot Riddle and Building an Icon</a> (Routledge 2025).Joe JonesThe facilitator prepared participants by encouraging them to state their honest views and not to be swayed by the comments of others. “You are the world’s expert in your own opinion,” she told them.At first the facilitator described Roomba without showing the group any photos or the device itself. She was met with skepticism that such a thing would actually work. Then she demonstrated one of the prototypes we had prepared for the event. As participants watched Roomba go about its business on both carpets and hard floors, their doubts ebbed. Even those who stated that they would never purchase such a device couldn’t help being intrigued. As the group discussion proceeded, soccer moms (representing “early mass-market adopters”) emerged as the most interested. They saw Roomba as a time-saver. This surprised and pleased us, as we’d expected the much smaller market of gadget geeks would be the first to fall in love. <img alt="Transparent blue Roomba vacuum on wooden floor near a doorway." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e9aa4054690029ada17e3e695b95d088" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="2503f" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/transparent-blue-roomba-vacuum-on-wooden-floor-near-a-doorway.jpg?id=61715051&width=980"/>iRobot built about 20 of its third major Roomba prototype, the T100, all with 3D-printed shells.Joe JonesBut we could take neither interest nor love to the bank. We needed to know how much customers would pay. Our facilitator eased into that part of the gathering’s proceedings. She did not inquire directly but rather asked, “If you saw this product in a store, what would you expect the price to be?”The focus group’s responses were all over the map. Some people mentioned a price close to the $200 we intended to charge. A few folks we regarded as saints-in-training expected an even higher number. But most were lower. One woman said she’d expect Roomba to be priced at $25. Later when asked what she thought a replacement battery might cost, she said, “$50.” That hurt. For this lady, attaching our robot to a battery devalued the battery.<h2>Floor Cleaner or Robot?</h2>Throughout the proceedings our facilitator had been careful to leave a couple of things unmentioned. First, she never referred to Roomba as a robot, calling it instead an “automatic floor cleaner.” Three separate groups, comprising an aggregate of around two dozen people, gave their opinions that day. Of these, only two individuals spontaneously applied the term “robot” to Roomba.The second unmentioned characteristic was the nature of Roomba’s cleaning mechanism. That is, the facilitator had revealed no details about how it worked. Participants had seen the demo, they observed Roomba cleaning effectively, they had given their opinion about the price. They’d all assumed that a vacuum was at work, several used that term to refer to the robot. But now the facilitator told them, “Roomba is a carpet sweeper, not a vacuum.” Then she asked again what they would expect to pay. On average, focus-group members from all three groups cut their estimates in half. Participants who had previously said $200 now said $100.The focus group’s brutal revaluation exploded our world. The enabling innovation that made the energy budget work, that made Roomba technically and economically feasible, was cleaning with a carpet sweeper rather than a vacuum. People had seen that the carpet-sweeper-Roomba really did work. Yet they chose to trust conventional wisdom about vacuums versus carpet sweepers rather than their own apparently lying eyes. If we were forced to cut the robot’s price in half, we would lose money on every unit sold, and there would be no Roomba.At the end of the evening, before any member of our stunned team could stagger out the door, Winston said simply, “Roomba has to have a vacuum.” A shotgun wedding was in the offing for bot and vac. <img alt='Round white robot with cartoon puppy sticker, named "Scamp," on a desk.' class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6c9f28c57c67149e1cc654b33a9d18b4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="4d0a6" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/round-white-robot-with-cartoon-puppy-sticker-named-scamp-on-a-desk.jpg?id=61715054&width=980"/>Scamp, the earliest Roomba prototype, was built in 1999.Joe JonesThe next day at work we gathered to discuss the focus group’s revelation. A half-hearted attempt or two to deny reality quickly faded—electrical engineer Chris Casey saw to that—and we accepted what we needed to do. But changing things now would be a huge challenge in multiple ways. We were deep into development, closer to launch than kickoff. All the electrical power our battery could supply was already spoken for. None was available for a new system that would likely be more power hungry than all the robot’s other systems combined. And where could we put a vacuum? All the space in the robot was also fully assigned. Our mandate to clean under furniture and between chair legs wouldn’t let us make the robot any bigger.<h2>Making Roomba a Vacuum</h2>One escape hatch beckoned, but no one was eager to leap through it. Chris articulated what we were all thinking. “We could build a vestigial vacuum,” he said. That is, we could design a tiny, pico-power vacuum—one that consumes almost no power and does almost nothing—strap it on the robot, and call it done. Perversely, that seemed reasonable. The robot already cleaned the floor well; our cleaning tests proved it. Customers, however, didn’t know that. They were all steeped in the dogma of vacuum supremacy. Reeducating the masses wasn’t possible—we didn’t have the funds. But if we could assert on the box that Roomba had a vacuum, then everyone would be satisfied. We could charge the price that makes our economics work. Customers would deem that cost reasonable and wouldn’t have to unlearn their vacuum bias.But it felt wrong. If we must add a new system to the robot, we wanted it—like all the other systems—to earn its keep honestly, to do something useful. Through further discussion and calculation, we concluded that we could afford to devote about 10 percent of the robot’s 30-watt power budget to a vacuum. Conventional manual vacuums typically gorged themselves on 1,200 watts of power, but if we could develop a system that provided useful cleaning while consuming only 3 W (0.25 percent of 1,200) then we would feel good about adding it to the robot. It just didn’t seem very likely. <img alt="Black and red Roomba vacuum on a gray carpet next to a plaid multicolored blanket." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="37a05aa9ece9ef666d0833dc8feaa75b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="35719" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/black-and-red-roomba-vacuum-on-a-gray-carpet-next-to-a-plaid-multicolored-blanket.jpg?id=61715075&width=980"/>iRobot built two identical second-generation Roomba prototypes, named Kipper and Tipper, one of which is shown here.Joe JonesI sometimes find that solving a problem is largely a matter of staring at the problem’s source. Gaze long and intently enough at something and, Waldo-like, the solution may reveal itself. So I took one of the team’s manual vacuums and stared at it. What exactly made it use as much power as it did? I knew the answer was partly marketing rather than reality. There was no simple, objective way to compare cleaning efficacy between vacuums. Lacking a results-based method, shoppers looked at inputs. For example, a vacuum with a 10-ampere motor sounds as though it should clean better than a vacuum with a 6-amp motor. But the bigger number might only mean that the manufacturer with the 10-amp claim was using a less-efficient motor—the 6-amp (720-W) motor might clean just as well.But even when you corrected for the amperage arms race, a vacuum was still a power glutton. Staring at the vacuum cleaner, I began to see why. The vacuum fixed in my gaze that day used the standard configuration: a cylindrical beater brush occupied the center of a wide air inlet. A motor, attached by a belt, spun the brush. Another motor, deeper in the machine, drove a centrifugal blower that drew air in through the inlet. To keep dirt particles kicked up by the beater brush entrained in the airstream, the air needed to move fast. The combination of a wide inlet and high velocity meant that every second the vacuum motor had to gulp a huge volume of air.Accelerating all that air took considerable power—the physics was inescapable. If we wanted a vacuum that sipped power rather than guzzled it, we had to move a much smaller volume of air per second. We could accomplish that—without reducing air velocity—if, instead of a wide inlet, we used a narrow one. To match the manual vacuum’s air velocity using only a 3-W motor, I computed that we would need a narrow opening indeed: only a millimeter or two.That instantly disqualified Roomba from using the standard vacuum configuration—we could not put our bristle brush in the middle of the air inlet. That would require an inlet maybe 20 times too wide. We’d have to find another arrangement.<h2>A Micro Vacuum that Doesn’t Suck</h2>To test the narrow-inlet idea I turned to my favorite prototyping materials: cardboard and packing tape. Using these, I mocked up my idea. The inlet for my test vacuum was as long as Roomba’s brush but only about 2 millimeters wide. To provide suction I repurposed the blower from a defunct heat gun. Then I applied my jury-rigged contraption to crushed Cheerios and a variety of other dirt stand-ins. My novel vacuum was surprisingly effective at picking up small debris from a hard surface. Using an anemometer to measure the speed of the air rushing through my narrow inlet showed that it was, as desired, as fast as the airstream in a standard vacuum cleaner.RELATED: <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/south-pole-roombas" target="_self">Roombas at the End of the World</a>The next step was to somehow shoehorn our microvacuum into Roomba. To form the narrow inlet we used two parallel vanes of rubber. Small rubber bumps protruding from one vane spanned the inlet, preventing the vanes from collapsing together when vacuum was applied. We placed the air inlet parallel to and just behind the brush. The only plausible space for the vacuum <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeller" target="_blank">impeller</a>, motor, and filter (needed to separate the dirt from the flowing air) was to take over a corner of the dust cup. Drawing on his now well-honed skills of packing big things into tiny spaces where they had no business fitting, mechanical engineer Eliot Mack managed somehow to accomplish this. But we did get help from an outside consultant to design the intricate shape the impeller needed to move air efficiently.In general, regular vacuums perform better on carpet than on hard floors. But Roomba inverted that relationship. Our vacuum operated like a squeegee, pulling dirt from tile, linoleum, and wooden floors. But it was less effective on other surfaces. The sweeper mechanism did the heavy lifting when cleaning carpet. <img alt="Silver and gray Roomba robotic vacuum on a hardwood floor." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="62663496ca8834aa17c67256efeac12e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="9e12a" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/silver-and-gray-roomba-robotic-vacuum-on-a-hardwood-floor.jpg?id=61715088&width=980"/>iRobot released its first production version of the Roomba in September 2002.Joe JonesDespite the team’s reluctance to add a vacuum and despite the unit’s low power, the vacuum genuinely improved Roomba’s cleaning ability. We could demonstrate this convincingly. First, we disabled Roomba’s new vacuum by disconnecting the power and then cleaned a hard floor relying only on the carpet-sweeper mechanism. If we then walked across the floor barefoot, we would feel a certain amount of grit underfoot. If we repeated the exercise with vacuum power on, the floor was pristine. Bare feet would detect no grit whatsoever. <img alt="Seven people pose in front of shelves displaying awards and a gold iRobot Roomba; casual attire." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b1ce9f56ea50d5ec4cb7ee0968f760ab" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="a8f77" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/seven-people-pose-in-front-of-shelves-displaying-awards-and-a-gold-irobot-roomba-casual-attire.jpg?id=61715091&width=980"/>The Roomba contributors present on the occasion of the 500,000th Roomba include Steve Hickey, Eliot Mack [front row], Paul Sandin, Chris Casey, Phil Mass, Joe Jones, and Jeff Ostaszewski [back row].Joe JonesYears later I learned that the focus group had a back story no one mentioned at the time. While the Roomba team had swallowed the carpet-sweeper concept hook, line, and sinker, Winston had not. He was uneasy with the notion that customers would be cleaning-mechanism agnostic—thinking instead that they simply wouldn’t believe our robot would clean their floors if it didn’t have a vacuum. He found at least indirect support for that position when he scoured marketing data from our earlier collaboration with SC Johnson.But Winston, well-attuned to the engineering psyche, knew he couldn’t just declare, “Roomba has to have a vacuum.” We’d have pushed back, probably saying something like, “What your business-school-addled brain doesn’t appreciate is that it’s the carpet sweeper that makes the whole concept work!” Winston had to show us. That was a key purpose of the focus group, to demonstrate to the Roomba team that we had made a deal-breaking omission. Dancing With Roomba <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Dancing-with-Roomba-Cracking-the-Robot-Riddle-and-Building-an-Icon/Jones/p/book/9781032890616" target="_blank">is now available for preorder</a>.

Oct 15, 2025

Teaching AI to Predict What Cells Will Look Like Before Running Any Experiments

This is a sponsored article brought to you by <a href="https://mbzuai.ac.ae/" target="_blank">MBZUAI</a>.If you’ve ever tried to guess how a cell will change shape after a drug or a gene edit, you know it’s part science, part art, and mostly expensive trial-and-error. Imaging thousands of conditions is slow; exploring millions is impossible.<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63478-z" target="_blank">A new paper in Nature Communications</a> proposes a different route: simulate those cellular “after” images directly from molecular readouts, so you can preview the morphology before you pick up a pipette. The team calls their model MorphDiff, and it’s a diffusion model guided by the transcriptome, the pattern of genes turned up or down after a perturbation.At a high level, the idea flips a familiar workflow. High-throughput imaging is a proven way to discover a compound’s mechanism or spot bioactivity but profiling every candidate drug or CRISPR target isn’t feasible. MorphDiff learns from cases where both gene expression and cell morphology are known, then uses only the L1000 gene expression profile as a condition to generate realistic post-perturbation images, either from scratch or by transforming a control image into its perturbed counterpart. The claim is that competitive fidelity on held-out (unseen) perturbations across large drug and genetic datasets plus gains on mechanism-of-action (MOA) retrieval can rival real images.<a href="https://mbzuai.ac.ae/" target="_blank"></a><a class="shortcode-media-lightbox__toggle shortcode-media-controls__button material-icons" style="background: gray;" title="Select for lightbox">aspect_ratio</a><img alt="Logo with connected black dots next to the words Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ced308d0292ccf2cef1745965b2d0f0f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="1e76f" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/logo-with-connected-black-dots-next-to-the-words-mohamed-bin-zayed-university-of-artificial-intelligence.png?id=61715906&width=980"/>This research led by <a href="https://mbzuai.ac.ae/" target="_blank">MBZUAI</a> researchers starts from a biological observation: gene expression ultimately drives proteins and pathways that shape what a cell looks like under the microscope. The mapping isn’t one-to-one, but there’s enough shared signal for learning. Conditioning on the transcriptome offers a practical bonus too: there’s simply far more publicly accessible L1000 data than paired morphology, making it easier to cover a wide swath of perturbation space. In other words, when a new compound arrives, you’re likely to find its gene signature which MorphDiff can then leverage.Under the hood, MorphDiff blends two pieces. First, a Morphology Variational Autoencoder (MVAE) compresses five-channel microscope images into a compact latent space and learns to reconstruct them with high perceptual fidelity. Second, a Latent Diffusion Model learns to denoise samples in that latent space, steering each denoising step with the L1000 vector via attention. <img alt="Diagram depicting cell painting analysis pipeline, including dataset curation and perturbation modeling." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="de4da7d5b2fcb41d7e1eac1ae817d75a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="f692c" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/diagram-depicting-cell-painting-analysis-pipeline-including-dataset-curation-and-perturbation-modeling.webp?id=61715913&width=980"/> Wang et al., <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63478-z" target="_blank">Nature Communications</a> (2025), <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY 4.0</a>Diffusion is a good fit here: it’s intrinsically robust to noise, and the latent space variant is efficient enough to train while preserving image detail. The team implements both gene-to-image (G2I) generation (start from noise, condition on the transcriptome) and image-to-image (I2I) transformation (push a control image toward its perturbed state using the same transcriptomic condition). The latter requires no retraining thanks to an SDEdit-style procedure, which is handy when you want to explain changes relative to a control.It’s one thing to generate photogenic pictures; it’s another to generate biologically faithful ones. The paper leans into both: on the generative side, MorphDiff is benchmarked against GAN and diffusion baselines using standard metrics like FID, Inception Score, coverage, density, and a CLIP-based CMMD. Across JUMP (genetic) and CDRP/LINCS (drug) test splits, MorphDiff’s two modes typically land first and second, with significance tests run across multiple random seeds or independent control plates. The result is consistent: better fidelity and diversity, especially on OOD perturbations where practical value lives.The bigger picture is that generative AI has finally reached a fidelity level where in-silico microscopy can stand in for first-pass experiments.More interesting for biologists, the authors step beyond image aesthetics to morphology features. They extract hundreds of CellProfiler features (textures, intensities, granularity, cross-channel correlations) and ask whether the generated distributions match the ground truth.In side-by-side comparisons, MorphDiff’s feature clouds line up with real data more closely than baselines like IMPA. Statistical tests show that over 70 percent of generated feature distributions are indistinguishable from real ones, and feature-wise scatter plots show the model correctly captures differences from control on the most perturbed features. Crucially, the model also preserves correlation structure between gene expression and morphology features, with higher agreement to ground truth than prior methods, evidence that it’s modeling more than surface style. <img alt="Graphs and images comparing different computational methods in biological data analysis." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6b3524223bc01d9b758b91653551acc5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="44b8e" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/graphs-and-images-comparing-different-computational-methods-in-biological-data-analysis.webp?id=61715915&width=980"/> Wang et al., <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63478-z" target="_blank">Nature Communications</a> (2025), <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY 4.0</a>The drug results scale up that story to thousands of treatments. Using DeepProfiler embeddings as a compact morphology fingerprint, the team demonstrates that MorphDiff’s generated profiles are discriminative: classifiers trained on real embeddings also separate generated ones by perturbation, and pairwise distances between drug effects are preserved. <img alt="Charts comparing accuracy across morphing methods for image synthesis techniques in four panels." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d0a54ab46d0500a1686c60e7b5bad7ac" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="f60e1" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/charts-comparing-accuracy-across-morphing-methods-for-image-synthesis-techniques-in-four-panels.webp?id=61715921&width=980"/> Wang et al., <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63478-z" target="_blank">Nature Communications</a> (2025), <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY 4.0</a>That matters for the downstream task everyone cares about: MOA retrieval. Given a query profile, can you find reference drugs with the same mechanism? MorphDiff’s generated morphologies not only beat prior image-generation baselines but also outperform retrieval using gene expression alone, and they approach the accuracy you get using real images. In top-k retrieval experiments, the average improvement over the strongest baseline is 16.9 percent and 8.0 percent over transcriptome-only, with robustness shown across several k values and metrics like mean average precision and folds-of-enrichment. That’s a strong signal that simulated morphology contains complementary information to chemical structure and transcriptomics which is enough to help find look-alike mechanisms even when the molecules themselves look nothing alike.MorphDiff’s generated morphologies not only beat prior image-generation baselines but also outperform retrieval using gene expression alone, and they approach the accuracy you get using real images.The paper also lists some current limitations that hint at potential future improvements. Inference with diffusion remains relatively slow; the authors suggest plugging in newer samplers to speed generation. Time and concentration (two factors that biologists care about) aren’t explicitly encoded due to data constraints; the architecture could take them as additional conditions when matched datasets become available. And because MorphDiff depends on perturbed gene expression as input, it can’t conjure morphology for perturbations that lack transcriptome measurements; a natural extension is to chain with models that predict gene expression for unseen drugs (the paper cites GEARS as an example). Finally, generalization inevitably weakens as you stray far from the training distribution; larger, better-matched multimodal datasets will help, as will conditioning on more modalities such as structures, text descriptions, or chromatin accessibility.What does this mean in practice? Imagine a screening team with a large L1000 library but a smaller imaging budget. MorphDiff becomes a phenotypic copilot: generate predicted morphologies for new compounds, cluster them by similarity to known mechanisms, and prioritize which to image for confirmation. Because the model also surfaces interpretable feature shifts, researchers can peek under the hood. Did ER texture and mitochondrial intensity move the way we’d expect for an EGFR inhibitor? Did two structurally unrelated molecules land in the same phenotypic neighborhood? Those are the kinds of hypotheses that accelerate mechanism hunting and repurposing.The bigger picture is that generative AI has finally reached a fidelity level where in-silico microscopy can stand in for first-pass experiments. We’ve already seen text-to-image models explode in consumer domains; here, a transcriptome-to-morphology model shows that the same diffusion machinery can do scientifically useful work such as capturing subtle, multi-channel phenotypes and preserving the relationships that make those images more than eye candy. It won’t replace the microscope. But if it reduces the number of plates you have to run to find what matters, that’s time and money you can spend validating the hits that count.

Oct 14, 2025

Nokia Bell Labs Breaks Ground for Its New N.J. Headquarters

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-architectural-model-for-a-new-nokia-bell-labs-headquarters-displayed-at-its-construction-site.jpg?id=61745764&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C367%2C0%2C368"/> <a href="https://www.nokia.com/bell-labs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nokia Bell Labs</a> has a lot to celebrate. The research giant marked its <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/bell-labs-100-birthday" target="_self">100th anniversary</a> in May at its venerable campus in Murray Hill—part of New Providence, N.J.—where major technological developments have occurred, such as the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/bellmac-32-ieee-milestone" target="_self">Bellmac-32 microprocessor</a> and the satellite Earth station known as the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/big-bang-theory-discovery" target="_self">Horn Antenna</a>, which helped prove the big bang theory.The company also held a groundbreaking ceremony on 4 September for its new headquarters in New Brunswick, N.J., about 32 kilometers south of Murray Hill and 10 km from <a href="https://www.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE</a>’s Piscataway office.Construction of the 10-story, 34,374-square-meter building is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. The <a href="https://www.helixnj.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Health and Life Science Exchange 2</a> building, known as HELIX 2, is the second of three planned edifices being constructed in the city’s new innovation district, which is designed to attract research labs, workspaces, and office suites for startups. Attendees at the ceremony included <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/nokia-4g-cellular-network-moon" target="_self">Thierry E. Klein</a>, the Bell Labs solutions research president, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-vetter-a72b444/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Peter Vetter</a>, the Bell Labs core research president. Both men are IEEE Fellows. New Jersey’s governor, <a href="https://www.nj.gov/governor/admin/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Phil Murphy</a>, was there too, as were New Brunswick Mayor <a href="https://www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/government/mayors_office/index.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">James Cahill</a> and other state and local officials.“Today’s groundbreaking marks a new and exciting chapter in Bell Labs’ long history in New Jersey,” Klein said. “As we build and move into the HELIX, this continues our legacy of excellence, pioneering spirit, and commitment to breakthrough research on the East Coast. The location offers unique advantages that will accelerate our innovation capabilities and provide greater proximity to academic centers of excellence and fantastic new startups and ventures.”The new location, he said, “will give access to a vibrant and urban environment that will help us attract the next generation of talent. Access to universities such as <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Princeton</a>, <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rutgers</a>, the <a href="https://www.njit.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Jersey Institute of Technology</a>, and the <a href="https://www.stevens.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stevens Institute of Technology</a> is incomparable. This is not just a move for the next two, three, four, or five years; this is going to be home for Bell Labs for a very, very long time.”<h2>A hub of innovation</h2>Nokia Bell Labs could have relocated its headquarters anywhere in the world, Murphy noted, but it chose to remain in New Jersey.“Our illustrious history of innovation in New Jersey could be summarized in two words: Bell Labs,” the governor said. “For over a century, Bell Labs has transformed our state, our nation, and the world. This is literally an iconic and globally unique institution. We break ground and start to establish a new foundation for <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-quantum-computing-hausi-muller" target="_self">quantum physics</a>, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/artificial-intelligence/" target="_self">generative artificial intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/telecommunications/" target="_self">optical communications</a>. Through partnerships, joint ventures, and spinoffs, Nokia Bell Labs will facilitate new products and companies that will [continue to] drive the innovation economy in New Jersey.”To ensure New Jersey would be at the forefront of innovation, the governor in 2018 announced his intent to establish 12 <a href="https://www.njinnovates.com/about-njih" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">innovation hubs</a> throughout the state as a way to attract entrepreneurs, startups, and early-stage companies. The first hub—the HELIX 1 building, adjacent to Nokia Bell Labs’ new headquarters—is expected to open next year and include Rutgers’s medical school and translational research institute. <img alt="New Jersey governor Phil Murphy speaking to a small audience from a stage podium near a construction site." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b02373e25fd449403e0d982a0ed714b6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="33081" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/new-jersey-governor-phil-murphy-speaking-to-a-small-audience-from-a-stage-podium-near-a-construction-site.jpg?id=61745766&width=980"/>New Jersey’s governor, Phil Murphy, at the podium addresses attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony. NokiaThe facilities will offer furnished offices and labs outfitted with scientific equipment, officials say. Tenants will include <a href="https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/" target="_blank">Hackensack Meridian Health</a> and <a href="https://www.rwjbh.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health</a>.New Brunswick is no stranger to innovators, Cahill noted. The <a href="https://www.jnj.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Johnson & Johnson</a> pharmaceutical company is headquartered in the city and got its start in a local wallpaper factory. The Johnson brothers and <a href="https://ethw.org/Thomas_Alva_Edison" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas Edison</a> often ate at a nearby drugstore lunch counter, where they discussed advancements in manufacturing, the mayor said. <a href="https://ethw.org/Thomas_Edison_at_Menlo_Park" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Edison’s laboratory was in Menlo Park</a>. Cahill also said that <a href="https://princetonhistory.org/research/historic-princeton/albert-einstein/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Albert Einstein</a>, who worked at Princeton University and lived in the town, was often spotted strolling the streets of New Brunswick, about 30 km away.<h2>State-of-the-art research facilities</h2>The new Nokia Bell Lab offices will cater to the needs of research scientists and specialists in focused areas, Klein said.“It’s an efficient, modern, and low-carbon facility providing sustainable power, heating, and cooling capabilities,” he said. “Our researchers will have access to the best facility possible. That is our dream.”This is not the first time Bell Labs has moved its headquarters, Vetter noted. The primary R&D activities were set up in New York City in 1925. They moved to Murray Hill in 1941. Some of the biggest innovations were developed there during the following decade, including the transistor and the cellular network.“I want to think that our move will again be a catalyst for breakthrough innovations to happen in the decade after we move in and will be in a variety of areas such as 7G, AI, quantum computing, and quantum network security,” Vetter said.“As we build and move into the HELIX, this continues our legacy of excellence, pioneering spirit, and commitment to breakthrough research on the East Coast.” —Thierry Klein“We also need to make sure the research goes into the real world,” he said. “We like to say that if somebody has a problem in the real world and you solve it in the lab but you don’t make that leap of technology into the real world, the problem still exists.“It’s not just research or breakthrough technologies,” he added. “It’s also creating the companies that will commercialize these technologies and lead the next century of innovation.”<h2>IEEE Milestones recognize Bell Labs innovations</h2>Another celebratory event is scheduled for 21 October in Murray Hill. Several technologies developed there are to be designated as IEEE Milestones. The technologies include three Nobel Prize winners: <a href="https://ieeemilestones.ethw.org/Milestone-Proposal:Super_Resolved_Microscopy" target="_blank">super-resolved microscopy</a>, the <a href="https://ethw.org/Charge-Coupled_Device" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">charge-coupled device</a>, and the <a href="https://ieeemilestones.ethw.org/Milestone-Proposal:Fractional_Quantum_Hall_Effect" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fractional quantum hall effect</a>. <a href="https://ieeer1.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Region 1</a> and the <a href="https://r1.ieee.org/northjersey/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE North Jersey Section</a> sponsored the nominations.Administered by the <a href="https://www.ieee.org/about/history-center" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE History Center</a> and supported by <a href="https://secure.ieeefoundation.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1680&mfc_pref=T&1680.donation=form1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">donors</a>, the <a href="https://ethw.org/Milestones:IEEE_Milestones_Program" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Milestones</a> program recognizes outstanding technical developments around the world.Watch for <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-institute/" target="_self">The Institute</a>’s article on the Nokia Bell Labs Milestone achievement ceremony in November.

Oct 13, 2025

Next-Gen AI Needs Liquid Cooling

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-server-inside-a-tank-of-liquid-with-bubbles-rising-to-the-top.png?id=61730198&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C925%2C0%2C926"/> Walk into a typical data center and one of the first things that jumps out at you is the noise—the low, buzzing sound of thousands of fans: fans next to individual computer chips, fans on the back panels of server racks, fans on the network switches. All of those fans are pushing hot air away from the temperature-sensitive computer chips and toward air-conditioning units.But those fans, whirr as they might, are no longer cutting it. Over the past decade, the power density of the most advanced computer chips has exploded. In 2017, Nvidia came out with the <a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-au/data-center/v100/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">V100</a> GPU, which draws 300 watts of power. Most of that power dissipates back out as heat. Three years later, in 2020, Nvidia’s <a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/data-center/a100/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A100</a> came out, drawing up to 400 W. The now-popular <a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/data-center/h100/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">H100</a> arrived in 2022 and consumes up to 700 W. The newest <a href="https://resources.nvidia.com/en-us-blackwell-architecture?ncid=no-ncid" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Blackwell</a> GPUs, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/nvidia-blackwell" target="_self">revealed</a> in 2024, consume up to 1,200 W.“Road maps are looking at over 2,000 watts [per chip] over the next year or two,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewmatter/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Drew Matter</a>, president and CEO of the liquid-cooling company <a href="https://www.mikrostechnologies.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mikros Technologies</a>. “In fact, the industry is preparing for 5-kilowatt chips and above in the foreseeable future.”This power explosion is driven by the obvious culprit—AI. And all the extra computations consuming all that added power from advanced chips are generating unmanageable amounts of heat.“The average power density in a rack was around 8 kW,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-claman-3438731/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Josh Claman</a>, CEO of the startup <a href="https://accelsius.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Accelsius</a>. “For AI, that’s growing to 100 kW per rack. That’s an order of magnitude. It’s really AI adoption that’s creating this real urgency” to figure out a better way to cool data centers.Specifically, the urgency is to move away from fans and toward some sort of liquid cooling. For example, water has roughly four times the specific heat of air and is about 800 times as dense, meaning it can absorb around 3,200 times as much heat as a comparable volume of air can. What’s more, the thermal conductivity of water is 23.5 times as high as that of air, meaning that heat transfers to water much more readily.“You can stick your hand into a hot oven and you won’t get burned. You stick your hand into a pot of boiling water and you can instantly get third-degree burns,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eganseamus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Seamus Egan</a>, general manager of immersion cooling at <a href="https://www.airedale.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Airedale by Modine</a>. “That’s because the liquid transfers heat much, much, much, much more quickly.”The data-center industry by and large agrees that cooling chips with liquid is the future, at least for AI-focused data centers. “As AI has made racks denser and hotter, liquid cooling has become the de facto solution,” <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-overstreet/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Karin Overstreet</a>, president of <a href="https://www.nortekdatacenter.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nortek Data Center Cooling</a>, said via email.But there are a number of ways to do liquid cooling, from the simple and straightforward to the complex and slightly weird.At the simple end, there’s circulating chilled water through cold plates attached to the hottest chips. Then there’s circulating not water but a special dielectric fluid that boils inside the cold plate to take away the heat. A third approach is dunking the entire server into a fluid that keeps it cool. And, last and most splashy, is dunking the server into a boiling vat of liquid.Which method will end up being the industry standard for the high-end AI factories of the future? At this point, it’s anyone’s guess. Here’s how the four methods work, and where they might find the most use.<h2>#1: Single-Phase Direct-to-Chip Cooling</h2>The most technologically mature approach is to use water. Already, many AI data centers are employing such direct-to-chip liquid cooling for their hottest chips.In this scheme, metal blocks, called cold plates, with channels in them for coolant to circulate, are placed directly on top of the chips. The cold plates match the size of the chips and go inside the server. The liquid is usually water, with some glycol added to prevent bacterial growth, stabilize the temperature, protect against freezing and corrosion, and increase the viscosity of the liquid. The glycol-water mixture is forced through the cold plate, whisking away heat right from the source. <img alt="Two computer servers with wires and water pipes coming out. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="53806622db9d4e5402923cef3090bc58" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="7627e" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/two-computer-servers-with-wires-and-water-pipes-coming-out.png?id=61730623&width=980"/> Companies like Mikros Technologies are pursuing single-phase direct-to-chip liquid cooling. In this technique, a cold plate is placed on top of the hottest chips. Liquid is circulated through the cold plate, whisking away heat. <a href="https://www.marvell.com/" target="_blank">Marvell Technology</a>The glycol water is normally kept in a closed loop, circulating from the cold plates to a heat-exchange unit, which cools the liquid back down, and then back to the cold plate. Inside the heat exchanger, a separate loop of “facility water” is used to cool down the glycol water. The facility water is in turn cooled by either a chiller—an electrically powered refrigeration unit—or a dry cooler, an outdoor unit that uses fans to blow ambient air over the water as it moves through pipes. A dry cooler is much simpler and more energy efficient than a chiller, but it works only in cooler climates—it can’t cool the water below the ambient temperature.One difficulty with this approach is that putting a cold plate on every single heat-producing component in a server is unfeasible. It only makes sense to put cold plates on the most energy-dense components—namely GPUs and some CPUs—leaving smaller components, like power supplies and memory units, to be cooled the old-fashioned way, with fans.“The trend is moving toward a hybrid-cooling solution,” Overstreet says. “So liquid cooling does about 80 percent of the cooling for the server room or the data hall, and about 20 percent is the existing air-cooling solution.”<h2>#2: Two-Phase Direct-to-Chip Cooling</h2>With GPU power densities showing no signs of leveling off, direct-to-chip water cooling is hitting a limit. You can, of course, increase the flow of water, but that will use more energy. Or you can operate the chips at a higher temperature, which will cut into their performance and in the long run degrade the chips. Fortunately, there’s a third option: to squeeze a bit more out of the physics of heat exchange.The extra cooling power offered by physics comes from latent heat—that is, the energy it takes to change phase, in this case from liquid to gas. As the liquid boils off the GPU, it absorbs that extra latent heat as it turns into gas, without increasing temperature. <img alt="Dark blue server room with five little windows showing liquid inside" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c38931b6840d0c54bf04e18df46252a5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b317d" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/dark-blue-server-room-with-five-little-windows-showing-liquid-inside.png?id=61730633&width=980"/> Companies like Accelsius are proposing two-phase direct-to-chip liquid cooling. Here, a cold plate is also placed on top of the hottest chips, and the liquid circulating through the cold plate boils directly atop the chip. Big Idea ProductionsThat’s basically how two-phase direct-to-chip cooling works. In this scheme, a specially formulated dielectric liquid circulates through cold plates sitting atop high-energy chips and boils into vapor. The vapor is then fed back to a heat exchanger, which cools the fluid using facility water.“It’s really boiling to cool,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mydtruong/" target="_blank">My Truong</a>, chief technology officer of the startup <a href="https://zutacore.com/" target="_blank">ZutaCore</a>, which makes two-phase direct-to-chip cooling systems.Water boils at 100 °C (at atmospheric pressure), which is too high for proper chip operation. So you need a specially formulated fluid with a lower boiling point. ZutaCore’s chief evangelist, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahar-belkin-0b01079/?originalSubdomain=il" target="_blank">Shahar Belkin</a>, explains that the fluid they use is sourced from chemical suppliers like Honeywell and Chemours, and boils at a temperature as low as 18 °C, which can be adjusted up or down by tweaking the pressure in the loop. In addition, the fluid is dielectric—it’s not electrically charged unless polarized by an external electric field. So, unlike water, if some of the fluid spills onto the electronics, it won’t damage the costly equipment.With water, the temperature increases drastically as it flows over the hot chips. That means the incoming water needs to be kept cold, and so the facility water requires cooling with chillers in most climates.With boiling dielectric fluid, however, the fluid remains roughly the same temperature and simply changes phase into a vapor. That means both the liquid and the facility water can be kept at a higher temperature, resulting in significant energy savings. <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9nXgsGraMaw?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe> When liquid boils on top of a hot chip, the chip is cooled not only through contact with the cooler liquid, but also through the latent heat it takes to induce a phase change. Accelsius“Because of the really efficient boiling process that happens on the cold plate, we can accept facility water that’s 6 to 8 degrees warmer than [with] single phase,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-beran-60a563101/" target="_blank">Lucas Beran</a>, director of product marketing at <a href="https://accelsius.com/" target="_blank">Accelsius</a>, another startup working on two-phase direct-to-chip liquid cooling.The two-phase setup also requires lower liquid flow rates than the traditional single-phase water approach, so it uses less energy and runs less risk of damaging the equipment. The flow rate of two-phase cooling is about one-fifth that of single-phase cooling, Belkin says.With single-phase water cooling, he says, “you’ll have to flow a gallon per minute into the cold plate” for the most advanced chips running at 2,000 W. “This means very, very high pressure, very, very high flow. It means that pumping will be expensive, and [the cooling system] will actually harm itself with the high flow.”<h2>#3: Single-Phase Immersion Cooling</h2>Direct-to-chip liquid cooling offers much more cooling capacity than just blowing air, but it still relies on cold plates as intermediaries to do the cooling.What if you could bypass the cold plate altogether and just dunk the entire computer server in coolant? Some companies are doing just that.In this approach, the data center is arranged around immersion tanks rather than racks, each tank roughly the size of a refrigerator. The immersion tanks are filled with a dielectric fluid, usually an oil, which must be nonconductive and have strong thermal transfer properties, says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-bielstein-8a92986b/" target="_blank">Rachel Bielstein</a>, global sales manager of immersion cooling at <a href="https://baltimoreaircoil.com/home" target="_blank">Baltimore Aircoil Co.</a> The fluid also requires long-term stability and low environmental and fire risk. <img alt="A server with Nvidia labels submerged in liquid. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3cd427a3a1d3096df83f4e6dd9dc9ec8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="e2411" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-server-with-nvidia-labels-submerged-in-liquid.png?id=61730648&width=980"/> Sustainable Metal Cloud is advocating for single-phase immersion cooling, in which an entire server is submerged in a vat of liquid to keep it cool.<a href="http://firmus.co" target="_blank">Firmus Technologies</a>With immersion cooling, everything gets cooled by the same fluid. After the oil has whisked away the heat, there are various approaches to cooling the immersion fluid. Baltimore Aircoil, for one, has designed a heat exchanger that circulates facility water through coils and plates inside the tank, Bielstein explains. “The heated water is then pumped to an outside cooler that releases the heat into the air, cools the water, and sends it back to the heat exchanger to absorb more heat from the tank. This process uses up to 51 percent less energy versus traditional designs.”The team at Singapore-based <a href="https://smc.co/" target="_blank">Sustainable Metal Cloud</a> (SMC), which builds immersion-cooling systems for data centers, has figured out the modifications that need to be made to servers to make them compatible with this cooling method. Beyond removing the built-in fans, the company swaps out the thermal-interface materials that connect chips to their heat sinks, as some of those materials degrade in the oil. Oliver Curtis, co-CEO of SMC and its sister company Firmus, told IEEE Spectrum the modifications they make are small but important to the functioning of SMC’s setup.“We’ve created the perfect operating environment for a computer,” Curtis says. “There’s no dust, no movement, no vibration, because there’s no fans. And it’s a perfect operating temperature.”There are some chips whose power density is still too high to be completely cooled by the slow-moving oil. In those cases, it’s necessary to add cold plates to increase the oil flow over them. “Single-phase immersion has already hit the limits” for cooling these advanced chips, says Egan of Airedale by Modine. Adding cold plates to immersion cooling, he says, “will definitely provide support for more advanced chip architectures and reduce the heat load on the single-phase dielectric fluid. The new challenge is that I now need two separate cooling-loop systems.”<h2>#4: Two-Phase Immersion Cooling</h2>If no one cooling method is enough on its own, how about putting all of them together, and dunking your data center into a vat of boiling oil?Some companies already are.“Two-phase immersion is probably the most moon-shot technology when it comes to data-center liquid cooling,” says Beran, of Accelsius.But <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonhvac/" target="_blank">Brandon Marshall</a>, global marketing manager of data-center liquid cooling at <a href="https://www.chemours.com/en/" target="_blank">Chemours</a>, says this is where the industry is headed. “We believe from the research that we’ve done that two-phase immersion is going to come up in a pretty reasonable way.” <img alt="[left] Man in labcoat stands next to black box with a window onto a server. [right] Server submerged in liquid with bubbles forming and rising to the top. " class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1582604d0b8126ae88bb0ad4aacb4f03" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b9f11" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/left-man-in-labcoat-stands-next-to-black-box-with-a-window-onto-a-server-right-server-submerged-in-liquid-with-bubbles-form.png?id=61730679&width=980"/> At their lab in Newark, Del., the Chemours team is developing a specially formulated liquid for two-phase immersion cooling. In this approach, the server is dunked into a vat of liquid, and the liquid boils atop the hot components, cooling the system. ChemoursMarshall argues that a two-phase—also known as boiling—liquid has 10 to 100 times as much cooling capacity as a single-phase liquid, due to its latent heat. And while two-phase direct-to-chip cooling may work for the chips of today, it still leaves many components, such as memory modules and power supplies, to be air cooled. As CPUs and GPUs grow more powerful, these memory modules and power supplies will also require liquid cooling.“That list of problems is not going anywhere,” Marshall says. “I think the immersion-cooling piece is going to continue to grow in interest as we move forward. People are going to get more comfortable with having a two-phase fluid inside of a rack just like they have [with] putting water in a rack through single-phase direct-to-chip technology.”In their lab in Newark, Del., the Chemours team has placed several high-power servers in tanks filled with a proprietary, specially formulated fluid. The fluid is dielectric, so as not to cause shorts, and it’s also noncorrosive and designed to boil at the precise temperature at which the chips are to be held. The fluid boils directly on top of the hot chips. Then the vapor condenses on a cooled surface, either at the top or the back panel of the tank. <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ASb2ZMhcdcs?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe> In their lab in Newark, Dela., the Chemours team is testing their two-phase immersion cooling fluid. In this approach, the whole server is dunked into a tank with dielectric liquid. The heat from the server boils the liquid, resulting in cooling. ChemoursThat condenser is cooled with circulating facility water. “All we need is water sent directly to the tank that’s about 6 degrees lower than our boiling point, so about 43 °C,” Marshall says. “The fluid condenses [back to a liquid] right inside of the tank. The temperature required to condense our fluid can eliminate the need for chillers and other complex mechanical infrastructure in most cases.”According to a recent <a href="https://pages.chemours.com/IC-Case-Study-October-2024.html?utm_medium=landingpage&utm_source=website&utm_campaign=2024-immersion_cooling_casestudycampaign_registered&utm_content=ocp_eventpage&utm_term=eng-international-downloadassets" target="_blank">case study</a> by Chemours researchers, two-phase immersion cooling is more cost effective than single-phase immersion or single-phase direct-to-chip in most climates. For example, in Ashburn, Va., the 10-year total cost of ownership was estimated at US $436 million for a single-phase direct-to-chip setup, $491 million for a single-phase immersion setup, and $433 million for a two-phase immersion-cooling setup, mostly due to lower power requirements and a simplified mechanical system.Critics argue that two-phase immersion makes it hard to maintain the equipment, especially since the oils are so specialized, expensive, and prone to evaporating. “When you’re in an immersion tank, and there’s dollar signs evaporating from it, that can make it a bit of a challenge to service,” Beran says.However, Egan of Airedale by Modine says his company has developed a way to mostly avoid this issue with its immersion tanks, which are intended for edge applications. “Our EdgeBox is specifically designed to maintain the vapor layer lower down in the tank with a layer of air above it and closer to the tank lid. When the tank is opened (for a short maintenance period), the vapor layer does not ‘flow out’ of the tank,” Egan wrote via email. “The vapor is much heavier than air and therefore stays lower in the tank. The minimal vapor loss is offset by a buffer tank of fluid within the system.”For the foreseeable future, people in the industry agree that the power demands of AI will keep going up, and the need for cooling along with them.“Unless the floor falls out from under AI and everybody stops building these AI clusters, and stops building the hardware to perform training for large language models, we’re going to need to keep advancing cooling, and we’re going to need to solve the heat problem,” Marshall says.Which cooling technology will dominate in the coming AI factories? It’s too soon to say. But the rapidly changing nature of data centers is opening up the field to a lot of inventiveness and innovation.“There’s not only a great market for liquid cooling,” says Drew Matter, of Mikros Technologies, “but it’s also a fun engineering problem.”

Oct 13, 2025

In a First, Artificial Neurons Talk Directly to Living Cells

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/in-a-yellow-tinted-laboratory-a-man-operates-equipment-while-another-man-stands-nearby.jpg?id=61740882&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C422%2C0%2C422"/> The bacteria Geobacter sulfurreducens came from humble beginnings; it was <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7527204/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">first isolated</a> from dirt in a ditch in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman,_Oklahoma" target="_blank">Norman, Okla</a>. But now, the surprisingly remarkable microbes are the key to the first ever artificial neurons that can directly interact with living cells.The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geobacter_sulfurreducens" target="_blank">G. sulfurreducens</a> microbes communicate with one another through tiny, protein-based wires that researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst harvested and used to make artificial neurons. These neurons can, for the first time, process information from living cells without an intermediary device amplifying or modulating the signals, the researchers say.While some <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/new-hardware-mimics-spiking-behavior-of-neurons-with-high-efficiency" target="_blank">artificial neurons</a> <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/memristor-first-single-device-to-act-like-a-neuron" target="_blank">already exist</a>, they require electronic amplification to sense the signals our bodies produce, explains <a href="https://www.umass.edu/engineering/about/directory/jun-yao" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jun Yao</a>, who works on bioelectronics and nanoelectronics at UMass Amherst. The amplification inflates both power usage and circuit complexity, and so counters efficiencies found in the brain.The neuron created by Yao’s team can understand the body’s signals at their natural amplitude of around 0.1 volts. This is “highly novel,” says <a href="https://chemistry.uchicago.edu/bozhi-tian" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bozhi Tian</a>, a biophysicist who studies living bioelectronics at the University of Chicago and was not involved in the work. This work “bridges the long-standing gap between electronic and biological signaling” and demonstrates interaction between artificial neurons and living cells that Tian calls “unprecedented.”<h2>Real neurons and artificial neurons</h2>Biological <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/four-types-of-brain-cells-identified-based-on-electrical-spiking-activity" target="_self">neurons</a> are the fundamental building blocks of the brain. If external stimuli are strong enough, charge builds up in a neuron, triggering an action potential, a spike of voltage that travels down the neuron’s body to enable all types of bodily functions, including emotion and movement.Scientists have been working to engineer a synthetic neuron for decades, chasing after the efficiency of the human brain, which has so far seemed to escape the abilities of electronics.Yao’s group has designed new artificial neurons that mimic how biological neurons sense and react to electrical signals. They use sensors to monitor external biochemical changes and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/memristor-devices-ai" target="_self">memristors</a>—essentially resistors with memory—to emulate the action-potential process. As voltage from the external biochemical events increases, ions accumulate and begin to form a filament across a gap in the memristor—which in this case was filled with protein nanowires. If there is enough voltage, the filament completely bridges the gap. Current shoots through the device and the filament then dissolves, dispersing the ions and stopping the current. The complete process mimics a neuron’s action potential. The team tested its artificial neurons by connecting them to cardiac tissue. The devices measured a baseline amount of cellular contraction, which did not produce enough signal to cause the artificial neuron to fire. Then the researchers took another measurement after the tissue was dosed with norepinephrine—a drug that increases how frequently cells contract. The artificial neurons triggered action potentials only during the medicated trial, proving that they can detect changes in living cells. The experimental results were published 29 September in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63640-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nature Communications</a>.<h2>Natural nanowires</h2>The group has G. sulfurreducens to thank for the breakthrough. The microbes synthesize miniature cables, called <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/genetically-modified-bacteria-conduct-electricity-ushering-in-new-era-of-green-electronics" target="_blank">protein nanowires</a>, that they use for intraspecies communication. These cables are charge conductors that survive for long periods of time in the wild without decaying. (Remember, they evolved for Oklahoma ditches.) They’re extremely stable, even for device fabrication, Yao says.To the engineers, the most notable property of the nanowires is how efficiently ions move along them. The nanowires offer a low-energy means of transferring charge between human cells and artificial neurons, thus avoiding the need for a separate amplifier or modulator. “And amazingly, the material is designed for this,” says Yao.The group developed a method to shear the cables off bacterial bodies, purifying the material and suspending it in a solution. The team laid the mixture out and let the water evaporate, leaving a one-molecule-thin film made from the protein nanowire material.This efficiency allows the artificial neuron to yield huge power savings. Yao’s group integrated the film into the memristor at the core of the neuron, lowering the energy barrier for the reaction that causes the memristor to respond to signals recognized by the sensor. With this innovation, the researchers say, the artificial neuron uses one-tenth the voltage and 1/100 the power of other artificial neurons. Chicago’s Tian thinks this “extremely impressive” energy efficiency is “essential for future low-power, implantable, and biointegrated computing systems.”The power advantages make this synthetic-neuron design attractive for all kinds of applications, the researchers say. Responsive wearable electronics, like prosthetics that adapt to stimuli from the body, could make use of these new artificial neurons, Tian says. Eventually, implantable systems that rely on the neurons could “learn like living tissues, advancing personalized medicine and brain-inspired computing” to “interpret physiological states, leading to biohybrid networks that merge electronics with living intelligence,” he says.The artificial neurons could also be useful in electronics outside the biomedical field. Millions of them on a chip could replace transistors, completing the same tasks while decreasing power usage, Yao says. The fabrication process for the neurons does not involve high temperatures and utilizes the same kind of photolithography that silicon chip manufacturers do, he says.Yao does, however, point out two possible bottlenecks producers could face when scaling up these artificial neurons for electronics. The first is obtaining more of the protein nanowires from G. sulfurreducens. His lab currently works for three days to generate only 100 micrograms of material—about the mass of one grain of table salt. And that amount can coat only a very small device, so Yao questions how this step in the process could scale up for production. His other concern is how to achieve a uniform coating of the film at the scale of a silicon wafer. “If you wanted to make high-density small devices, the uniformity of film thickness actually is a critical parameter,” he explains. But the artificial neurons his group has developed are too small to do any meaningful uniformity testing for now. Tian doesn’t expect artificial neurons to replace silicon transistors in conventional computing, but instead sees them as a parallel offering for “hybrid chips that merge biological adaptability with electronic precision,” he says.In the far future, Yao hopes that such bioderived devices will also be appreciated for not contributing to <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/e-waste" target="_self">e-waste</a>. When a user no longer wants a device, they can simply dump the biological component in the surrounding environment, Yao says, because it won’t cause an environmental hazard. “By using this kind of nature-derived, microbial material, we can create a greener technology that’s more sustainable for the world,” Yao says.

Oct 11, 2025

Solid-State Transformer Design Unlocks Faster EV Charging

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/cluster-of-electronic-circuit-boards-connected-to-a-module-all-on-a-black-background.jpg?id=61740697&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C81%2C0%2C81"/> This article is part of our exclusive <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/collections/journal-watch/" target="_blank">IEEE Journal Watch series</a> in partnership with IEEE Xplore. The rapid build-out of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ev-charging-2671242103" target="_self">fast-charging stations for electric vehicles</a> is testing the limits of today’s power grid. With individual chargers drawing 350 to 500 kilowatts (<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/byd-megawatt-charging" target="_blank">or more</a>)—which makes EV charging times now functionally equivalent to the fill-up time for a gasoline or diesel vehicle—full charging sites can reach megawatt-scale demand. That’s enough to strain <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/power-line-sensors-smart-grid" target="_self">medium-voltage distribution networks</a>—the segment of the grid that links high-voltage transmission lines with the low-voltage lines that serve end users in homes and businesses.DC fast-charging stations tend to be clustered in urban centers, along highways, and in fleet depots. Because the load is not spread evenly across the network, particular substations are overworked—even when overall grid capacity is rated to accommodate the load. Overcoming this problem, as more charging stations, with greater power demands, come online requires power electronics that are not only compact and efficient but also capable of managing local storage and renewable inputs.<h2>Solid-State Transformers in EV Charging</h2>One of the most promising technologies for modernizing the grid so it can keep up with the demands of vehicle electrification and renewable generation is the solid-state transformer (SST). An SST performs the same basic function as a conventional transformer—stepping voltage up or down. But it does so using semiconductors, high-frequency conversion with silicon carbide or gallium nitride switches, and digital control, instead of passive magnetic coupling alone. An SST’s setup allows it to control power flow dynamically.For decades, charging infrastructure has relied on <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/transformer-crisis" target="_self">line-frequency transformers</a> (LFTs)—massive assemblies of iron and copper that step down medium-voltage AC to low-voltage AC before or after external conversion from alternating current to the direct current that EV batteries require. A typical LFT can contain as much as a few hundred kilograms of copper windings and a few tonnes of iron. All that metal is <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/transformer-shortage" target="_self">costly and increasingly difficult to source</a>. These systems are reliable but bulky and inefficient, especially when energy flows between local storage and vehicles. SSTs are much smaller and lighter than the LFTs they are designed to replace. “Our solution achieves the same semiconductor device count as a single-port converter while providing multiple independently controlled DC outputs.” —Shashidhar Mathapati, Delta Electronics But most multiport SSTs developed so far have been too complex or costly (between five and 10 times as much as the upfront cost of LFTs). That difference—plus SSTs’ reliance on auxiliary battery banks that add more expense and reduce reliability—explains why solid-state’s obvious benefits have not yet incentivized shifting to the technology from LFTs. <img alt="Surjakanta Mazumder, Saichand Kasicheyanula, Harisyam P.V. and Kaushik Basu holding their prototype in a lab." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="27b015c07054f6fdc5f63f93391977fb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="188c5" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/surjakanta-mazumder-saichand-kasicheyanula-harisyam-p-v-and-kaushik-basu-holding-their-prototype-in-a-lab.jpg?id=61740711&width=980"/> Surjakanta Mazumder, Saichand Kasicheyanula, Harisyam P.V., and Kaushik Basu hold their SST prototype in a lab.<a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11131460" target="_blank">Harisyam P.V., Saichand Kasicheyanula, et al.</a><h2>How to Make Solid-State Transformers More Efficient</h2><h2></h2>In a <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11131460" target="_blank">study</a> published on 20 August in <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=63" target="_blank">IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics</a>, researchers at <a href="https://iisc.ac.in/" target="_blank">the Indian Institute of Science</a> and <a href="https://www.deltaelectronicsindia.com/en-IN/index" target="_blank">Delta Electronics India</a>, both in Bengaluru, proposed what’s called a cascaded H-bridge (CHB)–based multiport SST that eliminates those compromises. “Our solution achieves the same semiconductor device count as a single-port converter while providing multiple independently controlled DC outputs,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/delta-electronics-india_deltaelectronicsindia-designinindia-designforindia-activity-7311299447068471296-NUOX" target="_blank">Shashidhar Mathapati</a>, the chief technology officer of Delta Electronics. “That means no additional battery storage, no extra semiconductor devices, and no extra medium-voltage insulation.”The team built a 1.2-kilowatt laboratory prototype to validate the design, achieving 95.3 percent efficiency at rated load. They also modeled a full-scale 11-kilovolt, 400-kW system divided into two 200-kW ports.<h2></h2>At the heart of the system is a multiwinding transformer located on the low-voltage side of the converter. This configuration avoids the need for costly, bulky medium-voltage insulation and allows power balancing between ports without auxiliary batteries. “Previous CHB-based multiport designs needed multiple battery banks or capacitor networks to even out the load,” the authors wrote in their paper. “We’ve shown you can achieve the same result with a simpler, lighter, and more reliable transformer arrangement.”A new modulation and control strategy maintains a unity power factor at the grid interface, meaning that none of the current coming from the grid goes to waste by oscillating back and forth between the source and the load without doing any work. The SST described by the authors also allows each DC port to operate independently. In practical terms, each vehicle connected to the charger would be able to receive the appropriate voltage and current, without affecting neighboring ports or disturbing the grid connection.<h2></h2>Using silicon carbide switches connected in series, the system can handle medium-voltage inputs while maintaining high efficiency. An 11-kV grid connection would require just 12 cascaded modules per phase, which is roughly half as many as some modular multilevel converter designs. Fewer modules ultimately means lower cost, simpler control, and greater reliability.Although still at the laboratory stage, the design could enable a new generation of compact, cost-effective fast-charging hubs. By removing the need for intermediate battery storage—which adds cost, complexity, and maintenance—the proposed topology could extend the operational lifespan of EV charging stations.According to the researchers, this converter is not just for EV charging. Any application that needs medium-voltage to multiport low-voltage conversion—such as data centers, renewable integration, or industrial DC grids—could benefit.For utilities and charging providers facing megawatt-scale demand, this streamlined solid-state transformer could help make the EV revolution more grid-friendly, and faster for drivers waiting to charge.

Oct 10, 2025

Video Friday: Non-Humanoid Hands for Humanoid Robots

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/boston-dynamics-humanoid-robot-giving-two-thumbs-up-in-a-well-lit-industrial-setting.png?id=61730113&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Robotics%20event%20suggestion%20for%20Video%20Friday">send us your events</a> for inclusion.<h5><a href="https://worldrobotsummit.org/en/">World Robot Summit</a>: 10–12 October 2025, OSAKA, JAPAN</h5><h5><a href="https://www.iros25.org/">IROS 2025</a>: 19–25 October 2025, HANGZHOU, CHINA</h5>Enjoy today’s videos!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><div style="page-break-after: always"> </div>There are two things that I really appreciate about this video on <a data-linked-post="2652903997" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/boston-dynamics-spot-robot-arm" target="_blank">grippers from Boston Dynamics</a>. First, building a gripper while keeping in mind that the robot will inevitably fall onto it, because I’m seeing lots of very delicate-looking five-fingered hands on humanoids, and I’m very skeptical of their ruggedness. And second, understanding that not only is a five-fingered hand very likely unnecessary for the vast majority of tasks, but also robot hands don’t have to be constrained by a human hand’s range of motion.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gS4rOqNDTBk?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://bostondynamics.com/blog/ask-a-roboticist-meet-karl/">Boston Dynamics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>Yes, okay, it’s a fancy-looking robot, but I’m still stuck on what useful, practical things can it reliably and cost-effectively and safely DO? <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eu5mYMavctM?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe> - YouTube<a href="https://youtu.be/Eu5mYMavctM" target="_blank">youtu.be</a>[ <a href="https://www.figure.ai/">Figure</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="52ach_fnquu">Life on Earth has evolved in constant relation to gravity, yet we rarely consider how deeply it shapes living systems until we imagine a place without it. In MycoGravity, pink oyster mushrooms grow inside a custom-built bioreactor mounted on a KUKA robotic arm. Inspired by NASA’s random positioning machines, the robot’s programmed movement simulates altered gravity. Over time, sculptural mushrooms emerge, shaped by their environment without a stable gravitational direction.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/52acH_fnQUU?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://ars.electronica.art/panic/en/view/mycogravity-21938ddb450c816fbb66fbc1c6075a84/">MycoGravity</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="rgokumdirnu">A new technological advancement gives robotic systems a natural sense of touch without extra skins or sensors. With advanced force sensing and deep learning, this robot can feel where you touch, recognize symbols, and even use virtual buttons—paving the way for more natural and flexible human-robot interaction.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rgoKUmdIRnU?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/scirobotics.adn4008">Science Robotics</a> ]Thanks, Maged!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>The creator of <a data-linked-post="2655205032" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/robot-video-2655205032" target="_blank">Mini Pupper</a> introduces <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdFnK2Lw7oQ" target="_blank">HeySanta</a>, which can be yours for under $60.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UBdeyZApVpI?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mdrobotkits/heysanta-generative-ai-powered-santa-claus" target="_blank"> Kickstarter campaign</a>]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>I think humanoid robotics companies are starting to realize that they’re going to need to differentiate themselves somehow.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e0cIZgkTn4M?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.deeprobotics.cn/en">DEEP Robotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="evcu8pk5xwc">Drone swarm performances—synchronized, expressive aerial displays set to music—have emerged as a captivating application of modern robotics. Yet designing smooth, safe choreographies remains a complex task requiring expert knowledge. We present SwarmGPT, a language-based choreographer that leverages the reasoning power of large language models (LLMs) to streamline drone performance design.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EvCU8Pk5xwc?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://utiasdsl.github.io/swarm_GPT/">SwarmGPT</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="opr3mpybgo4">Dr. Mark Draelos, assistant professor of robotics and ophthalmology, received the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Award for a project that seeks to improve how delicate microsurgeries are conducted by scaling up tissue to a size where surgeons could “walk across the retina” in virtual reality and operate on tissue as if “raking leaves.”</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OPR3Mpybgo4?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://robotics.umich.edu/news/2025/draelos-nih-award/">University of Michigan</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="iuh8fwxonwa">The intricate mechanisms of the most sophisticated laboratory on Mars are revealed in Episode 4 of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin series, called “Sample Processing.”</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iuh8FWxoNwA?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars/ExoMars_rover">European Space Agency</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>There’s currently a marketplace for used industrial robots, and it makes me wonder what’s next. Used humanoids, anyone?<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jcbHSPk0YIk?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://my.kuka.com/s/category/used-robots/0ZG1i000000TOeiGAG?language=en_US">Kuka</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="m8ivrpkaszo">On October 2, 2025, the 10th “Can We Build Baymax?” Workshop Part 10: What Can We Build Today? & BYOB (Bring Your Own Baymax) was held in Seoul, Korea. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, Baymax delivered a special message from his character designer, Jin Kim.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M8IVRPKaszo?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://baymax.org/">Baymax</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>I am only sharing this to declare that iRobot has gone off the deep end with their product names: Meet the “Roomba® Max 705 Combo Robot + AutoWash™ Dock.”<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Btp4ljVx6Eg?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-max-705-robots.html">iRobot</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="veutck1xyzi">Daniel Piedrahita, Navigation Team Lead, presents on his team’s recent work rebuilding Digit’s navigation stack, including a significant upgrade to footstep path planning.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VeutCk1xYzI?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.agilityrobotics.com/content/digits-next-steps">Agility Robotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>A bunch of videos from <a data-linked-post="2669217747" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/icra40-conference" target="_blank">ICRA@40</a> have just been posted, and here are a few of my favorites.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DEHcUs0nwSI?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EZiol10pvvY?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q5KvEge0km0?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://icra40.ieee.org/">ICRA@40</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>

Oct 10, 2025

Intelligence Meets Energy: ADIPEC 2025 and the AI Revolution in the Energy Sector

This is a sponsored article brought to you by <a href="https://www.adipec.com/" target="_blank">ADIPEC</a>.Returning to Abu Dhabi between 3 and 6 November, <a href="https://www.adipec.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ADIPEC 2025</a> – the world’s largest energy event – aims to show how AI is turning ideas into real-world impact across the energy value chain and redrawing the global opportunity map. At the same time, it addresses how the world can deliver more energy – by adding secure supply, mobilizing investment, deploying intelligent solutions, and building resilient systems.<h2>AI as energy’s double-edged sword</h2>Across heavy industry and utilities, AI is cutting operating costs, lifting productivity, and improving energy efficiency, while turning data into real-time decisions that prevent failures and optimize output. Clean-energy and enabling-technology investment is set to reach <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-investment-2025/executive-summary" target="_blank">US$2.2 trillion this year out of US$3.3 trillion</a> going into the energy system, highlighting a decisive swing toward grids, renewables, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification. <img alt="ADIPEC logo: White sunburst design and bilingual text on a navy blue background." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="32caceab083ba720c4a05ed569a7a629" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="4b7b3" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/adipec-logo-white-sunburst-design-and-bilingual-text-on-a-navy-blue-background.jpg?id=61706838&width=980"/> At the same time, AI’s own growth is reshaping infrastructure planning, with electricity use from data centers expected to more than double by 2030. The dual challenge is to keep energy reliable and affordable, while meeting AI’s surging compute appetite.<h2>A global energy convergence</h2>Taking place in Abu Dhabi from 3-6 November 2025, ADIPEC will host 205,000+ visitors and 2,250+ exhibiting companies from the full spectrum of the global energy ecosystem, to showcase the latest breakthroughs shaping the future of energy. Under the theme “Energy. Intelligence. Impact.”, the event is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and hosted by ADNOC. With a conference program featuring 1,800+ speakers across 380 sessions and its most expansive exhibition ever, ADIPEC 2025 examines how scaling intelligent solutions like AI and building resilience can transform the energy sector to achieve inclusive global progress.<h2>Engineering the future</h2>Two flagship programs anchor the engineering agenda at ADIPEC’s Technical Conferences: the SPE-organized Technical Conference and the Downstream Technical Conference.Technical Conference attendees can expect upwards of <a href="https://www.adipec.com/conferences/technical-overview/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1,100 technical experts across more than 200 sessions</a> focused on field-proven solutions, operational excellence, and AI-powered optimization. From cutting-edge innovations reshaping the hydrogen and nuclear sectors to AI-driven digital technologies embedded across operations, the Conference showcases practical applications and operational successes across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.Clean-energy and enabling-technology investment is set to reach US$2.2 trillion this year out of US$3.3 trillion going into the energy system.Technical pioneers demonstrate solutions that transform operations, enhance grid reliability, and enable seamless coordination between energy and digital infrastructure through smart integration technologies. In 2025, <a href="https://www.adipec.com/press-media/insights/2025/07/adipec-2025-technical-conferences-achieve-record-submissions-driven-by-practical-applications-of-ai-in-the-energy-sector/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">submissions hit a record 7,086, with about 20% centered on AI and digital technologies</a>, and contributions arriving from 93 countries.Running in parallel to the engineering deep-dive, the <a href="https://www.adipec.com/conferences/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ADIPEC Strategic Conference</a> convenes ministers, CEOs, investors, and policymakers across 10 strategic programs to tackle geopolitics, investment, AI, and energy security with practical, long-term strategies. Over four days, a high-level delegation of 16,500+ participants will join a future-focused dialogue that links policy, capital, and technology decisions.Core program areas include Global Strategy, Decarbonization, Finance and Investment, Natural Gas and LNG, Digitalization and AI, Emerging Economies, and Hydrogen, with additional themes spanning policy and regulation, downstream and chemicals, diversity and leadership, and maritime and logistics. The result is a system-level view that complements the Technical Conference by translating boardroom priorities into roadmaps that operators can execute.<h2>Why AI matters now</h2><ul><li>Predictive maintenance, real-time demand forecasting and autonomous control systems are accelerating decarbonization by squeezing more electrons and molecules per unit of carbon.</li><li>Operating costs are down 10-25%, productivity is up 3-8%, and energy efficiency is up 5-8% across energy-sector assets, as AI and automation move from pilots to plant-wide deployments. Predictive maintenance and asset integrity are already improving, reducing unplanned outages and boosting throughput.</li><li>Digital progress, however, needs dependable power – rising AI workloads are pushing grids, data center siting, interconnection, and flexible demand to the top of board agendas. Recent outlooks show that <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-power-use-reach-record-highs-2025-2026-eia-says-2025-09-09/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">record-high electricity demand</a> in key markets is driven at least in part by AI, particularly from model training and inference.</li></ul><h2>AI Zone at ADIPEC</h2>ADIPEC’s agenda addresses this balance – how to harness intelligence to decarbonize operations, while ensuring the grid keeps up with compute.Curated in partnership with ADNOC, the <a href="https://www.adipec.com/ai-zone/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AI Zone</a> is an immersive showcase of how intelligence – both human and artificial – is redefining energy systems, empowering people, and enabling bold, cross-sector disruption.It brings together tech giants such as Microsoft, Honeywell, ABB, Hexagon, Cognite, DeepOcean, and SUPCON, with AI innovators such as Bechtel, Clean Connect AI, and Gecko Robotics. Fast-scaling startups, data analytics firms, system integrators, and academic labs will demonstrate AI-enhanced hardware, predictive analytics, and smart energy-management platforms. The AI Zone is an immersive showcase of how intelligence – both human and artificial – is redefining energy systems, empowering people, and enabling bold, cross-sector disruption.The goal is practical: to make the full set of AI building blocks for energy clear – from sensors and data platforms to models and control systems – so operators can integrate them with confidence, as well as accelerate adoption and deployment, and connect decision-makers with innovators and investors.In addition to the AI Zone, dedicated digitalization and AI conference content explores secure automation, cost-reduction playbooks, and real-time platforms that can help cut downtime and emissions.<h2>What to expect on the ground</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.adipec.com/visit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2,250+ exhibitors and 30+ country pavilions</a> covering all segments of the industry from upstream to downstream to electrons.</li><li><a href="https://www.adipec.com/conferences/technical-overview/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">380+ conference sessions</a> – of which 85+ are tech-focused – emphasizing reliability, safety, and measurable emissions reduction.</li><li>Roughly one in five 2025 Technical Conferences submissions focused on AI and digital, with <a href="https://www.adipec.com/press-media/insights/2025/07/adipec-2025-technical-conferences-achieve-record-submissions-driven-by-practical-applications-of-ai-in-the-energy-sector/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">record participation from 93 countries</a>.</li><li>Strategic discussions linking energy security, grid readiness and industrial competitiveness with the <a href="https://www.iea.org/news/ai-is-set-to-drive-surging-electricity-demand-from-data-centres-while-offering-the-potential-to-transform-how-the-energy-sector-works" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reality of surging electricity demand from AI</a>.</li></ul><h2>Turning dialogue into delivery</h2><a href="https://www.adipec.com/" target="_blank">ADIPEC 2025</a> arrives at precisely the right moment. With its scale, technical depth and curated focus on AI, ADIPEC serves as a catalyst for the next chapter of energy progress.Whether you lead operations, build digital platforms, allocate capital, or shape policy, <a href="https://www.adipec.com/" target="_blank">ADIPEC 2025</a> is where conversation becomes coordination and ideas turn into action. Join the global community in Abu Dhabi to transform vision into reality and ambition into impact.

Oct 9, 2025

Empowering Women in the Power Industry

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/doctor-mini-shaji-thomas-smiling-and-wearing-a-saari-against-an-abstract-background-of-clean-energy-blueprints.jpg?id=61719914&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C141%2C0%2C141"/> Without support from her family, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/minishajithomas/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mini Thomas</a> says, she would not have had a successful career in academia.The IEEE senior member has held several leadership positions in India, including dean of engineering at the <a href="https://dtu.ac.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Delhi Technological University</a> (formerly the Delhi College of Engineering) and (the first female) president of the <a href="https://www.nitt.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli</a>. Today she is a professor of electrical engineering at <a href="https://jmi.ac.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jamia Millia Islamia University</a> in New Delhi, where she formerly was a dean.<h3>Mini Thomas</h3> Employer: Jamia Millia Islamia, in New DelhiTitle: Professor of electrical engineeringMember grade: Senior memberAlma maters: University of Kerala; the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras; the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.Thomas, an expert in power systems and smart grids, is working to get more women into the power and energy industry.She is an active IEEE volunteer, having worked with student branches and membership recruitment. As a member of the <a href="https://www.ieee.org/advancing-technology/building-better-world/technology-sustainable-climate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Technology for a Sustainable Climate Matrix Organization</a>, she shares her knowledge about energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, and ozone-layer recovery.“For a woman to succeed, she needs a lot of family support,” Thomas says, because many women’s careers are interrupted by caretaking and child-rearing responsibilities. She acknowledges that not all women have the same support system she has—which is part of the reason why she is dedicated to helping others succeed.<h2>A passion for teaching</h2>Thomas was born and raised in Kerala, India. Kerala students who excelled at school were expected to choose a career in either medicine or engineering, she says. Medicine wasn’t an option for her, she says, because she faints at the sight of blood. She was good at mathematics, though, so she chose to pursue engineering.Although both her parents were teachers (her father taught chemistry; her mother was a language instructor), she wasn’t inspired to pursue a similar path until she was an undergraduate at the <a href="https://keralauniversity.ac.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of Kerala</a>. Her extensive note-taking during class made her popular among her classmates, she says, and some would ask her to tutor them during exam season.“My friends would come over to my home so I could explain the material to them using my notes,” she says. “Afterward, they would tell me that they were able to understand the subject much better than how the professor had explained it. That’s what inspired me to become a teacher.”After earning her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1984, Thomas continued her education at the <a href="https://www.iitm.ac.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Indian Institute of Technology, Madras</a>. Shortly after earning her master’s of technology in electrical engineering in 1986, she began her first teaching job at the National Institute of Technology, Calicut, also in Kerala.The year was a whirlwind for Thomas, who got married, left her job, and moved to New Delhi, where her husband lived. Instead of searching for another teaching job, she decided to pursue a doctoral degree in the electrical engineering program at the <a href="https://www.iitd.ac.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi</a>.“By the time I was 28, I had a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, which I earned in 1990,” she says. “I soon got a job at Delhi Technological University, the only other college in New Delhi that had an engineering school at that time, other than IIT. From there, I never looked back.”She taught at the university for five years, then left in 1995 to join Jamia Millia Islamia. She eventually was promoted to lead the electrical engineering department.During her 11 years there, she established labs to conduct research in supervisory control and data acquisition (<a href="https://inductiveautomation.com/resources/article/what-is-scada" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SCADA</a>) and substation automation, collaborating with industry on projects. In 2003 she created a curriculum for—and led the launch of—a master’s of technology program in electrical power system management as well as a training program for industry professionals. For her work, she received a 2015 <a href="https://www.ieee.org/education/awards/meritorious-award" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Educational Activities Board Meritorious Achievement Award</a>.In 2014 she founded the school’s <a href="https://jmi.ac.in/cie" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship</a> to help startups turn their ideas into prototypes and launch businesses.She received an offer she couldn’t refuse in 2016: become president of the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli.“This was a great honor to become the first woman president of that institute,” she says. “I was the only woman among 90 presidents of all the institutions of national importance at that time.”But, she says, as president, she didn’t have much time to teach, and after five years, she began to miss her time in the classroom. After her five-year term was completed, she returned to Jamia Millia Islamia in 2021 as engineering dean. Since then, she has led the launch of five programs: three undergraduate programs (in data science, electrical and computer engineering, and VLSI) and graduate programs in data science and environmental sciences.This year she stepped down after completing her three-year term as dean and is focusing more on teaching.She teaches at least one class each semester because, she says, she finds joy in “imparting and giving knowledge to young minds.”<h2>Mentoring women in the power industry</h2>Thomas mentors doctoral students as well as professors who aspire to serve as deans or other high-level positions.In addition, she trains mid-career women in the power industry on the skills they need to get promoted—to technical and senior management roles—through the <a href="https://collaboration.worldbank.org/content/sites/collaboration-for-development/en/groups/the-wepowernetwork.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">South Asia WePOWER network</a>’s South Asia Region (SAR) 100 professional development program. WePOWER is a coalition of nonprofit and government organizations that aim to increase the number of women working in the power and energy sectors through education. A<a href="https://collaboration.worldbank.org/content/sites/collaboration-for-development/en/groups/weesa-innovate-to-empower/documents.entry.html/2024/05/31/pathways_to_powersouthasiabaselineassessment-ILv3.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> 2020 World Bank study</a> found that the percentage of women in technical roles in the industry in South Asia ranges from 0.1 to 21.The six-month-long program provides technical training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to 100 women from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Thomas is one of 40 experts who remotely teach topics such as transmission details, distribution, renewable energy, and the importance of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-wie-updates-2025" target="_self">women in leadership</a>.She also mentors women to give them confidence and tools to reach leadership positions because “mentorship is what changed my career trajectory,” she says. When she first began teaching, she says she was reluctant to take high-level positions. But after participating in a six-day leadership training at the <a href="https://www.jnu.ac.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jawaharlal Nehru University</a>, which was hosted by the Government of India’s <a href="https://ugc.gov.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University Grants Commission</a>, she felt confident in her ability to move up the career ladder.“Many women take a break from their careers to raise their children, struggle to <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/work-life-balance" target="_self">balance their personal and professional lives</a>, or don’t have a support system,” she says. “I want to impart the lessons I learned from my experiences and the training I received. Whenever I get a chance, I get involved.”<h2>Creating lifelong friendships and mentoring students</h2>Thomas joined IEEE in 1990 as a graduate student member and says she continues renewing her membership to stay up to date on emerging technologies, specifically SCADA systems.“I learned everything about SCADA from a tutorial developed by the <a href="https://ieee-pes.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Power & Energy Society</a>. There was no such material available at that time,” she says.Years later, in 2015, Thomas cowrote <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/power-system-scada-and-smart-grids-mini-s-thomas/1133718207" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Power System SCADA and Smart Grids</a> with her friend <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndougmcdonald" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John McDonald</a>, whom she met through the organization. McDonald is an IEEE Life Fellow and the founder and CEO of JDM Associates in Duluth, Ga.Thomas became an active volunteer for the <a href="https://www.ieeedtu.in/IEEEDTU/about" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Delhi Technological University’s student branch</a>, where she helped organize technical talks and other events. When Thomas joined Jamia Millia Islamia, she revived the inactive <a href="https://in.linkedin.com/company/ieeejmi-sb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">student branch</a> there and served as its counselor for 14 years.During her 35 years with IEEE, she has served as chair of the <a href="https://www.ieee.org/communities/geographic-activities/regional-list-region-10" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Region 10</a> student activities committee and vice chair of membership development for <a href="https://www.ieee.org/communities/geographic-activities" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Member and Geographic Activities</a>. She was a member of the <a href="https://www.ieee.org/education/eab" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Educational Activities</a> and the <a href="https://pspb.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Publication Services and Products</a> boards.“Creating programs that benefit members makes me feel satisfied,” Thomas says. “Volunteering has also boosted my confidence.”She is also a member of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/" target="_self">IEEE Spectrum</a>’s editorial advisory board.Not only does she attribute much of her professional growth to the organization, she also has created lifelong friendships through IEEE, she says. One friend is 2023 IEEE President <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/u/saifur-rahman-a" target="_self">Saifur Rahman</a>, whom she met in 2000 when he spoke to the Jamia Millia Islamia student branch.“Our friendship has grown so much that Saifur is like family,” she says.When Rahman launched the IEEE Technology for a Sustainable Climate Matrix Organization in 2022, he asked Thomas to become a member. She helped create the <a href="https://innovate.ieee.org/the-ieee-climate-change-collection/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Climate Change Collection</a> on the <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/home.jsp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Xplore</a> Digital Library. The following year, she led the development of a climate change taxonomy. The 620 words are included in the <a href="https://www.ieee.org/publications/services/thesaurus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Thesaurus</a>, which defines almost 12,500 engineering, technical, and scientific terms. Now she is working with a team to expand the taxonomy by defining hundreds more climate-change terms.“You should always do what you enjoy. For me, that’s teaching and volunteering with IEEE,” she says. “I could just be a member, access the technical content, and be happy with just that, but I volunteer because I can do things that help others.”

Oct 9, 2025

Cisco Bridges Classical and Quantum Networks

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/photograph-of-a-blue-photonics-chip-with-wires-tracing-down-off-the-page.jpg?id=61692736&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C422%2C0%2C422"/> In the drive to make a <a data-linked-post="2667114151" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/practical-quantum-computing-bilayered-graphene" target="_blank">practical quantum computer</a>, researchers are developing bigger and better quantum networks—ones with capabilities that will complement and enhance quantum computing. Put another way, building a functioning quantum network that can exchange many qubits securely, over long distances, could be a useful end goal completely apart from the quantum-computer race.In that vein, Cisco <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/news/cisco-quantum-labs-announces-software-that-networks-quantum-computers-together-and-enables-new-classical-applications" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">launched</a> a quantum-networking software system on 25 September. The networking giant’s technology could help to bring about more powerful <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/quantum-sensing-secure-remote" target="_self">quantum sensors</a>, <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/11044770" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">secure position verification</a>, and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/quantum-entanglement-camera" target="_self">quantum-enhanced imaging tech</a>—to list just three of a <a href="https://www.nist.gov/pml/productsservices/quantum-networks-nist/applications-quantum-networks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">range of emerging, noncomputing applications</a> for quantum networks.The team has a hybrid purpose in mind as well, says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkompella/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ramana Kompella</a>, vice president and head of research at <a href="https://cisco.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cisco</a> in San Jose, Calif.: quantum networks that can work with classical computers and conventional computer networks.“This is a very fascinating field for us because until now, classical computing didn’t have access to a quantum network,” Kompella says. “But imagine if you had access to a quantum network, what can you actually enable in terms of new capabilities?” Kompella has an answer to his own question. “We can secure classical networking with the help of quantum signals by detecting eavesdroppers on long-distance fiber-optic communications,” he says.<h2>How Does Quantum Entanglement Secure Networks?</h2>To do so, Kompella says, the system relies on the fact that quantum signals shared across their sensitive network are connected together via <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/what-is-quantum-entanglement" target="_self">quantum entanglement</a>. “We inject entangled photons into the optical fiber,” he says. “And if the attacker tries to tap the fiber, they end up disturbing the entanglement, which allows us to detect them.”Kompella adds that entanglement exchanged over network distances has other classical computing applications in high-frequency trading and fintech, “as well as maybe you can drive ultraprecise time synchronization with the help of entanglement-based networks,” he says.Cisco’s quantum-networking system is built on top of a <a href="https://blogs.cisco.com/news/quantum-networking-how-cisco-is-accelerating-practical-quantum-computing" target="_blank">practical quantum-networking chip</a> the company introduced in May, which uses existing fiber-optic lines, generates up to 200 million entangled photon pairs per second, and operates at <a href="https://www.thefoa.org/tech/wavelength.htm" target="_blank">standard telecom wavelengths</a>.But the new component Cisco recently introduced is software. The compiler the company has now launched enables a coder to write in IBM’s Python-based <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ibm-quantum-computer-2668978269" target="_self">Qiskit quantum-computer language</a>. And the Cisco compiler takes care of technical networking details like optimizing the connections between quantum processors and fine-tuning error-correction strategies.“We hide the physical layer complexity,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/reza-nejabati/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reza Nejabati</a>, Cisco’s head of quantum research, “which allows the algorithm developers to play with the number of processors and how the processors are connected together to optimize their algorithms.”“The compiler takes that high-level goal, breaks it up, and then drives the networking side of the equation,” Kompella adds.<a href="https://www.comm.utoronto.ca/~hklo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hoi-Kwong Lo</a>, a professor of <a href="https://www.ece.utoronto.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">electrical and computer engineering</a> at the University of Toronto, says that Cisco is championing an underappreciated portion of the larger quantum-technology world.“Investment is a key issue,” Lo says. “While there have been billions of research funding annually invested in quantum-computing startups, investments in quantum-networking startups have been falling behind.”According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Hanson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ronald Hanson</a>, a professor of <a href="https://kavli.tudelft.nl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nanoscience at Delft University of Technology</a>, in the Netherlands, Cisco’s work is a key next step. But it’s only a next step.“What Cisco is presenting now is not really first of its kind,” Hanson says. “But the fact that Cisco is working on several of these different elements of the quantum network combined with their classical networking expertise and strengths makes the progress interesting and will push the quantum networking industry as a whole.”<h3>What Will It Take for Quantum Networks to Scale?</h3>The biggest limitation on Cisco’s system at present, says Nejabati, is the physical distance limit that a single photon can travel before being absorbed by the optical fiber itself.“Our hardware and software technology allows us to…go up to a hundred kilometers with a very-high-quality, high-performance network,” Nejabati says.Lo says physics—in particular a law called the “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-cloning_theorem" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">no-cloning theorem</a>,” stating that individual quantum bits can never be perfectly replicated—makes large-scale quantum networks especially tricky to realize. “The big challenge is to build quantum repeaters,” Lo says. “Optical fibers are lossy, and to overcome the distance limit, we need quantum repeaters.”Lo’s group, for one, is investigating encoding a qubit’s signal not onto another individual photon but rather onto a cluster of entangled photons. IEEE Spectrum has tracked Lo’s group’s initial work on this method <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/allphotonic-quantum-repeaters-a-major-step-towards-a-worldwide-quantum-internet" target="_self">in 2015</a> and their proof-of-principle experimental test <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/quantum-repeater-trial-ignites-hopes-for-longdistance-quantum-cryptography-and-computation'" target="_self">in 2019</a>.On the other hand, says Hanson, making quantum repeaters isn’t the only way forward for next-generation quantum-networking tech.“Just sharing photons is in our mind not the most interesting tech, since many use cases remain out of reach,” Hanson says. “Instead, our goal is to create…entanglement on demand: by combining entanglement distribution via photonic channels with long-lived quantum memories—a buffer of entangled qubits ready to be consumed.”This way, Hanson says, quantum entanglement can be stored like energy in a battery or terabits on a hard drive, and tapped into when users on either end of the network want to share quantum information.“Buffered entanglement will unlock an interesting range of applications beyond [quantum cryptography] that have the promise to bring real value,” Hanson says. “It will be interesting to see when Cisco will make the step to that technology for their networks.”

Oct 9, 2025

Learning to Code Still Matters in the Age of AI

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-illustration-of-stylized-people-wearing-business-casual-clothing.jpg?id=59104110&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C232%2C0%2C233"/> This article is crossposted from <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant" target="_self">IEEE Spectrum</a>’s careers newsletter. <a href="https://engage.ieee.org/Career-Alert-Sign-Up.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up now</a> to get insider tips, expert advice, and practical strategies, written in partnership with tech career development company <a href="https://jointaro.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Taro</a> and delivered to your inbox for free!Cursor, the AI-native code editor, <a href="https://x.com/amanrsanger/status/1916968123535880684" target="_blank">recently reported</a> that it writes nearly a billion lines of code daily. That’s one billion lines of production-grade code accepted by users every single day. If we generously assume that a strong engineer writes a thousand lines of code in a day, Cursor is doing the equivalent work of a million developers. (For context, while working at Pinterest and Meta, I’d typically write less than 100 lines of code per day.)There are only about 25 million software developers worldwide! Naively, it appears that Cursor is making a meaningful percentage of coders obsolete.This begs the question: Is it even worth learning to code anymore? The answer is a resounding “yes.” The above fear-based analysis of Cursor misses several important points.First, the demand for software is insatiable. Getting a computer to follow our instructions properly (i.e., coding) is economically incredibly valuable. However, for decades now, the number of people with the specialized skill to communicate with computers has been limited. If AI tools let us write more functional code, many more people, companies, and industries will benefit. As Marc Andreesen famously alluded to in his 2011 essay “<a href="https://a16z.com/why-software-is-eating-the-world/" target="_blank">Why Software Is Eating the World</a>,” the demand for software is elastic. As software becomes cheaper, we see a disproportionately large increase in demand. There’s no such thing as finishing a software project. Humans are very good at demanding more products and services, and software will inevitably play a role in that future.Another critical observation is that AI-assisted code is simply a continuation of the evolution of software development. In the 1970s, we used to program with punch cards. Then we started writing low-level code with a keyboard. Then we shifted to higher-level languages. Each successive era saw large increases in the number of software engineers while simultaneously improving the productivity of each person. We’ve seen this storyline before: AI is just another tool to give us superpowers.<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/best-ai-coding-tools" target="_self">Coding tools</a> like Cursor or Devin are less about replacing software engineers than they are about increasing the number of software engineers. Going forward, writing code won’t be restricted to those with a particular title; everyone including lawyers, accountants, and doctors will develop software. Cursor won’t replace the 25 million software engineers we have today. Instead, it will create millions more.—Rahul<h2><a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/top-programming-languages-2025" target="_self">Top Programming Languages 2025</a></h2>IEEE Spectrum’s annual ranking of the top programming languages is here—and it might be the last. Coders are now turning away from many of the public expressions of interest in different languages (like Google searches and Stack Exchange queries), which have served as key metrics for the ranking since 2013. What does the move toward AI coding tools mean for the future of programming and how we track the coding landscape? <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/top-programming-languages-2025" target="_blank">Read more here.</a><h2><a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-impact-on-job-market" target="_self">How Badly Is AI Cutting Early-Career Jobs?</a> </h2>Also in the realm of how AI is affecting programming: The Stanford Digital Economy Lab has released a report finding early evidence that employment has taken a hit for young workers in the occupations that use generative AI the most, including software engineering. The report used data from the largest payroll provider in the United States, ADP, to gain up-to-date employment and earning data for millions of workers.<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-impact-on-job-market" target="_blank">Read more here.</a><h2><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2025/09/29/4-charts-breaking-down-h-1b-visas-and-higher-ed" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Higher Ed’s H-1B Visas in 4 Charts</a></h2>The Trump administration recently issued an executive order adding a $100,000 fee to new H-1B visa petitions. Major tech firms like Amazon are among the largest H-1B employers, but some higher education positions may also be affected. Inside Higher Ed reports on which institutions have the most of these visas and how they compare to other industries.<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2025/09/29/4-charts-breaking-down-h-1b-visas-and-higher-ed" target="_blank">Read more here.</a>

Oct 9, 2025

The AI Boom Has a Copper Problem. Are Microbes the Solution?

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-purple-gloved-hand-holds-up-a-beaker-with-a-copper-colored-liquid-inside.jpg?id=61716643&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C333%2C0%2C334"/> The Internet’s next existential crisis won’t be disinformation or deepfakes. It will be copper.The world is building AI like it’s Minecraft, stacking <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/data-centers" target="_blank">data centers</a>, transmission lines, and cooling systems with little regard for the physical limits beneath them. Everyone is focused on models and computation, but few acknowledge the metal that makes them run.Every piece of modern electrical infrastructure—not just AI—depends on copper. AI data centers are simply accelerating demand. One hyperscale facility can require tens of thousands of tonnes of copper. For example, one Microsoft data center <a href="https://www.bhp.com/news/bhp-insights/2025/01/why-ai-tools-and-data-centres-are-driving-copper-demand" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">used over 2,000 tonnes</a>, or 27 tonnes per megawatt. A McKinsey report predicts that overall transmission build-out could push annual global copper demand up to about <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/bridging-the-copper-supply-gap" target="_blank">37 million tonnes by 2031</a>. <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-mining" target="_blank">Accessible copper is running out</a>. More than 70 percent of global reserves are locked in ores that conventional mining struggles to process efficiently. Tens of billions of tonnes sit idle in waste piles and marginal deposits, overlooked by industry but still rich with potential.That potential is what drew me here. As a geoscientist who later worked in energy and cloud infrastructure, I saw firsthand the growing need for copper—and realized I had the knowledge to help address it. In 2023, I founded a startup called <a href="https://www.endolithmining.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Endolith</a> to recover copper from these forgotten sources. The tool is not drills or dynamite. It’s microbes.<h2>How Microbial Mining Works</h2>These microbes are naturally evolved, field-deployable, and highly effective at <a href="https://www.endolithmining.com/technology#copper" target="_blank">recovering copper</a> from complex ores such as chalcopyrite and enargite. They thrive in leaching heaps under real-world conditions, working with real customers. And the bonus: They use less energy, deliver more copper, and have a smaller environmental footprint than traditional methods.And what are those traditional methods? Typically, mines extract copper from ores by grinding the rock, concentrating the ore, and then using high-temperature smelting or chemical leaching with strong acids. Both approaches are energy-intensive, slow to unlock copper, and leave behind large volumes of waste and emissions. <img alt="A researcher in a lab coat, safety glasses, and purple gloves holds a long pointed device up to a petri dish with a translucent material in it." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e894919a4a7bc917ef30677cac684b48" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b9a19" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-researcher-in-a-lab-coat-safety-glasses-and-purple-gloves-holds-a-long-pointed-device-up-to-a-petri-dish-with-a-translucent.jpg?id=61716661&width=980"/> Endolith researchers use machine learning to determine which microbes to deploy at a given site and how to adjust the mix over time. Dynamic Tech Media/EndolithIn contrast, our “microbial minions” work by accelerating the natural process of <a href="https://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/innovations/2004/05/producing_copper_natures_way_bioleaching.html" target="_blank">bioleaching</a>. Instead of relying on smelting or harsh acids, Endolith’s microbes attach to the ore and pull out the copper faster. They adapt to the chemistry of different rock types, recover more metal, and do it with lower energy use and less environmental impact.To make this possible, we rely on machine learning. Genomic and metabolic data from thousands of microbes are modeled to predict which strains can survive in extreme ores such as chalcopyrite or enargite, and how they will perform under different environmental conditions. These models guide which microbial communities are deployed, how they are tuned for each site, and how they adapt over time. In effect, AI is what turns biology from trial-and-error into a scalable system for copper recovery; in turn, that copper is what keeps powering the growth of AI itself. <img alt="An overhead shot shows two workers in lab coats and hard hats pointing up at a series of tall columns sheathed in foil" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="50b1563c259ad838b39f81fa0cc87732" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="98b46" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/an-overhead-shot-shows-two-workers-in-lab-coats-and-hard-hats-pointing-up-at-a-series-of-tall-columns-sheathed-in-foil.jpg?id=61716658&width=980"/> Endolith is currently running a pilot project in Arvada, Colo.Dynamic Tech Media/EndolithOur approach has already been validated by some of the largest copper producers in the world, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/press-releases/endolith-achieves-breakthrough-in-critical-mineral-extraction-2025-05-13/" target="_blank">including BHP</a>. Microbial recovery is cleaner. It scales. It adapts. Our modular biohatcheries—field units designed to grow and deliver tailored microbes—can be deployed in days. They can be tuned for local conditions. They make copper recovery viable on deposits that were previously left untouched. This tool opens access to a part of the supply chain that mining has overlooked and technology has rarely considered.<h2>The Copper Crunch Is Slowing Down AI</h2>Conversations about AI infrastructure rarely address this layer. Computing costs and energy needs dominate the narrative, yet copper underpins the entire system. <img alt="A woman in a lab coat, with colorfully died hair holds up a beaker full of small pellets in front of processing equipment." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1c24ebd40648ce7b7194513e233996c7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="78934" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-woman-in-a-lab-coat-with-colorfully-died-hair-holds-up-a-beaker-full-of-small-pellets-in-front-of-processing-equipment.jpg?id=61716659&width=980"/> Liz Dennett founded Endolith to recover much-needed copper from low-grade ore. Dynamic Tech Media/EndolithThe physical side of AI is often hidden from view. Its presence becomes obvious when a data center project is delayed because a transformer cannot be delivered on time, or when utilities cannot build transmission lines quickly enough to support new computing loads. These are copper problems, hiding in plain sight.I have had calls with site engineers who are excited about deploying cutting-edge computing, but are quietly worried about whether the wiring can handle it. Infrastructure does not automatically follow because the software is ready. Copper is bound by geology and time. Mines move slowly, recycling moves too narrowly, and demand moves too fast. Smarter biological recovery is the lever we can pull today.Skeptics note that bioleaching has historically struggled with tough ores like <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0892687523004314" target="_blank">chalcopyrite</a>. Processes were often slow, incomplete, or difficult to manage at scale. Recent advances in microbial science and heap engineering are closing those gaps. With AI guiding the optimization of microbes, we can now match the right strains to the right ores, showing that biology can succeed where older methods fell short.Too often, technology assumes the material world will keep pace with ambition. But ambition alone cannot dig rock from the ground—and it definitely cannot create copper. I see a disconnect between belief and infrastructure. We believe this future is coming, but the physical systems required to support it are decades behind. If we want to build something durable, we need more than ambition and venture capital. We need metal, and we need smarter pathways to extract it.If we want to keep building, we need to be clear about what we are building with. That means extraction, wiring, and chemistry—the parts of the system that rarely make headlines but determine whether progress is possible.The AI era will not be sustained by excitement. It will be sustained by copper. And the next leap in recovery may come from microbes—tiny, ancient, and alive.

Oct 8, 2025

Engineering Simulations Slim Down to Find Answers in Real Time

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/colorful-simulation-of-fluid-dynamics-swirl-patterns-and-gradient-effects-in-a-cylinder-on-black.jpg?id=61723131&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C131%2C0%2C131"/> Physics simulations have a problem—engineers who need those simulations’ results often don’t have time to wait. Add in real-world settings with multiple independent calculations required (for example, separate thermal, mechanical, and electromagnetic elements in the system), and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiphysics_simulation" target="_blank">“multiphysics” computations</a> that are both realistic and real-time might seem an either-or proposition.Coders and modelers gathering in Burlington, Mass., this week will be exploring new inroads to multiphysics on-the-go in the <a href="https://www.comsol.com/conference/boston" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">COMSOL simulation software environment</a>. Over three days of keynotes, workshops, and demos, <a data-linked-post="2650275445" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/minimizing-hum-in-transformers-optimizing-rocket-propulsion-at-nasa-and-creating-simulation-apps-for-industry" target="_blank">COMSOL</a> users will be weighing new approaches to resolving the simulation time crunch. “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050925008439" target="_blank">Surrogate models</a> are an interesting new technology where you take your fully fledged multiphysics model and compress it down into a compact format that’s quick to evaluate using machine learning,” says Bjorn Sjodin, senior vice president of product management at the Stockholm-based parent company, also called COMSOL.The challenge is more widespread than COMSOL alone, too. According to a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877050925008439" target="_blank">review</a> published earlier this year in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/procedia-computer-science" target="_blank">Procedia Computer Science</a>, a range of industries face simulation bottlenecks where, the authors say, “executing high-fidelity simulation can take even weeks per design.”Surrogate models, the Procedia authors note, involve whittling down equations to simplified versions of the larger simulation environments. In other words, the surrogates capture essential behaviors of specific systems being modeled but without so much <a data-linked-post="2650277959" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/whats-better-than-40-gpubased-servers-a-server-with-40-gpus" target="_blank">computational overhead</a>. Often this trimming-down process can involve strategically sampling the original complex model at key points and then training a faster approximation that can predict results for new scenarios.“You can evaluate these models instantaneously,” Sjodin says of COMSOL’s surrogate modeling system. “Whereas if you solve the full model with unknown inputs, it could take you 15 minutes. And people are very impatient.”According to Sjodin, European automotive manufacturers are now using COMSOL’s surrogate models to rapidly simulate entire electric vehicle battery packs, enabling real-time decisions that managers and engineers had once needed to wait a coffee break or longer for. Meanwhile, Sjodin adds, a Swiss institute has deployed the COMSOL surrogate system as an app for Indian farmers to predict food spoilage in cold storage. The surrogate simulation, the institute found, enabled the farmers to reduce food spoilage by 20 percent. <img alt="Visualization of microstrip patch antenna with 3D gain analysis in simulation software." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5b8f6531756971755c7012ef0aeb003b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="5d198" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/visualization-of-microstrip-patch-antenna-with-3d-gain-analysis-in-simulation-software.jpg?id=61723155&width=980"/> COMSOL’s full numerical simulations predict performance of an antenna surface (right sphere), while its streamlined surrogate model (left sphere) arrives at nearly the same results in substantially less running time.COMSOL<h3>Making Multiphysics Into an App</h3>Sjodin says COMSOL intends to turn users of the simulation system into something closer to software developers in their own right.“You can compile those apps into standalone executables that you can distribute around the world without any kind of license payment,” Sjodin says.The company’s surrogate models, he says, are able to run as standalone applications, which can work on laptops or smartphones.“If you want to give this to someone on the factory floor, these surrogate models are really useful because it allows you to evaluate and get results immediately,” Sjodin says. The models run quickly compared to the full multiphysics simulation because the app version of, say, a specific battery pack’s thermal performance and chemical composition comes pre-loaded. The simulation is fast, because it already has on hand pre-calculated parameters specific to the physical environment to be simulated—and only the environment to be simulated.In addition to AI smarts that speed up the computing time for each run, COMSOL relies on other tricks as well. What modelers call <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_order_reduction" target="_blank">“reduced order” models</a> (ROMs) involve optimizations like mathematical pattern recognition and slimming down some of the more complicated equations in a calculation. “Neural networks come into play there, but also other technologies, more traditional reduced order modeling technologies,” he says.For instance, in a 2024 <a href="https://arxiv.org/html/2406.00559v2" target="_blank">industrywide review of ROMs</a>, researchers from Trieste, Italy’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_School_for_Advanced_Studies" target="_blank">International School for Advanced Studies</a> described a range of ROM techniques that are based on more than just AI or neural networks.“ROMs are divided in two big families: intrusive methods, in which one manipulates directly the governing equations, and nonintrusive methods, in which only the simulation data are considered,” the researchers wrote. The paper shows that a mixture of neural nets and more conventional mathematical ROM tools can achieve computational speedups up to 100,000 times as fast as models without ROM smarts added in.

Oct 8, 2025

Fast, Tiny, and Smart AI: Small Language Models for Your Phone

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/close-up-of-a-laptop-screen-displaying-jamba-chat-s-homepage-the-prompt-reads-how-can-i-help-you-today.jpg?id=61720773&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C131%2C0%2C132"/> While most of the AI world is racing to build ever-bigger language models like OpenAI’s <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/openai-gpt-5-agi" target="_blank">GPT-5</a> and Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4.5, the Israeli AI startup <a href="https://www.ai21.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AI21</a> is taking a different path.AI21 has just unveiled <a href="https://www.ai21.com/blog/introducing-jamba-reasoning-3b/" target="_blank">Jamba Reasoning 3B</a>, a 3-billion-parameter model. This compact, open-source model can handle massive <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-context-window" target="_blank">context windows</a> of 250,000 tokens (meaning that it can “remember” and reason over much more text than typical language models) and can run at high speed, even on consumer devices. The launch highlights a growing shift: smaller, more efficient models could shape the future of AI just as much as raw scale. “We believe in a more decentralized future for AI—one where not everything runs in massive data centers,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ori-goshen/" target="_blank">Ori Goshen</a>, Co-CEO of AI21, in an interview with IEEE Spectrum. “Large models will still play a role, but small, powerful models running on devices will have a significant impact” on both the future and the economics of AI, he says. Jamba is built for developers who want to create edge-AI applications and specialized systems that run efficiently on-device.AI21’s Jamba Reasoning 3B is designed to handle long sequences of text and challenging tasks like math, coding, and logical reasoning—all while running with impressive speed on everyday devices like laptops and mobile phones. Jamba Reasoning 3B can also work in a hybrid setup: Simple jobs are handled locally by the device, while heavier problems get sent to powerful cloud servers. According to AI21, this smarter routing could dramatically cut AI infrastructure costs for certain workloads—potentially by an order of magnitude.<h2>A Small but Mighty LLM</h2>With 3 billion parameters, Jamba Reasoning 3B is tiny by today’s AI standards. Models like GPT-5 or Claude run well past 100 billion parameters, and even smaller models, such as Llama 3 (8B) or Mistral (7B), are more than twice the size of AI21’s model, Goshen notes.That compact size makes it more remarkable that AI21’s model can handle a context window of 250,000 tokens on consumer devices. Some proprietary models, like GPT-5, offer even longer context windows, but Jamba sets a new high-water mark among open-source models. The previous open-model record of 128,000 tokens was held by Meta’s Llama 3.2 (3B), Microsoft’s Phi-4 Mini, and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/deepseek" target="_blank">DeepSeek R1</a>, which are all much larger models. Jamba Reasoning 3B can process more than 17 tokens per second even when working at full capacity—that is, with extremely long inputs that use its full 250,000-token context window. Many other models slow down or struggle once their input length exceeds 100,000 tokens.Goshen explains that the model is built on an architecture called <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.19887" target="_blank">Jamba</a>, which combines two types of neural network designs: <a href="https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/transformer-model" target="_blank">transformer</a> layers, familiar from other large language models, and <a href="https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/mamba-model" target="_blank">Mamba</a> layers, which are designed to be more memory-efficient. This hybrid design enables the model to handle long documents, large codebases, and other extensive inputs directly on a laptop or phone—using about one-tenth the memory of traditional transformers. Goshen says the model runs much faster than traditional transformers because it relies less on a memory component called the <a href="https://medium.com/@joaolages/kv-caching-explained-276520203249" target="_blank">KV cache</a>, which can slow down processing as inputs get longer. <h2>Why Small LLMs Are Needed</h2>The model’s hybrid architecture gives it an advantage in both speed and memory efficiency, even with very long inputs, confirms a software engineer who works in the LLM industry. The engineer requested anonymity because they’re not authorized to comment on other companies’ models. As more users run generative AI locally on laptops, models need to handle long context lengths quickly without consuming too much memory. At 3 billion parameters, Jamba meets these requirements, says the engineer, making it a model that’s optimized for on-device use.Jamba Reasoning 3B is open source under the permissive <a href="https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0" target="_blank">Apache 2.0 license</a> and available on popular platforms such as <a href="https://huggingface.co/" target="_blank">Hugging Face</a> and <a href="https://lmstudio.ai/" target="_blank">LM Studio</a>. The release also comes with instructions for fine-tuning the model through an open-source reinforcement-learning platform (called <a href="https://github.com/volcengine/verl" target="_blank">VERL</a>), making it easier and more affordable for developers to adapt the model for their own tasks.“Jamba Reasoning 3B marks the beginning of a family of small, efficient reasoning models,” Goshen said. “Scaling down enables decentralization, personalization, and cost efficiency. Instead of relying on expensive GPUs in data centers, individuals and enterprises can run their own models on devices. That unlocks new economics and broader accessibility.”

Oct 7, 2025

3D and AI: Excellent Fits for the Fashion Industry

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/leigh-lavange-surrounded-by-an-audience-of-high-school-girls-as-she-uses-a-ruler-to-draw-designs-on-a-table.jpg?id=61719797&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C177%2C0%2C177"/> When you’re buying a new item of clothing, you probably don’t give much thought to the design and assembly processes the garment went through before arriving at the store.Creating a piece of apparel starts with a designer sketching out an idea. Then a pattern is made, the fabric is chosen and cut, and the garment is sewed. Finally the clothing is packaged and shipped.To expedite the process, some apparel companies now use 3D technologies including <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/augmented-reality-consumers-customize-products" target="_self">design software</a>, <a href="https://sagroups.ieee.org/ic15-004/home/ic-groups/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">body scans</a>, visualization, and 3D <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/3d-printing-smart-objects" target="_self">printers</a>. The tools allow designers to envision their creations in a variety of colors, fabrics, and motifs. Avatars known as digital twins are created to simulate how the clothes will look and fit on different body types. Body scans generate measurements for better-fitting clothing and improved product design.Some manufacturers incorporate artificial intelligence to streamline operations, and additional companies likely will explore it as it becomes more accurate.Not all garment makers are utilizing 3D technologies to their fullest potential, however.To advance 3D technology for designers, manufacturers, and retailers, the <a href="https://3drc.pi.tv/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3D Retail Coalition</a> holds an annual challenge that spotlights academic institutions and startups that are leading the way. The contest is cosponsored by the <a href="https://standards.ieee.org/industry-connections/activities/3d-body-processing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Standards Association Industry Connections 3D Body Processing</a> program, which works with the clothing industry to create standards for technology that uses 3D scans to create digital models.The winners of this year’s contest were selected in June at the <a href="https://apparel.pi.tv/events/175" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PI Apparel Fashion Tech Show</a>, held in New York City.The <a href="https://www.fitnyc.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fashion Institute of Technology</a> (FIT) placed first in the academic category. The New York City school offers programs in design, fashion, art, communications, and business.<a href="https://www.pixascale.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PixaScale</a> won the startup category. Based in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the consultancy assists fashion and consumer goods companies with automating content, managing 3D digital assets, and improving workflows.<h2>Custom-made clothing by 3D and AI</h2>Ill-fitting garments, shoes, and accessories are problems for clothing companies. The average <a href="https://www.prime-ai.com/en/media/clothing-return-rates-by-category-and-country-csf-a/#:~:text=Global%20Overview,in%20the%20region%20at%2022%2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">return rate worldwide for clothing ordered online is more than 25 percent</a>, according to <a href="https://www.prime-ai.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PrimeAI</a>.To make ready-to-wear clothing, designers use grading, a process that takes an initial sample pattern of a base size using established standards and 3D body scans, then makes smaller and larger versions to be mass-produced. But the resulting clothes do not fit everyone.Returns, which can be frustrating for shoppers, are costly for clothing companies due to reshipping and restocking expenses.Some customers can’t be bothered to send back unwanted items, and they throw them in the garbage, where they end up in landfills.“What if we could go back to the days when you would go to a shop, get measured, and someone would custom-make your garment?” posits <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigh-lavange-b0358a15/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leigh LaVange</a>, an assistant professor of technical design and patternmaking at FIT.That was the idea behind LaVange’s winning project, Automated Custom Sizing. Her proposal uses 3D technology and AI to produce custom-tailored clothing on demand for all body types. She outlined short- and long-term scalable solutions in her submission.“I want to fix our fit problem, but I also realize we can’t do that as an industry without changing the manufacturing process.” —Leigh LaVange“I see it [custom sizing] as a solution that can be automated and eventually rolled out across all different types of brands,” she says.The short-term proposal involves measuring a person’s base body specifications, such as bust, waist, thighs, biceps, and hips—either manually or from a 3D body scan. An avatar of the customer is then created and entered into a database preloaded with 3D representations of various sizes of the sample garment. The AI program notes the customer’s specs and the existing sizes to determine the best fit. If, for example, the person’s chest matches the medium-size dimensions but the hips are a few millimeters larger, the program still might recommend medium because it determined the material around the hips had enough excess fabric. A rendering of an avatar wearing an item is shown to customers to help them decide whether to make the purchase.LaVange says her solution will help improve customer satisfaction and minimize returns.Her long-term plan is a truly customized fit. Using 3D body scans, an AI program would determine the necessary adjustments to the pattern based on the customer’s specifications and critical fit points, like the waist, while preserving the original design. The 3D system then would make alterations, which would be rendered on the customer’s avatar for approval. The solution would eliminate excess inventory, LaVange says, because the clothing would be custom-made.Because her proposals rely on technologies not currently used by the industry and a different way of interacting with customers, a shift in production would be required, she says.“Most manufacturing systems today are set up to produce as many units as possible in a single day,” she says. “I believe there’s a way to produce garments efficiently if you set up your manufacturing facility correctly. I want to fix our fit problem, but I also realize we can’t do that as an industry without changing the manufacturing process.”<h2>A digital asset management platform</h2>The winning submission in the startup category, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivhl20Qr4Ss" target="_blank">AI-First DAM [digital asset management] as an Intelligent Backbone for Agile Product Development</a>, uses 3D technology and AI to combine components of clothing design into a centralized platform.<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristian-sons/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kristian Sons</a>, chief executive of Pixascale, launched the startup in February. He left <a href="https://www.adidas.com/us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Adidas</a> in January after nine years at the company, where he was the technical lead for digital creation.Many apparel companies, Sons says, still store their 3D files on employees’ local drives or on Microsoft’s <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SharePoint</a>, a Web-based document-management system.Those methods make things difficult because not everyone has access.Sons’ cloud-based platform addresses the issue by sharing digital assets, such as images, videos, 3D models, base styles, and documents, to all parties involved in the process.That includes designers, seamstresses, and manufacturers. His system integrates with the client’s file management system, providing access to the most recent images, renderings, and other relevant data.His DAM system also includes a library of embellishments such as zippers and buttons, as well as fabric options.“Getting this information into a platform that everyone can easily access and can understand what others did really builds a foundation for collaboration.” —Kristian Sons“Getting this information into a platform that everyone can easily access and track what others did really builds a foundation for collaboration,” he says.Sons also is working on incorporating <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-agent-economy" target="_self">AI agents</a> and large language models to connect with internal systems and application programming interfaces to autonomously conduct simple research requests.That might include suggesting new products or different silhouettes, or modifying the previous season’s offerings with new colors, Sons says.“These AI agents certainly will not be perfect, but they are a good starting point so designers don’t have to start from scratch,” he says. “I think using AI agents is super exciting because in the past few years in the fashion industry, we have been talking about how AI would do the creative parts, like designing a product. But now we’re talking about the AI doing the low-level tasks.”A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNvDXPTlaZE" target="_blank">demonstration</a> of how Pixascale’s DAM works is on YouTube.

Oct 7, 2025

Noncontact Motion Sensor Brings Precision to Manufacturing

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/sleek-black-suv-with-aeva-branding-on-the-side-parked-under-a-bright-sky.jpg?id=61696459&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C120%2C0%2C120"/> <a href="https://www.aeva.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aeva Technologies</a>, a developer of lidar systems based in Mountain View, Calif., has <a href="https://www.aeva.com/press/aeva-unveils-eve-1v-high-precision-non-contact-motion-sensor-for-next-generation-manufacturing-automation/" target="_blank">unveiled</a> the Aeva Eve 1V, a high-precision, noncontact <a data-linked-post="2650267150" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/motion-sensor-accurate-to-the-diameter-of-a-single-nucleus" target="_blank">motion sensor</a> built on its frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) sensing technology. The company says that the Eve 1V measures an object’s motion with accuracy, repeatability, and reliability—all without ever making contact with the material. That last point is key for the Eve 1V’s intended environment: <a data-linked-post="2668807537" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductor-industry-in-india" target="_blank">Industrial manufacturing</a>.Today’s manufacturing lines are under pressure to deliver faster production, tighter tolerances, and zero defects, often while working with a wide variety of delicate materials. Traditional tactile tools such as measuring wheels and encoders can slip, wear out, and cause costly downtime. Many noncontact alternatives, while promising, are either too expensive or fall short in accuracy and reliability under real-world conditions, says <a href="https://investors.aeva.com/board-member/mina-rezk" target="_blank">Mina Rezk</a>, cofounder and chief technology officer at Aeva.“Eve 1V was built to solve that exact gap: A compact, eye-safe, noncontact motion sensor that delivers submillimeter-per-second velocity accuracy without touching the material, so manufacturers can eliminate slippage errors, avoid material damage, and reduce maintenance-related downtime, enabling higher yield and more predictable operations,” Rezk says.Unlike traditional lidar that sends bursts of light and waits for those bursts to return to make measurements, FMCW continuously emits a low-power laser while sweeping its frequency. By comparing outgoing and returning signals, it detects frequency shifts that reveal both distance and velocity in real time. The additional measurement of an object’s velocity to its position in three-dimensional space makes FMCW a type of 4D lidar.Eve 1V is the second member of its Eve 1 family, following the launch of the <a href="https://investors.aeva.com/node/9096/pdf" target="_blank" title="Link: https://investors.aeva.com/node/9096/pdf">Eve 1D earlier this year</a>. The Eve 1D is a compact displacement sensor capable of detecting movement at the micrometer scale, roughly 1/100 the thickness of a human hair. “Together, Eve 1D and Eve 1V show how we can take the same FMCW perception platform and tailor it for different industrial needs: Eve 1D for distance measurement and vibration detection, and Eve 1V for precise velocity and length measurement,” Rezk says.Future applications could extend into robotics, logistics, and consumer health, where noncontact sensing may enable the detection of microvibrations on human skin for accurate pulse and blood-pressure readings.<h2>FMCW Lidar for Precision Manufacturing</h2>The company’s core FMCW architecture, originally developed for long-range 4D lidar for automobiles, can be adjusted through software and optics for highly precise motion sensing at close range in manufacturing, according to Rezk. This flexibility means the system can track extremely slow movements, down to fractions of a millimeter per second, in a factory setting, or it can monitor faster motion over longer distances in other applications.By avoiding physical contact, Eve 1V eliminates wear and tear, slippage, contamination, or the need for physical access to the part. “That delivers three practical advantages in a factory: One, maintenance-free operation with no measuring wheels to replace or recalibrate; two, material friendliness—you can measure delicate, soft, or textured surfaces without risk of damage, and three, operational robustness—no slippage errors and fewer stoppages for service,” Rezk says. Put together, that means more uptime, steady throughput, and less scrap, he adds.When measuring velocity, engineers often rely on one of three tools: encoders, laser velocimeters, or camera-based systems. Each has its strengths and its drawbacks. Traditional encoders are low-cost but can wear down over time. Laser-based velocity-measurement systems, while precise, tend to be large and expensive, making them difficult to implement widely. And camera-based approaches can work for certain inspection tasks, but they usually require markers, controlled lighting, and complex processing to measure speed accurately.Rezk says that the Eve 1V system offers a balance of these options. It provides precise and consistent velocity measurements without contacting material, making it compact, safe, and simple to install. Its outputs are comparable with existing encoder systems, and because it doesn’t rely on physical contact, it requires minimal maintenance.This approach helps cut down on wasted energy from slippage, eliminates the need for maintenance tied to parts that wear out, and ultimately lowers long-term operating costs—especially when compared with traditional contact-based systems or expensive laser options.This method avoids stitching together frame-by-frame comparisons and resists interference from sunlight, reflections, or ambient light. Built on silicon photonics, it scales from micrometer-level sensing to millimeter-level precision over longer ranges. The result is clean, repeatable data with minimal noise—outperforming legacy lidar and camera-based systems.Aeva is expecting to begin full production of the Eve 1V in early 2026. The Eve 1V reveal follows <a href="https://www.aeva.com/press/aeva-and-lg-innotek-form-strategic-collaboration-to-bring-next-generation-perception-platform-to-market/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Link: https://www.aeva.com/press/aeva-and-lg-innotek-form-strategic-collaboration-to-bring-next-generation-perception-platform-to-market/">a recent partnership with LG Innotek</a>, a components subsidiary of South Korea’s LG Group, under which Aeva will supply its Atlas Ultra 4D lidar for automobiles, with plans to expand the technology into consumer electronics, robotics, and industrial automation.

Oct 7, 2025

Happy IEEE Day!

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/ieee-day-logo.jpg?id=48111342&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C453%2C0%2C454"/> Happy IEEE Day!First celebrated in 2009, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-day" target="_blank">IEEE Day</a> commemorates the initial gathering of IEEE members to share their technical ideas in 1884.Worldwide celebrations demonstrate the ways thousands of IEEE members in local communities join together to collaborate on ideas that leverage technology for a better tomorrow.“<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-day-2025" target="_blank">IEEE Day 2025</a> is a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the incredible impact our members create worldwide,” says Abdul Halik M I, this year’s IEEE Day chair. “I encourage everyone to join in, share their stories, and be part of this global movement.”<hr/>Celebrate IEEE Day with colleagues from IEEE Sections, Student Branches, Affinity groups, and Society Chapters. Events happen both virtually and in person all around the world.<h3 style="">Join the celebration around the world!</h3>Every year, IEEE members from IEEE Sections, Student Branches, Affinity groups, and Society Chapters join hands to celebrate IEEE Day. Events happen both virtually and in person. IEEE Day celebrates the first time in history when engineers worldwide gathered to share their technical ideas in 1884.<a href="https://ieeeday.org/events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">View events→</a><div class="horizontal-rule"></div><h3 style="">Special Activities & Offers for Members</h3>Check out our special offers and activities for IEEE members and future members. And share these with your friends and colleagues.<a href="https://ieeeday.org/special-activities-offers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">View offers→</a><div class="horizontal-rule"></div><h3>Compete in contests and win prizes!</h3>Have some fun and compete in the photo and video contests. Get your phone and camera ready when you attend one of the events. This year we will have both Photo and Video Contests. You can submit your entries in STEM, technical, humanitarian and social categories.<a href="https://ieeeday.org/contests" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">View contests→</a>

Oct 6, 2025

Natron’s Failure May Not Spell Doom for Sodium-Ion Batteries

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/illustration-of-natron-s-critical-power-battery-pack.jpg?id=61715692&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C422%2C0%2C422"/> <a href="https://natron.energy/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Natron Energy</a>, a Santa Clara, Calif.–based sodium-ion battery startup, <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/leo/-/media/Project/Websites/leo/Documents/WD-DATA_PUBLIC_WARN_NOTICES4/2025/2025-08-29_WARN-Notice_Natron-Energy-Inc.pdf" target="_blank">ceased operation</a> on 3 September due to funding issues. Just a year ago, the company made headlines for its <a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/natron-energy-1-4-b-sodium-ion-battery-factory-kingsboro-north-carolina/725211/" target="_blank">plans</a> to build a first-of-its-kind US $1.4 billion factory in North Carolina to manufacture up to 14 gigawatt-hours of <a data-linked-post="2654933003" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/graphene-sodium-ion-battery" target="_blank">sodium-ion batteries</a>. While experts say Natron’s closure shouldn’t be taken as a harbinger for the rest of the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/sodium-ion-battery" target="_self">emerging industry</a> in the United States, they acknowledge that the West is behind China, which is leveraging its <a href="https://about.bnef.com/insights/clean-energy/china-regains-number-one-spot-in-bloombergnefs-global-lithium-ion-battery-supply-chain-ranking/" target="_blank">dominance</a> in lithium-ion batteries to forge ahead on sodium-ion battery manufacturing.In the U.S., sodium-ion startups like Natron, which launched in 2012, tend to rely on goodwill from funders, says <a href="https://news.northeastern.edu/expertise/next-generation-lithium-air-batteries/" target="_blank">K.M. Abraham</a>, a retired research professor at Northeastern University in Boston and CTO of lithium-ion-battery consulting firm <a href="https://e-kemsciences.com/" target="_blank">E-KEM Sciences</a>. This can pose challenges for companies when funding timelines outpace innovations.“Companies aren’t able to make progress quickly enough to keep up with pressure exerted by the investors,” he says.<h2>Natron’s Pioneering Prussian Blue Batteries</h2>Until recently, Natron was seen as a leader of the pack in the U.S. sodium-ion market. Part of the company’s appeal was its pioneering approach to low-cost electrodes, the conductors at the battery’s positive and negative terminals, which make contact with the non-metallic part of the circuit. The company used <a href="https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/p/prussian-blue.html" target="_blank">Prussian Blue</a>, a pigment found in paints and dyes, to make both the cathode and anode for its <a href="https://natron.energy/products" target="_blank">three battery systems</a>. In addition to having a low material cost, Prussian Blue’s chemical structure has large pores, helping it facilitate faster ion transfer between the electrodes.Natron was the <a href="https://arpa-e.energy.gov/programs-and-initiatives/search-all-projects/domestic-manufacturing-sodium-ion-batteries" target="_blank">first in the world</a> to commercialize a sodium-ion battery using Prussian Blue, a real feat considering China’s battery manufacturing might, says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-evans-a3b36055/" target="_blank">Tyler Evans</a>, co-founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.manabattery.us/" target="_blank">Mana Battery</a>, a Broomfield, Colo.–based sodium-ion battery cell startup that launched in 2023.“They were doing it in the West, and they were scaling a technology that was relatively low energy density for a very specific market segment,” says Evans about Natron’s products. <img alt="A gloved hand holding up battery cells in a lab." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f7028cbda2d417a14f48ba34ceefdad6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="d0e2f" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-gloved-hand-holding-up-battery-cells-in-a-lab.jpg?id=61700811&width=980"/> Mana is another U.S. startup focusing on bringing sodium-ion batteries to market.Nicholas Singstock/ManaThat market included grid storage, data center power backups, and electric vehicle charging stations—large-scale stationary applications where attributes like safety and cost rank higher than energy density. Natron’s success in this space, including its plans for the North Carolina factory, prompted questions about whether sodium-ion could emerge as a direct replacement for lithium-ion batteries. <a href="https://natron.energy/files/news/releases/natron-united-joint-release-final.pdf" target="_blank">United Airlines</a> and <a href="https://enginetech.com/why-is-chevron-investing-in-sodium-ion-batteries/" target="_blank">Chevron</a> were on the list of Natron’s investors.But Evans says scaling up a low-energy-density product while building out manufacturing lines is expensive. “If you think about building a manufacturing facility where you want to produce a gigawatt-hour of battery manufacturing capacity, if your energy density per battery cell is very low, producing that capacity requires more manufacturing lines,” Evans says, meaning significantly more capital and operational expenditure in an already capital-intensive undertaking.In 2023, Natron’s systems made it to market. The company partnered with <a href="https://encorp.com/" target="_blank">Encorp</a> to <a href="https://sodiumbatteryhub.com/2023/10/06/encorp-natron-energy-hybrid-power-platform/" target="_blank">deploy</a> the industry’s first multi-megawatt class power platform for industrial applications. A year later, in 2024, Natron <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240428240613/en/Natron-Energy-Achieves-First-Ever-Commercial-Scale-Production-of-Sodium-Ion-Batteries-in-the-U.S." target="_blank">opened</a> the U.S.’s first commercial-scale manufacturing facility in Holland, Mich., to supply data centers with energy storage. The U.S. Department of Energy’s <a href="https://arpa-e.energy.gov/" target="_blank">ARPA-E program</a> provided <a href="https://arpa-e.energy.gov/programs-and-initiatives/search-all-projects/domestic-manufacturing-sodium-ion-batteries" target="_blank">$19.8 million</a> to Natron as part of a $300 million facility upgrade to transition from lithium-ion battery manufacturing to sodium-ion battery manufacturing. That facility shut its doors at the same time as Natron’s California headquarters on 3 September.A request for comment from Natron resulted in an automated message to contact the company’s <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/05/natrons-liquidation-shows-why-the-us-isnt-ready-to-make-its-own-batteries/" target="_blank">primary shareholder</a>, Sherwood Partners. Sherwood Partners did not respond to a request for comment.<h2>Sodium-Ion vs. Lithium-Ion Battery Costs</h2><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianyao/" target="_blank">Adrian Yao</a> is the founder and team lead of Stanford’s <a href="https://steer.stanford.edu/" target="_blank">STEER initiative</a>, a DOE-funded research program. He’s also an author of a January 2025 <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-024-01701-9" target="_blank">paper</a> assessing how sodium-ion batteries measure up to lithium-ion batteries in terms of technology and cost.While he was impressed with Natron’s technology and product, he says that the company may have been ahead of the curve on the data center market niche it had carved out for itself. “Hyperscalers right now, their primary concern is just getting connected and building data centers,” says Yao. “I think timing on that cycle may be early, and it’s unfortunate things don’t always work out.”Natron joins Stanford spin-out <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/bedrock-materials/" target="_blank">Bedrock Materials</a> as the second sodium-ion company to <a href="https://sodiumbatteryhub.com/2025/04/10/us-sodium-ion-battery-start-up-bedrock-materials-shuts-down/" target="_blank">fold</a> this year. Bedrock cited market and innovation challenges for its April closure.“The battery business is very difficult. There are a lot of tombstones,” says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-thomas-20a29712/" target="_blank">Andrew Thomas</a>, president and cofounder of <a href="https://acculonenergy.com/" target="_blank">Acculon Energy</a>, a Columbus, Ohio–based startup marketing <a href="https://acculonenergy.com/core-components/" target="_blank">two battery modules</a> with sodium-ion cells for industrial energy and EVs that travel at low speeds, like golf carts. Unlike Natron, Acculon, which launched in 2022, employs more traditional layered-metal oxides and other sodium chemistries.Thomas says it’s this distinction that makes it hard to draw conclusions about the U.S. sodium-ion battery industry as a whole in light of Natron’s closure. Comparing different sodium-ion chemistries, like Prussian Blue or layered metal oxides, is like comparing apples to oranges.“I don’t think one failure is representative of a country being unable, but we’re at a significant disadvantage given the installed base in China,” Thomas says. <img alt=" A large sodium-ion battery on display at an expo center." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3d2636eeba5d1d6ab8b7f865dbd195b0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="ae100" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-large-sodium-ion-battery-on-display-at-an-expo-center.jpg?id=61700726&width=980"/> China is the dominant player in sodium-ion battery development, with companies like CATL displaying their designs at tech expos.Yuan Zheng/VCG/AP<h2>China’s Dominance in Battery Manufacturing</h2>China has long dominated the battery industry, and sodium-ion batteries are no exception. Today, China produces more than 75 percent of batteries sold globally, according to the <a href="https://www.iea.org/commentaries/the-battery-industry-has-entered-a-new-phase" target="_blank">International Energy Agency</a>. On the sodium-ion front, developers like <a href="https://www.catl.com/en/" target="_blank">CATL</a> have moved into second-generation batteries, with the April <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/chinese-battery-maker-catl-launches-second-generation-fast-charging-battery-2025-04-21/" target="_blank">launch</a> of Naxtra, a brand geared toward EV applications.Yao says he’d like to see the U.S. concentrate its focus more on building up its manufacturing prowess to compete with China. “My broader critique of the Western Hemisphere in terms of our thinking and obsession with trying to innovate ourselves out of the problem, is that we focus too much on tech,” Yao says. “We have very little manufacturing experience.… Our yield rates are abysmal, and our workforce is not trained.”Founders like Evans and Thomas are optimistic about their prospects as growing demand for grid storage, data centers, and low-cost mobility applications drives the need for applications they say sodium-ion batteries are uniquely equipped to support in terms of temperature range, safety, and cost metrics. When it comes to manufacturing, Mana is taking a page from China’s playbook by partnering with existing manufacturers to scale up production.Evans says there’s an appetite for this kind of partnership in the U.S. right now. “I think it’s a commercialization sweet spot that’s specific to sodium.”

Oct 6, 2025

The Future of the Grid: Simulation-Driven Optimization

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/powerline-tower-on-field-energetic-aura-and-electric-flow-against-a-vivid-blue-sky.png?id=61634378&width=980"/> This is a sponsored article brought to you by <a href="https://www.comsol.com/" target="_blank">COMSOL</a>.Simulation software is useful in the analysis of new designs for improving power grid resilience, ensuring efficient and reliable power distribution, and developing components that integrate alternative energy sources, such as nuclear fusion and renewables. The ability to simulate multiple physical phenomena in a unified modeling environment gives engineers a deeper understanding of how different components of the grid interact with and affect each other.For example, when designing the various components of grid infrastructure, such as transformers and transmission lines, multiphysics electromagnetic field analysis is essential for ensuring the safety of the surrounding individuals and environment. Understanding thermal behavior, another phenomenon involving multiple physics, is equally necessary for the design of grid components where heat dissipation and thermal stresses can significantly affect performance and lifespan. Structural and acoustics simulation, meanwhile, is used to predict and mitigate issues like transformer vibration and noise — an important practice for ensuring the longevity and reliability of grid components.Multiphysics simulation provides critical insight into the complex interactions at play within power grid components, enabling engineers to virtually test and optimize future grid designs.Electric breakdown and corona discharge analyses are particularly vital for high-voltage transmission lines, as such phenomena can compromise the performance of their insulation systems. Simulation allows development teams to predict where such events are likely to happen, enhancing the design of insulators and other components where the goal is to minimize energy loss and material degradation.As a real-world example, one leading manufacturer uses the <a href="https://www.comsol.com/comsol-multiphysics" target="_blank">COMSOL Multiphysics® simulation software</a><a href="https://www.comsol.com/comsol-multiphysics"> software</a> to develop magnetic couplings, a noncontact alternative to mechanical transmission that enables power transfer without the inherent friction-based limitations of continual contact. While the advantage of friction-free power transmission means that magnetic couplings have found applications in a broad range of technologies, including offshore wind turbines, these systems must be developed carefully to avoid degradation. By employing highly nonlinear hysteresis curves and applying its own material temperature dependences for magnetic loading, the manufacturer’s development team has successfully used multiphysics simulation to help prevent the permanent magnets from reaching critical temperatures, which can cause irreversible demagnetization and compromise the reliability of the designs. Additionally, due to the diverse nature of use cases for magnetic couplings, the company’s design engineers must be able to interchange shapes and materials of magnets to meet customer requirements without building costly and time-consuming prototypes — rendering multiphysics simulation a powerful approach for characterizing configurations, providing virtual prototypes of their designs, and ultimately reducing the price for customers while remaining vigilant on fine details.These examples show just a few of the ways that coupling multiple interacting physics within a single model can lead to successful simulation of real-world phenomena and thereby provide insights into current and future designs. <img alt="Powerline tower on field; energetic aura and electric flow against a vivid blue sky" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="10bd1ee3582444e099cf12978230c947" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b4c8e" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/powerline-tower-on-field-energetic-aura-and-electric-flow-against-a-vivid-blue-sky.png?id=61634378&width=980"/> Lightning strikes a tower’s shielded wires. The induced voltage on the three-phase conductors is computed using electromagnetic field analysis.COMSOL<h2>Improving Reliability with Digital Twins & Simulation Apps</h2>Engineering teams can also use simulation technology to create more efficient, effective, and sustainable power grids by creating digital twins. A digital twin contains a high-fidelity description of a physical product, device, or process — from the microscopic to the macroscopic level — that closely mirrors its real counterpart. For every application, the digital twin is continuously receiving information, ensuring an up-to-date and accurate representation. With this technology, grid operators and their equipment suppliers can predict which components are most likely to fail, enabling them to schedule maintenance and replacement more efficiently and thereby improving grid reliability. Digital twins can be made for equipment ranging from power sources including solar cells and wind turbines to power distribution systems and battery energy storage. <img alt="Illustration of sea-floor mounted wind turbines generating electricity." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cde86bfd2bf965f308301532c7bfc4a7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="d74bd" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/illustration-of-sea-floor-mounted-wind-turbines-generating-electricity.png?id=61634379&width=980"/> An offshore wind farm where lightning strikes one of the turbine blades. The electric field on the turbine towers, seawater, and seabed is shown.COMSOLThe most recent modeling and simulation technology provides power and energy companies with tools for creating digital twins in the form of standalone simulation apps, which significantly increases the number of users who have access to advanced simulation technology. By including only relevant functionality in a standalone simulation app, colleagues with no modeling and simulation experience can utilize this technology without needing guidance from the modeling specialist. Furthermore, the use of data-driven surrogate models in simulation apps enables near-instantaneous evaluation of what would otherwise be time-consuming simulations — which means that simulation technology can now be used in a real-world setting.Digital twins, in the form of standalone apps, bring the power of simulation to the field, where grid operators can utilize real-time performance information to ensure grid reliability.For instance, one organization that works with local power companies to analyze equipment maintenance and failure built a custom app based on a multiphysics model it had developed to predict cable faults and improve troubleshooting efficiency. While engineers have been utilizing simulation in labs for decades, cable failure occurs in the field, and onsite troubleshooting personnel are responsible for assessing these failure conditions. With this in mind, an engineer at the organization developed the simulation app using the Application Builder in <a href="https://www.comsol.com/comsol-multiphysics" target="_blank">COMSOL Multiphysics</a>®. <img alt="Colorful, stacked layers of a 3D model resembling a futuristic computer chip design." class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6919f6a8c513a6d58bd0a725a6f02500" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="93733" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/colorful-stacked-layers-of-a-3d-model-resembling-a-futuristic-computer-chip-design.png?id=61634382&width=980"/> Temperature distribution in a battery energy storage system (BESS).COMSOLThe app features relevant parameters that troubleshooting personnel with no prior simulation experience can easily modify. Field technicians enter cable data and select the type of fault, which modifies the multiphysics model in real time, allowing the app to evaluate and output the data necessary to understand the condition that led to the fault. The app then produces a reported potential and electric field, which leads the technicians to an informed decision regarding whether they need to replace or repair the cable. Following the app’s successful deployment, the engineer who developed it stated, “The simulation app plays a key role in cable maintenance. It makes the work of our field technicians more efficient by empowering them to confidently assess and repair faults.”Routine physical tests of grid equipment cannot fully reflect conditions or determine failure types in many situations, as a large number of complex factors must be considered, such as cable structure and material, impurities in the cable, voltage fluctuation, and operating conditions and environments. As a result, simulation has proven to be indispensable in many cases for collecting accurate cable health assessments — and now in the form of custom apps, it is more accessible than ever.<h2>Generating Nuclear Solutions</h2>Simulation has also been heavily integrated into the design process of various components related to the nuclear industry. For example, simulation was used to help design generator circuit breakers (GCBs) for nuclear power plants. GCBs must be reliable and able to maintain performance even after long periods of inactivity. The COMSOL Multiphysics® software can be used to improve the current-carrying capacity of the GCBs, which can offer protection from current surges and provide dependable electricity generation. The design of nuclear fusion machines like tokamaks has also benefitted from the use of simulation. These devices must be able to withstand high heat fluxes and plasma disruptions. COMSOL Multiphysics® has been used to help engineers predict the effects of these problems and come up with design solutions, such as adding a structural support system that can help reduce stress and survive challenging conditions.<h2>Engineering the Grid of Tomorrow</h2>The development of next-generation power grid systems is a complex and dynamic process that requires safe, reliable, and affordable testing. Multiphysics simulation technology can play a major role in future innovations for this industry, enabling engineers to anticipate and analyze the complex interactions happening inside these devices while building upon the existing infrastructure to address the demands of modern-day consumption.COMSOL Multiphysics is a registered trademark of COMSOL AB.

Oct 4, 2025

5 Ways Volunteering Can Be a Springboard for Professional Growth

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/ieee-women-in-engineering-committee-and-staff-posing-for-a-group-portrait.jpg?id=61686916&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C120%2C0%2C120"/> Since the early 2000s, I’ve been actively volunteering for nonprofits and local community organizations including my children’s school’s parent-teacher organization. There I worked with teachers and other parents to plan and implement annual programs that enriched the students and the school community as a whole.Through my work, I’ve realized that volunteering isn’t just about giving back; it’s also a way to learn new skills. Every hour invested adds tangible value to one’s personal and professional growth.My experiences have shown me that membership-based organizations such as <a href="https://www.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE</a> that offer volunteer opportunities should position and market them as top-tier member benefits. Even if not all members volunteer their time, the availability of the opportunities and the inspiration drawn from participating can be powerful catalysts for a more vibrant and committed community.The merits of volunteering are universally known and acknowledged. Its powerful capacity to reduce stress and boost feel-good hormones such as dopamine is widely touted, as noted in a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/onemind/2022/11/01/employer-sponsored-volunteerism-doing-good-for-business-mental-health-and-the-world/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Forbes article</a> by <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/onemind/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Garen Staglin</a>, the cofounder of One Mind at Work. However, the impacts of volunteering extend far beyond the typical benefits of building a résumé, acquiring skills, and feeling a sense of fulfillment. The deeper value lies in its ability to enhance <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/collections/tips-on-how-to-elevate-your-career/" target="_self">professional growth and personal development</a> in less apparent ways.<h2>The pros of volunteering</h2>Here are five ways in which the “why” of purpose can fuel the “how” of growth:<ol><li>Opportunities for collaboration. Volunteering provides an arena for collaboration, bringing together professionals from industry and academia, for example, in tackling shared goals. The dynamic interchange is where true growth happens. It’s not just about what gets done; it’s about the invaluable experience of working with diverse minds to solve problems—an experience that accelerates development in all areas.</li><li>Incubator for leadership. In an organization such as IEEE, where volunteers are shaping its structure and future through committees and governance bodies, the environment is ideal for developing high-impact professional skills. Volunteering instills leadership skills—including strategic thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to inspire others—that can be utilized in one’s professional (and personal) life.</li><li>Sharpening decision-making abilities. Volunteering lets you sharpen skills that are sometimes difficult to improve in the structured confines of a typical job. Working outside the usual professional hierarchy, volunteers get a chance to sharpen their critical thinking and decision-making skills with greater autonomy and a clear, mission-driven focus. A volunteering task, such as judging submissions for awards and scholarships, can hone analytical and fair-judgment skills. Planning conferences and events can help develop organizational, project management, and problem-solving abilities.</li><li>Intellectual expansion. Volunteering is a fantastic way to boost your intellect and uncover hidden potential. Through collaborative problem-solving and organic knowledge-sharing, one can tackle complex issues. As you move from one task to the next, the skills can build on each other, creating a compounding effect that rapidly enhances your abilities.</li><li>Staying current, relatable, and confident. A cumulative benefit of volunteering is that it can serve as a professional refresh for one’s skills and perspective and can expose you to new technologies and trends outside of your field. You can learn to connect and communicate more effectively across generations and backgrounds by working alongside a diverse group of people. The collaborative environment also can provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate expertise in new ways and receive peer recognition, which in turn can reinforce your professional value and boost your confidence.</li></ol>Volunteering isn’t just for <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/collections/celebrating-young-professionals-and-students/" target="_self">young professionals</a>; it can be a catalyst for people at every stage of their career. It can boost mid-career professionals’ confidence, enabling them to hone their skills and tackle new challenges. For senior-level professionals, volunteering can expand their networks, providing fresh perspectives and collaborative opportunities outside traditional silos.Any organization that provides volunteering opportunities is providing members or employees a valuable chance for an active investment in themselves.

Oct 3, 2025

Video Friday: Drone Easily Lands on Speeding Vehicle

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-drone-flips-rapidly-and-lands-on-top-of-a-fast-moving-car-captured-in-multiple-positions-against-a-blurred-background.png?id=61690208&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0"/> Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Robotics%20event%20suggestion%20for%20Video%20Friday">send us your events</a> for inclusion.<h5><a href="https://worldrobotsummit.org/en/">World Robot Summit</a>: 10–12 October 2025, OSAKA, JAPAN</h5><h5><a href="https://www.iros25.org/">IROS 2025</a>: 19–25 October 2025, HANGZHOU, CHINA</h5>Enjoy today’s videos!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><div style="page-break-after: always"> </div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="ttuvr1ogag0">We demonstrate a new landing system that lets drones safely land on moving vehicles at speeds up to 110 kilometers per hour. By combining lightweight shock absorbers with reverse thrust, our approach drastically expands the landing envelope, making it far more robust to wind, timing, and vehicle motion. This breakthrough opens the door to reliable high-speed drone landings in real-world conditions.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tTUVr1Ogag0?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.createk.co/">Createk Design Lab</a> ]Thanks, Alexis!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="w4v2jlnr_gg">This video presents an academic parody inspired by KAIST’s humanoid robot moonwalk. While KAIST demonstrated the iconic move with robot legs, we humorously reproduced it using the Tesollo DG-5F robot hand. A playful experiment to show that not only humanoid robots but also robotic fingers can “dance.” </blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w4V2JLnR_Gg?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://ieng.hanyang.ac.kr/en/department-of-robot-engineering1">Hangyang University</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="xxjog_c-fam">Twenty years ago, <a data-linked-post="2650272298" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/universal-robots" target="_blank">Universal Robots</a> built the first <a data-linked-post="2650279041" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/universal-robots-introduces-its-strongest-robotic-arm-yet" target="_blank">collaborative robot</a>. You turned it into something bigger. Our cobot was never just technology. In your hands, it became something more: a teammate, a problem-solver, a spark for change. From factories to labs, from classrooms to warehouses. That’s the story of the past 20 years. That’s what we celebrate today.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XxjOg_C-fAM?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.universal-robots.com/2025/celebrating-20-years-of-cobots/">Universal Robots</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="j7fah6mhbdi">The assistive robot Maya, newly developed at DLR, is designed to enable people with severe physical disabilities to lead more independent lives. The new robotic arm is built for seamless wheelchair integration, with optimized kinematics for stowing, ground-level access, and compatibility with standing functions. </blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j7FAh6mHBdI?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2025/dlr-showcases-robotics-highlights-at-automatica-2025/dlr-assistence-robot-maya">DLR</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="rw9_fgfxwzs">Contoro and HARCO Lab have launched an open-source initiative, ROS-MCP-Server, which connects AI models (for example, Claude, GPT, Gemini) with robots using a robot operating system and the Model Context Protocol. This software enables AI to communicate with multiple ROS nodes in the language of robots. We believe it will allow robots to perform tasks previously impossible due to limited intelligence, help robotics engineers program robots more efficiently, and enable nonexperts to interact with robots without deep robotics knowledge.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RW9_FgfxWzs?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://github.com/robotmcp/ros-mcp-server">GitHub</a> ]Thanks, Mok!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>Here’s a quick look at the <a href="https://www.corl.org/" target="_blank">Conference on Robotic Learning</a> (CoRL) exhibit hall, thanks to PNDbotics.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-xdsRyJ1Fdw?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://pndbotics.com/">PNDbotics</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>Old and busted: sim to real. New hotness: real to sim!<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_JB3urj5LLk?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.12428">Paper</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>Any humanoid video with tennis balls should be obligated to show said humanoid failing to walk over them.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NDCt3xwXl8o?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.limxdynamics.com/en">LimX</a> ]Thanks, Jinyan!<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>The correct answer to the question “Can you beat a robot arm at tic-tac-toe?” should be “No. No, you cannot.” And you can’t beat a human, either, if they know what they’re doing.<iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4I6VRsd5MDg?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://global.agilex.ai/products/piper">AgileX</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="zi_kttzgha0">It was an honor to host the team from Microsoft AI as part of their larger educational collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin. During their time here, they shared this wonderful video of our lab facilities.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zi_kttZgHa0?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>Moody lighting is second only to random primary-colored lighting when it comes to making a lab look science-y.[ <a href="https://sites.utexas.edu/hcrl/">The University of Texas at Austin HCRL</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div><blockquote class="rm-anchors" id="9vgxlqw9xxu">Robots aren’t just sci-fi anymore. They’re evolving fast. AI is teaching them how to adapt, learn, and even respond to open-ended questions with advanced intelligence. Aaron Saunders, chief technology officer of Boston Dynamics, explains how this leap is transforming everything, from simple controls to full-motion capabilities. While there are some challenges related to safety and reliability, AI is significantly helping robots become valuable partners at home and on the job.</blockquote><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9vGXLQW9xxU?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe>[ <a href="https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/automation">IBM</a> ]<div class="horizontal-rule"></div>

Oct 2, 2025

This Mexican Student Is Engineering a Healthier Future

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/ximena-montserrat-ramirez-aguilar-posing-with-miniature-flags-for-ieee-and-mexico.jpg?id=61689438&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C483%2C0%2C483"/> Most of us have heard the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” But when it comes to personal health, many people overlook preventative measures such as diet and exercise. Instead, they tend to rely on medical professionals to save the day after they’ve gotten sick.<a href="https://mx.linkedin.com/in/ximena-montserrat-ramirez-aguilar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ximena Montserrat Ramirez Aguilar</a> is working to change that by educating her fellow Mexicans about how to manage their health so they can avoid undergoing treatment for preventable conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and its associated conditions affecting the eyes, cardiovascular system, brain, heart, kidneys, and other organs.<h3>Ximena Montserrat Ramirez Aguilar</h3> MEMBER GRADE:Student memberUNIVERSITY: Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, in Monterrey, MexicoMAJOR: Biomedical engineeringRamirez envisions her career as advancing health through disease prevention, but she acknowledges that, as an undergraduate, she is still discovering how to turn her vision into reality. A senior studying biomedical engineering at the<a href="https://www.uanl.mx/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León</a> (UANL), in Monterrey, Mexico, she is the founding chair of her school’s<a href="https://www.embs.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society</a> (EMBS) student branch. The student member’s research interests in<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/neuroscience" target="_self"> neuroengineering</a> and<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/topic/artificial-intelligence/" target="_self"> artificial intelligence</a> are shaping her vision for the future of health care.“I’ve always been passionate about technology and health,” she says. “Biomedical engineering is giving me a way to combine these two worlds and work on solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.”Her growing influence in<a href="https://www.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> IEEE</a> coupled with her academic achievements signal a promising, influential career.<h2>From chemistry to caring </h2>Ramirez was born in<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/676/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Zacatecas, Mexico</a>, known for its silver mines, agriculture, and strong cultural pride. From a young age, she loved science—particularly chemistry—and thrived in schools designated for advanced learners.Her first exposure to the health care field came during high school, when she trained as a nursing technician. Her high school curriculum was organized as a co-op program, which included traditional classes alternating with internships in nursing. Ramirez interned at the <a href="https://www.medicina.uanl.mx/hu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hospital Universitario Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez</a> in Monterrey, Mexico.Alternating between the academic and vocational tracks allowed her to graduate with a diploma and a technical degree at the same time. Speaking of her early experiences, she says, “I saw how many patients struggled, not just with their conditions but also with the logistics of seeking and coordinating treatment,” she says. “That made me want to work at the intersection of medicine and innovation.”With her father working as a materials engineer and her mother as an accountant, she grew up in a household where technical problem-solving and analytical thinking were part of daily life.That blend of influences reinforced her decision to pursue engineering as a career rather than the medical field, she says.<h2>Exploring neuroengineering and AI</h2>Since beginning her studies at UANL in 2021, Ramirez has focused on neuroengineering, one of three specializations the school offers. She has explored the role artificial intelligence plays in diagnosing and treating conditions including<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/alzheimers-disease" target="_self"> Alzheimer’s disease</a>,<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/epilepsy" target="_self"> </a><a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/deep-brain-stimulation-depression" target="_self">depression</a><a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/epilepsy" target="_self">, epilepsy</a>, and<a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/tag/schizophrenia" target="_self"> schizophrenia</a>.Through the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-collabratec-mentoring-program" target="_self">IEEE mentoring program</a>, she received guidance from global experts including a doctor from India who helped refine her early AI projects.Her work quickly evolved from class assignments to projects with real-world potential.“The project I’m most excited about has not been published, but it mainly consisted of using convolutional neural networks in medical image processing (MRI) and machine learning in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases,” she says.This year she broadened her scope by attending the IEEE<a href="https://www.ieee-ras.org/conferences-workshops/fully-sponsored/icra" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> International Conference on Robotics and Automation</a> in Atlanta, where she gained exposure to both industrial and academic applications of robotics.“In Mexico, people usually don’t think about their health until they’re already sick. I want to focus on using technology and education to keep people healthy.”Currently she is an intern at <a href="https://www.aunainvestors.com/" target="_blank">Auna</a>, a health care network in Latin America. She contributes to improving the patient experience in hospitals across Mexico, Colombia, and Peru.“I design projects aimed at improving the quality of care and making the hospital intervention more effective for patients across different stages: prevention/wellness, diagnosis, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and post-discharge follow-up,” She declined to provide specific examples, citing medical confidentiality agreements.“My internship is about finding ways to make health care not just effective but also more humane,” she says. “It’s about improving processes so patients feel cared for—from the moment they enter the hospital until they leave.”<h2>Finding leadership and purpose in IEEE</h2>Ramirez founded the IEEE EMBS student branch in 2023. As chair, she represents the branch at <a href="https://r9.ieee.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IEEE Region 9</a> meetings, where she advocates for mentorship opportunities and collaboration with other IEEE groups.Through her involvement, she says, she has gained not only technical knowledge but also critical soft skills in leadership, time management, and teamwork.“IEEE taught me how to lead with empathy and how to work with people from different backgrounds,” she says. “It has expanded my vision beyond Mexico, showing me challenges and innovations happening all over the world.”She says she plans to pursue a master’s degree abroad—potentially in public health or AI for medical devices—and ultimately a Ph.D. Her long-term goal is to launch a business focused on developing health care innovations, specifically in disease prevention.<h2>A future built on innovation</h2>For Ramirez, improving health care means more than developing cutting-edge technology. It also involves rethinking how people understand and manage their own health.“In Mexico, people usually don’t think about their health until they’re already sick,” she says. “I want to focus on using technology and education to keep people healthy.”Her vision is as ambitious as it is personal, rooted in her own journey from Zacatecas to Monterrey and beyond.As her career advances, she says, she intends to keep IEEE at the center of her professional life.“In IEEE I’ve found a community that challenges me to grow, supports me when I fail, and celebrates when I succeed,” she says. “It’s not just about engineering; it’s about building a better future, together.”

Feb 9, 2022

Andrew Ng: Unbiggen AI

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/andrew-ng-listens-during-the-power-of-data-sooner-than-you-think-global-technology-conference-in-brooklyn-new-york-on-wednes.jpg?id=29206806&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C474"/> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Ng" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Andrew Ng</a> has serious street cred in artificial intelligence. He pioneered the use of graphics processing units (GPUs) to train deep learning models in the late 2000s with his students at <a href="https://stanfordmlgroup.github.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stanford University</a>, cofounded <a href="https://research.google/teams/brain/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Google Brain</a> in 2011, and then served for three years as chief scientist for <a href="https://ir.baidu.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Baidu</a>, where he helped build the Chinese tech giant’s AI group. So when he says he has identified the next big shift in artificial intelligence, people listen. And that’s what he told IEEE Spectrum in an exclusive Q&A.<hr/> Ng’s current efforts are focused on his company <a href="https://landing.ai/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Landing AI</a>, which built a platform called LandingLens to help manufacturers improve visual inspection with computer vision. He has also become something of an evangelist for what he calls the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06-AZXmwHjo" target="_blank">data-centric AI movement</a>, which he says can yield “small data” solutions to big issues in AI, including model efficiency, accuracy, and bias. Andrew Ng on... <ul> <li><a href="#big">What’s next for really big models</a></li> <li><a href="#career">The career advice he didn’t listen to</a></li> <li><a href="#defining">Defining the data-centric AI movement</a></li> <li><a href="#synthetic">Synthetic data</a></li> <li><a href="#work">Why Landing AI asks its customers to do the work</a></li> </ul> The great advances in deep learning over the past decade or so have been powered by ever-bigger models crunching ever-bigger amounts of data. Some people argue that that’s an <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/deep-learning-computational-cost" target="_self">unsustainable trajectory</a>. Do you agree that it can’t go on that way? Andrew Ng: This is a big question. We’ve seen foundation models in NLP [natural language processing]. I’m excited about NLP models getting even bigger, and also about the potential of building foundation models in computer vision. I think there’s lots of signal to still be exploited in video: We have not been able to build foundation models yet for video because of compute bandwidth and the cost of processing video, as opposed to tokenized text. So I think that this engine of scaling up deep learning algorithms, which has been running for something like 15 years now, still has steam in it. Having said that, it only applies to certain problems, and there’s a set of other problems that need small data solutions. When you say you want a foundation model for computer vision, what do you mean by that? Ng: This is a term coined by <a href="https://cs.stanford.edu/~pliang/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Percy Liang</a> and <a href="https://crfm.stanford.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">some of my friends at Stanford</a> to refer to very large models, trained on very large data sets, that can be tuned for specific applications. For example, <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/open-ais-powerful-text-generating-tool-is-ready-for-business" target="_self">GPT-3</a> is an example of a foundation model [for NLP]. Foundation models offer a lot of promise as a new paradigm in developing machine learning applications, but also challenges in terms of making sure that they’re reasonably fair and free from bias, especially if many of us will be building on top of them. What needs to happen for someone to build a foundation model for video? Ng: I think there is a scalability problem. The compute power needed to process the large volume of images for video is significant, and I think that’s why foundation models have arisen first in NLP. Many researchers are working on this, and I think we’re seeing early signs of such models being developed in computer vision. But I’m confident that if a semiconductor maker gave us 10 times more processor power, we could easily find 10 times more video to build such models for vision. Having said that, a lot of what’s happened over the past decade is that deep learning has happened in consumer-facing companies that have large user bases, sometimes billions of users, and therefore very large data sets. While that paradigm of machine learning has driven a lot of economic value in consumer software, I find that that recipe of scale doesn’t work for other industries. <a href="#top">Back to top</a> It’s funny to hear you say that, because your early work was at a consumer-facing company with millions of users. Ng: Over a decade ago, when I proposed starting the <a href="https://research.google/teams/brain/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Google Brain</a> project to use Google’s compute infrastructure to build very large neural networks, it was a controversial step. One very senior person pulled me aside and warned me that starting Google Brain would be bad for my career. I think he felt that the action couldn’t just be in scaling up, and that I should instead focus on architecture innovation. “In many industries where giant data sets simply don’t exist, I think the focus has to shift from big data to good data. Having 50 thoughtfully engineered examples can be sufficient to explain to the neural network what you want it to learn.” —Andrew Ng, CEO & Founder, Landing AI I remember when my students and I published the first <a href="https://nips.cc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NeurIPS</a> workshop paper advocating using <a href="https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-zone" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CUDA</a>, a platform for processing on GPUs, for deep learning—a different senior person in AI sat me down and said, “CUDA is really complicated to program. As a programming paradigm, this seems like too much work.” I did manage to convince him; the other person I did not convince. I expect they’re both convinced now. Ng: I think so, yes. Over the past year as I’ve been speaking to people about the data-centric AI movement, I’ve been getting flashbacks to when I was speaking to people about deep learning and scalability 10 or 15 years ago. In the past year, I’ve been getting the same mix of “there’s nothing new here” and “this seems like the wrong direction.” <a href="#top">Back to top</a> How do you define data-centric AI, and why do you consider it a movement? Ng: Data-centric AI is the discipline of systematically engineering the data needed to successfully build an AI system. For an AI system, you have to implement some algorithm, say a neural network, in code and then train it on your data set. The dominant paradigm over the last decade was to download the data set while you focus on improving the code. Thanks to that paradigm, over the last decade deep learning networks have improved significantly, to the point where for a lot of applications the code—the neural network architecture—is basically a solved problem. So for many practical applications, it’s now more productive to hold the neural network architecture fixed, and instead find ways to improve the data. When I started speaking about this, there were many practitioners who, completely appropriately, raised their hands and said, “Yes, we’ve been doing this for 20 years.” This is the time to take the things that some individuals have been doing intuitively and make it a systematic engineering discipline. The data-centric AI movement is much bigger than one company or group of researchers. My collaborators and I organized a <a href="https://neurips.cc/virtual/2021/workshop/21860" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">data-centric AI workshop at NeurIPS</a>, and I was really delighted at the number of authors and presenters that showed up. You often talk about companies or institutions that have only a small amount of data to work with. How can data-centric AI help them? Ng: You hear a lot about vision systems built with millions of images—I once built a face recognition system using 350 million images. Architectures built for hundreds of millions of images don’t work with only 50 images. But it turns out, if you have 50 really good examples, you can build something valuable, like a defect-inspection system. In many industries where giant data sets simply don’t exist, I think the focus has to shift from big data to good data. Having 50 thoughtfully engineered examples can be sufficient to explain to the neural network what you want it to learn. When you talk about training a model with just 50 images, does that really mean you’re taking an existing model that was trained on a very large data set and fine-tuning it? Or do you mean a brand new model that’s designed to learn only from that small data set? Ng: Let me describe what Landing AI does. When doing visual inspection for manufacturers, we often use our own flavor of <a href="https://developers.arcgis.com/python/guide/how-retinanet-works/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RetinaNet</a>. It is a pretrained model. Having said that, the pretraining is a small piece of the puzzle. What’s a bigger piece of the puzzle is providing tools that enable the manufacturer to pick the right set of images [to use for fine-tuning] and label them in a consistent way. There’s a very practical problem we’ve seen spanning vision, NLP, and speech, where even human annotators don’t agree on the appropriate label. For big data applications, the common response has been: If the data is noisy, let’s just get a lot of data and the algorithm will average over it. But if you can develop tools that flag where the data’s inconsistent and give you a very targeted way to improve the consistency of the data, that turns out to be a more efficient way to get a high-performing system. “Collecting more data often helps, but if you try to collect more data for everything, that can be a very expensive activity.” —Andrew Ng For example, if you have 10,000 images where 30 images are of one class, and those 30 images are labeled inconsistently, one of the things we do is build tools to draw your attention to the subset of data that’s inconsistent. So you can very quickly relabel those images to be more consistent, and this leads to improvement in performance. Could this focus on high-quality data help with bias in data sets? If you’re able to curate the data more before training? Ng: Very much so. Many researchers have pointed out that biased data is one factor among many leading to biased systems. There have been many thoughtful efforts to engineer the data. At the NeurIPS workshop, <a href="https://www.cs.princeton.edu/~olgarus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Olga Russakovsky</a> gave a really nice talk on this. At the main NeurIPS conference, I also really enjoyed <a href="https://neurips.cc/virtual/2021/invited-talk/22281" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mary Gray’s presentation,</a> which touched on how data-centric AI is one piece of the solution, but not the entire solution. New tools like <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/datasheets-for-datasets/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Datasheets for Datasets</a> also seem like an important piece of the puzzle. One of the powerful tools that data-centric AI gives us is the ability to engineer a subset of the data. Imagine training a machine-learning system and finding that its performance is okay for most of the data set, but its performance is biased for just a subset of the data. If you try to change the whole neural network architecture to improve the performance on just that subset, it’s quite difficult. But if you can engineer a subset of the data you can address the problem in a much more targeted way. When you talk about engineering the data, what do you mean exactly? Ng: In AI, data cleaning is important, but the way the data has been cleaned has often been in very manual ways. In computer vision, someone may visualize images through a <a href="https://jupyter.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jupyter notebook</a> and maybe spot the problem, and maybe fix it. But I’m excited about tools that allow you to have a very large data set, tools that draw your attention quickly and efficiently to the subset of data where, say, the labels are noisy. Or to quickly bring your attention to the one class among 100 classes where it would benefit you to collect more data. Collecting more data often helps, but if you try to collect more data for everything, that can be a very expensive activity. For example, I once figured out that a speech-recognition system was performing poorly when there was car noise in the background. Knowing that allowed me to collect more data with car noise in the background, rather than trying to collect more data for everything, which would have been expensive and slow. <a href="#top">Back to top</a> What about using synthetic data, is that often a good solution? Ng: I think synthetic data is an important tool in the tool chest of data-centric AI. At the NeurIPS workshop, <a href="https://tensorlab.cms.caltech.edu/users/anima/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Anima Anandkumar</a> gave a great talk that touched on synthetic data. I think there are important uses of synthetic data that go beyond just being a preprocessing step for increasing the data set for a learning algorithm. I’d love to see more tools to let developers use synthetic data generation as part of the closed loop of iterative machine learning development. Do you mean that synthetic data would allow you to try the model on more data sets? Ng: Not really. Here’s an example. Let’s say you’re trying to detect defects in a smartphone casing. There are many different types of defects on smartphones. It could be a scratch, a dent, pit marks, discoloration of the material, other types of blemishes. If you train the model and then find through error analysis that it’s doing well overall but it’s performing poorly on pit marks, then synthetic data generation allows you to address the problem in a more targeted way. You could generate more data just for the pit-mark category. “In the consumer software Internet, we could train a handful of machine-learning models to serve a billion users. In manufacturing, you might have 10,000 manufacturers building 10,000 custom AI models.” —Andrew Ng Synthetic data generation is a very powerful tool, but there are many simpler tools that I will often try first. Such as data augmentation, improving labeling consistency, or just asking a factory to collect more data. <a href="#top">Back to top</a> To make these issues more concrete, can you walk me through an example? When a company approaches <a href="https://landing.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Landing AI</a> and says it has a problem with visual inspection, how do you onboard them and work toward deployment? Ng: When a customer approaches us we usually have a conversation about their inspection problem and look at a few images to verify that the problem is feasible with computer vision. Assuming it is, we ask them to upload the data to the <a href="https://landing.ai/platform/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LandingLens</a> platform. We often advise them on the methodology of data-centric AI and help them label the data. One of the foci of Landing AI is to empower manufacturing companies to do the machine learning work themselves. A lot of our work is making sure the software is fast and easy to use. Through the iterative process of machine learning development, we advise customers on things like how to train models on the platform, when and how to improve the labeling of data so the performance of the model improves. Our training and software supports them all the way through deploying the trained model to an edge device in the factory. How do you deal with changing needs? If products change or lighting conditions change in the factory, can the model keep up? Ng: It varies by manufacturer. There is data drift in many contexts. But there are some manufacturers that have been running the same manufacturing line for 20 years now with few changes, so they don’t expect changes in the next five years. Those stable environments make things easier. For other manufacturers, we provide tools to flag when there’s a significant data-drift issue. I find it really important to empower manufacturing customers to correct data, retrain, and update the model. Because if something changes and it’s 3 a.m. in the United States, I want them to be able to adapt their learning algorithm right away to maintain operations. In the consumer software Internet, we could train a handful of machine-learning models to serve a billion users. In manufacturing, you might have 10,000 manufacturers building 10,000 custom AI models. The challenge is, how do you do that without Landing AI having to hire 10,000 machine learning specialists? So you’re saying that to make it scale, you have to empower customers to do a lot of the training and other work. Ng: Yes, exactly! This is an industry-wide problem in AI, not just in manufacturing. Look at health care. Every hospital has its own slightly different format for electronic health records. How can every hospital train its own custom AI model? Expecting every hospital’s IT personnel to invent new neural-network architectures is unrealistic. The only way out of this dilemma is to build tools that empower the customers to build their own models by giving them tools to engineer the data and express their domain knowledge. That’s what Landing AI is executing in computer vision, and the field of AI needs other teams to execute this in other domains. Is there anything else you think it’s important for people to understand about the work you’re doing or the data-centric AI movement? Ng: In the last decade, the biggest shift in AI was a shift to deep learning. I think it’s quite possible that in this decade the biggest shift will be to data-centric AI. With the maturity of today’s neural network architectures, I think for a lot of the practical applications the bottleneck will be whether we can efficiently get the data we need to develop systems that work well. The data-centric AI movement has tremendous energy and momentum across the whole community. I hope more researchers and developers will jump in and work on it. <a href="#top">Back to top</a> This article appears in the April 2022 print issue as “Andrew Ng, AI Minimalist.”

Feb 8, 2022

How AI Will Change Chip Design

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/layered-rendering-of-colorful-semiconductor-wafers-with-a-bright-white-light-sitting-on-one.jpg?id=29285079&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C156%2C0%2C156"/> The end of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/on-beyond-moores-law-4-new-laws-of-computing" target="_self">Moore’s Law</a> is looming. Engineers and designers can do only so much to <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ibm-introduces-the-worlds-first-2nm-node-chip" target="_self">miniaturize transistors</a> and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/cerebras-giant-ai-chip-now-has-a-trillions-more-transistors" target="_self">pack as many of them as possible into chips</a>. So they’re turning to other approaches to chip design, incorporating technologies like AI into the process.Samsung, for instance, is <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/processing-in-dram-accelerates-ai" target="_self">adding AI to its memory chips</a> to enable processing in memory, thereby saving energy and speeding up machine learning. Speaking of speed, Google’s TPU V4 AI chip has <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/heres-how-googles-tpu-v4-ai-chip-stacked-up-in-training-tests" target="_self">doubled its processing power</a> compared with that of its previous version.But AI holds still more promise and potential for the semiconductor industry. To better understand how AI is set to revolutionize chip design, we spoke with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-gorr-phd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Heather Gorr</a>, senior product manager for <a href="https://www.mathworks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MathWorks</a>’ MATLAB platform.How is AI currently being used to design the next generation of chips?Heather Gorr: AI is such an important technology because it’s involved in most parts of the cycle, including the design and manufacturing process. There’s a lot of important applications here, even in the general process engineering where we want to optimize things. I think defect detection is a big one at all phases of the process, especially in manufacturing. But even thinking ahead in the design process, [AI now plays a significant role] when you’re designing the light and the sensors and all the different components. There’s a lot of anomaly detection and fault mitigation that you really want to consider. <img alt="Portrait of a woman with blonde-red hair smiling at the camera" class="rm-shortcode rm-resized-image" data-rm-shortcode-id="1f18a02ccaf51f5c766af2ebc4af18e1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="2dc00" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/portrait-of-a-woman-with-blonde-red-hair-smiling-at-the-camera.jpg?id=29288554&width=980" style="max-width: 100%"/> Heather GorrMathWorksThen, thinking about the logistical modeling that you see in any industry, there is always planned downtime that you want to mitigate; but you also end up having unplanned downtime. So, looking back at that historical data of when you’ve had those moments where maybe it took a bit longer than expected to manufacture something, you can take a look at all of that data and use AI to try to identify the proximate cause or to see something that might jump out even in the processing and design phases. We think of AI oftentimes as a predictive tool, or as a robot doing something, but a lot of times you get a lot of insight from the data through AI.What are the benefits of using AI for chip design?Gorr: Historically, we’ve seen a lot of physics-based modeling, which is a very intensive process. We want to do a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_order_reduction" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduced order model</a>, where instead of solving such a computationally expensive and extensive model, we can do something a little cheaper. You could create a surrogate model, so to speak, of that physics-based model, use the data, and then do your <a href="https://institutefordiseasemodeling.github.io/idmtools/parameter-sweeps.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">parameter sweeps</a>, your optimizations, your <a href="https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/monte-carlo-simulation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Monte Carlo simulations</a> using the surrogate model. That takes a lot less time computationally than solving the physics-based equations directly. So, we’re seeing that benefit in many ways, including the efficiency and economy that are the results of iterating quickly on the experiments and the simulations that will really help in the design.So it’s like having a digital twin in a sense?Gorr: Exactly. That’s pretty much what people are doing, where you have the physical system model and the experimental data. Then, in conjunction, you have this other model that you could tweak and tune and try different parameters and experiments that let sweep through all of those different situations and come up with a better design in the end.So, it’s going to be more efficient and, as you said, cheaper?Gorr: Yeah, definitely. Especially in the experimentation and design phases, where you’re trying different things. That’s obviously going to yield dramatic cost savings if you’re actually manufacturing and producing [the chips]. You want to simulate, test, experiment as much as possible without making something using the actual process engineering.We’ve talked about the benefits. How about the drawbacks?Gorr: The [AI-based experimental models] tend to not be as accurate as physics-based models. Of course, that’s why you do many simulations and parameter sweeps. But that’s also the benefit of having that digital twin, where you can keep that in mind—it’s not going to be as accurate as that precise model that we’ve developed over the years.Both chip design and manufacturing are system intensive; you have to consider every little part. And that can be really challenging. It’s a case where you might have models to predict something and different parts of it, but you still need to bring it all together.One of the other things to think about too is that you need the data to build the models. You have to incorporate data from all sorts of different sensors and different sorts of teams, and so that heightens the challenge.How can engineers use AI to better prepare and extract insights from hardware or sensor data?Gorr: We always think about using AI to predict something or do some robot task, but you can use AI to come up with patterns and pick out things you might not have noticed before on your own. People will use AI when they have high-frequency data coming from many different sensors, and a lot of times it’s useful to explore the frequency domain and things like data synchronization or resampling. Those can be really challenging if you’re not sure where to start.One of the things I would say is, use the tools that are available. There’s a vast community of people working on these things, and you can find lots of examples [of applications and techniques] on <a href="https://github.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GitHub</a> or <a href="https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MATLAB Central</a>, where people have shared nice examples, even little apps they’ve created. I think many of us are buried in data and just not sure what to do with it, so definitely take advantage of what’s already out there in the community. You can explore and see what makes sense to you, and bring in that balance of domain knowledge and the insight you get from the tools and AI.What should engineers and designers consider when using AI for chip design?Gorr: Think through what problems you’re trying to solve or what insights you might hope to find, and try to be clear about that. Consider all of the different components, and document and test each of those different parts. Consider all of the people involved, and explain and hand off in a way that is sensible for the whole team.How do you think AI will affect chip designers’ jobs?Gorr: It’s going to free up a lot of human capital for more advanced tasks. We can use AI to reduce waste, to optimize the materials, to optimize the design, but then you still have that human involved whenever it comes to decision-making. I think it’s a great example of people and technology working hand in hand. It’s also an industry where all people involved—even on the manufacturing floor—need to have some level of understanding of what’s happening, so this is a great industry for advancing AI because of how we test things and how we think about them before we put them on the chip.How do you envision the future of AI and chip design?Gorr: It’s very much dependent on that human element—involving people in the process and having that interpretable model. We can do many things with the mathematical minutiae of modeling, but it comes down to how people are using it, how everybody in the process is understanding and applying it. Communication and involvement of people of all skill levels in the process are going to be really important. We’re going to see less of those superprecise predictions and more transparency of information, sharing, and that digital twin—not only using AI but also using our human knowledge and all of the work that many people have done over the years.

Feb 7, 2022

Atomically Thin Materials Significantly Shrink Qubits

<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/a-golden-square-package-holds-a-small-processor-sitting-on-top-is-a-metal-square-with-mit-etched-into-it.jpg?id=29281587&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C156%2C0%2C156"/> Quantum computing is a devilishly complex technology, with many technical hurdles impacting its development. Of these challenges two critical issues stand out: miniaturization and qubit quality.IBM has adopted the superconducting qubit road map of <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/ibms-envisons-the-road-to-quantum-computing-like-an-apollo-mission" target="_self">reaching a 1,121-qubit processor by 2023</a>, leading to the expectation that 1,000 qubits with today’s qubit form factor is feasible. However, current approaches will require very large chips (50 millimeters on a side, or larger) at the scale of small wafers, or the use of chiplets on multichip modules. While this approach will work, the aim is to attain a better path toward scalability.Now researchers at <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-021-01187-w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT have been able to both reduce the size of the qubits</a> and done so in a way that reduces the interference that occurs between neighboring qubits. The MIT researchers have increased the number of superconducting qubits that can be added onto a device by a factor of 100.“We are addressing both qubit miniaturization and quality,” said <a href="https://equs.mit.edu/william-d-oliver/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">William Oliver</a>, the director for the <a href="https://cqe.mit.edu/" target="_blank">Center for Quantum Engineering</a> at MIT. “Unlike conventional transistor scaling, where only the number really matters, for qubits, large numbers are not sufficient, they must also be high-performance. Sacrificing performance for qubit number is not a useful trade in quantum computing. They must go hand in hand.”The key to this big increase in qubit density and reduction of interference comes down to the use of two-dimensional materials, in particular the 2D insulator hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The MIT researchers demonstrated that a few atomic monolayers of hBN can be stacked to form the insulator in the capacitors of a superconducting qubit.Just like other capacitors, the capacitors in these superconducting circuits take the form of a sandwich in which an insulator material is sandwiched between two metal plates. The big difference for these capacitors is that the superconducting circuits can operate only at extremely low temperatures—less than 0.02 degrees above absolute zero (-273.15 °C). <img alt="Golden dilution refrigerator hanging vertically" class="rm-shortcode rm-resized-image" data-rm-shortcode-id="694399af8a1c345e51a695ff73909eda" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="6c615" loading="lazy" src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/golden-dilution-refrigerator-hanging-vertically.jpg?id=29281593&width=980" style="max-width: 100%"/> Superconducting qubits are measured at temperatures as low as 20 millikelvin in a dilution refrigerator.Nathan Fiske/MITIn that environment, insulating materials that are available for the job, such as PE-CVD silicon oxide or silicon nitride, have quite a few defects that are too lossy for quantum computing applications. To get around these material shortcomings, most superconducting circuits use what are called coplanar capacitors. In these capacitors, the plates are positioned laterally to one another, rather than on top of one another.As a result, the intrinsic silicon substrate below the plates and to a smaller degree the vacuum above the plates serve as the capacitor dielectric. Intrinsic silicon is chemically pure and therefore has few defects, and the large size dilutes the electric field at the plate interfaces, all of which leads to a low-loss capacitor. The lateral size of each plate in this open-face design ends up being quite large (typically 100 by 100 micrometers) in order to achieve the required capacitance.In an effort to move away from the large lateral configuration, the MIT researchers embarked on a search for an insulator that has very few defects and is compatible with superconducting capacitor plates.“We chose to study hBN because it is the most widely used insulator in 2D material research due to its cleanliness and chemical inertness,” said colead author <a href="https://equs.mit.edu/joel-wang/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joel Wang</a>, a research scientist in the Engineering Quantum Systems group of the MIT Research Laboratory for Electronics. On either side of the hBN, the MIT researchers used the 2D superconducting material, niobium diselenide. One of the trickiest aspects of fabricating the capacitors was working with the niobium diselenide, which oxidizes in seconds when exposed to air, according to Wang. This necessitates that the assembly of the capacitor occur in a glove box filled with argon gas.While this would seemingly complicate the scaling up of the production of these capacitors, Wang doesn’t regard this as a limiting factor.“What determines the quality factor of the capacitor are the two interfaces between the two materials,” said Wang. “Once the sandwich is made, the two interfaces are “sealed” and we don’t see any noticeable degradation over time when exposed to the atmosphere.”This lack of degradation is because around 90 percent of the electric field is contained within the sandwich structure, so the oxidation of the outer surface of the niobium diselenide does not play a significant role anymore. This ultimately makes the capacitor footprint much smaller, and it accounts for the reduction in cross talk between the neighboring qubits.“The main challenge for scaling up the fabrication will be the wafer-scale growth of hBN and 2D superconductors like [niobium diselenide], and how one can do wafer-scale stacking of these films,” added Wang.Wang believes that this research has shown 2D hBN to be a good insulator candidate for superconducting qubits. He says that the groundwork the MIT team has done will serve as a road map for using other hybrid 2D materials to build superconducting circuits.

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Oct 19, 2025

Was The Napier Nomad The Most Complex Aero Engine Ever Made?

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-17-101403-featured.png?w=800" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-17-101403-featured.png 1309w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-17-101403-featured.png?resize=250,141 250w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-17-101403-featured.png?resize=400,225 400w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-17-101403-featured.png?resize=800,450 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="868354" data-permalink="https://hackaday.com/2025/10/18/was-the-napier-nomad-the-most-complex-aero-engine-ever-made/screenshot-2025-10-17-101403-featured/" data-orig-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-17-101403-featured.png" data-orig-size="1309,736" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Screenshot 2025-10-17 101403-featured" data-image-description="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7Sdb022Vsk " data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-17-101403-featured.png?w=400" data-large-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-17-101403-featured.png?w=800" /></div>From 1945 to 1955, a British aeronautical company called Napier & Son produced not just one but two versions of an intricate hybrid piston engine, which they named the Napier <a href="https://hackaday.com/2025/10/18/was-the-napier-nomad-the-most-complex-aero-engine-ever-made/" class="read-more">…read more</a>

Oct 19, 2025

2025 Component Abuse Challenge: A Self-Charging LED Flasher By Burkhard Kainka

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner.jpg?w=800" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="A hand holding the circuit in its active state" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner.jpg 1573w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner.jpg?resize=250,141 250w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner.jpg?resize=800,450 800w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="866950" data-permalink="https://hackaday.com/2025/10/18/2025-component-abuse-challenge-a-self-charging-led-flasher-by-burkhard-kainka/self-charging-led-flasher-banner/" data-orig-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner.jpg" data-orig-size="1573,885" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner.jpg?w=400" data-large-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Self-Charging-LED-Flasher-banner.jpg?w=800" /></div>[Tito] entered a Self-Charging LED Flasher into the Component Abuse Challenge. It’s a simple re-build of a design by the unstoppable [Burkhard Kainka], and while [Tito] doesn’t explain its workings <a href="https://hackaday.com/2025/10/18/2025-component-abuse-challenge-a-self-charging-led-flasher-by-burkhard-kainka/" class="read-more">…read more</a>

Oct 18, 2025

A Toolchanging Inverse SCARA 3D Printer

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png?w=800" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Two geared plastic disks can be seen on a platform. One disk rotates around a central column, while the other is mounted on a platform that extends from the edge of the first disk. The second disk holds a print bed, and a print head mounted on the column is positioned just above a half-finished 3D print." style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png 2246w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png?resize=250,141 250w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png?resize=400,225 400w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="868412" data-permalink="https://hackaday.com/2025/10/18/a-toolchanging-inverse-scara-3d-printer/bipolar_3d_printer/" data-orig-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png" data-orig-size="2246,1263" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="bipolar_3d_printer" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png?w=400" data-large-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bipolar_3d_printer.png?w=800" /></div>There are some times when a picture, or better yet a video, really is worth a thousand words, and [heinz]’s dual-disk polar 3D printer is one of those projects. Perhaps <a href="https://hackaday.com/2025/10/18/a-toolchanging-inverse-scara-3d-printer/" class="read-more">…read more</a>

Oct 18, 2025

Bit-banged 100 MBit/s Ethernet Transmission on Raspberry Pi Pico

<div><img width="800" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/100-BASETX.png?w=800" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/100-BASETX.png 1788w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/100-BASETX.png?resize=250,141 250w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/100-BASETX.png?resize=400,225 400w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/100-BASETX.png?resize=800,450 800w, https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/100-BASETX.png?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="868488" data-permalink="https://hackaday.com/2025/10/18/bit-banged-100-mbit-s-ethernet-transmission-on-raspberry-pi-pico/100-basetx/" data-orig-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/100-BASETX.png" data-orig-size="1788,1006" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="100-BASETX" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/100-BASETX.png?w=400" data-large-file="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/100-BASETX.png?w=800" /></div>The Raspberry Pi Pico is a very capable board, but it’s still a surprise to see bit-banged 100 MBit/s Fast Ethernet implemented on one. [Steve]’s Pico-100BASE-TX library allows an RP2040 <a href="https://hackaday.com/2025/10/18/bit-banged-100-mbit-s-ethernet-transmission-on-raspberry-pi-pico/" class="read-more">…read more</a>

Oct 18, 2025

Broken Phone To Cinema Camera With A Lens Upgrade